Chapter 44:
Natsu walked slowly back toward the camp occasionally sniffing the air to check his surroundings. It was very quiet. He scared the birds away while he fought Ultear (who was still sleeping on his back), all members of Fairy tail and Grimoire Heart were several kilometers away, wind wasn't blowing and he himself was walking without making any sound. All in all peace and quiet with Ultear's soft breathing on his ear.
**Ultear's POV**
As I could feel my consciousness returning I became aware that I was on something cold and that I was carried somewhere. It felt so good and nice. I would most likely fall back to sleep if I didn't remember what happened before I lost my consciousness.
My eyes shoot open and I was greeted with pink-haired head. I stare at it for few seconds and then I realized whom that hair belongs. My eyes grew even bigger if that was possible and then...
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH" I shrieked.
**normal POV**
A sudden "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH" broke the silence. Trough Natsu's head stormed unbearable pain as he let go of Ultear and covered his ears. When he let go of Ultear and she realized she was falling she tried to catch on something and that something or better to say someone happened to be Natsu. She pulled Natsu down with her as they both fall on the ground resulting with Natsu on top of her with his head between her breasts still covering his ears but now his eyes were wide in shock as well.
They stayed like that for few seconds with Ultear's face matching Erza's hair before she pushed him of her and slapping him with all power she could muster yelling "Pervert!"
Natsu, still in complete shock fell on the floor looking at Ultear with her handprint on his face shining bright red. He, however, quickly regained his composure and got up dusting his pants. Ultear was still sitting on the floor with her arms crossed, her cheeks puffed and face red in embarrassment.
"Who are you calling pervert?" Natsu asked after few more seconds "You're the one that pulled me down!"
"Well... You shouldn't have let me go!" She said standing up and pointing accusing finger on him.
"You started screaming in my ear! It was either that or become deaf!" he replied.
Ultear opened her mouth to protest but Natsu started glaring daggers at her so she quickly shut them up.
They stood there for few more seconds in silence looking each other in the eyes. Ultear after short time looked away unable to look at Natsu's cold, dragon eyes.
"Why didn't you killed me?" she muttered looking at her feet.
Natsu raised his eyebrow "Why would I"
"I heard rumors... that you killed every opponent you faced" she said.
Natsu rolled his eyes "I didn't kill all of them" and then thought 'Just majority...'
Ultear looked at him and said "Oh... Then...ummm... why didn't you killed me?"
"I told you that before" he said and Ultear looked at him confused "I like you and you amuse me"
Ultear blushed and looked away again.
"Let's go" Natsu said after few moments of silence.
Ultear's head jerked up "Where?"
"To the camp" Natsu said as he started walking with his hands in pockets.
"I have no intention of going to your guild o that you could give me to the council"
"Who said anything about the council?" Natsu asked not bothering to stop or turning toward her. If he did he would've saw Ultear looking at him like fish.
She watched Natsu as he kept walking and then shouted "Hey! Wait up!" and ran after him to catch up.
They walked in silence for few seconds and then Natsu asked her "Why do Grimoire Heart want Zeref?"
Ultear looked at him and then in front of herself "They want to rule a world that master Hades call the Ultimate Magic World where the 90% of the world's Humans use magic."
Natsu nodded and then asked "Why do you want Zeref?"
Ultear's eyes widened as she looked Natsu in the eyes.
"I can see that you were not planning to surrender him to your guild?" he said looking in front if himself as he kept walking.
"I..." Ultear said and looked at the ground "I wanted happiness"
Natsu stopped walking and looked at her. Ultear stopped to but didn't dare to look at him.
Natsu chuckled suddenly and started walking shaking his head like he heard some old joke. Ultear glared at him "What?!" she hissed.
"You should have just go to another guild" Natsu said with small smirk.
"Huh? What are you saying?" Ultear asked confused.
"I'm saying that it's not Zeref who will bring you happiness. It's your family" at that Ultear glared at him and said in angry tone "My mother left me and besides what do you know about family?!"
