I'm finally done writing this arc. Am I the only one thoroughly sick of this arc? Yes? No? Ok, I'll shut up now.
"Nice work," Erza observed. "Let's get moving."
"Right," Lucy said.
"No!" the leader of the cultists, an old woman, cried. "W-Wait! We won't let you interfere with the Cold Emperor." She was being supported by a younger cultist.
"Those headpieces," Erza said softly. "You people are from Brago, aren't you? And you want revenge."
Zalty laughed maniacally, but he stopped he saw what Natsu was doing. He narrowly avoided his flaming punch.
"Are you sure that's wise?" he asked. "Using fire magic now will only accelerate Deliora's thawing."
"Deliora's being revived whether I like it or not," Natsu grimaced. "So I'm just going to have to use you as a warm-up!" He kicked at Zalty. "Besides, if it could be melted by fire magic, you wouldn't have gone through all of the trouble to make a Moon Drip. Bluff all you want, but I'm taking you and Deliora down!"
"I must say, I'm surprised that you are as fierce as you look." The ground rumbled. Most of the excess ice had disappeared.
"I got a bad feeling that ain't Natsu," Gray muttered as the ruins rumbled.
"The ceremony is finally underway!" Lyon grinned. "Deliora's ice is beginning to melt." Ur… "It looks like this is the end. None of you were able to stop it." Lyon held his arm up as he prepared his magic. "For so long I've waited for this! For ten years, I gathered allies and knowledge and eventually learned of this island. Galuna, the island that collects moonlight…" Ice birds attacked Gray. "We hauled Deliora here from Brago. That was three years ago!"
"You've been wasting time on this stupid plan for three years?" Gray shouted as he held up his ice shield against the birds."
"'Stupid'?!" Lyon shouted. Magic filled the air around him. "You've spent the last ten years leading a life of debauchery in a guild! How dare you say that?!" Gray dodged another bird.
"Because I put my faith in Ur's words!"
"In the western countries, there are lots of wizards more powerful than me."
"So I went west, and eventually made it to Fairy Tail! And she was right! The guild was so full of powerful wizards that I couldn't believe it!"
"I don't think I can help you," Makarov had said when Gray asked him about the Iced Shell. "The Iced Shell is based on the will of its caster. And because that will is absolute, no third party can melt the ice, no matter what magic they use."
"No way!" he protested. "You're telling me that even with all the strong wizards you got, you can't break the spell?!"
"Now that I think about it, there may be a way," Makarov brooded. Gray's entire face lit up. "On second thought, that's not a good idea." His face fell. "If you were to melt the ice, it would be the same as killing this Ur of yours."
"Looking back now," Gray told Lyon, "he must have been thinking of Moon Drip. I'm filled with disappointment when I think about my senior basically trying to kill Ur!"
"Say what you will; I've lived my life for this day. Our master is long dead. How can her students possibly surpass her now?! Think, Gray!" Ice formed around his head. "Deliora! I will surpass our master by slaying Deliora, the one thing she couldn't!"
"Your ambitious spirit is commendable!" Gray shouted. "But you haven't noticed that you strayed from the path at some point!" He shattered the ice with a sword he created. "You think someone who's been completely blinded can outclass Ur?! You're nowhere even close to surpassing her! Go start all over again!" He cut Lyon in half, but it was merely an ice clone.
"Fooled you, didn't I? Ice Make: Snow Tiger!" Gray jumped high above it.
"Ice Make: Prison! You see this, Lyon? This is what you are!"
"What?!"
"A beast in a cage lashing out at a world he barely knows!"
"Foolishness! I'll make quick word of your Maker magic!" The tiger tried in vain to break out.
"'Single handed Maker magic has poor balance. Your creations will let you down when you need them the most.' Sound familiar? Ice Cannon!" Lyon shouted in horror. "Ur taught us that, remember?" Lyon collapsed, unconscious. Gray watched for a moment, then felt the full effects of his pain. "I should've sealed this wound up first," he muttered, covering it with ice. The temple shook as something roared in fury.
