Hey guys! I'm back with another chapter for this fic! Hopefully this chapter won't take as long to get out. Well this chapter will finally get in the Natsu vs. Laxus fight that I know you've all been looking forward to. We'll also see Natsu's reunion with the Jellal that he knew as a child. I'm not sure how long this chapter will be, but the next chapter will likely end the Battle for Fairy Tail arc, then we can get to the Oracion Seis arc.
P.S. I'm happy to see that many of your are excited to possibly see a My Hero Academia fic from me. But I have to reiterate that there's no guarantee that I'll actually write the fic, and if I do decide to write the fic it's not going to come out for quite a while. This entire fic is entirely up in the air right now, so don't get your hopes too high.
Well that's all I wanted to say, so let's get to the fic!
"Speech"
"Thoughts"
Magic
"Telepathy"
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail, or any of its characters.
"No Erza..." Natsu breathed out, a familiar scent hitting his nose; a scent he hadn't smelled in almost seven years. "That's not the Jellal you know...that's the Jellal I know."
"What are you talking about Natsu?" Erza asked in a confused tone, as she gestured towards Jellal. "If this isn't the Jellal that I know from the Tower of Heaven...then who is it?"
"Because of everything that was going on, I never really noticed that the Jellal I met in that damn tower..." Natsu explained, slowly approaching Mystogan, who was avoiding the pink-haired dragon slayer's gaze. "Had a completely different scent compared to this Jellal." Stopping a few feet away, Natsu crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the Jellal look-a-like. "And I know you ain't that Jellal's brother or something, because siblings tend to have similar scents, and your scent isn't anything like his...your scent is familiar...one I haven't smelled in a long time. So the question is...are you the same Jellal I met seven years ago...or are you another damn imposter?"
"*Sigh* Natsu...I-"
"Answer. The. Question." Natsu growled, his fists igniting in intense blue flames. "Because I will not hesitate to beat the answer out of you."
"Heh, looks you're as quick to anger as ever..." Jellal said, as a faint smirk spread across his face. "Pinky." The dual dragon slayer's eyes widened when he heard that familiar nickname. "It's been a long time, Natsu." Jellal's smirk widened slightly when he saw the blue flames flickering on Natsu's hands. "And it looks like you've learned some new tricks."
"I-It really is you..." Natsu stuttered out, tightly balling his fists and clenching his teeth. "You were so close this whole damn time...but I never noticed!"
"I'm sorry Natsu...I never intended for you to find out like this." Jellal said in remorseful tone, as he released a light sigh. "I was going to let you know in due time...it wasn't my intention to hide my identity from you, but I have a special task that I must complete."
"Just what the hell is going here?" Erza demanded, approaching Natsu and Jellal, her eyes full of confusion. "Who are you really? And why do you look exactly like Jellal?"
"Erza...I didn't want you to see this face...I knew it would only confuse you..." Jellal said with a sad look in his eyes, as he lowered his gaze. "I am not the Jellal you know...I know him, but I am a different person." Natsu and Erza's eyes widened, as Jellal's body began to change into mist. "I'm sorry for troubling you both, but I must leave the rest to you."
"WAIT A GOD DAMN MINUTE!" Natsu roared, racing towards Jellal and grabbing him by the collar before he could fully disappear. Jellal grunted when Natsu slammed him against a nearby wall. "I finally meet you after almost seven fucking years and you're just gonna bail on me like this!? Bullshit! You're not leaving until your answer some questions!"
"Natsu I don't-"
"No! Look, I understand that there's something different about you, and that you've got some important task to complete! But you can't just leave and act like you barely know me! I deserve some answers!" Natsu exclaimed, his grip on Jellal's cloak tightening. "Please Jellal..."
"Natsu..." Jellal muttered, as he stared at Natsu in shock. However, Jellal was most surprised when he saw tears forming in Natsu's eyes. Unable to stand seeing his friend so upset, Jellal released a heavy sigh and caved. "Alright Natsu, I'll answer one question...just please put me down first."
"Really?!" Natsu cheered, his eyes instantly lighting up, before a sly grin spread across his face. "Ha! I knew you'd fall for the fake tears routine!"
