Wrath of the Fire Dragon

Natsu's chest glowed, and steam leaked out of his mouth, as his Dragon's Eye glowed at Laxus. The lightning mage glowered back at him.

"Why can't you see the miserable state Fairy Tail is in?!" he yelled, "I intend to make the guild strong again!" He shot a blast of lightning at Natsu, who flapped away. Laxus shot a glance at the timer, noticing that only a minute and half remained.

"Is the old fool really choosing to let the town get destroyed?" he said.

"The hell that's going to happen!" Natsu declared, as he flew through the columns, as Laxus shot lightning bolts at him, "What do you have to gain from destroying the town? I know what you really want, you want to stop it yourself!" Hearing that made the air around Laxus surge with electricity.

"Well don't, worry Erza is going to destroy all of them!" He then swooped down at Laxus, as he held up his feet. Dragon claws made out of fire appeared on them, and he clawed at Laxus, who didn't have time to deal with that. Laxus grabbed his burn shoulder, as he glowered up at Natsu, who was perched atop the altar.

"How long do you intend on keeping up this act!" Natsu roared.

"Don't you talk down to me!" Laxus roared right back, "Lighting Orb!" He shot an orb of electricity at Natsu, who beat his wings, and avoided the attack.

"Its time I grounded you!" he declared, "Lightning Web!" Lightning arced through the air, as it shocked Natsu, who fell to the ground. Natsu quickly got up, but remained on all fours, his arms spread out to balance him. He was walking on three fingers, with his remaining two folded back, two spines of the three spined fire wings. Natsu grinned, as he flicked his tongue.

"I'm all fired up now!"

(with Erza)

"…197… 198… 199…" Erza let out a gasp, as she fell to her knees. She was using her Heaven's Wheel armor, and was struggling to create as many swords as possible, to strike down the Thunder Palace, but she simply didn't have the strength to do it.

"Damn it!" Erza muttered, "How many of those things are there?" She looked up, and saw the lacrimal beginning to spark as the clock wounded down.

"Come on Scarlet!" she said to herself as she tried to rise to her feet, but found she couldn't, "Come on! You can get more swords! You've got to!"

"Everyone!" Erza abruptly stopped, as she heard a voice.

"Is that…"

"Everyone who can hear me, stop fighting , and look into the sky!"

"Warren?" Erza thought.

(with Lucy)

The voice stirred Lucy from her rest, as she leaned up.

"What's with this voice in my head?" she asked.

"Its Warren!" Happy said, looking around.

(around Magnolia)

People all across the town perked up as they heard Warren's telepathy. A top a building, Warren was using his magic, and spreading his message.

"Those things up there are Laxus' doing!"he explained, "If we don't do something, then they'll attack the town! No time to explain further, just take them out!"

"Warren, how do you…" Erza called.

"Is that Erza!" Gray said, as he held onto Warren's shoulder, and started speaking telepathically as well.

"Erza, you've been turned back to normal?"

"Yes I am, but what are you doing there?" Erza asked.

"I just so happened to bump into Warren," Gray answered.

"Don't worry," Mira's voice said, "We're all okay, everyone's been turned back to normal."

"Then that means Levy's okay!" Jet said.

"Bisca," Alzack weakly said in relief

"Alright!" Warren said, "I can't contact the guild hall, but everyone that I can needs to target those…"

"Warren!" Max called, "You think I've forgotten what you did to me!"

"Max!" Warren said frantically, "It wasn't personal or anything, I was just trying to save the girls!"

"While we're on the subject, Macao, we need to a rematch!" Wakaba said.

"Screw you," Macao answered, "I won fair and square!"

"Will you guys quit all this squabbling!" Gray yelled into Warren's ear.

"Look who's talking!" everyone yelled right back.

"Enough!" Erza called, "Stop using Warren like a communication lacrima!" Warren found that statement rather ironic, considering that she had yelled that as well.

"We can't just haphazardly start shooting them down!" Erza explained, "We'll all get hit by lightning if we do!" However, nobody was paying attention

(with Max)

"I'll deal with you later, Warren!" Max yelled, as he gathered up his sand.

(with Alzack)

"Now that Bisca's safe, I don't care what I have to do," Alzack said as he summoned up a sniffer rifle, and took careful aim.

(with Macao and Wakaba)

"I'd rather expend my energy on kicking Wakaba's ass," Macao said, "But this is more important!"

"Right back at your purple!" Wake responded.

(with Lucy)

"Alright!" Lucy said, pumping her fist, "Let's do this Happy!

"Are you sure Lucy?" Happy asked, "You're still pretty beat up."

