Chapter 24: Madeline
Madeline Dragneel inherited many things from her parents. From Natsu, it was his impulsiveness and brashness when making decisions. From Lisanna, her gentle and kind demeanor toward her friends. The young Dragneel has all of these and more. However, due to the kind of life she lived, the girl had to bottle those emotions inside. After Natsu and Lisanna's death and the strict training and mentality instilled by Yuzu and Karin, Madeline transformed into a fierce individual. That said, you can never indeed suppress who you are. Either way, all the things you repressed that make you who you are will surface. All it takes is a trigger, and every mental barrier you create will begin crumbling. For Madeline, it was reuniting with her parents. Even if they were younger than she remembered, it didn't lessen the joy of seeing them again and the sadness of remembering their deaths.
Right now, Madeline stood beside her mother. After defending Lisanna from an ambush, the girl opted to stick close to the youngest Strauss in case more of those creatures appeared. Lisanna, for her part, didn't want to separate from the pink-haired girl because of her motherly instincts. The mother and daughter watched as Ichigo Kurosaki rained down destruction upon the dragon hatchlings. The bright lights caused by the hail of Ceros looked like thousands of stars falling from the sky. It gave off the image of a god judging the world's sinners.
If there was anybody whom Madeline aspired to be, that was Ichigo Kurosaki. One might think a child would have either her parents as role models. That wasn't the case for the young Fullbringer, though. To her, Natsu and Lisanna were the guiding light that watched over her. At the same time, Ichigo was the summit atop an insurmountable mountain. The Transcendent was the epitome of virtue and sacrifice that Madeline strived to emulate. After all, if the Kurosaki patriarch hadn't committed the ultimate act of locking the Gate of Hell from inside and fighting its ruler, then the future might've been darker.
Madeline looked to her mother, watching the hollowfied Ichigo unleashing his fury on the armored lizards. She wondered if Lisanna had battled Ichigo before. "Mama?"
"Hmm?"
"Have you fought with Ichigo before?"
It wasn't much of a fight per se; more of a one-sided thrashing was apt. However, with that encounter, the lesson of determination and resolve was instilled into Lisanna. That wisdom pushed her in the right direction, allowing her to express what lay within her heart.
"I have," was Lisanna's reply. "It was because of him that I found my resolve to move forward. In a way, he changed me."
Madeline tilted her head, a little lost from her mother's answer. "I don't get it…."
Lisanna just chuckled at her daughter. She leaned over and gave Madeline a soft, tender kiss, making the girl blush. With a sincere smile, she said, "It's alright, Maddie. Just know that even if we've just known you not long ago, to Natsu and me, you are the most precious person in the world, and we will always love you."
"Mama…" Madeline leaped to her mother and engulfed her in a tight hug. It was just like when she was alive. All that love and care before Lisanna was taken away from her, she got to experience it once more. Not only that, the Fullbringer's heart swelled, knowing her father felt the same way about her. "Thank you, Mama," she breathed. "I love you, too."
The mother and daughter eventually separated after that loving moment. Lisanna and Madeline looked at each other with sincere smiles on their faces. Suddenly, a blue ball of fur plopped on the Fullbringer's head.
"How's my baby sister?"
"Big brother, Happy!" Madeline snatched the blue Exceed from her head and held him in a crushing hug before letting the cat float above them.
"You were amazing, Maddie!" Happy exclaimed, recalling the blazing inferno the time traveler conjured. "You were hotter than Natsu!"
The praise Maddie received made her blush in embarrassment. Accurate, she did enjoy the compliment every now and then, but hearing it from a family member was a new experience.
"Happy, you're making Maddie feel awkward," Lisanna told the eager Exceed.
"But she is cooler, or in this case, hotter than Natsu."
The youngest Strauss just sighed. "What am I going to do with you?"
"Feed me fish?" came Happy's innocent reply.
Lisanna and Madeline looked at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter. It wasn't long after when Happy joined in.
"Ehem…"
The three stopped their fits when someone cleared her throat and got their attention. Lisanna, Madeline, and Happy all turned and saw Karin, who had just recently arrived, looking at them with a deadpan.
"Not that I don't like the family bonding, but we still have a crap tone of those hatchlings."
"At least now the mother dragon was taken."
Karin's attention went to the person who said that and found Mirajane with Elfman behind her.
"Thanks to Ichigo, we won't be seeing more of those lizardmen," commented Fairy Tail's demoness.
Elfman raised his hands high and exclaimed, "Ichigo's a real man! That thing he did was the manliest thing ever!"
Hearing that made the others sweatdrop. "Somehow, I'm not surprised you said that big guy," remarked the female reaper. Her face then turned serious and addressed the current matter at hand. "Thanks to Ichigo and Kazui, we have fewer dragons to worry about, especially that diamond dragon who laid those damn eggs. It also helps that Natsu managed to turn Atlas Flame to our side. That said, we still have clean-up to do before we deal with the mastermind responsible for it all."
Karin's words were returned with affirmation. The tides of this battle were blowing in their favor now. The only thing left to do was finish off the remaining hatchlings, subdue the two remaining dragons, and finally, take down the man behind this tragedy.
Rogue and Sting stood back to back, each facing their own dragon to fight. Earlier, Rogue was distraught after hearing the fate that would befall him. In the future, he would become mad with power and orchestrate the fall of humanity. This tragedy Crocus was going through right now; he was responsible for it. That statement was compounded when the very darkness in him gained a life of its own and told him the exact same thing. One day, this darkness will consume him, turning him into a harbinger of destruction.
Thankfully, Sting managed to snap the son of Skiadrum out of his depression and reminded him that he and the one who caused all this were different people. Whatever the future Rogue has done was not the sin of the current one. With his spirits lifted, the present Rogue rose and stood beside his partner to challenge the dragons before them and ultimately defy his fate.
"I've got to thank that samurai chick for summoning these phantom dragons," Sting told Rogue, referring to the Kidō spell that subdued Levia and Scissor Runner.
"Let us take this opportunity and strike!" Gathering his magic, Rogue unleashed a devastating breath attack at Levia. "Shadow Dragon Roar!"
"No need to tell me twice! White Dragon Roar!"
The two dragon breaths hit their mark. Levia and Scissor Runner felt nothing but pain. These attacks wouldn't have dealt this much damage had these spectral constructs not appeared. The two reishi dragons were absorbing their energy. It's as if these two phantasms were feasting on the life force of the dragons. It made the twin slayers glad that their foes were now more susceptible to attacks.
Sting and Rogue had to admit that things were a lot easier now. However, they were still not dealing with the kind of damage they wanted. It would be nice if they get some help to finally take down these behemoths.
…And they did
"Sting! Rogue!"
A female voice from behind made the twin dragon slayers look. Suddenly, two projectiles whizzed mere inches beside them and flew straight to the dragons. Those were spirit arrows, and each one hit an eye on the monstrous reptiles. Levia and Scissor Runner roared in agony as their eyesight was reduced to just one functioning organ.
