Black smoke filled the air, blocking the light of the midday sun. The sounds of crackling fire and crumbling rubble seemed deafening. Raven coughed and used a strip of torn fabric to tie around her face as a makeshift mask. The sulfur burned her wounds and the stench of rot clouded her senses. Somewhere close by she heard a child's scream. Her body was weak and abused from constantly climbing and falling amongst the debris. The once beautiful town of Magnolia was now no more than a pile of broken stones and ashes. Her head pounded with every step she took, her muscles begging for mercy.
"Why?"
A scent she had grown accustomed to penetrated the foul aroma of death. Her glossy eyes searched for the source, finally coming to rest on a dark silhouette engulfed in fire. As her eyes adjusted she could make out black horns growing from his head. Large, leathered wings protruded from his back. Scales completely covered his body. Raven tried to back up quietly, hoping she hadn't been noticed, when she tripped over one of the many bodies littering the streets. She hit the ground hard and let out a small yelp. Her eyes went wide as the creature before her turned his full attention in her direction. A fierce snarl distorted his face and his large canines cut into his lower lip. The eyes that looked at her now were no longer the dark onyx eyes full of life and childish wonder that she had grown to love so much. In their place were dark beads the color of blood. The creature began to move toward her, his flames melting the rubble in his way. Raven sat in the dust and blood, petrified, knowing that if she didn't do something now, she would die. She had to reach her friend, to wake him from this spell he was under. She swallowed hard in an attempt to push down the lump in her throat. The beast was now less than five feet away from her, his hateful eyes glued to her form. He towered over her small frame.
"Natsu.. please, come back. Natsu…"
A roar that could only be compared to that of a dragon ripped itself from the throat of the man before her. The fire grew hotter, brighter, shooting into the sky and black markings began to cover the arms and torso of the creature. Tears spilled from Raven's eyes as she realized the truth. This thing before her wasn't even human anymore, much less the friend she loved so dearly. She began to gather her magic power, knowing that now was the time to do what she was sworn to do. As she looked at the terrifying site before her, she sobbed softly. There was no going back from here. She had failed to do her job, and now her friend would pay the price. A dark aura surrounded her as she got to her feet. Her exhaustion temporarily forgotten, she placed her hands on the beast's chest. Before he had time to react, Raven released her magic, activating a spell that she had told herself she would never use. Black light erupted from her entire body, completely obliterating everything it touched. When the magic dissipated, there was nothing left around her. Even the debris had been completely destroyed. Suddenly something white floated through the air, catching Raven's eye. She stumbled forward and grabbed it, pulling it tight to her chest.
"Natsu, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault"
And as she fell to her knees she was left with only a white scarf as a reminder of what she had done.