Chapter 20:
Wendy collapsed on the wet sand with a groan, only barely aware of Lucy's elbow in her stomach as the taller blonde fell on top of her. Gray was bent over on his hands and knees throwing up, unable to swallow the bile that rose in his throat. Juvia was in similar state and it was a rather weird sight to see her lower body melt into a puddle. Happy and Carla lied on the ground as well, Happy's head somehow ending underneath the sand.
Natsu sighed and grabbed Happy's tail before pulling the cat out of the sand, leaving him to suffocate seemed a bit cruel. If he wanted the cat dead he will do it himself. Happy gagged, spitting a mouthful of sand before turning from blue to green and then red as the blood rushed to his head as Natsu continued to hold him upside-down. Natsu gave a weak snicker, barely audible. Now that was some speedy color change. The cat went green again before throwing up. ''Let go of me'' he pleaded weekly and Natsu promptly let go of his tail, the cat once again landing on his face but this time capable of turning around.
Natsu looked at the rest to see Gray giving him incredulous look, obviously capable of gathering his thoughts enough to hear him... well laugh would be stretching the truth. Natsu's face fell and he quickly pulled the blank look on it. He was capable of 'laughing' if the rasp snicker could be called that – despite what everyone else seemed to believe – he just didn't do it in the company.
''You... urgh.. asshole'' Gray finally gasped with a weak laugh as he pushed himself to a sitting position.
''That was unnecessary'' Natsu replied and folded his arms over his chest. ''And I have to admit I don't see the reason''
''You know it very well'' Gray grinned.
Natsu raised his eyebrow at him ''You feeling better?''
''Worried about little ol' me?''
''No, just curious'' Natsu said mildly. ''I could dump you through another void if you want''
Gray paled and shook his head quickly. ''I'm shocked'' Natsu dryly commented while Wendy sat up.
''Where are we?'' she asked looking around. It didn't take her long to realize they were on a beach.
Natsu looked around even though he had already scanned the area. The beach was covered in dark sand, well everything looked dark at this hour but the sand was far from white the sand at the beach they visited today was. It was drenched in the salty water of the sea that splashed around their feet but not close enough to get them wet – the tide has obviously passed relatively recently. They were on an island by the looks of it – a tiny island at that. The shore was not the most interesting feature of the island, however.
Tower, taller than Magnolia's cathedral, maybe even than king's castle towered above them, casting the already dark beach in even darker shadow. The building that thing had probably lasted for years if not decades. The amount of details was almost frightening. The metal of which the tower was made was twisted and bent in hundred places making the tower look almost like it had grown from the sandy ground it was built on. It almost looked alive. Heavy magic rolled down the sides of it only reinforcing that thought.
''I'm not sure'' Natsu answered finally, eyes moving away from the tower to look at Wendy who had her eyes fixed on the bottom of the towers where broken spears, arrows, and swords decorated the ground mixed with skeletons.
''Are you sure Erza's here'' Gray asked skeptically, scrunching his nose in obvious disgust.
Natsu sniffed the air, ignoring as his head gave a painful jolt. His body was warning him he was using too much magic and he barely used any. ''She's here''
Wendy nodded as well. ''She is. I can smell her as well''
''That's good but how are we going to get inside?'' Lucy asked worriedly, eyeing the field of the dead that could easily be called graveyard by the loos of it. ''We can't just waltz in through the front doors''
''No, we can't'' Natsu agreed easily. Not if his head keep trying to split in half. It gave another jolt and Natsu squeezed his eyed. Damn, that felt like someone buried an ax in his head.
''Um... Natsu?'' Wendy asked worriedly. Natsu shook his head and his sister stayed quiet.
Natsu's eyes turned to the older blue-haired girl in the group who perked up at the sudden attention. ''Juvia, can you breathe under the water?''
Juvia blinked at the question. ''Umm... Yes. Juvia can. Why?''
''Try to find if there is any-'' Natsu stopped as the pain moved from the back of his head to the front, the feeling like someone stuck the ax in his head changing to something that felt like his eye was being removed from its socket by a hot spoon. ''Shit''
Wendy's eyes widened as Natsu slammed his palm against his right eye and the skin around it cracked like a spider web.
Lucy's and Gray's eyes widened as well, closely followed by cats' while Juvia just watched in confusion. Lucy and Gray saw it only two times but it was enough to know by now that whatever happened to his hands was happening to his face.
The skin started peeling off, painfully slowly while Natsu gasped in obvious pain – something not even Wendy could say she saw before – and the dragon slayer's legs almost gave away and his knees buckled halfway before he managed to push them straight and bent down in his back, hiding his face from them. The blood soon followed dripping to the ground with speed like he just cut himself open.
Natsu shut his eyes closed as the skin around his eyes peeled off, dropping around his fingers in threads, a piece of it even remaining in his palm. He had incredibly high pain tolerance but this was still too much and as his eye continued to throb he could feel it melting and soon it dripped to the ground along with the blood that followed before the new one started forming and the dragon slayer could feel every nerve connecting again.
This time his knees did buckle and he dropped to the wet sand.
'This wasn't supposed to happen' Natsu's left eye stared at the red sand with the dead look, unsure what to think and horror was an emotion he learned to hide a long time ago. 'The skin goes first, Father always said that. Insides second!'
''Natsu!'' Wendy called loudly and it took pinkhead another moment to realize she was calling him for some time now.
''I... Just give me a minute''
Lucy and Gray exchanged a worried look as Natsu gasped again, gripping the fabric of his pants in his free hand until his knuckles turned white.
The pain slowly lessened and even though his head throbbed horribly he was capable to see what was going on around him, the white-hot pain left him unresponsive until then. Reluctantly he removed the hand from his eye, hissing as the cold salty air of the night met the recently reformed skin and eye and sent another wave of pain all the way through his spine. He looked up at Wendy who blinked in shock before she squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head, unable to look at him for a moment.
