A/N: Hi guys. As promised at the announcement last chapter, chapter 7 is finally out early. Hope ya like it.
My current status in my profile had my time very difficult to manage especially posting this. Dentist recommended my rest but I can't turn back against my promise last chapter so I did everything in my power to finish this.
Here's chapter 7 of the story. Have fun and Happy Reading :)
Disclaimer: I don't Fairy Tail nor its characters. OCs are mine.
- Save the Village -
Natsu and the group together with Raven waited patiently on a nearby bush just beside the road. Apparently, the road towards Raven's village was also guarded as they encountered a make-shift guard post just at the side of the road with several thugs patrolling the area. It would seemed like the thieves didn't just terrorized the village but took over it and isolated its people from the outside world. In Raven's case however, he managed to send word to them about the situation of his village even though he knew the risk of endangering his life.
After all, he cares so much of his village and he will do anything to save them and his family even at the cost of his life.
"This place seems lightly-guarded..." Natsu spoke as he scanned and counted their enemies by their scent with his nose. There were only about 7 of them patrolling the guard post and it seemed like they aren't mages since they carry magic-embedded weapons only. He could not even sense a tiny magical pressure coming out from their bodies.
"You'll have to wait for the others to get in position Natsu." Erza reminded her pink companion as she kept their conversation in a very low voice to avoid detection. Currently, they split themselves into pairs as they planned on taking down the men simultaneously without arousing suspicion. Natsu got to pair himself with Erza and Raven much to his dismay, Sara and Wendy paired together with the two Exceeds and lastly, Gray and Lucy took the last team slot. Both split teams carefully sneaked around the area by using the environment to mask their presence.
They've picked their designated targets according to their numbers and to the ones nearest to their ambush spot.
"What's taking them so long?" Natsu could not help but complain about the decisive plan. Sneaking was not his forte. He hated the waiting and wanted to fight his enemies with full power. Taking your enemies by surprise is unfair for him.
"You'll have to be patient Natsu in order for our plan to succeed." Erza spoke softly getting the pinkette to calm down and agree to her suggestion since he had no other choice. Everyone seemed to agree with the plan and he didn't want bite in it anymore.
"Is it really okay to do this?" Raven asked worriedly from behind the two as he could feel his uneasiness of the situation. He's never been so close to witness mages in action especially in situations like this since mages are like rare to be seen in these parts and he's never been into big cities in a long time. Natsu proceeds to pat the little boy's head in reassurance as he tried to wash away his fears and doubts.
"Don't worry Raven. Everything will work out. If anything happens, we'll protect you okay?" Natsu grinned in his usual toothy grin that made the black-haired boy to smile happily at him. That smile alone was enough for him to feel safe and secure from these people. Natsu doesn't want to see another kid getting hurt by them. It just feels inhumane for him.
"Okay..."
"Now, you just stay here and watch me... I'm gonna show you how awesome my magic is..." Natsu boasted silently as Raven giggled over his over-confident behavior. He knew he was trying to cheer him up and it made him comfortable on the inside. He's very much like the same from the people in his town.
A tiny magical circle appeared near Erza's right ear as she heard the voice of Gray communicating to her silently.
"We're ready... We've got two guards standing right next to us. We're waiting on your go." Gray briefly reported as Erza nodded before turning to the next team.
"How's your position Wendy?"
"We're clear and all ready."
"Alright." Erza spoke sternly before turning off the communication magic in her ear and went back to the two males.
"Okay, we got three guards in our vicinity. We need to plan out in taking all three of them at the same time with the others." Erza spoke as she discussed their situation at hand. Natsu and Raven listened carefully as the redhead began to plan out their attack on the three guards near them.
After a brief moment of discussion, Natsu and Raven nodded in agreement as Erza finished their plan and went back to observe the guards once again.
"Okay everyone, we'll take this guys out on my count... Make sure your targets are already set and use your magic to knock them out cold got it?" Erza spoke silently at the communication magic as the rest of the team nodded in response.
"Here goes...3...2...1...GO!" Erza shouted briefly as guards were caught off guard from the sudden noise. The team used this opportunity as they emerged from their bushes and used their magic respectively against their opponents. Erza and Natsu came out of their bushes leaving Raven alone to simply watch the whole battle between the mages and the guards. He was amazed as his attention was focused mainly on Natsu who started punching the two guards with his flaming fists, sending them tumbling a few feet away from him.
So this is what a battle looks like.
The battle was short-lived as the guards were easily defeated at the well-planned ambush. It seems they got all of them without having to raise an alarm at their presence. Raven was simply astonished at their battle.
They defeated those guys just like that?
Natsu and the others met up at the center as they gathered the bodies of their defeated enemies and piled them up inside the guard post. Natsu dusted off his hands as he threw the his own enemies first followed by the rest of the group. Thinking that the area is actually safe now, Raven emerged from his own bush to meet up with the team. But as she neared to the group, Natsu looked at him with hostility and fired a medium-sized fireball from his mouth seemingly headed towards him.
Raven could only widen his eyes as the fireball went past from him in just mere inches from his face. Then he heard a scream of pain and agony coming from behind him and saw a cloaked guy with a knife lay burnt from the ground. Even the rest of the group was shocked at the unfolding situation.
"Wha-" The black-haired boy could only stutter as Natsu walked over him with his now calm expression.
"I told ya didn't I? No matter what happens, we'll protect you." The pinkette smiled as he patted Raven's head again softly as he could.
The black-haired boy took time to process everything. Apparently he was utterly shocked of what he's just experienced. His face looking like an adorable puppy with tearful eyes as he looked like he was starting to cry.
Too close...Too much close to witness a fight like that.
Raven could only make out a short quick "Thank you" from the pinkette as he proceeded behind him, tugging his clothes to get himself attached at the dragonslayer from the burned cloaked person. He soon took a brief look at the burnt man and examined him with his sharp eyes. The guy is actually different from the others as he possesses a magical pressure indicating him as a mage. His eyes narrowed as he saw an unfamiliar guild mark present below its right shoulder.
