11th chapter- enjoy!
I am really, really, really to the max sorry for not updating, for like, MONTHS! School started, and the 1st Tri PT's just ended.
I'd like to thank Shiary for reviewing. Stay loving and keep on reading!
Tnx for the Favorites and Alerts! :3
Sadly, I do not own Fairy Tail. But I do own my OCs. :):
Killing a "Bird" with Five Magic's Part 2
"How did this happen?" Erza demanded, dodging the attack from the new monster which Mere called Έξι Κτήνος, which was Greek for "Six Beast."
"Mere, you never told us that Τρεις Κτήνος could become Έξι Κτήνος!" Natsu huffed, blowing a line of fire to the monster, but it seemed like it was five time faster now.
"I- I- I'm sorry! I- I forgot, okay?" Mere whined, closing her eyes, not caring that a monster was just one paw away from killing her.
"You forgot? That's unacceptable!" Erza growled, unsuccessfully slicing their enemy's eye.
"And where the hell did it get the wings?" Gray added.
"T- They got it from Charlie! Whenever a Τρεις Κτήνος combine theirselves with one another, and when one is able to capture something or someone with a magical ability, they're able to use that ability!" Mere cried.
"Then... Charlie's dead?" Happy's ocean- blue face morphed to ghostly white.
"N- No. She still has some time left. But... she's in the stomach now- getting digested, so that the monster will be able to use the magic more properly." Mere had a faraway look in her eyes.
"How'll we be able to get Charlie out if she's in the tummy?" Happy's eyes widened at the thought of it.
"One of us will have to get in and travel to its stomach?" Natsu suggested, wondering if his idea was stupid and crazy for the others.
But much to his surprise, Mere nodded gravely.
"You're kidding, right?" Gray wondered.
"Nope. I don't joke 'bout stuff like these!" Mere proclaimed.
"Then it's settled, we're going to send one us in!" Erza announced.
Mere and her companions hid behind a bush that could practically cover them all. They were going to stay there until their whole plan was approved.
"So... One of us will go in the monster's stomach..?" Gray asked.
"Yep."
"But then, who'll be the one sent to the monster's stomach?" Natsu asked. "Wait- it could be me!" He volunteered, his eyes shining with excitement.
"Um... That's nice that you volunteered, Natsu. But we need someone who's small. And can get out of the stomach Έξι Κτήνος as quickly as possible!" Mere giggled softly, then turned serious.
Everyone turned to stare at Happy.
"W- Who, me?" Happy stammered.
"Yes, you!" Natsu nudged his friend.
"B- But..." Happy imagined himself inside the monster's stomach. It was probably very, very dark. And how on earth would he be able to breathe when the monster closed its mouth?
"C'mon! Do it for Charlie!" Mere whined.
Happy's face paled again, remembering why he was being asked to go through a horrible journey inside the monster's stomach.
"I- I'm... going to think about it..." Happy mumbled shamefully.
"What? Why?" Erza demanded, eyeing the monster.
"B- B- Because... I- What if I die?" Happy responded fearfully.
"What if Charlie dies?" Mere shot back. "Without us trying to save her?"
"We... are trying..."
"Oh yeah, how? Tell me!" Mere glared at Happy.
But before Happy could even respond, Έξι Κτήνος spotted them.
"Gray!" Erza warned, sensing that their enemy was about to attack the Ice mage.
"Got it!" Gray replied. Using his Ice magic, he was able to create a huge boomerang. "Huuyaah!" He aimed the boomerang at the beast and threw it. It hit the side of the monster, and blood seeped out- but it wasn't the kind of injury Gray was hoping for.
"So close!" He mumbled.
"Nike's Wings: Speed!" Mere had enough energy to use her magic and throw random objects that was within her reach. As she threw a big stone, she wondered if she could be the one to enter the monster. But then again, how would she be able to inform her friends about the monster's attacks? She could tell them all now, but she was sure that she was still forgetting something or maybe not.
