Disclaimer: I don't own FT.
"And you trust the word of a little girl?" Gran Doma asked languidly, making the idea appear ridiculous. Makarov fought the urge to snarl at the chairman.
"What other leads do you have?" He shot back, "By the time you come up with a solution, there will be nothing left of Fiore for you to govern."
"I suggest we give them Soutirer," Org interrupted, "we have no reason to distrust Fairy Tail. Especially not at a time like this."
The other Council members, easily swayed, agreed with this course of action. Gran Doma furrowed his brow, mouth twitching beneath his long beard. Seeing he was defeated, he stood up, looking down at the short guild master.
"If you dare use this magic to achieve any other means than the one you have told the Council today, we will not hesitate to strike both you and your guild down." The chairman boomed, slamming his staff on the floor. Makarov merely nodded in understanding, following two Council employees out of the hall to wherever the extraction magic, Soutirer, was stored.
Lucy yawned and stretched as sunlight streamed through the windows.
"How are you feeling, Lucy-san?" Wendy asked, prodding the girl's knee. Lucy furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
"It doesn't hurt any more," She noted, "but I hurt it really bad back at the crypt."
"Wendy uses healing magic to help her friends," Carla stated proudly, "impressive, don't you think?"
Lucy grinned widely. "Very! Thank you, Wendy."
The sky dragon slayer smiled in response.
"How did I get back here? I thought Erza said-" Lucy began, before the pieces fell into place, "she brought me back, didn't she? Even though she said she would rest too... why would she do that for me?"
"Erza-san cares deeply for her friends," Wendy responded, "she'd sooner give up her own life than see us hurt. She was worried for you, so came back here."
Lucy smiled, touched at the perseverance of the young woman.
"Good news," Levy announced as she entered the room, "Master Makarov has returned with Soutirer, the magic extraction spell."
"It feels like things are turning around," Lucy replied, "have Natsu and Gray come back?"
"Not yet," Levy said, "but don't worry! They can handle themselves. I'm sure they are fine."
"You're probably right." Lucy admitted, remembering the carefree spirit of Natsu and the laid-back demeanour of Gray. Both were powerful mages in their own right.
"I also think Meadowdell is going to be the last attack from the enemy," Levy stated, voice serious, "in one of your books there were riddles written in symbols. After many hours, I managed to solve them all, and they gave descriptions matching the attacked cities. For example, Meadowdell was described as 'the green grass where the sun shines eternally', and Hargeon as 'the edge of the blue world', which is the sea. Those were the final riddles."
"The book you read... it didn't have a title, did it?" Lucy asked, already knowing the answer.
"No, and it has some sort of dark magic in it. Where did you get it?" Levy said. Lucy sighed.
"Mary-sama told me to take it. I didn't know how to decipher the symbols, but I always knew there was something weird about the book."
"I haven't finished it yet," Levy told, "it makes me tired when I read it. I think it will help us get more answers about Moros, though. It's like being in the mind of the enemy."
"We're back! Where's Lucy?" A voice shouted from the main hall. Lucy smiled when she heard an enthusiastic 'aye!' follow the declaration. The dragon slayer poked his head around the door, covered in cuts and bruises.
"Natsu! What happened?" Lucy demanded, shocked at his appearance, clothes ripped and dirty. The boy grinned cheerfully.
"Demons attacked us, but I took care of 'em!" He replied confidently.
"You say that like I had nothing to do with it, idiot," Gray mumbled, himself in a similar state as Natsu, "it looks like they finally caught onto the importance of the armour. But it's too late for them, right? Since you're here, it means you have the cuirass."
Lucy nodded, "And whilst we were gone Levy found out the attacks will stop now. That means the final battle will be soon."
"Awesome," Natsu said, "I knew I'd be back in time for the good stuff."
"You're not going anywhere in that state," Master Makarov stated, arms folded as he too entered the room. The dragon slayer slumped his shoulders, disappointed as Wendy began to heal him, "I came to ask Lucy if she felt ready to activate Soutirer. Laxus and Gildarts retrieved the other armour pieces from Mary already."
Lucy stood up from the bed, testing her knee to make sure it was fully functional, "I'm ready."
With the armour piled in the middle of the guild hall, Lucy read the scroll that contained Soutirer.
"It seems that all we do is chant the incantation and then aim for the armours. Then, the magic from the relics should transfer to the scroll. We'll have to make do with the pieces we have, since no shield or helmet has appeared." She explained, "where's Erza?"
"Sleeping," Gildarts replied, "it has been a day since she got back. You must've really needed your sleep."
"No, I'm here." The mage in question said, emerging just in time through the front doors looking refreshed.
"Good," Makarov said, "now that all of us are here, let's collect this magic and then think of a plan."
"Are you all ready?" Lucy asked, seeing the members of Fairy Tail nod in affirmation. They began the incantation, voices murmuring together as one rhythm. A beam of blinding light shot out from the scroll, covering the armour pieces, the building's foundations shaking under the energy. The beam suddenly broke, spell shattering, the scroll burnt to cinders in her hands.
