Chapter 3 - The Dark Flames
As Elfman and Lisanna Strauss entered the space in front of them, they quickly stopped in shock after seeing who they were up against.
"Big sis?!" Elfman shouted in surprise.
"Mira!" Lisanna yelled with a slight trace of worry and fear edged in her tone.
"Ah." Mira sighed. "I was hoping for Natsu..."
"What does that have to mean!" Elfman angrily questioned his older sister.
"It means nothing. I was just curious to see how much stronger he'd become with Erza's training." She smiled.
"Good luck Mira." Lisanna said.
"Good luck you two..." She smiled again. Then smirking she added, "You're going to need it against me."
TAKE OVER: CHEETAH! Lisanna made the first move activating her magic while Elfman followed right behind her.
TAKE OVER: Beast-Soul! "You're going down!"
TAKE OVER: Satan Soul! Mirajane cast preparing to wipe the floor with her younger siblings. The three Strauss siblings were ready for action as they all morphed into different creatures.
"Ready Elfman?" Lisanna asked her brother preparing to strike.
"Yeah!" He responded.
"Let's go!" They both shouted rushing toward Mirajane hoping they could make this a quick victory.
CHEETAH: KICK! Lisanna raised her leg and kicked it towards Mira who easily caught it and smiled down at her sister. Suddenly, Lisanna rapidly felt the loss of gravity as she was hurdled into the air by Mira and crashed into a wall.
"Lisanna!" Elfman shouted seeing his sister go down rather easily.
"I am fine, go get her big bro." She told him with her own smile as she gave a thumbs up for encouragement.
BEAST SOUL: PUNCH! Mirajane got caught off guard as she wasn't exactly ready being nailed by the punch which landed on her jaw. While Mira was dazed, Elfman followed up with another strike and sent his older sister careening into the wall. She began to gather her thoughts and stand up before she was bombarded by rapid assaults from each side as Elfman continued his assault knowing he couldn't let Mira get up or he would probably end up losing. I have to take my chance!
BEAST SOUL: KICK!
Elfman kicked Mira sending her harshly into the roof, but as she fell back down, her mind thought; Why am I so weak. I use to be tied with Erza.. Now I am going to get defeated by my own brother? I haven't even got to release a spell...wait no! I am Mirajane Strauss a FairyTail S Class wizard!
TAKE OVER: BIRD! Lisanna cast rushing back into the fight as she charged forward.
SATAN SOUL: DEVIL RAY! Refusing to be beaten this easily, Mira unleashed a devastating black beam which slammed into Lissana's chest knocking the wind out of her and causing her to fly into the back wall yet again.
SATAN SOUL: DEVIL BLAST! Mira shot an attack at Lisanna which caused an earthquake around her and she passed out. Good, that should keep her out of commission for a while.
The battle was now just Mirajane vs Elfman.
"Lisanna!" Elfman yelled seeing his partner and sister down, erupting in fury.
BEAST SOUL: RAGE! He began to charge Mira who was focusing on activatating a spell when she was hit from behind by an unknown blast which knocked her down to the ground in pain. Elfman, confused by the sudden interference, turned around to see a man with yellow hair and a sadistic grin on his face cackling in amusement.
"How long is this path going to be..." Lucy groaned with impatience after it seemed like the corridors went on forever.
"Who knows. Maybe this is the safe path?" She said smiling trying to cheer her friend up.
"I hope so, because if it is not... I will definitely fall asleep." Lucy said tiredly.
"You're starting to sound like Natsu." She teased while laughing. "Oh! I think I see light up ahead, Lu!" They both now saw the light as they ran up ahead to it.
"Almost their Lu!" Levy shouted as they then reached the light which was a pathway. A sign read; Congrats contestant! You lucked out and chose the safe path. You are automatically locked into round two!
"Yes!" Lucy and Levy yelled as they drew the lucky path and got a free ticket to the second round.
"I wonder who made it through." Levy said aloud. Did Gajeel pass?
"I hope you don't take this the wrong way Levy, but I just... I really hope Natsu didn't pass." Lucy told her.
