Ch. 6- Silencing Lullaby
Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima
Story and OCs © Me
"Come on, Blue Fang, don't stop!" Haru urged as she clung to Blue Fang's collar, the silver wolf galloping as fast as his legs could carry him. By now, the sun was already starting to dip beyond the mountains, indicating that night would be falling soon. Even so, Haru wouldn't give up. She had to get to Clover before it was too late.
She just hoped that Natsu was all right since she left him and Happy behind to hold Erigor off, not to mention Lucy, Erza, and Gray, as well, and especially Kageyame since he was still wounded. It would certainly leave a bad taste in her mouth if he died after she left him with the others.
As Blue Fang, Haru gasped as she caught sight of several buildings coming into view, causing her to gasp as she realized it was Clover Town, and sure enough, the building where the Guild Masters were having their conference was in sight!
"Look, Blue Fang!" Haru exclaimed. "We made it!"
Blue Fang barked excitedly as he kept running... but as the Beast Wizard and her wolf got closer to town, Haru could have sworn she heard something coming from behind her. It sounded like the roar of an engine, causing her to gasp as she glanced over her shoulder, and that's when she spotted the shape of a Magic 4-Wheeler.
"Oh! It must be Erza!" Haru exclaimed. "I knew she'd managed to..." She trailed off as the vehicle got closer... and that's when she gasped in horror as she realized that Erza wasn't in the driver's seat.
It was Kageyama... with Lullaby in his hand!
"K-Kageyama-" Haru started, only for the Shadow Wizard to ram into her and Blue Fang at full speed, causing them both to roll along the ground as they crashed.
"Hahahaha!" Kageyama laughed. "See you later, fly!"
"Hey!" Haru shouted as she rushed over to Blue Fang, who groaned as he lied on the ground in a daze. "Blue Fang, come on! Get up! We gotta hurry and get to Master Makarov! Come on!"
Though dazed, Blue Fang shook his head and ran toward the conference building with Haru on his back, running as fast as he could to catch up to Kageyama. As they drew closer to the 4-Wheeler he was driving, Haru growled as she jumped off Blue Fang's back and tackled the Shadow Wizard, causing the SE plug to detach from his wrist as they both rolled along the ground. As they struggled against each other, Haru tried to wrestle Lullaby from Kageyama's grip, but even while he was injured and after speeding on the magic vehicle, he wouldn't let go so easily.
"You... ungrateful bastard...!" Haru growled as she kept trying to pull Lullaby out of Kageyama's grasp. "Is this how you thank us after we save your life?!"
"Let go!" Kageyama shouted as he pushed his hand against Haru's face. "I will do what has to be done! Eisenwald's mission will come to pass, do you hear me?!"
"Why are you still trying to complete what those bastards started, anyway?!" asked Haru. "Those guys tried to kill you, remember?!"
Hearing that caused Kageyama to tense up as he remembered getting stabbed by Karacka... but even then, he growled as he kept trying to pull Lullaby away from Haru.
"Sh-shut up!" he shouted. "You know nothing, you brat!"
"What's going on here?!"
Haru gasped as she turned to see none other than Makarov standing behind her.
"M-Master Makarov!" she exclaimed.
"Haru?" Makarov asked. "What are you doing here?" His expression suddenly turned nervous as sweat dripped down his face. "Wait... where's your brother? And Erza and Gray, for that matter?"
"Huh?" Haru muttered. "Well, they're... no, wait! Not the time! Master, listen to me! This guy is here-"
"To play a song for you!" Kageyama exclaimed as he finally pushed Haru off, taking advantage of her letting down her guard. "If... you would be so kind, sir."
"No!" Haru cried as she hurried to Makarov's side, along with Blue Fang. "Master, don't listen to him! He's here to-"
"Shouldn't you go to a hospital first, boy?" Makarov asked as he eyed Kageyama's bandages.
"I... I would," Kageyama replied, "except they won't let me play in the hospital." He then held up Lullaby, preparing to play it. "Please, sir... if you wouldn't mind."
"That's a creepy-looking flute there," Makarov noted.
"Master, run!" Haru urged. "That's not just any flute! That's-"
"Just one song," Makarov interrupted while holding up one finger. "I'm in a hurry, you know."
"O-of course..." Kageyama said as he gave Haru a smug grin, to her horror.
"Master! Cover your ears!" Haru cried as she covered her own, and Blue Fang soon did the same, bracing themselves for the Demon Flute's deadly music... and yet, there was no sound.
