Natsu continued to gape as Lucy went on flirting with Laxus.
Pantherlily noticed a ripple in the curtains and leaped down from the throne to investigate. But he stopped a few steps away from it and his fur bristled. He turned back toward Laxus, mouth opening, but a streak of blue appeared and pulled the black cat out of sight.
Natsu knew of only one thing the blue streak could be. He stealthily moved until he was blocking the ripple from Laxus's view, hoping his master didn't hear the small sounds of a scuffle happening between two cats behind the curtain.
Why'd you come back? Natsu thought, projecting the words into the mind he knew must be nearby. I won't be able to help you, idiot... I'm not allowed to fight against my master.
I'm not an idiot, he heard Gray snap back reflexively. I can handle this without your help. I've been living on the streets my whole life; I know how to improvise.
What are you planning?
To get your lamp back, duh. Once I wish you free, you won't have to obey Laxus, right?
The black cat wrenched out of Happy's grip. The blue cat quickly got him under control again, but they had made enough noise for Laxus to hear.
Laxus started to turn around, but Lucy grabbed him and kissed him hard on the mouth.
Instead of taking advantage of the moment, everyone froze. The two cats paused mid-struggle. Natsu stared wide-eyed and slack-jawed. Even Gray, crouched near the throne, remained motionless with his fingers inches from the lamp.
When Lucy finally pulled back, Laxus smiled at her. "Very nice... for a diversion." He pushed her away roughly and spun toward Gray, shooting lightning at the thief. "Why don't you die already, pest?!"
Gray barely dodged, and he was forced farther away from the lamp. He charged at Laxus head on, grabbing the man's arms. "Lucy, get the lamp!"
Lucy obeyed, but just as she picked it up Laxus threw Gray off. "Sorry, time's up!" Laxus shouted.
With a thunderclap a huge hourglass formed around the girl, knocking the lamp from her hands. Sand began falling on her head.
Happy slammed Pantherlily's head into the floor hard enough to daze the black cat, then raced toward the fallen lamp.
"Don't toy with me!" Laxus transformed the blue cat into a small wind-up kitten.
The carpet zipped in, making its own try for the lamp.
Laxus's magic turned the carpet into a pile of thread and tassels. "Oops, looks like your plan unravelled a little," he chuckled.
Gray rushed for the lamp again, only to have his path blocked by a fence of swords.
"Do you get the point yet?" said Laxus.
Gray stretched his arm through a gap between the blades, but Laxus moved the lamp out of his reach. Gray pulled back and tugged one of the swords out of the floor, then stepped through the space it left and headed for Laxus.
"You'll never beat me," Laxus taunted. "I'm just getting warmed up." He breathed a stream of fire into a circle around Gray, trapping him.
"Hey, that's my magic!" But nobody gave any sign that they'd heard Natsu's objection.
"Why don't you fight me yourself, you cowardly snake?" Gray shouted as he skidded to a stop inside the flaming ring.
"Very well... I'll show you how snake-like I can be." Laxus walked toward Gray, but as he stepped into the flames, his shape wavered. In a moment the fire and Laxus's body had blended together and reformed into a gigantic cobra.
Finding himself surrounded by the huge snake, Gray tried to stab it, but he had to spend most of his time avoiding it when it struck at him. The thief landed a hit and Laxus hissed angrily.
"That's it!" Natsu yelled from the sidelines. "Kick his butt!"
"Sshut up, ssslave," Laxus ordered.
"You didn't wish," Natsu pointed out. "Give it to him, Gray!"
While Laxus was distracted by the djinn, Gray ran toward the hourglass where Lucy was fighting to stay on top of the sand. The snake saw him and flung a loop of its body in his way, causing him to fall. His sword went spinning away across the floor.
"Gray!" Lucy called, her voice muffled by the glass.
Gray got back up and went after the sword. Laxus slithered after him, but the thief retrieved his blade and stabbed the snake with it. Laxus shrieked in agony, and Gray headed back towards Lucy.
"Hold on, Lucy!" Gray raised his sword back to hit the glass, but Laxus threw his coils around the thief and pinned his arms to his sides. The sword fell and clattered on the floor.
"Fool," hissed Laxus. "You can't defeat the mosst powerful being in the world. You're nothing without the genie."