Natsu's smirk disappeared. They walked in silence for few minutes. Then Natsu spoke again "You don't have to be blood related. I have younger sister Wendy, grandfather Makarov, my mate Mirajane and my father Acnologia. Even though I don't care about many people in Fairy tail (or many people in general) I will protect those I care about with everything I have. You were just blind. Not seeing what was right in front of you"
Ultear looked at Natsu with wide eyes. She heard so many stories about how ruthless and cold he was. Were all those rumors just that, rumors?
She then realized what was he trying to say. 'Meredy...' Ultear thought.
"Why are you taking me to your guild if you don't plan to take me to the council?" Ultear asked.
"I want to show you the real happiness" Natsu said and then smirked at Ultear's face.
They didn't say a word the rest of the way. It took them ten more minutes to get back to the camp.
Natsu walked first out of the bushes making everyone look at him with trace of fear in their eyes. That didn't go unnoticed by Natsu and Ultear who walked to the camp few seconds after Natsu. Well you couldn't blame them due the rage Natsu showed earlier.
Those eyes however quickly vanished when they saw Ultear walking behind Natsu. They watched in shock as Natsu scanned through the camp to see who was here. In the camp were Erza, Gray, Lucy, Wendy (who was now awake much to his relief), exceeds, some pink haired girl he didn't recognize, Mira (who was still asleep), Gajeel, Elfman and Evergreen that were still in bed and Bickslow and Freed who were sitting next to Erza talking about everything that happened.
"Natsu!" Wendy cried out in worried but happy tone. She ran toward him and hugged him firmly. Natsu's emotionless face turned into a gentle smile as he patted Wendy's head.
"I see you're feeling much better" Natsu said in soft voice that seemed like it wasn't even his.
"Yup" Wendy said as she released Natsu and grinned at him. She then looked at Ultear "Who's she?"
Natsu opened his mouth to answer but was interrupted by pink haired girl that shouted "U-Ultear!"
Ultear's head jerked up as she looked at pink haired girl "Meredy!"
Meredy ran toward Ultear and asked "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine" Ultear said with smile.
"How did you get here?" she asked Meredy.
"Gray and I fought and he won so he took me here" Meredy said as she pointed at Gray that was looking at Ultear with wide eyes.
Ultear looked up and saw Gray. She glared at him shocking the few members.
"Y-you... You look just like her..." Gray said. Ultear just kept glaring.
"You two know each other?" Lucy asked.
"I'm daughter of his dear teacher" Ultear said and Erza, Wendy and Lucy looked at Gray in shock. He told them that she was dead.
"I thought you were dead.." Gray said.
"I'm sure my mother would've liked that" Ultear scoffed.
Gray clenched his fists and yelled "You don't know anything about how your mother felt! She cried almost every day because she thought you were dead!"
Ultear would have said something but Natsu cut her off "I would really appreciate if you two would shut up"
After that no one dared to say anything.
"Good. Now... we have more pressing matters that needs to be taken care of" Natsu said in monotone voice.
Others nodded.
"We need to take care of Grimoire heart." Natsu continued "We will split u in two groups. One will go to fight Hades and others will stay here and defend injured members in case there is still some enemy left on this island." He then turned and glared daggers at Freed, Bickslow and Lucy who started sweating "And when I say defend I expect you to do better job than you did in the past"
Freed, Bickslow and Lucy nodded and yelled in union "HAI!" knowing full well what was he talking about.
"Now.. those that will come with me and fight against Hades are... Erza" he pointed at her and she immediately stood up and nodded.
"Gray" Gray stood up a little shocked.
"Lucy" he said and was answered with "ME?!"
His glare quickly made her stood up.
"Exceeds" Panther Lily nodded and transformed in his battle form, Charla and Happy stood up with determined expressions.
"And..." Natsu was about to say freed but Wendy was quicker "I'll go too"
Natsu looked at her with emotionless face. "No" he deadpanned.
"Yes! I want to help!" she yelled.
"It's too dangerous" Natsu said firmly.
"You think I care?!" Wendy replied. Natsu looked at her with well hidden shock.
"Fine" he said after few seconds.
"And Wendy" he finished and Wendy cheered silently.