That bad, huh?
''Natsu...'' Happy looked worriedly at him, the damn blue cat walking right in front of him and since he was still kneeling only inches away from his face. Natsu jerked back because of the closeness before tensely climbing to his feet, turning to face Gray and Lucy who gasped.
''What?'' Natsu challenged. He had enough to deal with as it was, their gasping and worried looks did not help nor did he need them.
''N-nothing'' Lucy replied, her eyes falling down. Gray just stared at him for another moment before he wordlessly clasped his hands and formed small ice mirror.
Natsu raised an eyebrow at him, unpleasantly surprised his right eyebrow was... scally for the lack of better word. Despite the first instinct that told him to show that mirror down Gray's throat he carefully took it and looked at his reflection. He would've frown if he wasn't so careful not to show any reaction.
Well, this is going to be hard to cover. What will Mira think of him now? Will she also start thinking he's a monster? Or – wait.. that's way off the topic. Concentrate.
His obsidian eyes were no longer staring at him from the mirror. The left had thankfully reminded the same – and he dreaded the moment it would change – but his right was far from black, even his sclera was no longer white. Red iris on light yellow sclera stared at him, his pupils in thin black slits. Out of curiosity, Natsu blinked and concentrated the tiny amount of magic into his right pupil watching with some morbid degree of satisfaction as the pupil expanded, covering almost the whole iris and giving him night-vision he didn't think was possible.
He cut the magic connection short and the pupil delighted and although his vision was not as great it was still quite good.
With a sigh, he crushed the ice mirror in his bandage-cowered hand. The black scales surrounding his new eye were also standing out more than Elfman in Mira's clothing would.
''Juvia'' he said finally and Juvia tensed despite her best intentions to stay calm. ''As I was saying – would you mind diving down and find some underwater entrance or perhaps a thinner barrier between the water and inside of the tower?''
Juvia seemed to consider the idea for a brief moment before she responded. ''Yes.. Juvia means no – what Juvia is trying to say – Juvia will do her best to find it''
Natsu nodded and the blue-haired teenager dived under the water, disappearing underneath the black see in seconds. Pink-haired dragon slayer stared at the water for few more moments, trying to adjust his uneven sight. The dragon eye in his right socket was throbbing painfully, and every time he turned it around it only worsened, feeling foreign. The see and sand beneath him looked different now than they did before. His left eye didn't see the difference if he closed the right but he could clearly see it with his right eye. And if he concentrated he could see a spider, almost as small as the grains of sand crawling on it. 'Disconcentrating' Natsu finally decided before he looked at the rest of the mages gathered around him.
When neither of them looked him in the eyes he almost snorted. Perfect.
The silence lasted for several minutes as Natsu decided to entertain himself with examining the tower while the rest stole glances at him he pretended not to notice.
Half an hour later Juvia resurfaced and walked to the shore, her clothes dry. Or was it always wet but just didn't look like it? It was hard to imagine your body being made out of the water.
''Did you find anything?'' Natsu asked when the girl stayed quiet.
Juvia nodded, almost reluctantly. ''Well... Juvia has but.. it's pretty far away. Juvia is not sure you will be able to swim all the way without breathing and the floor needs to be shattered so Juvia and you could enter''
Lucy bit her lips harder, the lower lip already red from all the chewing but the blonde couldn't help it. Gray folded his arms and bit his thumb. What to do?
Wendy didn't look any less agitated and Carla tried to comfort her and Happy settled on her head, doing his best to comfort the girl as well but not as good with words as Carla was.
''I'll go with you'' Natsu finally said and the people around him looked at him in obvious worry.
''It is almost ten minutes away'' Juvia tried to reason. Natsu stopped for a moment. He wasn't able to hold his breath that long. Seven minutes at most and that was if he wasn't swimming and blasting things off. Natsu sighed. Good thing he had magic. Almost as if warning him his head gave another throb but he ignored it masterfully.
''Alright. A reason more for me to go with you'' Natsu said as he gathered her magic. Fairy Tail mages behind him shifted worriedly.
''Dragon slayer secret art: Element Take Over: Water master'' it proved that his head gave a throb of warning with a reason as the headache almost became unbearable again.
''Let's go'' Natsu jumped in the water and Juvia soon followed, the girl fascinated when she realized Natsu's mismatched eyes both glowed soft blue color through the dragon eye kept its yellow sclera, water around his mouth and nose moving out of his way and swirling around his head creating a bubble of air.
''Useful spell'' Juvia commented and Natsu turned to look at her, obviously unable to speak underwater. Juvia turned her eyes forward and sped up when she realized Natsu had no trouble following.
The further they went the harder it was for Juvia to see and it was only thanks to her ability to feel the water around her she was capable of moving in the complete dark.
''Do you have trouble moving around? If yes, Juvia will help lead you'' Juvia offered to the silent pink-haired teen whose eyes glowed in the dark in the same soft blue – the only feature she could see.
Blue eyes turned to look at her, half-lidded in obvious 'Are you serious?' look that made Juvia blush. How silly of her. He couldn't answer to that.
''If you can blink?'' Juvia's proclamation came out more like a question before she could really think it trough.
Natsu rolled his eyes but much to her relief blinked.
''You can see in the dark, like a cat?''
Another half-lidden look but also a blink. Juvia opened her mouth to ask something else, encouraged by his answers so far, but Natsu turned his eyes forward obviously done with 'talking'.
''We're here'' Juvia said after several more silently spent minutes and knocked on what appeared to be iron. Relatively thin by the sounds of it. ''Juvia believe these are trapdoors. Probably used for getting rid of thrash a place like this would make. They are probably locked and heavy so you and Juvia should try being careful about this because it would make a lot of noise and – or you and Juvia could enter when you punch your way through ten inches thick steal''
Juvia watched as Natsu retracted his fist where it had punched the hole in before he drove it back in, this time hooking his fingers in the metal and bending it just enough to get up and pull himself in the room. He extended a hand to the girl below and pulled her up. ''Why didn't you use magic to break through that?'' Juvia questioned once both were out of the water.