Lucy and Happy cried out in pain as the roar echoed around the island. "What is that sound?!" Erza shouted.
Natsu's scream of pain was lost in the roar. He collapsed, holding his ears. The ice around Deliora's face cracked as a red glow appeared in its eyes. No. Not now! The ice shattered as the demon jerked its head up.
"Yes! It's free!" Zalty cheered. Deliora roared again. Its arms were free as well.
"That noise," Gray whispered. Deliora. Flashes of his past rushed through his mind. I can never forget that sound.
"Deliora," Lyon said softly, eyes wide open. They did it… They actually revived it. There's only one thing I can do now...Iced Shell!
Deliora roared. Natsu watched it with smoldering rage. His eyes widened at the feel. Is that even possible? "At last! At last the time has come!" Zalty laughed.
"What the heck was that noise?!" Lucy said. "It sounded like some kind of monster!"
"It was probably just your stomach!" Happy offered.
"You know, you're not half as funny as you think you are."
"Do you think that sound might have been Deliora?" Erza asked.
"Oh, no," Lucy gasped. "You mean… they brought it back to life?!" Happy gasped.
"See that purple light! It's the Moon Drip!"
"It must be," Erza whispered as Deliora roared again.
"You need to eat something, Lucy."
"And you need to shut up!"
"It sounds like Deliora, but the Moon Drip ceremony is still underway," Erza said. "In other words, Deliora's revival isn't yet complete! Come!"
"Deliora's below us!" Lucy shouted after her.
"We can still stop it if we halt the ceremony! Hurry!"
"I'm wasting my time on you!" Natsu growled. "I'm going to finish you right now!" A ball smashed into his head. His helmet gave a clear peal like a bell. "Ow...:"
"I believe I'll do just the same, dear Salamander." Dear? Natsu sat up, scowling.
"Bring it!" The orb hurtled toward him. He shattered it easily. Unfortunately, it healed itself like nothing happened. His scowl deepened. Curse the Arc of Time. It slammed into his gut. His eyes widened as he heard his armor crack. Impossible! This armor doesn't break!
"I have the ability to control an object's flow of time," Zalty smirked. "Surely you know this?"
"Yeah, I know," he grunted. "It means you can take the crystal back in time before it was broken. Lost Magic certainly has its perks, doesn't it?"
"Would you like to see what happens when I send the crystal into its future?" Uh-oh. The ball hit him over and over again. He barely had time to react. At last, he stood panting. So many cracks in my armor… It'll be practically useless at this rate. He shattered it again, but it just healed itself again. "Your fire won't help you!" He was prepared to punch it, but it froze inches away from his flaming fist. He could see his reflection in it.
"Of course," he muttered. "He can stop time for it as well. There is a drawback for the Arc, though. It doesn't work on people."
"True, true. Since Ur turned herself into the ice that encased Deliora, I can't turn back time for it. That's why we're using the Moon Drip."
"Good plan, but what's your motive? You're going through all this trouble to revive it, just so Lyon can defeat it. Why? What do you stand to gain?"
"I wouldn't know about the others. I joined them only recently, you see."
"That wasn't what I asked. What do you stand to gain?"
"You certainly know how to get to the point. The Cold Emperor has no chance of defeating Deliora."
"I see. So you plan on defeating it?"
"Don't be ridiculous! I want to control the demon." Natsu frowned.
"You really think Deliora will listen to you?"
"There are spells that give the caster the power to control immortal beasts like Deliora. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have such tremendous power at your fingertips?!"
"You're pathetic. Asking was a waste. You think just having a monster's going to make you tough? That's just stupid." Zalty laughed.
"I suppose you are too young to understand right now, but one day, you'll realize how important it is to have power!"
"I already know," Natsu said quietly. "The people I loved most are dead because I didn't have the power to protect them. I know that almost everybody has someone who cares deeply about them. And I won't let you make them feel the same pain that I felt! I'll use my own power to take you down, thank you very much!"
