The six of us gazed up at the demon encased in ice. "Deliora…" Gray said, his voice almost a brutal growl.
"You sure this is the demon your Master sealed away?" Natsu asked.
"There's no doubt about it."
"Mizuki wonders why someone transported it all the way here." Mizuki said. "Galuna Island is so far away from the Northern Continent."
"You don't think this demon could have something to do with the Island's Curse, do you?" Lucy wondered.
"I wouldn't be surprised if it did." Gray said. "It may be enclosed in ice, but that thing's still alive."
"Sweet!" Natsu exclaimed. "Give me a go at it! I ain't afraid of no stupid demon!"
"You know, brute force isn't the only way to solve a problem, Natsu." Lucy commented.
"A little fire 'ought to do the trick." Gray then turned on Natsu and socked him in the jaw, knocking the pink-haired boy back.
"Gray just punched Natsu!" Happy exclaimed.
"This wouldn't be the first time he's done that." Lucy told him.
"What's the deal?" Natsu demanded. "What'd you hit me for Gray?"
"I don't want you and your flames anywhere near it." Gray said. By the look in his eyes, I could tell he was serious. "If that ice melts and Deliora is revived, there's no way we'd be able to stop it."
"Come on, do you really think a huge chunk of ice would be that easy to melt?"
"No…"
"Hey, Gray." I said softly, stepping towards him. "Is everything alright?"
"I'm the one who got hit for no good reason!" Natsu exclaimed. "Watch your temper man!"
"Please, you're one to talk." Happy said.
"Many years ago, my master, Ur, cast a spell called Iced Shell on this demon, enclosing it in a form of ice that can't be melted. It's so strong that even the most powerful flame spells have no effect on it. If they knew that the Ice couldn't be melted, then why'd they bring it here?"
"Maybe they didn't know." Lucy commented. "They might have brought it here to try and melt it somehow."
"But why would they do that?!"
"I have no idea!"
"It could be due to that Moon Drip they mentioned." I spoke up. "My Mum told me about it when I was a little girl, I don't remember much, but she told me that the incantation were words I was never able to speak."
"I just don't get it." Gray said. "Who would bring Deliora here? And more importantly, why?"
"We need answers." Natsu stated. "Let's go find those guys."
"Yeah, ok." Lucy agreed.
"No!" Gray ordered. "We're gonna stay here and wait."
"Wait for what?" Mizuki asked, tilting her head.
"For the moon to come out."
"It's the middle of the afternoon!" I exclaimed, "That's gonna take forever! And do you really want me here when it does come up? I can't control...whatever that form was!"
"Why does the moon matter?" Lucy wondered.
"I have a feeling that the Curse on this island and Deliora are somehow connected to it. And I heard those guys we saw earlier say something about collecting moonlight."
"I heard that too. I guess waiting 'till nightfall is the only way we're gonna find out what's going on."
"I'm not waitin'!" Natsu exclaimed. "We got work to do!" Natsu fell asleep in a matter of seconds.
"Must be nice." Lucy sighed. "He doesn't have to worry about anything but eating, fighting and sleeping."
"Aye, that's Natsu for 'ya." Happy agreed.
"It may not look it but I was just like that a couple years ago." I commented, sitting next to Lucy on a rock.
"Woah, really?" She asked. "What happened?"
"Erza and I found Sting and Ryos." I smiled. "Dragons like Natsu, Minnie and I are different in many ways, but there are some things in which we share. For one, our base instincts. Hunting, surviving, that sort of thing. Then there's the pull of a Mate."
"What's a Mate?" Lucy tilted her head.
"They're...they're kinda like a soulmate. The one person in life that you're destined to be with. My Parents were mates, they balanced each other out. Dad's fiery personality and exuberant nature, and he would always rush into things, whereas my Mum was calm, collected, and she always thought things through."
"That sounds so sweet."
"Yeah. A Dragon will do anything for their Mate, no matter the personal cost to themselves. But, compare that to what they'd do for their kids, it's a whole nother ballpark. When Erza and I found Sting and Ryos, my entire personality did a one-eighty. I used to be so shy, I wouldn't fight unless I had to, Erza had to almost drag me to the guild most days because I wouldn't want to leave the house. We went on an S-Class mission one day, we found our sons in the woods. My instincts kicked in right then and there. Here were two Hatchlings, alone with no food or shelter to speak of, and I just...changed. Erza told me it was startling, how one day I'm this shy, introverted girl who wouldn't fight to save her life, and then the next I'm holding Elfman up by the neck threatening to castrate him if he even approached the boys."
