Chapter 25

Their landing was rough. Laxus held Gajeel and shielded him from the floor, taking the brunt of it. He felt as if his back were screaming, but Laxus couldn't afford to falter. He had to get up. Before anything else he looked at his partner. Gajeel wasn't moving but he was still conscious, it seemed. He looked around. It was all so red. The room reeked of death, but the stench felt familiar. He'd been here before, but he remembered nothing of it. Laxus watched as Gajeel's eyes faced the four-armed man, sitting on the throne. It's stairs were carved from scraps, but the throne itself seemed to be of old brass and bones. Gajeel quivered in Laxus' arms. Cadaver gave him a sour look.

They were surrounded by bodiless spirits. The Spirit Queen's centipede-like body crawling angrily on the walls around them. Cadaver did not look at the others, instead keeping his eyes on his pet, caught cuddling the man he was meant to kill.

Cadaver chuckled.

It sent shivers down their spines, his voice. It was as if two people were speaking. Vincent's voice could be heard as well as someone else's unfamiliar to them. Freed helped Laxus sit up, moving Gajeel behind the lightning mage.

"You know how hungry the queen is, Gajeel," Cadaver spoke. "You've disappointed me."

They looked to Gajeel. He wasn't hypnotized anymore, right? So why did he look so worried? He was uncharacteristically frightened by the man. Freed held him tightly as Cadaver began his slow descent down the steps of his throne, eyes locked on Gajeel. He could feel Gajeel struggle to hold onto the rune mage. Laxus stood, ready to defend him, magic flashing towards his hand.

"You've disappointed all of us, Gajeel."

"I-I'm sorry."

Gajeel's frail voice shot through Laxus' chest, nearly knocking the wind out of him. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard. He was used to Gajeel not taking shit from anyone. The dragon slayer he knew would have spat right back at him, but it was clear Gajeel was exhausted, and scared. Laxus took a step forward as Cadaver raised an eyebrow at the group.

Suddenly there was a ringing in Laxus' ears. It was irritating, but no one else in the room seemed to be affected by it, save for the dragon slayers. Sting and Rogue, who were already weakened, sought to regain their balance as the ringing threw them off. Gajeel didn't seem to react much, but Laxus could feel his pain despite being unable to see him. He refused to take his eyes off of Cadaver as the monstrous man descended the old steps of his throne. The clack of his boots against the metal made Laxus' magic feel as though it were boiling inside of him.

Cadaver finally reached the floor. He was much larger than the other mages. He looked down at them, and smiled.

"I must say, however," he continued, one set of hands behind his back, another clasped in front quite elegantly, "You did bring them all to me...which I suppose...is quite fine."

Gajeel could feel himself going unconscious again, but he struggled to keep himself awake. Cadaver would find it inappropriate if you slept on his floor like a dog. You did your job. He's still proud of you, right?

What are you talking about? He's about to kill your friends.

"Stop talking to him," Freed commanded, "Don't you think you've put him through enough, you monster!?"

"Monster?" Cadaver chuckled. He cackled, raising his arms. The spirits laughed with him, and the mages could hear, but the dragon slayers we're still plagued with the ringing, getting louder and louder.

Sting faltered, finally, clasping his hands over his ears as he collapsed on his knees, Lucy and Cana quick to his aid. Rogue could take the ringing no longer, either, and covered his ears. Pantherlily helped Freed pull Gajeel up to cover his ears, knowing there was something the slayers could hear that the others could not. "What's going on!?" The exceed shouted over the laughter, "Laxus!?"

Laxus huffed. The ringing was giving him a headache for sure. He felt as if something in him would explode if it didn't stop, but he didn't dare look away. He knew that's what the man before him wanted. Laxus needed to stop his bullshit already.

"Vincent."

He spoke with a calm voice, making no attempt at sounding louder that everyone and everything else in the room. And it worked, probably too well. Dead silence. The ringing, even, ceased entirely. Not an echo in the room. Multiple eyes appeared behind Cadaver suddenly. The Spirit Queen was faster than before, and she wasn't happy with the way Laxus spoke to Cadaver.

