Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail :D
Chapter 9
The Black Witch Pt. 2
"AAAAAAAAGH!" Natsu screamed at the sight before him.
He pulled on his restraints, not caring about the sting on his wrists from the cut of the rope.
"Let me go! Let me go! Let me go!" He kept on chanting, looking for the woman who put him in that situation.
Meanwhile on the real world, Gray and Gajeel gulped at the sight of Natsu thrashing around, screaming incoherent words and eyes frantically looking for something.
"O-oi... what... what's happening to him?" Gray asked.
He gulped "He's in an illusion."
"Illusion?"
He nodded "This is what happens if you let your guard down, that idiot got too confident and look where that got him."
He looked at Gray "Listen. Whatever happens, never look straight into her eyes."
"Awwww... spoiling my fun already? You're no fun at all!"
Both of them looked up in surprise, the witch stood in front of them just behind the glass but they could still feel the powerful aura emanating from her.
"Well, I still have a lot of things I want to do with you boys other than putting you in an illusion." She winked and turned back to Natsu.
"But for now, I'm just going to enjoy myself with this one."
They both punched the glass at the same time.
"What the hell are you planning to do with him?!" Gajeel growled.
"Uwaaah. Scary~" she lift up her hands and shielded herself pretending to be scared.
Gray looked at her menacingly "Oi. I don't care how powerful you are but I'm gonna beat up your ass should something happen to that flame brain!"
"Oh?" She chuckled "I don't know about that but there's nothing wrong with me having a little snack, is there?"
They both looked at her, confused.
"I take that as a yes then." She brought her face close to Natsu's. "To be honest, I haven't eaten since this morning. I'm famished!"
They stood there, confusion etched on their faces, having no idea what the witch is talking about nor what was she about to do. They could only stare as she grabbed Natsu's face and slowly brought down her lips to his.
"Don't mind if I do." She whispered before closing in.
They stared wide eyed at the scene. Natsu who was thrashing around and screaming awhile ago stood dumbfounded at the sudden attack. Gajeel speculated the scene. Something was definitely wrong with this. Why was she kissing him? He noticed that Natsu's eyes faded a little and was turning pale. That's when he noticed when the witch lift up her mouth over the fire mage's lips and saw something coming out of Natsu's mouth and flowing to the witch's.
A glowing substance flowed towards her mouth and a magic circle has formed underneath them while Natsu turned from pale to a sickly green. Other than the kiss, he remembered this is what his former guild mate, Aria, did to Makarov back when he was part of Phantom Lord during their war with Fairy Tail, and that's when Gajeel realized what was going on.
The witch was absorbing him.
He punched on the glass, eyes full of rage he shouted "You bitch! Let him go!"
"Oi! Gajeel! Calm down!" He grabbed hold of his arm but Gajeel brushed it off and took hold his necklace.
"We need to get him out of there!" His eyes were frantic. "Gray! She's absorbing his magic."
Gray glanced at the witch holding Natsu and noticed his green complexion. His eyes hardened and something inside of him snapped.
"Happy!" He called out.
"Aye?"
"Can you fly out?"
Happy tested it and he did "Aye!"
"Come here and give me a lift!"
Happy, noticing Gray's seriousness complied and flew him up where the barrier couldn't reach.
"Listen Happy, Natsu's in trouble I want you to swoop down to where he is as fast as you can, got it?"
"Okay." He nodded.
Gajeel realizing Gray's strategy followed suite with Lily in tow.
"I'll be dropping in with you. We should hurry up while she's still distracted."
"Yosh. Get ready on my signal. Happy, let's go a little higher."
Happy and Lily complied. "Ready when you are."
By that time Natsu has turned a deathly green and cracks were forming on his skin.
"Ready... Go!"
Both exceeds swooped down at max speed releasing the mages just when the witch lift up her head in time to see them crash on her with their attacks.
"ICE MAKE: HAMMER / IRON DRAGON'S CLUB!"
A billow of smoke formed from where they attacked, Gray and Gajeel landed a few meters away from where no runes were drawn. They waited hoping that the attack had hit her. When the dust settled they were surprised to see that the witch had emerged without a single scratch and that she had a hold of Natsu by his scarf like some rag doll. Natsu dangled limply at her side adorning bruises that weren't there before.
"You-!" Gajeel exclaimed.
The witch licked her lips chuckling to herself and threw Natsu to the side.
"That's mean of you~... attacking your friend just like that." She grinned. "Well, not that I care, although his magic is quite tasty."
Both mages tensed at her words, they stood there waiting for what might come next. Gray contemplated their current situation and tried to think of a plan.
'That witch is not ordinary alright. She's too strong. I never thought she would use Natsu as a shield.'
