Hello fellow readers and authors, I am sorry for the long delay. I was just enjoying my summer and playing some Destiny and Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition. I am letting you guys know right now that on Monday the 31st, classes will start for me so I will try to work on my story when I can. I hope that you guys enjoy this chapter.
Also I will be changing Ryuma Alister's voice actor, he will be voiced instead by Will Friedle.
"Deliora," Gray stated as he looked at the frozen demon.
"Are you sure this is the demon that your master sealed away?" Natsu asked his rival wondering if it was true.
"Look Natsu," Ryu said as he looked towards the Fire Dragon Slayer. "There are just, something's that you can never forget. For Gray, this is one of those things."
"Yeah," Gray said to the two of them. "There's no doubt about it, this is Deliora."
"But, why was this thing transported to here from the Northern Continent?" Happy asked, afraid to hear a response as to why and hid behind Lisanna's legs.
"M-maybe the demon has something to do with the curse; either, directly or indirectly." Lucy said to the group as they thought it through.
"I wouldn't be surprised if it did." Gray said to them as he then said, "It may be sealed in ice, but it's still alive and all."
Natsu then approached the giant chunk of ice and said, "In that case, let me at this thing. I can take this thing on all on my own." He swung his arm around getting it loosened up for a fight.
"Why is it that brute force is the only solution he has to almost everything?" Lucy asked out loud wondering if anyone could give her an answer.
"He kind of just has a simple mind when it comes to a few things." Lisanna said explaining Natsu's actions. She remembered a few times when he tried to fix things and only made things even worse than it was.
However, before Natsu could even get another word in, Gray punched him right in the face. "Hey man. What the hell was that punch for?" Natsu asked him with an angry look on his face. That look did not last as he saw the look on Gray's face. It was that of both anger and determination. He had seen that look on him before whenever they fought, but this time, it was more intense than ever.
"I don't want your stupid fire anywhere near it. If that ice melts and Deliora is freed, than there is nothing that can stop him. Ryuma had to go full Dragon just to handle Lullaby, and I am not even sure if he is tough enough to deal with the likes of him. No offense." Gray yelled at Natsu and then apologized to Ryu for sounding a bit mean.
"None taken. And I agree with you Gray, I have to hold back a lot to make sure my dragon side doesn't get too crazy. The last time that it did, well, Lisanna knows what happened." Ryu said as he looked ashamed of himself for losing control of himself 2 years ago.
Lisanna knew that he didn't mean to do what he did back then, and knows that he still feels to blame for a part of what happened that night. She and her siblings have already forgiven him, he just needs to forgive himself and he won't feel sad about it.
"Come on Gray, do you really think that I could melt ice that cannot be melted?" Natsu asked him. "Do you really think that it would that easy to melt?"
Gray looked at him and realized that he had a very good point. "No, you're right Natsu. It's just that, many years ago my master, Ur, cast a spell called Iced Shell on this demon. It enclosed the demon in a special kind of ice that could not be melted. This ice is so strong that not even the most powerful flame spells could melt it."
"Wait," Lisanna asked. "If that's true, then why did they bring it here?"
"Maybe they didn't know that and thought the tropical climate could melt it." Lucy gave her best guess of an explanation.
"Why the hell would they even want to free it in the first place?!" Gray yelled at her, scaring Lucy a bit.
"Maybe this Cold Emperor guy knows why?" Ryu told them. Everyone looked over to him wondering what he meant. "Look those three from earlier were talking about him, made it sound like he's the main guy in charge. He wants to free this damn thing for some unknown reason."
"Your right," Gray said to him. "We'll wait for the moon to come out."
Natsu began to complain about how it was the middle of the afternoon and that he didn't want to wait that long. "Wait, why does the moon matter?" Lisanna asked out loud.
"Because," Gray began to explain. "I just have this feeling that the curse the islanders are afflicted by and Deliora are somehow connected to each other." Everyone began to think about it as that made sense. "Not only that but I heard those guys say something about collecting moonlight. So it would stand to reason that we stay until its dark out."
"Yeah well, I'm not waiting. We got work to do!" Natsu yelled out to his comrades, before he fell onto his back and instantly went to sleep.
"Well, that just happened." Lucy commented on how fast Natsu went to sleep.
