Hello again everyone! The Bobcat is back with a new chapter! It may be a few days before another one, I got tickets to a rock festival nearby and will be tired by the time I get home. Other than that, no major news, please enjoy!

A Clash of Fairies

Chapter 9: Laxus

The sun was unbearable today just as he had predicted. The blazing orb now hung high up in the daytime sky and set waves of heat and light beating down onto Laxus. He could practically feel his neck turning red from the sun. Sweat was dripping down his face as he continued his jog up the Kingsroad. Hopefully Riverrun was closeby. As much as Erza didn't want to admit it, she was in a dire state still and they needed an actual healer to take a look at her. It worried Laxus to see how weak she was right now. She was the strongest woman he knew and could easily keep up with him in a fight, that was incredible in and of itself. To see someone so strong brought so low made him sick and angry. Damn this world.

And damn Wendy! He thought. He remembered the emotions very vividly when he first heard Erza explain what happened. The unabating rage he had made the very air ripple. At least that is what Pantherlily said.

Laxus's musings were interrupted by the sound of horse hooves, and lots of them. As the sound got closer they were accompanied by screams and the sound of armor clinking in the wind. They were coming from behind. Laxus turned and saw some simple peasants being chased down by a large group of knights, thirty to be exact. But what caught Laxus's eye was the one leading them. The big one that seemed to break his horse's back just by sitting on the poor thing. The large man drew an enormous sword and swung down on a fleeing peasant cleaving the poor man in half.

"Hell no." grumbled Laxus. He charged up as much magic as he could. The air around him filled with static and as the peasants got closer they saw him standing his ground to the oncoming tide of steel. One of the knights broke away from the large man and leveled a spear at Laxus. Laxus just grinned and lightning lit up around his arm. As the spear was about to make contact it shattered and Laxus's lightning covered right arm slammed into the horse. The horse cried out and fell to the side pinning it's rider underneath. Laxus turned to the shocked group of peasants.

"What are you staring at! Keep running!"

But it was too late. They were all surrounded. The large man was now circling them. Laxus stared directly into the man's eye slits in his helmet. The eyes behind were full of hatred and bloodlust. Laxus hadn't seen that much desire to kill in a very long time from anyone.

I can't do enough magic here. I don't have enough. There is too many! Observed Laxus as he kept himself between the peasants the and the knights. Think Laxus, think! Figure out a way to-

"SOUL EXTINCTOR!" A massive blast of dark energy slammed into one side of the circle of knights creating a massive explosion. Laxus shielded the peasants from the shockwave of the blast and he smirked.

She is here too.

He looked around and saw the fear and panic on the enemies faces. Cries of "It's the demons!" "Run" and other exclamations of terror enveloped the area as another dark blast of energy wiped out another section of knights.

"Take Over, Beast Soul!" said a low voice.

Him too!

A mass of muscle and fur shot past Laxus and brought down the large man from his horse.

"Take Over, Animal Soul!" A slender woman shot up to a group of knights wearing a bikini with tiger stripes on them and sharp claws on her hands. The knights cried out in terror and ran away leaving their commander behind. Laxus breathed a huge sigh of relief as the felt the magic pressure behind him.

"Thank God you came along Mira." He turned to see Mirajane Strauss in her Satan Soul form looking back at him. The peasants shifted behind Laxus once again, completely terrified of the demon in front of them, "Long time no see huh?"

"Is the mighty Laxus thanking little old me." smirked Mira. Her magic shimmered and the takeover disappeared leaving her in her maroon dress. Instead of the intimidating smirk she now sported a meek, kind smile on her face. She looked to the peasants.

"Don't worry, you're safe now."

Elfman, whose takeover now wore off as well, walked past Laxus. He was dragging the large knight behind him. The incredibly large man struggled against Elfman's iron grip but to no avail.

"It seems the Mountain has met his match in terms of strength, eh Elfman." remarked Mira who smiled at her younger brother.

"The Mountain?" mumbled Laxus quizzically. He had heard that name a few times before and never in a good way. But he still wasn't too sure why this joker was so feared. In a one on one fight, Laxus could probably take him. Maybe it was just the intimidation his size gave him over his enemies.

Mira walked up to Laxus and gave him a hug which he happily returned. "It's so good to see you Laxus."