"Overconfidence shall be your downfall!" Zalty shouted as Natsu lit his hands on fire. "You will fall, exactly like the ceiling above you!" It might be a good idea to not announce your intentions to your enemies, moron. But the area of the falling ceiling was bigger than he anticipated.
"I've had enough of you and your buddies screwing things up for the people on this island. I think it's high time I put a stop to it!"
"You don't seriously believe you can stop my Arc of Time with your puny flames, do you?"
"I don't give a flying crap about you or your magic! Scram!" Natsu destroyed the multiple orbs with a single flaming punch. "I may not be able to control time in the way you do, strictly speaking, but I can control the future! In just a few seconds, I'm going to beat you senseless!" He punched Zalty hard in the face, sending him flying. He crashed into one of the rocks below. That's what I call going out with a bang, he chuckled to himself. I win.
Toby went flying with a single swipe from Erza's sword. "Awesome!" Lucy said. "The Moon Drip should stop now." She had barely finished when it stopped.
"You mean," Happy said, "this guy was doing it all by himself?" Toby rolled over.
"Too late! The ceremony's complete!" Erza's eyes widened as a green beam shot up from where the Moon Drip was. They heard Deliora roar once again.
Natsu's robes flapped as Deliora roared in triumph. No! My armor is all cracked from Zalty's attacks… I may have to use them in order to defeat it. Gray stared at the monster from his childhood. He crouched down and scooped up a handful of the melted ice that had been his teacher. The water streamed out of his hand.
"Ur…"
"What are you doing here?" Natsu demanded. "Has Lyon been taken out?"
"Yeah…"
"I don't think I can take it out by myself. I took a beating from that Zalty dude. You gonna help?" They both turned to see Lyon weakly pulling himself toward Deliora.
"Neither of you," he wheezed, "is capable enough…"
"Is he crazy?" Natsu demanded, taking in the manic look in his eyes. "You can't even stand! What makes you think you can kill a demon that countless warriors have failed to kill?"
"But I…" he continued, ignoring Natsu, "I will defeat it!"
"Lyon," Gray muttered.
"I'm going to surpass Ur," Lyon panted. "Finally…" He started laughing to himself. This guy's nuts, Natsu decided.
"You're the least capable person in this room," Natsu sighed. "Now get out of the way." Deliora roared again, reminding them of his presence.
"At last… we meet… Deliora!"
"You're looking for the most powerful wizard?" the man grunted. "Well, I'd say Ur's gotta be the strongest one around here." Lyon's eyes widened with delight. "She's been holed up in the mountains since she lost her daughter a few years ago. But I swear, I've never met another wizard as skilled as she is."
"Wow," Lyon said. "Ur… Do you think she'd agree to teach me?!"
"She was strong," Lyon said as he stood on shaky legs. "But still not strong enough to kill that demon. I'm going to do the one thing Ur never could!"
"It's bad enough that you took that punk in," Lyon raged to Ur, "but you're teaching him magic too?!"
"He told me he wanted to learn," Ur sighed, putting her newspaper down. "Is that a problem?"
"You don't need him!" he protested. "You've already got me to take the place of your daughter!" Ur's eyes snapped open with anger. She slapped him hard. Lyon stared at her in shock. She had never hit him before.
"Lyon," she said softly, kneeling in front of him. Her voice was tight with emotion. "Let's get something straight. I've never once thought of you as a replacement for my daughter." She cupped his face in her hands and smiled. "You are who you are." Ur pressed her forehead against his. "My dear pupil."
"Finally… my dream… will be… fulfilled!" Gray gave him a quick chop to neck neck, knocking him out.
"You've caused enough trouble," he growled. "I'll clean up the mess you've made."
"Wait," Natsu said. "Let me try to defeat it. If I fail, then cast the Iced Shell. Not before." Gray hesitated, then nodded. "Get Lyon out of here. Things are going to get ugly.".