"Damn it, I should have known you were messing with me." Jellal said in a slightly irritated tone, as he brushed Natsu's hands away. "Now ask your question, because I'm pressed for time right now. Although, I already have a pretty good idea of what you're going to ask."
"Good, then this should be easy for you to answer." Natsu said, crossing his arms over his chest and locking eyes with Jellal. "Where is Wendy?"
"I don't know." Jellal replied without missing a beat, as he shrugged his shoulders.
"WHAT?!" Natsu roared, his eyes burning with intense anger. "You were supposed to watch over her! How can you not know where she is?! If you don't tell me where she is in the next five seconds I'm gonna kick your teeth in!"
"Calm down pinky, I should have phrased that differently." Jellal said, as he rubbed the back of his neck. "What I should have said is, I don't know where Wendy is right now. I haven't seen her in several years. Unless she stayed exactly where I left her, she could be anywhere in Fiore."
"So you just dumped her somewhere?" Natsu growled, baring his fangs at Jellal. "You couldn't stay with her? You had to abandon her?"
"I didn't abandon anyone." Jellal said, as he slowly shook his head. "I eventually realized that it wouldn't be safe for Wendy to travel with me anymore, so I left her in capable hands. I'm positive she's been kept safe all these years."
"So she is safe..." Natsu muttered, clenching a hand over his heart and relaxing slightly, as he felt a wave of relief wash over him. "So who did you leave her with?"
"Ah, ah..." Jellal said with a sly smile, as he wagged his finger. "I said I'd answer one question, pinky. So don't go pushing your luck."
"You bastard..." Natsu huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Now I remember why I don't like you."
"Haha! It was great seeing you again too, Natsu." Jellal laughed, as his body began to transform into mist. "But try not to worry too much, because I have a hunch that you'll run into Wendy again real soon."
"I better, or I'm gonna find you again and kick your ass." Natsu said with a smile, watching as his old friend faded away.
"Name the time and place, pinky." Jellal teased, before he faded away completely.
"Are you okay Natsu?" Erza asked, placing a comforting hand on the pink-haired dragon slayer's shoulder. The scarlet-haired knight couldn't help but notice that her mate looked slightly upset. "You look kinda down."
"I'm fine Erza." Natsu said with a reassuring smile, as he rested a hand on top of Erza's and squeezed it gently. "I just...I wish I could have talked with him longer...it's been seven years since I last saw him."
"I'm sure you'll see him again soon, Natsu." Erza said, taking her hand off Natsu's shoulder. "Then you two caGUAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" The scarlet-haired knight suddenly screamed out in pain, as a massive bolt of lightning struck her. Erza's entire body convulsed as the powerful electricity coursed through her body. Moments later the lightning stopped and Erza collapsed to the ground, her body smoking and twitching slightly.
"ERZA!" Natsu roared in a panic, as he rushed over to his mate's side. In a split second Natsu was crouched down next to Erza, and cradling her in his arms. "Are you okay Erza!? Say something!" However, the scarlet-haired knight was still dazed from the surprise in attack and could only groan in pain.
"That'll teach you for forgetting about me! There's still a battle going on, remember?!" Laxus exclaimed, his outstretched fist still sparking with electricity. "Now stop messing around and bring it!"
"You know Laxus..." Natsu said in an eerily calm tone, as he gently laid Erza back down onto the ground. "I was only going to kick your ass for all the insulting things you've said and stupid threats you've made...then once the fight was over you'd maybe learn a lesson and we'd hopefully wipe the slate after... but now...but now you've really fucked up..." Slowly standing back onto his feet, Natsu turned to face Laxus. When Laxus saw the unbridled fury in Natsu's eyes, he couldn't help but take a fearful step back. Instantly Laxus knew he had made a mistake, he had provoked a dragon's rage. Veins bulged along Natsu's arms and forehead, as he slowly stalked towards Laxus, intense orange lightning exploding off his body. "Now...Now I really have to hurt you...hurt you so bad that you'll regret ever starting this stupid fucking game..."
"You talk big..." Laxus said, trying his best to remain imposing and confident. "But can you back up those threats?" With a cocky smirk, Laxus tempted Natsu to attack. "Come on Natsu, this fight has been long overdue."
"Oh, I've been waiting years to wipe that stupid fucking smirk off your ugly face!" Natsu roared, as he charged towards Laxus head on, orange lightning flowing off his body.