Natsu could only scratch the back of his head in realization as he looked back to the kid with concern.
"But still, I can't believe that these thieves would actually associate themselves with a dark guild."
The fact of them taking over a village under their control greatly baffled him to no end.
Flashback...
After calling out the attention of the mages from their own separate problems, Raven sat in front of them facing the whole team with different odd looks on their faces. Natsu was keeping himself composed after the whole continuous questioning he'd suffered from the blushing red head, Sara and Wendy had their faces held up high in a state of trance as they're both shocked from the events earlier regarding the misunderstanding about Natsu and lastly, Gray and Lucy sat there in the midst of the group completely fine though with the former panicking soon afterwards as his clothes ran away from him, shocking his blonde companion for life.
The black-haired boy could only sigh in disappointment as he witnessed another one of their entertaining yet disturbing habits.
Are they really Fairy Tail mages? That thought alone makes him wanna dismiss their claim and compare them into some clown parade instead. Not that he wanted to spat it out to them. What's he gonna do against a group of insanely powerful mages? At least pair him against those two flying cats to even the fight.
Clearing his throat to call back their attention to him, Raven changed his expression into a serious manner with a small hint of worry.
"Natsu-nii... Everyone, will you help me save my village?" A couple of heads slightly twitched at the odd addressing of the boy towards the pinkette. But their minds were mostly focused on his plea.
"Are you by any chance our client who sent this paper request?" Erza held out a slightly crumpled paper in her hands due to her tight grip earlier at the road.
"Yes..." Came out a brief reply.
Erza and the others with the exception of Natsu and Sara looked at each other with unassertive looks. It was only brief for a moment until Sara decided to speak.
"Can you tell us more about what's going on your village?"
Everyone now became curious about it and decided to wait for the boy to answer.
"It was total chaos... At first, we didn't bother about their first raiding since they only took little from us... Then after a few days, they came again in numbers. They looted houses one after another and took every valuable item we have. It was then that we knew that we're being occupied..." He paused.
"...Some people tried to fight together with our chief but they're easily outmatched as the thieves had magic weapons with them... Their boss killed our chief in front of our village and threatened all of us about sending help from the guilds..."
Some of the members began to widen in realization that this isn't some kind of thief extermination. They could see how these people act around as bandits instead of thieves.
As the explanation continued, Natsu could feel his anger boiling up... One thing that he doesn't want see in his enemy's account is the prospect of killing.. It is very wrong... Taking away lives like they're not worth treasuring. People like that doesn't even realize the importance of it which further increased his anger. His growing outburst however was instantly washed away as his clenched fist was held softly by Sara who was trying to keep him compose as she could for him.
"Are you sure that they're only thieves? It seems to me they're like killers or something." Lucy tried to confirm her thoughts to the boy.
I mean, how could a thief would resort to killing. That would extend the boundary of their rogue affiliations. She knows that thieves only do things by stealing and sorts but killing is another matter. Just as about she was to delve further to her assumptions, Raven spoke out his answer.
"That's half true..."
"Huh?"
"The part of the request about thieves terrorizing the village was true since I had mentioned before but they're not alone..." Erza and the whole team simply listened as Raven continued his explanation.
"What do you mean they're not alone?" Gray inquired.
"Remember when I told you about their second attack on us? About how they came in numbers and acquired magic weapons?"
"Yeah..."
"We just learned that they actually sided with a dark guild... Their boss was actually the guild master of that dark guild..." Raven revealed shocking the whole team. All of them seemed to have misheard about what he said. A dark guild?
"Did you just say a dark guild?" Charle tried to clarify of what he just said. The boy meekly nodded in response.
This has quite turned into some kind of dark guild exterminating mission. Their minds question about the dark guild and its motives. Why would they recruit a clan of thieves to do their bidding? It is quite understandable for them to capture a defenseless village with innocent civilians living in it. It might just on a whim or just a trap for attacking unwary travelers along with the villagers. They didn't know but they all knew that this has to be dealt with.
"Why all the secrecy?" Happy asked.
"I don't want to risk the villagers from being killed. If I had written about a dark guild terrorizing our village, they would've killed everyone including my family... So I took the liberty of writing a small provocative message in order for them to show mercy towards my village or possibly buy them some time. The boss and the men earlier were convinced that the guild would only send weak mages seeing it as a small threat but it seems they're mistaken..."
"Why is that?"
"I saw Natsu-nii and Sara-nee fight off those guys to protect me. That's enough for me to say that you were all strong mages..." Raven paused.
"... Plus, handing my request to the Council would spell a death wish for me and the entire village."
Erza was impressed at the child's initiative. He really did think a lot about the consequences of his actions before carrying them out. A mind like that was far beyond that for a child. Her thoughts over the child soon turned into something more as she asked something that Sara wished that it had disappeared from the rest of the group's mind.
"Soooo... You're not Natsu and Sara's son?" Erza shyly asked with cat eyes much to the group's surprise and shock. Said mages floored with the latter blushing once again. She's still not actually convinced about the misunderstanding earlier!
"Why would I be their son?" Raven could only ask innocently at the redhead. The scarlet knight could only sigh in relief as she finally got the misunderstanding cleared for her. For a moment there, she thought that they really really did those shameless things.
"Damn, I thought I had it..." Gray hissed as he was mistaken by his assumptions about the two. It was then Wendy began swing her arms comically at Gray with a flustered face.
"Uuuuooo... Gray-san! ! !"
Charle and Happy could only look in confusion at Wendy's actions.
"What's with Wendy all of a sudden?" Happy tried to ask Charle beside him.
"I don't know..."
As the whole group was back to their lively comedic exchange with each other, Natsu rose from his feet and walked towards him before grinning wide at the puzzled boy.
"It's settled then. We'll take the job and free your village..."
