I replied, "My past life was one of sin. If this is my attonement, to die at the hands of a demon from the hell I belong in, so be it. At least I know Deliora's corpse was next to mine."
"Deliora is going to die before we get out of here?" Grey said sternly, his face full of rage.
"Yes, my friend. I however, don't know who will kill him. Be honest Grey, do you REALLY care what happens so long as he dies? Do you care of my life? I won't blame you if you say no." I said, still glum.
"Of course I care! I've lost friends and family to this bastard already, I don't want to lose anymore!" Grey yelled, before breaking into tears.
"Lucy, hug him." I said plainly, getting instant action out of it. Noting that Grey was being comforted, I continued, "All of you try to get some sleep, I'll keep watch and see if anything goes on with Moon Drip, or if those guys come back. (I turn to Natsu and grab him by the shoulder) Hang on hot head, a word, if you please."
"What's up Mar?" Natsu replied, as if oblivious to the situation...actually...he probably was, anyway, "Something on your mind?"
"The smells of the two men who were in here earlier, you got them too right?" I asked.
"Yeah! I was going to bring that up earlier, but I forgot." He replied, his trademark smile on his face.
"One of them smelled of perfume, yeah? And the other one smelled like...kinda like Grey. I'm not imagining that, am I?" I asked.
"Yeah, the tall one definatly smelled like Grey."
"Thought so. You don't think it could be Lyon, could you?"
"It could be possible, but why would he be near Deliora? LET ALONE trying to unfreeze it! That's Ur in there!" Natsu said, his intuiting pleasently surprising me.
"Good point. You go get some sleep now, I think you off all people need it." I replied, a legitimate note of concern in my voice.
"What about you?" Natsu shot back.
"Uhh, Natsu? I don't think I'm gonna grow anymore." I said with a laugh. With that, Natsu smiled and got some sleep.
I used Archive to utilise Teleport Magic after everyone fell asleep. I brought myself outside the temple altogether with it, and looked around for the familiar Magic Presence I had been feeling for awhile. It wasn't until I got outside that I realised just who it was. Erza had followed us to Galuna. My face hit my palm and a mutter of, "Oh lord, this won't be pretty." left my mouth. Everyone in my vision had now gathered. I may as well get this over with. I teleported again to her, and she nearly slit my throat out of the impulse drawing of her sword to a new presence. "Woah, relax Erza, it's just Mar." I said calmly.
"Holy-You nearly gave me a heart attack Mar! How did you get here? WHY are you here? Are you helping those morons Natsu and Lucy with their stolen S Rank?" Erza said, her guard relaxing, and sheathing her sword.
I took a breath and said, "In order: Teleportation Magic, I'm protecting Natsu and his friends from the dangers of this island, and in a sense, yes, yes I am. Oh, also one of Zeref's demon's is here and there are people trying to use a powerful Anti Magic spell to set it loose. This is also causing the moon to change colour and this so called "Curse" we keep hearing about. Probably a damned side effect."
"...Alright, thanks for catching me up." Erza replied, with a completely straight face.
"...Uhh, wow. I expected a freak out at least. Have you really been around Natsu this long?"
"Yeah, sad I know, let's get over to them, shall we? I'll beat the hell out of them when the mission is done."
"Ah, we are going to kill Deliora with the Master's permission then? Good. Grab onto my arm please." She complied, and I teleported us back to the cave. Erza looked around and noted that Grey was here as well, and just shrugged.
I stayed silent for a long while, hours probably. I was thinking mainly. About my oncoming mortality, how I could avoid it, how Lyon would have any motivation to ressurect Deliora, about why the shorter man liked fruity perfume. I thought about what my course of action should be. I finally came to a conclusion. If I am to die at Deliora's hands, I'll be the only one to fight it. I stood up and looked at Erza, still standing guard with me.
"I've decided." I started. "Erza, I didn't want to mention this earlier, but I have it on good authority that I am going to die fighting Deliora. I am to be the only casualty. If this is the truth, I'd rather I be the only one fighting the bastard. That Heaven Armour of yours, it can fly, I know that. Please, take Lucy and Happy away from here until you feel Deliora rise and fall. I'll send Natsu, Grey, and the other two away myself." I said, a flame in my eyes.
" I can't just abandon you! We are siblings of the same guild!" Erza said in a hushed yell, as not to wake the others.
"I know. That makes it alot harder for me. But I have seen it, you are actually the one that held me up while my life ebbed away." I replied grimly.
"No, I won't leave you!" Erza replied, tears in only one eye. "I've had too much loss in my life already."
"...Very well. We'll fight Deliora together, but I still want you to get Lucy and Happy out of here, if they get hit by Deliora, it's curtains for them. Natsu and Grey can at least take it if worst comes to pass." I replied...lying through my teeth.
