Let's Play Hangman
Hey peoplez! IW here with Chapter 11 of Let's Play Hangman! As usual, please leave a review, constructive criticism would be nice as well. So, anyways, I hope you like this chapter! (Sorry for the really, really long wait!)
Chapter 11- Is it finally the end?
The battle wore on. Most of them were fighting Heathcliff, who still hadn't revealed his magic, while Natsu, Gajeel, Juvia and Lily still traded blows with Lucy/Cassandra.
Heathcliff moved quickly and efficiently, dodging their attacks and jabbing at their heads. He kicked Gray's stomach, making him double over. With his wind knocked out of him, he clutched his stomach. Heathcliff, taking advantage of that, shoved Gray in the way of Wendy's 'Roar of the Sky Dragon. He then punched him in the chest, blasting him back a few metres. Gray limply fell on the floor, unmoving. Blood trickled down his mouth. He groaned, and Erza said, "Stay there Gray. With your condition, you'll only get in the way." That was true, as he was already tired from the other gray-eyed people who had attacked him. He nodded in affirmation weakly, before laying his head down.
Erza then came at him, while Heathcliff was distracted with Wendy's wing attack. She directed ten blades straight at his head, and while he was dodging them, equipped into her Lightning Empress armour. Her spear crackled with charged lightning, and her armour glinted dangerously in the dim lighting. With swift footwork, she made it to behind his back. I've got him. His reaction time was slightly slow. Erza thought. She raised her spear, ready to deal the finishing blow while Wendy lunged to initiate a claw attack. With inhuman speed, he leapt up, without bothering to turn. Instead, he twisted in mid-air and cupped his hands together, making a bowl out of his palms. Unknown to the re-equip and Sky Dragon slayer, a clear liquid pooled in his hands. He thrust his hands out, flinging the liquid onto Wendy and Erza's body. Wendy, who saw the substance coming, thought, is that all? His magic is potions?
The liquid landed on Erza's face, and it landed on Wendy's outstretched arms. Erza's body froze, her arms stuck to her spear, her mouth open to shout something. It was as if time had frozen. The same went for Wendy, her hands stopped in mid-attack. Her magical aura around her arms for her claw attack could still be seen, in the same frozen state as the two mages. Heathcliff landed after what seemed like minutes in the air, dusting his hands off with obvious relief similarly to how one might after catching a bug. Natsu turned to see what the silence was and his mouth gaped open at what he saw. In that moment, Lucy's celestial spirit, Virgo, caught his arms and twisted them painfully behind his back. Natsu bit his lip, forcing himself to not cry out. Lucy smiled, an unnerving, evil smile. She put her keys back into her pouch and tucked her whip back in her belt. She walked up to Natsu, who was thrashing in Virgo's grip. She cupped his face, making him freeze up in confusion. His arms fell to his sides and his legs slackened.
Lucy then pulled out something that shimmered ethereally in the light. It was a knife, covered in a greasy, sick sheen. A rainbow of colours were there, like oil, but more… sicker… There was no way to explain this, but when Natsu looked at the knife, it made him want to throw up really badly. Even now, not even looking at it, just feeling the aura around the knife made bile rise up in his throat.
With one hand still on Natsu's face, Lucy spun the knife around with her finger. The scene looked like a lion about to pounce on its prey, playing with it before… devouring it.
One of Lucy's keys brightened and glowed. It was the Lion's key. Loke materialised next to Natsu and pulled Virgo's arms off Natsu. He immediately face-planted on the floor, before sitting up slowly. Lucy snarled, and it looked so foreign on her face. It twisted up her beautiful features, transforming them into something feral and wild. She pocketed the knife and glared daggers at her celestial spirit. Loke looked up and Lucy, surprise registering on his face. He glanced at Virgo and whispered something in her ear. She nodded and disappeared in a shimmer of golden light.
"What the hell, Loke? How dare you command my spirits?!" The sentence came out as a low growl. Natsu stared up into her face with astonishment.
"Lucy, I ordered her as the Leader of the Zodiac. But that doesn't matter. Princess, I know you are in there somewhere. You just need to break free. Look, Natsu even fought for you, so you need to get out and help him." Loke said calmly. He kicked Natsu softly, and disappeared also. Lucy seemed dumbstruck, her mouth open in an o. Heathcliff was watching the scene with amusement dancing deviously in his eyes. He was visibly enjoying the conflict that raged in Lucy and Natsu's minds. Everyone had forgotten about Happy and Charla, who were hiding behind a corner. Charla was studying the scene, calculating what could happen. Happy just looked at it with fear and helplessness, wishing he could do something, anything.
Natsu stood up, wincing in slight pain. He righted himself against the wall, leaning on it to keep standing. Lucy watched him with hawk-like intensity, one hand resting on her whip. One wrong move, and she would attack. One wrong move could cost him his life. One wrong move could deprive him of his hard-earned chance to free Lucy. Natsu pressed his fingers against his temple, warding away a headache that threatened to make him pass out. He lit up a hand, making Lucy tense up, ready to strike. Natsu leaned forward, almost tumbling down onto the floor, never getting up again. He stepped towards her, one step, two steps, three steps. By then, Lucy had once again gotten her knife out. He trembled with exhaustion, yet he still forged on for his nakama.
Lucy plunged the knife hilt deep, burying the metal into Natsu's chest. His eyes betrayed no emotion, something that was rare with the Dragon slayer.
Natsu's body jerked awkwardly and he went onto his knees. He fell onto his hands, and crawled to Lucy on all fours.
No… I refuse to give up. Not yet, when Luce, my Luce still isn't back. My nakama is still waiting for us back at the guild. I can't fail any of them.
Natsu coughed, clutching the hilt of the knife. He steeled himself and pulled it out. He screamed, the loudest scream he'd ever yelled. It carried all of his pent-up emotions. It reverberated in the air, making even the mighty Heathcliff wince. Natsu only had a tiny amount of strength left, not nearly enough to make a comeback.
"Please, Luce. Come back."