"Let's go" Natsu said and then added "Make sure that she stay here" he said pointing at Ultear who just glared daggers at him.
And with that Lucy, Erza, Gray, Exceeds, Wendy and Natsu walked trough the forest with Natsu leading them.
Natsu who was on the front would occasionally sniffed the air here and there and then they would turn left or right.
Soon enough they found themselves in front of the big airship with big Grimoire heart sign on its front.
"Let's go" Natsu said and kept walking toward ship.
"Exceeds. You try to find anything that looks like engine that runs this thing" Natsu said to which exceeds nodded with Happy's "Aye sir!" and flew to the ship.
"We will go in and fight Hades" Natsu said.
"Hai!"
Natsu then walked to the doors of the ship and blasted the doors along with half of the wall that was there.
Other sweat-dropped.
"Dragon is on your doors, Hades~. It's just a matter of time before I stain my hands with your blood~~" Natsu said in sing-song voice that made others shiver.
"I wouldn't want to be in Hades shoes now" Gary said to Lucy as they watched Natsu walking in with crazy look in his eyes and mad grin plastered on his face.
"Come on you two" Wendy said. She was almost in the ship already and Natsu was nowhere to be seen.
They walked in and saw Natsu walking trough the hall full of soldiers like there was no one in. Those poor fouls that dared to attack him were quickly sent flying with some of their limbs missing or broken.
It didn't take them too long to see giant doors that were obviously where Hades was.
Natsu sent last guard trough the doors and much to his amusement saw Hades smiling.
"Knock~Knock~" Natsu said still in that sickly sweet voice "Sorry to barge in like this."
Hades laughed "You stupid little boy"
Natsu just tilted his head to the side looking even creepier and scarier then before.
"Who? Me?" he asked innocently. His face suddenly turned emotionless "Let me show you who is the idiot here"
"Don't make me laugh" Hades said. Hades pointed his finger at Natsu putting his fingers in gun-like position and fired. Hades's grin widened as he watched his magic bullet fly toward Natsu who didn't even blinked.
His joy didn't last long when Natsu simply slapped his bullet away like it was nothing.
"How did you...?" Hades asked shocked. That bullet should have go right trough him! He then noticed something that made his eyes widened. The arm that boy used to slap away his magic was now cowered in black scales that rapidly fell off turning into ashes, leaving boy's naturally pale skin.
Natsu looked at Hades with emotionless eyes.
"What's your name boy?" Hades asked with smirk.
"I am Natsu Souleater, son of chaos dragon king and king of the dragons Acnologia. I am chaos dragon prince and your executioner"Natsu said emotionless
Hades laughed "You really think you can kill me? Don't be so naive you brat!"
Hades pointed his finger at someone beside Natsu. Natsu had only enough time to widen his eyes before Hades said "Perish".
Wendy looked at Natsu in alarm and cried out "BROTHER!" with her hand starched out trying to get a hold on Natsu's outstretched hand but it was too late. Just few inches before she touched Natsu's hand she disappeared leaving only her clothes.
"WENDY!" Everyone cried out in shock and disbelief. Natsu remained quiet as he watched with wide eyes at empty space where Wendy stood few seconds ago.
Hades started laughing. "Only her clothes remaineded! Hilariously!"
Natsu clenched his fists so hard that blood started trickling down his fist.
"Are you going to cry, my prince?" Hades asked in mocking concern.
Gray and Lucy were too occupied at the fact that Wendy was gone but Erza could feel and see it. Natsu's magic... It felt like it's going to explode.
"LUCY! GRAY! TAKE COVER!" Erza yelled just in time as Natsu's magical pressure exploded. Lucy, Gray and Erza throw themselves on the floor and watched with wide eyes as Natsu's magical pressure made even walls crack.
Their attention was driven away when they heard a small thud and looked up.
"Horologium!" Lucy cried in surprise. Three mages then saw what was inside.
"Wendy!" Erza shouted and ran toward the clock stumbling here and there because of the pressure Natsu was emitting.
"'I'm fine' says she" Horologium said.
"'Only... my clothes is missing' she adds embarrassed" Horologium added.
