Ch. 8- Dragon Force
Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima
Story and OCs © Me
Haru and Blue Fang both gaped in disbelief as the former held the unconscious Erza to her side. She could hardly believe what her eyes were seeing... and she wanted to deny it... but the reality was harsher on her than she realized. At first, it looked as if Natsu had Jellal on the ropes, hitting him with several melee attacks until he used his Fire Dragon Roar as a finisher... but the moment the dust cleared, it was like a huge smack to the face.
Just like when she tried to fight him... it seemed that Natsu was no match for Jellal, either. The madman emerged from the flames with only a single scratch on him, but it was like all the other attacks didn't even touch him! As if that wasn't bad enough, it was then that Jellal revealed his true power: his Heavenly Body Magic. Faster than anyone could so much as blink, Jellal had imbued his Meteor spell and struck Natsu down faster than the speed of light! Even when it looked like the Fire Dragon Slayer attempted to keep up with him, Jellal was still faster!
Then came one of Jellal's most powerful spells: the Grand Chariot.
By placing seven magic circles in the form of a constellation, Natsu was hit by a bombardment of light beams... and soon, he was lying on the ground in a smoking, crumpled heap.
Natsu had been beaten.
"...N... Natsu...!" Haru called in a shaky voice. "N-Natsu, g-get up! Come on, bro! If this is a joke, it isn't funny! Come on! I know it takes more than that to take you down!"
"Try as you might," Jellal began, "he won't be waking up any time soon. That spell I hit him with was like being struck by a meteor. I'm honestly astounded that his body is still intact."
Haru whimpered as she held Erza tightly, tears threatening to well up in her eyes once more.
"Although maybe I did overdo it a bit," said Jellal as he looked to a nearby crater, where magic was flowing out. It wouldn't be good for the R-System to take any more damage." He then turned and began to approach Haru, who gasped in horror as she realized what was about to happen. "Now then... shall we continue where we left off, Erza?"
"No!" Haru shouted as she held Erza tightly to her while Blue Fang growled. "You'll have to kill me first before I let you sacrifice her!"
"You realize you're only delaying the inevitable, don't you?" asked Jellal. "Why do you continue to fight, knowing it's hopeless? You saw what I did to your brother and you know what I can do to you, as well. Just give up."
"...You don't understand a thing," Haru said as she glared at him in defiance, even in spite of her tears. "Erza... she's always tried to be strong... because she didn't want people to see how much pain she was truly in! While I can't fully understand how much this place hurt her... or how much suffering she went through... I can't imagine what life would be like without her! She's a member of our family and we'd never turn our backs on her!"
"Hmph!" Jellal scoffed. "Just a bunch of empty words..."
"Are they, really?!" Haru asked. "Jellal... Erza still cared about you, you know! Even after all those years you made her suffer, all she could think about was trying to help you! Despite everything, she still sees you as a friend! Do you seriously feel nothing for her, now?!"
Jellal paused... and for just a brief moment, Haru could have sworn she saw something in his eyes. It looked like... he was hesitating.
Before Haru could speak further, something clattered against the ground, next to Jellal's foot, causing him to look down and see that Natsu was weakly tossing pebbles of Lacrima at him.
"Natsu!" Haru exclaimed.
"Heh... heheheh...!" Natsu chuckled. "I... I get it, now."
"What?" Jellal asked.
"This... this tower," Natsu said as he began to pick himself up. "You just said... that if it gets damaged anymore, you wouldn't be able to use it, right? Well, then... today's not your day, buddy!" With that, he punched a hole through the floor, to Jellal's shock.
"Stop that!" he demanded. "What the hell are you doing?!"
"You should know," Natsu said as he stood up. "Fairy Tail... specializes in property damage!" He smirked as he wiped his lip, his body now wreathed in flame. "Well... I'm all fired up, now! More than I've ever been before!"
"You bastard!" Jellal cursed. "I won't let you get in my way!"
"Sis!" Natsu called. "You and Blue Fang, keep Erza safe, got it?!"
"Right!" Haru called. "Give him hell, bro!"
As the battle raged on, Erza groaned as she began to regain consciousness. As she looked up, she saw Jellal trying to hit Natsu with his attacks, and at one point, it did look like he had pushed him back... but then, to both hers and Haru's surprise, Natsu managed to break free!
"What's happening?!" Erza asked.
"Natsu's winning!" Haru exclaimed.
"Heheh!" Natsu chuckled. "What's wrong, Jellal?! You so scared of breaking your precious tower that you can't go all out on me?! I haven't broken a sweat!"