"I'm more than sure!" Lucy answered.

(with Erza)

"Everyone, target the Eastern ones! I'll take care of the Western one!" Erza said, as she aimed her swords. With that, she, along with everyone else, launched their attacks at the lacrima. One by one, the lacrima broke, but also one by one, the lightning bolts came down, and struck everyone.

While Erza got it worst, she managed to cling to consciousness, as she smiled up.

"You're all bunch of idiots," she said weakly.

"Pot and kettle Erza," Gray answered.

(with Natsu and Laxus)

Thunder Palace out of order.

"Told you so," Natsu said with a smirk. Laxus stared in shock and horror. This wasn't supposed to happen.

"When all's said and done, we're all the same," Natsu continued, "How do you think you can become Master if you're outside the group?" Laxus was silent, before he began to shake, and with a bellowing roar that nearly put Natsu's to shame, lighting surged around him.

"Then I'll take the guild by force!" Laxus roared. Natsu held up a wing to block the force.

"Damn it! Just give it up already! You won't get your hands on Fairy Tail!"

"Trust me I will," Laxus said darkly, "But its clear that I was going about it the wrong way. Bargaining couldn't have gotten me anywhere, so…" He then held up his arms, and lightning struck around him.

"I'll just use my own power to destroy my foes!"

"Alright then!" Natsu said, as he opened his wings, "Then I'll just beat that power!" He then jetted at Laxus.

"Fire Dragon's Claw!" Natsu said, as he slashed down, only for Laxus to block it relatively easily.

"Try if you want," Laxus answered with a sneer, as he struck Natsu with lighting, sending the Fire Dragon Slayer flying away, and into a column. Not giving Natsu to the chance to get airborne, Laxus bolted at him, as he kicked Natsu with an electrically charged strike, sending Natsu crashing into the wall. Laxus landed atop the altar, as he looked down at Natsu.

"Why don't you just fly away like the insect you are?" Laxus sneered.

"You're good," Natsu said, ignoring the insult, as he just grinned. Laxus clenched his teeth in frustration, as he held up his fist up. As Natsu tried to get up, a shockwave knocked him back to the ground.

"Resounding through the air, the roar of thunder," Laxus spoke as his fist crackled with electricity, "plunge from the heavens and reap destruction…" The air over Laxus glowed, as lightning surged over him. Knowing what was coming, Natsu folded his wings over him, in hope of defending himself as much as he could.

"Raging Bolt!" A massive strike of electricity came down at Natsu, who closed his eyes and braced himself. There was a flash of light, and when it faded, Laxus didn't see anything where Natsu was.

"Where's that smug attitude now?" Laxus sneered, before bursting out laughing, "And you thought you could beat me?! The strongest man in Fairy Tail!"

"Don't you ever shut up?"

Laxus looked over to the right, and saw Gajeel of all people standing there, holding Natsu by his belt.

"Gajeel?" Natsu asked, looking up.

"You," Laxus muttered.

"I've been looking for a chance to finally settle things with you," Gajeel said, dropping Natsu to the ground. Laxus grinned evilly at Gajeel.

"What stake do you have in this, Iron Dragon?" Laxus said, "Piss off!"

"Yes, you do that," Natsu said he got to his feet, "I'll take on Laxus!" Gajeel glared down at Natsu.

"Don't think this settles or beef, Salamander," he said, "But this guy is very strong. He's Makarov's flesh and blood, and if we want to beat him…"

"Ah crap," Natsu said.

"We're going to have to work together on this one," Gajeel said, with a glare. Natsu glared at his fellow Dragon Slayer.

"Are you kidding?" Natsu said, "Whose the one with Dragon's Eye?!" To illustrate his point, he pointed as his blazing, slitted eye. Gajeel looked jealously at that briefly, before looking back at Laxus.

"This guy has caused more pain and chaos than I've ever seen," he said, "This guy has to be stopped no matter what." Natsu was silent, as he thought about that, before grinning.

"I'd say that there's only room in the sky for one dragon," he said, "But seeing as I'm the only one who can actually fly, I don't think its necessary."

"Doesn't matter," Gajeel said, grinning back, "But with all this lightning, I don't think anyone's flying." Natsu rose to his feet, as he created his wings, and fell to his fours.

"Now let's be clear, this is a one time thing," he said.

"Hell yeah it is!" Gajeel answered, "I hate having to work with you now!"

With that, the two mages shot at Laxus, who just held up his arms, as he withstood the strikes. He then waved his arm, sending an arc of lightning at Natsu, knocking him away, and into Gajeel.