Erza smiled and said "Got it!" gagging both Lucy and Happy so they wouldn't react to her sudden presence, then re equiping and flying off.
I didn't have much time. Good thing I started smelling perfume and two Grey's shortly before that conversation ended. I placed my hands on Natsu and Grey, still sleeping, and shook them awake. I smiled at both of them, then said, "Location A: Summit, Grey." and "Location B, Beach Natsu." Before they could react, my Teleport Magic had sent away them both.
Purple light began cascading down on Deliora's prison behind me. Fuck, Moon Drip had started. I jumped into the clearing, infront of the two masked men, then grabbed the short one by his shoulder, and the tall one by his mask, sending them to the same destinations I did Natsu and Grey. Tall one to the summit, after tearing off his mask, short one to the beach. That will keep them busy. Maybe the fireworks will occupy Erza and Lucy too.
I turned to Deliora, noting that Moon Drip stopped, and only the top of it's head was free.
"Shit." I said, "I acted too early."
Knowing I had no other alternative, I re equiped a dagger, and with a sigh, I plunged it into my left hand. I sprayed my own blood on Deliora's prison, causing seals to form all around my stains. "Sorry Ur." I said "This needs to be done. Be one with the boundless ocean." With that, my so called "Blood Magic" melted Deliora's Iced Shell prison like...well, ice on a hot Summer day. The demon was free, and I was it's first target.
"Good! This is what I want! COME AND GET ME YOU SON OF A BITCH!" I yelled.
Deliora first tryed punching me, but through Re Equiping Gilgimesh I had enough strength to shove it's arm to the ground, throwing it off balance. Acting on sheer adrenaline, I ran up it's arm, screaming like a maniac, and hit it full force in the face, causing it's face to come clean off and hit the cave wall beside it. Landing back where I started, I yelled, "HOW DID YOU LIKE THAT YOU DEMON MOTHERFU-" Before I could finsish my obsenity, Deliora had already hit me with a Dark Magic beam, and as I got up, it grabbed me and pinned me to the wall. I had a full view of Deliora restoring it's lost flesh. I was suddenly starting to regret blowing Erza off. Deliora raised it's other hand to strike me while I was helpless, but I wouldn't have any of it. "THUNDER DRAGON'S ROAR!" I yelled as a cone of lighting took Deliora's head clean off. Deliora released it's grip on me, and again regenerated. "Shiiiiit, I'm going to need more kick." I said.
Then it hit me. I had a weapon I had not used it years. I had not used the damn thing in so long that I forgot I bloody had it. A seal appeared around my feet, and wind started blowing upwards. My hair was listing lazily through the wind. Deliora attempted to hit me again, but it's fist couldn't penetrate the seal. "Not this time demon. I am going to show you my greatest weapon. To think, I forgot the other use this thing has. Me, of all people forgot something this important. Thank you for knocking some sense into me Deliora, but, unfortunatly, you just signed your own death warrent. This weapon was made by Zeref himself to take on any foe. A blade of unequaled power. However, it's power adapts to that of it's wieder. To humans, it is simply a nice blade, to me, I CAN USE IT TO KILL YOU. Archive be damned, this is ME you fight, DEMON!" I reached into my shirt, and grabbed my locket. I opened it to a picture of Mavis' face and the time. I smiled, then closed it and held it out. The locket transformed into light, then extended into both my hands, then further. It finally took the shape of a katana. If I didn't know better, I would say Deliora showed a note of concern. The blade fully materialised in it's sheath, and I broght it to my waist and bent over for a better lunging stance.
"I'll end this quickly, demon. Now, COME!" With that, my seal dissipated, and Deliora lashed out, trying desperatly to stop me. A dark beam preceded a haymaker. This proved to be a mistake on the demon's part, as I sliced it's arm off at the elbow. Deliora screamed in pain, then realised two horrible things. One: It had just felt pain for the first time, DESPITE having it's face removed. Twice. Second: That arm wasn't coming back. The katana had erected a thin magical barrier to prevent him from regenerating. Horrified, Deliora became even more feral then before. I had trouble keeping up with it's movements until...a deafening sound of skin and bone being pierced. Deliora had impaled me after I dodged by jumping in the air. Deliora roared at it's triumph. I looked down at the sorry state I was in. One of Deliora's spikes had extended from it's body, and had likely found home in my heart. I now knew for sure that I would die soon, so, with the last of my strength, I grabbed the tendrill impaling me, and snapped it off with my hands. In one swift motion, I used the momentum of me falling and turned it into a deadly attack. I ran the blade clean through Deliora's neck, severing it's head. Permanently this time. I crawled away while Deliora's body lost all contact with it's brain. Demon or not, once the brain goes, you're a dead man. I collapsed on my back, smiling. I had done it. The cost was high, but I prevailed. Deliora was dead.
