Dragon Instinct

Chapter Seventeen

Author's Note: In interest of full disclosure, I am terrible at writing battle scenes. I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint. Also, there are only 21 chapters to this story. We are almost done here.

"Are you going to be able to focus on this on this battle?"

Laxus turned to Erza as she walked up to him. He had gone out on the balcony of the Blue Pegasus' guild hall for some fresh air before leaving with the rest of the team. Everyone else was going over last minute preparations for battle. It almost felt like they were going to war instead of going against one dark guild, but Laxus supposed that's really what it was like. The guild they were going against was extremely large, despite being a dark guild. Laxus had never seen anything like it before. He wondered if Zeref had anything to do with it, since he had been on Tenrou as well.

"I have to," Laxus said finally. "They threatened my daughter, and they have Freed's sister."

"How is he handling that? I know we have to face her in battle but, is he okay?"

"He won't talk about it."

Laxus had tried to get Freed to talk about it many times, but Freed refused tell Laxus how he was handling things. Laxus used to think Freed's ability to compartmentalize everything and bottle up his emotions was a good thing, but now it was just driving him crazy. He was worried Freed would freeze up again when he saw Freya in battle. This time wouldn't be a surprise, but Laxus wasn't sure Freed could fight Freya, despite his strength. Freya was his little sister and the only family he had left. Laxus had always known Freed would rather die than hurt someone he cared about. It was something he had used to think of as weakness on Freed's end, but as time went on he saw it as the strength it was.

"Have faith in him Laxus, he knows what needs to be done."

"I know, but I don't know if he'll be okay afterwards," Laxus said quietly. "Freya is his baby sister, no matter what she's done recently, Freed will never think of her as anything less. And with her being under some sort of spell he'll forgive her for anything."

"You think she's going to be able to manipulate him?"

Laxus turned to look out at the yard slowly thinking it over. It was true that Freed loved his sister, more than anything in the world, but he was also a brilliant wizard. He was one of the strongest wizards Laxus knew at his age. He was also very logical. He knew how to separate emotion from his actions and act purely on reasoning. He knew that however they did it they needed to stop Freya before he was able to completely ruin their plans for taking down Serpent's Tongue. They had discussed it at length during their planning session the night before. He knew the plan was simply to stop her and not hurt her.

"No, I think Freed knows that whoever Freya is at the moment, her actions are not those of his sister. He knows she needs stopped and will do anything in his power to make sure he can stop her without hurting her."

"Good." Erza said with a nod. "I was worried he might be a liability."

"Freed would never do anything that would endanger his team." Laxus growled out slowly.

"Relax Laxus, I didn't mean anything by it. The whole guild knows just how loyal Freed can be once he considers you a part of his team. They saw it during Fantasia and again afterwards, in his remorse for his actions." Erza said quietly. "But having to face someone who once meant the world to you in order to protect those you care about, it isn't easy."

Laxus looked away frowning a bit. He knew she was talking from personal experience. Everyone in the guild knew about her experience with Jellal.

"Freed is strong. He knows what he's doin'." Laxus said softly. "He'll be okay."

"Besides, he has you, right?" Erza said with a smile.

Laxus looked back at her raising an eyebrow.

"You don't have the right to ask about us. I still haven't forgotten you put a bet on us."

"And I was right," she said with a smirk walking away.

Laxus sighed walking back into the guild hall eyes searching out Freed from the room. He walked up to him slowly slipping his arm around his waist. Freed leaned into him quietly.

"Are we ready to go?" he asked looking down at him.

"Yeah, we're all about to head out," Freed said quietly.

Laxus nodded slowly squeezing Freed gently in a way he hoped was reassuring. From the small smile he received from the rune mage he thought he succeeded. Once the meeting split up Laxus followed the team out of the guild hall. For once he didn't feel the typical adrenaline he associated with a battle. In fact, he almost dreaded the battle they were going into considering what the outcome could do to Freed.

The travel to Serpent's Tongue's guild was a lot faster on the Blue Pegasus' ship Christine. And thankfully they had Wendy with them so she was able to keep Laxus from being affected by the motion sickness of traveling, despite her cat warning her constantly not to use up her magical power. Wendy just smiled at Laxus and assured Carla that she was fine. It seemed the sky dragon slayer had decided she liked Laxus after all. He remembered how nervous she was around him on Tenrou. He assumed she had heard about his actions towards the guild. He didn't blame her for not trusting him.