I can't take the risk. We need to convince Happy somehow... She side- glanced at the cat, who was half- heartedly throwing rocks and sticks at their enemy.
"Happy!" Mere hurriedly flew to the cat, not even noticing that her speed caused Gray to cough up glitter. "Why? Why don't you want to do it?" She huffed when she reached Happy.
Happy faced Mere, his lips quivered. "'Cause I'm scared." He stated the obvious. "Why can't you?" He asked in return.
"I... How in the world am I supposed to help you guys with monster- with all the information and stuff? When I'm in its stomach?"
Happy saw the point, but still didn't want to do it. "I'm scared," he repeated.
"So am I. And everyone else. But, an anonymous person once said, 'A coward gets scared and quits, but a hero gets scared and still goes on.' Are you the coward or the hero?" Mere's lips curved into a soft, sad smile.
Can it be both? Happy recalled those times when he would get scared and backed out, but there were some days where he was still scared and did the job done. Am I the coward or hero today?
"So?"
Happy was speechless. But when the image of the scared- looking Charlie entered his mind, the way she was crying out for help, he made his decision nervously. "I guess, I'm going to be the hero today... I'll try to."
Mere grinned triumphantly and gratefully, just as Natsu, who overheard the conversation, let out a whoop. He leapt, grabbed Happy by the tail and threw the cat at the monster's second open mouth.
"I WASN'T REAADDYYY!" Happy shrieked as he went flying through the air. Fortunately, the monster closed its mouth before Happy could go in. Unfortunately, Έξι Κτήνος flicked Happy the way most people would flick their boogers.
"Natsu! Even if I already convinced Happy, our plan wasn't complete!" Mere chided the Fire mage.
"Sooorrry..." Natsu huffed.
"So... what's the final plan?" Gray called out.
"We find a way to stop the monster for me to enter?" Happy suggested, struggling to stand up.
"Hmm... Stop the monster, eh? I like that." Natsu and Gray grinned mischievously.
"Not the killing kind! As in like... the freeze kind...!" Erza barked.
"Oh. But we'll still kill it, right?"
"Something like that," Mere glanced at Happy who was finally able to stand up and fly away, before Έξι Κτήνος could step on him.
"Find a way to momentarily paralyze ugly face, then find a way for Happy to enter its tummy?" Gray thought.
"You just read my mind," Mere smirked.
oo00oo
"Hahh... Haah..." Mere huffed, her face dripping with sweat.
She watched as a handful of Erza's swords pierced the shoulder of Έξι Κτήνος. Gold blood seeped out, but it didn't seem to mind.
It's not working, Erza thought, how can we paralyze it?
"This ain't working!" Natsu cried out in a frustrated voice, eyeing Mere meaningfully.
"Mere- san, I'm not excited to enter its digestive system, but... this is taking a long time!" complained Happy.
"We're doing everything we can, Happy!" Gray yelled for Mere. "Now why don't you help us?"
Mere's ankle wings disappeared, and she landed on a bush with a soft thud. Great, I'm weakening again.
Eyeing the battle, she tried to find some ways to freeze the monster somehow. She thought of a few plans, but she knew they weren't effective. She turned her attention to Natsu, who has throwing huge fireballs at their enemy.
"Eat. My. ASH!" He screamed, aiming another huge fireball.
The sky was already starting to become a shade of black, so when the fireball sailed through the air, Mere caught sight of the shadow it created.
Fire! Night! Shadow! Of course! The young mage was so stressed that she forgot about her Dark magic.
"INCOMIIINNGG!"
"AAHH!" Mere jumped out of Happy's way.
"Ow...!" Happy groaned, landing on the bush.
"Ah, Happy- san, you okay?"
"Haii..."
"Happy, I have an idea that would end this more quickly," Mere whispered.
"Really? What is it?" The cat's eyes widened with anticipation.
Slowly, Mere crawled to another nearby bush, and grabbed her red sports bag. Happy watched silently as the blonde mage opened the bag and brought out few foods that she got from the train. She motioned Happy to come closer. Hesitantly, he did.