"Use your breath!" Gajeel said. Natsu breathed out his fire, and using that as a boost, Gajeel turned his arm into an iron pole.

"Iron Dragon's Staff!" Gajeel said, as he struck at Laxus, who managed to dodge. As he jumped off, Gajeel turned his leg into a blade.

"Iron Dragon's Blade!" He slashed up, but instead of slashing Laxus, Laxus landed on the tip of Gajeel's blade, and jumped into the air.

"Lighting Gatling!" A multitude of lightning bolts rained down at Gajeel, who was pelted, and knocked away.

However, Laxus, his attention on Gajeel, failed to Natsu as he swooped up next to him.

"Fire Dragon's Blast!" Natsu said, as he shot a massive blast of fire at Laxus, which knocked him back towards the ground.

"Iron Dragon's Lance," Gajeel said as he turned his arm into an iron spear, "Demon Kindling!" He struck multiple times at Laxus, before he hit the ground, and knocking him back.

Natsu's chest lit up, as he inhaled deeply. Gajeel also inhaled.

"Iron Dragon's Roar!"

"Fire Dragon's Roar!" Both Dragon Slayers let out their breath attacks, though Natsu's was ever so slightly stronger. The combined attacks struck at Laxus, creating a massive explosion. The shockwave sent the two careening away. Natsu managed to grab onto a column, while Gajeel skidded to a halt on the floor.

"Did it work?" Natsu asked, steam leaking from his mouth. His chest was still glowing.

"Far from it," Laxus answered. The two Dragon Slayers stared in shock, as Laxus emerged from the dust, his shirt blown off.

"Is that really all you can manage?" Laxus said, "And you call yourselves Dragon Slayers?"

"Damn!" Gajeel said, "How strong is this guy that he can take two massive dragon roars!"

"With one enhanced!" Natsu said. Though what he was doing didn't feel like a Dragon's Roar, it felt like he was just breathing fire, albeit with a lot of power.

"Its nothing that complicated," Laxus said, as his power began to surge, "I had to keep this secret thanks to the old man, but I suppose there's no harm letting you take a look." His teeth sharpened, as his muscles pulsed, and scales began to grow over this body.

"That's…," Natsu muttered.

"He's not…," Gajeel said.

"Lighting Dragon's…"

"He's a Dragon Slayer!" Natsu and Gajeel yelled together.

"Roar!" An enormous blast of lightning struck at the duo. Natsu wrapped himself with his wings, and while he actually managed to avoid the worst of the blast, it still sent him flying. He skidded to a halt, his fire claws raking through the floor. Gajeel, who had no means of defense, was left sprawled on the floor.

"You're still alive?" Laxus growled, as he looked over Natsu. His body began glowing with gold energy.

"You two, Erza, Mystogan, the old man, everyone in Magnolia…," he muttered, before roaring, "You can all go to Hell!" He then held out his hands.

"That power?" Gajeel said.

"That's the old man's!" Natsu said.

Both of them knew what this meant: Fairy Law.

"Laxus stop!" Natsu yelled.

"That techniques targets everyone the user deems their enemy," Gajeel muttered, "If it succeeds…"

The gold energy began to center around Laxus open hands, as his eyes glowed gold as well. It was time he brought this to an end.

"Stop!" Natsu repeated, as he jetted at Laxus, only to bounce off the energy field being formed from the spell.

"Laxus!" Everyone looked towards the door, and saw Levy standing there.

"Levy?" Natsu said.

"The hell are you doing here!" Gajeel yelled.

"Laxus, you have to see the Master!" Levy said. Laxus was silent, he didn't even look up.

"The Master, your grandfather," Levy said slowly, "He's dying!"

Everyone was suddenly silent.

"Please!" Levy begged, tears streaming down her eyes, "Go see him!"

"The old man's…. dying," Natsu said slowly, unable to believe it himself.

"The old man's giving up the ghost, eh?" Laxus said, before grinning, "Well that's just fine. Seems like my chances of becoming Master just increased again!" Levy covered her face as she began to sob. Natsu remained silent.

"You bastard!" Gajeel growled.

"I will destroy everything!" Laxus proclaimed, "And from the ashes, Fairy Tail will arise, greater than ever before! No one will ever defy us again!" He then held up his clenched fists.

"FAIRY LAW!"

There was an enormous flash of light, that quickly consumed all the people there. The light was so great, that could be seen all across the town.

(with Erza)

"Is that?" Erza asked. She was still sprawled on the ground, as she watched the light in shock.

(with Lucy)

"That's Fairy Law!" Happy said, as he looked on with Lucy. Lucy clenched her fists, before she started running down the street, in the direction of the light. Somehow, she knew that was where Natsu was.