"Can you give her some clothes from Celestial world?" Lucy asked from her spot.
Horologium nodded.
**with Hades**
Hades watched surprised when energy around Natsu exploded. It soon transformed into a tornado of chaos energy that destroyed half of the ceiling. He could barely saw Natsu's outline but he could say without a problem that it was changing. And those red eyes that glowed trough thick layer of magic energy didn't help.
'Better to kill him now before he transforms completely' Hades thought.
"Take this" Hades yelled as he outstretched his hands forwards and from them shoot silver chains. The chains flew trough black-and-red energy toward Natsu's outline and warped themselves around something.
The tornado died down instantly but instead of Natsu being in the chains like Hades thought he saw Natsu holding both chains with his left hand.
Natsu himself looked quite different. His face was on the sides covered with black scales with his eyes framed in red ones. From his pink hair grew two long black horns that were curved forward. Two meters long tail twitched on the wind that was now in the room due to the hole on the walls and ceiling. Two black bat-like wings that almost touched the floor were attached to his beck. His legs were now like hind legs of the dragon covered with black scales and red lines. His hands were also cowered in black and red scales with his nails extended in long,sharp claws. His eyes were glowing red with barely contained anger.
Hades smirked "Well, well, well... What do we have here?"
"Your end"
Hades looked at Natsu with crazy look in his eyes 'Such power! Such evil! If only he was in Griomoire heart! We would be unstoppable! I'll make him mine!'
Hades shoot himself at Natsu who followed his example. Hades extended his harm aiming to hit Natsu in head but Natsu ducked and warped his tail around Hades's wrist throwing Hades over his head. Hades howerver quickly flipped in the air and landed on his feet with one knee on the ground. He fired his magic bullet from his finger right at Natsu's leg but Natsu saw it and send the bullet flying with his wing.
Hades growled at that and shoot more chains at Natsu. Natsu narrowed his eyes as he caught chains again and pulled them along with Hades. Hades, not expecting Natsu to do that flew toward Natsu. Natsu raised his knee and kicked Hades right into stomach sending him flying. Hades shoot another chain but this time he warped them around the pillar so instead of crashing in the floor he used his momentum and sent himself flying right back at Natsu who shielded himself from Hades's fist with warping his wings around himself. He was still pushed back though and Hades used that as time to fire even more magic bullets but this time he used more magic and they were stronger.
Natsu wasn't prepared for so many of them right after Hades's fist left his wing and the few of the bullets pierced thin leather on his bat-like wings hitting him in his right arm and shoulder.
Roaring in frustration Natsu unleashed powerful roar at Hades who just had enough time to dodge it but he didn't go unscathed as it tore his shirt and made deep gash on his shoulder. Hades jumped back again but quickly ducked as Erza's sword sliced the air where his neck once where. As he ducked he shifted his weight on his hands and threw his leg at Erza who was sent flying. Erza was however caught by Gary who made his ice cannon and fired ice-ball at Hades who destroyed it with his magic bullet.
What he didn't expected was to hear Wendy's voice yelling "Sky dragon's ROAR!"
Hades only had enough time to put his arms in front of himself as the roar hit him head on. It was pure luck that he wasn't hit with one of Natsu cause it would definitely do much more damage then few scratches this one made.
Growling in frustration Hades yelled "Formula 100!"
Natsu's red eyes widened as he roared "Chaotic void!"
He disappeared and reappeared right in front of Wendy who was the target of the spell and warped his wings and tail around her shielding her from explosion that was heard trough whole Tenrou island.
"NATSU! WENDY!" Erza yelled and lunched herself at Hades while crying out "REQUIP! Purgatory Armor!"
Just as she was above Hades he sword appeared in her arms and she swung it down at Hades who used his chains and throw rock above himself successfully avoiding Erza's sword.
Erza looked at where Natsu and Wendy were few moments ago and almost puked when she saw Natsu's wings torn with the bones of the wings sticking out.
Wendy who was under Natsu looked at him with worried expression. "N-Natsu?"
Natsu grinned as he looked down on her. Blood trickling down his chin.
"Seems I still didn't fully recover after that spell I used to save master" He said.