"Why is that Lu?" Levy asked her, surprised at her partner's words. Did something happen between them?
"We are best friends and all, but if he advances... it ruins my chances." Lucy sighed.
"Nice rhyme." Levy chuckled and then added; "It's fine you think that way. I don't want Gajeel to pass either, but I know deep down he most likely did."
"Yeah, you know what Levy your right. Alright, let's go meet up with the master." Lucy spoke cheering up at her best friend's words.
"Sounds good, Lu." She agreed. The Celestial Spirit summoner and the Solid Script wizard made their way back to the FairyTail camp wondering what the second round of the trials would have in store for them.
Shortly after their victory against Gidlarts, the FairyTail duo of Natsu and Happy began to leave the cavern preparing to meet up with the others. "Ready Happy?" Natsu asked his partner as his tears were gone and replaced with a smile.
"Aye sir!" Happy shouted. They both walked out of the tunnel officially finishing off round one of the S Class Trials.
"I can't believe you are going to be a S Class wizard soon!" Happy shouted at his best friend. He was very happy for him since Natsu had been training hard his whole life and even stole an S Class job flyer last year.
"We can go on a lot of fun jobs, bringing Lucy and maybe some others along. wouldn't that be fun, Natsu?" The cat asked him.
"Natsu?" Happy asked as Natsu was frozen still. He saw his nose sniffing the area. Then Natsu's eyes went extremely wide.
"Come on Happy!" Natsu shouted as he turned a corner and instead of exiting the way Gildarts did, Natsu rounded back and went down the hall at blazing speed.
"What are you doing Natsu?" Happy asked him confusedly, "The exit is that way." He added pointing with his paw before noticing his friend was alrighty out of sight and quickly flew his way to catch up with him.
"I'm not worried about that right now, Happy." Natsu responded after Happy was back with him turning another corner.
"What's wrong Natsu?" The blue cat asked him worriedly attempting to fly alongside the dragon slayer. His body came to a jolting halt as he turned to look at his partner pointing towards his nose. "My senses tell me that Elfman and Lisanna are currently fighting Mira." Natsu told him.
"Yeah so?" The cat replied questionably not understanding where he was going with this.
"There is another scent on this island. One I have never smelled before." He continued on. "The magical power that is with them is big." Natsu added before bolting off again trying to make sure he got there in time.
"How far till we meet them." Happy asked him now understanding the situation.
"In about two corners." The duo rounded the next two corridors before coming to a sudden stop as they saw something that shocked them. They watched Mira get blasted in the back by a spell, falling to the floor right in front of Elfman. After the shock wore off, Natsu's hearing caught a faint sound. He listened closely hearing someone cackling as if what just happened was a joke.
"Mira!" Elfman shouted as she fell to the ground with a hard thud. Rage filled his eyes as he looked up at the person who did this. He had yellow hair and sadistic grin on his face.
"Why do you look so angry?" The yellow haired man asked Elfman who was shaking in anger and fear.
"Oh... is it because I just killed your friend?" He chuckled before adding, "my name is Zancrow." The yellow haired man said. "What's yours?"
"Oh no!" Happy whispered after seeing Mira go down. Natsu's eyes turned to slits as he saw his comrade and friend fall to the floor. Happy felt the temperature increase rapidly almost to boiling point seeing Natsu already summoning his flames. Natsu had heard enough and hearing the word 'killed' sent him in rage.
FIRE DRAGON's BRILLAINT FLAME! Natsu shouted as the already beaten wall shattered to pieces sending the flames straight at Zancrow. The interferer barely leaped away before saying; "What the hell was that?"
"The name's Natsu Dragneel!" The intruder announced proudly.
Elfman finally left his shock when he heard his guildmates name. Turning around he saw the pinkette with a rather pissed off expression. "And I'm a dragon slayer." He added with a grin slowly forming across his face. And I'm furious.
"A dragon slayer, you say? Well, boy... I'm a god slayer!" Zancrow laughed.
