A.N.: Sorry for the long hiatus, time to get back to it.
Chapter Nineteen: Aftershocks
Ruins of Castle Volkihar
Nobody moved an inch. The remaining Wizards still on their feet plus their Exceed companions, all stared in horror at the demon who stood over the fallen Laxus, his staff's spear-like point aimed right at the Dragon Slayer's heart. Pantherlily, still holding the unconscious Gajeel, cursed the man's timing. Everyone who could still stand was barely holding on by a thread and now they had another demon to deal with.
"Tsk, tsk…" chided the shaman demon. His eyes glanced over at the pool of blood where Wrath's body knelt. "All that bluster and he still fell. Ah well, at least he was able to take most of you out of the picture."
Natsu was fuming, held back only Happy's tugging of his collar. "Get…away…from Laxus!"
"Oh, I think not. Oh cat?" Greed turned his head to address Happy. "You might as well let him go. We all know what's going to happen. He's going to charge me, fists ablaze and I'll give him a good deluge for his troubles. A monkey like him only knows one trick."
That just made Natsu even madder. Sting put an arm in front of his friend to hold him back. "What are you going to do with Laxus?"
"Who?" The dark-skinned demon looked down at the burned man at his feet. "Oh, you must mean this sack of burned barbecue lying here. Well I must admit, his tenacity was rather impressive. The Seven Deadly Sins are down three members so it looks like we're going to have to start up a recruitment drive. This boy should serve us well as the new Wrath."
"Laxus would never join you!" Natsu shouted, snoring fire from his nostrils.
"Oh, maybe not at first. But Pride still has many of those Apples of Sin with him. Just one bite and instant demon. Well, usually…" Greed thought back to how the thief Jango ate from the Apple of Sin and died as a result. "But I'm sure your friend here has a more tougher constitution."
"We won't let you take him!" Rogue took up a stance and prepared to fight, Natsu and Sting also getting ready to throw down. They were all battered and exhausted but there was no way in hell they'd let Greed walk out of here with Laxus in tow. Natsu especially couldn't let the demon take Laxus. How could he face Makarov if he did?
Observing the three Dragon Slayers, Greed simply smiled. "Well, if you're eager to die then I'll oblige you." From his keyring on his hip he drew an amber key.
"Not that pig again!" cursed Natsu, bracing himself for the return of Greed's giant monster.
"Oh yes." Grinning, the demonic shaman pointed the key at Natsu. "Open! Amber Gate of the-"
BOOM!
A bolt of lightning came down from the sky, blasting back the demon. Greed landed in the rubble and gasped when he saw Laxus getting up. "What?!"
"The only one who's going to be barbecue is you after I'm done roasting your demon ass," growled the burned Dragon Slayer.
Narrowing his eyes, Greed slowly lowered his key, having lost the initiative now that Laxus was on his feet. Sure all of the Dragon Slayers were wounded and exhausted but Greed had the feeling that he shouldn't press his luck. "Very well then. It's obvious I shouldn't press my luck, especially since I hear your friends coming. I'll retreat for now. The day is yours." He gestured to Natsu with his staff. "Ta-ta, little matchstick. I've decided I'll use a special treat to kill you the next time we meet."
"Wait! What have you done with Hibiki?!" Sting demanded even as Greed walked away.
"Oh, Sloth's got a hold of him. And," Greed turned his head and even he couldn't hide the disturbed expression on his face. "I would not look forward to fighting Sloth. Wrath might have been the strongest of us. I've got the most magic spells between all of us and Pride and Gluttony are unique in their own way. But when it comes to Sloth, he's a horror even I dare not face alone. If you were thinking about rescuing your friend, I'd bring a bucket for what you find."
Tapping his staff onto the ground, one of the jewels embedded in it glowed and a cloud formed at Greed's feet, lifting him up and spiriting him away. "We're just going to let him go?!" Natsu shouted, already aiming a fireball at the retreating demon.
Rogue put a hand on Natsu's arm. "Stop. We need to get Laxus and Gajeel medical attention. He's already leaving. Let's take a win and leave." The pink-haired man begrudgingly put his hand down and sighed.
"He's right. I need to get Gajeel to Wendy." Pantherlily saw the Thunder God Tribe heading their way and started to carry his friend away towards them.
"Laxus!"
"Oh my god!"
"Laxus, what happened?!"
The three Wizards ran to their leader, horrified at the state he was in. Laxus opened his mouth to give a sarcastic reply but barely got a word out before he collapsed again, his strength waning. Freed and Bickslow caught him and put his arms around their shoulders to help carry him.