"You know, I'm getting pretty damn tired of your head on charges!" Laxus exclaimed, firing a blast of lightning at the pink-haired dragon slayer. "So get out of my face!"
"You call that lightning!?" Natsu yelled, as he slid underneath Laxus' attack. "This is real lightning! Lightning Dragon's Static Iron Fist!" Springing off the ground, Natsu hit Laxus in the chin with a powerful, electrically charged uppercut. The force behind Natsu's attack lifted Laxus off the ground, electricity surging through his body. Letting out a fierce growl, Natsu leaped towards Laxus. "I ain't done with you yet, not by a long shot!"
"What the hell was that attack?! I've never felt lightning that powerful before!" Laxus thought, watching as Natsu rushed towards him once again. "Maybe it's about time I started getting serious!" Laxus raised his arms above his head, clasping his fists together. With lightning coursing off his arms, Laxus attempted slam his fists onto Natsu's head.
"That's not gonna work!" Natsu exclaimed, as he flipped over in the air. "Lightning Dragon's Static Claw!" With orange lightning sparking off his leg, Natsu struck Laxus in the side, sending him flying across the cathedral.
"DAMN IT!" Laxus cursed, clutching his side as pain wracked his entire body. "That was one hell of a kick!" Skidding to a stop, Laxus wiped some sweat off his brow. "Okay, I need to start putting some pressure on him! I can't keep letting this little prick go on the offensive!" However, Laxus was surprised when he saw that Natsu was putting some distance between them, instead of charging straight ahead again. "Now's my chance!" Using a technique similar to the one he used against Mystogan, Laxus' body morphed down into a stream of electricity, as he raced towards Natsu. In the blink of an eye Laxus closed the gap, materializing right in front of the pink-haired dragon slayer. With a smirk, Laxus cocked his electrically charged fist back. "Where you running off to?"
"Who's running?" Natsu growled, as he grabbed Laxus' fist mid-swing, catching him off guard. "This is my chance to pay you back for all the shit you've pulled over the years, I ain't passing this up!" Laxus grunted in pain, as Natsu's grip on his fist tightened. "Here's a new move I've saving just for you! Lightning Dragon's Erupting Fist!" Swinging his free fist, Natsu hit Laxus in the jaw with a powerful punch, causing his head to recoil back. A split second later Laxus howled in pain, as a concentrated blast of lightning burst from where Natsu had punched him.
"GAH! You little shit!" Laxus roared, quickly recovering from the punch and hitting Natsu over the head with an electrically charged fist. However, Laxus was shocked to see that Natsu appeared to be barely fazed by the attack. "What the fuck!?"
"You call this shit lightning?" Natsu asked, as he glared fiercely at Laxus. "This stuff barely tickles!" Releasing a throaty growl, Natsu punched Laxus in the stomach, knocking the air from his lungs. "Lightning Dragon's Erupting Fist!" Laxus fell to his knees, clutching his stomach, just before he was hit by another burst of orange lightning.
"*Cough* You son of a bitch *Cough*" Laxus snarled through grit teeth, orange lightning occasionally sparking off his body. "I'm gonna bury you, then destroy everything you hold dear."
"You're still up?" Natsu asked, as he stood over Laxus. "Maybe for once in your life you should keep that big fucking mouth of yours shut. It will keep you from getting in even more trouble."
"Fuck you!" Laxus roared, lightning exploding off his body as he stood back onto his feet, getting right in Natsu's face. "You're just an insolent fucking worm who needs to be put in his place!"
"Is that so!?" Natsu fired back, as orange lightning coursed off his entire body, butting heads with Laxus. "Then you're just an egotistical brat who needs to be knocked down a couple pegs!"
"Move Natsu!" Hearing a familiar voice, Natsu instantly jumped backwards, just barely dodging a swift sword strike from Erza. However, Laxus' reaction time proved to be just as good, as he avoided Erza's attack as well. The scarlet-haired knight stood next to her mate, now dressed in her Black Wing Armor. "Damn it! I was hoping to get a hit in while he was distracted."
"Oho, looks who's back up." Laxus said with a smirk, crossing his arms over his chest. "Looks like I didn't hit you hard enough. Don't worry, I won't hold back next time."