"HAHAHA! How pathetic!" Hades laughed. He saw Natsu muttering something and then he found himself face to face with Natsu. It wouldn't be that much of a problem if Natsu hasn't already prepared to unleash his roar right in Hades's face. Hades was saved only because he was able to duck his head so the attack flew right over his head.
He wasn't however able to avoid Natsu's next attack.
"Chaos Dragon's Claw" Natsu jumped in the air and brought his leg right on top of Hades's head nailing him in the ground. Natsu jumped to the side and started chanting
"Dragon slayer secret art: demon lord: oblivion's fist" Natsu's fist was warped in red energy as he ran at Hades who just now stood up to be sent flying again with fist on his rib cage. There was sickening sound that clearly meant that at least five of his ribs were broken.
Hades caught some blood as he stood up.
"Not bad" Hades said with smirk as he watched Natsu who started coughing again. This time even more blood came from Natsu's mouth.
"Let's try this again" Hades said as he was about to fire another magic bullet but was interrupter by Taurus's axe slicing the air next to his head.
"You little!" Hades yelled and fired bullet at Taurus who disappeared with silent "I'm sooory miss Lucy"
"Taurus!" Lucy yelled worriedly after her spirit was hit.
"This will keep you quiet" Hades yelled as he fired another bullet at Lucy hitting her in the leg. "AAAAHH" Lucy screamed.
"LUCY!" Erza and Gray yelled. Wendy quickly ran toward her and started healing her.
Hades's attention was quickly drawn back to Natsu after Natsu shouted "Chaos Dragon's Grip Strike"
Hades didn't have enough time to avoid as Natsu's hand grabbed his face and send him flying with powerful shock wave.
Hades flipped in the air and smirked "Your attacks are not nearly as powerful as before"
Natsu growled as he spit some more blood. 'He's right... I used too much life force to heal Makarov... I fought with Zancrow and Ultear... and not to mention that I didn't eat almost anything today and had barely any sleep in last few weeks'
"Let's see how will you handle this!" Hades yelled and pointed his fingers at Natsu and just before he fired he turned in the blink of an eye toward Gray and Erza that were right above him and fired the bullets at them.
"NO!" Natsu roared as he watched Gary and Erza fall on the ground after bullet went trough their stomachs.
"Now if we an continue without any interruptions" Hades said.
"Chaos Dragon's ROAR" Natsu roared but Hades was able to dodge the attack
"Dammit" Natsu cursed.
"Piercing Bullet" was only thing Hades said before magic bullet went trough Natsu's chest missing his vital organs by shear luck.
"Brother!" Wendy yelled on the verge of tears.
"You'll join him soon enough" Hades said not noticing that Natsu was still alive.
He send another bullet at Wendy but once again Natsu said "Chaotic void" and the bullet pierced his stomach.
He fell in Wendy's arms as she started healing him immediately.
"Isn't he bothersome fellow" Hades said and pointed at Wendy. Wendy shot her eyes waiting for death to come, thinking 'If only I didn't came here Natsu wouldn't have to protect me. Why didn't I listen to him when he said I should stay behind?'
A loud sound of thunder rang trough her head. Her head jerked up and her eyes widened when she saw who was now standing in front of her.
"Laxus!" she said in disbelief.
"One and only, kiddo" Laxus said as he looked at her and smirked "So the almighty Natsu wasn't able to defeat this old geezer?"
"Shut up, Laxus" Erza said.
"Is that a way to treat your savior?" Laxus asked smirking.
"What are you even doing here?" Gray asked.
"I came to help you" Laxus simple replied before he started fighting with Hades.
"Another dragon slayer, eh?" Hades asked smirking as Laxus's roar flew few inches beside his head.
"You really think you can beat me?" Hades asked Laxus after Laxus came rushing at him with his fist cowered in lighting.
"You're weakling compared to that half-dead prince over there" Hades said pointing with his thumb behind his back to Natsu while dodging Laxus's fists.
