Chapter 12: Laxus vs Ivan

"hahahaha!" laughed Ivan. "Defeat me, Laxus? Let's see about that then?!" he moved in to attack.

"Shikigami Dark Bomb!"

"Thunder Dragon's Breakdown Fist!"

Both magic attacks clashed at each other, causing an explosion. Once the dust submerged, both mages were punching each other. They were 50-50, but Laxus managed to get one punch into Ivan's stomach, forcing him to retreat.

"Raging Bolt!"

Thunder struck Ivan and he screamed in pain.

"Thunder Dragon's Spear!"

Laxus's thunder spear hit Ivan directly in the chest, and exploded. Ivan screamed in pain more. However, the scream soon changed into hysteric laughter, which made Laxus frown.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Because it is funny" Ivan continued to laugh hysterically. "It's funny you're attacking me, isn't it? Hmmm…" he continued, which made Laxus feel weird about this man standing in front of him.

What has happened to him? Has the darkness consumed him that much?

"You're insane"

"Insane, am I? Well well" Ivan laughed. "We'll see about that!" With that, he put his two hands together and clapped. Magic started to gather around him.

"Dark Gate!"

A dark gate formed of darkness formed in front of Laxus. The dark gate opened, and a being stepped out of the gate. It was a woman. It was…

"Mum?"

"Hahahahahaha!" screamed Ivan with laughter. "Glad to know you haven't forgotten about your own mother!"

Laxus's expression was nothing but shock. He couldn't believe Ivan would scoop down to that level.

Laxus's dead mother attacked him again and again, him blocking it. He couldn't attack his mother, that's mum, I can't. I –

He looked into his mum's eyes. They were emotionless, no light in them. It was only darkness projecting from them

No. That is not my mother. She was full of life. That is not her!

Ivan then sniggered. "Can you hurt your own mother, Laxus?"

That FUCKER!

Laxus clenched his fists. Lightening started to form around him, and created a force field around the Thunder Dragon Slayer. Laxus's face was murderous.

"Thunder Dragon's Roar!" he screamed.

Laxus's attack hit the dark being (his mother) and hit Ivan. Ivan screamed in pain.

"How.. can you do that?! That's your own mother!"

"No it's not" Laxus replied. "My mother is dead. And it was a mistake" he stepped towards Ivan, "to bring her into this. How dare you bring her back like that?! How DARE you tarnish her memories like this?! HOW DARE YOU!" he finished with a scream.

Ivan only sniggered as he got up. "Well well, a child's tantrum. I'll stop that" He went to attack Laxus again.

"Black Hole!"

Laxus was ready to attack, but realized his thunder was getting sucked into the hole his father created. He tried to call more magic to create thunder, but his magic was being sucked out of him.

"Now you will know the wrath of my anger!" he said, while raising his right hand, and pointed at Laxus.

"Black Thunder!"

Black thunder struck Laxus from above. Laxus anticipated this, but he didn't realize it was stronger than he thought. He let out a scream of pain.

"ARRGH"

"HAHAHA!" screamed Ivan. "Take that, you scum of a son! Another, and another!" Ivan kept pointing his finger and Laxus, and the attacks continued.

"How does it feel getting attacked by your own magic, hmmm? Asked Ivan with a smirk.

Laxus was still standing, but his injuries were getting worse and worse. Part of his arms were burnt heavily, and his left eye was shut from injury.

"What… are you try… ing to accomplish with siding… with them?" Laxus panted to his father.

"What I want to achieve?" said Ivan Dreyar, sounding dumbfounded. "To restart my life"

Laxus froze with that statement. "What?"

"I… I want to restart my life! I want to get rid of this world, and start over! I have lost everything! EVERYTHING! I will rid this world that has failed me, and restart in the new one!"

"YOU IDIOT!" shouted Laxus.

Scales started to form on both of Laxus's arms. His thunder changed from yellow to purple, and back to yellow. It was-

"Dragon Force" Ivan said.

"But how can you use Dragon Force? Second generation Dragon Slayers cannot activate that"

"It's not Dragon Force. This is my anger", said Laxus. His tone was that cold and intimidating, Ivan took a step back.

"Anger?" shouted Ivan. "See about THIS!"

Darkness surrounded Ivan, and consumed him, making him just as intimidating as Laxus. Laxus was unfazed by his father's sudden change.

"This is it", said Ivan in a dark tone.