Natsu didn't even move. "Elfman." Natsu asked with little emotion as he caught Elfmna's attention.
"Yes Natsu?" Elfman replied a little startled by Natsu's actions.
"Get Mira back to FairyTail. I'll take out this bastard." Elfman noticed Natsu's latter statement had venom in it.
"Are you sure?" Elfman asked searching his eyes, only to realize how infuriated his friend was. Natsu didn't respond. He raised the temperature further as he began re-summoning his flames. Elfman then nodded knowing his mind was set, picking up Mira off the floor and running out of the room with his older sister limp in his arms.
"Happy, Lisanna you should go too." Natsu ordered.
"Aye sir!" Happy said while Lisanna nodded quickly as they rushed after the retreating Elfman and took off down the corridor, before Lisanna turned around and came back to the entrance.
"Be careful Natsu!" Lisanna shouted at him one last time before disappearing behind the tunnel wall. Natsu heard her words and let his smile grow wider as his wild flames began to scorch the ground. Don't worry about me Lisanna, I'm gonna show this punk what happens when he messes with FairyTail.
"You ready to die dragon slayer?" Zancrow chuckled preparing to obliterate this puny fairy.
"I don't plan on dying today bub, but if it is my unlucky day then you are sure as hell are coming with me." He grinned revealing his sharp canines.
"Master, what is the order right now? Lucy, along with the others who advanced, asked the master.
"Natsu fought Gildarts and passed. Gajeel and Wendy fought each other to which Gajeel won. Gray and Juvia fought Erza, they unfortunately lost meaning Gray is out of the competition. Lucy and Levy took the safe path and... oh! Elfman just beat Mira!" Makarov announced.
"Natsu advanced? Where is he?" Lucy asked looking for her best friend but failing to see him anywhere.
"Yes, I was wondering the same thing as love rival." Juvia stated with Lucy groaning in the background after hearing that remark.
"Don't worry guys, flamebrain probably just got lost." Gray chuckled his composure back to normality after getting over his first-round loss to Erza.
However, Erza was not in amusement like Gray was. She was generally worried for her comrade. Where are you Natsu? Suddenly, there was this nagging feeling inside of her that something was about to go terribly wrong.
"How did Natsu find us, Happy?" Elfman asked the cat who was being held in the arms of his little sister.
"He used his nose." Happy answered. They turned the final corner as they ran through the tunnel exit and out into the light.
"Erza! Master! Someone! We need help! It's Mira!" Lisanna shouted trying to draw the guild's attention to them.
"Elfman! Lisanna! Happy!" The guild smiled at them knowing their friends were safe.
"We are glad you guys are alright." They all exchanged happily, but that mood turned sour rather fats after they saw the wounded S Class wizard in Elfman's arms.
"What happened?" Makarov asked as they laid Mira down noticing she was beginning to regain consciousness.
"We were battling Mira and all of a sudden this random spell appeared and hit Mira from behind. A man with yellow hair, whose name is Zancrow, appeared saying he killed her. Out of nowhere the wall busted down from next to me and a rather enraged Natsu came storming in burning up the place, that idiot. She chuckled to herself. "Apparently this Zancrow guy is a 'god slayer.'" Lisanna explained. Everyone froze. Master Makarov hoped he had heard his child wrong.
"A GOD SLAYER?!" He shouted wanting to clarify if that is indeed what she said, to which she nodded, and he paled. Oh dear…
"You guys left Natsu down there to fight him!" Erza yelled with anger rising as she glared down Elfman.
"Erza. I had to..." Elfman began but was interrupted. Lisanna was about to stand up for her brother when Lucy intervened.
"Erza calm down." Lucy tried reassuring the angered knight. "From what I've heard, Natsu believes Mira is dead, or at least seriously injured. We all know how he gets when one of his family is hurt, I know Natsu can take care of himself just believe in him." She firmly stated as their eyes clashed in disagreement.
"Ow..." Mira whined in pain as her eyes opened. "Erza...please." She mumbled in agony as the healers began to check her wound.