"Erza, you're okay." Natsu said, as he felt a wave of relief flow through him. "I was worried that he may have hurt you."
"Don't worry Natsu, it'll take a lot more than that to take me out." Erza said with a smile, before she turned back to Laxus, her expression turning fierce in an instant. "What the hell are those lacrima floating in the sky, Laxus?"
"The Palace of Thunder...I'm sure you've heard of it." Laxus replied with an evil smirk, electricity sparking off his hands.
"You're not planning to attack the town, are you?!" Erza exclaimed, as her eyes widened in shock. "There's innocent people that will be caught in the crossfire!"
"HAHAHAHAHA! It's a new rule in our little game!" Laxus laughed boisterously, his twisted smirk widening. "It's kind of a shame I have to use it..."
"You sick bastard!" Erza roared, as she attempted to hit Laxus with a roundhouse kick. However, she was surprised when Laxus stopped her kick with his bare hand. "What?!"
"You've got two minutes to go." Laxus taunted, grabbing Erza's ankle and tossing her away as if she weighed nothing. "You better figure something out fast!"
"ERZA?!" Natsu exclaimed, as he leaped into the air and caught Erza bridal style. With a soft grunt, Natsu landed onto the ground and set the scarlet-haired knight down. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine Natsu." Erza replied, releasing a light sigh. "But we have to destroy those lacrima...could you do it Natsu?"
"No can do." Natsu said, as he slowly shook his head. "Those lacrima are imbued with Organic Link magic. So, if you destroy them you get injured in the process."
"What a cowardly tactic." Erza said, tightly balling her fists. "I'd expect nothing less from a man who'd endanger his own nakama...*Sigh* I guess there's no other choice then." In a burst of white light, Erza swapped into her Lightning Empress armor.
"Tch, you think that pile of scrap metal will be enough to defend against my lightning?" Laxus asked, as a smirk spread across his face. "I'd love to test how much lightning you can take before you explode."
"Erza..." Natsu said, placing a firm hand on Erza's shoulder. When Erza turned to face Natsu, she saw that his eyes were burning with determination. "I'm going to take Laxus down, please stay out of this."
"Don't worry Natsu, I wasn't planning on interrupting your fight anymore." Erza said with smile, before she placed a soft kiss on Natsu's cheek. "Can I trust you to win?"
"Of fucking course!" Natsu cheered with a grin, resting his fists on his hips. "I've been waiting for the day where I get to kick Laxus' smug ass! There's no way I'm gonna miss this chance!"
"Good, then I'll leave this to you." Erza said, as she made her way out of the cathedral.
"Where are you going, Erza?!" Natsu called out, watching his mate stop in her tracks. However, before Erza could even reply, the gears in Natsu's head began to turn and realized what her intentions were. "Don't tell me you're going to try and stop the Thunder Palace!"
"HAHAHAHA! Don't make me laugh! It's completely pointless!" Laxus bellowed, as he gestured towards the numerous lacrima floating outside. "Just destroying a single one of those lacrima could cost you your life! There are almost three hundred individual lacrima crystals in the sky surrounding Magnolia right now! And you're pretty much out of time too! There's nothing you can do!"
"I'll destroy them all at once." Erza said confidently, a smirk spreading across her face. "That way there's no chance any civilians will be hurt."
"Impossible!" Laxus exclaimed, as he laughed boisterously. "And even if you managed to destroy them all, you'd die for sure!"
"At least the town will be safe." Erza said without hesitation, catching Laxus off guard. With a quick wave to Natsu, Erza began to make her way down the cathedral's steps. "Natsu! Make sure you kick Laxus' ass!"
"You bitch! Are you trying to screw with the rules of-" Laxus attempted to chase after Erza, but he stopped by a bolt of orange lightning striking right in front of him. "Natsu! Out of my way!"
"I will not allow you to lay another hand on Erza." Natsu said in menacing tone, blocking the way towards the front steps. Gritting his teeth, Natsu tightly balled his fists. "I don't like this...I don't like this at all...the last thing I want is for one of my girls to get hurt...but I trust Erza...she's one of the people I trust most in the world...and I don't mean I trust her to get the job done..." Natsu's entire body suddenly began to shake. "I trust her to come back to me and everyone else alive!"
