Well this is awkward. I said it wasn't gonna be a long chapter but apparently I was wrong. _
Ah well.
I hope you enjoy this chapter because I own nothing.
"Oh yea?! Let's see what you got! Tobi, stand back! I got this!" Yuka roared, putting up a barrier against the shadow claw of Natsu which just bounced off. Yuka then sent Natsu flying with a wave push, though Natsu went onto his feet before landing on the ground. "You are useless against me! My wave attack neutralizes any magic upon contact which means your attacks are useless! I trained using anti wizard magic at the Lamia Scale guild and I am sure you can imagine why." Yuka said. "For fights like these!" He roared, sending two balls of energy at Natsu who, like a serpent, slithered between the attacks. He transformed his body into shadow itself, allowing him to dodge and weave with ease. He then came right at Yuka with his dragon claw extended. "You can't penetrate my attacks with magic you fool!"
It was then his dragon claw went right through the barrier in which he grabbed onto the extended arm of Yuka. "Who said I was using a magic attack? This here is the arm of a dragon. Your attack is meaningless against it's scales!" Natsu said.
"You're crazy!" Yuka said, aiming his other hand towards Natsu but Natsu grinned behind the shadowy veil of his hood.
"You're damn right I am!" Natsu said before he shoved his head through the barrier as well as some of his chest. 'Fuck this hurts! Ow ow ow ow ow! It's like being stung over and over by bees!"
"You… you… Damn you!" Yuka roared, launching the wave attack right at Natsu. The attack hit Natsu, sending him flying but it also took Yuka with him, with the dragon arm on Yuka's arm. Natsu landed on his feet, skidding to a stop before slamming Yuka down onto the ground, head first, knocking out the wave user.
"Never underestimate a Fairy Tail wizard. We are known to use unconventional means with our magic to win!"
"Oh man, you are awesome!" Tobi said, smiling happily.
"You are about to find out first hand how awesome I am!"
"Oh yea? Well I'm not scared… cause I'm even stronger."
"Then let's see what you got!" Natsu said.
It was then Tobi grew green fingernails on both hands. "Mega-Jellyfish Paralyzing claws! Bet you can't figure out what they can do!"
"Paralyze you?"
"Wait what?! How did you know that?! Do you read mind or something?"
"Your fingernails are called Paralyzing claws… it's in the name."
"Oh… well then! Time for you to die! Just one swipe and you are just waiting to die!"
Natsu waited and grabbed onto the wrist of the left hand of Tobi before the dragon claw just grabbed onto the entire fist. "You lack the discipline in order to use them properly!" Natsu roared, kneeing up into Tobi's face before back handing him with his dragon hand which spun the dog man around. Natsu grabbed onto the shoulders of Tobi and slammed him onto his back before raising his foot and stomping onto Tobi's face, knocking him out.
"Too easy." Natsu said, shaking his head. "Evil will never win."
Natsu arrived back on top of the mountain, only to come upon Gray's body.
"Gray!" Natsu exclaimed, gently shaking him.
"Natsu…?" Gray asked weakly.
"Good you're alive. I'm taking you back to the village. You need to rest up. You're too badly injured.
"He's…. my fight."
"You lost your chance Gray. We cannot risk letting Lyon awaken Deliora. I will try my best to leave Lyon intact for you to arrive, but I can't promise anything. I will always do what is right, no matter what rules there are. So why did you lose?" Natsu asked as they began to sink into the shadows.
Upon their arrival back above ground, Gray coughed. "I lost because… because I was distracted."
"How so?"
"Just… him bringing up the past… blaming me for Ur's death."
"Which, you were responsible correct?" Natsu said. "You went off and she sacrificed herself to save you."
"That wasn't all..." Gray said, looking away. "When I went out to fight, I went to stop Deliora but I failed. Lyon and Ur came out to save me and Lyon was about to seal the demon away using the Ice Shell spell. Ur froze him solid and did it herself… because she didn't want Lyon to do it… I have to tell Lyon something… Ur may not be with us… but she is still alive."
"I thought you said she died to cast the Ice Shell spell?"
"She did."
"Does that mean the Ice Shell spell… kills the user?"
"It does."
"So… she is the ice now…?"
"Yes." Gray said, slowly falling asleep.
About five minutes later, Erza showed up a little winded.
"Hard fight?" Natsu teased.
"That rat… was one tough rodent." Erza said, sitting on a chair.