"You as well." replied Laxus as they broke away from each other. The peasants now seeing that the Strauss siblings were friendly began to relax and some actually started talking to Lisanna and Elfman.

"So what are you doing out in the middle of nowhere Laxus?" asked Mira.

"Trying to find the way to Riverrun. Then get some help there."

"Well, Riverrun is still at least three days from here. So you won't be getting there anytime soon." replied Mira which made Laxus's heart sink. He didn't think Erza had three days. He had noticed it a few days ago. Erza's magic power was ebbing away very slowly. Whatever poison was going through her system was eating her life away. And she had been looking pretty bad lately. "And why would you need any help Laxus? You don't seem hurt in any way?"

Laxus closed his eyes, "It's Erza, she needs help."

Mira's smile faded and her face became deadly serious. "What do you mean?"

"Erza was stabbed in through the chest by a poisoned blade in King's Landing as she tried to rescue the Starks from execution. The initial wound nearly killed her. If it wasn't for me and Gajeel she probably would have her head hanging from the walls of that cursed city right now."

Mira's heart skipped several beats and a sick feeling came over her stomach. "How bad is it now?" she prayed with all her might that the wound was somewhat better.

"Not good, I don't think she can live through 3 days of straight travel." replied Laxus somberly. "Damn it all! If only I knew some healing magic then maybe-"

"What about Wendy!?" remarked Mira, "Have you tried-" she saw it. The sheer hatred on Laxus's face. "Don't tell me."

"That little wind dragon is the one responsible for the whole situation Mira."

Mira was now in a daze. Erza was dying, Laxus was begging for help, Gajeel was actually cooperating with Laxus, and Wendy had turned traitor. What the fuck was going on in this world!

"Excuse me," a old woman from the group of peasants spoke up, "I hear that a friend of yours needs help young man. Maybe I can help."

Laxus eyed the old woman, "How can you help?" he asked.

"I know my way around some medicines and poisons. I used to attend the academy at Old Town in my younger days, but left because it wasn't really for me. I can try to help. But I can't guarantee anything."

Laxus sighed, there was hope, "Thank you ma'am. I'll go grab her now."

"I'll go with." stated Mira and she transformed back into her Satan Soul form, "point me in a direction and I'll fly above you." with that the two began to hurry back down the Kingsroad leaving Elfman and Lisanna with the peasants and a passed out Mountain.

The Mountain groaned behind Lisanna. "SHUT UP YOU HUNK OF METAL!" a loud clunk was heard as Elfman's fist slammed into the Mountain's helmet, "Real men don't attack helpless people."

…..

Gajeel was pacing back and forth under the shade of a small tree. He looked over to Erza who was shaking and sweating profusely. Her breathing was raspy and rapid and her eyes were squeezed shut in pain. Arya was huddled up next to her, trying to find a way to help her friend. Gajeel had already sent Lily to find Laxus when Erza suddenly passed out after complaining about not feeling well, but it had been several hours and no word, and no sign of Sparky either. The bandages of Erza's chest were covered in blood and it began to seep through and bead down the cloth strips that covered her.

"Damn it all!" yelled Gajeel which startled Arya, "Where the hell are you Lily!"

As if to answer his question he looked to the north and saw a flying figure coming full speed towards him. It was Pantherlily carrying Laxus by the arms. Lily landed gracefully onto the ground and set down Laxus.

"Did you find Riverrun?" asked Gajeel desperately.

"Even better." replied Laxus. A huge amount of magic pressure filled the area and Gajeel saw her descend. Mirajane Strauss in her Satan Soul form.

"Oh yeah, that's way better." stated Gajeel.

"How is she?" asked Laxus who then looked over to Erza and got his answer. She looked like she was on death's door.

"Erza!" exclaimed Mira who was still in her Satan Soul form. She kneeled down next to her fallen guild member. Rage encompassed her as well as sadness and fear. Her friend was dying before her eyes. "I'll get her to the old woman, you all follow!" ordered Mira.

"But your magic is already really low!" exclaimed Laxus as Mira picked up the ailing Erza, "You won't make it." Mira ignored Laxus and took off from the ground. She quickly disappeared into the distance as she flew at incredible speeds northward.

"What are you waiting for Sparky let's go!" shouted Gajeel who sprinted past the Lighting wielder with Arya on his shoulders and Lily beside him. Laxus mumbled something to himself and sprinted to catch up to them.

….

