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'Screw butterflies. It's like the whole zoo's inside my stomach,' Faye thought nervously.
They were getting closer and closer to their dreaded destination with every step they take. Everyone tried to appear cheerful, but the ever-present tension prevented them from doing so. Erza announced a break after their 2-hour-long hike, which was very welcomed.
Lucy absent-mindedly played with her keys. That's when a teenage girl, probably 17 years in age, with sea-green eyes and emerald hair approached her. "Wow, you're a Stellar Spirit Mage too?! Cool! You've got so many keys! I'm Rhea by the way, Cyan's friend," the girl said, winking. Lucy smiled, "Hi there. Glad to hear there's another Stellar Spirit mage."
"So, what keys have you collected so far?"
"All 12 Zodiacs, and 8 Special Keys."
"You've got all twelve?! Awesome!"
The two then indulge in a conversation, lightening the mood and heartening their dampened hearts. Layla caught side of this, and couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. Never before has she seen her mom this happy when talking to her. Not being able to stand the silence anymore, she skipped over to her dad.
Natsu was tearing a piece of roasted turkey leg with his teeth, grease dripping down the sides of his chin. Igneel sat beside him, chewing on his cold pasta. Layla bounded up to them, and said, "How about a game, dad?"
"Sure. What kind?" Natsu mumbled through his turkey leg.
"Spin the bottle."
"First time I've heard of it," Igneel commented.
"It's easy. We'll spin a bottle , and if it points at you, then you'll be asked questions and you have to answer truthfully. You can't lie, and to make sure, Tamora here who's skilled in reading emotions, would be helping us."
A girl with coarse, brown hair stepped forward. She was skinny and short, probably about 13 years old. She wore a black-rimmed glasses, and underneath, her piercing golden eyes scrutinized them, which made everyone feel uncomfortable.
"I'm Tamora, from Lamia Scale," the girl said, her voice soft.
"Pleasure to meet you. What say we start the game now? We don't have anything to do anyway," Natsu replied. He beckoned to Lucy, Rhea, the Redfoxs, the Fernandes family and explained the rules to them.
"What if we lie?" Allonna asked.
"Well there will be consequences, of course," Layla smiled mischievously. "You get to do a Dare. Someone will ask you to do something ridiculous and you gotta do it. Or else," here she stopped, and clicked her finger. Instantly, tongues of flames sprouted out of nowhere, shaped as human hands with wiggling fingers. "I'm personally gonna tickle you to death with my flames."
Everyone shuddered. They all know that Layla's Tickle Flames are awful. Almost everyone had experienced it once, and they're none too eager to try it a second time.
They then arranged themselves in one big circle, and placed a plastic bottle in the middle. Jason summoned his wind magic, and blew the bottle gently. It spinned and spinned and spinned and then comes to rest on… Natsu.
"Alright! The person to Natsu's right, which would be Marvel, will ask you a question. Remember, answer truthfully. Tamora's paying close attention. "
Marvel was silent for a moment. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He face Natsu and asked, "Who's the most beautiful girl you've met?"
Natsu laughed. "Well that's easy. This is my answer."
With that, he went over to Lucy's side and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Lucy blushed beet-red, while the others cheered.
The game continued another few more rounds before Erza called off the break and they had to move on again.
'At least my nerves aren't acting up again,' Faye thought as she gathered up her things and joined her two sisters.
This is it, they've arrived.
The sky was dark and menacing, with asphalt-grey clouds looming over them. Lightning flashed and thunder roared loudly, causing everyone to jump. Up ahead was a colossal cave made of gigantic rocks. Footprints dented the loose soil outside the cave - Acnologia's.
"Alright everyone, this is it. Acnologia's hideout," Erza's dusty face was grim, her mouth pressed into a thin hard line. "I will go along inside with Natsu and Gajeel and lure the dragon out. Once he has shown himself, strike him with all you've got. Good luck everyone, Master Makarov is counting on us."
She nodded at Natsu and Gajeel, who gave their goodbyes to their family members before parting ways with them. Erza walked over to her three daughters and hugged them all tightly. Looking at trio in the eye, she said firmly, "I love you."
With that, she tousled Cyan's hair and jogged over to where the two dragonslayers are. Taking a deep breath, they stepped inside the dragon's lair, knowing full well they might never come out again.
The cave was dark and damp, with the distinct smell of rotting animal carcass. With a flick of his fingers, Natsu lit up a flame. Somewhere back, a faint trickling sound of water droplets dripping was heard. Except for that and the clip-clopping of their boots, there was no other noise.
"Are you sure it's here Erza?" Natsu squinted his eyes, trying to get a better view.
At that moment, a low growl emanated from somewhere back.
"Oh yes, I'm sure," Erza replied, with the slightest hint of a smile.
The growl turned into a cackle resembling that of a hyena's. a raspy voice cried out in a sing-song tune, "Fee-fi-fo.. I smell the blood of 3 mages. Let them be alive, let them be dead. I'll grind their bones to make my bread! Fu, fu, fu."