Natsu laughed a bit and nodded. "I thought the rat would be."
"So what happened?"
"Well, Gray here lost to Lyon… though he said it was because of guilt and being distracted because of it. As for me, I won easily. A little pain from doing something stupid but I won."
"So, what is the plan now Natsu? You're the commander of this quest."
"Well, you are going to watch over Gray for now. He needs to rest. If you really want to come up here and help, you can try but Gray is first priority. I will go up there and do what I can to stop Lyon and the ritual. If that means I take down Lyon before Gray, then so be it."
"I see. Good luck Natsu and be safe." Erza said as Natsu disappeared into his shadows.
Upon arrival in the cavern of Deliora, Natsu looked around and quickly traversed the cavern, flying up though the hole as he began to explore the temple. He was looking for support structures and he finally found them going east in the temple.
'Alright… Guess I'll have to use my dragon arm and some shadow power to knock down these damn pillars. My flame only burns… doesn't explode.' Natsu thought. "SHADOW CLAW!" Natsu roared, leaping a pillar and slamming his dragon claw into the pillar. It destroyed the pillar completely, which surprised Natsu. He didn't think the strength he had would do that but he did train hard at Fairy Tail. Natsu began to destroy more and more pillars on the east side, which slowly but surely, tilted the temple.
Lyon and his minion, Zalty, were surprised.
"What's going on?" Lyon asked.
"Seems we have another intruder… and he destroyed the temples pillars. How interesting."
"Does this mean the ritual is over?"
"At this moment, but I will go and fix this." Zalty said, disappearing from the area. It was then Natsu began to appear from the ground behind them.
"Seems I have your attention." Natsu stated.
"You dare challenge me you insolent fool?!"
"Fool? I destroyed your chances of reviving Deliora! With the temple this way, you lose!"
"You will pay!" Lyon roared. "ICE-MAKE: EAGLES!"
Natsu quickly turned into his snake form, slithering through the eagles. "SHADOW FIST!" Natsu roared only for Lyon to duck down.
"ICE-MAKE: DRAGON!" Lyon called out, when an ice dragon came out from below Natsu, sending Natsu into the ceiling, forcing Blood to come out from Natsu's mouth as the Dragon struck right in the chest, delivering massive damage. This wasn't a fight with Gray that an ice attack would do minimal damage. This was max damage.
"I get that you are angry that Gray killed Ur but that doesn't mean you should be hurting people now for your own petty desires!" Natsu roared, coming out from under Lyon. "SHADOW CLAW!" Natsu roared, striking Lyon in the stomach, sending him flying though Lyon landed on his feet.
"Petty!? He took away my only chance to become stronger than Ur! My dream to surpass my teacher is over! ICE-MAKE: EAGLES!"
Natsu was being pounded over and over by Eagles that exploded on his body though Natsu had his hands up in front of his body to minimize the damage.
"So you hurt other people?! There are plenty of people stronger than Ur out there! People stronger than Deliora! You are just a pathetic excuse for a mage who just wants to hurt people! SHADOW CLAW!" Natsu roared, leaping at Lyon with his dragon arm extended.
"SILENCE! I don't want a lecture from you! Ice-Make: Dragon!" Lyon called out, which the dragon went out after Natsu but Natsu dodged in mid air!
"Pathetic! You want to make people suffer, well I shall make you suffer! AAAAH!" Natsu said, almost touching Lyon but the dragon came from above and slammed Natsu into the floor before tossing him across the room, right into a wall.
"How can you do that when you can't even touch me?"
Natsu was breathing heavily, his vision blurry.
"Because… I won't give up." Natsu said, with both of his hands beginning to glow black with shadow. It was then from the side of the wall, cracks appeared before Gray jumped in. "Oh… it's you Gray. You're up early." Natsu said, breathing heavily.
"Leave him to me. It's time I settled things with him once and for all."
"What?! No way man! I was just getting started!" Natsu said.
"Don't be a fool! You're at your limits! Lyon is way out of your league!" Gray said, glaring at Natsu. "Let me handle this!"
"You seem awfully confident considering our earlier match." Lyon said with a smirk.
"You were right all along… I am the one to blame for our masters death." Gray said, getting into a stance. "But you are no better. You threaten my friends… my comrades and the villagers. You also threaten what our master gave her life to create. It's time we accept our punishment together!"
"That stance! Not the iced shell!"
"That's right."