"T-Thank you Natsu-nii!" Raven proceeded to hug the fire dragonslayer who returned with a soft pat on his head much to his friends' shock.
Holy shit. Did he just became soft towards the boy. The ice mage could only vomit in disgust as he saw his rival going all soft on the little boy with his mellow actions. He winced in pain as he took a sharp jab to the stomach by a certain scarlet who stared murderously at him that gave him a collective shiver of fright.
As the group were done conversing about the village's situation, they heard a yell of distress coming from the man tied into a broken branch. He tried to shake his body forcefully to get himself free. His noise attracted their attention that made Natsu smile in delight.
"Oh, he's awake."
The whole group stopped their previous ventures and began to walk towards the man who finally gave up in escaping from the area and faced the whole team with an intimidating glare.
"Perfect timing for him to wake up... I was about to ask about their boss and their numbers so I can beat them up..." Natsu grinned deviously as he bumped his fists together, creating a sickening sound to threaten the man. Unfortunately, the man somehow smirked in defiance from his intimidation. He's not gonna let himself spill the details so easily.
"Like hell I would tell ya bastard." The man spatted in disgust at the dragonslayer which made him twitch in irritation.
"Give it up... There's no escaping from us... Might as well just spill the beans." Natsu threatened.
"You don't have the guts to break me... You mages and your stupid honor..." The man mocked as Natsu tries to contain his urge to punch the life out of the annoying man. Just as he was about to threaten the man once again, he felt a strong and firm pat coming from the glowing scarlet knight. Natsu and the whole group including Raven yelped in fear as they saw her bone-chilling stare. They had to back away from the smirking scarlet hoping to avoid themselves being dragged into what she was about to do. Even the man had started to have second thoughts about being brave or submitting to the demon scarlet.
"Hoh... So you're a very brave one. . . . . . . Interesting..." Erza made a loud crack with a black whip on her hands which magically appeared somewhere for some time.
"Hiiieeee! ! ! ! She's a devil!" Both people aside from the scarlet and the man shrieked in extreme terror especially to Natsu and Gray... This is one of her unusual method when gaining information from their enemies. She even did that to Natsu for spilling a whole set of her strawberry cakes years back. The horrifying memories are still fresh in his mind as he hid behind Raven like a scared child with heavy irony.
"Now where should we start? Oh yes, tell us about the dark guild and their numbers... You have to give me clear answers. If not, you'll find this thing stuck to your body." Erza deviously spoke with a sadistic grin plastered on her face.
Is she really Erza?
"Y-You wouldn't dare-"
A sharp crack of sound blasted through their ears as the black whip sliced a nearby tree in a clean slate that soon falls into the ground with a twig-breaking sound. A collective of sweats drip from everyone as their heads turned over the slashed tree.
"O-Okay I submit..." The man quivered as he nervously dripped sweats from his face which turned pale at the scary sight.
Present Time...
The village was heavily guarded as the group hid far away, observing their enemies present patrolling the place. It was already nightfall as the moon and stars illuminate on the skies above Earthland. The sound of crickets filled every corners of the group's vicinity and a few fireflies started their little journey towards the sky.
It might be alluring for them to sit back and enjoy the beauty of the night if not for the village under the control of some dark guild before them.
Couple of guards stood in the near entrance of the village with torches in each hand for light in the darken area. Other make-shift torches can be seen in each houses looking like lacrima-powered streetlights back at Magnolia. Figures of patrolling men pass through each of the lights before disappearing again from the areas where darkness resides than light itself.
People are all flocking the streets standing at the front of their houses as if they were about to expect something. It looks like the dark guild is keeping the people under their grasp in order to prevent them from escaping.
"What do you think is going on down there?" Lucy asked the three dragonslayers who were using their ears effectively to hear everything that goes around the village.
"No clue... I can't seem to pick up anything from the guards." Wendy replied.
"We need to get moving... We must help Raven and his people before something bad happens..." Erza suggested in a serious tone, getting all of them to nod. The group silently make their way towards the side of the entrance of the village. Two guards lay standing on both sides, watching the road outside the village in case of prying travelers. With their plan in motion, Gray made a small ice rock in his palm and threw it just in front of the guards, alerting them in the process at the strange form of ice. Their weapons raised in alarm as both guards became cautious.
Unaware for them, two shadows loomed behind them, prompting them to turn slowly at the sight. Both guards weren't able to utter a sound as both Sara and Wendy silently knocked out the guards with compressed air from their open palms. Sounds of clattering weapons and fallen bodies were heard from the empty entrance as the rest emerged from their hidden bushes and regrouped together.
"That's two down though it won't be enough to shake off a hundred of them." Raven spoke briefly.
"Leave them to us... We can take them all down.." Natsu grinned as he stretched his arm in ready for the fight.
"I'll have to believe you on that Natsu-nii."
As the Exceeds carry their knocked out enemies through a nearby bush, Lucy and Erza peeked over the entrance as they witnessed villagers lining up to gather through the center. Children and elders were also dragged to the line as guards hold their weapons ready if someone tries to escape. The gloomy faces of some of the villagers made the two worry.
"What do you think is going on?"
"I have no idea...but something tells me there's something about to happen soon..." Erza narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
"Me too. I have a bad feeling about this."
"So what's the plan again?" Natsu's voice cut through their conversation.
"We defeat all of them... Leave the guild master to me Natsu." Erza spoke firmly. Natsu whined before going back to the group.
"Why does she always get the stronger ones..." Came out a muttered reply. However, Erza managed to hear all of it and only gave him a heart-warming smile.
'You're already surpassed me...Ever since that day.. I want to become stronger for you... For your acknowledgement..'
She watched him go back in a discussion with his Exceed and Gray.
'...Heh.. strange.. Before everything else, you always aspire to beat me and now... I'm the one trying to aspire like you...'
'... You really gotten stronger.. Natsu.. I, myself admit it through my whole heart..'