''You sure ask lots of questions'' Natsu said mildly, his eyes returning to their original colors. Juvia blushed again, feeling like she was talked down to like a child. He didn't answer her question but spoke instead. ''Juvia, you go back and tell the others we made it to here. I'll open the doors as soon as I can''
Juvia's eyes widened slightly in surprise before she smiled and practically sprinted back to the hole. ''Gray, Juvia's love! Juvia is coming!''
Natsu stared at the hole for a moment before shaking his head in disbelief. 'Humans' he thought to himself before he turned to finally look where exactly did he ended up in. Dungeons by the looks of it if the empty cells around him were any indication. Well, empty was relative in this case – there were plenty of rats and skeletons decorating the room lit only by two torches, one at the end of the long corridor and other at the beginning.
It was mostly silent, only squeaking of rats and mice disrupting it so Natsu decided that no one heard his forced entry. Or didn't care – cocky bastards if that's the case.
Stuffing his hands into his pant's pockets the dragon slayer strolled forward, towards the metal doors, illuminated in an orange glow from the fire beside it. Natsu looked closely at the doors once he was in front of them, somewhat wary of the trap but when he saw nothing that could categorize as the threat he took hold of the handle and tried to pull but the doors wouldn't budge. With a sigh, Natsu rested his hand on the metal.
He's done this before, melting the metal with magic was actually relatively easy to do but it could prove to be a problem because his body barely used any of its magic and he felt drained. Stupid dragonfication. He had to be careful – using too much magic with his coils already strained could prove rather dangerous – for someone like him especially.
Pulsing the magic through the metal he watched as it first dented before it started melting down, a wave of cold air washing over him like a freezing wind of winter months. It was amusing really because the doors really looked like they melted because of fire. Kageyama probably didn't find it as amusing.
He soon stepped through the hole he created and looked at another corridor he stepped in, this one completely dark – familiary dark. Natsu's eyes narrowed as he looked at the torch still shining behind what was left of the doors and the dragon slayer took it from its holster and threw it in the darkness.
The torch disappeared not foot from him like it never existed in the first place and without the light behind him Natsu was left in complete darkness, the torch at the end of the hole barely even visible from the distance between them. Natsu cocked his head to the side and concentrated on the sounds around, listening for a heartbeat, for breathing before carefully taking a sniff of the air.
A wicked smirk spread his lips, his eyes turning to slits and as he licked his lips he noticed his canines turned to fangs, almost long enough to protrude from his lips even when closed.
Natsu bent and lowered his brunt before he sprinted into the darkness, taking only a step before the torch far behind him disappeared completely.
'Simon, was it?' Natsu wandered as he cocked his fist back and drive it into the stomach of his enemy who gave a startled gasp and slammed against the wall behind him with a silent cry of pain.
''Damn...'' Simon muttered and looked up, capable of seeing the dragon slayer once again walking towards him, head slightly twisted to the side as if listening. ''...How...? You shouldn't be able to see me''
''I don't'' Natsu easily admitted, a twisted smile spreading into a bloodthirsty grin that made Simon's skin crawl. 'Maybe I went about this the wrong way' Simon thought to himself as he scrambled to his feet and lifted his arms in a show of surrender, momentarily forgetting that he can see but the dragon slayer before him couldn't. He was reminded of the fact by another punch to his head, closely followed by the knee in the ribs. Natsu was on top of him in a second, one knee pushing his spine in the ground with surprising strength for someone a head lower them him and arms holding his behind his back, pulling on them so hard he thought they might pop out of their socket.
''Stop! Stop!'' Simon gasped when Natsu's knee pushed further and his arms gave a crack obviously only an inch from popping out.
''Give me a reason'' Natsu challenged and something sharp down into Simon's hand, almost cutting off his little and ring finger.
Simon whined in pain trying to suppress a scream as whatever held his fingers tightened ''I'm here to help!''
The grip on his fingers loosened but the knee in his spine didn't budge.
''Really?'' Natsu asked and Simon had little doubt his face was as blank as his voice. Natsu stared at the man underneath him, not really seeing him because of the spell still blocking any light. Not even spreading his right pupil had helped. Natsu knew the man was telling the truth, the frantic beating of his heart was hard to interpret but it was obviously because the man was panicked and it did not falter as he spoke to the pinkhead.
''Yes!'' Simon yelled. ''Let go of me before you break my arms, will ya?''
''Remove the spell and I might think about it'' Natsu decided to make the man sweat a little bit more.
Simon groaned, whatever from pain or frustration Natsu didn't care. ''I can't. If I do he'll now you're here and he'll know I'm helping''
''Who is this he character you keep talking about?'' Natsu said loosening his hold on the human underneath him.
''Jellal'' Simon whispered the name, looking around, almost as if afraid Jellal might hear him.
''Jellal?'' Natsu raised his eyebrow at him, he needed a better explanation than a name he did not recognize.
''He sent us to get you or Erza – he said Erza really since he knew we wouldn't be able to touch you. Not that we believed him''
''Rather stupid of you''
''Yes, I see that now but that's beside the point. He needs a strong source of magical power condensed in human form to...'' Simon swallowed, his throat suddenly feeling too small. ''.. to revive Zeref''
Natsu jerked to his feet, his head snapping to Simon who could see the clear shock on his face. Wide mismatched eyes stared at him before the dragon slayer gained the control of his face muscles back and his eyes narrowed dangerously, a snarl escaping his mouth, the sound coming deep from his chest, forcing Simon, despite himself, to take a step back.
'They are trying to revive Zeref? They are trying to revive the only person who Acnologia owns? And Acnologia – he would be furious if he heard this! Bring Zeref back? He's not even dead for gods' sake!'
