This one is my personal favourite for the week and also has amazing art, to which you can find a link on my profile as usual. :)
"Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light;
I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."
The moment he launched the attack he knew it was a mistake. Seconds later, he was slammed through the remains of what had once been a brick wall, and continued rolling through piles of rubble for what felt like miles. The sharp rocks ripped numerous gashes into his already bruised skin, making him leave a trail of blood along the way. Finally, he came to a halt, facing the ground and spitting out dust. Damn, that guy was actually strong.
He scrambled to his feet, just in time to dodge the attack that came his way. When the smoke cleared, his enemy became visible, calmly walking towards him, a cold smile edged into his features and an ancient book pressed to his body.
Marde Guille himself had decided to join the final battle, picking out the one person he knew everyone was drawing their hope and strength from. Humans were so easy to see through, after all. Though, he had mentally noted, he also was going to vanquish the annoying blonde girl. No one could be allowed to escape Alegría and live. They actually had managed to anger him enough to make a move; nevertheless, this would be over quickly. Nobody here was anything more than a pawn in his little game – and he was the king.
"Don't think that any of you pathetic mages can actually change anything about the outcome of our little encounter. No matter what you call yourselves…Faeries…Tigers… in the end, all you are is weak."
"Oh yeah? Say that again after I've turned you to ashes! Karyu no Hoko!"
With a flick of his hand, Marde redirected the wall of flames into a ruin behind him, where they crashed into rocks and disappeared. "Oh, you Dragon Slayers…Do you really think you can surpass other humans? I don't like it when you vermin play with powers you can never fully master, or even understand. It's such a waste of a dragon's true power. Then again, not even Igneel could put even a scratch on E.N.D." He smiled condescendingly at him.
Natsu clenched his fists, rage rippling through him at the sound of his father's name out of the demon's mouth. "Shut up!"
"Not that it matters, because you will all die here anyway. Though I must admit, this is starting to amuse me. Maybe I'll keep you alive long enough to see your little blonde friend die in front of your eyes."
Natsu was at his limit, and something inside him just snapped. His body was tired from constantly rushing from one fight to the next, and his mind was clouded by a red haze. He had seen all of his friends struggle so hard, had seen their sacrifices, their pain and, despite everything, their invincible strength and trust; and he would not let any of it be in vain. His jaw clenched and his lips formed a thin line as an image of Lucy came to mind, cold and lifeless on the ground, and all because he could not do anything to protect her. Never again. His humanity was a small price to pay in exchange for her safety.
His flames spread around him as he spoke again. "I am the son of the king of the fire dragons! I will defeat you and E.N.D. in his stead!"
"Oh?" He raised a black eyebrow, noticing the change in his opponents' energy. "You want to become a dragon? Well, that could be interesting."
"You will not hurt any of my friends! Least of all Lucy!" He grimaced in anger, baring his teeth and clenching his fists as every fiber of his being was consumed by blinding rage. "I don't care if I'm human or not as long as I can protect the people I love!" Flames welled up all around him, climbing higher and higher, while he screamed out his pain and anger and determination. He felt himself giving in to the flames, like he was burning up from the inside. Around him, the fire shifted and seemed to take on the shape of wings, curving around his body, heating him up more and more. Those were not his usual flames. They were darker; consuming and deadly. He felt tears well up in his eyes. Shit. Lucy…Everyone… I'm sorry. He closed his eyes, waiting for the darkness to take him whole, to burn everything he was and transform his very being. As long as he could defeat Marde Guille and keep everyone safe, it was enough. He did not need his life. He could see Marde's smiling face through the flames as he slowly lost grip of his consciousness..
"NATSUUU!"
His eyes jerked open as a voice reached his ears; so very close, so very familiar. Automatically, he turned his head in the direction of the cry, only to be taken completely by surprise as she flung herself into his arms. Had he been so out of it that he hadn't even noticed her arriving? A shaky breath escaped his lungs as he felt her warm body against his. He tried to say her name, but his throat was dry, and he had to close his mouth before trying again. "Lucy..?" He croaked.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" She was yelling at him, and tears were starting to roll down her cheeks. "We're all right beside each other. There's nothing to fear! Because we're not alone! That's what you said, right? So don't give up like that, Natsu!"
"I'm not giving up!" His lips were trembling now. "I'm protecting everyone! I'm protecting you! "
"There has to be another way." Her eyes locked onto his, pleading and reddened from the tears she was still shedding. "Please…" she whispered. The flames slowly started to die down around them.
"I'm so sorry to interrupt your lovely little reunion, but I think it is time for both of you to die." Marde Guille was grinning triumphantly. Two birds with one stone. "I must admit, it would have been entertaining to fight a dragon. Then again, a mere human like you could never have become an actual threat, no matter what appearance. This is starting to bore me. Feelings…Tears… All those annoying things are what makes humans so pathetic."
"You are wrong!" Both Natsu's and Marde's eyes fixed themselves on the blonde who had just spoken. "Shedding tears for others… feeling friendship and love and happiness aswell as pain and loss- all those feelings are what makes us strong! But you don't understand that, do you?"
He just gave her a dismissing look. "I should have killed you much earlier. You truly are annoying." She opened her mouth to retort something angrily, but suddenly stopped when she felt Natsu's hand grip her own. His voice was calm. "Lucy. Don't bother with him. Let's show him the true power of Fairy Tail wizards." She blinked up at him as a relieved smile spread across her face. Now this was her Natsu.
