Chapter 25

The Battle of Edolas Ends

With his mate's blood fueling him, Knight rushed the men who conducted the cannon. They met swift ends as he slammed each of them into the ground. Erza, Natsu, and Gray fended off the hoard of the kingdom's soldiers. He took note of their struggle, and with a flick of his wrist he unleashed a powerful wave of his Blood Magic and took them all out. Erza rushed to his side and jumped into his arms. Knight took her lips upon his own with ferocity and immediately made her moan into his mouth.

"Holy crap. Knight… what, oh…" Natsu trailed off as he approached, watching with slight interest and moderate disgust as Erza rubbed against Knight and kissed him. Gray rubbed his nose with a sigh as they continued. He tried to not look.

"Knight… Erza… what?" Natsu muttered. Erza broke away from Knight, breathing heavily and staring into his red eyes. He glanced past his beautiful mate at Natsu and grinned.

"Don't worry about it, Natsu. We need to stop that Dragon Chain Cannon. C'mon, I'll carry Erza. You two… steal something that can fly." Knight said, taking off into the air. He punched a hole in the wall to the outside, tracking the giant chain as it latched onto the enormous lacrima that contained all of Magnolia. He shot off with a sonic boom to intercept. Erza clung to him, shifting back into her normal armor. Knight arrived upon the scene of the lacrima moving towards a huge, floating city.

Must be the Exceed city. Knight thought, flying before the path of the floating island. He spotted Gajeel fighting a giant cat on top of the island. They didn't seem to care that it was moving.

"Gajeel!" Knight bellowed. Gajeel took a moment to glance at Knight, but had to block a blow from the cat.

"Hey, Knight! I suppose we ought to stop this damn thing!" Gajeel shouted. He jumped away from the cat and landed near the edge of the island where Knight was flying. Knight set Erza down next to Gajeel and put his hands on the edge of the island as it began picking up speed.

"Knight… how are we going to stop this? Ur is in there… along with everyone else…" Erza said, slightly upset. Knight growled as he flapped his wings and started to push against the island.

"I won't let all my friends and my mates die because of a foolish king! I'll stop this island myself." Knight said, using his power to oppose the force of the island. The chain cannon was filled with the combined power of Dragon Slayers. But their power paled in comparison to one of the Legendary Dragon Slayers.

But, how do I stop it? Hitting it with spells might break it… wait… my Vampire powers… how far into the depths of magic do they stretch? Think… Knight breathed deeply as he continued to force himself against the structure. He felt Erza's powerful blood fueling him. He fell silent, calm, even. He closed his eyes and focused.

"Ah, so that's it. Night Dragon's Blood Oath: Dracula!" Knight shouted, his Blood Magic roared, exploding from his body and enveloping him in a blood-red aura. Black wings of blood and shadow burst from his back, engulfing his draconic wings with an even larger form. He was wrapped in shadows as more blood-red eyes appeared across his shadowy form. His powers increased tenfold, and the island lurched to a halt for a moment. Erza stared in shock as he began holding off the island's momentum on his own.

"Shit… this is draining…" Knight grunted, his wings flapped and the island lurched again. He felt the land mass of the city on the bottom of his boots, but he still stood between, holding his own. Erza jumped down and braced next to him, pushing against the lacrima island.

"Knight! You can't hold this on your own!" Erza yelled, pushing against the island. Gajeel suddenly joined them, and Knight watched as Natsu and Gray arrived on a winged beast. They joined at his side and began pushing. The island's momentum lessened on Knight slightly as they did so, but his Blood Oath kept them all from being squashed. The rocks behind him shattered slightly, digging his feet into the island. He pushed even harder, with a roar of strength he pushed it back slightly. His muscles screamed, and his bones ached. But he did not let up.

Even if it crushes me, I will not let them die! Knight thought, rage building in his heart. He shoved at the island and broke some of its momentum. He held fast as his hearing picked up on a whole army of flying cats approaching from the city.

