Hey guys I hope you liked the last chapter! The cliff-hanger was just… My friend got so mad about that. But, just so you know, it's more fun for me to end it like that. Anyways, I hope you like this chapter!

Disclaimer ~ I do not own Fairy Tail.

There is a giant roar… from the right..

No! Why did you do that? Now we can't go off on our own. I think. That completely ruined our plan.

Natsu walks to my side. "What was that?" He asks me.

I resist the urge to say a giant roar, but I do answer "I have no idea."

"Should we investigate?" Gray asks.

"Maybe we should send a small group first, and then the rest of us can follow when they come back," I say, faith returning in my plan.

"I think that we should all go together," Erza says.

"I'm with Crystal on this one," Mai says.

"So am I," Alex says, even though she has no idea about the plan.

"I'm with Crystal," Rin says, but, like Alex, she has no idea about the plan.

"..." The Unknown says. He never sides with anyone.

"Well, that's 4 against 3," I say.

"Well, who's going to go?" Natsu asks.

"Me, Mai and The Unknown," I say.

"You seem to have put an awful lot of thought into this," Erza says suspiciously.

"No, it's because me and the Unknown have had a lot of time fighting alongside each other, so we're more comfortable with that fighting style," I say thinking quickly. "And Mai's need to come because… Ummmm because.."

"Because I've been here before, and I know this place inside out," Mai says quickly.

Nice save! I think.

"Whatever, let's hurry," Gray says impatiently.

"Gray's right," I say and me, the Unknown, and Mai head off to the right before anyone can argue.

I keep checking behind me to make sure that no one has tailed us.

"Crystal, what are you doing?" Mai asks.

"I'm making sure that no one's following us," I reply.

"Anyway, what are we supposed to do?" Mai asks.

"Isn't it obvious, we kill the monster and then we go back and pretend it was nothing and then leave," I say sarcastically.

"Seriously," Mai says disapprovingly.

I roll my eyes. "Did you think I was serious?" I ask.

"Not at all," Mai says.

"Uh huh," I say.

"Guys," The Unknown says. "We're approaching our destination."

"How much farther?" I ask.

"Not too far," The Unknown says.

"How long will it take to get there?" Mai asks.

"A few minutes" The Unknown says and after that all conversation ceases.

We walk in silence for the remaining amount of time.

We approach a giant cave in which there is probably the most hideous creature in all of existence.

It had the head of a dragon, but with an odd pattern on it's face. It wasn't exactly stripes, but more of like a streak. It wasn't just that, but the fact that the colours on it were nauseating, there was bright and neon colours. It's body was relatively small, as it was the size of a school bus. I know that a school bus it pretty big, but for creature like this it was pretty small. It's body had the same pattern as it's face which made it even more nauseating.

The Unknown stays expressionless, but Mai looks like she had back in the other corridor.

Maybe we should have let the other's come with us. I think.

"Maybe I should go ba-" I begin, but Mai puts her hand on my shoulder.

"No you should stay, I'll go back," Mai says.

"Are you sure?" I ask. Why would I doubt her going back to get our friends.

"Yes, I am," Mai says. She smiles, and runs back down the corridor to get to everyone else.

Thank you. I silently thank her. I know it's going to be a while before she comes back so me and the Unknown have to stall for a while until she gets back.

I turn to the Unknown. "Are you ready?"

"I'm always ready," The Unknown says.

Before we can attack, the monster awakes and I'm trapped in the sultry gaze of it's dark green eyes.

It lashes out at me and the Unknown quickly pulls me out of the way.

I snap out of the 'charm' if you can call it that.

"Thanks," I say.

"No time for that right now," The Unknown says. "Focus on enemy."

"Right," I say and focus my attention on the dragon-like creature now slowly crawling towards me.

I stand still and the creature slowly approaches. It opens it's mouth, ready to snap at me. I jump out of the way at the last second, transform into a demon and attack the area behind it's head.

It has quick reflexes though, so it quickly moves forward and dodges.

I end up digging my heel into the ground and then I can't pull it out. I can see a faint trace of blood on my leg and then the monster turns around.

I tug at my leg. Time seems to slow down, and I can't do anything. The monster looks directly at me, and I can't seem to move.

I guess this is it. I think.

I look at the Unknown, I guess he knows that he won't make it in time.

I turn my attention back to the monster. At least I can go down fighting.