While Gray was immersed in his thoughts, Gajeel noticed the witch taking a stance - connecting the pads of her fingers making a tent and chanting an incantation.
"Let's liven things up shall we?"
"DARK MAGIC: SUMMON!" She bit her thumb drawing blood and spread it at the palm of her hand. A large magic circle formed in front of her and placed her blood-stained hand there. "COME! GOLEMS!"
Slowly, creatures made of mud and rocks rose up from the ground to where Lucy and the others were. Wendy went behind Lucy in fear and Lily went into battle mode, drawing his sword while Lucy took out her keys to summon.
About ten golems surround them, with razor sharp teeth made from rocks and body made with sticky, wet mud. Sticks, bugs and dead animals could be seen sticking in their body and they were about 6 feet tall.
"Lucy! Wendy!" Gray exclaimed.
"Lily!" Gajeel exclaimed.
Both were about to dash towards their comrades but were pushed back by the witch.
"Ah ah." She wagged her finger at them. "You'll be facing me."
"Golems!" She called "Eat them."
All golems surged forward. Lily did everything he could to ward them off and Lucy had her summon, Taurus to help him. Wendy stayed at the far side using support magic and Dragon's roar, while Charle and Happy did the best they could to fight off some of the golems. But fighting them proved to be too challenging since no matter how many they've destroyed, the golems would just keep on coming back.
The two mages couldn't help but worry for their comrades but because of this it gave the witch an opening to attack.
"Too naïve" She kicked them both in their guts sending them crashing on the other side of the field. "Didn't anyone ever tell you to never let your guard down in front of your enemy?"
Both mages stood up and wiped the blood off from their mouth.
"Oi. Gray."
"What?"
"You believe me now when I said she'd make a run for our money?"
He scoffed "No shit." Wiping out the blood from his nose he glanced at Gajeel "So? What's the plan? If you have a plan, that is."
"Oh I have one alright."
"Let's hear it."
Both jumped out of the way from a sudden attack from the witch creating another crater from the place where they've been standing.
"Oi! What's the plan?!" Gray shouted mid-air.
"Attack!" Gajeel replied while placing an Iron Dragon's Fist on the witch.
"That's it?!" Gray exclaimed.
"That's all I could think of, now stop whining!"
"Geez! Some help you are!" And Gray went into position for his attack.
"ICE MAKE: HAMMER!"
'Well, it's not like there are any options anyway.'
All mages fought vigorously where every attack was met with another wave of attacks. Gray and Gajeel did everything in their power to subdue the witch at the same time blocking and dodging her attacks. And finally, Gray found an opening when Gajeel got hold of the witch's head and gave her a head butt.
"ICE MAKE: LANCE!"
Shards of ice shot from his hand and straight through the witch's back successfully piercing her.
"I got her!" he shouted in joy.
"Nice! Gray!"
But their celebration was short lived when the witch started laughing maniacally.
"You got me." Her head turned 180 degrees facing Gray. "So what?"
Gray could feel his heart beat faster; he didn't expect her to be alive even after his attack. What surprised him even more was when he was suddenly face to face with the witch. Blood-red eyes stared widely at his dark ones. He remembered Gajeel's warning but was a second too late and now he couldn't look away from her gaze.
"You're still a hundred years too early to defeat someone like me." She whispered.
Different scenarios of his death were what he saw in her eyes and for a moment he couldn't breathe. He couldn't even stop her from the spell that she was about to cast on him. Cold hands held his head and her face was inching closer to his. His breathing became shallow when their foreheads touched and her lips hovered above his. The witch stared meaningfully at his dark orbs and he couldn't help but blush at the sudden closeness. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down when he got a closer look at her face. 'Beautiful' was all he could think, like a goddess made for war and destruction that could send hundreds of men to their deaths.
"DARK MAGIC: POSSESSION"
He snapped out of his trance. He tried to push her away but was already too late. The witch inched slowly towards Gray, her lips about to touch his. He stared at her wide-eyed knowing exactly what the witch was about to do and he could hear Juvia screaming in the background. But what he thought was an incoming kiss was actually a ruse, for the witch passed through him - as if she were a shadow, and disappeared.
Gajeel stood there looking at Gray who at one point was having a staring contest with the witch and the next she was gone and Gray was standing still with his arms slumped to his sides. His head was bowed down as if he were sleeping standing up. He tapped his shoulder trying to wake him up when suddenly Gray punched him in the gut bringing him to his knees. Blood spewed from his mouth and his eyes bulged out from the sudden impact. Trembling from the pain he looked up at Gray only to meet his knee making contact with his face bringing out more blood and bruises. The impact made him dizzy but he brought up enough strength to stand up and move away from Gray before he could do any more damage.