"We're here to help! Keep pushing!" Wendy cried as her and Carla arrived, each taking a position pushing against the island. Suddenly, hundreds of the Exceeds of the city started pushing against the island, all arriving at once. Knight felt the force of the island lessen, and he was able to unleash the fullest extent of a Vampire Blood Oath. It was then the Exceed Gajeel had been fighting joined them as well, smiling at his former foe. Knight grinned and extended his wings once more.

"Thanks, everybody! I'll finish this! Night Dragon's Blood Oath: Nosferatu of Darkness!" Knight bellowed. His Vampire energy exploded from within him, and his dark form shaped itself to a bat large enough to encompass the entire island. Everyone stopped struggling as Knight lifted the momentum of the island off of them, and with a monstrous roar he threw the island off of himself and back into the air. He vanished from their sight as the chain cannon lost its power, but he reappeared behind the device and ripped it from the island. Everyone cheered at the giant bat of darkness as it floated before them.

Blood Oaths, sacrificing humanity for monstrous strength. Probably some of the most draining powers I know speaking of… Knight thought. His dark form suddenly vanished, and his Vampire powers with it. He was left floating for a moment, his silver eyes tired and his body weary. With a grin he plummeted from the air, a scream of his name followed. He watched helplessly as an army of flying beasts from the kingdom attacked everyone above him. The lacrima containing everyone vanished. His eyes widened at the scene.

What happened? Did we win? Knight wondered. He smashed into the ground with a thunderous crash. He sat up slowly, checking his magic reserves. Cannons started firing from the kingdom's army on the ground before him.

"Fuck… the Blood Oaths drained my magic… Guess I should start shooting, then…" Knight muttered, taking his carbine off his back. He checked his magazine, loaded a round, and took cover behind a few rocks. He began firing off rounds, taking out the cannon operators who were turning the Exceeds into crystals. They returned fire with magic attacks. Knight took cover, not needing to get hit when he was vulnerable. He checked his rounds. He was running low.

Shit. I should've expected they would attack again, rather than just leave us alone. I did backhand their king. Knight thought as a magic bullet soared over his head. He watched as his Erza tackled her counterpart off of one of the flying beasts. They were careening towards the earth, fighting the whole way down. Knight growled, unable to help. He took a moment to return fire before running out of rounds.

Shit… Wait a second. Damn, I forget a lot of the shit I can do. Knight reached behind him and into his shadow, he put his carbine away and pulled his sniper rifle out. He loaded the huge rounds and pulled the slide back. After the fire on his position stopped, he leaned over the rock and scanned their forces with his scope.

This is it for weapon switches… that used the last of my magic. Knight thought as he tried to pick out the king amongst the forces. It was only when he watched a giant, egg-shaped device rise out of the ground behind the kingdom's forces that he understood why he couldn't find the king.

"Well shit. This guy's got a fucking transformer." Knight muttered as he watched the egg turn into a dragon robot. The king's voice boomed from it.

"Men! I don't want those Earth-Land wizards leaving here alive!" Faust's voice bellowed. Knight sighed as he slung his rifle on his back. He stayed behind cover, knowing he couldn't do anything. He watched Faust in his huge robot as he trudged through the land. The robot's head suddenly locked onto him.

"I see you, black one! I'm going to kill you first for ruining my plans!" Faust shouted, pointing his robot at Knight. Knight stood up and began running for heavier cover. This was no time for grandstanding, as he would normally do. He was out of magic, and Faust was ready to end him.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit!" Knight shouted as Faust fired his dragon's cannon. Knight, unable to outrun it, skidded to a stop and held his ground. He crossed his fists in front of him and took the beam of magic head-on. As it struck him, pain flared up in his arms and face. It pushed his boots through the soil, nearing him towards the edge of the land. He held out, using what little magic he had to blockade himself against the beam. It didn't work. The magic exploded in his face and he was sent flying off the edge of the land. He landed limply on a lower cliff, just barely awake and narrowly falling off. His mind went black as sounds of battle raged forward.

Erza stood, frozen as she watched Knight get blasted off the cliff. Knightwalker took advantage of her shock to knock her over and force her to brace he blade against Knightwalker's spear. Erza gritted her teeth, but she could feel the pain in her heart weakening her.