Everyone sat down and waited for when they knew it was night time, Lucy, Lisanna, and Happy were sitting by Natsu who was passed out, Ryu stood around a little bored, and Gray sat alone. He began to think about why they would try to free this demon, what makes them think that this is a good idea in the first. As he was brooding to himself, Ryu walked up to him and sat right by him. "Hey Gray, how are you doing?" Ryu asked him trying to make him feel a bit better.
"How do you think I am doing?" He asked him in an angry tone. "Someone, for some reason, is trying to ruin my master's legacy and free Deliora for reasons unknown to us."
"Sorry man, I'm just trying to make you feel better." Ryu told him in a forgiving tone. They sat in silence for a while until Ryu said to him, "You know, you're kind of wrong about this being your master's legacy."
"What the hell does that mean?" Gray asked in both confusion and anger.
"Well how she trapped this demon in the Iced Shell, this is just a heroic sacrifice to save many lives. But it isn't her legacy, you are." Ryu began to explain it to Gray. Gray was confused by what he meant by him being his master's true legacy. "What I meant by that is when she taught you everything you know now about Ice Magic, that's a legacy, passing something down from one generation to the next in the hope that you made an impact on that person's life. The fact that you're here now, alive and continuing your master's teachings, that means you're her legacy. Think about that for a bit and I hope I helped ease some of the heartache you felt earlier." Ryu said to him as he went back to the others.
Gray sat there in thought of what Ryu told him, 'Maybe he's right. I mean Ur did want me to join a guild in the hopes that my life would turn out better than it was before.' He looked over to his friends and saw them trying to pass the time. 'No, this is my Master's legacy. I will make sure that no one will free this demon.'
"Huh, it must be nice," Lucy said with her eyes closed seeing Natsu passed out. "Natsu doesn't have to worry about anything but eating, sleeping, and fighting."
"Yeah, but wait until he gets a girlfriend and then he has something to worry about." Ryu said as he sat down next to Lucy and Lisanna.
"So what do we do now to pass the time?" Lisanna asked out loud, getting bored as well. After last night and both her and Lucy finding out they like the same guy, she sat a little closer to Ryu, apparently Lucy had the same thought. They are still good friends, just having a harmless competition on who Ryu would notice first.
"Oh, I know," Lucy said as she got up with an excited look on her face. She then pulled out one of her silver keys. "Open Gate of the Harp: Lyra." Suddenly, a big puff of pink smoke appeared. When it died down, it revealed a young girl with curly strawberry blonde hair. She wore a long blue dress with heart designs around her hips, a pink bonnet, brown leather shoes, and had small wings on her back.
"Oh wow, it's been forever since I've seen you Lucy." Lyra said as she was very happy to see her. "Hey, how come you never call me anymore? I'd love to help you out, but you're just a meanie."
"It's not my fault I'm a meanie, you told me your only available 3 days a month." Lucy told her as Lyra was shocked about that.
"Are you sure?" Lyra asked Lucy.
"Um, I'm not complaining or anything but, how can she help pass the time?" Ryu asked wondering how this spirit can help them out.
"Lyra is an amazing musician. People from many places would pay a lot of money to hear her singing. There were a few times that she would help me out when I was in a pinch and needed to earn some money real quick before I joined the guild." Lucy explained to them all.
"Does anyone have any requests," Lyra asked everyone. Happy requested for a song about fish, but the others had a different thought in mind.
"I'm not sure really," Ryu told her as he was thinking. "Play something that can help soothe people and cats. I think it can help us out in calming down a bit."
"Okay I know just the song. It's one that I was asked to compose for someone a few decades ago to help put his baby girl to sleep when he couldn't." Lyra said as she got her harp ready. She then started to play the song and everyone was enjoying it.
*Play Dino Soul Ancient Version*
While the song was playing, everyone was thinking of truly happy moment in their lives up to this point. Lucy had thoughts about her mother, joining the guild and meeting Ryuma. Lisanna had the same thought too, but also thought of when she made Mira happy when she was down. Happy was thinking about all of the fish he ate, no surprise there. Natsu was still asleep and Ryu was thinking about his parents, joining the guild, and of all of the friends he has made. He also found out that the song playing right now was the exact same as his music box. Gray however, he was thinking about when he was training with his master Ur and how she taught him all that he knew about Ice magic.