"Oi. Oi. Oi. What the hell are you doing, Gray?" Spitting blood from his mouth "You sure know how to pick a time to fight me. Now of all times."
But there was no response and Gray still had his head bowed down.
"Oi! You listening bastard?"
And as quick as lightning Gray attacked him with his Ice Make Sword and this time Gajeel was able to block it.
"I was saying, what's with you all of a sudden?" He pushed him back. "You want to fight me that badly, huh?"
Still there was no response.
A vein popped out "Say something you bastard!" He grabbed a fistful of Gray's hair seeing his eyes for the first time.
Blood red eyes.
"Don't tell me -! She - ?!" He was cut off with Gray's sword slicing his torso. He jumped back clutching his chest to stop the blood gushing out of his wound.
"I knew it. You're the witch, aren't you?"
"Ku ku ku..." Gray chuckled. "You found out." He brushed his hair aside. "Cool, isn't it?" He winked at him, did a peace sign and stuck his tongue out. "Te he."
"Stop that! It's weirding me out!"
"Awww..." he pouted "don't be such a sour puss, Gajeel-chan~!" and winked.
"Seriously! Stop doing that! Seeing Gray doing that-!"
The witch laughed. "Man, you're always so easy to tease! Haha! You never cease to amuse me."
"What do you want with Gray?"
"Nothing actually. I just want to see how you'll do if one of your comrade starts attacking you."
"This is pointless, you know? I'll still kick your ass no matter whose body you possess."
"Heh. We'll see about that!"
The witch in Gray's body went into position and made his signature attack.
"ICE MAKE LANCE!"
Gajeel dodged and attacked.
"IRON DRAGON'S KUNAI!"
He caught two of the kunai and threw it back to Gajeel which hit him in the shoulder and grazed him in the cheek. He could feel his magic running out and thought his vision was getting blurry, but he couldn't stop, not when he knows Gray's life is at stake.
Gray chuckled. "I just learned something interesting."
Gajeel, though suddenly confused still remained on guard for what is yet to come.
"It seems that this guy has something great hidden in his sleeves." He grinned and Gajeel was further confused.
'What the hell is she going on about?'
"You don't believe me, do you?" He chuckled. "Well then, let me show you."
He positioned his arms in a cross pattern - one, faced upward and the other, faced downward.
"Iced Shell. A powerful Ice Spell that freezes the target without ever melting for all eternity."
He kept his stance waiting for something to happen. "So? You're gonna freeze me for all eternity, so what? How do I know that you're not bluffing? I don't even think that guy is capable of a magic that advanced."
"Oh, but he is. Didn't he ever tell you? This was the magic that got his teacher killed."
'Ur?'
"According to your friend's memory, this is the magic that encased the demon Deliora for years. And his beloved teacher died doing that."
"Like I said, so what? What're you trying to get at?"
"You still don't get it?" He chuckled.
"Gajeel-kun!" He heard Juvia's voice. "Don't let Gray-sama do it!"
He looked at Juvia questioningly.
"That magic is dangerous! If Gray-sama uses it, both of you will die!"
Eyes wide, he looked at Gray to confirm this.
"She's right." He chuckled. "This magic is a double-edged sword. The target will be encased in ice forever but in exchange the castor's life would be transformed into the ice that encases the target."
"Like a living ice cage."
"Exactly. I'm so glad you've finally caught on!"
"You bitch. If you do that, you'll die too!"
"No." He grinned. "I won't be affected... because; it's not my life force I'll be using to cast this magic."
He growled. "Alright. What do you want me to do?"
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow. "Trying to negotiate with me, huh?"
"Of course! You wouldn't have told me all of that shit if you were serious in killing me. Otherwise it'd be boring for you."
His cheeky grin then turned into a frown.
"Don't act as if you know me!" He snarled. "But, you're right; everything would be boring if I were to do that. So... I'll be giving you two choices."
He waited.
"Kill me... or everyone in here will die."
"What?!" He exclaimed.
"You heard me. If I use 'Iced Shell' all of you won't be able to escape. But... if you kill me in this body then all of you will be saved."
"But Gray will die!"
"Life is unfair. What better way to sacrifice one man to saved the many? I'd choose to kill your friend if I were you."
"No! I won't do it. I won't kill that guy."
He shrugged. "Your choice." Then he went into stance. "Now die."
As Lucy and the others were fighting the golems, they all suddenly felt a chill ran over them and the powerful yet familiar magic aura emanating from Gray. The ground turned into ice and the golems partially froze. A swirl of blue and white surrounded Gray and a large, bright magic circle formed under him. Lucy, Juvia, Wendy and Lily all looked towards their comrade who was under the spell of the black witch and watched with wide eyes on the scene happening before them.
