Chapter 10: Battle Against the Demon Malum

The fight from Tenrou to Clover was calm and short, the town's clock tower ringing noon as claw and boot hit ground. The sun had remained out and a slight breeze blew through the air. The only person who didn't seem to enjoy riding on Draconia was Freed, who had resigned himself to flying on his own two wings. Lucy was surprised that he was able to keep up with the Celestial Spirit Dragon as well as he did. Before the group went into Clover Draconia returned to her human form and the four of them sat down to come up with a plan, Freed leading the discussion.

"So, from what Makarov told us this Demon is called Malum. She seems to like to create chaos so more than likely she'll be in the center of town. Now her curse magic may not become an issue if we are able to reason with her or defeat her right away because it takes time to formulate. However, should it come into play we would have to protect ourselves from it. I have a set of runes that should do the trick. If everyone would please give me their forearms."

The trio did so and Freed quickly wrote a set of runes of each person's forearm that when translated read "No curses shall effect any person, object, item, magic, soul, or health attached or connected to any part of this rune, that which it is written on, or its connections." Freed then wrote a set of runes on his own arm and continued.

"Now the question is how are we going to approach this demon? Will we still attempt to reason, and if we must fight then how will we attack? Laxus, you're the team leader."

Laxus closed his eyes in thought as he spoke.

"Well everyone here heard what Gramps said. More than likely she won't work with us and it will lead to a fight, so that's what we need to focus on. Of course, we can still attempt, but it's pretty much a lost cause. That in mind, when I first talked to Tenebris about all of this he said something very important. These demons are weak to light, holy, and spirit magics. Which is probably why Nox went after Yukino. You take it from here Freed."

"Hmm… until we see how strong these demons really are, we should put our strongest out front. That would be Laxus, with your lighting and celestial dragon slaying forms you would hit the hardest. Supporting Laxus should be Lucy, your Celestial Spirits and Heavenly Ecriture to protect him from attacks and allow him to hit Malum at full force. Our other main hitter should be Draconia. Your magic is considered a holy magic and a spirit magic, it would also be very effective against a demon. I would be your support as I can easily protect you from any shadows she may send out."

Draconia laughed and then spoke.

"That plan is brilliant. If you can protect me while dragon boy is distracting her I can perform a purifying aura that would cleanse the magic right out of her and eliminate her connection with Nox."

Laxus stood up and began walking into the town, Lucy close on his heels.

"Then what are we waiting for? We have a demon to defeat!"

~5 Minutes Later, center of Clover ~

When the team finally found Malum she was standing on top of a building, remotely controlling shadows to torment the citizens. Freed and Lucy quickly put up a barrier as Laxus addressed the citizens. Draconia turned into her semi dragon form, wings sprouting from her back and tail sprouting from her tail bone; her outfit morphing from a blue dress into pants and a corset as silver and blue tattoos formed in the center of her bosoms, up her shoulders, and down to her hands. A pair of thigh-high three-inch stilettos then appeared on her feet. Her voice deep as she addressed the demon.

"I really don't want to cause a scene here, how about you surrender?"

Malum laughed, her high-pitched voice ringing through the city in stark contrast to Draconia's. She only stood four feet tall, her long black hair moving in a weird pattern, almost as if it was possessed. She wore a short pair of black shorts with black and red leggings under them which were in turn tucked into a black par of combat boots. Complementing the shorts was a black hoodie that had thumb holes in the sleeves. Malum suddenly stopped laughing and began to levitate, shadows forming from her hair and bottom of her feet.

"You're some sort of crazy, me surrender? Do you even know who I am? I am Malum, demon of darkness created by Zeref and ruled by Nox!"

Laxus, Lucy, and Freed walked up behind Draconia, Laxus chuckling at the small child-like demon before him.

"And here I thought you'd look menacing. I was expecting to fight a cute goth want to be kid."

Laxus's comment seemed to enrage Malum as she began to shout at him at the top of her lungs and lunged her shadows at the group.

"SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP! You know nothing of me!"

Everyone was quick to move out of the way of the shadows and get into their positions. Draconia began to recite the purification spell, holding her arms to the heavens eyes closed in concentration. Freed stood by, effectively eliminating any attack that neared her.

"Soul bound to ground through sin,

Hear me and be purified:"

At the same time Laxus was throwing volley after volley of attacks at Malum. Lucy had summoned Loke and Leola. The mage and spirits deflecting any shadow that came near Laxus with efficiency, accuracy, and extreme prejudice. The two mages could hear Draconia's voice as it rang throughout the square and slowly gained volume.

"Ingreditur fines deorum,

et dimittantur eis peccata peccati."

The shadows started coming at the group faster and stronger, Lucy and Freed barely keeping up.

"Factum throught brachia angeli,

et obliviscere dolor aeternitatis."

Malum once again increased the ferocity of her attacks, the shadows becoming bigger, faster, and stronger. The group was slowly being overwhelmed so Laxus released a powerful spell.

"CELESTIAL LIGHTNING DRAGON'S SECRET SLAYER ART: HEAVENLY BOLTS!"

The sky above the battle darkened and planet-like orbs appeared. The orbs then began to spin rapidly and crash together, each collision sending an ethernano filled blue and yellow bolt into a group of shadows destroying them. Meanwhile, Lucy had pulled out her katana and transformed into her Heavenly Star form, simultaneously sending Loke and Leola back to the celestial realm for rest. Draconia's voice then sounded through the air again.

"Tum redi ad nos in hac mortali regni,

Liberatis a peccato et poena,

totius humani generis tutelam dominabitur."

A bright light gathered in Draconia's outstretched hands before zooming towards Malum and striking her in the chest. When the bright orb hit her Malum screamed and her shadows vanished. She then began to slowly turn her back towards the ground. Once she was parallel with the ground she slowly descended, her screaming stopped, and her eyes closed peacefully. The group went over to her and saw that she was still alive, but magicless. Her once red eyes fluttered open to reveal gorgeous purple eyes, the mark of the heavens. Draconia returned to her full human form and knelt next to the girl.

"Who are you, girl?"

"I am Maloria, child of the heavens. Previously known as Malum, demon of chaos. I have entered the realm of the god and passed through the arms of angels, my darkness has been forgiven and extinguished."

"Good, it worked. You will come with us to see your creator, who has been cleansed himself."

Draconia then helped her up. As she did so Maloria's clothes slowly morphed into a knee length purple sundress that matched her eyes and her hair shortened to mid back, it no longer being possessed by shadows. The duo then met with the rest of the group. Laxus and crossed his arms and looked at the young girl before speaking.

"I definitely like this better then gothic want to be. Draconia, what are we going to do with the kid? Now that she's been cleansed we can't just leave her here."

"Your right Laxus, we cannot. We are going to reunite her with her creator. They are in the same boat now. This girl is not from this time."

"Gotcha."

Draconia then morphed into her dragon form and everyone, except for Freed, hopped on and the group headed back to Tenroujima.