Natsu watched Deliora. The demon huffed impatiently. It's been a long time. "Sertave drearien ybuwyn astauand mizuxe," Natsu said quietly. Deliora growled. Very few people knew of the demon tongue. Of that group, only a handful knew any words, and only a fraction of that group could speak it. Natsu was the only one who could speak it fluently. "Ferirama gyosyog waratel mizule lazap." Deliora snarled at him. You don't like that, do you? The demon's response was to send his fist at him. Well, this is annoying. Natsu lit his fist on fire and sent it at the demon.
"You're going to have to do better than that to take me down!" he shouted. Their fists connected. To his surprise, a crack appeared in Deliora's wrist. What? The crack spread, covering the demon's body. Green light poured from the cracks. I didn't do that. Deliora slowly crumbled into dust.
"What did you do?" Gray asked in awe. Natsu spun angrily.
"What are you doing?" he demanded. "I thought I told you to get out of here!"
"I dropped Lyon off and came back. You said you wanted help earlier." Natsu bit his lip. He did say that. Crap.
"Deliora was already dead…" Natsu said softly. Then he began laughing. "Your teacher must have been one hell of a woman!" The melted ice poured out of openings in the cavern. "I would have been honored to meet her," Natsu added in a more serious tone. "For ten years, she's been sapping away its life… What we just saw; what I fought… was just its final moments." Natsu stooped down and filled a small vial with the water. "Here. You may want this before it all goes into the ocean." Gray just stood there, shocked. Ur's voice rang through his head.
I freed you from the darkness, Gray. I've sealed it away forever!Tears streamed down his face. "You've saved my life again," he whispered. "Thank you, Ur."
Natsu looked at the village with a raised eyebrow. Wasn't this place destroyed? The villagers were all chatting excitedly.
"I'm very confused," Natsu sighed. "Didn't the village get destroyed?"
"I thought it did…" Lucy said. Thing got weirder when Erza agreed to destroy the moon with a straight face. Did it have something to do with the fact that Natsu had been whispering to her earlier? Who knew?
"Let me make sure I have all of my facts straight," Erza said after all the villagers had been gathered. "The first time everybody in the village took on these demonic forms was when the moon tun purple, correct?"
"Yes," Moka said. "During the day, we're fine, but when the moon comes out, we transform into what you see now."
"And the moon first turned purple about three years ago?"
"Has it really been that long?" one of the villagers muttered.
"Yeah…" another one said. Natsu rolled his eyes. Erza was taking her sweet time with this.
"We've learned that the Moon Drip ceremony has been performed on this island every night for the last three years," Erza continued, pacing. "And each night, it produced a beam of light so brilliant that you couldn't possibly have missed it." Then she stepped onto the pitfall trap. Everyone sweatdropped.
"Did she seriously fall for that?" Natsu said.
"You're punny," Happy giggled.
"That was stupid. The pun wasn't intended."
"Even my pitfall trap is back," Lucy pondered.
"She shrieked… like a girl…" Gray muttered. "And it was cute…"
"In case you haven't noticed, she is a girl, Popsicle."
"I am so going to be dead meat when she gets out!" Lucy wailed. Erza climbed out of the pit and continued like nothing happened.
"Seriously," she said. "Didn't you ever wonder where that light was coming from? It doesn't make sense. Why didn't you investigate?"
"We would have looked," Moka said, "but our village lore says that we must never go near those ruins…"
"But who cares about village lore when your own people are dying?" Lucy asked. "You obviously knew there was a problem because you contacted the magic guilds."
"Well…" Moka said nervously. Natsu sighed as Erza looked at them sternly.
"Mind telling us the truth?" Natsu said.
"To be honest," Moka replied, "we don't really understand it ourselves. Honestly, we did try to investigate the ruins on many occasions. We took up weapons we were unaccustomed to, I readied my sideburns-" Natsu sweat dropped - "and we headed for the ruins many times. But we could never get near it. We'd get close enough so we could see it through the trees, only to find ourselves back at the village gate. We can't get near those ruins…"
"But…" Lucy stammered, "how's that possible? I-It doesn't make sense."