"Who are you calling a weakling?" Laxus roared as his leg connects with Hades's head, followed by a punch in the stomach, and then he smashes him in the ground with a second kick on the head. Hades jumped high in the air to barely avoid Laxus's 'Lightning Dragon's Roar'
When Hades landed on the ground he fired another Amaterasu attack (A/N: those formulas he was using) However, Laxus rapidly emerges from it in his lightning form, reaches Hades' back and kicks him. Laxus was surprised to see Hades smirking after that but he quickly discovered the reason when he saw another Amaterasu circle on the ground right where he was standing.
Unable to avoid, Laxus put his arms in front of his face before a large explosion engulfed entire room.
As the smoke cleared others watched with disbelief as Laxus lie down on the ground unconscious.
Hades laughed and then put his hand on the eye-patch he wore and said. "I hope you feel honored. I'll revel to you my full power if only to erase you..."
He moved the eye-patch only to revel that his right eye was red.
"The devil's eye... AWAKENING!"
"The abyss of magic... This domain of magic is far beyond any of your wildest imaginations."
Hades looked at them.
'This magic power!' Erza thought 'It's almost like that of Natsu's demon form when he unleashed his full power!'
And then she realized something much to her horror 'And it's still raising!'
"This is your end! Fairy tail!" Hades growled.
"To walk the path of magic... is to sink into the deepest levels of darkness" Hades started gathering magic in his hand
"Beyond the depths shining in the deep abyss... is the 'Magic Of One'" Hades said.
As he said this no one noticed Natsu's eyes open.
"Now witness its power" Hades said and then started chanting "From the chapter 4, scripture 12 of the book of Zeref... Hidden Magic... the punishers of heaven 'Nemesis'!"
As he finished the ground started cracking and from the ground rose black creatures made entirely of magic.
"He created demons?!" Lucy asked in disbelief.
Erza looked at her trembling hand 'Even I am afraid?'
"I'm scared! I'm so scared" Wendy said quietly not aware that Natsu heard her.
"There is nothing to be afraid of" Natsu said quietly making Wendy and others jump in surprise.
"Those are not demons..." Natsu said and others looked at him confused.
"What do you mean?" Lucy asked.
"They are creatures made entirely of the 'Magic Of One'" Natsu said as those creatures started blending in one.
"How is that any less concerning?" Gray asked.
The creatures turned into a beam now that was ready to be fired.
Natsu just smirked in response as the beam consumed them.
Hades laughed. "Good bye, Fairy tail!"
There was a sudden noise coming from the explosion but Hades ignored it. Until it happened second time. And this time it didn't stop. That's when Hades realized what was that sound. It was the sound of someone sucking something.
He looked at explosion of 'Magic Of One' in disbelief. Soon the all magic that was in that explosion was sucked away.
"H-how? How is this possible?!" Hades screamed looking at Fairy tail members that didn't move one inch. Well most of them didn't. Natsu was now standing in front of them. His wounds healing with hissing sound as he wiped his mouth and patted his stomach.
"It's been a long time since I ate magic" Natsu said smirking.
"What?" Erza asked in surprise.
"No way..." Wendy said as she realized what just happened.
"You wanna know what happened I assume?" Natsu asked and chuckled darkly "Let me ask you something first" he said to Hades.
"What is considered to be wizard's soul?" Natsu asked smiling creepily.
"Magic" Hades said without thinking while other Fairy tail members started to realize what just happened.
"What is the name of the first and darkest magic?" Natsu asked, his smile widening.
"The 'Magic of One'" Hades said with annoyed voice "Why are you asking me this?"
"Wait! One more question. What is my last name?" Natsu's smile turned into a grin.
"Soul...eater...!" Hades's eyes widened in realization.
"And every dragon slayer eats some type of magic, no?" Natsu said his grin almost splitting his face in half.
"You... you" Hades said in disbelief as he took step back.
"That's right, my dear Hades~! I eat the 'Magic of One' or how we, dragons call it 'Magic of Chaos'" Natsu said with his famous crazy grin splitting his face.
End of chapter 44.
I'm so sorry I didn't update for so long! I hope you liked this chapter. I know that Hades wasn't able to use 'Magic of One' but I needed it here so what can I say... Please review and thanks for reading :)