Sting and Rogue finally saw who shot those arrows. Their eyes widened in surprise to see none other than Yukino Agria holding her Quincy bow. The last time they saw her, she was humiliated and tossed out like a weak and worthless piece of garbage. Now, the Celestial mage had determination etched in her eyes. Most of all, the twin dragon slayers sensed incredible power from Yukino that eclipses what she held while she was still in Sabretooth.
"Yukino," Sting muttered while still wide-eyed. "Is that you?"
"Yes," Yukino replied.
Rogue, on the other hand, was glad to see the mage well. "We're glad to see you well, Yukino."
The wizard in question smiled at the two. "Thank you. I also brought back up."
Looking behind, the shadow wizard saw Lucy and Loke approaching them. However, when Yukino pointed up, he and Sting saw the proper reinforcement. Standing in the air with his twin swords pointed at the dragons was the stellar mage's adoptive father. Rogue and his partner knew who this person was and that primal fear from their encounter with him came rushing back into their hearts.
A scowl on his face, Ichigo roared an unholy roar that rattled the souls of every living being in the city. He then poured his spiritual energy into the tips of his Zangetsu blades. Red orbs of condensed reishi converged before firing at his targets.
"Cero!"
The red beams shot forth and hit the dragons square in the skull. There was no spectacular explosion from the collision. Instead, the Ceros punctured their heads until the hollow flash shattered the ground they stood. The doom blast finally died down. The two dragons stood steady before falling to their sides, blood gushing from the holes blasted through their heads.
Ichigo's image fractured and appeared in front of Yukino. He had a smile and patted his adoptive daughter on the head. For her part, the mage in question enjoyed the fatherly gesture from her parent. Ichigo's gaze then shifted towards the two Sabretooth mages. The reaper saw them flinch, most likely due to his hollowfied form. He still had a terrible taste in his mouth about those two dragon slayers. Still, the Transcendent has more important things to do than bring two arrogant wizards down a peg when he and Natsu already did it.
"Listen," came Ichigo's authoritative voice. "With the last two dragons finally dead, leaving Atlas Flame, whom Natsu managed to turn to our side, and what remains of the hatchling army. Thanks to Karin and Yuzu, most of them would either be a meaty pincushion or a bloody paste on the floor." Loke, Lucy, Yukino, Sting, and Rogue cringed at how Ichigo worded that. "It won't be long. This nightmare will end, and the only one left to deal with is the perpetrator of all of this. Find the others, then head to the royal palace. I'll deal with what remains of the hatchlings."
The five nodded and left in search of the others, their destination being Mercurius Palace.
King Tōma E. Fiore was at a loss for words. His Kingdom. His palace. It was all burning under the dragons' wrath and one man's greed.
"Crocus. My city. My people." The king's words were barely audible, but his sorrow was evident in his voice. "How could it have gone to this?"
"Father!"
The sound of a female voice snapped the king from his frozen stupor. Turning to the source, he was thrilled to see Hisui running towards him, followed by Darton and Arcadios. "My dear."
Hisui kneeled and hugged her diminutive father. "I'm so glad you're safe."
"As do I," replied the king. However, when King Tōma gazed at her daughter's face, all he could see was sadness and regret. "What's wrong, Hisui?"
The princess felt remorseful for the things she's done. Stealing magic from various mages for seven years, holding Lucy and Yukino hostage, and most of all, being the cause of this destruction. "I…I did this."
"Hisui," Tōma spoke with a soft voice. "Don't blame yourself for this. It was all in the hands of the one who deceived you."
"I was still deceived, father," refuted the jade-haired royal. "If I hadn't been naïve and careless, then maybe none of this would've happened."
"Hisui. You only did what you thought was best for the kingdom. You are not at fault. All the blame goes to that bastard from the future."
Despite her father's words, it did little to ease Hisui's worries. In fact, it made her remember something that she wished she'd forgotten.
"Fear the wrath of the hollow…."
It was the warning Minister Darton had relayed to her when the older man encountered the Last True Quincy. Then there was the image of young Kazui turning into that gruesome horned beast that incapacitated one of the dragons. That ghostly presence he unleashed after transforming made her shiver.
The king of Fiore saw her daughter tremble. Her hands clutched her arms as though a cold sensation washed over her. The face that had regret and sorrow was now replaced by fear and anxiety.
"Hisui?" asked the king with worry.
The princess just kept on shaking, the fear never leaving her system. "It's coming for me…."
Something wet stained the creases of the king's robes. Curious, he tried looking for the source and was surprised to find Hisui with puffy eyes leaking tears. Her eyes were dilated, her face contorted into a distraught and terrified expression. She is afraid, and the kingdom's ruler can't fathom what could've caused this. This is the first time he's seen the usually calm and collected Hisui reduced into this.
"Hisui, calm down," the king told the princess. "What's coming for you?"
"The hollow…"
"The what?"
Princess Hisui looked into her father's eyes and said, "The hollow…the death gods. They've come to judge those who sinned, and I'm one of them."
King Tōma quickly embraced his daughter to lessen her fears. While it is true that she made questionable decisions, Hisui was also a victim of this grand scheme. Her love for the people was used by the time-traveling Rogue to further his twisted goals. And if this so-called "hollow" has come to punish his daughter, he will do everything in his power to stop it.
"Hush now, my dear," the royal comforted the princess. "Nothing will happen to you. I won't let this 'hollow' creature come near you."
However, to mock the king's promise, they all heard something that would forever be engrained in their hearts.
A roar.
The unholy wail froze the royals and their officials in place, sending a primeval chill down their spines. It was unlike anything they'd heard before. The roar didn't feel like it came from a beast. No, it sounded like thousands of tortured souls screaming for a reprieve, and that is more terrifying than any beast of a nightmare.
"What on Earthland was that?" Darton questioned his colleagues as a bead of sweat dripped from his forehead. "That roar…it sounded so menacing."
Arcadios' grip on his sword tightened, ready to strike if the monster came. However, that bravado didn't lessen the primordial fear lingering in his heart. "I don't know, and honestly, I don't want to find out."
"…It's the creature."
All eyes landed on the trembling princess.
"It's the hollow," Hisui muttered. "It's come to judge those responsible for this disaster."
None of them, not even the king himself, could say anything after hearing the princess' words. With all that has happened, it wouldn't be far-fetched if this creature was out to get the ones behind the Eclipse project.
All King Tōma could do was hold his quivering daughter close and silently pray that she be spared from the hollow's wrath.
"MY KING!"
The dwarf royal snapped his head to his loyal knight.
"Quickly, move!" Arcadios yelled as he picked up the diminutive ruler and his daughter.
Above, a mass of dead flesh and scales was falling near their vicinity. It was the remnants of the deceased Motherglare after getting her head vaporized by the powerful Cero Gigantes.