"Are you insane?! You wouldn't dare!"
"If you want to live… then you will stop this nonsense now and leave this island and never return!" Gray said as he began to start the spell.
"Is that so? Well, I think you are bluffing. No way you would give up your life. You're a coward." Lyon said with a confident smirk.
"No I'm not." Gray said, growling. "All these years I didn't wanna admit to myself… that Ur died for me! But she did and it's time I took responsibility! So I will here and now! I am not afraid to die, especially if it means I can save people like she did!"
"Don't do it Gray!" Natsu yelled at the roaring winds.
"Stop this now!" Lyon said.
"What is it going to be Lyon?! Are we going to die or are we going to live?! What is it going to be?! You choose!"
"You wouldn't!"
"ICE SHEEEEE!" Gray went out but he was punched in the face by Natsu's right arm, the human arm.
"That is enough!" Natsu said with a glare.
"Natsu! What was that for?!" Gray demanded.
"You can't just bust in and interrupt my fight with a bunch of fancy talk! You lost your first match! Now its my turn!"
"What?! The first words out of my mouth was 'Leave it to me'"
"Yea well I said, this is my fight!" Natsu said, getting in Gray's face. "My fight!"
"Why you..."
"What?! You want to fight me too!? Huh stripper boy?!" Natsu said.
"Stripper boy?!" Gray exclaimed, grabbing Natsu's robe. "I don't have time to play with you! You… you… coward who hides behind a mask! I have a score to settle! You hear me?! And I am willing to die if that is what I have to do."
Natsu growled angrily and gripped onto his arm that was grabbing his robe. "And how is dying going to settle anything huh?! What will your death have accomplished?! All it sounds like to be me is you running away. I may have been losing my fight against Lyon but at least I stood my ground! You are just running away like a coward!" Natsu said, his red eyes staring into Gray's eyes. "You cowardly stripper." Natsu said, his tone teasing.
Before Gray could respond, the temple shook and realigned itself, shocking everyone in the room.
"Damnit! How did it get fixed?!" Natsu exclaimed, looking around.
"Seems Zalty has been mighty helpful." Lyon said with a smirk.
"Seems I need to go and stop him!" Natsu said, slowly disappearing into the ground. "Gray… you handle the Ice wizard over there. If you lose again, I will be haunting you." Natsu said, growling. "You hear me? You better beat him!" Natsu exclaimed before he was gone.
Natsu appeared shortly after, right in front of Zalty, who just finished repairing one of the pillars.
"Oh? If it isn't the destructive shadow user."
"So… the power over time. How interesting." Natsu said.
"Oh? You knew?"
"Well, it wasn't earth magic as those pillars look exactly the same… the only way you could have repaired it was turning back the clock. You do understand I can't let you commence the moon drip right?"
"Don't worry. I'm not needed. I have Tobi for that." Zalty said with a smirk before disappearing.
"Oh… that's not fair. He just teleported!" Natsu whined, only to hum in thought. "Wait… why do I care about him? I have to stop Tobi!" Natsu said with a grin, leaping into the shadow on the ceiling, teleporting himself to the top.
Upon his arrival, Natsu realized that he was too late. A loud roar rang throughout the lands and Natsu quickly collapsed to the ground, holding his ears.
'God damnit! My dragon ears are ringing!"
Gray turned to Lyon. "You awakened it?! It's too early!"
"AHAHAHA! Now the time is nigh Gray! First you and then Deliora!" Lyon said. "ICE-MAKE: PANTHER!"
"ICE-MAKE: CAGE!" Gray countered, trapping the panther in a cage who couldn't escape. "You lose." Gray said with a snarl.
Natsu plugged his ears with a glob of shadow, before teleporting himself down into the cavern, right next to Zalty.
"Isn't it beautiful?!" Zalty said with a grin.
"Want to see beautiful?! ANNIHILATION DRAGONS: SHADOWFLAME WAVE!" Natsu roared, a torrent of black flame coming out of his mouth which struck the demon who began to roar in pain.
"Are you insane?! You can't beat him!"
"Who cares if I can't beat him! I have to try! Even if it takes my life, I must stop it from killing the villagers! I can at least buy them time to get off the island!" Natsu said. "ANNIHILATION DRAGONS; SHADOWFLAME WAVE!" Natsu roared once more, unleashing another torrent of black flame into the beast. When Natsu finished his breath attack, Natsu's and Zaltys eyes widened. A large crack appeared in the monsters chest and it was slowly getting bigger and bigger.