I passed out from blood loss soon after, probably would have taken a shorter time if I got that bloody spike out of me. Before I left this world, I looked to the locket in my left hand, having transformed back when it lost connection with my Magic Power. It was open again, and I could see Mavis clearly. I even saw Mira's face in her as well. I smiled at the last two people I would see. My final words were "I'm glad I met both of you. Hell, everyone at Fairy Tail. I would not be the man I am now without you. Mira...I'm sorry that I have to leave you. Please forgive...forgi..." And just like that I passed. My final image in this world being a locket of Mavis, sitting upon an unwounded hand.
My friends, and even Lyon (Having had an extreme heart to heart with Grey after an intense battle, changed his mindset, and his ways) as well showed up soon after. The masked midget had run away. Erza was there first, having felt Deliora awaken, but she arrived too late. I had already accomplished my mission, and Deliora's corpse was burning itself from this world. She walked over to me, and checked my pulse. Nothing. I wasn't breathing either. She pulled the tendril out of my chest, then started tearing up, again only in the one eye.
"You bastard...YOU FUCKING BASTARD! YOU SAID WE'D FIGHT HIM TOGETHER!" She yelled angrily. Her screams guided everyone else to the grisly scene. Erza picked up my body by the chest and began to hug me.
"No..." Grey said while slumping to his knees.
"Oh...Oh god..." Lucy said weakly, while tearing up as well.
"He...he died for you..." Lyon said, puzzled at my selfless action.
"...NO! HE CAN'T BE DEAD! HE CAN'T!" Natsu yelled. He turned around and blew the side of the mountain open with a Fire Dragon's Iron Claw. "He can't...not again..." Natsu proceeded out of the cave through the new opening with Happy, and down to the nearest beach.
Lucy's sudden extreme drop in mood caused Virgo to pass through the gate of her own will, and she inspected the scene. She noticed my body, and asked "Princess, why are you crying?"
"BECAUSE ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS IS FUCKING DEAD VIRGO! THAT'S WHY!" Lucy snapped back.
"Princess, I'll accept punishment later, but I feel obligated to inform you that Mar here isn't quite dead. His soul would have shown up in our world if he was. Also, Erza, you may want to get your breast away from that wound of his." Virgo explained, straight faced.
"Wait, what?" Said both Lucy and Erza simultaniously. Erza then looked down and realised that my wound was significantly smaller than it was before, and it explained a pinching sensation she was having. She pulled away with an "Eek!" and saw my body stich itself back together before her very eyes. Before everyone's eyes.
I awoke, as if from a bad nightmare, and noticed there were several teared faces above me, and one I didn't recognise. Probably Lyon. Hang on, AM I ALIVE!
Everyone in the room except Lyon embraced me. I'm pretty sure Virgo was just following suit though.
Lucy yelled out the entrance, "NATSU! HAPPY! COME BACK, QUICKLY!" Earning a half hearted jog from him, clearly, he didn't have his hopes up.
He arrived just as everyone let go of me, and Virgo began to explain the situation to everyone. Myself included.
"Mar's Magic's are the Lighting Dragon Slayer magic, and Archive. Now, I felt when the demon blade you have was used Mar. As a Zodiac, I felt Deloria's soul move to hell, piece by piece. The only thing capable of such a feat is Zeref's own blade, Yamato."
"Wait, ZEREF'S blade? Mar, where did you-" Erza started
"Let me finish, young miss." Virgo continued, "I imagine you lopped at least one of it's limbs off, casuing a barrier to be erected, yes?" Virgo asked.
"Yeah, I did." I replied. The sound of my voice sent Natsu over the edge, and he started bawling while hugging me.
"That barrier is a magic you have never seen before, right?"
"Ye-...Oh good lord."
"What! What's going on!" Erza yelled.
"My Archive reacts automaticly in the presence of Magic I have never seen, and will copy Magic automaticly. However, I can only copy offensive Magics. Hence why I don't regenerate, it was rather common in my old time, but never used offensivly. Those barriers on the other hand, were made SPECIFICLY to block regeration. An offensive anti regeration spell. Because I absorbed the barriers, knowledge of regeneration must have entered me as well." I explained. "Although, I do think that givin my eternally young body, that I just became immortal."
"I-IMORTAL!" Everyone but Virgo yelled.
"Precisely." Virgo said. "Mar here can no longer die. Permanently at least."
"A man who transends time become's immortal...I like it." I said. "One way or another, Natsu, did you notice the moon out there?"
Knowing my meaning, he said, "Yeah, it's still purple."
"Hmm, then it wasn't Deliora. I damn well know Moon Drip is involved though..." I said. "Either way, let's head back to the village. They'll be happy to hear that the source is dead. Everyone grab me." I then tryed to teleport us all, but failed. Not enough Magic Power left. "Uhhhh, let's pretend that didn't happen and walk."