The high-ranking officials barely got to safety when the massive reptilian carcass landed in the courtyard. The impact shattered the fine cobblestone, creating a small gust of wind powerful enough to sweep anyone away.
"KYAAAGH!" Hisui shrieked as she was blown away from the impact zone.
"My liege!" Darton yelled as he violently skidded across the pavement.
At the crash site lay the headless body of the adamantium dragon. The fall from such a height fractured the beast's wing while splattering its blood all over the area. From its side was the disoriented figure of Rogue Cheney from the future. With a hand over his head, he groaned as he tried to stand up. Thinking he was in the clear, the manipulative dragon slayer felt a surge of heat from above.
"ROOOOOGUE!"
When Rogue looked up, his eyes widened upon seeing an irate Fire Dragon Slayer covered in blazing hellfire plummeting in his direction. There was practically no time to move, so the only thing he could do was brace for impact.
The sound of a powerful explosion caught the attention of Fairy Tail's mages. A bright tower of intense fire was visible regardless of where you were in the city. Looking at the dazzling blaze, the wizards quickly deduced that the high-reaching flames originated from the palace. The one responsible was a particular pink-haired fire mage.
"Well, damn," Karin muttered. "That's one way of turning up the heat."
"Does he really have to make it so explosive?" Mira questioned rather innocently.
"Well, I think it's manly!" Elfman exclaimed.
"That's Natsu for you!" Happy cheered and flew circles around the Strausses and Karin.
However, not everyone shared that same excitement. Madeline stared at the rising flame with worry. While she was confident in her father's powers, she was still a kid who cared about her parents' well-being.
The salmon-haired Fullbringer closed her eyes and sent out a pulse of reiatsu. The burst was unnoticeable to anyone not versed in reishi detection. The pulse traveled through the air, colliding with any entity with a strong enough spiritual energy and giving the child some spiritual feedback. She can make out the different signatures, all coming from powerful mages. Yet, Maddie only wanted to sense one individual.
It was there, and Madeline could feel it. The bright, lively soul was burning with conviction. She could feel Natsu's reiatsu flaring in harmony with his magic power, no doubt rearing for a confrontation. However, next to his father was something that made her skin crawl. An energy that was so vile and tainted that it would threaten to snuff out her father's light. Suddenly, that dark power flared and converged into Natsu's signature to extinguish it.
"PAPA!" Madeline exclaimed with wide eyes. Her reaction gained the attention of her mother and relatives.
"Maddie, what's wrong?" Lisanna questioned her daughter, taking note of her daughter's worry.
"It's Papa!" replied the girl. "We need to help him!"
On the spur of the moment, Madeline grabbed her mother's hand, and the two disappeared. The only thing that indicated their presence was the trail of silvery light courtesy of Maddie's Bringer Light.
"Where are they going?" asked a surprised Elfman.
Mira noticed Karin's stern expression as she witnessed the towering fire subside. "What's the matter, Karin?" she questioned. "Do you know where they went?"
"I do," answered the reaper. Karin managed to perceive Madeline's sudden flare of reiatsu to detect Natsu's location. "No doubt they're headed towards the palace grounds to help Natsu."
After hearing her answer, Mirajane turned her gaze towards the palace with concern. The demoness knows that her sister, niece, and the father of the said child will be facing the man behind this calamity. While she was confident of their abilities, she hoped her family would return safely.
Fire and shadow collided, triggering a burst of power that scattered upon contact. Behind the decisive clash was an infamous time traveler hell-bent on subjugation. At the same time, the other was a father who sought to protect his daughter's future.
Natsu and Rogue were from within the combating forces, with fingers interlocked and pushing against the other. The animosity between the two was evident in their magic flaring with their emotions.
The son of Igneel reared his head back and slammed his forehead into his opponent. The shadow mage grunted from the impact and felt another hit, this time in the gut. Natsu retracted his fist from Rogue's abdomen and slammed his hands on the wizard's head with a hammer fist. The fire mage would've got in another attack, but the time-displaced man avoided it.
Rogue grabbed the other dragon slayer's outstretched arm and kneed him in the stomach. Natsu winced from the pain and stumbled back, giving his assailant another chance to attack. Summoning his shadows, the future version of Rogue blasted his magic at the dazed fire wizard and blew him away.
Natsu managed to compose himself, and when he landed on the ground, he leaped at his adversary with his fires boosting his lunge. "Fire Dragon Sword Horn!" he screamed as his body was engulfed in fire. He was going so fast that Rogue had no time to evade. He got hit in the chest with the attack. Natsu could hear his enemy gagging from the impact force before his magic blasted the damnable man away.
The Fairy Tail mage eventually let his flames subside for a bit but did not lower his guard down. He was right in doing so as a fist suddenly sprang up from a shadow behind him. Natsu dodged the sucker punch but was unwittingly caught in a shadowy tendril by the leg. Rogue emerged from the blackness and swung his arm around, hurtling the son of Igneel into a stone pillar. He again sunk into his shadow and hastily moved to the downed dragon slayer. Grabbing the pinkette's head, he pulled him out and dragged his face across the dirt before tossing him near the cracked gates of Eclipse.
Natsu didn't stay down, however. Bursting from the rubble, the Fire Dragon Slayer shot into the air and covered his feet in raging flames. "Fire Dragon Talons!"
Rogue crossed his arms above and blocked the attack. The force from the blow was strong enough for the ground he stood on to buckle and shatter. He pushed the fiery foot up and answered with his own attack. "Shadow Dragon Haste!" Palm held out and opened wide; the shadow user launched a torrent at Natsu, flinging the fire mage away. Still not done, Rogue stretched his hand and summoned his magic, generating a powerful burst that emerged below the still airborne Natsu. "Shadow Dragon Eruption!"
The Salamander saw this and was quickly evaded by expelling fire from his feet. He landed on the ground, but his sights never left his opponent. The Fairy Tail mage looked at the man from the future, relaxing a bit. Their eyes met, and one could tell they had disdain in them.
This tenacity. Rogue didn't like it. Why fight so much when nothing you can do can change what's meant to happen? Why fight the inevitable? The shadow mage growled at the man before him and what he and his offspring represent:
Choice.
"Why continue struggling?" the man from the future questioned. His tone sounded irritated. "You know that you can't beat me."
However, Natsu wasn't fazed. In fact, he smirked at the time traveler. "You think so?" he questioned back. "Look around, Rogue. Save for my uncle, all your dragons are dead. It's over." His eyes narrowed before continuing, "You lost."
The Shadow Dragon Slayer looked and noticed that except for Atlas Flame, all of his dragons had been defeated. The hatchlings summoned by Motherglare were dwindling in numbers, and soon, his army will be defeated. His fists tightened to the point that his knuckles turned white. The corrupt dragon slayer didn't want to accept it, but his plans were now unreachable.
"So it appears," admitted Rogue. "However, it won't stop what is meant to happen. The future has already been written, and my rule is set in stone."