With the whole team ready for the plan, Erza and the others moved themselves once again towards the sqaure as they began to find their designated positions for the impending rescue.
A few minutes later...
The villagers all gathered in the village square, being surrounded by a couple of guards with magic weapons to keep them under control. A large bonfire can be seen infront of the crowd with 4 cloaked figures, same as the one who tried to attack Raven earlier. At the center was a man in his middle-age, standing before them as his shadow loomed over to them created by the bonfire behind him. He wore a black cape and a long, grayish coat that looked like a military general. A leather belt circled through his waist and a pair of black boots fitted to his feet. His hair was long and dark blue hanging down to his back. A cross-shaped scar can be seen near his left cheek which added more of his intimidating appearance that made some of the villagers to flinch in fear.
He made a few short paces towards the crowd before crossing his arms.
"Well well well... It's been awhile since I had called you all before me... It seems you are all doing well in this past few days... How was it?" He asked.
The villagers can only look sideways, trying to avoid contact to the guild master. Their faces are dispirited due to the uneasiness present in their minds of being subjected under their control. Their peaceful lives were shattered, feeling that they can never taste freedom once again. A couple of guards laughed from their lack of response and helplessness.
While this was going on, the whole team waited behind the shadows and overheard the guild master. A number of approximately forty guards are seen around the village square. They need to take them all out to secure the villagers without risking any hostage situation.
Hearing a lack of response from them, the guild master began to change the topic.
"Okay. I have something to show you everyone." The man turned around and gestured the 4 cloaked figures behind him which they nodded in response at the order and brought 3 figures with black hoods masking their faces wholly. A couple of faces turn into horror as they saw the three being brought upon them. The three are knelt infront of the guild master.
"...Hmm..Let's see, you all know the Selverion family right?.." He paused as he proceeds to take off one of the hoods placed on one figure revealing a black-haired man with a cloth wrapped around his mouth, making him hard to speak.
Raven widen in shock and disbelief as he saw the familiar face of the man before him.
"F-Father?" Natsu who was in the company of Raven widen in shock.
The guild master then took off the 2nd hood of another figure revealing a female teen with a long black hair cascading down to her back, who was also muffled with the same piece of cloth around her mouth. The guild master smirked as he proceeded the last figure who was also a female woman with short black hair, reaching down only at her shoulders. All of them wore ragged clothes with a few scratches present on their faces. The villagers and the team hiding behind them had shown signs of concern over the three.
"M-Mother and Onee-chan?" Raven stuttered in disbelief as he recognized his whole family being brought upon the guild master.
"What are they doing with them?" Sara asked as her sights became focused at the three.
After showing the villagers the whole family in front of them, the guild master began to pace back and forth between the three and the crowd.
"You see, this family was one of the most well-trusted family here in this village... And it seems one of them tried to seek help from a guild... I already taken care of that one but that doesn't mean the whole family is saved.." He paused. Raven's family widen their eyes in shock of the revelation.
"...This is just a reminder if any one of you tried this again, you'll see yourselves in the same state as these people." A cloaked figure handed out a flat dagger onto him. The guild master played it through his fingers skillfully as Raven's father tried to scream through his muffled mouth. A couple of villagers tried to look away at the incoming execution. This has happened to their chief before and they can't hold themselves witnessing another death of one of their people.
The guild master leaned closed to the three of them.
"Any last words?"
They didn't speak but their tears are starting to form from two females, hoping for mercy while the father tried to bite off the cloth as his face was seething in anger.
"Oh well... You'll meet your little son soon." He smirked murderously as he forcefully pulled Raven's sister by the neck and pointed the knife at her throat making her parents beg in place for her.
Just as about he was about to slit her throat with his knife, a flying sword intercepted his hand, deflecting the knife in the process as a shadow appeared in the sides with a sword in hand, threatening to slash him. He backed away letting the girl escape from his grasp and landed near his four cloaked companions. The guards in the vicinity were shocked at the intruder and became alerted but didn't notice five figures appearing in different sides appeared before them.
"Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" Natsu grabbed two guards with both his hands before igniting them in flames and sends them flying towards other unsuspecting guards. Soon after, Gray, Lucy, Wendy and Sara all came out with their respective magics and blasted away the guards present in the area.
"Wind Dragon's Roar!"
"Ice-Make: Hammer!"
"Gate of the Maiden, Open: Virgo!"
A series of different magics were blasted upon the guards and in just a few moments, all guards stationed to keep the villagers were already defeated by the five, shocking the villagers around them.
"Mom! Dad! Onee-chan!" Raven called out above the three as he was in mid-air, carried by Happy and safely landed behind Erza who was facing the guild master.
"Ah the little boy's back with help... How touching.. I already suspect that you mages would come here..." The guild master smirked darkly as he regained his composure with the four cloaked figures behind him.
"Hoh. You noticed..."
"But you have one little mistake-" He paused as he snapped his fingers loudly as multiple cloaked figures appeared around Erza and the others in great numbers. They sensed different magic pressures within every cloaked figure and could only deduce that this is the whole dark guild. The guild master laughed as he surrounded the scarlet knight and Raven who was shaking in fear at the number of their enemies before him.
"The kid only managed to send six of you with their little kittens and we're about a hundred. Do you really think you can defeat us in mere numbers?"
Erza, however only smiled.
"And?"
The guild master could only sweatdrop at the scarlet knight's blunt answer.
"What?"
"I don't care whether you have a hundred men but as long the bonds of my comrades are connected I will bring down another hundred more..." Erza flared up as she requipped into her Heaven's Wheel Armor.
"Don't underestimate us..."
"Dance, my blades." Erza spoke as swords began to appear infront of her pointed towards her surrounding enemies. The swords flew and slashed the enemies easily, leaving them gashes at the deadly rain. The guild master widen in shock as he saw her defeating his underlings in just seconds.
