Part 2 of the battle! Sorry it's a little short this time. Don't forget to review!
And Happy Birthday to user Yua's Everlasting Love! I hope you have a great birthday :)
If anyone's going to Megacon on Orldano, Florida this weekend, maybe I'll see you there! Since I'm going to be there all weekend, I should hopefully have the new chapter up early on Friday. But for any of you who will also be going, I'll be dressed as Hanato Kobato (from CLAMP's Kobato) on Friday, Fairy Tail's Lucy on Saturday, and Natsume (from Natsume's Book of Friends) on Sunday. Maybe I'll see you there!
Chapter 35
The two dragons circled each other above the stadium. Acnologia lashed out with his thick tail. It hit Natsu in the side as he swerved to avoid the worst of the blow. Natsu slashed at him, but the black dragon was too swift. Many of the mages down below offered their support. But only Fairy Tail avoided hurting the red dragon. A javelin of ice shot into the sky and struck Acnologia in the leg. With an enraged roar, the black dragon swooped down toward them
Erza leaped up to face him. In her Black Wing Armor, she flew toward him. With a sword in both hands, she slashed rapidly at the beast. Her swords managed to make minor cuts in its leg. Acnologia swatted her aside with little effort. Natsu nose-dived and curved around to break her fall. With renewed vigor, Erza rose to the challenge.
"Requip!" Light engulfed her and gleaming white armor with metal wings replaced her Black Wing Armor. A circle of more than two dozen swords appeared around her. "Circle Sword!" The blades hurled toward the dragon.
Natsu roared, a plume of fire spewing toward the beast. Wendy and Gajeel both took a deep breath.
"Sky Dragon's—"
Iron Dragon's—"
"ROAR!" As they shouted in unison, their roar attacks swirled together into a whirlwind of razors.
Acnologia screech in pain as the sharp metal cut into his thick scales. Natsu launched at the black dragon. He slashed wildly with his talons. Acnologia returned the attack in kind. He slashed open Natsu's chest and bit down on his sore left leg. Natsu screeched, thrashing about as the black dragon held him tight. Blood dripped down Natsu's scaly leg as the dragon's teeth sunk deep into his flesh. He scratched at the black dragon, adding fresh red lines to the wicked blue ones.
A powerful burst of magic struck Natsu in the side. Shards of ice hailed down on the stadium from the impact. He screeched.
"Natsu!" Lucy screamed.
Lyon slammed his fist against his palm, ready to strike again. Gray punched him in the jaw. Lyon stumbled back, holding his sore chin and glaring at his fellow pupil.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Gray shouted.
"Our first priority is the safety of the people. And the main source of that danger are those dragons," he said pointing at the beasts. "Have you forgotten what Ur taught us?"
"That red dragon is Natsu! My nakama!" Gray yelled. "You should focus your energy on the black one! If you hurt him again, senpai or not, I'll kill you!"
"Gray-sama!" Juvia pleaded. "We have to help!"
Lyon hesitated. It was hard for him to wrap his mind around the concept of a human being a dragon. But Juvia's pleading prompted him to concede. "Fine. Have it your way."
"I'm devising a strategy now to boost our chances of winning," Hibiki said.
"Hibiki!" Lucy was surprised that the other guilds had stuck around to fight.
"Don't worry, My Honey!" Ichiya said in a lofty voice.
Erza bristled. Ichiya always creeped her out, but she couldn't deny that he was useful in a pinch.
"We, the ikemen of Blue Pegusus, are here to help!" Ichiya said, striking a 'sexy' pose.
"As expected, sensei!" Eve said. Eve, Ren, and Hibiki clapped. "How noble of you, Ichiya-sama!"
"Listen up, everyone!" Hibiki said, typing away on the glowing keyboard before him. Statistics and strategies popped up on his Archive's magic screens. "This is going to be a hard battle. So please, lend me your cooperation and strength!"
The mages on the battlefield agreed.
"Natsu-san, I don't know if you can hear me, but we'll be doing all we can to support you," Hibiki said, using his Archive magic to speak into everyone's minds. "Wendy-chan!"
"Yes?" she replied.
"Please, reserve as much magic as you can for back-up. We may need your Sky magic to help those injured at the end of this fight. Chelia-chan too, please lend us your support."
Chelia nodded.
"Freid-san, can you write enchantments to help boost fighting ability of our comrades?"
He nodded. "I will get started immediately."
Hibiki turned his attention to the ice mages. "Lyon-san, Gray-san, please use your ice magic to slow Acnologia down any way you can. Anything you can do will be of great help." He glanced at Gajeel and Erza." Erza-san, Gajeel-san, please take care of close-combat. Lucy-chan, Bisca-chan, and Alzack-san, please attack from long range positions!"
Lucy nodded her agreement.
"Yee-haw!" Bisca reloaded her gun. "That's right up our alley!"
The two dragons rolled about in the air. They tumbled about as they grappled for dominance. Thanks to Natsu's powerful dragon form, he was inflicting more damage than he had on Tenrou Island. But Acnologia had the upper hand. Natsu snarled and roared ferociously. Every now and then, his comrades' magic struck the black dragon, but it didn't seem to inflict much damage.
Acnologia struck him with his thick tail. Natsu felt his ribs crack; he howled. The black dragon was relentless. He rammed into Natsu repeatedly, slashing and biting over and over. With a powerful swipe, Acnologia struck him in the head. The sheer force of it sent him careening toward the stadium. He slammed into the arena, the ground shaking violently under his weight. Lucy rushed toward him.
"NATSU!" she screamed.
Natsu whimpered. He pulled himself up slightly, only to collapse again. The fight was taking a lot out of him. Acnologia's claws had cut open the left side of his face. Blood oozed from the deep wounds. Hands shaking, Lucy stroked his scaly muzzle lovingly.
"Natsu?" Lucy's voice shook as she spoke. "Natsu, get up! Please, get up!"
Sore all over and limbs shaking, Natsu slowly rose. He growled up at the dragon circling above him.
"NATSU!" a booming voice roared.
A shadow passed over them and another red dragon landed in their midst. He was covered in old scars. He growled at Natsu before turning his attention to the black dragon.
"You stupid, foolish boy!" Igneel growled. "I can't leave you alone! You must learn to think before you act!"
Igneel? Natsu was shocked to see his father in the middle of Crocus.
"I vowed not to interfere with the humans, but seeing as you are now a 'dragon' I don't think this would count as breaking my vow. Isn't that right, Grandine?"
"Gradnine?!" Wendy said excitedly.
A glowing white ball descended toward them. "Very clever, Igneel. You have indeed become a wise old dragon." The glowing light touched Natsu's muzzle gently.
A soft warmth spread through the young dragon's body. What's happening?!
"I must begin the purification immediately. Otherwise, you may remain like this forever," she said.
Not yet! He cried. I have to beat Acnologia first! If I'm not a dragon, I don't stand a chance! He spread his wings and soared into the sky.
"Impatient and stubborn," she sighed. "Just like his father." She shouted, "All the same, the purification has begun its work. Your dragon form will cease should your magic drain or should you die in this battle. Be careful, child."
"Grandine!" Wendy cried, rushing toward the bright light. "Is it really you?"
"Hello, Wendy," Grandine said. "It's good to see you. But now, I think, is not the best time to chat. We must support your friends."
"Yes!" Tears brimmed in Wendy's eyes. "I'm so glad to see you."
Acnologia! Natsu roared. I won't forgive you for attacking my friends! I will defeat you!
Acnologia chuckled. Do your worst, "Dragon Slayer."
Chapter 36 will be up on Friday!