"That's where you're wrong," Natsu interrupted. "If there's one thing that I know about the future, it's that we are the ones who make it." The pinkette stared at the time-traveling shadow mage with conviction. "We all have a choice, and those choices shape our future. It is not set in stone like you claim it is to be. Madeline is the proof enough that destiny can be rewritten."
Upon hearing that name, Rogue's face contorted into a scowl. It was that girl who ruined his plans. "That damn brat," he growled. "If it weren't for that kid, my plans wouldn't have been ruined."
"Don't blame my daughter for your failure," the Fairy Tail wizard countered. "What she did was out of love and sacrifice. Do you know how much pain you caused her in her timeline? She should've had a childhood free of suffering and heartache. It was your selfishness that drove her to change the past!" Natsu was gritting his teeth as he recalled what Madeline went through. No child should live in a world full of death and despair. She should've had a childhood filled with love and happiness. However, he and Lisanna are here now, and they would do anything for her.
The son of Igneel took a deep breath, calming him down. He looked back at his enemy and said, "Maddie came to the past to save the future. That's the reason you will never win, Rogue." Natsu's declaration was stern and confident. "Unlike you who craves for the future, she fights for the future, and so do I!" His thoughts then went to the things he cherishes the most: his friends, his guild, and most of all, the two people who mean the most to him. "And the future I'm fighting for is one where Lisanna and I can see Madeline smile."
Rogue scoffed at the fire mage. "Pathetic," he spat. "It doesn't matter what kind of future you're fighting for. In the end, fate will have its way."
Natsu didn't falter. "Then we'll do everything in our power to shatter fate!"
Rogue had enough of Natsu's preaching and decided to silence the fire mage. He sunk into his shadow and hurried through the wreckage.
The said mage held his guard up, preparing for a surprise attack from the devious shadow user. "I never once pegged you for a butcher."
"Time changes people," replied Rogue. Finding a blind spot, he emerged from the blackness and attacked. "Unfortunately for you, your time is limited!"
Natsu was engulfed in a surge of unrelenting shadows. He crossed his arms and resisted the onslaught. He grunted as the spell pushed against him. However, he stood firm. "Your mistake…was making someone precious to me suffer," the fire user muttered. "As I said earlier, I will fight for a future where the two most precious people to me can smile."
"You think you can accomplish that?" Rogue argued. "You don't have the power to stop me, so how can you?" The nefarious mage lunged at his adversary with his body enveloped in his black power.
"We won't know unless I try!" Natsu did the same thing and leaped at his foe, his body covered in draconic fire.
Fists collided as fire and shadow tried to overpower the other. Both seemed evenly matched, and an explosion erupted at the point of contact, forcing the two to jump back and assess their next move. Rogue submerged into his shadows again. He moved around the battlefield, finding the right opportunity to strike. Natsu was on high alert and looked from side to side to catch the evil mage. However, said mage had already found the perfect place to strike. The man from the future jumped from his shadow and surprised the fire wizard. He swung his arm downward, and a torrent of shadow magic slammed into Natsu, causing him to wince in pain.
"Why don't you just give up?" Rogue shouted at the Fire Dragon Slayer. "You don't have the power to beat me!"
"Never!" A pulse of fire magic dissipated Rogue's attack. "You took away my daughter's future. You threatened to kill my best friend and deny Madeline the chance to live. I will never let you have your way!"
"You think you can stop me?" taunted Rogue as he summoned countless shadow bullets and fired them at Natsu.
The son of Igneel defended himself from the rain of magic. "I will stop you, no matter what!"
"Heh. Let's see if you can take this!" A sphere of shadow magic formed on Rogue's hand. He threw the orb of darkness at Natsu's feet. Upon hitting the ground, it exploded into a powerful tornado that engulfed the fire wizard and blew him away. The caster smirked and taunted, "Once I kill you, my next target will be Lisanna Strauss. Without you and her, that little brat will never exist."
The threat to Lisanna and Madeline's life triggered Natsu's anger. "NO. YOU. WON'T!"Natsu pounced at the dark mage, his body becoming engulfed in fire. However, that's not all that's happened. Streaks of electricity crackled as he surged forward. These small bands grew into raging bolts that intensified as he drew closer to his target.
This revelation caught the future Rogue by surprise. Salamander never showed this power during their face-off at the Grand Magic Games.
Fire and lightning melded into an intense vortex of elements condensed into Natsu's fists.
"Change Mode, Lightning Fire Dragon!"
Natsu coiled his fists back, and when the fire mage was face to face with his adversary, he struck with all his might. What followed was a dazzling explosion that consumed the area where the two foes collided. Heat and electricity permeated the battlefield as Rogue and Natsu fought for dominance.
The madman from the future blocked the intense attack with a pleased grin on his face. "Well, now. I never expected something like this from you," he remarked in mild surprise. "You never showed this power during the Grand Magic Games." While the right sleeve of his clothes disintegrated from the flames, he endured the great heat without much trouble.
Natsu gathered fire and lightning for another attack. However, light shimmered in Rogue's left eye. The sudden illumination blinded Natsu, causing him to halt his advance and step back. A sudden burst of vile magic circled around the shadow mage. His power rose to insane levels that left Natsu gawking in disbelief. Shadows and wisps of light emanated from his body as it underwent small changes. The ponytail he had was now untied and wild. The bangs covering the right side of his face were now flaring up, exposing the missing eye he had hidden. However, the most noticeable change was the blackened right half that embodied the darkness in his heart.
A smirk made its way on the time-displaced Rogue's face when he caught sight of Natsu's shocked expression. His smile grew even wider when he revealed the name of this new transformation.
"Change Mode, White Shadow Dragon."
What came next was a trail of light and pain. Something hit Natsu's lower abdomen and left him gasping in hurt. He clutched the struck area and fought the stinging sensation coursing his side.
"At last," Rogue exclaimed after launching the spell at the fire wizard. "Light and shadow are working together as one." He held his hand outward, summoning an unholy amalgamation of light and darkness. His magic flickered to life, spinning violently in the palm of his hand until it all burst towards the injured Fairy Tail wizard. "White Shadow Dragon Rough Silk!"
Natsu screamed as his body was battered by countless thin beams of light and shadow. The minute streaks of white rays and shadows pierced his arms, legs, torso, and chest before blasting him away into a pile of rubble. He landed with a heavy thud, barely able to move from all the damage dealt to him. The Fire Dragon Slayer struggled to stand up, barely supporting himself with all his muscles aching from the relentless barrage.
The son of Igneel groaned. His strength was only enough to look at the deranged man with distaste. "White Shadow Dragon?" Natsu questioned. "How?"
The answer given was a chuckle. Rogue raised his blackened right hand and said, "Simple. I killed Sting and took all of his powers." His face sported a sinister smile when he saw Natsu glaring daggers at him. "It wasn't easy, but it had to be done. In retrospect, I should've done it sooner."