"I wouldn't get so cocky if I were you!" Jellal shouted as he sent a beam of light at Natsu with the thrust of his palm, causing him to get sent tumbling backward, but he managed to right himself before he put his hands together, creating a giant fireball.
"FIRE DRAGON BRILLIANT FLAME!"
In a huge flash of fire, Natsu made a large crater in the ground, shattering bits of Lacrima and sending them every which way.
"He's... aiming for the tower...!" Erza whispered.
"Without the tower, Jellal can't use the R-System, right?" asked Haru. "The only way to stop it is to destroy it! No tower, no sacrifice!"
"You... you little punk!" Jellal growled as he glared at Natsu. "It took me 8 years to complete this tower!"
Natsu chuckled confidently... before he began to wobble, causing him to put his hand to his stomach.
"...He's been fighting too hard," Erza said. "He's getting weaker... it's getting too much for him to even stand!"
"...It's not over," said Haru. "Natsu can beat him... I know he will!"
'But please, Natsu... don't push yourself too hard... I don't wanna lose Erza and you...!'
"I will not allow this!" Jellal shouted as he raised his hands in an X-formation over his head. "You will rue the day you dare to bare your fangs at me, Salamander!"
Soon, a sinister wind began to whirl around Jellal, causing all that were present to brace themselves. As Erza looked down, she gasped in horror as she saw her shadow bending toward the light instead of away from it!
"Oh, no...!" she whispered. "That spell...!"
"Erza, what's happening?!" asked Haru, but then, Blue Fang barked out as a warning, causing her to look toward Jellal... who was holding a black orb over his head... and it was rapidly enlarging! "W... what is that?!"
"You will be the first to die... Haru Dragneel...!" Jellal smirked, causing the Beast Wizard to gasp in horror.
"No way!" Natsu shouted as he ran in front of his sister, holding his arms out in front of her. "I'm not letting that get even one inch to Haru, Blue Fang, or Erza!"
"Natsu!" Erza cried before she wrestled herself free from Haru's grasp, then quickly stood before the Dragneel Siblings with her arms outstretched.
"Erza, what are you doing?!" Haru questioned.
"Go ahead and try that spell, now, Jellal!" Erza challenged. "But just know that if you do, you'll lose your only chance at reviving Zeref! You need a sacrifice, don't you?!"
Once again, Haru saw something in Jellal's eyes for just a brief second... and she could have sworn it lingered a little bit longer, this time.
"It's true," Jellal said. "A sacrifice is required... preferably, someone who is fit to be a Wizard Saint... but now that it's come to this, it doesn't necessarily have to be you, Erza!"
Erza gasped... realizing that now, Jellal intended to kill her, no matter what, and he was going to kill Natsu, Haru, and Blue Fang along with her.
"Now... all of you... BOW TO YOUR DEATH, TOGETHER!" Jellal declared as the orb of darkness began to expand. "ALTAIRIS!"
"Erza!" Haru cried, fearfully.
"GET DOWN!" Erza screamed as she pulled the Dragneel Siblings into her arms while Blue Fang curled around them, all four bracing for the attack. The orb exploded, sending the whole chamber in a blinding light... and yet, they did not feel the intense weight of gravity crushing them all. At first, no one dare to open their eyes... but then, hesitantly, Erza glanced over her shoulder, only to let out a horrified gasp.
Simon was standing in front of her... his body covered in blood and bruises.
"S... Simon...?!" Erza whispered in shock.
"Er... za...!" Simon choked as he fell to the ground.
"SIMON!" Erza cried as she ran to his side along with Haru while Jellal snorted.
"So that cockroach was still crawling around here, huh?" he asked, mockingly.
"Mr. Simon, are you okay?!" Haru asked as she knelt down beside him while Erza gently held his head in her lap.
"Simon, what were you thinking?!" Erza asked. "Why didn't you run away with the others?!"
Simon coughed harshly, blood dripping from his lips... before he gave Erza a strained but genuine smile.
"I... I'm... happy..." he whispered. "I knew... that someday..." He coughed again. "Someday... I'd be able to help you... Erza..."
"Don't try to talk, Simon!" Erza urged. "Please!"
"Hang on! You're gonna be fine!" Haru said. "Don't you die, you hear me?!"
"You were... always so sweet... and kind..." Simon said as tears fell from his eye... his breath slowly leaving his body. "Erza... I... I always..."
"Simon...!" Erza whispered as she held his hand... just as Simon closed his eye.
'I always... loved you...'
