Note: I've got a clear idea in my head right now of how this story is going to progress and end, so again, I may be able to complete this before Chapter 75 comes out. On an unrelated note, I recently heard a particularly disheartening theory that Lucy and Aquarius will fight, and stalemate (or Lucy will defeat Aquarius), where Lucy will rant about she likes the power she has now, with Aquarius telling her that's not true. Among the many things I'm hoping for in the coming story, that's one I'm really hoping DOESN'T happen. The mere idea of Lucy deciding she likes being a cruel, sadistic monster that wants to kill her friends, even if it's a subconscious desire, is truly sickening, and would further crush my already broken heart.
Have I mentioned I hate this arc?
Smoke Beneath the Moon
Gray finally managed to pull himself to his feet, as he tried to process what had just happened, looking around the cave. The yokai were all still unconscious, but the Whiteout priestesses were starting to pull themselves back to their feet. Gray put a hand on his forehead as he grimaced. He had failed, miserably.
While he hated to admit it, the Great Priestess may have been onto something when she said Natsu was lost. Somehow, when Gray looked at Natsu in this form, he saw even less humanity in him than any of his transformed friends. But the Ice Mage knew he couldn't give up that easily; he had to find a way, even if it killed him. With that in mind, he made his way over to Youko, who had just woken up.
"Alright, time to talk," Gray said, picking her up by the collar, glaring at her, "How do we turn them back?"
"That's what you're concerned about?" Youko snapped, or at least tried to snap, considering how weak she was, "Not the terrible fire demon menacing Elentir?"
"I'm concerned about the terrible person who set him off by turning our friends into yokai," Gray said, "Because if she can't turn him back, Natsu's going continue menacing Elentir, until there's not Elentir left!" Youko glowered at him.
"Maybe I should turn you into a yokai, too," she said, "Add a little extra fun to this setting. I'm thinking an oni, or a tengu."
"Shut your mouth, Pandemonium." Gray glanced over to see the Great Priestess being helped to her feet by her warriors, glaring at the two of them.
"No one here has time for your empty threats," she said. Gray was tempted to grab her next, but knew she was right when she said they didn't have the time for that. He looked up at the hole in the ceiling where Natsu burst out, before turning back to Youko.
"Just turn them back, and we'll be done with it," he said.
"Turn them back?" Youko echoed, before snorting, "You can't turn them back, the transformation is permanent." Gray tensed up visibly, as the black markings started appearing on his body. This made Youko flinch, but she just laughed grimly.
"I just looked into the literal eyes of Hell, Earthlander," she said, "Do you really think you can scare me?" Gray's answer was to hold up his free, which started to glow, as icy mist gathered around it.
"Go ahead," the Pandemonium sneered, "I'm sure killing me will resolve things."
"I've heard of enchantments sometimes being reversed by killing the enchanter," Gray said dangerously, to which Youko narrowed her eyes.
"You're bluffing," she hissed. Gray just narrowed his own eyes, as he generated a blade of ice on his hand, and Youko was starting to get the sense that he may not have been...
"Oh, leave her be," a new voice suddenly said. Gray stopped as he looked up to see a tall woman who bore a striking resemblance to Erza floating down to the ground. However, she was translucent, as if she wasn't really there.
"She's not in any place to help right now, anyway," she said as she floated about a foot off the ground. At first, Gray didn't recognize her, but then he considered the resemblance, and what Erza had told him about the war...
"You're that woman from Alvarez!" Gray said, not letting Youko go, "Erza's mother!"
"So she referred to me as her mother?" Irene inquired, before giving a slight smile, "I suppose I should be honored."
"What are you doing down here?" Youko demanded, "What happened to Lady Selene?"
"I had my own fill entertainment," Irene answered with a shrug, "But now I think it might be time to take steps to alleviate the issue." However, her smile faded as her gaze wandered down to the jorogumo.
"Oh Erza," Irene said sadly, as she floated down to her transformed daughter, putting her hand on her cheek, "What have they done to you?" The spider-woman just shifted slightly, but remained unconscious, as Whiteout quickly came over to restrain the yokai again.
"Don't worry, I won't let this last," Irene said firmly, narrowing her eyes as she moved back. That was when the mountain suddenly sharply shook, catching everyone off guard.
"What was that?" Faris asked, as she came over, holding a knocked out Touka in her arms.
"If I had to venture a guess," Irene said, looking up at the hole the demon created, "I'd say END is now seeking his revenge against Selene herself."
"Lady Selene," Youko said weakly, frightened for her mistress.
"Oh no!" Gray growled, as he pulled the girl closer, "You don't get to get all regretful about this. You knew what you were doing when you turned our friends into monster." Youko just grimaced, as she looked away, and Gray turned his gaze to Irene.
"Can you fix this?" Gray asked hopefully, "Wendy said you're one of the best enchantresses ever."
"The best," Irene corrected, holding up a finger with a slight smirk, but that faded quickly, "Unfortunately, though, I'm restricted by Wendy's own capabilities at the moment."
"So what do we do now?" Faris asked nervously. Irene was silent for a time, as she floated over to where the unconscious bakeneko was.
"There is one thing I can do," she said, as she fell to her knees, "It won't solve the problem at hand, but it will at least be a step in the right direction." With that, she cupped the cat-girl's face, as her hands started to glow.
"I apologize, Wendy," Irene said, as her eyes also started to glow, "I'm afraid this may be rather uncomfortable…"
(|)
Selene knew END would be strong. It was hard to deny such a fact after he effortlessly brought down all three of the Moonlit Beauty Goddesses. But only now, as she traded blows with him herself, did she realize the full extent of his power.