*End song after 1 minute 30 seconds*
Once the song ended, Lucy and Lisanna had pleasant smiles on their faces while happy was thinking and drooling about the fish he ate in the past, again no surprise. "Wow, you were right Lucy. She does have a beautiful voice." Lisanna said as she has never felt more pleasant before now.
"Aw stop, your making me blush." Lyra said as she held her cheeks and shook her head in happiness.
Gray however, was seen crying from the effect of the song. "Gray, are you okay? You seem upset." Happy asked him.
"Well one of Lyra's talents is singing to what the audience feels. The song must have touched a part of Grays heart that he hasn't felt in a long time." Lucy explained to the group.
"I'm not crying," Gray said trying to hold in his emotions. "A stupid fly just flew into my eye, that's all."
Lucy looked at Ryu who, during the song, was sleeping peacefully. "Okay how's that possible? Now I feel envious of Ryuma." Lyra and Lisanna were surprised by this and looked over to where he was sleeping. Lisanna couldn't help but smile at seeing Ryu asleep. Lyra looked at him and was trying to think on where she had seen that kind of face before.
"Um, Miss Lucy," Lyra asked her. "His last name wouldn't by any chance be Alister, would it?"
"Uh, yeah his name is Ryuma Alister. Why do you ask? Also, how do you know that name?" Lucy asked her spirit, curious to know how she knows that name.
"Now it makes sense. The person who asked me to compose that song for his baby girl, he had the last name Alister. I heard that he made a music box to play that song whenever she got angry or sad. This young man here has the exact same face the baby girl had when she heard it. He must be her son." Lyra told Lucy. Lucy was shocked by this, she had no idea that Lyra wrote the song that played in Ryu's music box and that it was originally for his mother.
*Later that night*
Everyone else had fallen asleep, all except for Gray. He remained awake, reliving memories in his head from the past. Happy was curled into a ball asleep, right next to Natsu. Lisanna and Lucy were asleep as well. They had somehow moved to be sleeping on either side of Ryu and snuggled up with him.
Suddenly out of nowhere, the underground cavern began to shake. The shaking woke everyone up. When Lucy and Lisanna both saw that they were laying directly next to Ryu. They both jumped back a bit blushing, to make sure that he didn't realize he was sleeping next to two beautiful girls. Ryu woke up not long after they jumped back, none the wiser of who he was sleeping next to.
"Huh, what's all that noise?" Ryu asked wondering what was going on.
"Is it night time yet?" Natsu asked all pumped up with no hint of drowsiness in him.
Just above them, a purple magic circle appeared on the ceiling of the cave. It shined down a beam of purple energy right down upon the ice. "A shining beam of light, it must be moonlight." Gray stated out loud as he saw the odd phenomenon."It's shining on Deliora."
"This must be what those three were talking about earlier. This has to be why they needed to collect moonlight." Ryu said as he was starting to wonder why they are doing this.
"Let's go guys. We have to find out where the light is coming from." Gray told them as the all rushed to a nearby hidden staircase that they found by accident. When they reached back to the temple floor they first fell through earlier, they found the magic energy coming through the floors. "Why did someone cast a magic circle in the temple?" Gray asked at the sight before him.
"How else would they send the moonlight to the demon?" Lisanna said as she made a point.
"They must be on the roof of the temple then. Come on guys." Lucy said as they all rushed to the top of the temple to see who else is involved in this. As they reached the top of the temple they all noticed some major things. One of which was the huge pillar of purple energy coming straight from the moon to the temple. The other was the group of cloaked, chanting figures standing around the middle of the temple where the energy was leading.
"Yup that's the guys we are looking for." Ryu said to them as they all snuck up on them to get a better look of the situation, without being caught. "That's the same chanting I heard from the boat before the wave hit us."
"Yeah but, why are they collecting moonlight?" Natsu whispered his question, to avoid giving away their location at the moment.
"And why are they shining it on Deliora?" Lisanna asked starting to get even more worried by the minute.
"I see know, it's an ancient spell known as Moon Drip." the others heard as they turned to see Lyra still hanging around.
"I thought you already left." Ryu said as he was caught off guard by her. "But seeing as how you know what this spell is please tell us more."
"They are using the spell as a means to melt the ice surrounding the demon." Lyra began to explain what the cloaked figures are doing.
