Chapter 21

Battle cries echoed throughout the city as Fairy Tail was battling the demons. Gray was fighting off a disfigure demon who had pale blue skin and large arms.

"Ice make: Death Scythe!" He creates his weapon and jumps up and penetrates the monster's skin and his shoulder. It howled; but, it grabs the scythe and crushes it. He then grabs Gray with his arm. But, he moves out of the way.

"Super Freeze Arrows!" He has a bow in hand and shoots the arrows at its face. Didn't faze him one bit. One of the arrows hit his eye directly. He roared in pain. Gray places his hand on the floor.

"Ice Make: Floor!"

The ground turned into ice and the monster slip on the ice and was heading toward him. Juvia had come in front of Gray and unleashes her attack. "Water Nebula!"

A whirlwind of water scoop up the monster into the air as he feels the stings of hot water coming from it. Juvia nods back at Gray to give him the final blow. He once again plants his hands on the ground.

"Ice Geyser!" The ice emerges from the ground up and froze the demon completely. As it fell and hit the ground, the ice was smashes into pieces.

"Not bad for an ice mage." she said to him. Gray smirked at her. "Oh, are you saying you're better than me?" he said. She walks toward him. "Of course not. You better in a lot of other things." Gray smirk. He knows that other thing he's good at with her.

Suddenly, demon came behind her. But, she was quickly to act and kicks it in the jaw. Then, Gray brought down the hammer. No pun intended. And smashes its head down to the ground, causing its neck to snap.

There were so many demons surrounding them. But, they continued to fight against them to protect their city.

Meanwhile, Jellal and Erza were also fighting against demons. Erza reequipped into her Lightning Empress Armor and shoots out lightning at her enemies. Then, Jellal form behind unleashes his ultimate attack.

"Grand Chariot!"

Falling meteors crashes on the demons causing an explosion. However, when more was defeated, more was sent out.

"More keep coming and coming." Said Jellal.

Then, Natsu comes out of nowhere and fly through them thus burning some of them in the process. All of his focus was on the giant creature that was heading towards the city. He looks and witnesses the red blanket of lava heading towards the city. He soars up a little higher as the glance at the giant serpent. It sees the Salamander and gave a battle cry. It reaches it claws and attacks him. Natsu moves out of the way and hit with combination of attack.

"Fire Dragon…Iron Fists! Fire Dragon Brilliant Flames! Fire Dragon Roar!"

They all hit the flying serpent; however, it only angers it a bit more. It slashes out at Natsu a little bit more but Natsu kept dodging all of it attacks. Then, Natsu gave the same attack and he broke some of the scales on to body. It howled in pain and once again attacks him. This time it move it long tail and send him flying.

Natsu kept on falling until he saw the lava. He quickly reduces speed and climbs back in altitude. However, Unware of his surroundings, the sky demon spew out flames at him. Natsu around and sees them; but, he couldn't counter it as it was approaching to him. His eyes started to widen as the target reaches it mark.

Lucy opens her eyes. She could remember hear an explosion from the outside. She looks on her side to see that Dunate is still sleeping. She could the war going on. And she could hear the demons falling one by one. But, she could listen to sound of the mage and warriors falling. Her nakama. She was very worried and scared.

She grips her hands on the sheets tightly as she hears everything that's happening. Tears started to fall on her face.

"Don't cry." Someone said to her. She glances up and sees a woman in white dress standing before her. A spirit.

"Please, I mean you no harm. My name's Candice Lo."

"You're Natsu's former lover, right?" She asks. She nods responsively.

"Please, I need your help."

"Why? What has happen to you? Natsu said you're body was burned and thrown into the sea as a memorial." Lucy covers her mouth. She didn't mean to say that. Especially in front of the dead.

Candice frowns and explains everything to Lucy. "My body is gone, yes. But, my spirit is trapped in the gates. You see the leader of our village believe there was hell in this world. So, he decides to open it and in order to do it. He needed a pawn. And that pawn was me. I tried to find Natsu and leave as quickly as I can. But, it was too late. They tied me down on the stake and burn me."

"However, when Natsu saw me burn, he started to go insane and kill townsfolk and did something to ritual which made it incomplete. So, my body was burned. And my spirit is trapped inside. However, I don't have much time. The power is eating away my soul."

"So, what should I do?" Lucy said.

"Well for starters, those three crystals are trapped inside the fire serpent's body. You must defeat it and destroyed the crystal along with it. What it will do it reverse the process and send all the demons back to Leyno and they'll remain there for all eternity."

"What about you?"

"You'll free my soul from the gate. You're a celestial mage like me. I'll lend my powers. And with your combine and I'll be free the gates chains."

Candice held out her at Lucy. She extends her own and a light beginnings to glow. Candice can feel the chains on her ankles begin to rust away. She smiled and as the last of her powers began to fade into Lucy's body.

Lucy herself can see scars on her body fading away and inside of her was healing up as well.

"Lucy, a favor. Please take good care of Natsu. He can get quick to anger but, he needs someone to be there for him." said Candice as her soul start to glow.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of him." She gave a smile to Candice. Candice soul starts to fade away and disappears. Lucy gets up and grabs her whip, keys and the scarf . She sneaks out of the infirmary by going out the back window. She was able to slip and lands on her feet.

She ran out of the guild to find Natsu and explains to him everything. Just then, a big demon was standing in her path. It tries to smashes her into the ground. But, Lucy does a back flip and avoids getting hit. She takes out her whip swirls it around wraps it around its neck. It glows and suddenly it was on its knees. She pulls her weapon with force, and the monster was pull towards her.

Her feet start to glow . "Lucy Kick!" Her massive crushes the monster 's face, spinal cord, and jaw and send him flying into the sky and into the lava. She was amazed by the amount of power Candice had given her. She continues to run saying.

"Natsu, I'm coming to help."

To be continued…