"Are you gonna feed us? For strength?"
"No, gimme your bag," Mere instructed.
Happy dutifully obeyed, handing the green pouch to her. Mere untied the knot, and checked the bag for a flashlight.
"Use the flashlight when you're inside Έξι Κτήνος," Mere said, dropping the variety of food in the pouch.
"What are you...?"
"When the monster can't move, show the food to it. It'll smell it, and open his mouth to eat the food," Mere explained, nodding at the pouch. "Once it opens its mouth, enter."
"W- W- Wait, what?"
"Just do it, I'll tell you when. You can choose any mouths the monster has. It will just lead to one stomach anyways."
"Y- Yeah, but... I-"
"Oh, and by the way, here." Mere fished out a test tube that was a few inches bigger than usual ones.
"What's this?" Happy shook the test tube and watched the sparkling blue and icy- white liquid slosh around. It felt cold. "Why aren't the colors of the liquid mixing? Kinda like oil and water."
Mere shrugged. "The only question I can answer is what that is. It's a liquid lacrima. An exploding one. Once you find Charlie, remove the cork, and let the liquid flow out. Once it mixes with the acid the stomach releases, it'll start an explosion. It's strong enough to kill our little beast. You better be quick if you don't want to get caught up." she warned.
Happy blinked. "T- That's pretty dangerous. And you still haven't told me how-"
"I'm not telling you. I'll show you."
Mere stood up and ran to Natsu, dodging stray attacks. The wings are getting bigger, which means Charlie is about to disappear. We need to this NOW!
"Natsuu! You think you can light your hands for a makeshift torch? A really big one?"
"What for?" Natsu replied, confused.
"Just do it, please?" Mere begged.
"But, I-"
"It's for the plan," Mere insisted.
"You already know an effective way to-" He stopped when Mere nodded. "Yes! Alright, alright, I'll do it."
"Erza, Gray! Find a way to corner the monster! I need to make him steady and not to move that much!"
Έξι Κτήνος didn't know what was happening, but it knew that something was definitely going on. After all, the mages were attacking with more force, speed, and gusto. And they had a light in their eyes that Έξι Κτήνος never saw before.
It did a tremendous roar when five of Erza's biggest and sharpest swords pierced its back and two of its paws. And instead of the blood seeping out slowly, it gushed out. But of course, the monster still struggled to fight. The monster flapped its wings, which pushed the mages backwards. It stomped weakly, making the ground shake.
"The heck?" Gray complained, trying to balance himself. "When will you die...? フロアFuroa!"
Not noticing that the floor was covered with ice, Έξι Κτήνος continued to stomp, and fell on the icy ground.
"RAAAAWWRRRR!" It bellowed, struggling to stand up. "Oof," the monster whimpered when it slipped.
"Natsu, now!"
Natsu set his hands on fire, and ran near the monster. Happy prepared himself for the attack by grabbing a sandwich and his flashlight from the green pouch.
Mere's eyes zeroed in the monster's shadow and muttered something under her breath. Then, she stepped on its shadow. To the other's amazement, Έξι Κτήνος stopped moving, but it seemed to be squirming a little.
"Happy, please, now! It's... a lil' bit strong... Resisting too much!" Sweat dripped from the young mage's face.
Happy put on a determined look on his face and flew to their opponent. When he aligned himself to the monster's nose, he noticed that it was struggling with all his might. Happy turned around and saw Mere still stepping on its shadow. Hmm... Funny.
"HAPPY!" Mere's shriek snapped him back to reality.
"Huh? Aye, um... Uh... Here... um, Thingy, thingy..." Happy sing- songed, nervously waving the sandwich and his pouch around.
It took three minutes for the blue cat to get the monster's attention, and when the monster turned to stare at Happy, his blood froze. All of the monster's feline eyes squinted as it sniffed the food. The first and fifth mouths were still roaring in anger, but the other mouths seemed to be drooling.
Effective, Happy thought.