She thrust her claw forward, but END easily evaded it. He then leapt up, bringing his fist back, only to get caught in the back by Selene's tail. Before he could recover, Selene brought her claw down again, and slammed into him. The Moon Dragon would've let herself feel satisfied in such an attack, but she wasn't stupid. Their fight had since moved away from the temple (Selene wasn't partial to destroying her place of residence), and was now on one of the neighboring peaks.
Sure enough, when the dust cleared, it saw that END had somehow managed to catch her hand, and with a roar, generated a massive cloud of flames. Selene let out a shriek of pain as she recoiled back, looking at her hand, which was now noticeably burned. Those flames may have been even more intense than those of Ignia. Was this the true power of an Etherious?
"Despicable thing," Selene growled, clenching her fist as she looked down, just in time to see END bring his hands together, and release a massive burst of fire at her. Selene managed to lean out of the way in time, before she opened her mouth and gathered her breath attack.
"Moon Dragon's Roar!" And with that, she released her attack. END roared defiantly, as the light of the attack consumed him. When the light faded, Selene closed her mouth, and narrowed her eyes, clenching her sharp teeth.
"Come now," she growled softly, "I know that couldn't have defeated you." Sure enough, the dust cleared yet again, to show a sphere of what almost looked like volcanic rock, which soon cracked apart, molten rock dripping out, as END stepped out of it, covered in the same substance.
"You are quite the opponent," Selene commented, "Had I known you had this kind of power at your beck and call, I may have reconsidered my plan." END didn't answer, rather, he just opened his mouth, gathering his fire beam in his mouth, before releasing it in a massive blast.
"Shield of the New Moon!" Selene's answer was to generate a shield of moonlight, which the beam crashed into. However, the shield didn't last long, as it shattered against the fire, the force of which knocked Selene back. The Moon Dragon quickly recovered, as she dove back down towards END, bearing her claws. END leapt out of the way, but he managed to grab onto her side as she swooped past.
"Insect!" Selene hissed, as she swooped back up into the air, trying to shake END off. The Etherious, however, was nothing if not persistent. With a roar, he generated a long spike-like blade from his wrist, and thrust it into Selene's side. The Moon Dragon hissed in pain, as she dragged herself across the side of the mountain, finally dislodging the demon. As END pulled himself back up, just as Selene dove back towards him.
"Claws of the Sickle Moon!" As she did so, glowing sickles that seemed to be made of moonlight appeared at the end of her claws, which she swung down. END leapt out of the way (causing four massive gashes to be left on the mountain side), as he waved his hands, creating two massive whips of fire. One of them missed, but the other slapped Selene upside the face, stunning her, and causing her to fall to the ground. END quickly followed up by leaping at her, bringing down his fire-cloaked fist. Fortunately for her, Selene could still do something END couldn't: fly.
Boosting herself up and off the ground, Selene soared back into the air, avoiding END's attack. She sneered at the sight, as she held up her claw, creating an orb of magical energy
"Orb of the Full Moon!" She roared, before throwing it down, generating a massive burst of energy. The force of the explosion sent END tumbling back, and crashing into a rock. Selene panted, as END pulled himself out of the rubble.
"This is far harder than it should be," she muttered, "Just what are you?" She didn't expect any words from a creature like that, but she got something resembling an answer.
END roared in pain as his body contorted some more, as a horn appeared out of his forehead, and more glowing red markings appeared across his body, but that wasn't the worst part. That was when the spikes on his shoulders grew, before bursting out into two, bone wings, with the webbing made of congealed fire. Before Selene could even react, though, END beat his wings once, and rocketed at her, with his fist covered in flames.
The ensuing strike to the side over her face somehow didn't hurt; no, "pain" certainly wasn't the word Selene would use. It was rather a strange sensation of numbness, as if her feelings in that side of her face had been burnt away. However, she definitely felt it when she crashed into the ground, creating a massive crater in the process.
"Damn you!" Selene shouted, as she pushed herself up, holding the side of her face. But END wasn't done yet…
As she looked up, she saw END draw his hands in a circle, as Selene noticed several orbs of fire appearing around her. With that, END clapped his hands together, as the balls came together to create a massive pillar of fire that ascended into the clouds. Selene roared in pain at the fires consumed her. When the fire eventually faded, it showed the Moon Dragon pulling herself out of the ashes.
"Do you think it's going to be that easy?" she asked, as she floated further into the air. She was certainly wounded, but she was far from defeated. She hadn't lost a fight for over 400 years, and she had no intention of breaking that streak here. END didn't answer, he just growled further, as his tail swished behind him. He briefly twitched in pain as a long spike came out of the tip of his tail, with similar spikes coming out of his elbows, as his chin turned more pointed, and even more red markings appeared on his body, to the point that they started appearing all over his body. With that, he dove towards the dragon, his claws reached out.
"Fine then!" Selene said, "I can do this all night!" And this night will never end! she thought. END's response was just to roar again.
Note: Props if you get the reference in the title.
So far, Selene's not doing very well against END, but at least she's doing better than her minions, though this fight is only getting started. And it seems Irene has some kind of plan to help the others. END also seems to be transforming further...
This chapter was somewhat shorter than the previous ones, but I didn't want to show too much of the fight in this one. I thought it was better to leave the reader wanting more.
Be sure to leave a comment.
Again, I call on my fellow writers to write about this as well (I will keep on saying this until the story ends).