I throw a punch, expecting the monster to dodge, but he doesn't and he gets hit in the jaw. He goes flying, giving me enough time to get my foot out.

I get my foot out and try to walk, but immediately fall over. I silently curse under my breath. My ankle is broken.

The monster gets back up and now I'm completely helpless. The Unknown is still not helping.

I close my eyes, prepared to go down, but the blow never comes.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," I hear from in front of me, and I have never been so glad to hear such an annoying voice. It's Natsu.

"Thank you," I say.

"Hey it's no big deal," Natsu says and picks me up.

He walks over to the Unknown with Rin following him. He gently lets me down as Rin starts healing my ankle.

"Can you do me favour?" Natsu asks him.

"What is it?" The Unknown asks.

"Can you watch over Crystal and Rin?" Natsu asks. "I'm gonna help fight. You guys have done enough," And then he leaves to go help the others.

"Sorry I couldn't help," The Unknown apologizes.

"It's not your fault, I was dumb. I should have analyzed his abilities first," I say.

"At least you know them now" The Unknown says.

"I guess that's true." I say. "Now go help the others,"

"Sure." The Unknown says.

"We'll be fine," I say and The Unknown turns and walks towards the battle. He doesn't attack, but rather just stands back until he feels someone needs assistance.

"That was really brave of you," Rin says.

"What?" I ask.

"Letting him go back into battle," Rin says.

"How, I probably just signed his death warrant," I say.

"Instead of having staying on the safe side, you let him go and help the others to lower the risk of injuries," Rin says.

"I don't really know what I was thinking," I admit. "He's like a brother to me and I could tell he wanted to be helping everyone else."

"I believe you," Rin says.

We sit in silence for a bit while Rin continues healing my ankle.

"You're all done healing," Rin says. "But I recommend not going straight into battle."

"Ok," I say. Although I do know healing magic too, and I could heal my leg completely, but I used up to much magic staying in the demon form. I don't know why, but It took up almost 2x as much as it normally does.

I stay sitting down and I wait at least 10 minutes before I risk getting back up and rejoining the fight.

I turn to Rin. "You stay here," I say.

She nods and I rush back into battle only to realize it's useless.

Everyone else is sweating and panting, but the monster seems fine.

"Guys, stop," Mai says. She has a cut on her arm, and is sweating more than everyone else.

"This is my fight," She says. "I can't let you all die for me."

"Aw, come on. You're our friend, no you're our family, and we can't let you take the blame for this," Gray says.

"He's right," I say. "We'll fight until the very end."

"Please you guys, I can't let you do this," Mai says.

"No, you helped me turn back into the person I was a very long time ago," Alex says and looks at me. "You helped me regain one of the best friendships I've ever had. I'm not going to let you give up your life like it's nothing."

"Sorry, but I can't let you do that," Mai says. She steps up in front of everybody. "Thank you guys for making my life worth living, this is the end."

She crosses her arms, ready to prepare Iced-shell. Everyone is frozen in place, but somehow I find the strength to move.

I walk up to her and put my hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Mai, but I'm not letting you do this," I say and slowly move in front of her.

"I know that we've had our differences, but I can't let you do this. If you go down, I'm going down with you," I say. "I'm not letting you cast the spell. Think about everything that you've done leading up to this moment. Think about the friends you've made and the new family you have. I'm happy I got to meet you and I'll die by your side if I have to, but you are not leaving like this."

"Crystal.. I.." Mai says.

"Stay with me, with us," I say.

I gesture to everyone around us and I can see her slowly changing her mind.

Mai drops her arms and collapses. I guess even preparing that spell takes a lot out of you.

"Gray, take her to Rin, please," I say.

"Of course," Gray says. He picks her up and takes her to the far side of the cave.

"And stay with her until she wakes up," I call back.

"I got it," He replies.

I look around at my new family. "You guys ready for one last stand?"

"I thought you'd never ask," Erza says and we all charge.

Before we attack though, the monster starts having all these weird seizures. It collapses and Alex seems to be the only one able to function.

She walks over cautiously and summons an ice blade to her hand, she stabs it in the heart and the monster turns to dust.

Now it's over, it's all over.

Mai suddenly jolts up. Her eyes dark green.

Her skin streaked with bright and neon colours.

In fact…

She almost resembled….

The Monster…

Hey guys I hope you liked that chapter. There will be a new chapter up next week and then you can find out what happens to Mai and I might also add in the Unknowns back story.