"You saved my life Natsu...and broke the armor encasing my heart...you gave me something to live for...something to look forward to everyday." Erza thought with a smile, as she sprinted away from the cathedral, hearing Natsu's echoing declaration behind her. "I have no intention of throwing away the second chance you gave me...there's still so many things I need to experience...and I want to experience them with you and the other girls!"
"Damn it!" Laxus grunted in irritation, glaring at the doors Erza had ran through. "I guess I'll just have to take you out quick, then I can stop her from interfering."
"You might as well forget about that, because you're not getting passed me." Natsu said, as bright orange lightning exploded off his body. "You know one thing that makes me special Laxus? I'm a very quick learner...that's why I was able to master Lightning Dragon Slayer magic in only a few months..."
"What the hell are you getting at?" Laxus asked in an annoyed tone, quirking an eyebrow. "Because I could honestly care less."
"Well the point is that I'm usually a hands on learner...I practice something until I get it down...and after I saw you use a specific move a few years back I just had to learn it." Natsu said, as his entire body began flicker and distort. "It took a really long time, but I finally managed to figure it out a few months ago after I unlocked this new power inside me...and I've been saving it for this fight..." Laxus' eyes widened in shock when Natsu's body collapsed down into a streak of orange lightning. In the blink of any eye, Natsu materialized in front of Laxus. "Lightning Dragon's Flash Step!" Releasing a ferocious growl, Natsu hit Laxus in the chin with a powerful uppercut, so strong that it lifted the blonde-haired mage into the air. "I'm going to defeat you Laxus...that's a guarantee!"
"This little shit!" Laxus roared, flipping over in the air and landing back on his feet. Panting slightly, Laxus wiped some blood from his lips. "How the hell did he master that move?!"
"I'm not done yet, Laxus!" Natsu exclaimed, as he charged towards Laxus. "Lightning Dragon's Static Fist!" Raising his arms just in time, Laxus managed to block Natsu's attack.
"You have to see it too, right Natsu?!" Laxus asked, continuing to block and dodge Natsu's relentless attacks. "That this guild is in a pathetic state! I'm going to change this guild, and to do that I have to be master!"
"You don't have the right to be master!" Natsu yelled, as he ducked underneath a blast of lightning from Laxus. "As you are right now, you don't even belong in this guild!"
"Tch, what do you know anyway?" Laxus muttered, noticing the Thunder Palace's timer ticking down. His eyes widened when he saw that there was only a minute and a half left. "What the hell is that old man doing!? Does he not care what happens to this damn town!?"
"Don't get your panties in a bunch Laxus." Natsu said with a smirk, as he wiped some sweat off his brow. "It's not like your Thunder Palace is going to do anything."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Laxus asked, quirking an eyebrow in confusion.
"What benefit do you gain by destroying the town?" Natsu pointed out, which caused Laxus' eyes to widen. "I see through your ruse Laxus. You're getting all anxious, because you want to stop this thing yourself." Orange lightning exploded off Natsu's body, as morphed down into a bolt streak of electricity once again. "Don't worry Erza, I'll handle things here!"
"That's not gonna work a second time!" Laxus exclaimed, slamming his fists onto the ground, sending a wave of lightning towards Natsu. However, with his increased speed, Natsu easily darted around a pile of rubble, dodging Laxus' attack. A split second later Natsu sprung up from the ground behind Laxus, orange lightning sparking off his fist.
"It must be hard to keep up this act, isn't it Laxus?!" Natsu roared, punching Laxus in the face with his electrified fist. "Lightning Dragon's Erupting Fist!" Laxus head snapped back, moments before he was hit by a powerful blast of electricity. "Now end this fucking game already!"
"Don't get cocky with me you little bastard!" Laxus exclaimed, unleashing a massive storm of electricity. "I'm just getting started!"
"Nothing's going to happen!" Natsu yelled, as he leaped out out of the way of Laxus' attack. "Your Thunder Palace will fail!"
"Shut up!" Laxus roared in fury, racing towards where Natsu was. "There's no way you'll stop me!"