"That's intense…"
"Yeah. But, thank goodness I mellowed out or we wouldn't be here today." I looked at Lucy. "I mean, if I was my old self, you wouldn't have even been able to step foot in the Guild with my kids there." My gaze fell to Natsu. "When he has Hatchlings of his own, he'll grow up. His won't nap, his sleep schedule will be out of whack and don't get me started on the nesting, I made Sting and Ryos sleep in the same bed as Erza and I until all of our scents were mixed permanently."
"Wow, who knew Dragon Slayers were so instinctual. Though I gotta admit, I'm a little bit jealous of Natsu, he can zone out like no tomorrow." We sat in silence for a while, but I could tell it was getting to Lucy. "I know I agreed to wait, but this is so boring!" Lucy complained.
"Mizuki thinks so too." Mizuki sighed. "Usually she has Sting and Ryos to distract her but not here."
"Oh! I know! Open! Gate of the Harp Constilation! Lyra!" A doorbell echoed through the cave and a woman appeared, wearing a blue dress with pink hearts on the skirt and was lugging a huge harp on her back.
"Oh wow! I haven't seen you in forever Lucy!" Lyra cheered, her hand waving manicly.
"Hey Lyra." Lucy greeted.
"Say, how come you never call me anymore?" Lyra demanded, moving closer to Lucy. "It's not fair. I would love to help you out, but you ignore me meanie."
"Meanie, huh? You're the one who told me you were only available three days a month."
"Uh...are you sure about that?"
"Great, another weirdo." Happy commented.
"At least she's not a perv." I added.
"So, what would you like to hear me sing?" Lyra asked. "Any requests?"
"Nope, whatever you want." Lucy told her.
"Do you know any songs about fish?" Happy asked excitedly.
"Kay! I've got a song I think you're gonna love Lucy!" Lyra exclaimed.
"Lyra has the most beautiful singing voice." Lucy explained.
"Well Mira's a singer too you know." Happy countered. "And she sings songs about fish for me." Lura then started to play, the melody echoing through the cave. I closed my eyes with a happy sigh, letting the words soothe me.
Words are born into air
And quickly fade out in the wind
But they find their way inside you
Where they live on forevermore...
When skies are dark and full of rain
Look inside your heart
The light, so warm will and all aglow
Shining just like the sun.
You can see, just how much you've grown
How strong you are..
A love will open up to you
And it starts from the day that you,
first heard those words
I could hear silent sniffles from Gray as the song ended. I turned to him. "Hey, Gray?" I called softly. "Whats wrong?"
"Nothing." Gray snapped. "I'm fine."
"Mizuki can tell you're upset." Mizuki added.
'Well, one of Lyra's tallents is singing songs that relate to what the audience is feeling." Lucy admitted.
"Did her song make you cry?" Happy asked.
"I wasn't crying." Gray stated.
"Maybe you should sing something a little more upbeat." Lucy suggested.
"You should have just said that in the first place." Lyra told her.
"I think we should skip the song." Gray said. "We need to stay quiet. We don't wanna be found out." Lucy dismissed Lyra, and it was just us once more. So, we sat in silence, and it was so quiet that Lucy, Happy and Mizuki fell asleep, the beige cat curled up in my lap. It wasnt until a large rumbling startled everyone awake.
"What's that weird noise?" Lucy asked, rubbing her eyes.
"Is it night yet?" Natsu questioned. Mizuki hopped off my lap as I jumped to my feet. A purple magic circle appeared on the ceiling, and a beam of purple light shone from above. I grit my teeth, holding in a scream as I transformed once more, the horns, the wings, the tail, claws and scales.
"Yui transformed again!" Mizuki cried.
"It's a beam of light!" Lucy exclaimed.
"Shining down from the ceiling!" Natsu added.
"But why is it purple?" Gray wondered. "It must be moonlight."
"Whats going on?" Happy questioned shakily. "I'm getting scared, Gray."
"It's shining on Deliora!"
"I don't think that's a coincidence." Natsu commented.
"Come on guys, let's get out of here!" I caled, turning to the cave entrance. "This spell is familiar, if we can find where it's coming from I might be able to rember it." The six of us raced up the steps to the main temple, and noticed the Magic Circle laid out on the floor.
"Why would someone cast a Magic Circle inside this old temple?"