"Damn you," Natsu cursed the man before him. "I knew you were all about darkness, but I never thought you cared so little about life."
"And now, you know." The time traveler reared his right hand back and gathered his magic. Streams of black and white swirled into the palm of his hand, forming a sphere of energy with enough power to eradicate the fire wizard. Rogue's smile grew in anticipation. "Now, you can take that knowledge to your grave."
Natsu was too injured to fight back. Even his Lightning Dragon Mode barely did anything. He stood up, a hand over his shoulder while wincing at every stinging feeling from his wounds. The Fire Dragon Slayer growled at Rogue. Too much was at stake here, and he couldn't afford to lose. He won't give up because if he did, then Madeline's efforts would be in vain.
Seeing Natsu's sorry state almost made the future Rogue cackle in delight. He was finally going to get rid of a significant hindrance. "This is the end for you!" he announced as his magic power reached its peak. "White Shadow Dragon…"
"GET AWAY FROM MY PAPA!"
A blast of spirit fire crashed between Rogue and his would-be victim. The blaze spread out, making the devious time traveler jump back from the sudden heat. He shielded his eyes from the brightness these flames produced and, at the same time, took note of how this fire was just as hot, if not hotter than Natsu's.
Eventually, the conflagration subsided. Standing between an injured Natsu and Rogue was an irate Madeline and a worried Lisanna. The girl was already in her Fullbring form while her mother checked the hurt dragon slayer's wounds.
"Tsk," sounded Rogue as he stared at the young girl. "You finally showed yourself, brat."
"You monster," Madeline hissed. "You hurt my Papa."
"Natsu, please tell me you're alright," Lisanna pleaded as she supported the father of her daughter.
"Heh. It'll take more than that to put me down." Though his tone had confidence, the same can't be said for his current condition.
"Don't push yourself," advised the youngest Strauss. "You're too injured to continue fighting."
"I'm not about to let some time traveling dirt bag put me down. I need a good boost and am ready for another round."
Luckily, Madeline had the same idea. She quickly went to her father's side and held her hand out. From her palm came silvery energy that burst into a strange, almost ethereal-looking fire.
Her parents stared at it with wonder as the flames danced on their daughter's hand. They could feel that what was fueling the small conflagration wasn't magic. Natsu and Lisanna knew that Madeline wasn't a wizard but a Fullbringer, meaning that this fire was made out of reishi.
"Papa," the girl spoke as she presented what she had in her hand. "Eat this fire. It's different from the other fires I've produced since it uses my spiritual energy as fuel." Madeline hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say next.
"Maddie?" Natsu weakly called. "What's wrong?"
"It's just…I don't know what would happen if you ate my fire. I know you can consume flames made from magical energy. Still, I have no idea what might happen if you eat anything made of spiritual energy."
"Hey." The father's soft voice called to the young Fullbringer. "I trust you, Maddie. You're my baby girl, and I know you will never intentionally hurt your mother or me." And to show his complete faith in his daughter, Natsu didn't hesitate and consumed the silver fire presented to him.
Rogue watched in utter disgust as the three interacted. The girl who caused his failure was finally here as well as the mother who would give birth to her. This was a golden opportunity to rid himself of the people who caused his dreams of world domination to shatter.
"You think a little fire can help you?" the dark mage taunted as Natsu ate the silver flames from his daughter. "Even if you get some power, it won't be enough to defeat my White Shadow Dragon Mode!"
However, Rogue would soon eat those words.
Natsu's eyes widened after consuming the spiritual flame. A sudden pressure enveloped the entire area as the power gifted by his daughter surged through his very being. He was the source of this otherworldly weight. The fire user felt his strength coming back to him. The fatigue he sustained from the fight began fading. Finally, the spiritual energy within Madeline's flames empowered his soul.
"What in the world!?" Taking a step back, Rogue was left surprised at the sudden increase in Natsu's power. It was just a tiny silver flame, yet it gave the Fire Dragon Slayer more energy than he had ever hoped. It left the shadow user pondering what kind of fire was fed to the salmon-haired teen. "What the hell was that fire made of?"
Back on his own two feet, Natsu couldn't help but feel awed at the power flowing through him. "So this is spiritual energy," he internally remarked. "This is the kind of power Maddie uses." He glanced at his daughter, who looked at him in wonder. Then his gaze turned to Lisanna, whose worried expression was replaced with relief and hope. When his eyes focused on Rogue, a mischievous smirk appeared on his face.
Rogue's eyes grew wide when he felt a force plunge into his gut. It was too fast. When he looked down, he saw Natsu Dragneel be the cause of his pain. The time-displaced wizard staggered back, clutching the spot where he got hit. "Damn you," he growled.
Natsu stood tall as he glared at the man who caused so much pain to the world. "As I said, Rogue, I will fight for the future." As he said that, Lisanna and Madeline came up beside him, ready to join the battle. "Besides," the son of Igneel continued, "...this is payback for taking away Madeline's childhood."
Lisanna snarled at the time traveler, which is rarely seen in the Take-Over wizard. "This became a family matter," she stated as light covered her being, shifting the young woman to her Cat Soul. "You mess with my family; you get the claws."
The shadow mage flared his magic power to intimidate the three. However, it didn't lessen the Dragneels' will to fight. He scoffed at this and stared at the three with hate-filled eyes. "Then I'll kill you three and be done with it."
"You can try," Madeline responded before flickering out of sight.
The Rogue from the future turned around and blocked a surprise kick from the child. His senses picked up something approaching; sure enough, Lisanna had her claws out and fangs bared. She swiped, almost grazing the infamous wizard, but the shadow mage jumped and evaded the attack. Flipping through the air, he sensed a sudden spike in magic power behind him. His eyes landed on Natsu, gathering a large amount of magic in his lungs.
"Spirit Fire Dragon Roar!"
Instead of the usual orange flames, bright ethereal silver fire spiraled from Natsu. Its heat was far hotter than regular dragon flames, superheating the air as it barreled towards its target. In desperation, Rogue covered himself in light and shadow. However, the act would prove useless as the silver fires destroyed his barrier upon contact. He just had the first taste of reishi-enhanced dragon fire, and it was nothing like any fire he'd been exposed to.
"This fire…" mentally screamed the Shadow Dragon Slayer as he willed through the hellish burning sensation his skin was suffering. "This could be hotter than a dragon king's flames!"
The otherworldly flames subsided, giving Rogue some much-needed rest. He managed to land, albeit roughly, and assessed the damage his body sustained. Suffice to say, he didn't like it.
"You like it?" Natsu questioned, catching the future Rogue's attention. "Because you're getting more of my Spirit Fire Dragon mode, you bastard!"
"You," the future version of Rogue growled. "What kind of fire was that? You didn't have this power before."
"That's because the fire I gave Papa was spirit fire made of my reishi." It was Madeline who answered. The Fullbringer walked towards her father's side along with her mother.