Simon looked around worriedly as a blue spark decorated Natsu's shoulder for a brief second and an even louder growl made its way past his lips.
''Natsu... I know you are worried about Erza but-''
Natsu turned towards him showing just how well he could hear and smell him as he walked towards him, stopping only a step away and taking a handful of his robes. ''I'm not worried about her! The idiot plans to revive someone who is not even dead!''
Simon blinked in disbelief. Once. Twice. ''W-What did you say?''
Natsu punched him in the face, making sure to hold back just enough to leave a pretty nasty black eye and not collapse half of his skull in.
''Will you remove the spell or do I need to punch you again?'' Natsu leveled him with a glare Simon found utterly terrifying. The man couldn't even see him! He just knew where he was and yet he glared straight into his eyes.
Simon swallowed again, trying to swallow the lump in his throat that wouldn't go away. ''...I can't'' he finally said. ''Jellal has lacrimas all over the place. He'll know you're here right away''
''If that's the case he already knows'' Natsu replied and gave Simon a pointed look. Simon nodded reluctantly, despite knowing the man wouldn't see the nod. The tall mage released the hold on magic that was spreading around them, the darkness disappearing. Natsu blinked as the light entered his vision, a torch shone only two feet away from them and the one he threw earlier still decorated the stone floor with its orange glow despite being on the floor for several minutes.
''Do you know when he plans to revive Zeref?'' Natsu gave Simon a more troughout look now that he could actually see him making Simon shift uncomfortably.
''Soon. Tonight even''
Natsu growled again and turned his back to Simon who wandered whatever it was a show of trust or completely dismissing him as a danger. The later probably. Certainly. Simon grimaced.
''I'm going to find Jellal and you do me a favor and let others inside. They should be waiting outside if they listened to me'' Natsu said, his steps quick as he moved to the end of the corridor where other doors stood.
''Others?'' Simon questioned nervously. ''What if they won't believe me?''
Natsu stopped in his stride and glanced at him over his shoulder, the dragon eye Simon knew the man didn't possess the last time he saw him, looking at him. ''Your problem''
Simon sweat-dropped at the blank face and blunt voice before the dragon slayer moved pass the door, this one unlocked.
**Era – Magic Council**
The room was large, huge even. The room was occupied by nine people, all dressed in high-quality robes and serious expression decorating their faces. The blue magic circle was the only floor beneath them but none seemed to care.
A woman with dusty blond hair seemed agitated, angry even. ''We can't let them activate R-system!'' she all but screamed.
''I agree with Belno, Jellal must be stopped'' a man of small hight and animal ears protruding from his hair nodded his head, sneaking a glance at the talkative blue-haired man who was unusually quiet.
''Etherion. We must fire it – that's the only way to stop them on time'' Siegrain almost sounded pained as he spoke.
The second seat of the council eyed the man worriedly. ''Are you sure, Siegrain? Jellal is your brother''
''As Michello already said – he must be stopped'' Siegrain gestured to the short man. Siegrain turned to look at the head of the council, a man of wide grid who gave him a careful look.
''I propose a vote'' Siegrain spoke. ''Who agrees that we should fire Etherion is to say 'yes'!''
A chorus of 'Yes!'s followed his statement and only a couple of councilors stayed quiet, unwilling to object but not in agreement for it either.
The head of the council nodded at the obvious majority. ''Then so be it. Etherion will be fired'' Crawford Seam said with a grim face.
**Unknown – Tower **
Natsu sprinted through the halls, already feeling the dark magic gathering at the top. The tower was built in a strange and complex way but in a way that allowed him to hear the others without much problem even without concentrating on. There have been six enemies and only five of them (if you didn't count Happy and Carla). Thankfully Erza's old friends were easily convinced who the 'bad guy' in this situation was and already seeing Simon with his own guildmates helped.
'Final doors' Natsu thought to himself as heavily decorated double doors came into view as he turned around the corner. He was sure those were the last, the magic he felt was behind. Erza's magical signature was behind those doors. Even if Jellal wasn't there Erza was and without Erza and himself they will have time... hopefully.
Natsu threw the heavy doors open and a pair of brown eyes immediately fixed on him. ''N-Natsu?''
Erza was beaten thoroughly if her figure, sprawled on her floor was any identification. She coughed after saying his name, blood spraying the ground in front of her. A weird feeling settled in Natsu's stomach. He wouldn't call it anger. Not even worry. But it was there, turning the pit of his stomach into rock and making him feel... something. He didn't like it and since he was unfamiliar with it he settled for what he knew and what was he familiar with. The expressionless face looked around the room. What better way to hide your conflicted emotions than to hide them all?
''Well, how nice of you to join us'' the man, Natsu quickly spotted several feet away from Erza smiled pleasantly. A man Natsu could easily recognize and also a man he truly didn't expect to see here.
''Siegrain?'' Natsu raised an eyebrow as he looked at the man.
Siegrain kept his pleasant smile. ''Not quite''
Natsu's eyebrows knitted together. He knew the man – not well or on personal level – but knew him well enough to decide he didn't like him. He saw him plenty of times in the council and spoke to him several times but the man always had that 'I'll stab you in the back' vibe Natsu despised.
Well if he was 'not quite' Siegrain and he was searching for another man either way that meant... ''Jellal?''
Siegrain smirked. ''Smart as always, Kira''
''I prefer Natsu'' Natsu said as he gazed at Jellal. Jellal kept his face the same, forced smile in place. ''A nice touch – that eye of yours. Trying to show your insides better?''
Natsu didn't bite the bait. He knew what the man was implying but he wouldn't get angry. Why would he?
''Why so quiet? Nothing to say?'' Jellal asked in amusement as Natsu continued to stare blankly at him.