(One Minute Earlier: With Erza)
"Okay...I don't have a lot of time...but I can do this." Erza said to herself, as she re-equipped into her Heaven's Wheel armor. Instantly the air surrounding Erza filled with dozens of swords. "So that I may protect my home...and all the innocents in this town...my blades please lend me your strength." With every second that passed, more and more swords materialized in the air. But with each additional sword, Erza could feel her magical power rapidly draining. "198 *Pant* *Pant* 199 *Pant* Damn it, that's still not enough to take them all out at once..." Once the 200th sword appeared, Erza gasped in exhaustion and collapsed down onto one knee, sweat pouring off her brow. "I don't have enough magic...I'll run dry at this rate...and we're nearly out of time...what do we do now?" Tightly balling her fists, Erza forced herself to stand back up. "I promised Natsu that'd I'd handle the lacrima...I can't let him down..." Gritting her teeth, Erza managed to stand back up on trembling legs. "Just one hundred more *Pant* I need a hundred more swords to destroy all the lacrima..."
"HEY! Can everyone hear me!? This is an emergency! Looks towards the sky now!"
"Warren..." Erza muttered, her eyes widening slightly. "It must be his telepathy..."
"Quite lying around people! Get off your lazy asses! Anyone who's still fighting, give it a rest now! I need all of you to listen up! We have to take out those floating lacrima with all the magic we have! Not a single one can be left! That's Laxus' spell and it's about to start attacking the town! There's not a second to spare, so everyone get to it!"
"How do you know about that, Warren?" Erza asked, as she quirked an eyebrow.
"Is that Erza!? So she's okay?! That means you and the other girls were de-petrified!"
"Gray?" Erza said, surprised to hear the ice-mage's voice. "It's good to know that you're okay."
"Yeah, I got beat around pretty bad earlier, but I'm okay now. I just happened to find Warren shortly after I came too. But that doesn't matter right now! Warren is right! Everyone needs to attack those things in the sky!"
"You can't!" Erza exclaimed, her voice full of worry. "Those lacrima are imbued with Organic Link magic!"
"Don't worry Erza, we'll be fine! We need to protect the people of Magnolia, and we can't have you shoulder all the burden!"
"Lucy..." Erza breathed out, happy to hear the blonde celestial spirit mage's voice and know that she was unhurt. Lucy's words seemed to spark a new fire of determination within Erza. "All right everyone, I'm counting on you! I'll handle the 200 lacrima in the North!" A grin spread across Erza's face, as she raised one of her swords high into the air. "Everyone else focus on the southern side! Don't leave a single one intact!"
All around Magnolia, the Fairy Tail members that could still fight began to attack the lacrima floating in the sky above the city. In a brilliant display of power and coordination, all the lacrima powering the Thunder Palace were destroyed simultaneously. The sky filled with bright explosions, as bits of lacrima rained down onto Magnolia below. Curious citizens wondered if the Fairy Tail mages were performing some type of fireworks display, completely unaware of the imminent danger they had been in mere moments before.
"We did it!" Erza exclaimed with a bright smile, just seconds before she was hit by a massive bolt of lightning, the same thing happening to every other Fairy Tail mage that had attacked the lacrima. Gasping in pain, Erza collapsed to the ground, staring up the sky above her. "Damn...that really fucking hurt..."
"Is...everyone okay..."
"Honestly...you're all so reckless..." Erza muttered with a small smile, relieved to hear Warren's voice.
"Heh heh...you're one to talk..."
"I don't want to hear anything from you Gray..." Erza said with a light chuckle, before she released a heavy sigh. "It's all up to Natsu now..."
"Don't worry Erza, Natsu will kick Laxus' ass for sure!"
"I know Lucy...we can always count on Natsu to pull through for us...even in our most desperate times..." Erza added with a smile, as she heard a distant explosion, coming from within Kardia Cathedral. "Natsu won't let us down."
(Back in Kardia Cathedral: With Laxus and Natsu)
"RAGH! Get back here you bastard!" Laxus roared, smashing his fist electrified into the ground, just barely missing the pink-haired dragon slayer. "You're really getting on my damn-" Laxus stopped mid-sentence when he saw something flash on the wall next to him. When Laxus read the projection, his eyes widened is shock. "The Thunder Palace...has been disabled? No...that's not possible!"
"See?" Natsu said with a smirk, as he wiped some sweat off his brow. "You really think this guild needs to change? Well we're all a family in Fairy Tail. So how the hell is someone who's not apart of our family supposed to be master, huh?!"