'This magic, it's just like back on Galuna Island.' Lucy thought.
"Gajeel- kun! Stop Gray-sama!"
Gajeel on the other hand couldn't move. The sting of the cold biting on his skin and shards of ice slicing his cheek, he could nearly feel his body going numb.
'Is this what it's like to freeze to death?'
"Hasta la vista, Foxy~"
There it is again. That nickname only she knew. Right then and there he knew without a doubt who he was facing. All the signs were right there before him and yet all it took was that one nickname to tell him who she really was. With a smile on his face he looked at her with all the love and affection he could muster from the feelings left for her.
Gray's eyes turned wide when he saw him look at him with such warmth. Inside, the witch pondered over the look he was giving her. The face full of warmth that was somewhat familiar to her. She hesitated for a moment when she saw he was about to say something but snapped right after recalling the main reason she was doing all of this.
'For the both of them.'
With a big breath, he shouted at the top of his lungs.
"ICED"
"Gray!"
"Gray-sama!"
"SHEL-"
*CRASH*
The sound of something exploding was what they all heard. All eyes were fixed on the spot where Gray - who was standing just a moment ago, now lay crumpled on the ground with a huge crater underneath him and someone standing over him all smoking and ablaze in orange and yellow flames.
"Sorry I'm late everyone."
It was like a beacon of hope had come over them and they all lit up like they saw a light in a dark tunnel. Natsu stood over him, his fist smoking and mouth still consuming the remains of his 'meal'. Wiping his mouth off he gave them his signature grin and they let out a breath they were all holding in, relieved to see their comrade finally back to his normal self.
"Natsu!" Lucy shouted. "How-?"
"Happy and Charle took me in the middle of the woods and started a fire. Thanks to that I'm fired up again." Smacking his fist against his palm "Now that I'm already full, let's wrap things up in here, shall we?"
He grabbed Gray by his hair and was about to bring a fist to his face. The witch who lost conscious because of the impact became fully aware on what's about to happen to her, snapped her eyes open and quickly released Gray from her spell and went back to her own body. Gray, who just regained his own conscious mind, met a fist to his face courtesy of Natsu.
Gajeel watched everything that was happening from the side, even when Natsu swoop in and attacked Gray he never moved an inch. His unspoken words to her still remain in his mouth ready to let it out. When he saw Natsu about to give Gray a punch to his face he saw Gray's red eyes looked up at Natsu and in a flash transformed back into his dark ones. At that moment he knew that he was released and immediately searched for body of the witch. From the corner of his eye, there he saw it, a body slowly morphing back into the figure of a woman. He knew it, right then and there what needs to be done.
He transformed his arm into a sword and the moment the witch regained her figure, with quick precision, stabbed the witch right through her heart. He didn't stop there, he kept pushing and twisting until the tip of his sword came out from her back. This time, without a doubt, he knew that the witch was finally defeated.
Blood came out from her chest and her mouth. There was so much blood that she was choking on it. She saw the look in him, that same look he gave her before but with a hint of disdain. She smirked, knowing full well that her disguise didn't fool him and she knew that somehow he came to know who she really is.
Accepting her defeat she closed her eyes and let the darkness consume her, but before she could disappear she felt him lean in and whispered in her ear.
"I love you."
Her eyes snapped open and she stared at him wide-eyed. She searched for something in his eyes but found that he was actually telling the truth. His heart was laid out in the open and he didn't even give a damn whether she was the enemy or not.
"How could you say that to your enemy?"
"Somehow... I get the feeling that..." he gulped "this might be the last time I get to see you again."
He removed her mask "Nightmare."
Tears flowed down from her eyes and she had no way of stopping them.
"Idiot. Just when I thought I'd die a peaceful death you went ahead and ruined it." She bit her lip "That's mean."
He caressed her cheek "I really do love you. All these years, I still do."
Sniffing, she leaned in to his touch, grateful for the warmth it provided. Her magic was slowly dissipating as well as her body and she knew that she didn't have much time left.
"Honestly, I'm glad I met you, Gajeel." She smiled.
With her whole body cracking and fragments of her blowing away with the wind she said her final words to him.
"Thank you."
A/N: Such bittersweet ending :'( I feel sorry for poor Gajeel. Welp. Anyway… a big thank you to those who put this story on their favorite list :D You have no idea how much I'm grateful that there are people who actually read my story :D I'm really sorry for the late updates though, I'm in my 3rd year in college and things are getting really hectic. Very sorry about that. But! I'd really appreciate it if you guys leave some reviews and opinions about this. I'll gladly accept all of it even the negatives :D