"Ah...Vincent," He finally responded, scoffing at the lightning mage, "I can't say your wrong but you're not right, either, boy. I am Cadaver. I am the merged spirits of the Aruli brothers; an all powerful dragon slayer, a god of my own right! You think Vincent can create what you see before you? Pah! Nonsense, these spirits, their bodies, and the resurrection of the Spirit Queen will be at the hands of the Spirit King, himself. And I implore you to address me as such, so that your sacrifice may be with some dignity."

Laxus couldn't help but smirk. The guy was a scumbag with a god complex. He knew better than to really doubt Cadaver, given what they'd already been put through...and what he'd done to Gajeel. He wanted to turn to his lover, hold his hand and kiss him at least once before he fought the other man, but he knew it couldn't be. Laxus wasn't fighting alone, still he could only trust his friends with Gajeel's protection for now. Cadaver seemed to be focused on Laxus, so he needed to be focused on Cadaver. He needed to bring Cadaver down.

Just before he charged at the man Cadaver raised his arms, and he was surrounded by magic. Gajeel's magic. It was as though he were able to manipulate it in the air as iron quickly covered his body, giving him a large, dense armor. His many eyes glowed red through his shielded face. Kneeling down and extending his arms out again, four massive swords appeared. He was using Gajeel's magic for his own protection. Laxus clicked his teeth.

Cadaver lept for the lightning dragon slayer. Laxus couldn't dodge, instead charged his own magic, pushing himself off the ground and finally barreling towards Cadaver. As they met, Laxus managed to catch two of the swords aimed for his sides. His arms were sparking with his magic, sending lightning across the room, but shaking, struggling to stop the blade. It was the dull end, he noticed, he wasn't bleeding much. As for the other two swords, they'd been stopped by Erza and Freed with a swiftness.

"Laxus-!" Gajeel tried to call out to the other. He struggled to stand, but his exceed partner held him back. "Shit-!"

Pantherlily looked up to find they wouldn't just be idling by. It was the Spirit Queen, crawling on the ceiling above them and rapidly descending for the mages. It's shrill yell was deafening, nearly taking them off guard. Sting quickly stumbled back up, attempting to attack with a Roar of the White Dragon, but as it would hit the queen, she seemingly disappeared.

"What?" He shook his head, "Where'd it go!?"

"I-it's underground!" Rogue shouted. The floor began glowing and the mages ran from it as The Spirit Queen burst through, aiming towards one of them. "She's after Gajeel!" Rogue called again.

"Dammit!" Laxus heard him, but he was far too occupied. Cadaver wouldn't cease. He constantly swung at him, constantly shoved Erza and Freed aside when they got too close. Whenever he thought he could have a moment to breathe and think, Cadaver was on him. Without his sword, as if playing with the other, Cadaver punched Laxus, sending him backwards. His nose bled. In this short moment, he was able to think.

He opened his eyes, peering away from his opponent for a second just before landing and sliding down the metal floor. Laxus finally saw Gajeel. He was okay for now; Pantherlily was with him. Gajeel was guarded by him and Juvia, and the other two exceeds. He saw Lucy and Cana join Sting and Rogue in fighting off the Spirit Queen. He turned back. Bickslow and Evergreen came to his aid, but Cadaver was much too fast. The man dodged their attacks as he did Erza's and Freed's. Cadaver was charging for him again. Get up.

Just before Cadaver could reach Laxus, there was an explosion between them, and he'd flown backwards. The metal shards loudly clattered with him to the ground, and he looked up to see Gildarts by Laxus' side. Cadaver scoffed again.

"You mages are absolutely hilarious!" He laughed, "You think this will be another easy fight, do you? Well go ahead and pretend!"

He raised one of his arms up. Laxus held his breath as he stared at the ring on his finger. The red jewel, the very same color as the one Rogue and Gajeel's eyes had glowed just earlier, when he had them in his control. The ring was emitting some kind of magic. The room began to shake, the floor clacking beneath the man as his power surged. The little spirits surrounding the throne room were absorbed by his now growing form.

Gajeel was hurting. He was struggling to breathe. Cadaver was excessively draining his own magic. Juvia yelled out his name, but the iron dragon slayer couldn't respond. The pain became too much to bear, and Gajeel cried out. It was a pained scream Laxus hoped he'd never have to hear. Cadaver, somehow, still had control over Gajeel, and he was still hurting him. He hadn't been saved.

