AN at the bottom, I hope you all enjoy the chapter:)
"Is it time yet?"
"No."
"Why the hell not?"
"Because the master says so."
"What's he waiting for?"
"I don't know."
"Well why don't we-"
"Gray, if you don't be quiet this whole sneak attack will have been for nothing!"
The members of Fairy Tail (and various other guilds) sat crouched down low in a dark tunnel.
Erza was at the head of the group with Gray and Happy sitting right beside her.
No more than a foot ahead of Erza was a light radiating from above the tunnel.
Master Makarov sat below the light, judging at what time his attack should begin.
Just as Makarov was thinking his army would have to move further down the tunnel he heard countless voices.
"Now that the Dragon Slayer has been transformed it'll only be a matter of time before he kills that girl!" The owner of the booming voice was Laxus, "Then we'll use him for our army but for now we wait for those Fairy Tail weaklings to show up!"
As Laxus said these words a cry of approval rang.
Just as Makarov thought: Laxus's army was right above them.
Makarov turned to Erza, his head nodding, as she returned the gesture and passed it on to the rest of the mages.
Then with God-like speed Makarov sent an explosion whirling right above his head.
Laxus's army looked around, completely caught off guard.
"What the hell is-" Laxus had no time to finish as countless members from guilds far and wide came forth from the hole in the ground.
"ATTACK! Go now everyone!" Makarov's cry sounded throughout the room as his newly built army came forth slashing their way through Laxus's men.
Erza was the first to jump out, swiftly swinging her sword with precise cuts.
Gray and Happy followed: Gray sending his ice to freeze numerous soldiers as Happy attempted to scratch at some faces.
The rest of the mages followed as the battle for Liceria began.
Laxus looked upon the scene with rage: he hadn't been expecting the guild to come from underground and he certainly hadn't anticipated that they'd have this many soldiers.
No matter: he would bring out his own backup.
"PLATON!" Laxus boomed, ready for the slimy mage to fulfill his orders.
When Platon did not come Laxus decided he had no time for waiting and made a dash to the dungeon where the vampires slept.
Makarov saw his grandson making a run for it and quickly followed.
He wouldn't let Laxus get away.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Lucy cried out as she barely avoided another of Natsu's flames.
It was no use.
Natsu was just too strong and Lucy was growing very tired.
It wouldn't be long before she tripped up, allowing the fire to consume her.
She couldn't keep this going forever and by the looks of it, Natsu could.
Lucy dashed again as this time Natsu blew flames from his mouth.
Lucy screamed as one of the flames reached her leg, searing through her jeans and giving her skin a fresh, bloody burn.
Natsu let out a low cackle, one that Lucy didn't recognize.
This certainly wasn't Natsu she knew but some other monster.
But still, Natsu was in there…Lucy could feel it.
He wasn't gone completely, maybe if she could…
*FLASH*
More flames came spiraling towards the blonde, this time she was able to avoid them completely.
"Natsu!" Lucy called, "Natsu I know you're in there! You have to fight it! Fight the monster inside of you!"
The once cheerful Natsu remained expressionless as he sent out more flames.
"Please Natsu! Please try!" Lucy cried out another bit of fire almost catching her, "This isn't you!"
The man across from her still said nothing but instead of sending out flames, ran straight up to Lucy, punching her in the stomach.
For a moment Lucy completely lost her breath and as she hit the ground tried desperately to retain it.
As Lucy hit the floor Natsu kicked her side, causing the blonde to cry out.
Lucy attempted to bring herself up to runaway but as she scrambled to her feet, Natsu punched again, this time hitting the young girl's face.
Lucy fell again as fresh blood ran from her lip and nose.
Natsu threw Lucy against the wall, his hands gripping tightly around her throat.
Was this really how it was going to end?
Lucy gasped as she felt herself become weak.
"N-nastu," she rasped, "p-please."
This couldn't be it, just couldn't be.
Lucy would have never in her wildest dreams imagined that when she'd die it'd be at the hands of a friend.