Christine landed a short walk from the guild hall under the cover of trees and a Jutsu Shiki Freed put up to disguise it from view. The whole team, despite being much larger than most mage teams was extremely quiet. Laxus even noticed that Juvia had been quiet since they had all arrived at Blue Pegasus the day before. He hadn't even noticed her presence. He thought back and realized she must not have made it into the guild hall before Freed had lost his temper and everyone had been sent out. He was suddenly grateful Freed had lost his temper. The less time he spent around the water mage the happier he was.

"Remember the plan guys," Erza was saying as they walked through the woods quietly. "Laxus, Eve, and I go in first while Freed sets up his runes. That's the best way to avoid detection, and limit the amount of damage done. Eve can shield us in his White Out and we can sneak up on the guild under the cover of the snow."

Laxus looked over at Eve who nodded slowly. He hadn't thought much about how Eve would handle this battle. He wasn't sure he could have ever gone into battle against Freed if it had become necessary. Not that he thought it would ever become necessary. Freed would never turn on him or any member of Fairy Tail and the bond would refuse to let him hurt Freed without hurting himself anyway. The blond had gone pale sometime between leaving the guild and walking through the forest. Laxus was sure he was doubting his ability to turn his magic against the woman he had been planning to marry. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that and someone else would be there to do it for him. Whether necessary or not, Laxus knew the guilt that would linger within him for hurting someone he loved.

It all went to hell the minute they reached the boundary of Serpent's Tongue's guild hall.

"To hell with strategy," Natsu cried out beginning to take off at a run. "I'm all fired up!"

"Damn it flame brain!"

"Gray! Natsu! They had a plan!"

"Gray my love! Wait for me."

"So much for strategy," Bickslow said behind him. "Strategy! Strategy!" His dolls cried shrilly.

"No sense waitin' now. Might as well get in there and try to make the best of it." Laxus groaned seeing mages start to pour out of the guild hall to face them.

"Go on, I'll get the Runes setup." Freed said looking at up at him. Laxus willed himself to ignore the urge to stay by Freed's side. He knew the other man could take care of himself and he'd only cause more problems if he stayed with him.

"Be careful," Laxus said squeezing his hand standing up.

"You too."

Laxus tried to give him a reassuring smile before hurrying off with the others to head inside as Freed began setting up Runes.

Thanks to Natsu's impulsive charge the guild members had been notified of their presence. Laxus got hit in the face by ice maker magic as soon as he walked into the building. He growled sending a bolt of electricity the mage's way as soon as he regained his bearings. He could see Erza from the corner of his eye locked in battle with a water mage. He smirked when he saw she was wearing her sea goddess armor. The other mage didn't stand a chance.

Freed would have really liked to have been able to blame Natsu, because it technically was Natsu's fault. He'd gone charging headlong into battle, ignoring all of their plans, and alerting the guild they were there before they were ready. However, they all knew how Natsu was, they knew he was a loose cannon. They even planned for the event that he would wreck the strategy. However, they hadn't planned for the others to go along with him and wreck it so horribly.

"Damn it flame brain!" Gray was yelling chasing after him.

"Gray, Natsu! They had a plan!" Lucy screamed following them.

"Gray my love! Wait for me!"

"So much for strategy," Bickslow muttered. "Strategy! Strategy!" The totems chimed.

Freed sighed nodding.

"No sense waitin' now. Might as well get in there and try to make the best of it." Laxus groaned.

"Go on, I'll get the Runes setup." Freed said looking at Laxus.

"Be careful," Laxus said squeezing his hand standing up.

"You too."

Laxus grinned at him briefly before hurrying off with the others to head inside as Laxus began setting up Runes. He had agreed to set up defensive runes before the the battle, trying to protect their team from excessive damage. He stood up when he was done, casting his Darkness Ècriture. He didn't like using it often, but he knew it was necessary for this battle. As soon as his wings appeared he hurried towards the guild hall, slipping in with the rest of their team. By time he entered the building the battle was in full swing. True to form, Natsu wasn't hesitating to cause destruction to the walls and ceilings as he took on multiple wizards. Freed smirked slipping past him being stopped by one mage slipping in front of him. Freed made quick work out of him, he had one goal in mind. He wanted to find Freya and take her out of the battle before things got worse.