"W-what?!" Lucy stammered in disbelief.
"Is that meant to happen?" Happy asked worriedly.
"No! It was meant to absorb the magic, but the spell just... stopped! It was destroyed!" She said, sinking to her knees in resignation, "It didn't work..."
"So now there is no way of winning the final battle?" Juvia inquired, eyes watering.
"C-crying isn't manly, but..." Elfman started, holding Mirajane's hand tightly.
"I'm sorry," Lucy whispered, "I let you all feel hope, and it was all for nothing."
"It's okay, Lucy-san!" Wendy comforted, "At least we tried."
"I didn't know this guild was full of teary-eyed losers," Natsu began, shaking in rage, "even if it's the end, I'd rather go out fighting than crying about it."
"If there's one thing we can do till the end, it is be strong for the sake of each other," Erza added, standing in front of Lucy. "This isn't your fault. No one could have predicted this."
"The best we can do now is show Moros what happens when you mess with Fairy Tail," Gray concluded.
The blonde looked at the determined faces of Natsu, Erza and Gray, feeling determination fill her heart too. Carla suddenly keeled over.
"Carla!" Wendy yelled in concern, knowing the Exceed was having a premonition.
"The old woman... she's going to be under attack very soon!"
"M-Mary-sama?" Lucy said, eyes wide open, "Mary-sama!"
She took off for the door without a second thought. Erza and Natsu immediately followed her.
"Go with them Gildarts, Laxus, Gajeel," Makarov commanded, "whatever is there will need putting down. For good."
The three nodded before running after Lucy.
"You again!" Natsu roared, spotting Rune floating in the afternoon sky.
"It's not dark yet... why are you here now?" Gildarts asked. Rune laughed.
"When it's dark the cattle are easily scared," the demon said, "I love their fear. It's so... pathetic. I almost pity them."
"You disgust me." Erza spat, equipping her Black Wing armour.
"I've watched you all scramble for answers. Admittedly, my brothers and I overlooked one important detail with the armour. Luckily for us though, you failed with extracting the magic. Looks like Judoc's caution with his magic will work against him now. His prophecy is so close to being fulfilled, in the worst way you could imagine. Heh," he told.
"But why attack towns then? What's the point if you'd win anyway?" Gajeel said, unfazed by the demon's boasts.
"Everything in the world needs energy to power it. The fear created by the attacks is siphoned by Master Moros. Soon, he will have a true form and will come to Earthland for the final battle, which of course he will win, since there are no heirs to stop him," Rune explained, "I'm surprised you didn't work it out sooner. You have the Morossian Account from Master's own library, after all. I suppose I've just ruined the ending for you."
"The dark magic that's tiring Levy..." Gajeel uttered, "it's from you damn people!"
"This woman has caused too many problems for us. At first, I thought it would be fun to play, heh. But now, you're getting too close," Rune spoke, a ball of dark energy appearing in a clawed hand, throwing it at the hut, "I sold my soul to Moros to gain this power. What lengths would you go to to save this woman?"
The blast was stopped by Erza's Adamantine shield, though it crumbled after the energy subsided.
"Erza..." Lucy started, 'that could have killed you. So many things could have, but you don't give up...'
'Impressive," Rune conceded, folding his arms.
"Stop rambling!" Natsu shouted, Happy flying him at the man, his fist covered in flames. The punch caught the demon in the face, causing him to hurtle towards the ground. Natsu followed him, readying another attack. Just as it was about to hit, Rune disappeared, reappearing behind him, slamming the dragon slayer down with a kick to the back.
"You caught me by surprise there," Rune said, "trust me, it won't happen again."
Natsu growled, once more heading for the demon. Rune avoided all his attacks, occasionally throwing in one of his own, simply playing with the dragon slayer. Laxus let loose a lightning roar, only for it to be redirected. Even Gildarts could not get through to the man. Erza slashed at him with several swords whilst equipped in her Heaven's Wheel armour.
"Fight fair, you bastard!" Natsu yelled, finally getting a kick to land on Rune's ribs, "Fight on the ground!"
'That's it, I need to get the wings!' Lucy thought, "Gate of the Archer, I open thee!"
"Say no more, moshi-moshi." The spirit said, nocking three arrows and firing them with great accuracy at Rune's wing. The arrows sliced straight through. Rune gritted his teeth, landing on the ground, black blood trailing from the created holes.
"Heh. You are a persevering bunch of brats. I can still defeat you on the ground, just watch."
He quickly lunged for Natsu, his fist meeting the dragon slayer's. Natsu did all he could not to scream in pain as the dark magic surrounded his arm, causing a great deal of agony.
"Do you feel it, human? The power of Moros?" Rune asked, grinning madly. Gildarts attempted a kick to the back, and although the kick connected, Gildarts' Crash magic had been nullified. He was suddenly sent flying with an elbow to the face. Rune then kicked Natsu hard across the face, causing the boy to collide with a rock.