Soon... there was silence... and Simon lied still, his smile never leaving his face.
"...No...!" Erza whispered as tears of despair fell from her left eye... before she threw her head up to the sky. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"...Erza...!" Haru said before she went over and hugged the weeping Requip Wizard. "I'm so sorry, Erza!" She sobbed heavily as she held her older sister figure. "I'm so sorry!"
Blue Fang, sharing in their pain, raised his head and gave a mournful howl for Simon... and as for Natsu, he just stood there, eyes wide in shock.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Jellal cackled. "How foolish! That's the most pathetic thing I've ever seen! What a waste of life... dying in vain like that! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Natsu didn't say anything... but he silently clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
"This doesn't change a thing!" Jellal declared. "No matter what you do, no one is going to leave this tower alive! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Will you SHUT UP?!"
Faster than Jellal could even blink, he was suddenly punched in the face, sending him crashing through a Lacrima pillar. Haru gasped before she glanced over at Natsu, who seethed in fury as he grabbed a hunk of glowing crystal... and chomped into it.
"N... Natsu!" Haru exclaimed. "What are you doing?!"
"He isn't...!" Erza whispered in shock.
"Impossible!" Jellal said in disbelief as he stood up. "He's eating the Ethernano from the Etherion blast!"
Natsu swallowed the crystal... and soon after, his body was shrouded in a blue aura. He roared ferociously as his eyes glowed and veins bulged under his skin. He threw his arms down against the floor, causing a shockwave of magic energy to surge out and nearly hit Jellal had he not jumped out of the way. However, Natsu suddenly seized up and coughed up what looked like glowing bile, causing him to gag as he grabbed at his throat and writhed around.
"Natsu!" Haru cried as she ran to her brother's aid.
"Haru, get him to spit it out!" Erza cried. "Ethernano is made of more than one magic element than just fire! It could kill him!"
"What?!" Haru questioned before she grabbed Natsu and hoisted him off the floor, pushing her fist into his stomach while bracing her body against him. "Natsu, cough it up! Come on!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Jellal laughed. "What an idiot! Did he truly believe he could power himself up like that?! It would certainly make my job if he died, right now!"
"Come on, Natsu!" Haru urged as she kept trying to get Natsu to heave up the Ethernano. "Spit it out, already! Spit it- AGH!" She yelped as she dropped her brother on the ground.
"What happened?!" Erza asked.
"He got really hot all of a sudden!" Haru answered... and as she looked up, she gasped as she saw a sight that really had to be seen to believed: Natsu was standing before Jellal... with a fiery aura in the shape of a dragon. Not just that, but he had what looked like reptilian scales around his eyes and his shoulders!
"What in the name of Mavis Vermillion...?!" Erza whispered.
"Is that... a dragon?" asked Haru in utter astonishment. Even Blue Fang was gaping in awe at what he was seeing!
"IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!" Natsu roared as he charged at Jellal with near-blinding speed, kneeing him in the jaw before he leapt up into the air. "YOU MADE ERZA CRY!"
He caught Jellal by the throat, sending the two of them crashing through several floors of the tower!
"I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU GET AWAY WITH IT!" Natsu shouted. "I MADE A PROMISE AND I'M NOT GONNA BREAK IT! HURT ERZA AGAIN AND I'LL KILL YOOOOOOOOUU!"
Haru gasped as she looked down at the hole through which Jellal and Natsu disappeared, but then she yelped as she backed away, just as they both came back up with Natsu flying through the air like a blazing comet, punching Jellal in the stomach and sending him flying as well!
"KICK HIS ASS, NATSU!" Haru cheered while Erza sat there, staring in awe.
"RAAAAAAAAARGH!" Natsu roared as he bombarded Jellal with a flurry of flaming punches, then kicked him up into the air.
'Impossible...!' Jellal thought. 'I can't... I can't lose!'
"I WILL NOT LOSE TO THE LIKES OF YOU!" Jellal shouted. "IT IS MY DESTINY TO CREATE A LAND OF FREEDOM!"
As Natsu moved in to hit him, again, Jellal jumped out of his way, climbing up one of the crystal spires before he floated over the Fire Dragon Slayer, who growled at him.
"In my pain and fear, it was Lord Zeref who whispered to me in my time of need!" Jellal preached. "He asked me if I wanted to make a land of true freedom! I am the only one who can hear and feel Lord Zeref's spirit! I AM THE CHOSEN ONE! LORD ZEREF AND I WILL CREATE A WORLD OF TRUE FREEDOM!"