''I am going to kill you'' Natsu stated mildly. ''I am just thinking whatever to do it slowly and tear limb by limb or quickly wring your neck''
Jellal had the decency to laugh at the threat. 'He won't be laughing for long' Natsu mused as he watched the blue-haired man wipe an imaginary tear underneath his eye. ''Amusing as always''
Natsu raised an eyebrow at him. ''Insane as always?''
Jellal snorted. ''You won't be such a smartass when my plan is finished. I guess I could warn you it's almost done. You arrived just on time to witness it actually''
''Witness what?'' Natsu asked carefully, concentrating his senses outwards.
It happened surprisingly fast, too fast for even Natsu to follow as the black sky around them turned bright, so bright it blinded the dragon slayer more than looking directly at the sun at noon would. The ground rocked next, with the force that almost threw him off of his feet. The light consumed the tower and the ground shocked harder. Natsu gasped as the magic washed over him drowning his senses for a brief second.
His eyesight returned a moment later as quickly as it disappeared, the rapid change making the back of his eyes hurt.
''Ah, right on time'' Jellal said with a smug grin, looking around the tower. Natsu blinked at the floor beneath him, grey stone replaced by the blue crystal. A quick look around made it obvious the walls surrounding them were made of the same crystal and Natsu had little doubt the rest of the tower was the same.
''Do you know what is the actual name of this Tower of Heaven – the official name its creator gave it?'' Jellal asked ignoring Erza who by now managed to pull herself into sitting position, trying to find the strength to stand.
''R-system'' Natsu said after a moment, pieces of the puzzle falling into place. He should've seen it before, really. Acnologia had drilled all of Zeraf's creations during his teachings. The man's obsession with bringing back the dead was cut short somewhere around him becoming immortal if Acnologia was to be believed and Acnologia was always right. The man probably decided there was no need reviving himself if he couldn't even die.
''R-system'' Jellal agreed easily. ''Then you know that to run the R-system you need enormous amounts of pure, raw energy. And what has more energy in this world than...'' Jellal left the sentence hanging, gazing at Natsu leadingly, his clothes briefly replaced by Siegrain's and Natsu's eyes narrowed in anger.
''Etherion'' Natsu growled in realization, Erza's eyes widening behind the pair. Natsu's fist shook as he glared at the blue-haired man. 'Idiot!'
Jellal eyed the trembling fist and smirked. ''Afraid?''
''Try furious'' Natsu's voice came out in a growl, words barely recognizable over the deep growl.
Jellal tensed, the smug expression becoming strained. He could almost taste the bloodlust rolling off of the dragon slayer in the air. Fighting back a shudder Jellal forced the smile back on his face. ''You will not defeat me'' he sounded almost certain in that. ''I am stronger than most Wizard Saints''
Natsu let the magic flow through him, igniting his fists in black energy that licked over his scaled skin like tentacles of a vile creature from depths of hell.
''I am stronger than most dragon generals'' Natsu replied, his eyes gaining the maddened glint Erza easily recognized as the smirk stretched Natsu's lips. Pupils turned to slits once again and canines extended into fangs.
''And I'll enjoy ripping your throat out with my bare teeth if I have to'' Natsu licked his upper lip before he charged at the blue-haired man.
**Magic Council**
When you hit something with the strongest weapon you possess – a weapon with the strength to demolish half of their country in one go – you expect that a single tower would be gone along with the island it stood on.
You don't expect to see a shiny blue crystal replace the once metal structure. The look over lacrimas was certainly not a welcome one and growling and snarling and hissing of the members was a good show of it.
Yajima decided to voice his anger. ''He tricked us!'' his eyes turned to Siegrain who smiled at him, a wicked smile better suited for his face than that fake pleasant one he was so inclined to wear all the time, decided Yajima.
''I will not deny it'' Siegrain replied and the members of the council turned to him, eyes ablaze in anger and fury as the room became suffocating under the pressure that started rising. ''All of you are old fools and you can't blame a man for using it''
Belno's eyes narrowed dangerously but before any of them could move Siegrain laughed and disappeared leaving the room in shocked silence, anger only rising.
**Unknown – Tower of Heaven**
Natsu ducked under his opponent's fist, driving his own elbow in man's stomach with incantation leaving his lips ''Chaos dragon's chaotic elbow!''
Jellal managed to move mostly out of the way but the attack still grazed him, ripping the clothes from his abdomen and burning his skin with raw energy making him gasp. Tattooed man didn't let himself be distracted too long as he ducked under a kick and launched at the leg that reminded on the ground, set on the idea of sending the pink-haired teen crashing in the floor. Natsu jumped in the air over Jellal's own leg and planted his other feet in Jellal's back before pushing himself up in the air. Jellal crashed against the ground with a grunt but rolled on his back the moment Natsu's voice warned him of another spell headed his way. ''Chaos dragon's wing attack!''
Jellal cursed and rolled out of the way and on his feet, jumping even further as the attack sent chunks of crystal flying around. Climbing to his feet a new presence appeared beside him and Jellal smirked turning to his carbon copy while Natsu landed, eyes trained on the newcomer. ''Siegrain?'' Natsu questioned. Something was off about the whole thing. Siegrain always seemed off for that matter but now, with Jellal right next to him Natsu could tell that Siegrain's magical signature was completely identical to Jellal's and that should not be possible. No mage has the same magical signature just like no human has the same fingerprint. It just couldn't be.
It was quickly explained when Siegrain and Jellal laughed and their bodies merged together, magic dancing around them as Jellal's doubled.
''A thought projection? Of the best quality, it would appear. Solid at that'' Natsu mused out loud.
''Impressed?'' Jellal asked smugly and flexed his arms, puffing his chest out a bit.
''Hardly'' Natsu snarled. ''So you can stop flaunting around like a cock''
Erza blinked in shock, choking on her own spit while Jellal stared at him open-mouthed. Gathering his bearings quickly Jellal launched himself at Natsu once again, hand cocked back and ready for a punch.
