A/N - I wanted to get this out earlier, but things happened:
Meds got increased, my oldest cat passed away, participated in a 5k, had a couple panic attacks...
It's been a bit of a journey! Don't worry, chapter 21 is in the works, and we are winding things down. The end is nigh!
Hope you all enjoy!
Former Arrangements
By Genavere
Chapter Twenty
Laxus stood, arms crossed over his chest, with not even a scratch or sweat drop of exhaustion to show. Beneath him laid the unconscious lumps of defeated Eclipse Nexus wizards. A bunch of pushovers compared to the tactile abilities of the Thunder Legion, if he had a say in it. "How many more of your traps have been triggered?"
Freed sheathed his sword with exaggerated grace, not a strand of hair out of place. Pride swelled in him at the fact he managed to stay presentable in such an environment. He watched Bickslow clasp the last enemy with a pair of sealstone cuffs. "Several, but it is strange," he said with a frown. "Since the tremors started up, all of them has been being triggered in the opposite direction."
"What does that exactly mean?" Bickslow stood and stretched his back with hands on his hips.
"It means that they are fleeing," Laxus explained before Freed could. If wizards of a dark guild were fleeing, that meant something dangerous had come with them. Something none of them wanted to deal with.
"Could explain why these ruffians seemed so agitated," Evergreen offered from behind her fan.
"I just figured it was cause they caught sight of you," Bickslow and his babies laughed, pointing at her. A whack across the back of his head with her fan brought the ground up to met his face.
"Say another word, and you'll be the one running." The muscles in her brow twitched.
"Gah, no wonder it takes someone like Elfman to date you—ack!" A heel came down on the back of his head repeatedly, stomping him into the dirt with the other fallen wizards.
"What did you say, you miserable miscreant!"
Turning his back on his two bickering teammates, Freed looked at his idol and friend. "It could mean something bad if even the members of a dark guild are fleeing from whatever is making the tremors. And we have not heard from Erza or anyone else on if they have found Lucy or Natsu."
"Hmm." Laxus looked up at the rumbling sky. "If they are leaving, then we should head back to base camp. Regroup, find out if they know of anything, and go from there." Another rumble of the earth made him frown. None of it seemed normal, and he had a feeling he knew what might be the cause. It was a gut feeling, but after what he had experienced in the labyrinth with Lucy, it'd surprise him if he were wrong.
Freed nodded in agreement and looked at the group of defeated wizards. "The flare might not be enough to lead the army here to gather them with the rain."
"Doesn't matter," he dismissed the issue and turned to leave. "They decided to attack our guild, if they aren't found then they can deal with the consequences."
"Of course, Laxus!" He turned to the others, "Bickslow, Ever, enough squabbling, we are heading out of here." Pulling out his light pen, he began to scribble runes in the air. They were not his best work with the time given, but would be good enough for their purpose. At the last rune, he infused the last bit of magic needed and they flew up into the air, high above the trees and exploded into red flashes in the sky. While he cared not what would happen to the mages they defeated, he would sleep better knowing they were found by the army and not able to escape to cause further chaos.
The three of them headed after Laxus, running to catch up. "Laxus, slow down!" Evergreen huffed at him in annoyance. "These tremors are nothing to be worked up over. It could just be a signal."
"Weirdest signal I've seen," Bickslow said. "Like, a signal flare would be easier than moving the whole area."
"No, this is different." Laxus stopped, a sense of pressure pushed in on his very core. It did not feel like magic energy, but similar. It increased rapidly and crushed down on his lungs, on his back. Bones ached with a need to pop. Muscles felt like they would snap and wretch limbs into unnatural directions. For a moment, he even felt as if he might embarrass himself as his bowels were pushed downward.
A silence filled the air, drowning everything out. Not even the patter of rain seemed to make a sound. His own breath caught in fear of breaking the fragile sense of reality around him. If nothing broke the sound, nothing would happen. Right?
"Laxus?" Freed's voice rung in the distance even as he stood in front of him. Looks of concern on each of the Thunder Legion's faces. Had none of them felt the change? His eyes darted to each of them, sweat trickled slowly down his face and neck. The only concern he saw from them was for him.
The pressure pushed further, ready to grind him down to dust. A breath barely passed his lips without turning into a moan. "Freed…" He reached out to grasp the man, but noticed the static charge over his forearm.
"Everyone, back up!" Raising his arm, rumbling filled their ears and sent tremors through their bones as lightning snapped downward and connected with the electric energy of the once-dragon slayer. Relief washed over him in waves. His muscles relaxed and he finally stood tall again.
Whatever that feel had been, it would not bode well for any of them.
"We need to get back to the base camp now."
"What was all that?" Ever asked and avoided the large charred area as she followed him.
"A bad omen, if I have ever seen one," Freed frowned. "We should take care—"
The ground beneath them heaved, throwing them off balance. Cracks forked through the ground, crawling under and around them. Portions of the earth dropped down and others rose up. Even with arms flailing, they barely managed to stay up.