"What!? They can't, the ice used in an Iced Shell cannot be melted." Gray said as he was certain that this would not work.
"Well, not exactly." Lyra responded to his statement. "While it is true that the Iced Shell is strong, Moon Drip will break that rule. It's not well known but focused moon energy can break any magical spell."
"Those morons, they have never seen the full wrath of Deliora in person. I have and it's not something to sneeze about." Gray said as he began to get even angrier that he was before.
"I believe what the islanders think to be a curse, is just a side effect of the Moon Drip." Lyra was explaining again. "Concentrated moon energy can contaminate the body, I'm afraid they have been exposed to too much of it."
"Let's get them." Natsu said as just before he jumped out to get the cloaked people, Ryu held him back to prevent it from happening.
"Natsu, shut up. Someone's coming." He said as they all turned to the group that was walking up to the cloaked figures. They easily recognized three of them as being the people they saw in the cave earlier today, but the fourth one they haven't seen before. He was wearing armor boots, blue pants, a white overcoat and a metal helmet with horns on the sides. This was the Cold Emperor.
"Well that was all for nothing. We looked all day and found no intruders. I lost so much sleep." Yuka said as he felt tired from the search.
"Maybe there weren't any intruders." Toby said as he too felt tired from lack of sleep.
"I am sorry to report sad news to you Emperor, but we thought we had some intruders earlier. However, we didn't find the culprits who had attacked my lovely Angelica." Sheri explained to him.
"Intruders?" The Cold Emperor asked his subordinates. When Gray heard him speak, it shocked him. Something about this man seems familiar to him.
"Looks like we found out who's the big man in charge." Lisanna said to the group.
"I know, look at him act like he's so bad. That helmet makes him look stupid too." Lucy stated as she saw he was trying to look a part.
"Yeah, my dragon head looks cooler that his helmet." Ryu said adding in his own two cents.
"Has Deliora been awakened yet?" The Cold Emperor asked Sheri.
"Either tonight or tomorrow. Your moment of glory is soon upon us." Sheri said to her master.
"Excellent. If you see those intruders again, kill them." Cold Emperor said to his subordinates. "No one will get in my way, not when I am this close to my goal."
"It must have been the villagers again." Sheri said as she thought of who it could be.
"Destroy the village then." He commanded them.
"What the villagers have nothing to do with this." Natsu said as Lucy and Lisanna began to worry about what would happen to them and how to save them.
"Shame there will be blood spilt before the resurrection." The cold Emperor said out loud. Gray however was shocked, he had thought he had heard that voice before but he cannot confirm who it is until he knew for sure.
"I've had enough of sneaking around," Natsu said before he blew fire up into the air. "We're the intruders you're looking for."
"Way to be subtle Natsu." Ryu said as he stood up as well. Lucy and Lisanna got ready to battle as well. Lucy had to send Lyra back because she was more of a musician than a fighter.
"I know that mark, they're from Fairy Tail." Sheri said as she saw the guild marks on them.
"It doesn't matter, destroy the village anyway. Anyone who stands in my way will be eliminated." The Cold Emperor demanded. Natsu, Gray and Ryu all ran towards the guy to try and stop him. Gray unleashed an ice spell that went right to him with both hands. However, it was canceled out when the Cold Emperor himself sent an ice spell of his own with only one hand.
"Wait, he's an ice wizard too?" Happy said as he was surprised to see that.
"Lyon." Gray said as he shocked his teammates.
"Wait," Ryu began to ask Gray. "You know this guy?"
"Yeah I do," Gray explained as he never took his eyes off of the now named Lyon. "He and I had the same teacher when we were kids. Why in the hell are you doing this Lyon?"
"It has been years now haven't it. Oh how destiny works like that. Here I am about to resurrect Deliora and you come along by mere coincidence to try and stop me." Lyon told Gray. Lyon then turned to his minions and ordered them to deal with the village at once.
"Oh no, you're not getting away from us." Ryu said as he and Natsu went right after them.
Gray tried to stop them but it was too late. Lyon unleashed another ice spell and a whirlwind of ice surrounded the two dragon slayers. As huge chunks of ice started to appear on them, Ryu turned to the girls and said to Happy, "Happy, get the girls out of here now. Head to the village and try to stop what will happen."