"Lucy..." Erza's anger continued to rise not wanting to back down from something this important. "It's not I don't have faith in him, it is just I don't want him to drive himself into his own grave!" She shouted as a tiny tear escaped her eye which didn't go unnoticed by the Celestial Spirit summoner who was staring at her friend.
"What do you mean?" Lucy asked surprised as she backed down and looked at Erza in wonder. Erza is…crying?
"Natsu thinks Mira is most likely dead. You know that will drive him into rage and cause him to make reckless choices, because he doesn't think about his actions, he just does them. I have never seen or fought a god slayer, but I've heard about them and if master's own example of shock doesn't show worry then I don't know what will." Seeing Lucy was now doubting herself she turned towards Makarov.
"Master, I will go and rescue hi-" Erza spoke before Master Makarov shook his head interrupting her.
"No Erza. You will stay here." He began before he saw a dangerous glint appear in the requip wizard's eye. "That is an order. Natsu has to fend for himself this time, besides we don't know what is going on currently and we need our strongest members to stay here in case these attackers try to ambush us. If there is one stranger here then there are probably more and until we know what the situation is, NO ONE is leaving. Do I make myself clear?"
"Master please." Erza pleaded, "Natsu is down the-" She began to say.
"Erza... Believe me, I want to help him, but this is a fight between himself and that god slayer. Have faith in the boy." He smiled sadly at her before beginning to send orders around the camp.
You better not die you idiot, or I'll resurrect you just to kill you again. Erza thought angrily before entering the tent. She noticed they had repaired her friend's back as she lay on her stomach sleepily. Erza smiled thankful one of her friends was alright before sitting down in a chair as she helped Mira recover.
"Are you doing okay Mira?" Erza asked her best friend after seeing her slowly raise up looking around wondering where she was. At first, Mira was confused and a little frightened at the unfamiliarity of where she was, but after noticing the scarlet haired knight sitting across from her, she suppressed those fears.
"Yes, I am doing better. Thank you, Erza."
"You're welcome." Erza responded as she sat up. "Hey Mira."
"Yes, Erza?" Mira replied.
"Do you think Natsu will be alright down there?" She asked, her worries still there for her friend. She wanted to believe he could handle this on his own, but the other half of her knew he was in trouble and needed help.
Mira was a little surprised and unsure what to say. It took a second for understanding to dawn on her, before realization hit that she was talking about Natsu fighting that intruder who attacked her.
"Yes. I worry for him, but he will pull through. Like he always does." Erza smiled at her friend's words and saw Mira had fallen back asleep with a smile on her own face. Knowing she wouldn't wake back up for quite a while, Erza left the medical tent and headed outside to assist in whatever the master needed her to do.
Hurry and beat him Natsu. I need to talk with you.
Natsu ignited his fists with fire as he summoned flames and the flames grew around him like a hurricane. Zancrow copied his transformation simultaneously but his flames were a dark black unlike Natsu's bright orange.
"You're a fire slayer too?" Zancrow asked surprised after seeing the dragon slayer with fire all around him.
"I'm a Fire Dragon Slayer."
"I am a Fire God Slayer kid." Zancrow chuckled. Natsu ignored his response charging Zancrow and releasing a spell.
FIRE DRAGON's IRON FIST! He shouted, but Zancrow released his own counter spell which cancelled out the two attacks. Catching Natsu off guard, who had his own surprise after seeing his spell get tanked completely, Zancrow jumped on the offensive side as he began to take control of the battle.
FIRE GOD's ELBOW! He yelled as he slammed into Natsu and launched him across the room watching as the dragon slayor skid across the floor before jumping up into the air releasing a devastating fire ball at him.
FIRE DRAGON's BRILLAINT FLAME! Natsu shouted summoning a giant fiery ball of flame.
Zancrow spread his arms and legs almost like a shield as he unleashed his own giant ball of black flames around himself. FIRE GOD's KAGUTSUCHI!
Damn. Natsu muttered to himself. This guy is gonna be tougher than I anticipated.
"Giving up dragon slayer?" Zancrow taunted seeing his opponent's crestfallen expression.