"Lucy!" Happy called.

"I've got to get to Natsu!" Lucy said. He's done everything for me, she thought, The least I can do, is be there for him!

(at the cathedral)

The light faded. Laxus took a breath, as he looked up.

"At last, my time is…," but he was abruptly silenced, when the dust faded, and he saw everyone still there.

"We're alright?" Levy asked, looking around. Sure enough, everyone was unharmed.

"How… how is this possible?" Laxus said, too shocked to yell.

"Its not just the people here," a familiar voice said. Everyone turned, as Freed limped into the building.

"Freed?" Levy asked.

"No one in the entire town has been harmed," Freed explained, "You're attack failed."

"That can't be!" Laxus exclaimed, "My Fairy Law was completely perfect! All of my enemies were supposed to be destroyed!"

"You may talk a big game," Freed said, "But you're more like the Master than you realize. You've indeed inherited his power, but you've also inherited his heart."

"The spell looked into Laxus' heart," Levy said, "And saw his true nature."

"Fairy Law won't be deceived," Freed said, "This will always be you're true feelings."

"NO!" Laxus bellowed, "I refuse to accept it! I have no friends!"

"Give it up," Freed said, "We've lost, just go and see your grandfather!"

"I refuse!" Laxus answered, "I will not be that man's grandson! I am my own man! I'M LAXUS DREYAR!"

Meanwhile, Natsu slowly rose to his feet. He no longer has his wings.

"Are you so delusional about this?" he asked, "We all know who you are! Being the old man's grandson doesn't matter!"

"Shut up, Natsu!" Laxus roared, as he fired a bolt of lightning, which Natsu managed to avoid. His body was then cloaked in fire.

"Fire Dragon's Wave!" Natsu said as he brought his arms down, sending a curtain of fire at Laxus, who swatted it away.

"Lighting Dragon's Strike!" Laxus launched a bolt of lightning at Natsu, who managed to avoid it. Natsu breathed his fire, which Laxus responded with his Dragon's Roar. The two techniques classed, before creating a large explosion, which sent both fighters flying, and skidding to the floor.

"Natsu!" a female voice called. Natsu whirled around, and saw Lucy running towards the cathedral.

"Lu!" Levy called.

"What's she doing here?" Gajeel said.

"Lucy," Natsu said, smiling at the sight of her. That was when a bolt of lightning lashed out, but it didn't strike Natsu. Instead, it struck Lucy.

"Lucy!" Levy cried out.

"Bunny Girl!" Gajeel said.

"Why did you do that, Laxus!" Freed yelled, "She didn't have anything to do with this!"

"She was interfering in my fight," Laxus said, "I'm done with all this crap! I'm just going to end this now!" He then turned to look at Natsu, who was standing perfectly still. Laxus took advantage of this, and struck Natsu with another blast of lightning, sending Natsu crashing into the wall.

"Natsu!" Freed and Levy, who was at Lucy's side, cried out. Laxus just laughed madly.

(in Natsu's mind)

Natsu was standing in a volcanic landscape, the air thick with smoke.

"Lucy," he murmured.

"Give in." Natsu could hear the rumbling voice again. He turned, and saw a towering shape moving through the smoke. The shape had a long neck, with glowing eyes, a crown of horns framing the end of its long heads. As it moved, Natsu noticed that it was walking on what looked like wings, in a similar way to the where Natsu would walk with Dragon's Eye, and saw a long tail lash out behind it.

It was a dragon.

"Who are you?" Natsu asked.

"I am the one who can give you strength," the dragon spoke, as it moved through the smoke, turning its head to Natsu, its eyes glowing fiercely, "I am the one who can destroy all your enemy! All you must do, is give into the fire!"

"Give in?" Natsu echoed.

"Yes, if you do, your enemy will burn!"

"But Laxus is my comrade," Natsu said firmly, "I won't do that to a comrade!"

"And yet he strikes down the one for whom you care," the dragon answered, "Fire is destruction! Fire is rage! Embrace that power! Protect her!"

"Protect her…"

(outside Natsu's mind)

"Protect…. her," Natsu whispered as he slowly rose from the rubble, his chest flaring up, "I will… protect…. her…"

"Yes, give into the fire!"

Natsu let out a bellowing roar so loud, Freed and Levy had to cover their ears. Natsu was then cloaked in fire, as he brought of his wings, and fell to his hands, on three fingers again. On his feet, his shoes burned away, A long tail made out of fire, shot out of his back, as a few spines went down Natsu's back, and fire horns framed his head. In his mouth, his teeth all turned into serrated fangs. He then opened his wings, as he took to the air. He then dove back down at Laxus.