"Selene told me that this temple held magical properties, the Eathernano was always strongest around here at night." I looked upwards. "We always traied on the highestmost point at night so that my powers grew faster, if anyone would want to cast a large spell like this that's where they'd be."
"Lead the way then." Lucy told me. I nodded, and we took off once more. I still remembered the layout of this temple like the back of my hand. I lead our group up to the top of the temple. After years of unuse, the pillars were crumbling and the walls were only a couple bricks high. The six of us hid behind one of the ruined walls and peeked at what was going on. A group of Wizards were standing in a circle and chanting.
"Zeram, Sen, Dioluna..." They intoned. "Koo-nah, Koo-rah-kah…"
"What are they doing?" Natsu breathed.
"Zeram, Sen, Dioluna, Koo-nah, Koo-rah-kah." I turned my gaze to the moon, it was shining a vibrant purple.
"The moon…" Gray pointed out, causing the others to look up.
"It looks like those robed freaks are chatting some spell to collect the moonlight." Natsu muttered.
"And shine it on Deliora, but for what?" Lucy wondered.
"I recognise a couple of those words." I informed them. "'Zeram', Gather, 'Dioluna', Moon, that's only because I use them to collect my Moonwater, but those other incantations are foreign to me."
"It's a Belianese Spell called the Moon Drip." Lyra spoke from beside me.
"What are you still doing here?" Lucy demanded, leaning to scold her.
"I see. That's what they're trying to do."
"Ok tease, fill us in."
"They're using the Moon Drip Spell to melt the ice surrounding that Demon underground so they can resurrect it."
"That's what that word is!" I gasped. "'Sen' which roughly translates to 'give life'."
"That's correct."
"They can't!" Gray protested. "The ice used in an Iced Shell can't be melted."
"I hate to say it, but that's not entirely true. While Iced Shell is strong, it can be melted using Moon Drip. Focused Moon Energy can break any Magic Spell."
"I wonder why Selene never wanted me to use it." I mused. "But it'd be a good thing to have in you're back pocket."
"Idiots!" Gray almost shouted. "They've never witnessed the wrath of Deliora!"
"I think that's what the Islanders believe is a curse against them may actually be side effects of the Moon Drip." Lyra continued. "Concentrated Moon Energy can contaminate your body. I'm afraid the poor islanders have been exposed to way too much of it."
"Wait so then why is it when I use my Magic I'm fine." I asked, turning to Lyra.
"I think that's because of your Sun Magic balancing it out." I nodded.
"I'll make 'em pay!" Natsu promised.
"Hold it!" Lucy ordered, elbowing him in the chin. "Someone's coming this way." We turned to the ceremony again to watch as a man stopped a little ways away from them. He wore a long white cape and a helmet with two horns jutting out of it and a long purple plume, Toby, Yuka and Sherry behind him.
"What a waste." Yuka sighed. "I lost so much precious sleep for nothing. We searched all day for the intruders but never found a teace of them."
"Maybe there wasnt any." Toby told him.
"I'm afraid I have some sad news, Cold Emperor." Sherry said. "We thought we had intruders during the day but it seems they got away somehow. I can not speak of love in this situation."
"Intruders?" The Cold Emperor repeated.
"So that gi's their leader." Natsu realised.
"He's trying to act all high and mighty, wearing that stupid-looking mask." Lucy muttered angrily.
"Mizuki thinks that it looks kinda cool." Mizuki said. "You know...without the teeth and horns."
"Has Deliora been awakened yet?" The Cold Emperor inquired.
"It should be later tonight or tomorrow sir." Sherry informed.
"Which one girl?" Toby demanded.
"The time has almost come." The Cold Emperor mused. "If you see those intruders again, kill them. I don't want anyone getting in my way."
"They must have been villagers." Sherry explained. "They're the only other people on this Island."
"Then destroy the village."
"Yes sir."
"Understood." Yuka agreed.
"What?" Natsu growled.
"But the villagers didn't have anything to do with this." Lucy said.
"We have to save them." I said. Despite them being horrible to me, they were still my people.
"It's a shame there has to be bloodshed." The Cold Emperor stated.
"That voice…" Gray trailed off. "No...it can't be..."
"I've had enough of this sneaking around business!" Natsu declared, jumping up onto the half wall. Natsu shot a jet of flames into the air. "It's not the villagers! We're the intruders you're after!" Just as I think Natsu had hoped, everyone turned to us.