Everyone giggled/snickered, then we walked out the path Natsu cleared. We were at the village before the hour was done. Lyon decided to stay outside. He felt too guilty to face those he had harmed.
The chief greeted us angrily, "Why is the moon still in the sky?"
"So you believe the moon to be the problem? Very well. As Fairy Tail mages honouring your request, we shall destroy it now. Natsu, come here." Erza said sternyl, earning looks of shock from all but the Salamander.
They positioned themselves on a guard tower and launched one of Erza's weapon's using Natsu as a propulsion agent. Away flew the thick staff, flying until, it cracked a hole in the moon itself! The sky proceeded to crack and fall apart, revealing another moon to be white as a pearl.
"Thought so!" said Erza triumphantly. "The moon was white until I stepped foot on the island, with Moon Drip's source lifted, it could only have been a lens over the island! The curse should be lifted swiftly!"
A light shone across the island, revealing the true forms of the villagers...in that, they didn't change a hair on any of their heads.
"What...why?" The villagers said
"This is where I come in." I remarked. "These are your true forms, and this is an isle of demons."
"Demons!" Lucy yelled
"Yes, demons." I replied "It is why this island was declared Taboo. A forbidden isle of vicious demons. Although I can see they plainly mellowed with generations afterwards. Moon Drip is a hell of a magic. It seems incredibly likely that when it was started up, it affected you all in some way. You should consider yourself lucky at memory loss and insanity."
"Damn right! Mind you, you guys didn't have to beat my ass so hard when I lost it!" a voice from the sky said.
The village elder recognised the voice and looked up, "Bobo!"
"The one and only!" Bobo replied.
"BOBO!" The elder yelled before flying to meet his son in midair. The other villagers spread their wings and flew up as well. It would probably the most twistedly gorgeous sight I ever did see.
After the mood was calmed and a party was held, where Erza even let her hair down, so to speak, and danced by a campfire. I just sat down for the time until I was invited to dance by a village girl, to which I sighed, stood up, smiled, took her hand, and danced the night away.
We only ended up accepting the Celestial Key as a reward, since the job was stolen in the first place. Lucy seemed happy, at least until Erza brought up the topic of their punishment. Natsu, Grey, and Lucy ended up having to scrub most of the guild down with toothbrushes as a result. I had a feeling it would have been worse had they not completed the job. I ended up off the hook. Turns out dying was punishment enough. Lyon went his seperate way. Said he wanted to honour Ur's memory by making his way in the world, his own way. Said he was going to join a guild somewhere. No one could blame him for not coming to Fairy Tail. Deliora's body burned to a crisp after I killed it. There was nothing left but a bad memory and the smell of sulfer.
Mira wasn't at Fairy Tail the day I returned, so I eagerly made my way home after Makarov was done chewing me out, then patting me on the back for killing one of Zeref's demons single handed. Home...seem's like forever since I came here, but it's only been a few days. Elfman decided it would be in his best interest to stay at the guild. I walked in quitly, incase Mira was asleep, then looked around. I found Mira in bed, pale as the sheets she was under. I decided to try something. I slipped under the sheets next to her, realising her pajamas left very little to the imagination, and hugged her from behind. A seal formed quietly behind me, and I used regeneration on Mira. Her colour returned, and she awoke with a start, even jumping out of bed and grabbing the nearest blunt object to defend herself with.
I raised my head from the pillow and said, "Hey, is that any way to treat the guy who just got rid of your cold?"
Mira determined it was me, then just burst out laughing. She put her alarm clock down and snuggled back up to me. "Since when have you been able to use healing Magic Mar?" She asked.
"Oh, since around 22 hours ago. When I came back from the dead."
"Yeah right!" She said while turning to meet my serious face. "Oh holy shit you're not kidding."
"I effectively made myself immortal Mira. With my body, and this new ability, I can't die. Permanently any way."
"That's great news!" She said, excitement spilling over in her voice.
"There is one major problem though. I can't die, but you can. I will never grow old. I don't want to outlive you, Mira."
"Uhhhh, sorry to burst your bubble Mar, but I'm not aging any time soon. My Beast Soul will see to that."
"Wait, what?" I asked, intrigued.
"Let's just say my Beast Soul is beyond normal. Sealed or not, it guarantees me my youth. I still have to be careful about dying however."
"Hmmm...I think I can fix that." I said, a smile growing on my face. I hugged her closer, burying her face in my chest. The seal appeared behind me again, and I copied the barriers once more, causing me to also gain another regeration Magic. I transferred the new regeration to Mira immediatly, causing both our eyes to glow golden. Soon enough, the transfer was complete. I had just made another human being immortal.
"That was definatly something. I'm kind of glad we won't have to do it again though." Mira said. "Now, tell me of this stolen S rank adventure of yours."
"Get comfy Mira. It's a long story."
End of Galuna Island Arc