'Did... did he do it, yet?' thought Haru as she opened her eyes... only to see Kageyama trembling as he held Lullaby in his hands, sweat beading down his face... and yet, Makarov just stood there, squinting at him.
"Well?" he asked. "On with it, boy! Aren't you going to play me a song?"
"K... Kageyama...?" Haru asked while Kageyama kept struggling... and that's when Makarov began to speak.
"Nothing will change, you know," he said, causing Kageyama to look at him. "Those who are weak will always be weak... but that's not necessarily a bad thing, at least that's what I figure. It's human nature to be weak, after all, is it not? But that's also why we have things such as the Guilds, why they're given a purpose... and why we have friends and allies."
Kageyama gasped silently while Haru stared at Makarov in awe.
"Master..." she whispered.
"When we're surrounded by friends, allies, and even our family," Makarov continued, "it makes us see the brighter side of the future that we all desire to see and experience. Yes, we may be clumsy and might stumble into walls, now and then... but so long as things such as hope and faith exist, we can pick ourselves back up and move forward. That's where we can draw our innermost strength."
By now... Kageyama looked as if he was about to break down in tears while Makarov gave him a grin.
"Which means... you don't need that flute, anymore," he surmised, "now do you?"
Before he knew it, Kageyama dropped Lullaby, then fell to his knees, his expression a mixture of grief, sadness, and shame as he realized that Makarov had seen right through him.
"I... I give up," he whispered. "You win."
Haru blinked before she smiled at Kageyama while Makarov chuckled, and even Blue Fang panted happily while wagging his tail.
"SIS~!"
"Master Makarov!"
Haru, Blue Fang, and Makarov all turned around to see Natsu (who was missing his vest for some reason), Gray, Erza, Lucy, and Happy approaching them, all of them happy to see that their Guild Master was all right... but Makarov looked horrified, particularly at seeing Natsu, Gray, and Erza.
"GAH!" he gasped. "WHAT ARE YOU THREE DOING HERE?!"
"Oh, Master!" Erza exclaimed as she pulled Makarov into a hug, accidentally slamming his head against her chest plate. "Your speech was so moving! I almost broke into tears!"
"Way to go, Gramps!" Natsu exclaimed before he turned to Haru and pulled her into a headlock, giving her a playful noogie. "And you, too, Haru! You were awesome, sis!"
"Ow! Natsu!" Haru cried. "Let go!"
"Well, that solves that problem," Gray said with a toothy smirk.
"Hey," said Lucy as she went over to Kageyama, who raised his head up to look at her. "I think it's time you went to see a doctor, don't you?"
"...Yeah," Kageyama replied before he looked away. "I'm... I'm sorry..."
"...I don't know if it makes you feel any better," Lucy began, "but if Karacka really wanted to kill you, he would have aimed a little higher than your hip, you know?" She then smiled. "So maybe... he still considers you a friend, after all, don't you think?"
Kageyama's eyes went wide... and then he swallowed thickly, trying to choke down his tears.
"Karacka..." he whispered.
"Well, I don't know about anybody else," Haru began while stretching her arms, "but I am exhausted."
"Yeah, and I'm starvin'," Natsu agreed while rubbing his empty stomach. "I can't wait to go home and fill my belly with some flame-broiled steaks!"
"Aye, and some raw fish for me!" Happy agreed.
"And I cannot wait to feed upon your souls...!"
"Yeah, I-" Natsu started, only to freeze as he realized that an unfamiliar voice was speaking. "Wait, who said that?"
"Wasn't me," Gray answered.
"Don't look at me," Happy chimed in.
"You wizards... are nothing but cowards..."
That's when all eyes turned around... and saw that the voice was coming from Lullaby, which had an ominous fog seeping out of the skull!
"I am through waiting!" the instrument declared, causing everyone to gasp in shock.
"Uh... tell me I'm not the only one hearing this!" Haru exclaimed.
"The flute... it spoke!" Lucy cried.
"And there's a weird fog coming out of it, too!" Happy cried, just as the fog began to take the shape of an extremely tall figure with a wooden body and branches in the shape of large horns, as well as large holes in its arms, legs, and torso.
"Prepare to meet your DOOM!" Lullaby exclaimed with an evil laugh while everyone gaped in shock and horror at what they were seeing.
"What in the name of Mavis is that?!" Erza questioned.
"A MONSTER!" cried Lucy, Haru, and Happy.
"What in the hell...?!" Kageyama questioned. "Erigor didn't tell me anything about this!"
"Oh, dear!" exclaimed the Guild Master of the Blue Pegasus Guild, Master Bob, sweating nervously in spite of his smile. "This doesn't look good!"