The ground finally stopped shaking, and Cadaver drew in a sharp inhale. He was going to use a dragon technique. Well so was Laxus.

An Iron Dragon Roar was met with a Lightning Dragon Roar, and the colliding force lit up the massive room entirely. Gildarts even struggled to hold himself down, watching Laxus push the other back. Cadaver was much too strong, and Laxus had just about enough of the man. To his own surprise Cadaver couldn't handle the pressure of the other's magic and was blown back once again, slamming into the metal throne stairs and damaging them completely. He pushed himself up, stumbling.

How in the world was this possible? The mages were actually wearing him down. But it shouldn't be. He picked out Gajeel's magic to study specifically. He had to know how to use it, of course he did. Had Cadaver actually chosen the wrong slayer to study? "You damn brat!" He shouted at Laxus, "How DARE you-!?"

"Fuck you." Laxus spat, wiping the flood from his face.

Cadaver lept up, enraged, aiming all of his blades for Laxus. He was stopped quickly, shot out of the air by Laxus' own defensive lightning strikes. He crashed to the ground but got back up again, not stopping his attacks until Laxus was finally dead and gone, until all of the ugly rats were eliminated. His queen could be fed, and they could both become incredibly powerful. They could have the reign of the world. It's all Cadaver could ever want…

That wasn't all true. Cadaver had other wants. Needs. Distractions. Gajeel was a big one. He had to have Gajeel. He needed to have Gajeel. He wanted him. He needed Laxus gone. His human needs were in the way of his plans; Cadaver could never figure out Gajeel's magic. He was too curious. New answers opened new questions and the man was led nowhere. Not only was Cadaver too curious for his own good, but he was much too aroused. He'd used Gajeel's body far too much, exhausted him, and it meddled with his plans. And he was angry. Furious. Confused. Terrified that all of his plans would come to ruin because of the human emotions he could never get rid of.

Cadaver was exhausted. He'd never felt exhaustion, not since he became his true self twenty years ago. He never expected it, especially not so soon, and yet here he was, run dry by the lightning mage he desperately tried to kill. He breathed, standing after taking enough hits from the other.

"H...heh…"

Laxus scowled.

"What's so funny?" He huffed.

"Well…" he answered, "If I'm being honest...I certainly...underestimated you mages…In fact I believe you were the one I should have studied...Dreyar."

Slowly, he raised a fist at him. It was the ring. It began to glow. Laxus furrowed his eyebrows at Cadaver as the man laughed. Laxus suddenly felt faint, struggling to stand. What the hell was he doing? He couldn't possibly try to take control of him-it should have only worked on Gajeel and Rogue-no, of course it wasn't that useless, especially with it being as strong as it was now.

"Laxus!" his friends were calling him. He could hear the Raijinshuu's voices. Laxus ripped himself away from the ring and found himself facing Gajeel again. The Spirit Queen was angrier than she was before, running impatient and done playing with the others. Gajeel was more awake, he noticed, watching in fear as Cadaver tried to take control of Laxus, and Juvia...she had an arm outstretched towards Cadaver. She looked angry.

There was quite the flood. Water from the above sewers emerged from every surrounding entrance to the throne room, and it was just enough to stop the monster where he stood. Cadaver was frozen in place, abruptly placed in a massive water lock. All but one hand with a magical ring completely trapped. The stone stopped glowing, and Laxus was able to regain himself.

"The ring, Laxus-san!" She yelled, "Gajeel-kun, he says It's a lacrima! Destroy it!"

She didn't have to say it again. A massive lightning bolt was sent towards the ring. The impact led to a bright white flash, and the ring was shattered. Cadaver's scream was muffled as all of the magic from the ring had escaped instantly. His armor tore from him, becoming a magical dust above him. The spirits he'd trapped in his body escaped, bursting through him. It had broken Juvia's seal, and the spirits were once again surrounding the throne room. Cadaver slammed to the ground, much weaker than when the fight had even started and now surrounded by the magic and the creatures he'd abused. They flew around, quite distressed.