'Now is my chance.' Natsu thought. "Shadow claw!" Natsu said, leaping at the beast before driving his dragon claw right into the chest of the beast, shattering the demon into many pieces, before grabbing onto the head of the demon. He turned to Salty and stared down at the demon.
"How… how is this possible?!"
"Because, Ur was killing the demon over the years." Natsu said before teleporting into the shadow.
One minute later, he appeared before a beaten Lyon and a battered Gray. Natsu tossed the demon's head across the room, landing it right next to Lyon.
"It… can't be." Lyon said softly.
"Yes. It can." Gray said. "You were never going to get your satisfaction. Ur was draining the life of the demon for the ten years she's been sealing it away!"
"My dream… is dead. There is no hope now." Lyon said, beginning to tear up. "I will never surpass Ur."
Gray looked at the demon, tears in his eyes but his hair covered his eyes. It was then Natsu appeared and punched him on the arm.
"Your teacher was amazing…" Natsu said.
Gray turned to Natsu and bowed his head. "You… you saved my life Natsu."
"I didn't do anything." Natsu said. "Ur saved your life again." Natsu said, patting Gray on the shoulder which got Gray to start crying, holding his face. Natsu turned to Lyon.
"Your master never wanted you to waste your life like this." Natsu said, helping Lyon up with the help of Gray. "But now… now she is in the sea… where she can watch over the both of you like the teacher she was." Natsu said, letting Gray handle his friend.
Erza came over shortly, after having moved the villagers farther away from the temple along the shoreline. She smiled at Natsu.
"So… you once again show how strong you are."
"I'm not strong." Natsu said. "I just never give up." He said, grinning.
"Well done either way… but there is still one matter to attend to." Erza said, confusing Natsu. "The curse…?"
"Oh yea. I was so busy on this demon I forgot!" Natsu said. Erza laughed a bit and grinned.
"So, how do you plan on destroying the curse?"
"Well, I honestly just need more information about the moon drip." Natsu said, walking over towards Lyon and Gray. "One moment… Lyon. What kind of affects does the Moon drip spell have? It caused the curse on the island… so do you have any reason how it did it?"
Lyon looked at Natsu for a few moments, thinking. "It's possible… that the intense moonlight and the spell… creates some sort of fumes."
"Like… smoke? Hmm… but smoke wouldn't do that cause we'd see it… It can't be a gas."
"What if it solidified?" Gray offered.
"It's… possible… There is no harm in launching an attack to find out right?"
Erza smirked. "Alright, I think it's time we settle the curse. Natsu. You and Gray have figured out what has caused it. Through your own investigations without my help, you have figured out what caused the curse and you stopped the spell that would cause it again. You are correct. There is something over the island. A glass shell. Are you ready to destroy it?" Erza offered.
"Do I get credit for doing this mission if I have you destroy it?"
"No… but you get credit if you help me." Erza said with a grin.
"Yay!" Natsu cheered. "Everyone, stand next to me."
"Oh great, another shadow to travel on." Gray said sarcastically.
"Oh quiet stripper." Natsu stated as they all sunk into the shadow.
They all came out in the middle of the village where the villagers were returning too shortly. Gray put Lyon next to a hut, leaning him against it as Erza and Natsu walked into the middle of the village.
"REQUIP: Giant's Armor!" Erza said, equipping an armor that was yellow and black. It also had a spear.
"So, what do I need to do."
"Can you make your flame breath as small as possible and hit a target?"
"Yes. What do you need me to do."
"Sit under my spear and as I throw it, give me all you got in that flame of yours on the butt of my spear. You ready?"
"Yes!" Natsu cheered happily. Erza pulled her arm back and began to throw it. "ANNIHILATION DRAGONS: SHADOWFLAME WAVE!" Natsu roared, the flame only wide enough for two inches, striking the flat end of the spear which launched it sky high, soaring it like a rocket up towards the moon.
"Oh… well I didn't expect that kind of power behind your flame." Erza said surprised.
"Is… it bad?"
"No. Just surprising." Erza said, watching as the spear struck a shell over the island, destroying it.
Gray, Erza and Natsu watched as the spell wore off over the island, but the inhabitants weren't back to human. Lyon was surprised but stayed quiet.
"What… happened?" Moka asked.
"Simple. The moon drip caused by a spell used three years ago formed a shell over the island." Natsu started.