"Get Mary!" Laxus called, himself readying to attack the demon.
"Thanks for reminding me, heh." Rune said, sending a ball of magic straight at the hut, and this time destroying the plants around it, the boards of the house collapsing.
"You bastard," Gajeel spat, slamming an iron-covered fist into Rune's head. Erza appeared behind him, delivering a swift blow with her sword, black blood erupting from the tear it made in his armoured robes.
"Gah, you're all annoying," Rune said, grin entirely out of sight, a look of fury on his face, "I don't have time for this."
"You're not running away like you did last time." Laxus stated, flying at the man with a fist raised, electrical currents pulsing around it. Rune smirked, appearing to teleport, but only into the path of Gildarts, who smashed his knee into his face.
'My power, it's weakened...'
Natsu, who had gotten back up, once again charged at Rune, his fists fiery. Rune grabbed his wrists, the dark magic engulfing his hands again.
"I'll kill your friend here, just to prove what I- what Moros can do, heh. You're all pathetic if you thought you were getting somewhere," He stated, Natsu's screams deafening. The whole ordeal lasted for around five seconds, before Natsu dropped to the floor, lifeless.
"Natsu!" Erza yelled, voice laced with anguish and rage.
"May this be a prelude for what you will see later." Rune said, opening a portal and beating his wings hard to make his way up to it.
'This is my fault...' Lucy thought, 'even if I hadn't gotten involved, the end result would have been the same...'
A stream of water suddenly wrapped around Rune's leg, stopping his ascent.
"Huh?"
"You're not going anywhere," Lucy raged, holding her Fleuve d'étoiles tightly, "because of you, so many people have died, and you act like it's nothing!"
"Because it is nothing, you imbeciles!" Rune replied, inhibited greatly by the holes in his wings, "In the grand scheme of things, you will realise a few deaths mean nothing!"
"Nothing..." Natsu muttered, stumbling as he struggled to stand on his feet, "how can the most important thing mean nothing?"
"You shouldn't be standing," Rune said, becoming more and more unsettled, 'did I really underestimate them too much? M-My powers!'
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu snarled, a large jet of fire heading straight for Rune, darkness swirling around it.
"Salamander, did you really eat that shit?" Gajeel wondered aloud, watching as the blast engulfed the demon-man.
"No! No! This is impossible!" Rune screamed, intense pain seeping into every bone as he attempted to block the attack, "Master Moros' power should not work against me!"
"Moros has no need for you any longer, Rune," A smooth voice said, appearing to come from the swirling purple portal, "even the simplest tasks you failed in. You are a liability. Master has taken your powers, your arrogance is your downfall. As for the rest of you, may we meet again soon."
"Who is that?" Erza asked, looking around but finding no one.
"Emi! No!" Rune cried, the magic finally washing over him, his screams echoing for miles as his existence was erased. Natsu fell to the ground clutching his stomach.
"What the hell just happened?" Gajeel pondered, walking to the pile of ash that was once Rune, "What was that?"
"I don't know, but I'm going to take Natsu back to Magnolia. He's eaten a little too much junk food." Gildarts stated, throwing him over a shoulder and heading into the distance.
"What was the voice we heard?" Erza asked, "Who is Emi?"
"I don't know, but if she's stronger than he was then I don't want to know." Laxus responded.
"M-Mary..." Lucy stuttered, holding the frail frame of an old woman in her arms. She was barely alive.
"I don't blame you, child." Mary said, lifting a small hand to wipe away tears rolling down Lucy's face.
"I-It's all over, I failed." Lucy told, shoulders heaving. Erza knelt at her side, putting an arm around Lucy comfortingly.
"You've all got brains like rocks," Mary stated, causing the four remaining guild members to look at her confusedly. "None of this is over. Use your noggins. I have a feeling you could have worked it out if you weren't so busy focusing on that extraction nonsense."
"But it was the only way we could fulfil the prophecy without an heir," Lucy defended. Mary laughed, a feeble sound that turned into a coughing fit.
"See? This is the streak of Jude you have in you. Stubbornness. The prophecy clearly states that the heir of Lysander will wear the relics and battle Moros. None of this Soutirer rubbish you've been relying on." she said.
"But the last Lysander died twenty years ago," Lucy argued.
"You silly girl. There has been a Lysander under your nose this entire time," Mary revealed to the shock of the group, "they're a resilient bunch, you know."
"W-What?" Lucy uttered, brain racing to process this new development.
"Yes, Jakob Lysander may have been killed twenty years ago, but not before leaving a child. This poor child grew up in conditions no one should have, but developed into a better person for it." Mary struggled.
"Who is it, Mary-sama?" Lucy inquired, arms shaking.
"Do not be scared, children, for the bringer of light is already here amongst us. Isn't that right, Erza Lysander?"