Mira finally descended next to the group from earlier. Elfman's face bleached at the sight of the dying Erza. He covered his mouth with his hands as he tried to keep himself from throwing up from the sight of all the blood coming from her wound. Lisanna covered her mouth in shock and tears welled up in the young girl's eyes.

"Erza." she mumbled as Mira strode past her. Mira was exhausted. Her magic was depleted, no doubt she would have a slight case of Magic deficiency after this. But that didn't matter, saving Erza did. The old woman rushed up to Mira as she set Erza back down on the ground. The old woman cringed at the sight but then began to work quickly. She slowly peeled off the bandages that covered Erza revealing the gaping wound in her chest that was now squirting blood. Elfman barfed in the background and Lisanna began sobbing as other peasants tried to comfort her. Mira did her best to stay strong but even she was shaken by the sight.

"I know what this is." stated the old woman, "There are two types of horrible poisons that I remember. One causes your throat to constrict so tightly that you can't breath, it's called the strangler. The other is worse. It causes unstoppable bleeding and can cause the flesh around the wound to begin to rot away and kill off other organs around it." The old woman grabbed the sack she had been traveling with and began to sift through it's contents, "The fact that your friend is even alive right now is a miracle. When did this occur?"

"Two weeks ago." replied a male voice. It was Laxus and Gajeel. Both were completely drained and Lily was passed out in Laxus's arms. "He flew all three of us part of the way."

"TWO WEEKS AGO!" exclaimed the old woman, "How the hell is she even breathing! You guys have a friend with tremendous willpower here." The old woman looked at the wound and saw something peculiar. Specks of iron were in the wound. "What is this?"

"My attempt to weld the wound shut." replied Gajeel.

"You did what!" Yelled Mira. "You idiot!" she punched Gajeel and sent him flying, "You don't weld shut a wound. How stupid are-"

"Actually that is what is keeping her alive." said the old woman as she began to pull out several small clay bottles full of liquid from her sack, "Well done young man. Very resourceful of you."

Gajeel rubbed his bruised cheek, "Thanks I guess."

"I need you to do it again after I apply some potions."

Gajeel bleached and he shook a little. He gulped then shook his head. "Get a fire going then, I got to heat up some iron."

Laxus and the peasants began working on the heating an iron rod while the woman went through a variety of potions and poured them into the wound. She also was using water from her drinking pouch to clean the wound as much as possible so she could work. Mira was watching all of this very closely. As time went on, the wound began to bleed less and less and the purplish veins began to recede away. Whatever this old woman was doing was working.

"Stud face! Time for your job now." called the old woman to Gajeel. Gajeel took a deep breath, walked over, then without saying a word plunged the rod of iron into Erza. Erza's eyes shot open and she screamed for what seemed like ages. Unlike last time, instead of a sickening searing noise there was a crackling sound and some flames and sparks shot out from the wound as Gajeel removed it. Mira and Laxus stood there stunned. The wound was closed, in it's place was a blackened substance that didn't let anything leak out of it.

"What is that?" asked Laxus suspiciously.

"It is an emergency spell we learned in Old Town years ago. It requires a mixture of certain potions and then some hot iron to finish it off. That should stop the bleeding as well as absorb any poison in the area. By the time that stuff comes off only a nasty scar will remain."

Laxus was amazed and so was Mira while Gajeel was doubled over beside a bush. Mira's worry turned to a smile and she looked at the old woman. "Thank you so much!" She stood and looked at Laxus, "Come on, we'll take you all to our home."

"Home?"

"Yeah! Me, Elfman, and Lisanna established a refugee city along the southern fork of the trident. You all can stay there while Erza recovers then make your way to Riverrun." she looked over to Arya who was patting a vomiting Gajeel on the back, "She needs to get to what's left of her family anyways right."

Laxus nodded, "Alright, let's get going then."

Chapter 9 finished. Erza, Laxus, Gajeel, and Arya are now with Mira and company. How come Mira is so powerful? In the Tartaros arc Mira stated that in order for her to use Satan soul she had to have demon particles in her body. I see this as a way to amplify her already large magic artificially and therefore allows her an amplifier in the GOT world. Same goes for Elfman and Lisanna whose powers are amplified because they are near their sister. Makes it a nice way to show a strong sibling bond too. I hope you all enjoyed! Please rate, review and have a nice day!