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!" Laxus screamed at the top of his lungs, lightning exploding off his body with such force that it made Natsu shield his eyes. With lightning practically dripping from his mouth, Laxus glared daggers at Natsu. "You want to know how I'll be master! I'll take power by force!"
"Cut the shit, Laxus! Fairy Tail will never belong to you!" Natsu exclaimed, as he unleashed a burst of orange lightning. Gritting his teeth, Natsu struggled to keep his current output of magic. "Damn it...it's not as bad as before...but my magic is still draining pretty fast...and using Flash Step is only making things worse. I want to try eating his magic, but he's simply outputting too much right now, and it would be dangerous for me to eat it all. I could switch back to my normal lightning...but I'll need this extra power to overwhelm Laxus!"
"Oh it will..." Laxus growled menacingly, tightly balling his fists. "That's right...I should have never bothered with this bargaining bullshit..." Slamming his foot onto the ground, Laxus unleashed another large wave of electricity. "I should have relied on my power from the very beginning! This ultimate power is the true source of my identity!"
"Then I'll just have to extinguish that power!" Natsu roared, as he charged towards Laxus, orange lightning crackling off his fist. "I'll make you stop this stupid game and prove to you who the strongest lightning dragon slayer is!" Natsu's fists launched forward, aimed directly for Laxus' face.
"Man you need to find a new way to attack me." Laxus said in a smug tone, grabbing ahold of Natsu's wrist and stopping his attack mere inches away from hitting. "I told you not to get cocky Natsu...because you're only the first little insect in my way." Showing impressive strength, Laxus hoisted Natsu into the air by hist wrist, before slamming him into the ground. All the air briefly left Natsu's lungs, as his vision blurred for several seconds. "Come at me Fairy Tail! I'll take everything you can throw at me!" With a twisted smile, Laxus kicked Natsu in the stomach, sending him flying across the cathedral and eventually crashing into a pillar. In an instant Laxus was on top of Natsu once again, hitting him a barrage of electrified punches and kicks. With a satisfied smirk, Laxus grabbed ahold of Natsu's vest and hurled him into a nearby wall. "What's wrong Natsu!? I thought you were gonna show me who's the strongest lightning dragon slayer?! But from here it looks like it's still me!"
"You...bastard..." Natsu struggled to say, as pain wracked his entire body. With great effort, Natsu managed to get up onto one knee. "I may despise you right now...but I'll admit that you're pretty damn tough."
"Resounding through the air, the roar of thunder..." Laxus chanted, electricity swirling around his raised fist.
"SHIT! I know that move!" Natsu thought, as his eyes widened in fear. "I can't let that hit me, or I'll be done for! I have no choice! I'll have to use Flash-" However, when Natsu tried to stand back up, he immediately collapsed back to the ground. "What the hell...my body won't move..."
"Plunge from the heavens and reap destruction!" Laxus continued to chant with an evil smirk, an ominous cloud of lightning swirling above him. "Raging Bolt!"
"Damn it! I can't move!" Natsu thought, as he watched a massive blast of lightning rapidly descend towards him. "Erza...Lucy...Mira...Juvia...I'm sorry...I'm still not strong enough." Closing his eyes and gritting his teeth, Natsu waited for Laxus' attack to hit. Natsu's heart thundered in his chest, as he felt the lightning make his hairs stand on end. However, Natsu was surprised when he felt something grab ahold of vest and lift him off the ground. A split second later Natsu was several yards away, watching Raging Bolt strike where he had just been. Turning his head, Natsu's eyes widened when he saw who his savior was, before a smirk spread across his face. "Well you took your damn time."
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Laxus laughed, lightning sparking off his entire body. "Natsu...who's the strongest man in there guild now? HAHAHAHAHA! Why do I even bother asking when you've been blown to bits!?"