"Reishi?" Rogue asked after hearing the unfamiliar word.
"Spiritual energy," replied Madeline. "The silver fire was made from an energy far more potent than magic."
This revelation left the adult time traveler in shock. "HOW!?" he yelled. "It's impossible! How could you harness power more potent than magic!?"
Lisanna was the one to answer. "It's because Madeline isn't a wizard."
"What!?"
"Maddie is a Fullbringer." The young parent said with pride in her tone. "She can harness the spiritual energy of her surroundings, giving her the unique abilities that put her above any wizard of her age."
"Tsk." Though truly surprised initially, Rogue ultimately dismissed this fact, believing it won't do them anything. "That doesn't matter. It only makes her a freak…and a freak has no place in my world."
It was one thing to insult a person. However, insulting someone's daughter was a landmine waiting to explode. When they heard those mockery words directed at Madeline, Natsu and Lisanna grew furious.
"I'm going to make you eat those words, you son of a bitch." Natsu clenched his fists tighter than ever. After all the suffering this man had caused, the fire mage wanted to burn him alive
"Nobody insults my daughter and gets away with it." Lisanna was shaking in anger, something none of her guildmates, even Natsu, had seen before. Her motherly instincts were screaming at her to rip Rogue's tongue out of his mouth.
However, Madeline used the stare-down to set up a trap for the fellow time traveler. A ring of fire suddenly formed around Rogue, catching him by surprise. The ring flared to life, erupting into a powerful tornado of bright swirling flames.
"Hellblazer!"
A fire tower rose into the sky, engulfing Rogue in its savage heat. Madeline may have pulled a fast one on her enemy, but she was still cautious to not let her guard down. Suddenly, her senses went haywire when numerous shadow spikes emerged from the ground. The Fullbringer and her parents leaped just in time before the spires managed to hit them.
Lisanna transformed into her Harpy form and grabbed Natsu with her feet. She could see a mass of shadows quickly catching up to them. An idea popped into her mind as they continued to evade the blackness. "Natsu," she called.
"What is it?"
"I have a plan."
Rogue's eyebrow raised out of curiosity when they abruptly changed direction and headed towards him. His eyes grew wide when the Take-Over mage chucked Natsu in his direction. The mentioned dragon slayer had a wide grin as he plummeted. Silver spirit fire engulfed the flame wizard, that looked like a falling star.
"Spirit Fire Dragon Sword Horn!"
Rogue knew that getting caught in the fire would be disastrous given what he had experienced earlier, so he did the most logical thing and evaded the attack. Next followed a crash that sent large amounts of debris, white-hot embers, and streaks of silver fire scattering across the courtyard.
Lisanna gently landed and reverted back to her human form when she suddenly got blasted from behind.
"GAAHHH!"
"LIS!" Natsu cried in concern.
"MAMA!" yelled a worried Madeline.
The young Strauss rolled on the ground but managed to find her footing. She snarled at her attacker and said, "If I'm going to have to fight this guy on even ground, then I'm going to pull out that transformation." Lisanna's body glowed a silvery-white light. Her magic power increases as she goes into this particular transformation. The last time she used this was against Ichigo. When the light diminished and finally faded, it revealed her current most powerful Take-Over form.
"Take-Over: Nine-Tailed Fox!"
Lisanna now looked like a humanoid with fox ears, furry arms, clawed hands, and nine tails flailing furiously. She still retains her hair, human face, and legs. She wore a short shrine maiden dress with short wide sleeves, dark-colored vertical square-shaped patterns around the middle, and an arrow-shaped motif at the end. This was supported by a sash around the waist and finished with a short skirt at mid-thigh level. For legwear, she had long socks with thin ribbons tied in the top back for the legs and finished traditional sandals.
The newly transformed Take-Over mage took the initiative and charged at her assailant. Rogue summoned his shadows into his fists, ready to strike. However, the young woman used her nine tails to leap over him. She then had two wrapped around his hands, restricting the shadow mage.
"Natsu, Maddie, now!"
The father and daughter took the chance and pounced on the evil wizard. Two fires, both silver in color, converged on Rogue as Natsu and Madeline powered up their attacks.
"Spirit Fire Dragon Claw!"
"Spiral Blaze!"
However, Rogue countered with his own spell. "White Shadow Dragon Rough Silk!" numerous bands of white and shadow threads spread out from the time traveler. The dual-element beams forced the trio to stop their attacks and defend themselves from the incoming onslaught. They got hit, and all three grunted as they were pelted with the multitudes of rays that blew them away.
Free from his restraints, the villainous Rogue produced a sphere of shadow in his hand and sent a blast toward Natsu and Madeline. "Shadow Dragon Haste!"
Madeline flipped upright and slammed her hands on the ground. A firewall erupted between her, her father, and the incoming torrent of shadows. The dark flood of blackness collided with the fiery wall, and the two forces battled for dominance but ultimately, both dissipated since they were equal in strength.
Natsu burst through the dispersing silver fire with arms covered in his spirit flames and swung them forward. "Spirit Fire Dragon Wing Attack!"
Rogue answered by swiping his hand to the side, causing a column of light and shadow to block the incoming fire strike. Fire and shadow once again collided, only this time, the light and shadow barrier stood tall, and the flames dispersed. He then pushed the wall forward to ram the two Dragneels over. However, someone wouldn't let him.
"Fox Impact!"
The ground abruptly shuddered, a force sweeping the area and countering the charging shadow barrier with enough power to cancel it out. Rogue's eyes searched the surroundings and found the source of the sudden shaking. Lisanna had her nine tails embedded on the ground, the entry points riddled with cracks from her action.
The young mother made an almost animalistic growl, her feral instincts of preserving her young kicking into overdrive. She charged at Rogue with her claws primed for maximum damage. The mage above saw this and promptly jumped. However, Lisanna anticipated this and used one of her tails to catch the malicious wizard's legs.
"What the…!"
"You're not getting away!" the white-haired mother yelled and flung the shadow mage.
Natsu looked at Madeline and shared a look. "Get me up high," told the salmon-haired dragon slayer to his daughter.
"Right," the Fullbringer nodded. Grabbing her father, Madeline used Bringer Light and brought Natsu a hundred feet off the ground.
"Throw me as hard as you can at Rogue!"
"HYAAA!" Madeline tossed Natsu with every strength she had toward Rogue, her fires bursting to life to strengthen her throw.
Natsu plummeted so fast that the eye could barely see it. Spirit fire burst from his feet, propelling his descent further. The air shattered, releasing a booming sound that shook the entirety of Mercurius Palace as the fire mage rapidly fell to his target.
"Spirit Fire Dragon Brilliant Flame!"
Rogue saw the raging torrent of spirit fire headed towards him while still in midair. He knew he couldn't escape it, so he did the next best thing: fire his own attack to lessen the possible damage. The time traveler held his hands forward, palms open, bringing forth his unified power. "White Shadow Dragon Haste!"