Not just a friend.
"Natsu I-I have to tell you," Lucy tried desperately to get her last words out, she needed him to know, no matter how little of the actual Natsu was left, "I-I lo-"
Lucy could feel herself losing consciousness and just as she was about to black out completely it happened again.
Lucy's pocket began to glow, the light slowly becoming brighter and brighter until the entire room had been consumed.
Natsu cried out, dropping Lucy as the light became blindingly bright.
Lucy heaved and coughed, attempting to catch her breath.
When the young blonde finally regained composure the light had gone out.
Natsu stood clutching his eyes and Lucy took this opportunity to tackle the Dragon Slayer.
She knew he was strong but hopefully in his weakened state she would be stronger long enough to bring the real Natsu back.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Laxus made his way to the dungeon with stealth.
He would need the vampires to take down Fairy Tail and all their friends.
The mages were no match for the undead.
As Laxus made his way, Makarov wasn't far behind.
When the old man had finally gotten close enough to Laxus he tried a tactic he had not used in a long while: negotiation.
"Laxus stop!"
Laxus turned in obvious surprise, how had he let someone tail him?
"Old man?" Laxus looked on in even greater surprise.
"Laxus stop all this." Makarov said, slowing down, "Come back to Fairy Tail, take your rightful place beside me."
Laxus let out a laugh, "You'd like that! Then I could always be kept under your shadow, just like my father!"
"Your father was proud to serve his guild!" Makarov boomed, "He was honored to work alongside me, as equals!"
"He was weak!" Laxus screeched, "He was just a weak bastard, a disgrace! I'd never shame myself by being an equal, I am superior! I am the one who's going to rule all of Liceria and wipe out every mage who opposes me!"
"Laxus, it's your greed that will destroy you, stop now before it's too late!" Makarov tried again.
"Shut the hell up." Laxus breathed and started running again.
"Laxus!" Makarov called and began following his grandson again.
"You can't beat me!" Laxus called as the two entered the dungeon, "Not with my army of the dead!"
"The dead-" suddenly Makarov realized all too late, just what Laxus had in the depths of the dungeon.
"ÉCLAIR THE TIME IS NOW! BRING YOUR ARMY AND DEVOUR THESE FOOLS!"
As these words left Laxus's lips, a thousand red eyes opened.
Makarov looked on in horror at all of Éclair's vampires.
"Revenge." Éclair breathed and in a flash had taken off, towards the top floor.
"REVENGE!" All the vampires cried out and each followed their leader.
Makarov watched in horror as the vampires flew towards his guild.
"Laxus, what have you done?" Makarov shouted, his fists clenched tight.
"I've created the perfect army, and now I'll take you down." Laxus's body sparked electricity as he said these words.
"If that's the way it must be, then so be it." Makarov suddenly began growing, his body stretching higher and higher, becoming black.
"Lets' fight." Makarov growled through his new form.
"Whatever you say old man." Laxus said cackling and sent sparks of electricity flying towards Makarov.
Makarov ducked out of the way and smashed one of his huge hands against Laxus.
The spiky blonde flew against the wall but quickly retaliated with more electric bolts.
One grazed Makarov, as he cried out in pain.
Laxus rushed to take advantage of the opportunity and sent more sparks.
Makarov avoided these, sending a dark magic of his own, hitting Laxus.
Laxus cried out as he fell.
This was going to be a lot tougher than he thought.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
As Lucy tackled Natsu to the ground it occurred to her that this might not have been the best idea.
After all Natsu was much stronger than her, how was she supposed to keep him pinned down?
Lucy didn't know the answer to that question but she'd have to try.
Natsu made an 'omph' sound as Lucy pinned him down, his eyes still burning and closed.
"Natsu listen to me," Lucy breathed, the mage beneath wasn't struggling too hard, yet, "you have to fight that monster inside of you. I know this isn't what you want, I know you wouldn't hurt me but," Lucy could feel her voice hitching as tears threatened to fall down her cheeks, "Natsu if you don't stop him he'll kill me. I can't fight him off much longer, please Natsu..look at me!"