"Hell no, why would I do that?" He responded.
"Because it would make your death so much faster!" Zancrow shouted, FIRE GOD's SCYTHE! Using his black flamed scythe, he aimed it while swinging at the dragon slayer attempting to kill the dragon slayer.
FIRE DRAGON's WING ATTACK! Natsu leaped back into the air just before the scythe reached him as he exploded into a ring of fire watching the attack hit Zancrow knocking him back a bit.
Yes! Finally hit him! Natsu cheered in his mind.
Seeing the small smile after his spell made contact, Zancrow evilly returned it.
"Lucky shot dragon slayer." He chuckled. "Won't happen again."
FIRE GOD's EXPLOSIVE FLAME! Zancrow let loose a giant explosive sending his flames straight for Natsu.
Natsu wasn't able to dodge the powerful attack and found himself wrapped up in the explosion. Ha! I can just eat his fire! Natsu began to swallow the black flames, before repulsing as his body refused the fire. What! Why can't I eat it?
"You fool!" Zancrow laughed at Natsu. "You can't eat my fire, stupid boy. Time to finish you off!" Zancrow added smugly as he charged up another spell.
"Hell no you don't pal. You're the one that's gonna be finished!" Natsu yelled as he flared up in magical power letting loose his own destruction of fire.
FIRE DRAGON's SECRET ART: CRIMSON LOTUS EXPLODING FLAME BLADE!
Zancrow failed to pay attention unable to protect himself and was swept up in the attack. After realizing his screwup, he knew he had one chance to get out of this mess, or he would die. Releasing one more spell at this close range is all it would take and that would surely kill the dragon slayer, or at least he hoped it would.
FIRE GOD's SUPPER! Zancrow shouted as he lunged for Natsu, but the dragon slayer saw the black flames approaching and side stepped it avoiding the attack before countering with his own FIRE DRAGON's CRUSHING FANG! He was just barely able to avoid the spell that surely would of disintegrated him. Phew, that was close. He watched as Zancrow's body became transparent suddenly beginning to vanish before adding, "I will get you next time dragon slayer..." Then teleported from the room.
Natsu was feeling exhausted, barely able to move but he managed to walk through the halls finding the exit that would lead him out of the tunnel. Finally I'm out of this forsaken path. He then climbed through it and got to the edge of the clearing where he could see his family, but before he could he reach them his mind became foggy, his vision diminishing and with a loud thud, Natsu Dragneel met darkness and the cold ground.
"I really am getting worried, Master." Lucy said.
"We all are my child." Master spoke to her.
"We haven't seen him in two hours and he was fighting a god slayer!" Lucy now wasn't so sure about what she said earlier to Erza when she was trying to calm down the knight as she couldn't even calm herself down currently. Suddenly during her tirade, she heard a noise and turned to see her lovable fire dragon slayer exhausted and watched as he slammed face first into the ground.
"Natsu!" Lucy shouted as she rushed to her unconscious comrade followed by the rest of the guild on her heels. After hearing Lucy's outburst and the call of Natsu's name all FairyTail members on Tenrou Island rushed over to the passed out Natsu.
"The boy has run himself out of magical power." Master Makarov spoke solemnly.
"Natsu..." The guild mumbled sadly.
"Take him to the infirmary where Mira is. He needs rest to restore his magic energy." Makarov ordered.
Natsu Dragneel and Mirajane Strauss, two strong members of the FairyTail guild, were both unconscious due to overload of magical power and physical wounds they had suffered from the god slayer.
Erza looked at the two mages with sad looks. This will be the end of the line for Natsu. He will unlikely not be able to recover in time for the next round.
"I wish you two didn't end up like this." She got closer to Natsu and began to play with his salmon hair raking her fingers through his thick spikey locks.
"Natsu. You had done so well in the trials. You sacrificed yourself for Mira, Elfman, Lisanna and Happy." She said. "I thank you, but how could you be so reckless..." She thought of how he would be so upset when he woke up only to realize he was out of the competition due to the repercussions of his magic.