"Water slicer!"

Freed jumped out the way as a blast of Juvia's water went past him hitting a mage that had popped up behind him. He turned watching the woman fall to the ground before looking back at Juvia.

"Thank you." He called out before turning down the hall wall.

He stopped seeing Natsu and Gray fighting off a pair of mages that seemed to be wind users. Natsu was having a hard time landing a single blow on the men as his flames kept going out.

"Dark Ècriture: Pain," he called out drawing up the runes.

The two men fell to the ground groaning.

"Aw man! I had that!"

"There's plenty more out there Natsu," he said hurrying past them.

He paused seeing the Blue Pegasus boys locked in battle. He was glad. If Eve was distracted by other people then he wouldn't have time to go against Freya. He wasn't sure Eve would have the will power to do what needed to be done, and he couldn't risk her getting away. If his sister was alive then he wanted her back by his side where she belonged.

He slipped past Lucy and Loke, Leo, in the middle of a fight against one of Serpent Tongue's fire mages. He was glad Lucy elected to start with Loke. He was one of her strongest Celestial Spirits. As amusing as Virgo could be, she was not good for battle. He paused when he saw Freya through the doorway. She seemed to have cornered Levy and Gajeel. He couldn't hear what she was saying, but he knew Levy wouldn't stand a chance against her. Gajeel perhaps, but not Levy. He hurried through the room pausing when he saw Eve step out surrounding them in snow.

"Freed."

Freed jumped turning to Eve who had apparently used to the cloak of snow to make it over to him without being seen.

"We're not going to be able to take her down directly," Eve said looking out at the battle. "We're going to have to incapacitate her or else she'll fight to the death."

"What do you suggest?"

"I distract her while you find a way to knock her unconscious."

"Are you sure you'll be able to fight her?"

"I have no choice. That out there, that's not Freya," Eve said quietly. "Just, make it quick Freed. She's deadly like she is. The Freya I know would never hurt anyone if she could avoid it. If she hurts someone she cares about, she'll never forgive herself."

"Let me know when you're ready."

"I'm going now. Work quickly, please."

"I'll do my best."

Freed watched Eve walk out towards Freya slowly before kneeling down beginning to draw out the magic circle on the floor. He already knew what enchantment he wanted to use, but it's pattern was incredibly intricate, and took a while to write out. He hoped Eve lasted long enough for him to finish it.

"Freya!"

"Eve Tearm, what a surprise," she said with a smirk.

"What are you doing?! You spent years with these people," Eve said stepping towards her. "You were part of their family."

"I have no family."

"Yes you do. You have Fairy Tail, you have Blue Pegasus."

"What a joke," Freya said, drawing a rune out quickly, sending it at him.

"I know you better than this. This isn't you." Eve said blocking it quickly.

"Oh, who am I? The love sick girl who hung on your every word? Please, not a chance."

"No, you're Freya Justine. A member of Blue Pegasus and one of the strongest Rune Mages there is," Eve said softly looking at her. "And my fiancé."

"If you think I'm going back to that life, you're sorely mistaken." Freya said forming a magic circle in front of her.

Laxus stepped away from the last guy he was battling looking around the room as he caught his breath. Despite the fact that things had not gone as planned, the battle had been going well. He hadn't seen Freya yet, but he could tell that Freed's defensive Runes were helping immensely. He'd barely felt the effects of the last battle he was in.

He could see it was much the same way for the rest of his team. Most of their fighters didn't even look winded. He looked up as a snow began to circle the battlefield. He knew that was Eve's cue that said he had found Freya. He took off in the direction of the snow. He wasn't taking his chances. If Eve didn't have the strength to do what needed to be done then he would do it for him.

As he rounded the corner he saw Eve go flying against the wall. Before he could reach Freya, Eve was back up facing her. He couldn't hear what the snow mage was saying, but whatever it was Freya wasn't falling for it.

He struggled to get closer. It seemed as if Freya had put some barrier up as she was talking to Eve. He'd never seen anyone who could do Rune magic wordlessly. Even Freed still had to call out half his enchantments.