Natsu ducked and Jellal faked to the side expecting Natsu to follow. Natsu jumped in the air, legs ablaze. ''Chaos dragon's claw!''
Jellal rolled to the side, despite the wrong direction the attack came from still capable of using it to his advantage from the fake.
''Dark Mass!'' he slammed his fists together, black sphere forming between his fingers before it exploded in a shower of dark tendrils that rushed at the dragon slayer. Natsu's eyes narrowed as he sidestepped several and rolled under the next only for them to turn behind his back and rush at him.
Natsu growled and lit his hand in black and blue energy, slamming the magic-coated fist in the ground. The floor cracked before it shattered and Natsu fell through the hole of his own making, tendrils crashing against one another.
Jellal raised his eyebrow at the seemingly stupid move but almost jumped out of his skin when Natsu's voice reached him from behind. ''Chaos dragon's claw!''
The attack hit him in the shoulder sending him flying through the air until he crashed against the wall, stuck in the crystal from the force of the blow. Jellal groaned as he pushed himself out of it, right shoulder definitely broken as his arms hanged limply at his side.
''Careful'' Natsu admonished. ''Underestimating me will get you killed a lot faster''
Jellal scowled, the message clear. 'Whatever you do you will die'. It was a question of when rather than if.
''I will revive lord Zeref'' he hissed at the pink-haired teen.
Natsu scowled at him, anger rising again as he pushed the pain he felt in his own body to the back of his mind. Jellal didn't land a blow on him but he was using too much magic as it was. He could feel the skin on his back peeling off, blood soaking the back of his shirt.
''Do you know why people have dreams?'' Natsu suddenly asked as he moved toward Jellal, crunching low and running, both hands ignited in black tendrils that swirled around wildly.
Jellal's eyebrows scrunched together in confusion as scowl passed his face. ''Enlighten me'' he drawled as he stepped to the side to avoid Natsu's attack, barely dodging the second hand as he tried to land a blow in Natsu's chest.
Natsu sidestepped the blow and dropped to the ground, trying to swipe Jellal off of his feet but the blue-haired mage jumped with a cry ''Meteor!''
He shot off like a bullet, moving behind Natsu with speed more than twice larger. Natsu's eyes widened only for a brief second before another smirk passed his lips. He bent his body at an impossible angle just Jellal moved above him and drove his fist into the man's stomach.
Jellal caught the blood right on Natsu's face, eyes wide in shock as he crashed against the floor, rolling over the blue crystal.
''People have dreams so that they can be crushed'' Natsu replied with a wicked grin, using chaotic void to stand right in front of the man. Jellal scrambled away when Natsu reached for him, ready to pull him inside the void.
With a fierce scowl, Jellal launched himself at Natsu again, golden light of Meteor leaving a trail behind him. Natsu moved to the side to avoid the first blow and ducked under the second. Jellal turned around for the third strike and Natsu moved to step to the side yet again, hand glowing in black and blue.
There was a sickening crunch and Natsu's hand twisted, the bone inside it broken and shattered completely. Natsu's eyes widened as the pain shot through his body, the skeleton in his arm twisting and reforming. Erza's eyes widened, the scarlet-haired mage still trying to get her body to move. Jellal's own eyes widened when the bone pierced the skin and Natsu gasped in agony. The blue-haired mage knew better than to waste the opportunity as he stopped, hand above his head, magic gathering in haste.
''Altairis!'' Jellal growled, the black sphere that formed above his head twisted and grew before it shot at Natsu. Erza scrambled to her feet, stumbling as she tried to move her friend out of the way. What exactly happened she had no idea but judging by Natsu's usually pale skin practically white, black scales on his face even more pronounced and arm still twisting around looking like it was going trough grinder told her it took Natsu every ounce of concentration he had not to drop to the floor screaming.
His eyes flickered to the black sphere and he took a shaky step back, bringing his other hand forward. Using magic while going through the process was dangerous and painful – agonizing. Natsu let another gasp, pain doubling while the magic he pushed to his other arm felt like molten lava.
The dragon slayer knew that if he let the spell Jellal sent his way hit him he would not be able to fight. It might not kill him but it could get really close.
Black sphere started forming in his own hand, a scream tearing from his lips. ''Dragon... slayer.. lost art:...'' Natsu had to suppress the curse as he choked on every word. The sphere didn't grow any bigger than his palm, tiny lights and colors swirling around.
Altairis was too damn close and too damn fast. Natsu glared at it, screaming even while he tried to push last two words of the spell. ''Black...''
A blur of white appeared in front of him, a person he quickly recognized outstretched his arms bracing for the impact. The spell exploded against Simon's wide frame throwing the man back and he landed with a grunt, only a feet away from Natsu.
Jellal stared in shock at his missed chance, unable to even muster enough fury in the outcome he least expected.
Natsu stared at Simon in shock as well through the reason completely different.
''You... saved me?'' Natsu asked in astonishment, black ball disappearing and his arm finally settling in place. Pain still present but finally manageable.
Simon looked at him, the tan-skinned man pale, a trickle of blood flowing from his mouth. ''I had to'' was his reply. The man looked at Erza who was balancing herself on her feet with the help of her blade, too far too hear the whisper but close enough to see Simon. ''Take... care of... Erza.. I loved... her''
Natsu stared in wonder as the man before him gave one last hacking breath, the life leaving him quickly.
''Simon!'' Erza cried in horror as she scrambled towards them as quickly as she could, Natsu noticing the long gash on her thigh and the twisted ankle now that she was on her feet but the girl didn't let it stop her as she dragged herself to her childhood friend, eyes filling with tears that quickly dropped to the ground, some of them landing on Simon's chest as she buried her head in them.