The voice, belonging to none other than Acnologia, sent chills down the trio's spine. Erza mustered up enough courage to confront the humongous dragon, "Oh Great and Fearful Acnologia! We have come as per your request, bringing with us the Fruit of Eternia, in ransom for our guild master, Makarov. Now I ask of you to return our Master to us, and we will give you the Fruit in exchange."
The dragon was quiet for a while, before rasping on, "Ah.. The Fruit of Eternia.. Long have I searched for it's location. To think a group of mages would be the ones who will hand it over to me."
A tremor shook the cave as the dragon stood up, revealing itself. It was bigger than most dragons, obesidan-black in colour. White swirling patterns decorated it's scales.
"Do you know the story of the Fruit of Eternia mages? Legend says whoever consumes it and has the juice flowing inside your veins would be the ultimate king, that would have the power to obliterate any living thing at will, and most importantly, would have the power to raise the dead."
Gajeel made a noise of suppressed surprise. "Raise the dead? That's impossible! And fairly, why would you need a power like that?"
Acnologia stared at Gajeel menacingly with one glittering red eye. "Why, to raise the dragons of course!" at this, it laughed, howling like a wolf.
It continued, "Years ago, a group of mages prevented me from getting my hands on it. They fended me off, sealing the doors to Eternia. Who knew, that their own kind would betray them? That their own kind would demolish all their efforts and bring the Fruit of Eternia to me?"
Natsu gritted his teeth, "Not, without our Master. Hand him over to us, and the Fruit is yours."
Acnologia grunted, a cloud of smoke puffing out from his nostrils, "How can I trust you? For all I know, you would hand over a fake one, while you run off with your Master."
The corners of Gajeel's mouth twitched up as he replied, "Oh but we won't give you a fake one. This we give our word. Now, show us our Master, and we will lead you to the Fruit."
The dragon seem to consider the offer for a moment. "Alright. But one false move, mages, and I will make sure you die a ghastly death."
Erza -the fearless Erza, gulped nervously. The three followed the dragon deeper and deeper into the cave. Before long, they came to the other end of the cave. There, hanging in a cocoon of white threads, was Makarov's emaciated body, bloodied and bruised. Natsu growled and was about to bark something rude to the dragon, but Erza's bone-chilling glare silenced him.
"THIS IS HOW YOU TREAT OUR MASTER?!" Erza boomed angrily, eyes narrowed into tiny slits.
"Careful mages. Know that I'm the superior one here. You would do good to be quiet," the dragon growled.
Erza drew out a shaky breath, trying to control her wrath. "Alright, put him down."
"DO NOT ORDER ME AROUND!" the dragon roared loudly. "I will only give him to you once I receive my Fruit."
Natsu stepped up, and said boldly, "No."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
"Kill us if you want, but remember, only we know the location of the Fruit. Give us our master and we will lead you towards the Fruit."
"Why can't you show it to me now?!"
"Have you actually seen the Fruit yet?"
At this, the dragon hesitated, before replying, "No."
Natsu smiled triumphantly, seeing an opportunity to trick the dragon. "It's an awfully large metal sphere coated with brilliant green diamond. We managed to lug it all the way here using the help of a potion a powerful mage gave to us. However, the potion has run out, and now we have no way to bring it to you. Surely, a dragon with immense strength and power would not have any difficulty to carry it yourself."
The dragon seemed to straighten up, liking the comment on immense strength and power. (Dragons are terribly vain.) "Well," the dragon pondered, "I suppose I could do that."
"Very well. Come, and we will lead you to it."
"But before that," Gajeel intervened, "let the master go."
Acnologia snarled terrifyingly, but Gajeel stood firm. "No master, no Fruit."
With great reluctance, the dragon stepped aside, shifting his huge bulk. Erza rushed forward, hands gripped tightly on the hilt of her sword. With one swift motion, she jumped up and slashed at the silvery threads binding Makarov.
To her dismay, the threads were acidic, and instead of her cutting it, it melted her sword. Surprised, she loosened her grip and what remained of the sword fell with a clang.
The dragon chuckled, amused.
Gajeel stepped forward, but before he could go any further, Erza stopped him. "Don't. The acid will burn you."
He cursed.
"Natsu. Try it out."
Flames flaring out from his outstretched hands, he shouted, "Wing Slash of the Fire Dragon!". Flames shot up towards Makarov, who had begun to stir, and gripped the threads. Acid and fire was warring against each other in an evenly matched fight.
Natsu strained harder, droplets of sweat forming on his forehead. He gave a guttural shout and the threads caught fire, burning away to crisp. Natsu was careful not to let any of the flames harm the Master. Makarov free-fell, and Erza caught him just in time. She slapped him gently on his cheeks. He stirred, groaning as his eyelids fluttered open. He mumbled something inaudible about food.
Erza smiled, "He's fine."
The two dragon slayers breathed a sigh of relief.
Acnologia, bored, impatiently said, "Now, the fruit?"
Cliffy!
Don't you just hate cliffhangers?
Keep reading and see you next week, hopefully I can get it uploaded by then cause I'm having my Final Year Exams. Well follow me and the creator on Twitter! Cristabella23 and BerlianaTj