"If you think I'm going back to that life, you're sorely mistaken." He heard Freya say as a magical circle formed in front of her.

He watched as Eve went flying again. Laxus couldn't see where he landed, but he did hear Eve's groan of pain. He let out a sigh of relief knowing he was still alive before he saw who Freya was focusing on now that Eve was out of the picture.

Freed was kneeling on the ground furiously trying to fill in a magic circle on the floor of the building. He watched as Freed looked up eyes widening in panic.

He wasn't going fast enough and it showed on his face. Freed knew he wasn't going to finish his enchantment in time.

Laxus didn't waste a second as he ran forward, watching as magic began to swirl around Freya. The enchantment she was about to cast was extremely powerful. He couldn't stop her in time, but he could get in her way.

He charged forward, calling lightning to him, as he watched the magic gather around her. He landed in front of her as she finished her enchantment. As the magic swelled around him the last thing he heard was Freed screaming his name.

Freed tried to finish the magic circle as fast as possible. It'd taken him longer than he thought to write out the Runes. It wasn't a pattern he knew all that well but he needed this enchantment so they could get Freya and get out of there. He looked up as Eve went flying across the room again.

He hesitated briefly in his rune writing meeting Freya's gaze train on him. He swallowed before looking back down writing quickly, glancing up every few seconds as she stepped closer.

He wasn't going to make it in time. He could see the magic circle forming around Freya's feet. He didn't recognize the enchantment she was writing. He'd never seen it before, and he'd never seen someone complete such a complicated rune so quickly. He swallowed feeling dread settle on him as Freya met his eyes. The best he could hope for was to cast enchantment before hers hit him.

His eyes widened in horror as with a flash of lightning Laxus stepped in front of him, facing off against Freya.

"Laxus!"

Freed had barely gotten his name out when the purple light surrounded the dragon slayer, and he was falling to the ground.

"No!" Freed cried out.

"Guess your Dragon slayer wasn't indestructible after all," Freya said stepping over Laxus. "Now it's your turn."

Freed swallowed down the grief building in him, slapping his hand down on the magic circle he'd written out quickly. He'd be damned if Laxus risked his life only for Freed to still lose. He watched as the same circle appeared on Freya's chest.

He caught her as her knees gave out under her, eyes falling closed. The enchantment would keep her in a comatose state until they broke the magic manipulating her. He stretched her out on the ground before rushing to Laxus' side, gathering him in his arms. He let out a cry of relief as when he felt Laxus' chest rising and falling with his breathing. He was alive at least.

"Laxus you idiot!" he said softly running his fingers over his cheeks, feeling tears gathering in his eyes. "Why would you do something like that?"

He buried his face in Laxus' chest trying to stifle the cries rising in him. He hadn't wanted Laxus to risk himself for Freed's safety. He was the one that was supposed to be Laxus' bodyguard.

He turned slowly as he felt a hand on his shoulder, seeing Evergreen and Bickslow behind him.

"Is he going to be okay," Bickslow asked taking off his helmet.

"I hope," he said wiping his eyes quickly. "He's just unconscious I think."

"I've got him," Freed heard and looked up to see Gajeel standing over him. "Are you hurt?"

"N...no, I'm fine," Freed said, standing up, watching in shock as Gajeel picked Laxus up almost gently.

"Good," Gajeel said with a satisfied nod before turning to look behind him. "Careful Salamander! Don't you hurt her!"

"I know, I know," Natsu said frowning.

Freed's eyes widened seeing him carrying Freya, following Gajeel out the now ruined guild hall.

"You got her."

Freed looked back at Eve quietly.

"Yeah, she's comatose bit we've got her," he said softly.

"I'm sorry I wasn't any help."

"You did your best," Freed said automatically, eyes going back to Gajeel as he walked out of the building.

Eve followed his gaze, eyes widening.

"Is Laxus okay?"

"I don't know. He's breathing, but..." Freed broke off pressing his hand to his chest as he suddenly felt short of breath.

"We'll take care of him," Eve said touching his shoulder.

Freed nodded swallowing. Eve's words did little to make him feel better. If Laxus was okay, if he was simply unconscious, why did Freed's chest feel as if someone was wrapping their hand around his heart and squeezing?