Managing to get some stability, Ever flew up into the air and caught Freed's light pen. Following the directions she knew by heart after years of practice, an anti-gravity area pulled all of them away from the raging earth. They stared down in shock as the ground churned, large sections jutting upward and chunks crumbling into growing voids.
"What is going on?" Freed asked in concern.
"It appears someone might be in a poor mood," Ever hmphed in annoyance. "Likely a man not getting his way."
"You would know with that oaf of a boyfriend," Bickslow laughed.
"What did you say?!"
"Freed," Laxus called, his eyes locked in the distance. "I need you to take everyone to the base camp and ensure a proper perimeter is set up." He moved to the edge of the gravity field and fell to a stable portion of ground. The rest followed him and sighed in relief as the shaking seized.
"What do you plan to do?" Worry had crept up in Freed's voice and kept him close to Laxus. "If you plan to go after whoever did this, the Thunder Legion would be proud to join you in that endeavor!"
"No." He shook his head and kept his gaze in the direction he felt the energy coming from. "All of you need to get to the camp. They will need your help. And if I see any of you," he glanced over his shoulder at Freed, "I will not hesitate to ignore all of you for a month."
Heat turned Freed's face a deep red from embarrassment and outrage. The thought of not being able to receive any attention from his Laxus for a full month rattled him to the core and back. "You have my word, none of us will follow you. We will ensure the camp is protected and await your return."
Laxus nodded. "Good. I'm counting on all of you!"
Using his lightning to dash away quicker, he felt their eyes on his back. They might have understood if he explained. All of them had followed him for years, but this was a feeling he he had to investigate himself. It could not be another dragon. All of them were either dead or in their human forms to live out the remainder of their lives in peace.
Then, what caused this feeling in his chest?
The labyrinth in Guiltina had felt similar. Each tremor of the ground made him think back to those tunnels and the fighting that took place. He might not be a true dragon slayer anymore, but the enhancements from the lacrima still lingered. His strength and magic energy had increased to a higher potential. If the entity emitting the magic energy posed a threat to his family, they would feel every ounce of it.
#####
Natsu dug his feet and claws into the muddy ground, slowing himself enough to dash forward with his wings snapping towards the enemy dragon slayer. Clawed fists landed in equally claws hands, both of their arms straining against the other. Bruises and blood covered both, but neither relented.
One refused to give up on pure pride. The other to keep his family safe.
Loke had gone back after taking an attack for Gray that left him injured and barely able to sustain himself in the human world anymore. All three had called for him to leave, and reluctantly, he listened.
Erza and Gray were both fighting against other versions of Osou. His transformation magic split him in three parts, all that smelled similar and bled like the other. Even Nsust's sense of smell could not tell which of the three were real.
Glaring with his only good eye, Osou grinned. "The great king of dragons, Natsu "Salamander" Dragneel." A forked, snake like tongue slithered between his fanged teeth. "How'd you attach yourself to a weakling of a female?"
"Heh," he grinned up at the other slayer, refusing to fall into his trap. "You know, your eye says differently about her strength."
A hiss answered him back, the flap of skin swayed from his movements. Lightning flashed above. They both leapt back, taking in a big breath of air.
"Earth Dragon's…"
"Fire Dragon's…"
"Roar!" Osou lashed out his breath attack, forcing out all the air he had collected into it. No resistant fought back against him, the mixture of air and earth crashed along the ground and laid out a funnel of destruction before him.
"Heh," he let out a breathed laugh and smirked. All enemies would fall to him, one way or another.
"Roar!"
His eyes snapped upward as the flames swirled around him, pressing him into the earth beneath him and pushing his back. How?! When had the brat moved?!
Wings keeping him afloat in the air, Natsu kept his breath going until his diaphragm emptied completely. There had been no reason for him to stay on the ground and compare breaths. A force of roars would had lead to them pushing the other back with no clear winner. He knew that, and refused to waste anymore of his energy or time on this fight.
Whether it was his pride or his experience from all the fights leading up to this, he knew he was the stronger of the two. Even in his weakened state.
Smoke and steam cleared from the ground. Left in the place of the enemy, a charred body crumpled to the ground. That meant one clone had been taken care of. He glanced at the other two across the field.
Each jumped away from their respective opponents and formed back into one in the middle again. His hands pressed together, eyes of reptilian yellow glared up at Natsu and the ground erupted again. Walls of dirt and rock surrounded him, offering protection as his body be began to snap and deformed.
Legs merged together, knees snapped backwards and limbs stretched upwards. Arms melded into his chest and scales adorned his flesh. Larger and larger he grew up into the air.
A large tail coiled around and flattened the wall that he had constructed for protection. His remaining eye morphed into a reptilian slit and his hair formed around to create a hood of scales around him. Fangs glinted dangerously and snapped outward at Natsu.
"Fucking bastard!" He bellowed, barely managing to dodge the attack, and threw his hands together as the giant snake lashed out at him again. "Fire Dragon King's Brilliant Flame!"
"Ice Make: Lance!"
"Dragon-Slaying Blade: Belserion!"