"I remember the time when you saved me in the Tower of Heaven and then our adventure into Edolas." Erza said now beginning to talk to the two unconscious mages, specifically the dragon slayer. "Wendy really does look up to you Natsu. She wants to follow in your path. I want to follow in your path." She said the last part in a whisper in case he was awake. After getting no response from her the dragon slayer and not liking the silence from either of friends she tried waking him up.
"Please wake up Natsu." Erza found herself suddenly above Natsu trying to shake him awake. She then realized her actions and backed away while blushing. She heard a light laugh and glanced across the room to find Mirajane's eyes looking at her smiling now wide awake.
"Hi Erza." Mira said.
"Hello." Erza replied.
Mira got out of her bed and walked over to the scarlet haired knight. "I feel better."
"Alright, would you like to go for a walk then?" Erza asked.
"Sure."
"Wow. That must have been pretty scary." Erza told her after hearing the events that led up to the fight.
"Yeah you can say that again. One moment I'm fighting my brother, the next I'm lying on the floor with something excruciating in my back and seeing Natsu blow the wall to pieces." She chuckled recalling the events.
"What did Natsu do?" Erza asked.
"I didn't get to see much before I blacked out, but I did see him use a magic spell to break down the wall and then he jumped in front of Zancrow and attacked him." Mira decided to not tell Erza about the anger he saw in his eyes and the dark aura that was warping off of his figure. It's best she doesn't know.
"Say, Erza." Mira spoke.
"Yes, Mira?" Erza responded.
"You like Natsu don't you?" Mira suddenly asked as a mischievous grin appeared.
""W-what?" Erza questioned embarrasedly.
"Cut the crap Erza, be honest with me." Mira stared her in her eyes as the two met before the requip wizard finally caved in.
"I'm not really sure... but I feel like I have feelings for him. Something is there." She revealed honestly.
"Then what are you waiting for?" Mira asked her confused wondering why she had not made a move yet on the pinkette.
Erza then thought about the pink haired dragon slayer, "I'm just not sure if he likes me back, or if even he knows what love is."
"I'm sure he does." Mira supported.
"How would you know?" Erza asked.
"I can tell he does. Erza look, he is passionate towards you and even asked you to help him train. Didn't you say he got a little flustered when you looked at him?" Erza remembered to last week after they finished training, she had laid down in the grass and looked up at the stars, then Natsu had joined her.
"The reason I haven't asked Natsu about any of this 'romantic stuff' is because, I don't want him to die."
"You don't want him to die?" Mira repeated still confused at the knight's words.
"I don't want to see Natsu in rage if something happened to me. It would break my heart if Natsu were to break down and flip out in rage, most likely lead himself to death's doorstep. I will wait and see till these trials are over and see how we are doing, but right now... I think me and Natsu would best to just part ways and stay friends. Plus, he has Lucy."
"You don't want him to die? Why would he die, and Lucy? They're just best friends Erza. Are you sure this isn't just a cover up because your afraid what happened with Jellal will happen with Natsu?" Mira quickly regretted what she said however once she saw the sharp pain in her friend's eyes as she turned on her back and ran back from where they came from leaving the Take Over mage feeling sorry for both the dragon slayer and the requip mage. Oh Erza...why do you continue to shut yourself away from people? Mira thought to herself sadly as she too slowly walked back to the camp gingerly, so she didn't tear her bandages.
As the day turned to night and the guild slept in their tents on Tenrou Island, Master Makarov had stayed up for a while past dark deciding what he should do with Natsu as well as knowing there was possible invaders on the island. He decided he would start round two tomorrow afternoon and if the dragon slayer awakes during round two, he may participate.
A/N: Wow...I am terrible when it comes to keeping up with the story, oops! I know I said I was going to update sooner, once again apologies, I just was busy and updating this slipped my mind. I will make it up to you all though with releasing 2 chapters tonight, whether you read this as soon as it comes out you might have to wait a little bit for Ch.4, but if your reading this the following day or years from now just press that right arrow and get on with the next chapter!