Happy nodded as he knew what the more important choice was at the time. He grabbed onto Lucy's shoulders, made his wings appear and flew off towards the village. Lisanna used her magic to change herself into a bird to fly alongside Happy. Lyon tried to stop them with another ice spell but Gray distracted him long enough to get away using an ice attack at Lyon. As the girls got away, Natsu and Ryu became trapped in the same chunk of ice with their backs to each other.
"Natsu, Ryu. Happy we have to go back and save them." Lucy said as she saw that Happy was crying a little as he tried to hold back his tears.
"Lucy we can't. They were hit by an ice spell that instantly freezes anything it touches." Happy explained to her.
"He's right Lucy," Lisanna said to her in bird form. "If we had stuck around any longer, we would have been frozen too. And the villagers would be left defenseless."
Lucy looked at them in shock but came to realize something, they were right. If they were frozen solid, no one would be able to save them. "You guys are right, I'm sorry. We got to save the villagers." Lucy said as she was now determined to prevent innocent lives lost. "Besides, those three wouldn't let ice stop them."
*Back at the Temple*
"Hm, clever Gray," Lyon said as he saw the others leaving in the air. "You distracted me long enough for your friends to escape. Chivalrous but useless in the end. They won't stop my minions."
"Hey don't you dare underestimate them." Natsu yelled at Lyon.
"You so much as even try and hurt them," Ryu said to Lyon as he tried to get a good look of him. "And you will be the one to pay." They tried to go get him, but when Natsu took one step towards him Gray kicked the two of them down a hill. This caused them to go on an uncontrollable roll and didn't stop until they hit a tree at the very bottom of the summit.
"Reckless as ever, were they not your allies?" Lyon said in a smug voice.
"You know damn well that you would blow up that ice and them along with it in just one spell." Gray said with determination to stop him.
"And you sent them outside the range of my magic, clever." Lyon said realizing why Gray did that.
"Why are you doing this Lyon? We're not Ur's students anymore so cut the superiority crap. Why are you trying to ruin our master's legacy?" Gray yelled as he was getting tired of this.
"Your right about one thing," Lyon said as he removed his helmet, revealing he had light blue hair. "Our teacher is no longer of this world and it's all thanks to you. You are the reason she is no longer with us."
*Bottom of the Temple*
Just as the ice stopped rolling, Ryu and Natsu tried to stand back up as they were on their sides. "Gray you punk, you will pay for that." Natsu said as he tried to melt the ice with his flames.
"Oh man, that was a dizzy ride," Ryu said as he tried to get his balance back. "Any luck with the ice melting?"
"My flames aren't even making this ice drip one drop of water." Natsu said as he tried to make his flames burn hotter.
"Hang on let me try." Ryu told Natsu as he tried to break the ice as well, "Cosmic Dragons Meteor Fist." But just like Natsu's attempts, they failed as well.
"Let me try one more thing, Dragon Legs." Ryu said as he tried to change his human legs into dragon ones. A wave of cosmic magical energy washed over his legs, changing them into his dragon forms'. "Well Natsu I have good news and bad news."
"What's the bad news?" He asked Ryu.
"We're still stuck in this ball of ice."
"And the good news?"
"Well," Ryu said as Natsu turned his head around and saw the good news. Ryu's legs were in their dragon form and he was partially freed from the ice from the waist down. "I have my dragon legs out and free from the ice ball, so moving around won't be too much trouble."
"Now that is good news to hear. We got to head to the village, they need our help." Natsu said as Ryu leaned forward a bit to have Natsu in the air, while Ryu ran towards the village. They were both hoping they weren't too late to save them. "Wait, how do we get back?"
Ryu looked around unsure of himself as well. "Let's go back up to the temple, maybe we can see it from there." When they did reach the top of the temple, none of the cloaked figures were found I eye sight. The only thing they saw was Gray lying on the floor in defeat.
"Man Gray," Natsu began to say to his longtime companion/rival. "You look like crap. You got your ass handed to you huh?"
"You okay Gray?" Ryu asked.
"Natsu, Ryu? What are you guys doing back up here?" Gray asked as he tried to get back on his feet.
