Man, it feels weird to be writing for this story again. Hey, in case you forgot, I'm Fatherfail. I am returning to finish this story (hopefully) and also to end the story line I have created. There will probably be another storyline after I finish this one, but I'm going to have to post that storyline in a different section because all the canon characters will be long dead by then. This story will be ending in about 3-4 chapters including this one. The final story will probably be like 5-6 chapters long.

*On a side note, I am approaching the two year mark since I joined the site (10-9-10) so expect a chapter no matter what.

I don't want to make ANs super long, so I'll get right to the chapter.

…

The assault was vicious. The shadows seemed to cut straight through Wendy's attacks, completely deflecting them. I watched with a grim look on my face as Wendy's roar was torn to shreds by the tendrils of darkness lurking behind the old man who faced us. I let out a frustrated growl as I clenched my fists. Nothing was working! Wendy was using her magical power to protect me, but what was I doing?! I was doing nothing! I couldn't do anything! I felt the knot in my stomach grow more painful, and I let out a groan as I tried to find a way out.

The old man kept smiling, eyes closed, like he was mocking me. He stood motionless, and it was like he was daring me to charge towards him. He knew I was just dragging everyone down. It was an impossible situation. I couldn't use the roar, but I knew everything else. Problem was, everything else was a close range attack. That was when I saw Wendy turn towards me, fear in her eyes. She was shouting something. I tried to hear what she was saying, but the next thing I know, I'm flying through the air, smashing against the concrete wall, pain exploding through my body.

That wasn't even the worst part. What came after was worse. The tendrils turned on Wendy next, smashing the ground in front of her, forcing her to hop backwards right into a mess of inky darkness. I felt a feeling of pure dread run through my body, silencing my heart as I saw Wendy get smashed into the ground, thrown into the air, beaten into the walls, and then thrown like a chew toy. She landed with a sickening thud, and that's when I heard the laugh. It was a horrible, twisted laugh. It was the sound of the devil himself.

"I expected more from Fairy Tail's greatest mages. I must say I'm very disappointed. Why bother trying to defend someone who can't even pay attention to the battle? He's dead weight, and you know it." The old man laughed even more, taking off his three cornered hat, throwing it to the writhing tendrils of darkness.

The old man's hat disappeared into the darkness, and Wendy struggled to get up, looking at the old man with anger in her eyes. The old man scratched his full head of grey hair, still smiling. Wendy stood up, badly injured, breathing hard. I clenched my fists and I tried to find a way to help. I couldn't just run in there! I peeled myself off of the wall and stood, trying to stay calm. An incredible anger never seen before was bubbling up, as the old man's tendrils struck me again.

"…I'll make it quick. I don't want anyone to suffer through what I did to Father Ryuusaga. But then again, I was different back then. You would have seen that time can change you, and perhaps a few hundred years ago I would not have been so merciful." said the old man casually as the tendrils attacked Wendy yet again, the sky dragon slayer fending off several of them before being wrapped up in a cocoon of pure darkness.

My eyes seemed like they were on fire. I watched Wendy look at me, her eyes never even for a second showing fear. I envied her. I envied her strength in such a time. I remembered when I had been brave like her. That's when it hit me. As I watched Wendy look at me, I remembered who I was. I was Kory Ryuusaga. I was a mage of Fairy Tail! I stood up, shaking, fists ready. I ignored the terrible pain in my body, and I felt something inside snap. It was fear of death. I opened my eyes confidently, and I stared directly into the soul of the evil creature that dared to threaten my comrade.

"I'm not dead weight, and that was my friend you were throwing around like trash a few minutes ago. I won't let you get away with this. Light's Legacy: Light Dragon's Claws!"

I screamed at the top of my lungs as I dashed forward, both arms surrounded by blinding white light. The old man's eyes widened as I came closer, and I stared straight into his soulless eyes, unflinching as his tendrils descended upon me, their attacks not even scratching me as I smashed my attacks into the barrier the old man had created.

"Don't think you scare me with your lost magic. I'll leave your friend for now, but after I devour you, she'll suffer through hell! Dark Art: Pools of Ink!" shouted the old man as several tendrils surrounded me.

Bubbling liquid sprayed from the tendrils, covering me head to toe, but I didn't care. I was fighting an enemy! The liquid that had pooled onto the ground was black, and it smelled awful. It bubbled and hissed like acid, and my skin felt like it was burning off, but I smiled as a blast of white light obliterated the black liquid. The old man growled with anger as the tendrils slammed me with their sharp points, trying to penetrate my defenses. But I was invincible. I was too focused to fail.

"When you started to hurt me friends, this match was decided. It's over for you." I said calmly as I touched my palms together, smiling at the old man as he narrowed his eyes trying to figure out what I was doing.

The old man's eyebrows indicated that he knew what I was doing, and he let out a cry of anger as the entire corridor started to go dark, the tendrils blocking every single light source, covering all of the walls. A gigantic mouth emerged from the darkness, razor sharp teeth waiting to taste my flesh.

"You're bluffing. Nobody can use that spell besides Goldfinger*!" laughed the old man as I smiled even wider as my body started to glow.

"I'm sorry, Noland, but I'm disappointed by your ignorance." I said victoriously as the mouth scooped down towards me.

~Ring…

"Eat! Eat! Devour that stupid child!"

"The purifying sound: Bells!"

There was a horrible shrieking sound as the blackness covering the walls peeled off, illuminating the room. The tendrils trying to penetrate my Holy Shield were suddenly twisted into impossible shapes, and then exploded into pure water, flooding the room. The old man's entire body contorted, and then splattered across the concrete floor. I stood there, watching every little piece of Noland's body start to reform, and I took a deep breath, and grabbed the old man's forehead before he could regenerate his limbs.

"I want to eat."

Those words ended the nightmare I had been put through. The body of Noland turned to dust, and mixed with the water now covering the floor, and I turned to see Wendy smiling at me, her wounds starting to recover. She was trying to say something to me, but I said something back to her before she could finish.

"Thank you."

…

Sorry this chapter wasn't that descriptive in terms of what Kory looked like and such. I just thought it was the perfect way to describe the fight. It was a little short, but I prefer short intense fights to ones that drag on for several chapters.

References:*Goldfinger is the only mage who can use this spell legitmately. Kory could only use this magic because Light's Legacy allows him to use all light magic used in the past if he is completely focused.

Hopefully you haven't forgotten about me. Anyways, I'll see you next time! FF