"And you think that gives you the right to steal it from everyone else?!" Natsu questioned.
"Only the will to change the world can alter history!" Jellal shouted as he drew a magic circle in the air with his finger. "WHY DON'T YOU FOOLS UNDERSTAND?!"
Erza gasped, instantly recognizing the magic circle and its symbols.
"That's... Abyss Break!" she realized in horror.
"You mean the one that Phantom Lord used?!" Haru asked. "You mean he's gonna destroy the tower with us on it?!"
"I just need another eight years!" Jellal boasted. "No! 5 years! Lord Zeref... just wait a little longer and-" He then grunted in pain as his body seized up, and he momentarily grabbed at his stomach before he coughed up blood.
'Earlier... when Erza hit me with her sword...!' he thought. 'Dammit... the wound hasn't healed!'
Realizing that this was his only chance, Natsu flew toward Jellal in a fiery rage.
"You won't ever get your freedom!" he shouted. "No jerk who lets himself get controlled by a ghost can ever find freedom!" He then reeled his fist back. "FREE YOURSELF, FIRST, JELLAL!"
With that, Natsu punched Jellal so hard, that he sent him crashing right down to the very bottom of the tower... thus finally ending Jellal's reign of terror, once and for all.
"He did it..." Haru whispered before she beamed brightly. "He did it! Did you see that, Erza?! Natsu beat him, just like I knew he would!"
Erza was just too in awe to speak. Instead, she just sat there, staring at Natsu, who panted as he stood over the crater where Jellal fell.
'Could it be...?' thought Erza. 'Was that... Natsu's true power? The power of a Dragon Slayer?'
At that moment, Natsu's scales disappeared and he glanced back at Erza and Haru, who both stared at him before they smiled warmly.
"Good job, bro," Haru said.
"...Heh..." Natsu grinned... before he closed his eyes and fell to his knees. With the rush of battle now subsiding, Natsu's exhaustion had finally caught up with him and he just couldn't stand any longer. Before he fell completely, though, Erza ran up and caught him in her arms, a grateful smile on her face.
"Natsu... you and Haru... you both fought so hard," she said. "Thanks to you... my 8-year battle has finally come to an end."
Haru smiled, seeing that Erza looked so at peace now... but then, the tower began to tremble, causing the girls to look up as shafts of light began to seep through the cracks.
"What's happening?!" Haru asked.
"Oh, no... I was afraid of this!" Erza said. "The 270 million Edea of magic that was absorbed in the tower is becoming unstable!"
"What does that mean?!" Haru questioned.
"It means this place is about to explode!" Erza shouted. "We have to get out of here!"
Realizing the dire situation at hand, Haru quickly clambered onto Blue Fang's back while Erza grabbed the unconscious Natsu and hoisted him onto hers. As they did, though, Haru gasped as she saw Simon's corpse lying on the ground, heading toward a large fissure.
"What about Mr. Simon?!" Haru asked while Erza glanced back at her fallen friend. At first, she looked as if she was going to recover his body... but it was already too late. Simon dropped into the fissure before Erza could react fast enough.
With a heavy heart... she turned away.
"There's nothing we can do, now," she said, but then, an explosion burst from one of the Lacrima crystals, and the tower began to crumble around them!
"We have to go! Now!" Erza shouted.
"You heard her, Blue Fang!" Haru urged. "Let's get outta here!"
Not needing to be told twice, Blue Fang took off like a shot while Erza ran behind him, carrying Natsu piggyback style. All around them, the tower crumbled more and more, pillars of crystal collapsing and magic exploding from the cracks and craters, threatening to engulf them. At one point, Haru looked back to check and see if Erza was still behind her.
"Don't look back, Haru!" Erza called out to her. "Keep your eyes forward! I'm right behind you, don't worry!"
Though she was reluctant, Haru heeded her word as she clutched Blue Fang's collar. The silver wolf panted as he ran as fast as his legs would allow, his instinct to survive going into overdrive. Right now, sensing the danger around him, all Blue Fang could focus on was to run and get himself and Haru to safety.
All of a sudden, Blue Fang skid to a stop as he found himself standing upon a ledge, the sea miles below the tower. He whined nervously, unsure of what to do. It was then that Haru looked back... only to gasp as she saw a Lacrima column fall toward her and Blue Fang!
"BLUE FANG, JUMP!" she cried, and without any further prompting, Blue Fang howled as he jumped off the ledge and plummeted toward the sea below... and soon, he and Haru were both plunged in cold, wet darkness.
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