Gajeel let out a long exhale. He could feel his magic in the air, all of it slowly coming back to him. He'd lost so much, it was overwhelming. He fully relaxed in Juvia and Pantherlily's arms, trying to feel some kind of relief despite the amount of pain he was still in.

Cadaver was on his hands and knees. It was unbelievable. Absolutely disgusting, how much of a failure this had been. He could no longer feel Gajeel's magic, and he could no longer feel his presence. He did not have the iron dragon slayer in his grasp anymore. He didn't have any spirits left in him. The only thing cadaver could feel a connection to was The Spirit Queen, who was enraged herself with the predicament. He shot a glare at Gajeel.

No. This wasn't just a failed experiment. He planned everything accordingly. Everything should have just worked. Everything would have been a complete success if it weren't for the meddling iron dragon. The Queen was right. Gajeel was too much of a damned distraction. For the mess Gajeel had made, he ought to kill him.

"You."

He looked up at his opponent. Laxus. He'd filled the throne room with his own magic alone, Cadaver could feel it. His hands were clasped together, a bright light emitting form them. Lightning? No. It was something else there. Something much more powerful. His eyes shone the same bright color, and he looked at Cadaver with a fury that would kill a man. That was just what Laxus intended to do, he was certain. He was going to kill him. Cadaver was weak, much too weak to take on whatever Laxus had to dish out, and Laxus was fully going to kill him.

It was ungodlike, for his demeanor. He stepped back, lips trembling, fearing what was to come. At the same time, Laxus' magic was incredible. It was almost beautiful. He was mesmerized for a moment, watching magic in the room all flutter to his hands.

The Spirit Queen screamed. She flew towards Cadaver, wrapping herself around him to shield him. Laxus smirked. "That thing's not gonna fucking save you, now." He said, "This is how you pay...for what you've done to Gajeel!"

Fairy Law was a powerful magic. It was handed down to him, and after trying to use it on his friends, he swore never to use it again. Laxus never thought he'd see the day he'd be tempted enough to break that promise, but he was pushed to his limit, and regardless, he knew he had no choice. He needed to clear the whole damn park of the monsters Cadaver had created. Cadaver was at his absolute weakest, and he needed to end this now.

The magic he'd casted was released. It was powerful, the magic was immense and blindingly bright. The mages felt no pain, as he remembered. The magic would only affect his enemies and it did so successfully. In the light he could see Cadaver's mody, a spirit body held together by magic, tearing itself apart, as if clawing through itself to break free. The spirits around the room perished by Fairy Law as well, their shrill screams almost deafening. They weren't as loud as the Spirit Queen, however.

She looked as though she were burning in the light. Her centipede-like body began to chip away and slowly reveal...something else. Something inside, trapped like a butterfly in a cocoon. It stretched out, yowled and eventually calmed.

The light of the magic ceased finally. Laxus focused his vision on the giant figure appearing before the mages now. All of the little monsters were gone. Cadaver had completely disappeared. All that were left of them were bright, white orbs, and a bright, white figure, her form impossible to make out other than white and woman-like, staring down at Laxus with three beautiful eyes and flowing hair.

She tilted her head curiously, and with the spirits she faded away.

Laxus didn't even stop to process what he'd seen. He sprinted towards Gajeel, falling to his knees and taking the injured dragon slayer in his arms. "Gajeel? G-Gajeel?" He tried to wake the other.

Gajeel's eyes fluttered open, much to Laxus' relief, but he was still so tired. Laxus nearly pulled him up and kissed him there, but he knew better. All of their friends surrounded them. They all knew about the two of them, but he didn't dare kiss him in front of them, as much as he wanted to and as desperately as he needed to. He could feel tears welling up.

"Hey."

Gajeel stared at him. It was a similar scene they'd just experienced, but Gajeel felt less restraint. Still...he reached up, weakly, to touch Laxus' cheek, almost forgetting everyone else around him. His finger gently ran down Laxus' scar. He wanted to kiss Laxus, too.

"I'll take you home now...okay?" Laxus asked. His lips trembled a bit, Gajeel noticed. He was much too tired to keep his hand raised, but just before it fell back to his side, Laxus caught it, grasping it tightly, interlocking his fingers with Gajeel's.

Gajeel nodded.