"Why you-" He gritted in anger as he blasted a large dark magic towards the scarlet knight above the air, who easily dodged it gracefully before sending another barrage of swords back to the enemy. The start of the aerial battle resulted the villagers to erupt in panic as they gathered themselves near the center under the protection of the five mages who are positioned in various sides outside them.
Natsu and the others focused on their enemies in front of them, surrounding them and the crowd in numbers.
"Sweet. More people to beat. Come at me you bastards, let me give you all a burning mark with my signature attack in it." Natsu taunted, prompting the mages around him to attack him in one go.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu delivered a flaming punch towards one of the mages and balsted through before returning a full backhand with his other arm that sends his enemies flying in great distances.
"Oi! You lookin' for a challenge are you Flame-Brain?" Gray twitched having to witness his rival showing off his fiery moves towards the villagers.
"What did you say? Wanna take this the hard way?"
"Sure. Though you might quit before we even start?"
"Alright, First place to the one who defeated more of these pieces of crap!"
"I ain't losing to you Flame-shit!"
"Same as me Ice-queen."
A mixture of fire and ice erupted to the far corners as Natsu and Gray proceeded their unrelenting attacks to the mages that looked like competition rather than a rescue mission. The girls could only sweatdrop at the sight.
"Those two are at it again." Charle sighed.
"I think it's a good idea for them to stay that way... We need them to push off these guys..."
"You're evil Sara." Wendy slightly chuckled.
"We gotta do our best too." Lucy reminded as Virgo came beside her, having herself to finish creating pitfalls for unsuspecting dark mages coming their way.
"Yes." Wendy nodded as both dragonslayers began to gather up air around them.
"Wind/Sky Dragon's Roar!"
"Let's go Virgo!"
"Yes, Hime."
Meanwhile, Erza continued her aerial battle against the guild master as both sides clashed once again in another power struggle. Erza had changed to her Black-Wing Armor as she clashed her blade against the guild master's dark ethereal sword.
"You're interesting... It seems you're still able to keep up...I'm impressed."
"This is nothing compared to other opponents I faced."
"Getting all mighty now eh? Don't get cocky woman."
Once again, the two mages clashed in the air, sending ripples of shockwaves that can be felt from below as both sides parried with each other. Raven was left amazed at the sight before him. The intense aerial battle between mages was a shocking sight to see. He could feel the force generated by the two down to him that slightly gave him a shiver crawling through his spine. He was stopped in his train of thought as he was forcefully carried by Happy to the air, dodging a fire spell aiming towards them.
"Wha-" Raven stuttered in disbelief as he was close of being burnt alive if not for Happy.
"We're having trouble here too Raven..."
"You're not getting away kid." The cloaked figures charged up their flame spells at each other, generating a massive fireball. In a few moments later, they threw the fireball towards at each other, making shout in panic at the incoming attack.
"Wahh!" Happy and Raven in unison before they're engulfed in the explosion that soon followed upon their contact. Raven's family widen in shock as they witnessed the flame seemingly enveloped their son. Soon after, the people begun to hear unusual noises coming from the explosion itself only have their eyes fall from their sockets including the cloaked figures even though their faces are masked, from the sight before them. Natsu was gathering the flames into his mouth as he made munching sounds while eating the flames. One mage was able to recognize the pink-haired dragonslayer's power.
"It's the Salamander!"
"What does a mage from Fairy Tail doing here with them?"
Natsu ignored the talks about him and simply landed down in front of them creating a small crater from his descent.
"Natsu!/Natsu-nii!" Happy and Raven shouted inrelief having to see their pinkette save them from the blast.
"Yo! Close call back there."
"Thank you Natsu-nii."
The fire dragonslayer could only grinned back at them before turning his attention towards the enemy before him.
"Thanks for the meal... I'm all fired up." He clashed his fists together with flames getting them to cower in fear.
"He really is the infamous Salamander! ! Run! !"
"Oi! where do you think you're going? I'm not done with you bastards!" Natsu roared as he dashed towards the fleeing enemies and began punching them with his flaming fists.
"Burn him... Burn him alive!" The four cloaked mages tried to attack him once again with their fire magics only to result Natsu eating their flames like food.
"You all really don't learn do you?" He wiped the last bits of ember from his mouth and began to flare up in crimson flames. The sight of his intense flames made the mages to cower in fear of his power.
"Fire Dragon's Crushing Fang!" Natsu attacks the two dark mages in a downward, claw-like fashion, sending his enemies down the ground with scorched marks from the flaming attack. The remaining two could only take a step back away from the fearsome dragonslayer.
"Tch, if it's come to this then-" One mage gritted his teeth in anger as he proceeded over the three tied persons and took the black-haired girl together with his companion. Natsu and Raven could only widen in shock at the underhanded tactic.
"Onee-chan!"
"Let's go Happy!" Natsu motioned his Exceed as he took off with him carrying Exceed with them. He looked above them and saw the ongoing aerial battle between Erza and the dark guild master. What's taking her so long? It was then he thought something that would speed things up.
"ERZA!"
Two combatants stopped their fight as they both looked over the voice below them. Erza could only wonder as she recognize his voice calling up to her. What does he want?
"HURRY UP AND DEFEAT THAT BASTARD ALREADY! I'LL ACCOMPANY YOU WHEN WE GET BACK TO THE GUILD AND BUY LOTS AND LOTS OF STRAWBERRY CAKES! MORE THAN THE ONE I SPILLED, YOU HEAR ME?!"
Meanwhile, the scarlet knight could not help but blush at the sudden declaration of the pink-haired dragonslayer. Did he just say he would accompany her? She wasn't overjoyed about the fact of being bought a hundred of her favorite cake but to the fact that Natsu will actually come with her to buy cake. Is it like a date of something?
Looking back at the dragonslayer with a hint of excitement over her face despite the strong facade she was giving, Erza smiled warmly at his words of encouragement.
"It's a promise Natsu..."