Finally, the third head's mouth- where Happy was- slightly opened, ready to receive the meal and the one who was giving it. The head leaned forward, and just like that, gulped down the food and I'm- not- yet- ready Happy.
oo00oo
Happy was debating whether or not he was half- way near the stomach, when Έξι Κτήνος burped. It was so strong that it pushed Happy, warning him that he would be out of the monster's body in no time. Happy frantically sliced the air, searching something he can hold. He was almost outside when he grabbed something that was slippery and rain drop- shaped. The tonsils.
"Ah!" Happy screamed, almost slipping. He hoisted himself up, which was quite hard to do, considering he was holding a flashlight with his other hand. He held the tonsils tightly until the loud and stinky burp ended. "Finally..." He muttered, letting go of the tonsils and continuing his little journey.
Instead of the smooth journey he experienced a while ago, he was starting feel like he was in some roller coaster. Everytime he would start to be calm, the monster would jerk to left or right. And there were times where Happy would go up or down, depending if the monster jumped or landed on the ground.
"You, guys!" Happy complained. "Freeze him or something to make it easier for me!" But the only reply was his own echo. "Ow! Yuck!" He brushed his blue fur, just in case there was some slime when he accidentally made contact with the monster's guts.
This time, he flew faster. He knew that he was inside of the body for more than ten minutes. Any second, Charlie might die. No, don't think like that. Stay positive! But how could he? He was inside the monster. It was dark, possibly damp, and gross.
"C- Charlie?" Happy whisper- screamed. No reply. Louder. "C- CHARLIEE...?" It was still faint, but definitely louder.
This time he heard something, at first he thought it was an echo, but it was screaming his name, instead.
"Charlie?"
"H- H- Happy? Please help me? I'm... I'm-"
Pop!
"Huh?" Happy stopped momentarily, and turned around. Nope, no sign of something that pops.
A few minutes later, he heard it again, only it was louder. Followed by the pop was a scream. CHARLIE!
Angry energy filled Happy, charging him with strength and speed. Finally, he thought he saw a faint puke- green glow. He stopped when he went out of a cave- shaped entrance. The first thing he saw was the object emitting the gross- colored glow. It was an acid- looking liquid of some sort that took shape of a swimming pool. Next, he saw five other cave- shaped entrances. But what really surprised him was the pale white figure struggling not to be touched by the pool of acid.
"Charlie! Just... Just hang in there!"
The sickly- looking cat turned around, tears in her swamp- green eyes. "H- Happy," she called out weakly. "Help me."
POP!
"KYAAAH!"
Happy's wings buzzed like a hummingbird's as he flew to catch Charlie. Dodging popping acid bubbles, he finally caught Charlie.
"H- Happy... A- Arigatou." Charlie sobbed openly.
"Ah..." Happy didn't know what to do now. Charlie was little bit heavy, and it looked like her wings were too small to carry her. Thank goodness his pouch was falling, though. It was taking a little bit of the- "My pouch!" But the acid was starting to eat it.
"I- It doesn't matter, Happy. We have to get out of here. You don't want to die, right?" Charlie questioned.
"Yeah, but... The liquid exploding lacrima's there... And... And..."
Charlie's eyes widened. "But then that means-" She stopped when she heard something that resembled the crystallization of something. She and Happy looked down and saw that the acid was starting to turn into the liquid lacrima's color. Seconds later, the whole pool of acid turned into blue and white frozen acid, and the lacrima was slowly making its way to the monster's veins. Then, the stomach started to rumble, and the monster itself roared in pain.
"Happy, we better get out NOW!" Charlie shrieked, snapping Happy out of his woah state.
Once again, Happy was filled with energy as he to fly Charlie and his self to safety. But this time, it wasn't angry energy. It was nervous energy. Suddenly, it felt hotter. Both cats were starting to sweat, and there seemed to be some kind of orange glow behind them. Charlie dared to turn around and saw that lacrima was still doing its work, but what really scared her was the fire that was about to reach them.
"HAPPEEHHH!"