"We got into the temple just fine," Gray mused. "That's weird."
"We didn't say anything because we didn't think you'd believe us," one of the villagers said.
"But it's the truth!" another exclaimed. "We tried to go to the ruins many times!"
"But not even one villager managed to make it there!" Natsu nodded.
"That confirms it. Erza, if I may speak with you for a moment." He pulled the requip wizard to the side, murmuring softly to her. She nodded sharply in response. Both S-class mages began walking to the highest point in the village. Erza's normal armor vanished, leaving her in her normal clothes. It in turn was replaced by thick yellow armor - her The Giant's Armor. She announced, to everyone but Natsu's shock that they were going to destroy the moon. The villagers reacted with surprise and joy.
Erza pulled an impressive spear from the pocket universe in which she kept her weapons. At the top of the tower, she hefted it, aiming carefully.
"Ready?" Natsu asked softly.
"On three," Erza affirmed. "One… Two… Three!" Right as she threw it, Natsu gave it a flaming punch. The spear glowed with magic as it launched toward the moon. Natsu smirked underneath his helmet. It became a spark in the sky, then vanished. Everyone was holding their breath in anticipation. Then the moon cracked. The cracks spread until the covered the entire surface of the moon. To the villagers' shock, however, they spread beyond the moon, making it appear as though the night sky itself was breaking. The sky shattered, showing the normal moon. Everyone gasped.
"It wasn't the moon that shattered," Lucy whispered. "It was the sky?"
"What the heck is going on?" Gray demanded. Natsu appeared behind them.
"This island was covered by a membrane of evil energy because of the Moon Drip," he explained. "It produced something like a gas, which crystallized in the air above the island. It's why the moon was purple here, but nowhere else." Gray smacked him on the shoulder.
"You're smarter than you look, Flamebrain!" he laughed.
"Don't touch me." All of the villagers began to glow.
"Now they'll be normal again!" Lucy smiled. But they didn't.
"What's wrong now?" Gray asked. "Why aren't they changing back?"
"That's because these are their normal forms," Natsu sighed, pressing his hand to his face. "The Moon Drip doesn't affect bodies; it affects the minds. Specifically, memories. As a result, they thought they were humans who turned into demons at night."
"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Lucy asked.
"Yeah, they're actually demons." Natsu explained how the demon villagers had the ability to transform into humans.
"Hold on," Lucy said, processing the information. "Why weren't Lyon and the others affected?"
"Because they're human," Natsu replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "It was kind of obvious once I heard that they couldn't go near the temple. Sacred light doesn't mix well with creatures of darkness."
"You're quite the detective," Bobo said. Natsu nearly jumped out of his skin. "Thanks, wizard!"
"So you aren't dead," Natsu said. The villagers reacted with shock and joy to see Bobo.
"On the boat," Gray said. "You just vanished."
"All demons have wings," Natsu said. "At least, most do." Bobo gave Natsu an odd look, but didn't say anything. All the demons burst into the sky.
"Yup," Erza said. "Definitely demons."
"If you look hard enough," Natsu said, with a strange note in his voice, "even the darkest creatures can seem like angels. Even they can have good in them."
Natsu declined the offer to join them for the feast afterwards, but the offer of a basin of fire made him change his mind, at least for a while. He sucked the fire up through his helmet. Several demons wouldn't let him get away after that though, and he was forced to - gasp - socialize. He couldn't help but laugh at Gray's distress as he was fangirled over by demon ladies. Eventually, he managed to escape. Natsu watched the ocean, allowing the sound of the waves to soothe his jangled nerves.
Two demons awakened in less than a month… This isn't good. And there are rumors - faint, but still there - of Tartaros stirring in the depths. He sighed. What do I do, Kokino? How do I stop this?
How do I save the world?
And we have another mystery person! I'm curious to hear your theories on who they are. Oh... remember the episode when everyone gets their bodies switched? What do you get when you cross it with this fanfiction? The funniest chapter to exist in this fanfiction! I 'm so doing it. Hehe... Review please!