"Jeez!" Lucy complained, standing as well as her hand fell to her key pouch. "I guess there's no turning back now, huh?" I rose to my feet.
"I wish Natsu would think for once." I sighed, lacing my clawed fingers together and stretching them above my head. I then punched my right fist into my open left palm, a little silver flame escaping from the contact as my winges expanded to their full size.
"I wanna help too!" Lyra cheered. "Want me to sing?"
"No, I want you to go back." Lucy grumbled.
"Aww! You're no fun!" Lyra then promptly disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"I know that mark." SHerry said. "They're from Fairy Tail."
"Interesting." Yuka mused. "Those Villagers must've gone to the Magical Guilds for help."
"Don't worry about them." The Cold Emperor said. "Go eradicate the village."
"What?" Lucy gasped.
"But why?" Natsu demanded.
"Anyone who stands in my way, whether deliberately or not, is my enemy." The Cold Emperor declared, clenching his fist.
"How could you!" I snarled.
"Why you!" Gray exclaimed as he and Natsu darted forward. "Stop this crazy ceremony right now!" Gray slammed his hands onto the floor and large ice chunks rose from the impact. The Cold Emperor did the same, however, he only used one hand. The two ice chunks slammed into each other and both were destroyed.
"He can use Ice Magic too?!" Mizuki exclaimed.
"Lyon!" Gray shouted.
"Lyon?" Lucy questioned.
"How could you? Do you have any idea what you're doing?"
"Oh Gray…" Leon sighed. "It's been quite a while, hasnt it?"
"Why would you revive Deliora?"
"To think that you were one of the Wizards called to this island to help those poor Villagers. Did you come knowing ou would find me? Or is this just meer coincidence? Not that it makes any difference to me."
"An acquaintance of yours, Cold Emperor?" Yuka asked.
"Do as you are ordered. I can handle the intruders on my own."
"Yes sir!" The three lackeys choroused and lept away.
"Hey! Wait!" Natsu shouted, scrambling forward. "Come back here!" Natsu ran towards Lyon.
"No! Natsu! Don't go near him!" Gray warned. However, the Fire Dragon Slayer either didn't hear him or just ignored Gray completely, and continued his pursuit. Lyon lifted a hand, and his magic surrounded Natsu. It came close, but I quickly flew up to avoid it.
"Natsu!" Lucy exclaimed.
"Happy! Get Lucy outa' here!" Gray ordered.
"Aye!" Happy said. He grabbed the back of Lucy's shirt and took off.
"Mizuki is gonna go too!" Mizuki declared, extending her wings and flying after them. "Mizuki wants you to be safe!" Gray shot his own magic towards Lyon, who mearly lifted his hand and created a shield to block it.
"What!?" Natsu complained, "No! I can't move!" My eyes shifted over him to see that he was encased in ice. I lowered myself towards Gray and Natsu again, glaring at the cape-wearing man.
"You distracted me long enough for the blonde and the cats to escape." Lyon mused. "Chivalrous, but ultimately pointless. There's no way those three can stop my minions."
"You'd be wise not to underestimate the abilities of Fairy Tail Wizards." I said, a small puff of silver flames escaping my nostrils. I then felt a foot connect with my tail, causing me to let out a high-pitched sound that seemed to be a mix between a meowl and a roar. I felt a cold hand shove me sideways into Natsu and the two of us started to roll down the side of the temple. "OH WHAT THE HELL GRAY!" I roared as we tumbled down. We soon came to a stop, Natsu on top of me. I groaned in pain using my tail to slap away the ice-covered man on top of me. I turned to see how far away we were from the temple, a fair bit it seemed. The purple beam of moonlight was clear against the stary backdrop of the sky.
"Gray you punk!" Natsu complained. "Oh, you're gonna pay for this!" I sighed, turning to Natsu. I lit my hands with my silver flames and placed it on one part of the ice, right next to where Natsu's one hand was trying to melt it as well.
"Man, this is some tough ice." I muttered. "This isn't doing anything." I sighed, removing my hands. "We should head back to the village, but you're gonna have to waddle, I can't carry you."
"Alright." Natsu started to waddle away, but he wasn't getting very far. "Aww man! This is harder than I thought it'd be!" I walked alongside Natsu as he grumbled and protested while walking. My senses had heightened due to my transformation, so I easily picked up on the sounds of the forest. I was trying to discern if Lyon's lackeys were around, but the forest was eerily silent. If we didn't stop them before they eradicated the village...I would truly lose my home.