Disclaimer: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima


ACT V: Ragnarok – The Fateful Encounter

Approximately X793

~ o ~ O ~ o ~

Chapter 28: Dragon Slayers, part 3

Yes! Natsu thought feeling hopeful when he watched his flames combine with the others attack before it hit Acnologia. He was so happy about the prospect of them potentially taking the dragon out sooner than he expected, that he didn't think about the fact that his body was starting to fall, after he had jumped off Acnologia's back. It didn't take long though, before he realised it making him turn around to look down at the ground that was coming towards him way too fast.

"Shit!" Natsu spat before he sucked in his breath with the intention of taking some speed of the fall, by countering gravity, but that idea quickly vanished, since the chance of hitting innocent comrades was too high.

The Dragon Slayer didn't get a chance to reach another solution to his problem, before his body smashed against the ground, making him curse and growl in anger as the pain rippled through his body from his left leg, that had been the first thing to take the force from the impact. After that he felt an excruciating pain coming from his ribcage, making him curl into a ball momentarily where he laid heaving for air to try to straighten his composure.

It took a few minutes before he very slowly got into a sitting position, where a sudden sharp pain from his leg made him glare in it's direction. It didn't look fractured or broken as such, but he could feel that there was definitely something very painful and wrong especially with his knee.

"Damn it..." the Dragon Slayer cursed when he started folding his pants back, so he could see the damage done to his knee. As he did he felt his ribs aching in a painful way, that implied he had fractured and possibly even broken some bones in his chest.

When the fabric got to his knees he started whimpering in pain but once that task was over with, he could see the cause for his suffering.

"... fuck!" Natsu cursed when he saw his dislocated kneecap, because he knew there was only one thing to do and that was popping it back into place.

That was gonna hurt like sitting butt naked on a cactus...

People was running around and fighting all around him, too busy to pay him any attention so the Dragon Slayer knew he had to do it himself.

You can do this! It ain't time to be a cry baby! Natsu thought as he started roaring while placing both hands around his kneecap, before he forcefully pushed it back into place. Honestly it hurt like fucking hell making him scream in agony, but despite of that the kneecap went back into place rather smoothly as if it wanted nothing more than get back into place.

"... damn..." panting and breathing through his mouth he quickly wiped some sweat away from his forehead before he found some bandages that he wrapped around his knee, in order for it to stay in place.

Once that was over with he got into a standing position and started running towards Acnologia and the Dragon Slayers. As he did he somewhat smoothly opened his jacket, before using the remaining bandages to wrap tightly around his torso. It didn't help a lot, but Natsu had learned ages ago that it could help ease the pain, even if it was only by a tiny margin.

When he was done with that he quickly closed his jacket again and started to sprint, all the time successfully dodging the fights that was going on.

"Time for round 2, you damn fucking reptile!" Natsu yelled in determination as he joined the fight again a few minutes later.

~ o ~ O ~ o ~

Sting was standing beside Rogue when they simultaneously fired a combined attack against Acnologia, who nonchalantly swatted it away with his tail like it had been nothing more than a mere bug prickling on his skin.

"Tsch!" Sting spat in annoyance, because even though both him and Rogue had entered Dragon Force mode, it didn't seem to have much more effect on the gigantic dragon. Sure, it delivered some more power than their usual attacks but it was still not enough.

The blonde quickly scanned the area and saw that Gajeel was also struggling even though it didn't look like it disheartened him in any way. Actually none of them looked like it got them down, as a matter of fact it seemed like they used it as a driving force to keep attacking with more and more force.

They were determined and why wouldn't they be? This was a dragon and it was their job as Dragon Slayers to take him down. Sting thought to himself a small smirk playing on his lips.

"You seem quite eager all of a sudden" Rogue said in a somewhat neutral tone.

"Just remembered something that's all" he smiled playfully before he sprinted towards the dragon, passing Cobra who was busy soloing against one of the claws. For some reason that guy didn't like cooperating with the others that much, but heck if that was how he fought then so be it. Sting wouldn't judge him or his way of fighting.

His eyes lingered for a second on the poison Dragon Slayer, which was enough for him to not notice someone running in his direction. He felt it though, when the tiny body collided with his own sending him backwards with his huge eyes, momentarily before his back smashed against the ground.

"What the...?!" Sting wondered as he got into a sitting position where he sat scratching his neck

"I... I'm so sorry!" Wendy was sitting in front of him, clearly she had also fallen when they collided.

"It's okay, I didn't see you there" the blonde smiled wholeheartedly, but the girl still looked rather embarrassed about the situation.

"I... I'm..." the healer shook her head still looking really sorry.

"Seriously it's okay" Sting smiled feeling guilty all of a sudden "Really I... woa, this really ain't the time for this"

They were both way too close to the dragon and within it's range of attacks, so Sting quickly made a decision and wrapped one of his arms around Wendy's waist, thereby carrying her at his side as he sprinted away from the dragon until they were at a somewhat safe distance, where they were joined by Carla.

"Wh-wh-what?" Wendy stuttered when Sting dropped her on the ground earning a small "umf" from the healer.

"Don't throw her like that!" Carla snapped in anger as she eyed her partner up and down "Are you okay?"