"Your monster is dead. Give up, Scarlet!" Knightwalker shouted in her face. Erza refused to believe Knight had fallen. Her mark still tingled with his power. Knightwalker glanced at the moon shape on her neck.

"I know he's not gone. He never would leave me. He wouldn't allow it. He's too strong!" Erza shouted, kicking Knightwalker off of her. They clashed again and Erza grabbed her counterpart by the neck.

"He is known as Shadowreign, and he is a Legend in Earth-Land. I will not falter… because he lives for us…" Erza grunted, kicking her counterpart across the crater. The ground shuddered as Faust's Dorma Anim fought with Wendy, Gajeel, and Natsu.

Knight… Please, we need you…

Knight awoke with a start. He sat up on the edge of the cliff which shuddered at the battle ensuing above. He rubbed his arms, sore from blocking Faust's attack, his hands were bloody and burned. He shook his head and stood up, looking at the cliff he fell from. Some blood dribbled down from his forehead.

"Motherfucker. How much magic…" Knight wondered. He checked his reserves. It seemed some of it had regenerated, despite the low magic levels in Edolas. He spread his wings once more, finally having the strength to do so.

"Well, it ought to be enough to fuck with him…" Knight muttered as he took off into the air. He saw the magnitude of the battle spread out before him, and spotted the robot dragon that Faust rode in.

I think I can make an entrance with this level of magic.

Natsu rolled to a halt as Faust prepared another attack. He tried to stomp on him, but Natsu caught the dragon's foot and threw the machine off of him. Faust screamed and jumped back, readying an attack. Gajeel and Wendy landed next to him.

"You damn Dragon Slayers… you're no match for Dorma Anim! Give up while you- GAH!" Faust was cut off as a bullet exploded on Dorma Anim's head. Natsu turned around in time to watch a shadow fly past him, and dark wings expanded before them. And there he flew, readying an attack.

"You've pissed me off enough. Night Dragon's Destruction Meteor!" Knight shouted, punching Faust's dragon in the head and smashing through to the cockpit. Faust himself swatted at Knight with his sword, but Knight flew out of the way and gave him a cocky grin. Faust glared at him through the broken cockpit of Dorma Anim.

"You… I thought I killed you?" Faust wondered, readying another beam attack. Knight shook his head and rushed forward. He grabbed Dorma Anim by the neck and used his powerful wings to start lifting it into the air. Faust screamed as Knight shot them high into the air. Natsu stepped back slightly.

"Uh-oh… I know what he's going to do… Get back!" Natsu shouted, jumping away from the battlefield. Wendy and Gajeel followed as Knight wrapped the machine in his magic.

"It takes more than that to kill me. You'd have to stake my heart with a holy spike to kill me completely! How about I slay this dragon of yours!?" Knight shouted, flipping Dorma Anim around and dragging it back towards the ground with him. Faust screamed as Knight's magic engulfed the robot.

"NIGHT DRAGON'S FALLING METEOR!" Knight shouted, plummeting towards the ground with the robot. He released at the last moment as they reached terminal velocity, flying away from the magic covered robot. It smashed into the ground with a thunderous crash, shaking the land and shattering it. Knight landed with Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel as they watched Faust slowly bring his machine out of the crater.

"You damn… monster…" Faust grunted as his broke machine stood from the crater. Knight nudged Natsu and grinned. Gajeel and Wendy picked up his queue and they all readied an attack.

"Call me whatever you like. But remember our names." Knight said. Gajeel rushed forward, his arm transforming into a sword.

"I'm the Iron Dragon Slayer, Gajeel! Iron Dragon's Sword!" Gajeel shouted, slashing Dorma Anim's arm off. Wendy jumped into the air.

"I'm the Sky Dragon Slayer, Wendy! Sky Dragon's Wing Attack!" Wendy yelled, smashing Faust into the ground with her power. Natsu jumped into the air, his fist ablaze and descended on the machine. Faust tried to slash at him with his remaining robot arm, but Natsu merely blocked the attack.