An unholy amalgamation of shadow and light met spiritual fire. The two powerful attacks struck each other, and a power struggle ensued. The all-consuming darkness fought for supremacy against the reishi-powered fire. Not one seemed to budge. Ultimately, the two forces merged into an unstable mix of magic that finally exploded. The blowback from the explosion blasted the two casters away. Rogue skidded on the ground before getting his bearings. Natsu, on the other hand, was in free fall.
"I got you." Five tails wrapped around his body just before the fire mage hit the ground. Lisanna dove just in time to cushion her beloved's fall to not get him hurt. They both rolled on the ground before coming to a halt. The aforementioned young woman is on top of the dragon slayer. Their eyes suddenly met, and some heat entered their faces.
"Thanks, Lis…" Natsu said a bit shyly at his friend.
"Ummm…yeah," a more embarrassed Lisanna replied. "You're welcome." Pushing herself up, she held out a hand to her childhood friend, which he accepted.
"Mama. Papa."
The two wizards found their daughter running toward them. Both smiled and captured her in a warm embrace.
"You were amazing, Maddie," Lisanna praised the young girl. It was true. Madeline was the reason why they were winning. The information she gave was vital for the preparation against the dragons. The young girl's power was enough to fight against the draconic hoards. Finally, the fire she gave to Natsu gave them the advantage against Rogue.
"That fire was the best one I've had in like…forever!" exclaimed Natsu. "I always knew that spiritual energy was so powerful. Just look at Ichigo. However, I never thought it would give me this much boost." He then gave the biggest smile to Madeline before ruffling her hair. "Thanks for saving me, Maddie," he said with genuine gratitude and appreciation. "Your mother and I are happy that you came into our lives." Those words of his had an immediate reaction. Madeline brightly smiled, warming their hearts.
Suddenly, the sound of rubble disturbed their moment of bonding. From the debris came a battered Rogue looking fiercely at the trio. "Damn you," he snarled at the family. "You're not supposed to be this strong. I was so close, but that all changed when you got in the way, you freak!" His anger was directed at Madeline.
"The reason you lost was that you craved for the future." The young Fullbringer stated, moving in front of her mother and father. "You want it all for yourself. However, I fight for the future, Rogue. A future where no one would suffer the same torment I did."
"And we will stand beside her." Lisanna stood beside her daughter with the same determination as Madeline.
"We will beat you, Rogue," declared Natsu. With that promise, he flared his fires to life, engulfing himself in his Spirit Fire Dragon mode.
Lisanna was next as she let her magic power rise, becoming visible like a silver stream circling around her. And then, there was Madeline. Her spiritual pressure enveloped the courtyard, pushing down onto the person of her torment. Silver spiritual energy emanated from her body and raged in unison with her mother's magic and father's fire. This made Rogue take a step back, feeling an emotion he never thought was possible for him.
Fear.
It wasn't possible. Rogue feared nothing. However, in front of him was an animal prepared to defend her offspring, a dragon fighting to protect his family, and an anomaly whose presence permeates otherworldly power. These three were determined to stop him, and by the looks of it, they won't hesitate to truly put him down for good.
"When you counter," Madeline suddenly spoke, "…you don't let them cut you. When you protect someone, you don't let them die. And when you attack, you kill."
Natsu looked in surprise at her daughter. He had never heard her say something like this before. As for Lisanna, she remembered those words clearly. It was a lesson Ichigo instilled in her months ago. Be decisive. Don't hesitate. Never second guess.
"Prepare, Rogue," Madeline advised as her eyes hardened. "This is the end."
All eyes turned to the palace. A sudden wave of spiritual pressure was felt by every mage present in the city. Some don't know what could cause such a sudden flux, but to a select few, they at least have a good guess as to whom it belonged.
Lucy, Yukino, Loke, Rogue, and Sting were heading to the castle when they sensed the sudden increase in reiatsu. The twin dragons became tense when the heavy feeling hit their senses, while the three Fairy Tail wizards' expressions hardened.
"This is spiritual energy," stated Loke with eyes never breaking contact with the palace.
"Question is…who?" Lucy asked. "It could be anyone from Ichigo to Kazui, for all we know."
"It could be Madeline," Yukino suggested. "The girl is just as adept in using reishi as the others."
Lucy considered the possibility. "It could."
"Can I ask a few questions?" Sting interjected. When he got a nod from the three, he asked, "What's this spiritual energy you're talking about?"
Loke was the one who answered them. "It's the energy that constitutes the soul and spiritual entities like myself."
"Okay. I get that," Rogue stated. "What does that have to do with this pressure?"
"Only a select few can harness spiritual energy, which, by the way, is far more potent than magic." This earned the Zodiac leader looks of surprise from the two dragon slayers. He continued, "Soul Reapers, Quincies, Fullbringers, and hollows are the only beings that can harness this power. Ichigo, Yukino's adoptive father, is a Soul Reaper, a being we Celestial spirits respect since they govern the cycle of life and death." Loke looked at Sting and Rogue seriously and said, "He is a death god."
Sting and Rogue's eyes almost bulged out from sheer shock. "You have got to be kidding me!?" exclaimed the White Dragon Slayer.
"He's not," Yukino answered. "Ichigo told me where he came from." Recalling the tale her foster family revealed to her saddened the newly-christened Quincy. "They're refugees from a war-torn realm ravaged by gods and destroyers. They survived because their comrades sacrificed themselves to keep them safe."
"I know you two are afraid of him," Lucy remarked. The two dragon slayers didn't deny the Celestial mage's claim. She shared a look of understanding with them and said, "I am, too. His power…is undoubtedly the most powerful force in Earthland; what concerns me is that he sealed most of it away. However, behind that overwhelming aura is a kind man who looks out for his guild and family."
Yukino had a soft smile grace her face as she recalled the affection given to her by her foster father. Rogue and Sting, on the other hand, weren't so sure. All their interactions with the man didn't turn out so well. All they saw, especially Sting, was a ruthless monster that could destroy everything. The son of Weisselogia still remembered the hybrid's neutral expression when he stabbed Minerva before gutting her like a fish during the final rounds of the Grand Magic Games.
"That look in his eyes…." Sting shuddered as the image of gold and black flashed in his head. "Those were the eyes of a man who won't hesitate to kill."
"Lucy! Yukino!"
The party of five saw three familiar faces, one of which was waving at them.
"Mira!" the blonde stellar spirit mage waved back at the demoness. Behind her were Elfman and Karin. "It's good to see the three of you all right."
"No dragon creep can beat a man like me!" Elfman yelled with confidence.
"Simmer down, big guy," Karin spoke. "We're still not out of the woodwork yet." The female reaper's eyes caught sight of Sting and Rogue looking at her cautiously. "You look like you've seen a killer."
"So, you're a Soul Reaper, too?" questioned Sting.