"Yeah..." the blue haired girl confirmed.

"Good... I gotta get back, remember not to stretch yourself, kay?" Sting smiled warmly at the healer who nodded in enthusiasm.

"Ye... yeah..." Wendy answered knowing that it was important that she didn't get too involved in the fight, since it was essential that they had her healing powers if something really bad happened during the different battles.

"Great, later kid!" Sting blinked and wiggled teasingly with his tongue, which earned a angry outburst from Carla, who tried to tell him that Wendy wasn't a kid.

As the blonde Dragon Slayer ran towards the fight his demeanour started changing from looking friendly into becoming more grim and determined.

"Lector! Frosch!" he called making both Exceeds join him "Go to Wendy and make sure to stay safe and be ready if we need your aid, okay?"

"Yes sir!" Lector agreed with a salute, before he took the frog looking cat's hand and started running over to the healer.

"We need more combined attacks for this to work!" he called earning Rogues attention who glanced in his direction.

"What are you thinking?" the dark haired mage asked before he jumped above Acnologia's snarling head, thereby escaping being chewed on.

"Different affinities..." Sting said in a low voice when an idea spawned in his head "Two teams! Gajeel, Rogue and Cobra, you need to use a combined attack against him! Laxus you up for us teaming up against this bastard?"

"Who gave that snotty brat the idea he's the leader all of a sudden?" Gajeel grumbled to himself, before he after a while managed to get together to his two partners.

"You guys ready?" Sting roared when Laxus had managed to get over to him.

Knowing that every second counted because all of them were at a disadvantage, since none of them was keeping Acnologia occupied, Sting didn't waste any time before he roared "NOW!"

"Lightning Dragon's Heavenward Halberd!" Laxus growled as electricity gathered between his hands until it took the form of a huge spear consisting purely of electric currents, he then threw in the dragon's direction. Simultaneously Sting clasped his hands together roaring "Holy Ray!" before light seeped out from between his fingers in multiple rays, that intertwined with the lightning sphere making it look like the weapon was wrapped in glowing snakes.

While Sting and Rogue fired their attack, Cobra fired his Poison Dragon's Fang Thrust which summoned a wave of poison that took the shape of a huge snakehead, that rocketed towards Acnologia. As it did Gajeel fired his Karma Demon: Iron Spiral in his Iron Shadow mode, which created a huge spiral of shadows and iron to spin violently around the snake, thereby creating a lethal looking armor for Cobra's attack.

Rogue didn't waste any time either and contributed to the attack by using Shadow Dragon's roar that intensified both attacks by making the spiral go faster and darker, while the poisonous serpent not only looked more grim, but it also became more lethal from the black shadows that reinforced the power of the poison.

Both attacks hit Acnologia on each side, making the dragon roar in pain as the snake bit it's fangs into his side, punctuating the skin underneath the serpent's jaw, before the spiral of iron and shadows drilled into the dragon creating a circular wound, that managed to rip the skin to pieces. At the same time the huge lightning spear with white energy wrapped around it, went straight through the dragon's wing creating a huge hole in it, before the weapon digged into the meat on Acnologia's side. As it did the spearhead went straight into the meaty part of Acnologia's side, not only punctuating the skin but also widening the wound as the lightning and white started to tear the meat apart, like they were tiny whips that slashed it to pieces.

Eventually though both attacks started dissolving and when it did Acnologia, opened his huge mouth, making it look like he was seconds away from saying something, but it never happened because the dragon was rudely interrupted by a huge fireball that hit his face. It was quite obvious who it was, but nonetheless Rogue turned to stare at Natsu who was head butting the gigantic dragon, both of them were snarling like ferocious animals and had blood streaming down their foreheads. It didn't take long before the flames started to become smaller making the fire Dragon Slayer place a foot on Acnologia's snout, he then used to gain momentum and launch himself backwards, before he landed on the ground somewhat smoothly.

"Natsu-san! Good to see you!" Sting managed to say before an ear deafening roar made all of the Dragon Slayer's grasp their heads with both hands, as they tried to subdue the sound. Fortunately it didn't take long before Acnologia stopped, making him stand growling in anger.

"You... insolent insects" the dragon snarled in a low voice that fumed with hatred.

"He... talked?" Rogue wondered out loud, thereby saying what everyone was thinking.

"My patience has grown thin..." Acnologia's eyes shined with murderous intentions "... it's time for you to die!"

Blue looking light spawned inside of the dragon's mouth and in that second they all realised one thing: Acnologia was taken them seriously and the real showdown was about to go down. It was time to see who was strongest: the Dragon Slayers or the dragon.


A/N: It seems like the chapters keeps getting shorter for some weird reason, I don't know why. Anyhow it doesn't matter, I have to make them when it seems appropriate and not smack a lot of silly fillers in.

A small warning about the upcoming stuff: Since this is a war people will start getting horrible wounds and even though I didn't want this in the beginning, I am gonna kill some people. This is a war after all and it is inevitable that casualties happen ^^

Also when I made strategies for the battles I thought it would only be logical that Wendy is somewhat holding back, using support as best as she can but otherwise saving magic, so if anything bad happens she can heal people. After all she's the only healer there atm, because old Poly ain't there.

Cat kisses and hugs - Hejmdal