First order of business. I want to apologize for the delay. This chapter was originally twenty pages long in word. The longest I've ever written before was seven. See, it's kind of a special thing, because not only is it this stories twentieth chapter, it's also a couple days past the stories anniversary and Phoenix's birthday today.(mini-celebration in the bottom authors note!) I go to save, my iPad glitches, and boom. The document is gone. Twenty pages of writing, gone. So, in order to update sooner, I've cut this down to five pages, not including the authors notes. Enjoy!
I went to a beach and got pretty cut up for my troubles. Both my hands are pretty bloodied, and my right middle finger is cut from the top to the bottom, meaning I can't bend it, so I keep unintentionally flipping people the bird. Whoops. Hey, if you got middle fingered by someone while they ate icecream, I am so sorry it took me like five minutes to realize my mistake.
Phoenix(1), those scenes are real heartbreaking, so of course I can't leave you for too long! Ooh-hoho! You're the first person to bring that up! Hahaha! Well, to be totally honest, I didn't like this arc too much, nor did I like the Galuna Island arc, so I decided to mash them together. And hey, it worked out surprisingly well. Ah, I'm glad to hear that. Well, not the iPad troubles, but that this cheered you up. Thankfully my iPad doesn't do the same thing, despite its age. (Although loading up word is always a struggle…) aw, you flatter me so. I am trying to hold back on the trauma, but then again Natsu seems pretty mad… haha, yep, lying low is not Fairy Tail's specialty.
Guest(1), A, B, C, D, E, F, G, this review it pleases me, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, I imagine quite surprised is how Jellal will be, Q, R, S, T, U, V, Deloria's gone Lyon will see, W, X, Y, and Z, Natsu's a real butt-kicker, heehee! More coming right up! I'm looking forward to seeing this play out too, I've been thinking about it so much I had a dream about it and it was beautiful… I'd like to quote Hetalia back, but unfortunately I haven't watched it yet… well, if you lose your mind, you better find it quick so you can read!
Phoenix(2), gah, reading this made me so happy I flailed a little… People are looking at me strangely now… Eh. You know, I've never really spared much thought on their ages. Personally, I view Natsu as older than Lucy, but hey, if you want it to be consecutive, who am I to stop you? Ur… You'll have to wait and see with Ur. Laxus, I am so gonna have fun with Laxus… **happy flailing**
Phoenix(3), worry not, my friend. It's just I decided to do something kinda special for a twentieth chapter, plus this fic is hitting its anniversary, so this chapter is twenty pages long in word! (Or it was. I had these responses pre-saved. Oh well.) Not including the authors notes, which take up two to three pages on their own. :) the twenty ninth, huh? Well, check the bottom authors note! And hey, you can consider this chapter a gift from me! **more happy flailing**
Guest(2), Jingle bells, I've dropped bombshells, there is no need to rage~ A brand new show, now this you know, you may read on my friend. Haha, no worries, I was just working on a longer chapter. No desperation and/or mind-losing required!
Guest(3), I know, right! How exciting! I would have updated before seven, but two things lined up against me. First, it's Phoenix's birthday on the 29th, so this chapter is kinda like a gift to them. Second, I got this email at seven thirty. Kinda hard to update at a time that has already passed. Sorry!
Guest(4), aw, thanks for your concern! Don't worry, the worst thing that's happened to me lately is I missed an episode of a tv show I'm not too interested in, and it's on Netflix anyway (It's great background noise).
Phoenix(4), woohoo! **small eruption of streamers** …shush I'm on time. Hey, this fic would be nothing without you and people like you. Man, it's kinda crazy to think it's been a whole year. Just… Wow. Lemme take this in for a sec. Really though, I can't tell you how much your positive words mean to me!
Phoenix(5), ooh this is kind of a sad chapter. Oh no. Hey, I'll try and get a happier chapter by today, alright? And hey, you're not bugging me. You're like this little ray of sunshine in my life that just cheers me up every time I see a review from you. I'm pretty much the opposite of busy actually. I'd say the most exciting thing to happen to me recently is I forgot I had my window open completely so when the bind blew my curtains just about smothered me. (Hey, you seem a little down. If there's anything I can do to help, just let me know, alright? Because I'll do what I can, because you aren't a bother, you're an actual genuine person who takes time out of their day and their life to read what I've written, and you take your precious time and complement me and that just blows me away every time. So please, of there's anything on your mind that I can help with, let me know.)