"Yeah. What of it?" Karin noticed that Sting was looking at her warily. "You're afraid of me," she guessed. She then glanced at Rogue, who shared his partner's expression. "And I'm guessing you as well."
"Of course, we are," Rogue answered. "You're death god."
"Then you should," stated the reaper as a matter of fact. "There are forces beyond this realm that are more powerful than your so-called gods, devils, or dragons. True monsters exist whose powers can only be described as unfathomable. There are beings out there, especially those who stand at the highest of echelons, that could make the likes of Zeref and Acnologia look like an ant."
The revelation of these entities rendered the party silent. As they headed towards the royal palace, the mages pondered over the words of the female death god. If it is true that creatures more powerful than dragons or their gods exist in realms unknown, then they were blessed that Earthland isn't at the mercy of such beings.
It took longer than they expected, but they finally reached Mercurius Palace. Upon arriving, their eyes grew as they looked at the most fantastic sight. Fire so hot and bright clashed against a horrific fusion of light and shadow. A figure covered in spirit fire could be seen charging towards the mass of blackness while another was high above, raining down a barrage of the same silvery flame. A third figure was employing quick and precise strikes at the darkness, chipping away at the evil power with each attack.
"It's Lisanna!" Yukino exclaimed.
"Is that…Natsu?" Lucy questioned, never breaking her gaze from the battle. The fire from the dragon slayer suddenly roared, spreading its intense heat towards the newly arrived group. "How is his fire so hot!?"
"I sense traces of spiritual energy in his flames," Karin observed. "Madeline may have fed him her spirit fire, increasing his strength to this level."
"This much?" Elfman incredulously asked. "Just how much spiritual energy could give you a boost!?"
"A lot. However, it depends on the compatibility. Since Madeline's Fullbring was centered around dragons, her fire was quickly absorbed by Natsu without any drawbacks." A white blur suddenly came into existence beside her. It was Yuzu who stared at the fight below. "How's everything on your end?"
"Progressing better than we expected," replied the Quincy. "There are just a few dozen left of the dragon hatchlings. It won't be long until we finish all of them off." Yuzu raised a curious eyebrow when she sensed Natsu releasing some reiatsu. "Did Madeline give some of her power to Natsu?"
"She did," Mirajane answered for Karin. "They're winning. Even Lisanna used her strongest Take-Over." The demoness smiled. She saw her sister, niece, and the man who sired the girl all fighting to stop the darkness before them. "They're fighting as a family…." She then saw more people arrive. Fairy Tail, Sabretooth, Lamia Scale, Mermaid Heel, Blue Pegasus, Quatro Puppy, and many more mages from other guilds came to witness the battle for the future. "…And nothing can stop them now."
Rogue skidded across the pavement, leaving a trail in his wake before stopping to a screeching halt. He barely had any strength left to stand, let alone fight back. The shadow wizard hissed at the three people behind his current condition.
"This wasn't supposed to happen!" He screamed in denial. "I'm supposed to be the strongest, but how could they push me to this!?"
The time traveler felt his back throb in pain when a pair of claws slashed his skin. He stumbled forward but felt a strong fist covered in ethereal fire hit his face. Rogue swiped his hand and unleashed a shadow wave, but it was blasted away by a torrent of the same fire.
"DAMN YOU!" Rogue yelled in absolute fury. "HOW IS IT THAT YOU'RE BEATING ME!"
"That's because you're all alone!" Natsu answered as he delivered a Spirit Fire Dragon Iron Fist to Rogue's face, sending him flying.
"Because you crave it all!" Lisanna's tails caught the airborne mage, slammed him to the ground, and threw him up.
"…And because no one, not even you, can dictate our destiny!" Madeline declared as she stood in the air. Her reiatsu flared as dozens of fires shimmered in the night sky like stars.
Natsu and Lisanna looked at their daughter with swelling pride. The hope for tomorrow ending the nightmarish future brought upon by this deranged man.
"We write out future," Natsu began.
"We decide our fate," Lisanna added.
"…And for trying to control destiny…."
"…It retaliated with the symbol of hope!"
Kazui, Wendy, and Orihime stared at the sky and were awed at the fire spheres Madeline was creating. Each one had considerable power stored in them to hinder any wizard.
"This is the power of our future!" screamed Natsu.
"This is the power of our will!" cried a determined Lisanna.
And together, they roared with all their heart and conviction.
"THIS IS OUR LEGACY!"
Madeline's power reached its zenith. With a command, the Fullbringer let the fireballs rain down on the stunned Rogue as she yelled out the name of her attack.
"DRAGON'S LINEAGE: ALL-BURNING JUDGMENT!"
It looked like the stars had fallen. Orbs upon orbs of spirit fire descended from the heavens and converged on a singular target. Each once shuddering the earth upon impact. Each one sets the air ablaze in its intense heat.
…And the only thing Rogue could do was scream in agony.
Every spectator covered their eyes from the blistering heat and radiance of the attack. Eventually, the barrage died down. Whatever happened to the evil Rogue was hidden in a cloud of thick dust and smoke cloud.
Natsu suddenly dropped to his knees. The energy he borrowed from Madeline was finally taking its toll on him. Lisanna quickly raced to her partner and placed a hand on his chest. Her Nine-Tailed Fox form faded, and magical exhaustion kicked in. Both mother and father were tired from all the fighting. However, it didn't lessen their triumph, and it was all thanks to Madeline.
"We won, Natsu," Lisanna spoke with a tired yet contented voice.
Natsu panted, but a grin was plastered on his face. "We did," he answered. His attention went to the person who made it all happen. "And it was all because of Maddie."
The girl mentioned above looked tired as well. She landed on the ground a bit shaky, but when she looked at her parents, all that fatigue seemed to disappear. Finally, it was over.
When Madeline stepped forward, she suddenly felt something warm through her body. The girl stopped, unable to comprehend what had happened. When she saw Natsu and Lisanna's eyes, all she could see was the look of shock and horror. She looked down and felt dread creep into her. There, puncturing her body, was the burned fist.
Natsu and Lisanna could only do one thing: scream their daughter's name.
"MADDIE!"
A/N: I had had to admit, posting this chapter was a lot harder than it was supposed to be. I had to rewrite the damn thing since the file got corrupted too many times that I almost gave up. However, not only did I finish this one but I got in 3000+ words for Chapters 25 & 26. So, by my estimates, the next chapter will be posted at least two weeks from now since Graduation Rites will be held in our school this week.
Before you ask, yes, I am killing off Madeline. It's harsh, cruel, and extreme especially since she's just a child. However, her death is necessary for Natsu and Lisanna's relationship to move forward. Her death will play an important psychological role in a filler arc I'm setting up after the GMG and the Tartaros Arc. That said, the title for the next chapter is:
"The Spirits Forever with You."
Like always, share your thoughts on the story. Opinions matter and constructive criticism are welcome.
Until next time.