Both mages took a step back, gathering their magic in one place; their fists. When they were both ready, they went in for their final move.

"LAXUS!"

"IVAN!"

Both men's fists collided against each other, and caused a massive explosion, with light engulfing the middle. There was a flash of light, and everything went silent.

Laxus was standing there, in the light. He opened his eyes, and his surroundings was gone; there was nothing but light around him.

"What is this?"

"What are you doing here?" said a voice from behind him.

He looked back, and it was Ivan. But he did not look like Ivan in the present; he looked younger, more mature, and with light in his eyes.

"Who are you?"

"I'm your father. Well, what's left of him anyway", said the being.

"Where are we?"

"I'd thought you'd be smarter than that. Where do you think we are?"

Laxus looked around, and realized, "I'm in my father's… heart?"

Ivan smiled, "That's my son" which made Laxus look away.

Ivan chuckled. "I'm not surprised you look away. I wasn't a good father as I wanted to be"

"What happened to you?" asked Laxus.

Ivan looked around. "As you have guessed, this is in my heart. I used to look like this, until I was consumed by my own hatred and darkness"

"I tried to be the best for you, Laxus, even if you won't believe me. I tried, but I couldn't do it. I let my greed and my arrogance get the better of me. I forced Master to get me kicked out of Fairy Tail. I swore revenge on the guild, and you. When you didn't follow me, I thought you abandoned me. That's when I let the darkness into my heart. I thought I could gain more power to overcome you and the guild. But that was wrong"

Ivan looked into the distance, "I let the darkness consume me like wildfire. I wasn't me anymore. The person you were fighting against is what I have become now. I cannot turn back"

He looked back at his son, "I'm sorry, Laxus. For everything"

Laxus was dumbstruck. He was staring at the shadow of his father, what he was before the darkness started to consume him. "Why didn't you come to me sooner?! I would have told you why I stayed! Fairy Tail is my home, my family!"

"I know", said Ivan. "Never let go of that, Laxus. They will be there for you, forever. Master too" Ivan smiled, "father will always be there for you"

Ivan started to disappear from the legs. Laxus was staring at it, "What is happening?"

"My time is up", said Ivan. "The darkness has completely consumed me. I am finished. When I go, Ivan is dead"

Laxus stared at his father's heart disappearing. "Don't look like that" chuckled Ivan. "It's not much of a loss, I wasn't a good father to you"

"You're still my dad"

Ivan stopped chuckling, and looked at Laxus. He was crying. "No matter how much pain you caused to me, my friends, to gramps, you are still my dad. I will never forget that"

Ivan looked shocked. Then he smiled sadly, a tear dropping from his eye, "Thank you, Laxus"

Ivan was almost completely disappeared. "Can you do me one last favor?"

"What is that?" asked Laxus.

"Tell the Master… tell my dad…. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't make him proud. But I was glad that he was my father"

Laxus was crying. While sobbing, he nodded.

Ivan smiled for one last time, "Thank you Laxus. My son. Goodbye"

And with those last words, Ivan disappeared.

- Outside Devil Eye's layer -

The fight between the Fairy Tail mages and the Devil's Eye mages was closing to an end. Majority of the Devil's Eye mages were defeated, but some were making their last stand. Master Makarov was near the back, using his Giant magic and crushing all opponents.

While he was fighting, Makarov felt a severe pain in his chest. He kneeled down on one leg, wondering what the pain was. But then he realized. He felt what had happened. He felt… he felt….

"Master, are you ok?" asked Meledy.

Master Makarov didn't answer. When he looked at Meledy, he was crying. "Nothing, my child" he said. He wiped his tears, and looked upon the last of the remaining Devil's Eyes mages.

"Lets get this over with", he said with a tone which Meledy knew too well; he was fighting to not cry.

- Back in the Devil's Eyes layer -

The light subdued, and the dust settled. In the middle of the room, a crater had formed. Inside the crater, Laxus was kneeling on one knee, using his left arm to keep balance. His right arm was damaged severely. He looked upon the floor.

Ivan was lying down on the floor, not moving. He was defeated, his magic depleted, and he had passed on from this world. Yet, his face expression was one of smiling slightly, as though he was at peace at last.

"You were a joke of a father", Laxus said. Tears were flowing down his face. "But you were my dad"

Looking up, he said these words.

"Thank you. I love you, dad"