"Well, we have no idea how to get back to the village," Ryu began to explain as he lifted Gray onto his and Natsu's back. "That and I could only change my legs into their dragon forms. I didn't want to try my wings in fear of harming them even more."
"Ryu," Natsu said, getting his friends attention. "I see the village now. It's directly in my line of sight." Ryu turned around to see for himself, and found Natsu was right, he could see the village from there as well. With that, Ryu ran with Natsu and Gray on his back towards the village.
As they were heading back Gray said to them, "Hey guys, I'm sorry that I didn't believe in you. I should have known better."
"That's quitter talk right there Gray," Natsu yelled in anger. "You're a member of Fairy Tail; we don't give up when times are tough. Put it behind you and keep going forward." Gray began to feel that Natsu was right. He needed to stop mopping around like it was the end of the world.
Ryu began to move even faster, not even moving any slower with the extra weight on his back. He knew that Gray was beginning to see this situation in a new perspective, but he felt that Gray needed one more kick in the pants to get him to truly understand.
*Back at the Village*
The girls had finally landed in the village and they had told the villagers what they have found out. "Listen up everyone, a group of people we believe is behind the curse affecting this island is going to attack you guys tonight." Lucy told everyone as Lisanna tried to calm down some of the people who were starting to panic mildly.
"We need to defend this village and make sure they tell us how to undo this curse." Lisanna told the villagers. Some of them were skeptical at first. They had been a group of peaceful people who have never laid harm to another human. They began to talk it over with each other, trying to think if this is the best course of action to take. Lucy and Lisanna tried to formulate a plan on the capture of the enemy when the village chief made his presence known.
"What is everyone doing out here?" Moka said as he saw his people outside.
Lisanna told the chief what is really going on with the enemy and their part in the whole curse thing. Once she was done, the chief had other things to say, "You're lying, the moon is the cause I ordered you to destroy it, so go destroy it already." Some of the villagers had to hold him back just to make sure nothing bad would happen to either him or the girls.
"I'm so sorry about that. He doesn't mean it," A villager told them as he looked like a red demon with a beard and two horns on his head. "He's been like that ever since Bobo died."
"Oh that poor man," Lisanna said with sadness in her voice. Losing someone you really care for can take a huge tool on anyone.
"So how do we trap the enemy?" Happy asked wondering how they will do that.
"I have the perfect idea. Open Gate of the Maiden: Virgo." Lucy said as she used her key to summon her celestial spirit. All of the villagers instantly started to look at her with admiration. Lucy then ordered her spirit to set the trap up by the main village entrance.
"Princess the trap is all set. Where is your Prince?" Virgo said after completing the trap.
"'Your Prince' Lucy, is there another man you have your eyes on besides Ryu?" Lisanna asked her. She wasn't sure if she should be worried or not.
"No Lisanna, that's what Virgo has apparently decided to call Ryu." Lucy explained to her friend. Lisanna let out a cute smile and began to think it over, in many ways she has thought of him as a prince before.
'Maybe I could use that on him just to get him to notice Lucy, Cana and I?' Lisanna thought as this would be a good way for him to notice the girls and for some fun teasing.
"Lucy I think you may be stupid." Happy told her. "This is the oldest trick in the book; no one is going to fall for it." What the cat was referring to was the trap in question. It turns out it was an old school pit fall trap covered by leaves and twigs.
"Oh come on, pit fall traps get people all the time. Besides, there is only one way to get into the village, hopefully one of them will at least fall into the trap." Lucy explained to him sounding very confident in her plan.
"But it's blatantly obvious just by looking at it." Happy complained once more. Some of the other villagers began to agree with Happy. Virgo even agreed to how this may not work.
"Virgo, why did you agree with them?" Lisanna asked the spirit.
"In hopes of Princess punishing me." Virgo simply replied. Lisanna found out that at that moment, Virgo might be a masochist.
"Somebody's coming this way," The guard at the top of the gate said to the group.
"Well open the gate then. Hehehe, Come to mama." Lucy said as the gates opened to reveal their comrades coming right towards them. Well Ryu was doing the running in his dragon legs. Natsu, still frozen in a block of ice with Ryu, and Gray were just on his back.
"Hey guys, thanks for getting the door for us." Ryu said as he kept running towards them. Everyone was trying to warn him about the pit fall trap, but before they could even tell him to stop, he stepped into the trap and fell in. The villagers couldn't believe that someone actually fell for the trap.