"What you fail to understand is that you have lost already. Natsu, you just threw away the last miniscule chance at winning you ever had. Look at you, puny humans, all out of the pathetic amount of magic you carried… It's almost pitiful. Except I don't feel pity. I understand Kyouka now - it's simply too much fun." Marde smiled his sleek, joyless smile; a smile that could have frozen the sun. "You are lost."
"You are never truly lost as long as you don't lose hope. And we still got plenty of that!" Natsu gripped Lucy's hand tighter.
Marde laughed then; he actually laughed out loud, and it was the most terrifying thing Lucy had ever heard.
"Well, then I will be sure to crush even the last bit of hope you have left in your pesky little souls. No human can beat me."
"I am not one human. I've got a comrade right here with me. Lucy is by my side, and together we will send you into oblivion!"
He turned his head downwards to face Lucy, who was clinging onto him, stabilizing him and herself in equal measure. He pulled her closer as he spoke softly. "Lucy, there's a way to beat him. I know we can do it. A Unison Raid!" Her eyes grew large as she looked up at him insecurely. "R-Really? But I've barely got any magic power left…Do you really think we can do this?" – "I felt it when I gave you LucyFire on Tenrou. I know we can do it." He grinned at her encouragingly, and she almost forgot the dire situation they were in.
A tiny smile appeared on her lips then, and she nodded her approval. "Everybody…They are relying on us." Then her face fell. "Still…my magic.."
Suddenly, she felt a surge of power as glowing rays of light danced around her body.
"My old friend.. one last time, I shall lend you the power of your friends." The voice came from everywhere, but at the same time it appeared to speak only in her head. She blinked as new energy rushed through her. "Spirit King.. Thankyou!"
She felt Natsu's eyes on her, and there was pride in his voice when he told her: "You have your friends, don't you?"
-"I'll crush every last bit of hope you parasites have left." It could be easily missed, but there was a silent rage in the words of the dark King.
They looked at each other as determination settled on their faces. She put her right arm around his waist, gripping tightly, and they turned to face their enemy once again.
Marde Guille, King of Hades, lifted his arms over his head as he raised his voice. "You shall taste my true power!" Dark light enveloped him; a liquid darkness that swallowed even light, growing around him as even the earth shook in fear.
Lucy took a deep breath, and even now her heart gave a leap when she felt rough fingers entwine with hers. They gripped each others hands tightly, holding on for dear life as they began to release their own magic.
She closed her eyes as she felt warmth envelop her, feeling the fire on her skin, hot and wild and powerful, as his magic rushed through her veins. She could feel his fury in his flames, aswell as his determination and… his love. It was not her first Unison Raid, but this was different from the one she had experienced before. Never had she felt such an intensity, such a unity in their feelings and powers. Carefully, as if testing her abilities for the first time, she allowed her own magic to combine with his.
It was an indescribable sensation, as if they not only could read each others minds, but as if they had become one, their magic and feelings binding them together in heart and soul. When their eyes met, either of them could tell what was in their hearts. Words were needless as they just smiled brightly at each other.
The flames coating the both of them shone brightly as they, too, grew larger and larger, turning the sky a fiery gold, as if the sun itself had decided to descend on the world and swallow it whole.
"When the shooting stars propel onto earth
They combust into the most brilliant of flames.
What a beautiful sign to make a wish!
The sun and the stars-
Together we rule the constellations!
With a flame on the right hand and a star on the left hand-
When you combine them together…
Shine for us, oh brilliant flames
Of the heavens!
Unison Raid!"
The sky was on fire. Comets started to emerge and fall towards the ground as shooting stars, but before gravity could pull them any further, they were engulfed in flames and took on dragon-like shapes, soaring across the sky and lighting it in the process. No darkness, no matter how black and bottomless, could ever triumph over this purifying light.
Marde's eyes widened in distress as his darkness was eradicated; light filling every crack and shadow until not the least bit remained – only this blinding light, shining so bright his eyes began to hurt. Uncomfortable heat spread through his body. Still surprised, he looked upwards to where the Celestial Dragons soared and fused into one mighty dragon-shaped inferno. Then, suddenly, they raced towards him. The corners of his mouth dropped.
He was engulfed in angry, hot flames that catapulted him up into the air as his lips moved silently. I-Impossible… mere humans… His thoughts were interrupted when he hit the ground hard and collapsed, battered and bruised – and utterly defeated. The book fell from his hands and into the dust.
Natsu and Lucy slowly lowered their entwined hands and let them hang loosely between them, still not letting go of each other. Ragged breaths made their chests rise and fall in an erratic rhythm and beads of sweat were trickling down their spent bodies. Around them, the air was still overflowing with magic, which was now beginning to disperse lazily.
A happy, incredulous laugh came tumbling out of the Celestial Spirit Mage's mouth as she turned to her Dragon Slayer. "We…we did it!"
He grinned at her weakly before his legs gave in and he dropped to his knees. She followed right after, finally allowing her exhausted body to break down. They held onto each other tightly as they felt their consciousness slowly slipping away. With his last strength, Natsu put his arms around her, shielding her from the impact as they hit the rough ground.
They just lay there as the adrenaline subsided and pain ripped through them, clutching each other firmly. Still, they were smiling.
Far away, faint cries could be heard, the sound of their names being shouted into the sky and reverberating with the ruins all around; and somewhere close-by the sound of running feet against the ground echoed through the air. They closed their eyes, knowing their comrades were coming for them.
They were not lost or alone at all. They had their friends, after all.
They had each other.