"Sure... Win for me Erza!"
"You got it Natsu!" She smiled as she faced back to the bewildered guild master who happened to have heard their conversation.
"Did he just say Erza?" He asked in confirmation of his claim.
"Yes, he did."
"S-So you're the mighty Titania I've heard all over Fiore... So you guys are from Fairy Tail huh?"
"Yes!"
"Interesting! Now I've finally to have myself to meet you in person Titania. I've been waiting for this moment." He laughed as he began to flare up his dark magic all over his body which applies to Erza too as she began to requip into her Purgatory Armor.
"You're gonna regret making yourself an enemy of Fairy Tail!"
The intense aerial battle between Erza and the guild master continued, creating tremendous shockwaves between each clash that sends a shiver of fright from the onlookers who happen to witness their high-speed fight.
Meanwhile, Natsu, Happy and Raven are in hot pursuit, trying to catch the two dark mages with Raven's sister on one of their shoulders. Despite the weight of her, the mages haven't lost any speed and zoomed in each street corners in plans of confusing the three pursuers. Unfortunately for them, Natsu was gifted by the power of smell and the act was therefore in vain as the pinkette led his two companions at the chase.
"Shit! Does this guy never stop?" One of the dark mages sneered as he could still see them pursuing them even after each skillful turn from the street corners. The real plan was to lose the fire mage since it's a bad match up between them since the former is immune and able to use flames on a whim.
"Just run will ya? Don't shoot him with any fire spell; it will only feed him power if you do it..."
"...Let's lure him to the Blade-Master.."
"Shut it girl! If you try anything funny, I'll kill you on the spot." The one carrying Raven's sister spoke in a intimidating tone to silence the girl, trying to get herself free from his grasp.
This is starting to become a wild goose chase. No, for Natsu, it's a game of search and destroy with him the predator and the two guys the prey.
'Fuck, stop. I gotta girl to save!' Natsu slapped himself at his thoughts as he gave chase.
"Natsu, they're losing us." Happy warned as he felt a slight strain while carrying Raven in his arms. Even though a kid, he can't keep anyone afloat with him. What more he can take if it was Lucy he was carrying. That girl really weighed a ton for him and he wouldn't last that long.
"Not if I can't help it."
Natsu took a brief moment and jumped high as he instantly charged up his flames into his mouth.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" A large stream of fire erupted from his mouth and went past over the two, setting the road before them ablaze with the flames reaching a few meters high, getting them to stop as he blocked their path. The intensity of the flames made it hard for them jump through as it would only burn them in mere seconds. Flames of a dragon are different from other flames as it was the most hottest and probably the most destructive.
"Good going Natsu." Happy cheered as he proceeded with Natsu, catching up to the trapped mages.
"There's nowhere to run. Might as well hand over the girl over to us idiots." Natsu threatened.
"Like hell we'll do it. You're just in time to get sliced by the Blade-Master."
Natsu frowned as a long, sharp blade descended above him, threatening to slash him in half. He dodged back as the blade made contact to the ground, revealing a white-haired man sitting the the hilt of the blade.
"What the hell? Who are you?" Natsu glared over the white-haired man who began to stand to the ground and stood between him and the two dark mages. The man's white hair was tied behind his back with its tail in a spiky formation. Multiple scars, probably from his battle wounds are seen in some parts of his face. His wearing a long gray robe with a piece of black clothing tied in his waist. Swords of different kind are also seen in his features behind his back. The man wore a emotionless expression towards them with his hollow red eyes.
"So is this the famed Salamander?" He asked with a hollow voice from his two companions.
"Yes, Khitrell-sama."
"How many times do I have to tell you lots not to mention my name in front of an enemy?" Khitrell spoke in a more darkly tone that made the two to slightly quiver in fear.
"M-My apologies Blade-Master-sama..."
"No need to get so formal now. You useless wimps already gave away my name."
Natsu's expression turn dead serious as he could sense his new opponent different from the two. He sounded dangerous.
"Happy, Raven stay back. I'll take care of this one very quick." The Exceed took a few meters back together with Raven as Natsu stepped into battle with Khitrell.
"He's a fool for trying to challenge Khtirell-sama like that. It's a death wish." One of the mages behind Khitrell gave a warning but Natsu didn't care. Raven was beginning to doubt about the situation. The guy in front of them is the one responsible for killing much of their villagers who tried to fight back at the raid.
It was then, he felt a reassuring reply from the Exceed to ease his uncertainty.
"Don't worry, Natsu is a lot stronger than you took. You just have to believe in him."
"...Happy..."
The fight between two mages was about to begin as Natsu faced off with Khitrell with determination. In an instant, Khitrell dashed forward towards the dragonslayer in high-speeds with a deadly uppercut that alerted him, as he barely raised his fists from the incoming attack. the force shook the dragonslayer as he was sent in the air only for the white-haired swordsman to follow him in a blink of a second.
'He's fast!'
Natsu gritted his teeth in frustration as Khitrell began to unsheathe one of his weapons behind his back. The weapon was large scythe with a bone skull in between. Khitrell began to glow in dark red together with sword and proceeded to slice him down. Natsu raised his fists to block the attack in mid-air, sending a powerful shockwave the reached the ground, shocking the people below them.
"I'm impressed that you managed to block this attack... Countless mages cannot hold the force of this weapon since it was made from one of the hardest metal on Earthland." Khitrell remarked.
"I don't give a shit about it... or where was it made. I'll just smash this into bits if I have to." Natsu growled as he ignited his fist in flames, giving him additional force to fight back the weapon pointed against him. They broke away in a brief moment before entering again into another power struggle with each other.
"Death Scythe!" Khitrell shouted as the sickle glowed in dark red once again and began to swipe downwards, sending a wave of dark red magic against Natsu.
Natsu stood there waiting for the attack to hit him, getting Khitrell to slightly widen in shock at his opponents stupidity.
"My scythe drains your power and stamina upon contact with its power... You are finished."