"Well I'll be damned, he actually fell for it." One of the villagers remarked at how the simple and obvious trap worked on the mages that came to help them.
"Uh did his legs look different to you guys?" Another villager asked. The other villagers recalled how his legs looked different; they began to worry about this.
"See what I mean. The curse has started to affect him as well. We must deal with him before it's too late." Moka said as he saw Ryuma's legs as well.
"NO ONE IS KILLING MY FRIEND!" Both girls yelled at the chief. They were shocked that the chief even suggested that. "Ryu has always been able to do that for years. Long before we ever stepped foot on this island." Lisanna told him. She didn't want Ryu to be almost executed just because of his nature.
Everyone heard some rustling coming from the hole. When they turned to it saw Ryu climb his way out, and his legs were back to normal and was no longer stuck in a block of ice. "Okay who is the genius that left a pit fall trap?" He asked wondering who set that up. All of the villagers, including Happy and Virgo, pointed at Lucy. "Oh well then, good plan Lucy. Sorry I ruined it." He apologized to Lucy.
"Hey wait weren't you and Natsu covered in ice like a minute ago?" Happy asked as he saw that he was no longer in ice.
"Huh? Hey yeah your right, Natsu we got out of the ice." Ryu said as he turned to the pit. Natsu was barely getting out of the ice with Gray on his back. Gray was being looked at by some of the villagers to see if the injuries were really bad or just superficial.
"Oh real funny guys. But now is not the time for practical jokes. You're just lucky that pit caused the ice to break." Natsu said as he got out.
"It wasn't a joke Natsu; it was a trap for the enemy." Lisanna told him.
"Well at least my trap freed you guys from the ice." Lucy said with confidence in her voice. Virgo decided to tell her that the ice broke possibly due to them being out of the casters range.
"Hey guys," Natsu began to ask everyone. "How come Lyon's lackeys haven't come here yet?"
"Huh, I'm not sure really. They did have a lead on us." Lucy said as she was confused by this.
"I know, I had to run like hell just to get here and they had a ten minute lead on us. I even had Natsu and Gray on my backs as well." Ryu said out loud. Something just wasn't adding up here. They were able to get back to the village before the bad guys; he began to wonder why.
"Alright now, let's…" Lucy began to say until one of the villagers pointed at something above them. It turned out to be the giant rat monster that they had fought earlier in the day, flying through the air, using its tail as a propeller, and holding a giant bucket.
"Damn it, now my pit fall trap is all for nothing now." Lucy shouted as she wasted time on a trap, all for the enemy to attack from the sky.
On the flying rat, Sheri, Yuka and Toby were on her back looking over the village. "I forgot how long it took to get the poison jelly to be prepared." Sheri said to her two comrades.
"Despite how long it took, we timed this perfectly. Those other wizards are here as well." Yuka said in a sneer kind of tone. Toby couldn't help but agree.
"We cannot rest until Deliora has been revived for the Cold Emperor. Anyone who stands in our way must die." Sheri said to the other two.
The bucket shook a little, causing a drop of the jelly to fall out of the bucket and fall towards the village. "Wait, jelly?" Lisanna said as the drop of jelly was coming towards her and Lucy. Ryu took one whiff of the jelly that was falling and smelled something deadly in it. He quickly tackled the two girls out of the way just in time. The drop of jelly landed on a flower and it was dissolved as well as the ground it rested on.
"Wow, thanks Ryu." Lisanna said as she was blushing due to her being saved and from Ryu being on top of her and Lucy.
"No problem, but we got bigger issues now." Ryu told them as the villagers began to freak out. That jelly acted like it was an acid and that flying rat had a whole bucket of the stuff.
"Who would have thought the Moon Drip would turn these people into demons." Yuka said not sure of what he saw from the villagers.
"They look like, the children of Deliora." Sheri said out loud not believing it either. "Angelica, do us the honor, destroy this village. Show them, Love." Sheri told her rat known as Angelica. Angelica then emptied out the bucket in a wide manner so as to cover the entire village in acidic jelly.
"I want everyone in the center of the village now. Ryu, Happy let's fly." Natsu said as he and Ryu started to make a running start. Happy grabbed onto Natsu's back and used his wings to fly them both up. Ryu made his wings appear as well and went to join Natsu in the air.