"I- I'm almost out..." Happy reached out his hand, like there was an invisible door knob that would make the monster's mouth open wider from the inside. No such luck.
"HAAAAPPPYYYY!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
oo00oo
Seeing Έξι Κτήνος explode into literally a thousand pieces could've made Natsu laugh. But not today. Not when his friend was inside. And Mere seemed to agree.
"C- C- C- Charlie?" Mere asked, tears starting to gather around her grey eyes. She looked around, expecting the others to tell her "this isn't real." But they were just gaping at the place where their opponent used to stand. She fell to the ground and started punching the dry ground. "Why? Why? Why?" She looked up at the skies and screamed again.
Gray glanced at Natsu worriedly. He wasn't moving. Is he frozen from shock? He had the idea to go and check the mage's pulse, but suddenly, Natsu opened his mouth and started cussing. When he finally stopped, he stomped towards Mere.
"Mere," Natsu said coldly, "stand up." The girl slowly stood, avoiding the harsh look in Natsu's eyes.
"I-" Mere shook. "I'm sorry. I- I didn't know that this would happen."
Natsu opened his mouth to speak, but Erza cut him off. "I don't know what you're planning to do with Mere, Natsu, but we could still look around for Happy and Charlie's bodies. Even if you think they're not alive, we should still go find them. Same goes for you, Mere."
Natsu grumbled, "I don't believe Happy's dead." and walked away.
Mere looked up to survey the damage. It looked like a massive building collapsed. It would've been less scarier, though, if the building wasn't made out of flesh, fur, and gold blood. Just then, the wind blew, sending tiny shivers down her back... and something light on her shoulder. She picked up a tiny green cloth that was smudged with soot. Rubbing it between her thumb and pointing finger, she realized it was the cloth used for Happy's pouch. With a regretful sigh, she let go of the tiny cloth and started to search for the cats along with her friends.
"Happy, Charlie?" Gray called out.
Erza stood straight as her eyes did the searching.
Mere nervously walked towards Natsu and bent beside him. "Natsu," Mere started, hesitantly helping the Fire mage carry a huge chunk of flesh. "I'm really, really, really, really sorry. I swear."
"I know that Happy's not dead," Natsu stated.
Mere crinkled her eyebrows in confusion. "Happy and Charlie are not dead, I know that too..." I guess. "But what if we find them in a coma state? Or what if they wake up and have am-"
"Happy and Charlie are not dead." Natsu insisted. "And I also know that they don't have coma or amnesia or any kind of sickness you can get from getting exploded out of some monster's digestive track!"
"O- Okay," Mere's voice faltered.
She was about to pick up fur, when she saw blue fur sticking out under a chunk of flesh. Mere's heart thumped loudly as she slowly removed the flesh. She practically screamed for joy when she saw Happy. He was unconscious, but surely breathing.
"Mere- san! I found Charlie!" Erza screamed.
"Yes, thank you!" Mere whispered, tears coming out. She picked Happy like a baby and made her way towards the others, who were surrounding Charlie.
When Natsu saw Happy, he pumped his fists in the air and grinned. Hugging the cat, he mouthed to Mere, Told you so.
Both cats were alive, but they were badly bruised, and practically furless. Yet, Mere and Natsu were thankful.
Just as Mere was about to pick Charlie, they heard clapping. The mages whipped their heads, and saw the Hunters in a V- like formation. Callan was at the middle.
"They won," Carrie whispered to Cassy.
"Congrats!" Callan grinned.
"Yeah, we won." Erza said firmly. "Where's Lucy?"
Rior pushed Lucy forward, who stumbled to the ground in her wedges. She didn't have any bruises, but she was pale and sweating. "You guys!" She managed to say brightly.
Erza nodded her greeting. "We'll be leaving now."
But before they were able to, Callan stopped them.
"Who says you can?" She fake- pouted. "Us Hunters still didn't get a chance to have fun with you guys."
Pls. review!
I know, I know. All talk and not that much action. But I promise I'll improve!