The energy clashed with Natsu as he raised his hands before him and tried to push of the deadly wave. He ignited himself in flames as he forcefully pushed back the wave, making the blade-master to widen in surprise.
"I-Impossible. That wave was suppose to drain your magic. How come are you still able to fight?"
Natsu didn't answer but roared angrily as the flames around him grew bigger and bigger until he swiped his arms in its separate directions, cutting off the wave easily.
"Wha-" Khitrell was cut short as Natsu came propelling himself with his flames towards him in high-speeds.
Raising his weapon in hand, sparks flew as Natsu's flame-coated fist connected to his weapon. He felt his bone rattling from the impact of his punches even from the blade itself and could not help but break away as he tries to assess his enemy's power.
"This my first time seeing such a powerful enemy...No matter I still have more weapons on my arsenal and I can make various combinations on how to take him down..." His face was starting to sweat in nervousness, his once blank expression was easily replaced with desperation as he looked at the burning dragonslayer with both black onyx eyes fixed only to him.
"Don't get too much cocky boy!" Khitrell began to attack Natsu as he took out another blade from his back and clashed with the pinkette once again. Sparks and embers are only seen from the dark skies as both sides attacked in similar high-speeds that cannot be followed by the untrained eye.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu shouted as he delivered a flaming punch towards Khitrell, only for him to block the punch easily with his blade.
"Easily blocked-" He was cut short as the blade immediately shattered into pieces, shocking him in the process and in the same time felt a stinging, burning pain from his cheek as he was punched and sent down to the ground.
"K-Khitrell-sama!" The two dark mages who were at the vicinity of Khitrell's crash shouted in worry as they were dumbstruck at the fac that their strongest dark mage was easily overwhelmed.
Moments later, Khitrell emerged from the crater with bruises and scratches all over his body. His robe was slightly torn and he felt like he had seen better days.
"What's wrong? Too early to burn out?" Natsu taunted as he descended down in front of them, giving them a slight hint of fear in their faces as the dragonslayer began to make their way towards them.
"You're actually stronger than you look. Seems like I underestimated you..." Khitrell remarked while trying to keep himself composed despite the situation before them.
"Really? Then I should tell you how stupid it was."
"Unn... As for that, it seems I had to end things here quick... I don't want my master to wait any longer..." He began to gather amounts of magic around him as his scythe glowed more intensely as before, giving Raven a slight sign of fear. The pressure of his magic was dreadful like it was threatening to suffocate him just from the sight of it. He slightly widen in shock as he saw Natsu as calm as ever in the situation.
"It's time to die dog!" Khitrell shouted as his magic were focused in one point of his weapon that shook the ground below him, leaving large cracks from the intense force.
"Death Scythe: Dark End Wave!" A wave of dark red magic swept its way towards Natsu in a fast pace, making Raven to widen his eyes in disbelief.
"Natsu-nii!"
"Dragon Slayer's Secret Art, Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade!" Natsu shouted in frustration as he spun his arms in a circular fashion as the falmes in his arms, spiraled into a torrent of tiny exploding flame bursts that went straight towards Khitrell's attack. Both flames and dark red waves clashed in a power struggle. The intensity and the explosiveness of Natsu's secret move was powerful enough to instantly burn away the wave and broke off the the struggle in an instant, shocking Khitrell.
"H-How in Earthland-" He stood there astonished as the spiraling flames blasted through him enveloping in him in the intense flames, resulting an explosion that blew everything back. Soon, dust settled revealing an badly burnt Khitrell with a voiceless scream in his face. The two mages gawked at the sight before them. Their strongest mage in their guild was lay wounded before them against the pink-haired dragonslayer.
"K-Khitrell-sama is d-defeated!"
"Shit.. He's a monster!"
Natsu stood there emerging from his previous stance before glaring madly at the two mages.
". . . .GIVE. . . . .HER. . . . .BACK. . . ." The tone of his was dead serious and with was filled with venom as the two sweated from their faces out of their fears at the dragonslayer.
"She's all yours! For all we care!" They suddenly dropped her to the side of the road near the burning houses before running away from the fearsome dragonslayer.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" A stream of flames simply enveloped the fleeing dark mages, leaving their scorched bodies at the street. Raven and Happy smiled in joy having the mages been taken care of their dragonslayer.
Their celebration was short-lived as they heard a scream of help coming from Raven's sister who was crying for help, as the structure near her was collapsing from the flames. Natsu widen his eyes in alarm as the burning wood was about to give way above the girl. If that falls, she'll be crushed. Without any moment to waste, Natsu dashed towards the girl as the wood came falling down towards her.
Raven's sister closed her eyes, seeing the wood that size would ensure her death though she felt nothing of a crushing wood against her nor felt anything burning in her skin except the heat around her. She slowly opened her eyes, revealing a Natsu lay kneeling in front of her with arms stretched and pressed to the ground just in both sides of her face. She was lying down and it seems Natsu protected her from wooden debris.
Her eyes widen in shock as his back was against the falling wood before them. The piece of cloth wrapped around her mouth was already placed down to her neck.
"Y-You're hurt!"
"Don't worry. I'm immune to fire...
"B-But-" She was cut short as Natsu interrupted her.
"Don't worry... This is nothing... I promised Raven to protect him and his sister... No way I'm breaking his promise now is it?" The girl only looked at him in wonder having to have seen his unwavering eyes fixed to her. He was really intent on keeping his promise and save her no matter what. Natsu then looked over to his surroundings and saw other burning pile of debris around them. It seems the whole house burned down crushing everything except them.
"Okay... Time to get you outta here and get back to your little brother..." Natsu smiled in determination as he began to flare up his magic as fire coated his body wholly. At first, the girl was scared since the contact of his flames in his body was near to her body but surprisingly, it didn't burn her unlike the rest of the heat.