"I'm Natsu Dragneel! Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu yelled, smashing a hole through the center of Dorma Anim. Faust lost control over the destroyed machine and climbed from the head as Knight hovered over the carnage. Natsu cleared the area as Knight prepared the final blow.

"You… you are real… Dragons…" Faust muttered as Knight flew above him. Knight himself shook his head and a magic circle opened in front of him.

"No, we are Dragon Slayers. I am Shadowreign, bringer of night. I am what you fear when you close your curtains and lock your doors. I am the Night Dragon Slayer. Night Dragon's…" Knight built up a huge store of magic in his mouth as Faust kneeled before him. The sun rose behind him, but his dark form shadowed the king as he sat in awe of true power.

"ROAR!" The spiraling magic breath attack collided with Dorma Anim, obliterating the machine and knocking Faust away with its force. Knight's attack finished, a sliver of his magic trailed from his mouth as he breathed out. He looked at the carnage below, satisfied with his work. The others relaxed as the battle was finally over. Faust was defeated, and his men knew it. He turned to where he spotted Erza's battle and saw her standing over her counterpart, triumphant in victory. Knight flew towards her, skidding to a stop as he landed.

"I told you… he wasn't dead." Erza said, her sword vanishing as she approached Knight. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. She melted into him and sighed happily as they broke apart. Knight glanced towards the edge of the battle-scared crater to see Shadow sliding down the slope.

"Babe, you alright!? Erza!" Shadow exclaimed, rushing to his girlfriend's side. Knightwalker sat up to embrace him. Knight watched them as he held Erza close. Knightwalker suddenly slapped Shadow across the face.

"How could you… you let that Dragon Slayer into the Dragon Chain chamber…" Knightwalker growled. Shadow sighed and sat down next to her.

"He spared me. Rorebeck could've killed me, if he wanted to. This would've been the outcome even if I didn't help him… He's too strong. Far too strong… But I'm alive… isn't that enough for you?" Shadow explained, putting his arm around her shoulders. Knightwalker fell into him and began crying silently into his shirt.

"I am happy you're alive… I was so worried… I'm sorry, Knight… I shouldn't have sent you after him… Can you forgive me?" Knightwalker mumbled. Shadow put his arms around her and lifted her head, kissing her passionately.

"Course I can. I love you." Shadow whispered. Knightwalker smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.

"I love you too."

Knight took off into the air with Erza on his side. She clung to his neck as he landed amongst their guild mates. He glanced around, noticing something odd. Magic was being funneled somewhere, and the floating islands were falling from the air. He noticed Jellal approaching with the large, black cat.

"Ah, there you are, Knight. Thank you for your help. Without you, I don't think I would've had enough time to reverse the Anima spell on the lacrima. Now, I've reversed all of the magic in this land, sending it into Earth-Land." Jellal explained. He grinned as everyone from Earth-Land became encompassed in a bright light. Knight could feel himself getting pulled away from Edolas.

"Think you could speed this up? There's someone I have to see." Knight said, shaking Jellal's hand. The man smiled and nodded. Knight felt the pull grow far stronger. He and Erza vanished.

Knight opened his eyes in the skies above Magnolia. He extended his wings and grabbed Erza out of the air. She opened her eyes to see his smile. He flew down towards the guild hall in the distance. He withdrew his wings and skidded to a stop at the doors. With a forceful kick they opened up to the hall, everyone inside were none the wiser to what had happened, seemingly oblivious to it. But Knight had experienced it. He located Ur amongst them and darted forward, grabbing her about the waist.

All that time… she was pulled away from me. Never again. He thought as she smiled at him. Knight spread his wings again and shot out of the guild hall, picking Erza up as he flew out into the air. Ur laughed as they flew.

"Knight? What's this about?" Ur asked, giggling at him. He smiled and kissed her.

"We'll tell you when I've asserted myself." Knight said as they landed outside his house. Ur grew a sultry smile and Erza blushed as he smacked them on their behinds and opened his front door.

"Ladies first."

Sorry if this sucks. I cranked it out in like a day. Hopefully y'all like it. I don't know if I can keep up with these OP characters. I like making my own plots, usually.

Anyway, thanks guys,

See you next time on The Night Dragon!