All of the villagers went to the center of the villager like they were told; some of them were carrying a still unconscious Gray. The chief stayed behind at his son's grave. Ryu saw that the chief was not leaving the grave and had to make a quick decision, help Natsu destroy the acid jelly or save the chief. "Damn it, Natsu go deal with the jelly, I got to save the chief." Ryu told Natsu as he flew down to try and get the chief in time.
"Okay Ryu. Flames on my right hand and flames on my left hand," Natsu began to say as he gathered his fire magic into his hands. "Put them together, Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame." He unleashed a huge ball of fire right at the center point of the jelly. The jelly was then dispersed around the center of the village.
"What the, he's a fire wizard?" Yuka asked wondering if what he saw was true.
It started to rain acid jelly all around the safe villagers. But, as Ryu was almost at the village chief, after dodging some of the acid jelly drops, he noticed that one of them was going to hit the chief. Acting quickly, Ryu sped up and reached the chief just seconds before the jelly dropped.
"CHIEF/RYUMA!" Everyone in the center of the village shouted as they began to tear up from seeing the ones they care for be hit by the acid jelly. Lucy and Lisanna felt really sad from seeing their friend/crush being hit by that jelly.
But luckily Virgo, who remained behind for a bit drew everyone's attention, "Look!"
Everyone saw that the smoke and jelly began to move, only to see that the chief and Ryuma are all safe. Turns out at the last second, Ryu activated his Cosmic Dragon's Barrier to protect himself and the chief from the acid. The barrier even saved Bobo's grave as well.
Everyone became super happy at seeing them both alive and safe. "Princess," Virgo said as she turned to Lucy and Lisanna. "Do you wish to punish Prince Ryuma for making you cry like that?" Both girls were thinking that they may just have to do that later, when everything is all done.
Once the rest of the smoke cleared, what remained of the village was the center where they were standing in, Bobo's grave, and some of the fence that surrounded the village. Everything else was dissolved and turned the rest of the village into a huge crater.
Lyon's minions made it to the ground and began to walk towards the villagers and mages, "The cold Emperor demanded that we eradicate the village and its people." Sheri began to say out loud. "We tried to be merciful by making your deaths quick and painless."
"Yes," Yuka acknowledged. "So I guess we have to resort to bloodshed instead now." Yuka then began to look at what they had to deal with, "Now let's see, fifty villagers and four wizards. My guess is that it will take about a half an hour to kill them all."
"Ready guys?" Natsu asked the girls as they got ready as well. Moka tried to join in due to his son's grave almost being destroyed as well but the villagers held him back and took him and Gray, who was still not unconscious, out of the area to safety. "Hey village people, make sure that Gray's okay. I don't want anything bad to happen to my friend got it?"
"You got it. Let's move out guys." One of the villagers said as he held Gray over his shoulders as the villagers left the area.
"Now where do you think you guys are going?" Sheri said out loud once more. "We aren't leaving until everyone in this village is dead, Angelica."
Angelica the giant rat then jumped up into the air to prepare for another air assault. Well she would have, had it not for the fact that just as she jumped she got hit by a powerful attack. "Cosmic Dragon's Meteor Fist." Ryu had punched the giant rat as hard as he could into the surrounding woods.
"Angelica!" Sheri said as she went off into the woods to check on her. Yuka and Toby were left behind to deal with the wizards and the Dragon Slayer in front of them.
"Lucy, Lisanna, go deal with that gothic looking girl. Natsu and I can handle these two here." Ryu told the girls while his back was to them and still faced the enemy. The girls did not question it as he had an aura around him that they rarely saw and went after Sheri.
Now Ryu was not much of a person to anger, only a short handful of things could get him angry. But what these people tried to do, a mass genocide of a village just to make sure that they could revive a demon of destruction. That just got Ryu's blood boiling with rage.
Yuka and Toby were looking pretty cocky right not but, just as Natsu stood right by Ryu, Ryu lifted his head so they could see his eyes. Ryu's eyes had become slit like that of a dragon in anger. These two will learn soon enough that when given the chance, poking a sleeping giant with a sword is less dangerous than pissing off a dragon.
Wow, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Don't forget to leave a review or any questions you may have at the bottom.