Erza weakly walked up to the group from behind the other three along with Gray and she pulled Natsu into a hug. "Thank goodness. We saw the explosion and feared the worst."
The strength in Natsu left him and he collapsed into his friend's arms. Though he didn't want to admit it, this fight was among the closest he'd ever survived. "We're only alive because of Gajeel's quick thinking," said Happy.
"Gajeel?" Looking over at Aragoth's body, she put two and two together. "I see. We were fortunate that Gajeel was with us. Otherwise we might have all perished."
"Might have been? No," Sting shook his head. "We got crushed. He wasn't just a Blood Wizard. He was a Blood Dragon Slayer. And a tough one to boot. If Gajeel hadn't used his own blood against him, we'd all be dead."
Frowning, Erza summoned her armor again. "This isn't over."
"Yeah, we know. There's still four more of them. Greed just took off and-"
"No. Wrath told me where Hibiki is. He's in a chapel about thirty miles from here. That's where they've taken him." She turned back to her friends. "Listen everyone. Go back to the guild and rest. You're all injured. Gray, Freed and I will go and rescue Hibiki."
"Erza, that's insane! You'll be outnumbered three to four and we barely beat this one!" Natsu pointed at Aragoth. "Let us go with you! We can still-"
The redhead frowned. Instead of answering, she took her gloved metal fist and bonked Natsu on the head. The blow alone was enough to knock him out. "That was just a love tap and you're down for the count. I'm sorry, everyone but you're all too injured to keep fighting. Bickslow already sent word to the guild. Kagura, Laxus and Gajeel are in too bad a shape to keep fighting. And you guys can barely stand. We'll rescue Hibiki. Don't worry. We're not stupid. If we encounter the rest of the demons, we'll grab Hibiki and run away."
The twin Dragon Slayers looked at each other, Sting holding on to Natsu. Neither of them liked it but Erza was right. Wrath had smashed them all up good and they and Natsu were in no condition to keep going. It hurt their pride but they had to concede to Erza's argument. "Be careful."
"We will. Now go. Everyone is getting loaded onto the Magic Four Wheeler Car we came in on. Get Natsu onto it and head back to Fairy Tail."
Nodding, Sting slung Natsu over his shoulders and walked away while Gray and Freed walked up to Erza. "So how do you suppose we get there if they're taking the car?" asked Freed.
Erza gave a smile. "Gray, you think you can use Ice Make to give us a transport?"
Later that night…
Fairy Tail Guildhall
The atmosphere in the guild was somber. Makarov sat on the bar with a forlorn expression. There had been no more room in the guild's infirmary for the others after Blue Pegasus and Jura were brought in. Now the wounded had to be treated out in the open. The place looked more like a triage tent than a guildhall.
Wendy sat at Natsu's side, sweat running down her face. She and Porlyusica had been working overtime in healing the battered Wizards. Laxus and Kagura especially took the worst of it. Lucy sat at Natsu's side, holding his hand. "This…this is horrible…" She looked over at Gajeel who had Levy and her teammates at his side. Gajeel had yet to wake up, even though the corrupted blood had been purged from his system. Evergreen and Bickslow stayed dutifully by Laxus's side.
"Everyone is already battered and there's still four more of them…" lamented Mirajane. A tense pall fell over everyone. With Erza and Gray away and Natsu, Laxus and Gajeel down along with Kagura, Jura and Ichiya, the only people strong enough stand against the demons at present were Lucy, Elfman, Cana, Mirajane and Makarov. "Master, what should we do?"
Makarov remained silent. Then he suddenly went stiff. He took a long puff of his pipe and let out the smoke slowly. "Everyone remain here tonight. Mirajane, use the runes that Freed left behind to erect a barrier around the guild. Nobody gets in." Hopping off the bar, the small guildmaster headed for the door.
"Master?"
"Do as I say. Nobody gets in here. Protect your comrades from anyone who tries to come through that door. That's an order," he said with his back to everyone.
Everyone watched as he walked out of the hall. The night air was crisp as Makarov walked onto the stone street, his body starting to tense up and ready himself. In the distance he saw a figure heading his way, the sound of metal boots clinking with every step. Makarov stopped in the middle of the road as the man stopped twenty feet ahead of him, his armor shining in the moonlight.
"Beautiful night out, isn't it, sir?" smiled Pride as he beheld the Fairy Tail master. "How did you know I was coming?"
Shaking with rage, Makarov glared at the demon leader. "I could feel such killing intent a mile away. Your demons have spilled the blood of my precious children. Now you will pay for it."
Continuing to smile, Pride slowly drew his sword and made a dueling gesture. "Very well then. Have at thee."
To be continued