Three attacks laid into the giant beast. Each landed hard on their intended target, cutting scales and burning muscles. Natsu stayed high in the air, watching their enemy slither around along the ground. Beneath the feet of his two companions, the earth rumbled and jagged stone daggers began jutting up to impale them. Before he could offer a cry of warning, they were moving.
"I am sick of this!" He growled, clenching his fists tight. Flames began to swirl around him, encompassing in the heat of his anger and rage. Deeper scales crawled up his arms and covered his chest. Talons burst from the tops of his wings and from his back, a large, dragon-esque tail lashed out in a fury of movements. His own fangs elongated and his horns curled as they lengthened. "I am hungry, and pissed that all of your think so slowly of Lucy when you don't even know her!"
Lightning light up the sky above him, dousing him in shadow except for his narrowed eyes. "You think a fragile thing such as a piece of paper could control her? Could control any of us?! We have beaten a fucking book!" Thunder rumbled deeply through the sky sounding like a dragon ready to lash forward to protect its hoard.
"Tonight," Natsu's tone darkened as he looked down at the frozen Transformation Wizard, "your broken body will lie in your own piss."
"Natsu!" Erza and Gray both used their magic to soar high into the air. Magic crackled and began circling around them like the band of a lacrima. Around them, bolts of lightning struck the ground, enforcing a prison around the enemy.
Osou panicked, seeing the three mages surround him, their magic energy bouncing between each other. Never had he seen such a display of power! What were these Fairy Tail wizards?
Natsu bent, the flames that swirled around him flowed between his hands as he molded it into a ball. More flames crawled up his arms, growing larger. "King of Dragon Slayer's Secret Art:…" The ball he crafted grew wild, it began to flicker and sent seeking arms of heat lashing out at the rain. In the thickest area, a demonic face began to appear, black and coiled, piercing the enemy dragon slayer with hungry eyes.
"Five-Sided Nightmare Abyss of Execution!"
Silence pulsed through the battleground. Rain froze mid-fall, the lightning that rippled through the clouds above them shimmered in their reflections. A snake-like eye widened as a shadowy fourth figure seemed to fall through the air toward them, joining the band. All of them aglow with flames and magic energy that flowed through each of their magic. He glanced up at the King of Dragons, the demon E.N.D, and Salamander of Fairy Tail.
Biting resentment flowed through his veins and boiled his blood. No. No! He was stronger! The might of two dragon lacrimas was supposed to be enough! The power of that title, of being the strongest Dragon Slayer, was immense. A power he demanded! None but him should be deemed the strongest, and those below him would knee! As his guild did to him.
As his old village had.
And his family.
How he had planned for the Heartfilia heir to do!
Anger fled him in the wake of pure terror. From the draconic form of Natsu, he watched a second ember of light form into a slender, feminine body over him and pull away. Along the right side of the figure's face, arm, and down their torso were crimson red lines that glowed similar to caverns of lava. Fiery hair whipped around her, and from her chest, a brilliant light shown.
Then, all at once, light intensified and blinded the land, joining the silence. Manifests of magic energy connected the five figures in the air around him, building up their power. Five points created the star above him, and drudged up the earth below.
Ice, lightning, metal, celestial light, and fire built up in a crescendo. At the peak, they all dashed forward in a unison raid toward him, but his eye stayed fixated on the maniacal face of the ball of fire roaring through the air toward him. The malice in those black caverns resembling eyes captivated him and held him frozen before the ice even reach him.
Pain tore through his entirety. Ice chilled him solid and metal pierced his scales. Lightning rocked him to the core, paralyzing him, and celestial light scorched his insides. But the true agony came as the flaming mouth increased and engulfed his entire being. It burned scales, flesh, and muscle, meeting with the pure light of stars in the middle. A scream ripped through his charred lungs and pass bloodied lips.
All five of the Fairies landed from their part of the attack and watched the snake form shrink down into the beaten dragon slayer. In the center of their circle, he stumbled a step and coughed up a mouthful of blood before collapsing back into the ground.
Relief passed through each of them. It was over. Finally.
The flamed figure turned to Natsu, whom she stood by, and white-lit eyes crinkled in delight. Reaching out, they both shivered in delight as she melded back in with him and reestablished their connection the book of E.N.D. had granted them.
As the last flicker of her light died down into his skin, his own transformation began to recede back. Scales, claws, horns, tail, and wings, all shrunk and became part of his human form again. All the energy, anger, and magic energy powering him disappeared like a rock in the ocean. He stumbled, reaching out for something steady to hold onto.
Arms grabbed ahold of him and helped lower him to the ground. Lips blurred above him. Words morphed together and became muddled sounds of gibberish. All except two words. Two words that let him finally give into the demands of his exhausted body.
An exhausted smile tugged at his lips.
It's over.
A/N - You all wanted it, so I made sure that the Laxus chapter happened! While editing, his portion actually got longer.
Next chapter has more Gajeel, so I hope you don't mind our Iron Giant getting some additional time on the page before things wrap up with our main three!
Thank you for reading!