Natsu roared as he used his power and flames and blew away the debris above them, sending them flying into different places, making Raven and Happy to fly away a few meters from the intense burst of flames.
"Natsu-nii!" Raven shouted in worry. The smoke obscuring the area where his sister and the dragonslayer are blocked their visions. They waited for a few moments until the smoke cleared until they saw a figure walking out from the smoke. A huge sign of relief and happiness instantly washed the boy's heart as he caught sight of Natsu carrying his sister in his arms at her back and knees, bridal style. Raven and Happy don't know what to say at the sight. It was like in those lacrima-movie theaters where the hero saves the heroine with explosions and crap like that. They didn't know it would really happen in real life.
Nevertheless, they were grateful that they're safe as Natsu gently put down the girl from his hold and cut the ropes and the cloth around her neck, setting her free. Happy let go of Raven who proceeded to sprint his way towards his sister.
"Mirai-Oneechan!" Raven shouted in tears as he happily leaped into his sister's embrace and both gave an affectionate hug.
"Raven! Thank goodness, you're safe." Mirai cried as her silky black hair swayed from her sides covering the sight of their embrace. The gently flow of the winds blew her long hair eventually, reflecting tiny bits of moonlight from it. Natsu and Happy could only wear satisfied looks as the reunion between Raven and his family was completed.
"We did it Raven!" Natsu grinned as he pumped his fist in the air, making the two Selverion siblings to look at him in delight.
"Thank you Natsu-nii, Happy. You really kept your promise." Raven happily teared as he ran up to the dragonslayer and hugged him tightly.
"Aye! Natsu always kept his promise and he would never break them..." Happy remarked.
"Yeah I am!" Natsu grinned proudly, getting the little boy to laugh from his bashfulness.
"U-Umm. Natsu-sama..." A shy voice emanated from the older female sibling as she tried to look at the dragonslayer with her black eyes.
"Hmmmm...?"
"T-Thank you for saving me earlier..." Mirai smiled with her cheeks tinted pink from the embarrassment.
"No problem. Now let's go back with the others... This village is about to be freed."
"Aye/Yes!"
The guild master crashed to the ground as wounds and scratches were seen all over his beaten body. Dust kicked up at his fall and slightly obscured the area. Descending in front of him was Erza Scarlet donning her Nakagami Armor. Apparently, the guild master didn't expect a very powerful brute force coming from the scarlet knight's halberd that instantly knocked him out from their battle. He really miscalculated the Titania for being such a weaker being beneath him.
Never underestimate the mighty Titania... It's because she's Erza.
"C-Completely defeated... She's a monster." The guild master stuttered in fear as he went out cold after uttering those words.
Erza sighed as she began to revert back to her Heart Kruez Armor as the battle between them was already finished. Bringing Nakagami Armor was a bit too much but who cares. She's from Fairy Tail and they should've expected that.
Looking over to the slightly damaged village around her and bodies of the defeated mages done by her teamates, she will have to take responsibility for this. Master isn't gonna like the fact that they tore down another large property. Jewels will be spent and it will left Master in a depressing state once again. But it can't be helped, the job turned out to be a dark guild extermination mission type. They didn't expect that it would really come to that. Lucky for Raven to send this paper request right away to them.
"Erza, we manage to get all of them though the other remaining mages fled the village." Sara came into view with Wendy and Charle. Their faces dripping sweat indicating their exhaustion from the heavy fight.
"It's okay. We only needed to drive them away from this village."
"But still, they put up a lot of fight in numbers..." Gray emerged with little scratches from his body with his upper clothes gone at the midst of the battle, making the two female dragonslayers to cover their innocent eyes and shouted "Kya" from the disturbing sight.
"Gray, grab something to wear dammit!" Lucy reminded as she bonked the ice mage's head in irritation.
"How should I know? They always disappear everytime I fight." He complain.
"They disappear because you unknowingly strip yourself before heading to battle. Find some clothes."
"Fine fine." Gray lazily drawled and looked away from celestial mage before remembering something.
"By the way, where's the Flame-brain? running away in the middle of a contest seems unlikely for him."
"Don't know. How about you Erza?" Lucy asked, making the redhead to ponder in thought.
"Last time, I saw him, he was with Raven and Happy chasing two guys." But before she could continue, Wendy exclaimed in surprise and pointed her finger towards the source.
"Natsu-san!" Heads turned over a grinning Natsu with Happy floating beside him and the two Selverion siblings. The whole team then proceeded to sprint over the fire dragonslayer in delight as they saw him.
"Good to see you Natsu." Erza smiled.
"Thanks Erza..." He paused as he looked over to her shoulder and saw the guild master lay defeated on the ground.
"...Told ya, you could handle it..."
"I have to thank you for that Natsu..." Erza proceeded with her ever painful hug to the fire dragonslayer to her ironclad chest which Natsu was never used to in the past years he'd experienced it. It still hurts like hell. A couple of widen eyes gaped at the sight.
Poor Natsu... No one's gonna stand in the way of Erza steel hug. She had one hell of a hug which should be taken seriously.
"It hurts..." He mumbled under his breathe after freeing himself from her grasp, gingerly touching the bump forming on his head.
"We finally did it!" Sara exclaimed in joy which made Natsu to grinned wide.
"Job Request: Completed!" Natsu shouted in response as he punched the air with his fist, having the rest to join his shout of victory. The sounds of friends erupted through the night as their hearts came out strong and saved the village from evil hands.
It was their victory..."
A/N: Hey guys. Sara's introduction arc is over including her first job so we'll be moving unto arcs between girls starting from Mira. :) Look forward to it. Still hurting after my tooth extraction. Swelling isn't helpful either so I'll have a one day of rest before starting again to Chapter 8 then to 9 on both stories. I've been trying to find a more fitting picture for this fic and finally found one which will be updated on Chapter 9.
See ya guys next chapter and stay awesome. :) - PEACE - V (^^) V
- wiErD SpeCtrumz blacking out...
