The Knight and the Beast

Chapter Twelve: The Battle Begins

The dark reptilian eyes glared down to the man grabbing Lucy's arm. Midnight gripped on his blade tightly in his hand, ready for the dragon if h made a mov. Lucy struggled to against Midnight's grip.

Let her go, Natsu said.

"And if I don't?" Midnight said.

You and your men won't return to your homes unscathed.

"I'd like to see you try."

Natsu and Lucy made eye contact. Her head barely moved in a near unnoticeable nod. Natsu raised his head high, towering over Midnight and his men.

You asked for it. Lucy! Natsu yelled.

"Hya!" Lucy kicked Midnight at the small of his back.

Midnight doubled over, letting Lucy go. The other men started running towards Midnight as Lucy ran to Natsu. The dragon breathed a line of fire between them and the men.

"Natsu," Lucy breathed as she clung to the dragon's leg. "Natsu, I'm sorry."

Lucy… He wrapped his tail around the placed and placed her on his back. We have to warn the others.

"Right. Let's fly."

Natsu flapped his wings, causing dust to swirl into the men's eyes. As the blonde and dragon retreated to the castle, Midnight stood up shakily. He turned to Erigor.

"Aim to kill!" Midnight yelled.

Erigor nodded; "Yes Sir."

He stood in the direction where Natsu was. He held his scythe over his head in a throwing position. He aimed for Lucy and threw.

Natsu looked back and noticed the scythe aimed for Lucy. He spun around and blew fire, causing Erigor to dodge. The scythe kept whirling in the air and slice his leg. Natsu roared in pain.

Lucy looked over and saw the scythe embedded in Natsu's leg. Blood poured out steadily from his wound. "Natsu!" she yelled.

Natsu managed to land hard in the courtyard. Lucy slid off the side and ran to the leg that was injured. The blade wasn't in deep. But if she tried to take it out, more blood would come out. The blonde looked into he dragon's eyes.

"Why Natsu?"

I'll be fine Lucy. I need to protect you, Natsu said with a weak grin.

"Oh Natsu."

"Lu-chan!"

The blonde looked up and saw the others running out of the castle. Wendy stopped in front of Lucy.

"You're hurt Lucy," she said.

"Take care of Natsu first."

The medical kit turned to the dragon and saw his wound. "How in the world-"

Look at Lucy first. She's loosing more blood.

"Natsu!" Lucy argued. He shot her a glare and she sighed. "Fine." Wendy started placing bandages on her cuts before looking to Natsu's leg. "How's Jellal?"

Everyone stayed silent. Gray spoke up.

"He's not good. We managed to get him to stay in bed. But it's not doing much good. He's getting weak, Lucy. I don't know how long he'll last."

"Where's Erza Lu-chan?" Levy asked.

"I don't know." Lucy looked to her lap. "They locked her and a few others in her house and they took me away. I couldn't get them…I couldn't get her.

Lucy… Natsu said.

WHAM!

Everyone jumped and looked around.

"What's happening?!"

"Are the coming?!"

"We have to go!"

Lucy looked to the gates and saw he men were trying to get in using a tree to bash the gates down.

"They're trying to get in. Everyone," Lucy said, standing up. Her hand was on a dagger hilt while the other was closed in a fist. "Get ready for battle."

A scaly tail touched Lucy's fist. She looked up into onyx eyes. Natsu shook his head.

Not you Luce. Stay with Jellal until Erza comes.

"And how do you know that Dragon?" Gajeel asked.

I just do. Natsu looked back to Lucy. Luce…please.

Lucy nodded; "Stay safe everyone…Natsu." She picked up Wendy and Levy. "I need you two." She ran into Fairy Tail.

I will Lucy… Natsu thoughts. He turned to the others. You ready?

"You bet Flame Brain," Gray said.

"Fighting like a man is manly!" Elfman yelled.

"Let them come," Gajeel said. "We'll take 'em."

Natsu grinned. Let's go then.

At that moment, the gates were broken and Midnight's men stormed the courtyard. The others went static and Natsu raised his head high.

"You and your witch will pay, Dragon," Midnight said.

Lucy is not a witch you bastard, Natsu growled. His claws dug into the dirt. Get away from this castle before you regret your actions!

"I like the castle; I think I'll stay," Midnight said with a smirk.

Everyone, Natsu said. As he did, the others started moving. Midnight's men looked astonished and scared.

"What sorcery is this?!"

"That witch must've placed a spell on this castle," Midnight said. "Take them down! Leave no survivors!"

"OUTTA THE WAY!" someone in the back yelled.

The crowd parted, allowing three horses through. A white one was behind the first three. And it wasn't a horse; a yellow horn was clearly shown on the fourth's head.

"Plue!" Gray yelled.

"That means…" Loke said.

Plue jumped onto the steps of the castle. The girl on the unicorn's back was sitting tall and her scarlet hair was blowing with the wind violently. Her brown eyes glared hard at Midnight.

"You will not enter this castle Midnight; I won't let you," she said. "It ends here tonight."

{Line Skip}

Lucy ran through Fairy Tail's halls, careful not to drop Wendy and Levy. The blonde felt that she was opening her wounds again but she could care less. Lucy had to go to Jellal.

The West Wing seemed to be darker than usual. The shadows seemed to have creatures lurking in them and it felt like something was following them.

Is it the effect of the last petal? Lucy thought as she reached Jellal's room.

Lucy walked in and looked around. Jellal wasn't in his bed, but looking through the balcony doors. Lucy walked over to him.

"Jellal…"

He turned so that his brown eyes would inspect the girl. "You're hurt Lucy," he rasped out.

The blonde looked down and saw the bandages were seeping with fresh blood. Lucy placed Levy and Wendy down on the floor and retightened her bandages.

"I'll be fine. More importantly, you should be in bed. You should be resting Jellal."

"How can I rest when I'm dying and when my home is under attack?" Jellal turned back to the window. "You didn't have to get Erza back. We would've been fine."

"You're dying, My Prince."

Jellal chuckled. "You always did have a tendency to overreact o things."

"Your death isn't something to be over-"

"OUTTA THE WAY!"

"What was that?" Wendy asked.

Jellal pushed the doors to the balcony open. They ran out and saw Plue running through the crowd.

"Plue's back!" Levy said.

"And Erza's with him!" Lucy yelled.

Erza dismounted. The courtyard was silent, minus for metal clanking against metal on Erza's armour. She pointed her sword to Midnight's throat.

"You will not enter this castle Midnight, I won't let you," she said. "It ends here tonight." Her grip tightened on the hilt of her blade. "And I certainly won't let you touch Jellal or Lucy! Or anyone in this castle!"

Midnight smirked. "Take them down. Leave Erza and the beast to me."