"That's... that's a demon of the Book of Zeref!" cried the Guild Master of Quatro Cerberus, Goldmine.
"I can wait no longer..." Lullaby growled. "I am so hungry that I cannot stand it! Your souls will be an excellent meal!"
"Wait, souls?!" Natsu asked. "Do they taste good or something?!"
"How the hell should I know, you idiot?!" Gray questioned.
"I... I don't understand," Lucy said, shakily. "How could a flute hide away such a vicious monster?!"
"Lullaby itself IS the monster, young lass!" Goldmine answered. "In other words, it is Demon Magic... the very magic that Zeref created!"
"Demon Magic..." whispered Erza.
"Hold it," Haru spoke up. "'Zeref' as in... that ancient Dark Wizard?!"
"That's the only Zeref I know!" Gray answered.
"Indeed!" Bob replied, still smiling despite his worry. "Zeref the Dark Wizard was the evilest wizard in the history of magic! Who'd have thought that his dark legacy from centuries ago would come to haunt us now in our time? How frightening!"
"You don't look very worried, Master Bob!" Haru exclaimed.
"Now then... whose soul shall I eat first?" asked Lullaby as he glowered down at the group. "Or maybe... I will just devour you all, right here!"
With that, Lullaby opened its mouth and let out this unearthly screech, forcing the Guild Masters to cover their ears, cowering in fear... all except for Makarov, Bob, and Goldmine, to Lucy's amazement. What's more, Natsu, Gray, Erza, Haru, and Blue Fang all stood, unflinchingly at the monster.
"They're... they're not afraid...!" Lucy whispered in awe.
"Well, kids!" Makarov called with a grin. "Now's your time to shine!"
"You got it, Gramps!" Natsu smirked back.
"Ready?" Erza asked as she drew two swords.
"Let's do this!" Gray exclaimed.
"Time to unleash the beast, Blue Fang!" Haru declared while Blue Fang growled in agreement, and with that, they all charged into battle!
"Requip: HEAVEN'S WHEEL ARMOR!"
In a flash of light, Erza was soon donned in her Heaven's Wheel Armor and sliced right through Lullaby's right leg, and meanwhile, Natsu roared as he ran up on Lullaby's left arm and set his own foot ablaze.
"FIRE DRAGON TALON!"
Spinning his leg in an arc, he kicked the monster right in the face, causing it to stumble back, and meanwhile, Haru ran up on Lullaby's other arm while placing her hand on Blue Fang's chest.
"Beast Spirit: SOUL LINK!"
With that quick synchronization of their spirits, Haru soon entered her more powered-up state as she and Blue Fang both charged in, the former reeling her fist back while the latter opened his jaws.
"FERAL BEAST DOUBLE FANG BLOW!"
With Blue Fang's jaw strength combined with the power of Haru's strengthened punch, Lullaby roared as its jaw was completely cracked.
"YOU PESTS!" Lullaby shouted before it fired multiple fireballs at the Dragneel Siblings, who quickly jumped out of the way, but now, the Guild Masters were all in the line of fire... or so it seemed.
"Gray!" Makarov called out.
"Got it, Gramps!" Gray exclaimed as he stood in the path of the fireballs while holding his hands together. "Ice-Make: SHIELD!"
Soon, he conjured up a massive shield of ice... while also taking off his shirt and jacket, for some reason.
"And now... LANCE!" Gray shouted as he fired off multiple ice lances at Lullaby, the projectiles piercing multiple holes in its wooden body. "Erza, go!"
"Requip: BLACK WING ARMOR!"
Once again, Erza changed into a different form of armor, this one being completely black in color with silver trimmings and a pair of huge bat-like wings. Just like with her Heaven's Wheel Armor, this armor also left little to the imagination, revealing Erza's cleavage and midriff, as well as her thighs (much to the attraction of the other Guild Masters). As Erza went in for the attack, Natsu managed to eat the fireballs that Lullaby had spewed out of its mouth before swallowing the flames and giving a belch.
"Ahh... now I got a fire in my belly!" he exclaimed before lighting both his fists on fire. "The flames of my right hand... and the flame in my left! Put 'em together... and this is what ya get!" Soon, he raised his hands up, conjuring a giant fireball.
"FIRE DRAGON... BRILLIANT FLAAAAAME!"
In a massive explosion, the fireball struck Lullaby while Erza cut through its throat, Haru and Blue Fang both punched through its shoulders, and Gray's Ice Lances continued to pierce holes into its body. Lucy gaped in awe as she watched the five of them... but then she gasped as she realized that she was caught up in watching.