The man beneath the young blonde opened his eyes, and to Lucy's dismay they were still a sickly red.
"Natsu…" Lucy breathed as tears fell off her face and onto the Dragon Slayer's.
Suddenly Natsu kicked Lucy off, switching their positions.
"Die." Natsu breathed out again, and lifted one of his hands, as fire formed in his palm.
Lucy's tears continued to fall.
If this was how she was going to die then she at least wanted to say it.
And she'd be damned if she let Laxus's spell stop her.
The first rays of the morning sun peered through a window in the room as Lucy struggled to find her last words.
"Natsu," Lucy choked out, lifting her hand to touch the young man's face.
She was shaking uncontrollably but hoped she could keep things together to say what she needed to say.
"I want you to know that no matter what, even if this is how it has to end…I…I love you."
At these words Natsu's snarl slowly disappeared.
And at that moment the locket in Lucy's pocket began to glow.
It's light surrounded the two, flowing all throughout them.
The fire forming in the Dragon Slayer's palm evaporated, as his grip on the girl below him became loose.
Lucy saw the red in Natsu's eyes slowly fade, returning to the deep brown that she had known so well.
Then the light was gone, leaving a dazed looking Natsu.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Makarov fell as Laxus once again hit him with one of his thunderbolts.
The two had been fighting for quite some time now and Laxus was showing no signs of backing down.
Makarov knew he couldn't keep the fight going for much longer, his guild needed him!
The master of Fairy Tail had no idea how long his soldiers could keep fighting against an immortal army.
Hopefully until sunrise.
As these thoughts passed through the master's mind another bolt flew past him.
"Laxus," Makarov rasped, barely dodging the lighting in time, "please stop this madness! Come back to Fairy Tail, it's not too late!"
"Give it up old man!" Laxus shouted back, "I'm not joining you now or ever! Your guild is no match for my army of vampires! You'll all die!"
Makarov could feel every last ounce of hope leave as Laxus said these words.
"Then you leave me no choice." Makarov worked up all the magical energy he could and let loose one final devastating blow.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
"Erza, they're too strong!"
The members of Fairy Tail had been fighting for what seemed like hours against the monstrous vampires.
Gray knew just as well as everyone else that this battle was lost.
There could be no victory against the undead.
"Erza we have to fall back!" Gray tried again as he froze another of the flesh eating creatures.
"NO!" Erza screeched, "We fight til the death! If this is how it ends then so be it!"
Gray looked to the redhead, her eyes burning, and then turned to Happy.
"I'll gladly die beside my friend, aye I would." Happy said, his furry lips turning into a small smile.
"Me too." Gray said and gave the talking cat a stroke to the head.
Erza nodded and the three continued their fight.
Just then a flash of blinding light filled the room.
"What the-" Gray started and quickly closed his eyes as the whole room became white.
Down in the dungeon as Makarov unleashed his final blow the light filled the dark room, mixing with his own magic.
Laxus cried out as the magic hit him, reducing his body to nothing.
At this same time the vampires all let out ear piercing screeches as the light burned their rotten flesh.
Finally the light went out, leaving nothing of Laxus and the vampires but ash.
Erza stood stunned, not sure what to say or do for that matter.
Even Gray had nothing to say, as he turned to Happy, who merely stared in disbelief.
Makarov looked at the pile of ash that was his grandson with shock.
Then with a sad smile whispered, "The locket."
AN: Once again I'd like to thank all of you for reading my story and waiting so patiently for me to post the chapters. But that being said the final chapter is next!:) I'm so excited to finish this story and I thank all of you for reading and reviewing. Your reviews make me so happy and before I forget, Thank you to everyone who wished me good luck on my papers! That meant a lot to me:) But anyway I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and I look forward to ending this story with you in the next chapter. Thank you so much for being patient and an extra thanks to those who review, you guys really make my day:)