"And when the shell happened, it cast a spell over you guys to lose your memories. It only effects demons."
"Meaning that since you also possess the ability to have human forms, you just assumed you were transformed into demons by the spell." Natsu stated.
"You guys are quite the detectives. I am glad I brought you to the island." Spoke a voice familiar to Natsu.
"Oh hey." Natsu said. "You disappeared on me on the boat ride."
"You noticed? Thought you were out sick."
"I was… and then I got hit with a giant tsunami wave." Natsu glared at the man.
"Ha ha sorry. I couldn't approach the island because I didn't wanna lose my memories like them. Since I am a ferry master, I was away from the island too much to get affected."
"Makes sense." Erza said with a nod as Bobo and Moka hugged each other. Father and Son reunited after three years.
About an hour later, Natsu sat next to Erza while Lyon sat next to Gray who was currently both against a huts wall. They were all at a feast held by the folks of the village, who wanted to thank the wizards for the helping them.
Gray looked at Lyon who was resting up.
"You know… I know you don't wanna hear it… but you really should join a guild. You'd make new friends… new rivals. You'd grow in strength and you'd be part of something. Maybe even a new dream."
"Yea… whatever." Lyon said, getting up. "I'm leaving." He said, slowly walking away, leaving Gray to sigh before joining the others at the feast.
About five minutes later into the feast, two figures began to walk up so Natsu and Erza stood up.
"So, are you back for more?" Natsu asked, his dragon hand clenching and popping his fingers.
"We just came to pay you a visit." Yuka said..
"I thought Lyon would have told you that we settled things." Natsu asked.
"Yes, but that doesn't matter to us." Yuka stated.
Sherry nodded. "We wanted to settle things with you ourselves."
"Oh yea?" Natsu said.
"Wait Natsu. Let them speak." Erza said.
"I don't really trust them. I saw the jelly they were trying to use on the village." Natsu said. "It's acid."
"Look… I know that it probably doesn't mean much coming from us." Yuka said. "But we wanted to apologize in person."
"Thanks to you… and all of your friends… we can finally let go of all the pain caused by Deliora so many years ago." Shelly said.
"You… were victims of Deliora too?" Gray asked, standing next to Natsu.
"Yes… when we were children… Deliora ravaged our village. We watched it murder all of our friends and family." Yuka started.
"The cold emperor had a plan." Shelly continued. "A plan to kill the monster once and for all. That's why we joined him."
"You see… we just wanted revenge. We were so focused on it… we never realized we were hurting innocent people."
"Bullshit." Natsu said, walking up to them and grabbing Yuka by his throat and Shelly by her own. "You willingly obeyed an order to destroy this village. You knew damn well they weren't your enemies!"
"At the time… we thought they were trying to stop our revenge!" Yuka said, trying to breath underneath the dragon arm.
"We… were just blinded by our hatred." Shelly explained.
"We… were just blinded by our hatred."
"Just blinded by our hatred."
"Blinded by our hatred."
"Blind"
Was what went thru Natsu's mind, which got him to drop the two of them. He backed away, not entirely sure why those words struck deep in his heart, but he shook them away.
"We're so sorry." Sherry said. "From now on, we'll treat other people with respect and love."
Natsu looked over at them and nodded. "If you want our forgiveness, there is one thing you must do." Natsu said, which got Erza to glare at him.
"Natsu..." She warned but he ignored her.
"What is it…? Anything."
"Join us for the feast." Natsu said with a grin, surprising Erza, Gray and the villagers.
"But we were enemies a second ago!" Yuka exclaimed.
"I don't think it's a good idea cause I'm trying to watch my figure!"
"Ah excuses! Live a little. I don't think anyone here is holding a grudge. All of us at one point has been blinded by something. You didn't mean any harm and you said you are sorry. Plus no harm was done as everyone here is alive and well." Natsu said, grabbing the two of them with a shadowy hand that extended from under them, before they were quickly dragged into the shadows and placed in front of a few tables of a feast.
"Woah… how the hell?" Yuka exclaimed.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Erza murmured, shaking her head at how strange Natsu can be at times.
About an hour after the party, it was time for sleep and the Fairy Tail gang stayed and rested.
Read. Review. Moo.
Next chapter shall be a very small chapter to bridge this arc and Phantom Lord arc.
Phantom Lord arc will show alot more Natsu becoming stronger. I hope you enjoy it!