'I'm not worth your life Simon' Natsu shook his head, his eyes moving to the sobbing Titania. 'You threw it away... but... Thank you'
Something twisted in his chest as Erza continued to sob, a pain he was not familiar with. A pain not caused by dragonification or physical wound grabbing at his lungs and heart, making it hard to breathe. 'What's wrong with me?' Natsu scowled, eyes still on Erza while his anger for Jellal increased.
He crossed the line.
Natsu looked at Jellal who was still staring at them in shock. The blue-haired man looked back and him and twitched, taking a step back while a pair of dragon eyes stared at him.
Natsu pushed his magic in his bones, a process he had not repeated for months if not years but still knowing it by heart. The bones twisted again but the pain familiar – nowhere near as intense as that of the dragonification.
A crack echoed through the room, a spark of magic traveling along his shoulder before it disappeared only to be replaced by two more.
''Your first mistake was to take one of our own'' Natsu explained to Jellal who took another step back.
''Your second mistake was to wait for me to show up'' Natsu gestured to Erza who looked up, eyes fixed on Natsu as the magic became visible around him, surrounding him like an aura.
''Your third and final mistake was to make Titania cry'' his voice distorted, twisted and overlapped with the growling, the words barely distinguished. The magic cowered him, hiding him from the two as his body twisted again. Scales covered part of his torso and framed his face. The bones in his legs twisted, knees bending the other way as they took the structure of hide legs of a dragon, tearing through his pants and boots. His spine cracked and reformed, expanding and growing as more and more vertebrate extended from his rear end, soon after warped in tight muscle and black and red scales. A pair of horns protruded from his forehead, curving back.
''For that mistake, I will show you something... Something very special''
He moved to walk towards Jellal, slow steps echoing around them as the crystalized etherion beneath his feet cracked from the intense pressure.
''You won't find a witness to this state'' a hollow chuckle ripped trough Natsu's throat. ''Because those who have seen it have perished by my hand. A painful, slow death that awaits you as well''
The magic around him lessened, leaving Jellal with a clear sight of his front and Erza of his back. Erza gasped in horror as his shoulderblades twisted as well, now that she could clearly see it and two bones protruded the skin, making a hole in the shirt before ripping it completely as the boney structure of the wings took place, wings of feathery scales forming as first muscles and then scales warped over them.
Jellal watched in horror as the wings exploded from Natsu's back, the process without a doubt painful but the dragon slayer before him didn't even twitch.
The energy around him changed. Black remaining the same as it twisted and turned around him while the blue sparked and danced, turning from blue to purple and from purple to a bloody red.
Erza bit her lip to stop herself from screaming. She didn't dare to lean to the side to see his face. It was a wicked creature. Unnatural. A word monster came to her mind but she reminded herself that whatever was in front of her was still Natsu.
''Stay away from me'' Jellal gasped as he took a step back, tripping over one of the protruding crystals and falling on his arse, crawling away in his haste, unable to get a proper hold of his limbs to climb back to his feet.
''Make me''
Erza swallowed a lump. That was Natsu – she reminded herself even as horror and panic clawed at her lungs. A cruel, wicked, killer who had little to no mercy but still Natsu. She had to think of the irony for a second because he truly looked like one of those pictures of fallen angels she saw few times in guild's library. Natsu – an angel. He to look like an angel of any kind was truly ridiculous.
A demon? Maybe.
''Do you know what you see?'' Natsu asked, his movements a blur as he stepped in front of Jellal who frantically shook his head, his back against the wall even as Natsu's face came only inches from his. The pink-haired dragon slayer spread his wings, casting his face in shadow, his eyes gaining an eerie glow from the lack of light and their ability to reflect it. The tail crept around him, moving to Jellal like a snake.
So deadly and poisonous you know you have to run but you remain still. Frozen in horror.
''You see me'' his voice sounded almost mocking but between the growling and double layered tone, it was impossible to be sure. ''You see my soul, a soul of a dragon prince, a soul of a demon but... not a soul of a human. Not for many years''
The tail snapped to the side like a whip, missing Jellal by a mare inch making the man jump, a scream ripping from his throat.
''Do you know why you're so afraid of me?'' Natsu crunched in front of the man still screaming, Erza on verge of screaming herself. It was a valid question she had to admit. She had no reason to be this terrified of him. Yet even as she thought that the thought disappeared.
''Humans should not be able to see each other's souls yet I am capable of bringing it out in a way that anyone can see it'' Natsu gave Jellal a wicked grin. ''That is unnatural on so many levels that every primary part of you is screaming, unable to handle it''
Jellal quieted down, breathing hard and pressing his back in the crystal walls even harder.
''W-what will you do?'' Jellal managed to choke out. The maddened glint in Natsu's eyes made him think he didn't want to know. ''I will torture you. Kill you. Tear your limbs apart, break your every bone and drain every drop of blood you have until this entire room is crimson from your blood''
Jellal's eyes widened as he managed to push himself to the side just as the tail snapped again, this time piercing the crystal right where his head used to be. The man crawled away in fright but the cold tail warped around his ankle pulling him towards the grinning demon who stood and planted the clawed foot on his chest, curling the claws until they pierced the skin.
''Now scream''
Jellal's eyes widened as Natsu's hand came to his forehead, index finger meeting the tattooed skin and talon digging into flesh. The skin sizzled and smoked as the potent magic circling trough Natsu's veins met the unprotected skin, the talon in the flesh going all the way to the skull.
Erza shut her eyes and ears as Jellal screamed. She turned her eyes to Simon's cooling body, unable to look. Clapping her ears didn't truly help whatsoever because she was still able to hear it, the terrified screams and soon after the choking, wet sound that followed. She glanced up despite what her instinct told her, almost surprised to see Jellal mostly intact, not counting the gaping hole in his forehead and clawed chest.
The blood cowering his chin didn't even seemed caused by the injury but the hollow look in his eyes spoke more than the blood covering him.