"What am I doing?!" she asked. "I have to help, too!"
Suddenly, there was a flash of light from her key pouch, and suddenly, Apollo appeared in front of the Celestial Spirit Wizard, growling at Lullaby, who, even after taking all those attacks, was still standing!
"IMPUDENT FOOLS!" it roared furiously as it glared down at the group. "I'LL DEVOUR YOU ALL!"
"AAAAAH!" one of the Guild Masters screamed in horror. "THIS IS IT! WE'RE DOOMED!"
"Apollo, wait!" Lucy cried. "What are you-"
Before Lucy could do anything, the symbol of Canis Minor began to flow on Apollo's forehead, followed by these glowing blue lights gathering into the puppy's mouth, which he closed for a few seconds before his cheeks began to inflate... and then, as he opened his tiny jaws... a massive beam of light burst forth from him, completely obliterating Lullaby's entire left side, causing everyone to gape in shock... but none of them were more shocked than Lucy, whose jaw was gaping open and her eyes were wider than saucers.
"...Oooookay, I did not know that he could do THAT!" she exclaimed.
"A puppy... that shoots laser beams?" Natsu asked. "That is... SO COOL!"
"Jeez, Lucy, you are just full of surprises!" Haru exclaimed as she put her hand on the Celestial Spirit Wizard's shoulder.
"Very impressive, Lucy," Erza grinned.
"Uh... what can I say?" Lucy asked with a sheepish chuckle. "I got a lot of them."
At that moment, Apollo whimpered as he collapsed to the ground, causing Lucy to gasp as she ran up and held the poor exhausted pup, who quickly disappeared in her arms.
"Hey, where'd the little guy go?" asked Gray.
"He must have gone back to the Celestial Spirit Realm to rest," said Lucy. "I guess that laser took up a lot of his energy."
"Urrrgh..." Lullaby groaned as it began to collapse, itself. "In... conceivable...!" Soon, it fell to the ground... right on top of the conference building, completely destroying it, and yet, despite that, Makarov just laughed proudly at the ones he called his children while Kageyama and the Guild Masters stared in amazement.
"Unreal...!" one of the masters whispered. "They destroyed a demon of Zeref... like it was nothing!"
"Behold," Makarov began as Natsu and the others all stood proudly, "the strongest team in Fairy Tail!"
"Haha! Hell yeah, we are!" Natsu shouted as he and Haru high-fived.
"Whoo-hoo! Haru hollered.
"Aye!" Happy cheered.
"Wow..." Kageyama whispered. "These guys... are amazing!"
"Oh, yes, they are, cutie!" Bob exclaimed as he pulled the Shadow Wizard into his arms. "We better get you to a doctor, am I right~?"
"GAH!" cried Kageyama.
"Well, it seems we owe Fairy Tail a great debt," said Goldmine.
"Well, you can start by cookin' up a big dinner!" Natsu exclaimed, only for Erza to nudge him in the side. "Ow! Hey!"
"Seeing you all safe is reward enough," said Erza.
"Hahahahahaha!" Makarov laughed. "They certainly are amazing, aren't they?!" However... his laughter was cut short as he realized what just happened: the conference hall was completely destroyed!
"Uh... oh, dear," Erza muttered. "It seems we overdid it, again."
"Ah, crap..." Natsu cursed under his breath.
"What do we do?" Lucy asked, nervously.
"Look, as long as we don't say anything about it and sneak off quietly, we're off the hook," Gray muttered.
"Yeah, I like that plan," Haru agreed before they all turned to sneak away... until someone yelled out...
"HEY! SOMEONE STOP THEM! THEY DESTROYED THE CONFERENCE HALL!"
"Change of plans!" Makarov shouted. "RUN FOR THE HILLS!"
"GREAT IDEA!" Natsu cried before they all ran off as fast as they could while the Guild Masters chased after them, yelling all kinds of angry things.
"YOU VANDALS!"
"MAKAROV, DON'T EXPECT TO EVER COME BACK TO OUR MEETINGS, AGAIN!"
"YOU FAIRY TAIL WIZARDS ARE NOTHING BUT DELINQUENTS!"
But as the Guild Masters chased the Fairy Tail Gang out of town... Lullaby slowly began to crumble away into dust... making one final utterance.
"E... N... D..."
I might have rushed this a little bit, but at least I managed to get this done! Also, coming up next is the bonus chapter!
Also, I thought it would be cool if maybe some of the Etherious Demons knew about E.N.D's existence.
Review, please!