Jellal toppled backwards, but recovered quickly. Natsu didn't give him much time, however, and quickly launched his next attack, a heavy handed strike to Jellals solar plexus. Jellal spun away from the enraged DragonSlayer in the nick of time, and opting for a more magical front he cast his first spell, Dark Grab.
A shadowy hand pulled itself away from the wall, and launched itself towards Natsu, managing to wrap its dark fingers around his waist. The shadowy hand then slammed the DragonSlayer around ruthlessly, before Jellal cut the spell and the hand dissipated.
Natsu landed firmly on his feet, slamming a fist down and letting ice swarm up around it, the frozen liquid spiking into the air with deadly intent.
Jellal reactivated his Meteor spell, dancing away from the ice and closer to the entrance, only to be cut off by several layers of ice.
Natsu growled.
Jellal gave little pause though, and smoothly switched directions to another entryway, only to have much the same thing happen.
Ice crept up the walls, turning what had once been an icy trap for a demon became an icy trap for a dark wizard, ice blocking anyone from escaping, or clinging to the walls, and ice covering the floor in deadly spikes.
Almost.
Because there was two smooth spots, practically one with how close together they were, the first where Natsu stood and the second where Ur sat stunned.
Jellal grimaced at the options, before letting Meteor drop him over Natsu.
The DragonSlayer growled again, winding his fist back, while Jellal plummeted towards him.
But in the split second before impact, Jellal vanished in a flash of light.
Natsu whirled with a growl, a new scent drawing his attention. Shu stalked towards the enraged DragonSlayer, twirling a card idly between his fingers. The ice around and in front of him melted, as if some had sped up the natural melting process.
"Jellal, Jellal. So deluded, he can't even see Lord Zerefs great ambitions!" Shu flicked the card away, and it embedded itself into a nearby column of ice, revealing a trapped Dark Wizard.
Shu pressed a hand to his forehead, and then shook it demeaningly. "So deluded. Poor fool."
Natsu launched himself forward, his rage propelling him. Shu smirked, and pulled another card from his sleeve, holding it forward so the DragonSlayer's fist would connect with it.
As soon as contact was made, a flash of light was emitted from the card, and Natsu's fist began to sink in.
The card got up to his elbow before the DragonSlayer caught on, and tried to leap away, but the pull of the cards magic was too strong. Natsu snarled, and dug his heels in, refusing to be taken so easily(because last time had cost him had cost him so much-)
Desperation and rage clouding his mind, the DragonSlayer raised his free arm, letting ice build up over it and form into a wicked blade. And then he swung it down, the ice cleaving through the air before biting into muscle and bone
and then stopping.
Ur caught the ice smoothly, with the practiced ease of someone who had worked with the material for years and now knew it better than their own body. (Though, in this case the two did not really differ.)
The ice of her hand groaned and cracked, but held firm.
Shu stumbled backwards, the card clattering to the ground, the magic binding Natsu to it gone. Natsu flexed his hand, almost with a sense of wonder, because he still could.
The card mage landed heavily, his eyes meeting the frozen ones of Ur's, and there was a brief stared down between the two before Shu scrambled to his feet and ran.
Natsu would have followed him, but a cold hand caught his uninjured shoulder.
Ur met his gaze calmly, hiding what disbelief she may feel for the situation beneath an icy mask- a literal one.
Releasing her grip, as she had managed to give Natsu pause enough, she places her hands into the ice-make position. "I'm going to cover that wound on your shoulder with ice, alright?"
Natsu didn't move to protest, and Ur let the familiar icy chill flow through her and into her hands, perfect for forming a makeshift bandage.
She placed her hands on his shoulder then, careful of the jagged cut, and let the magic flow.
But nothing happened. Frowning, she tried again. A small drop of blood froze to her palm, but otherwise nothing happened. She pulled back, her gaze catching on the icy imprints her hands had left in his blood.
"That's the cost of Iced Shell. Your magic is gone, and so is your flesh and blood." Natsu let the ice around his arm crumble, bloodied chunks bouncing off each other on the floor. Then, he did much the same thing Ur did, except ice coated his shoulder smoothly.
While the fog of rage was gone, what it had left behind was practically nothing more than a shell.
Happy Birthday Phoenix! You've been awesome, keep it up bud- pa- friendo! Really, this fic would not be where it is without you my friend. Here, have a virtual cake! (What else happens on birthdays- oh!) Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Phoenix, Happy Birthday to you! And may you have many more! It's lacking in gift wrapping, but hey, this chapter is something at least. And sorry I didn't finish the arc off. That'll probably come next chapter!
(I'm sorry this is short but I think you guys know why.) ~ShadeShadow