''I always believed that killing a killer is not a sin'' Natsu commented after a moment, cocking his head to the side as he watched Jellal with interest, his tail was warped around man's neck, slowly tightening as Jellal's face reddened but the man reminded limp in the tight grip, the only sign he was still alive the hectic rise and fall of his chest.
Erza swallowed, finally finding her voice. ''If you kill a killer the number of killers in the world remains the same''
Natsu blinked and looked at her over his shoulder, giving Erza the clear view of his face for the first time. She shuddered but didn't look away as the eyes seemed to glow in the poor light.
''Than it's a good thing I killed dozens'' Natsu informed the girl who almost choked at the information.
''78'' Natsu continued, his attention back on Jellal as he pulled back his hand and pierced the man's chest, the crunch of the ribcage shattered almost made Erza vomit as the blood sprayed the ground. ''79 now''
It was a sickening sight. To see your childhood friend being killed like that. Becoming another number in mad man's statistics. She knew Natsu was a killer. Everyone in their guild knew it and it was no secret he more than once delivered a head to his employees. The only reason the council couldn't fuss about it was that all of those he killed were killers as well. Killer or not something squeezed in her, almost choking her. Jellal was obviously lost, maddened beyond help but she still held hope when she saw he was here.
The hope was gone now and despite herself – despite knowing that this might be for the best she couldn't make herself believe it.
The resentment settled in her despite her protests as Natsu threw the body through the window, the splash of the water as the body hit the black waves unheard by her ears, too far away.
Natsu gave a sigh, sounding almost tired as the magic sparked around him once again – the transformation to his human self quicker than it took to take his other form.
Erza looked at the dragon slayer who sat on the ground, a groan escaping his lips making her jump. If Natsu voiced his pain Erza knew most would be wailing in it. His back was turned to her, black scales decorated his bare back, his arms, one resting on the cool crystal beside him lacked the bandages that she was almost used to seeing now. The lack of bandages showed black scales, clean red lines decorating it.
''Are... are you alright?'' Erza asked carefully, the words tasting almost bitter. Wow, she was angrier than she thought.
Natsu tensed and pulled himself around to look at her, his hand cupping his mouth, blood dripping from his palm. He didn't answer, just looked at her with a dry look. 'What do you think?'
Erza's eyes narrowed. She had every right to be angry, she decided. Fairy Tail has a 'no killing' policy. Why master Makarov put up with him was beyond her.
Whatever it was his answer or a simple necessity he removed the hand, coughing out more blood before something dropped down. It took her a moment to realize what it was but she had to swallow the bile that rose in her throat once she realized she was looking at his tongue.
Natsu would've cursed if he could as his throat burned. Damn transformation for messing up with his body. He could feel quite a big number of his bones still shifting. Pain almost paralyzing him but he managed to keep straight face. Erza was watching him like a hawk and it didn't take a genius to see she was angry.
'Why the heck is she angry?' Natsu scoffed, feeling the muscle in his mouth reforming. Gods really must hate him. Can't that go any faster?
''Do you need any help?''
Why was she asking him that? She was obviously asking it through her teeth so why?
Natsu shook his head and climbed to his feet, swaying terribly and almost toppling over.
The ground shook and Natsu grunted as he fell to the ground mid-step. A slurred curse escaping his lips as the forked tongue formed in his mouth.
''Waz it juzt m' or did groun' 'eally shook?''
Erza blinked, her eyes on him, the short but strong earthquake momentarily forgotten.
''Wil' y' anzwer m' or gawk lik' a fish?''
''Earthquake'' Erza answered after another moment.
''Dat was Ederion''
''What?''
Natsu cleared his throat. Pain and tiredness making him quite easy to annoy. ''That was Etherion''
''What?!''
''The tower will explode any minute now'' Natsu growled as he pushed himself to his feet again.
Erza's eyes widened and the ground shook again making Natsu stumble but he managed to stay on his feet this time, moving toward the crystal in the middle of the room.
''This kind of energy was made to explode and then disappear, not to stay locked in a crystal. It should have been released by now''
''Wait... what are you saying?'' Erza asked carefully.
''We're all going to die''
Erza stared at him. ''How can you sound so okay with it?!''
''I'm not!''
Erza once again could only gawk at him. Losing his cool was not something she saw happen to Natsu. He seemed to realize that as well because he clamped his mouth shut, frustration clearly visible on his face and it made her only more worried. Just how tired or in pain he was?
''Can't you use chaotic void?'' Erza asked carefully.
''No'' Natsu sighed regretfully. ''I've used to much magic already. I might as well cut my own throat''
''B-but your magic reserves. They are so big''
''And spent'' Natsu said dryly. ''Dragonification is draining me constantly. The more I use the more it drains. My reserves are barely refilling ever since the process started.''
Erza watched as her guildmate continued to walk towards the crystal. A crystal she knew what it was used for. Jellal was generous enough to explain it to her. She stood up as well, standing significantly closer than Natsu and capable of walking without stumbling she made a quick walk towards it.
''What are you doing?'' Natsu asked her, stopping in his painful stroll.
''What you planned to do'' Erza said. ''I might not like you too much right now but you are a member of Fairy Tail. I will die for my friends''
''Even though you don't consider me to be one'' it was more of a statement than a question and Erza didn't bother to answer. She wasn't sure she could even consider him a human.
She entered the crystal, the coldness that seeped into her bones making her gasp. Her mind fogged, scattering her thoughts. It was a strange feeling. Losing sense of yourself so quickly and easily even as you desperately cling to it.
''How stupid of you'' black hand entered the crystal after her, grabbing her shoulder. ''You don't die for your friends. You live for them''
She blinked in shock, staring at the wet sand she found herself on, the Tower of Heaven towering above her. She knew what it meant and it made her scream, scream to the heavens, scream in frustration and anger, grief and confusion.
He, of all people, he sacrificed himself.
End of chapter 20.
Rewritten
Please review and thanks for reading :)