"YOU WILL BURN!" Natsu roared, as bared his claws at Laxus.

"Disappear!" Laxus responded, as he summoned up massive blast of electricity at Natsu. When the light faded, Natsu was still coming at him.

"Wha…," Natsu abruptly silenced him by grabbing Laxus' face in with his claws, and slamming him into the ground. He then beat his wings, and took the air, erupting through the ceiling. With that, he began soaring down the streets, soaring close the ground, as he slammed Laxus' into the roof, and dragging him off it.

Laxus let out grunts of pain, before holding up his fist, and blasting Natsu off of him. This surprised Natsu, and caused him to lose his grip. Laxus tumbled across the roof, as he skidded to a halt. He got up, and glared Natsu, who was flying past him.

"Lighting Dragon's Roar!" Laxus let out his Dragon's Roar at Natsu, who easily dodged, and swooped down at Laxus. As he was passing over, Natsu he loosed his fire, as Laxus held up his hands to try and block, but was consumed in the fire. He emerged from the smoke, fallen to one knee.

"What the hell's going on!" he yelled, "How did he get this strong!"

But Natsu wasn't done. He swooped back down, and slashed Laxus across the chest with his claws. Laxus let out a yell of pain, as he grabbed the three wounds on his chest. Natsu had pierced his scales. He looked up, as Natsu circled overhead, before diving back down.

"Take this, Salamander!" Laxus yelled, as he gathered his lightning, "Lighting Dragon's Holy Arrow!" He then blasted one of his most powerful attacks at Natsu, which took the form of a long spear. Natsu responded, but holding up his fist, and slamming into the lighting bolt, knocking it away.

From below, the other's watched, with Gajeel over Levy's shoulder, with Lucy being carried by Freed.

"I knew Natsu was strong, but this…," Levy said in awe, "I've never seen power like this!"

"Is this the power that tore through my barriers?" Freed asked slowly. Natsu then swooped down at Laxus, and grabbed in by the shoulder. But then he did something nobody anticipated.

Natsu sunk his teeth into Laxus' shoulder. Laxus let out a roar of pain, as Natsu's teeth pierced his scales, and his flesh.

"What is he doing?!" Gajeel said, weakly looking up.

"Natsu!" Levy called.

"Nat… su," Lucy said, as she slowly regained consciousness. Natsu then took to the air, Laxus still in his teeth, and soared upwards, before diving back down, and slamming Laxus straight into the road.

When the dust cleared, it revealed and unconscious Laxus, completely defeated. Natsu reared over him, his tail lashing out. His hand was on Laxus chest, and everyone there noticed that his fingers had changed. His three finger he walked on were coated in red scales, and sharp, black claws began to jut out of them. His ring and pinky finger were longer and thiner, and were now more prominently held back. There were even traces of webbing in between them. Natsu held up his hand and opened his mouth, as his chest lit up.

"Natsu! No!" Levy cried.

"You'll kill him!" Freed said. Gajeel managed to launch himself from Levy somehow, and he held up his hands.

"Iron Dragon Restraints!" Two restraints formed from his hand, and pinned Natsu's hands to the ground.

"Damn it Salamander!" Gajeel yelled, "Have you gone completely psycho!" Natsu was silent for time, as he looked towards Gajeel. His tail then lashed out, and knocked Gajeel away.

"Gajeel!" Levy called, as the Iron Dragon Slayer crashed to the ground.

"He's lost it!" Gajeel said, "You have to stop him!" Natsu turned his attention back to Laxus.

"You… hurt… Lucy," he growled, "And now…" He then got ready to breath his fire, as the glow came to his neck, and his mouth. Everyone cried out, as Gajeel tried to move to them again.

"Natsu!" Natsu closed his mouth just as his fire was coming out. He turned, and saw Lucy crawling towards him.

"Lucy," he muttered. He then slowly moved off Laxus, and towards her, still crawling on all fours. Lucy rose to her knees, and held out her arms. Natsu's Dragon's Eye faded, as did his fire cloak, as the scales he had disappeared, and his fingers turned back to normal. He then passed out, and fell into Lucy's arms.

Everyone was completely still, as Natsu rested in Lucy's embrace.

Note: First of all, sorry for not giving Gajeel a bigger role, but I wanted this scene to showcase Natsu at both his best, and his worst, so I felt the sacrifice was necessary. I hope you all liked this ending to the fight. It wasn't easy to come up with.

It seems Natsu may have a darker side to him, and that dragon within him as something to do with it. Be sure to review. This is easily the longest chapter I've written in a while.