"Tch, I thought you two were supposed to be nakama." A low voice growled from behind Laxus. Quickly spinning around, Laxus was shocked to see Gajeel standing there. But what shocked Laxus even more, was that Gajeel was currently carrying, a still very much alive, Natsu Dragneel. "And now you're laughing like a fucking maniac about killing him. Man, you've really lost your damn mind." Setting Natsu down, Gajeel helped the pink-haired dragon slayer back onto his feet. "Get the hell up Salamander, we don't have time to dick around"
"What the hell took you so long?" Natsu asked with a toothy grin, wiping some blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Well your stupid ass rushed ahead like a moron, and I had a really hard time keeping up! For fuck's sake, I even lost your damn scent! I had to get directions from some random old lady in the street! Do you have any fucking idea how awkward that was for me?!" Gajeel snapped, as he slapped Natsu upside the head. "And here I thought we were gonna fight this asshole together! Ya know, I outta kick your ass too for ditching me like that!"
"Pffffttt! HAHAHA!" Laxus bellowed, hunching over in laughter. "You two are acting like a damn married couple! And you guys think you can actually defeat me!? This has gotta be some sort prank right!? I outta turn you both to dust right now for waisting my damn time!"
"Oi, you better shut your fat fucking mouth, before I shut it for you!" Gajeel snarled, as he glared daggers at Laxus. "I said I'd kick your ass and I'm gonna deliver! I have a grudge to settle with you, bastard!"
"Gajeel..." Natsu said, resting his hand on the iron dragon slayer's shoulder. "I'll handle Laxus myself, but I'll need you to support me."
"What the fuck are you talking about Salamander!? You said we'd fight this dickhead together! Besides...I can't forgive him for almost hurting..." Gajeel stopped himself before he mentioned Levy, violently shaking his head. "Anyway, I'm not gonna let you have all the fun! We're fighting this guy together!"
"GAJEEL!" Natsu exclaimed, catching the iron dragon slayer by surprise. "I'm not messing around when I say that Laxus is incredibly strong. He may be the strongest opponent I've ever fought. That's why I can't let you fight him head on, because you might seriously get hurt...and I can't stand seeing my nakama get hurt." Gajeel's eyes widened slightly when he heard this. "Besides...you may hold a grudge against this asshole right now...but I've had one against him for almost seven years. Not only has this bastard injured and insulted my nakama...he tarnishes and misuses lightning dragon slayer magic by using a damn lacrima...then acts as if it's stronger than traditional dragon slayer magic...he's making a mockery of the magic my brother Valinor taught me..." Tightly balling his fists, orange lightning burst off Natsu's clenched hands. "I will show him that I am the stronger lightning dragon slayer. By the end of this fight there will only be one lightning dragon left standing."
"So this isn't just a simple grudge match...this a battle for dominance between two dragons." Gajeel thought, as he stared intently at Natsu, seeing the intense determination and seriousness in his eyes. "Geehee, you're one stubborn bastard Salamander and I can see that you won't budge on this!" Chuckling deeply, Gajeel punched his fist into his palm. "Alright, I'll let you support you in this fight, but don't expect me to let you hog all the glory!"
"Thanks Gajeel..." Natsu said with a grin, before turning to face Laxus once again. A frown spread across Natsu's face when he saw the twisted, evil look on Laxus' face. "That isn't even the Laxus I know anymore...so it looks like we'll have to beat some sense into him."
"Sounds like a plan." Gajeel said, as he stood next to Natsu, crossing his arms over his chest. "Oi Salamander...what you said a second ago...do you really consider me one of your nakama?"
"Of course." Natsu replied without a second's hesitation, causing a small smile to spread across Gajeel's face. "Things may have started out rough between us, but I want us to be friends Gajeel, because I know you're really a good guy...besides us dragon slayers need to look out for each other."
"Heh, I guess Juvia was right about Salamander...he'll even accept his former enemies...coming to this guild was the right choice after all." Gajeel thought, as he slid into a fight stance. "I look forward to fighting with you from now on, Salamander!"
"Same here!" Natsu exclaimed, charging towards Laxus, with Gajeel tailing slightly behind him. "Let's go, Gajeel!" The iron dragon slayer was surprised when Natsu's entire body suddenly collapsed down into a streak of orange electricity darting across the floor.
"When the hell did Salamander learn a move like that?" Gajeel thought, as he watched Natsu spring out of the ground in front of Laxus. With a fierce growl, Natsu hit Laxus in the jaw with a powerful, electrified punch. "That doesn't matter right now...I need to help Salamander keep the pressure on this asshole!" Gajeel leaped into the air above Laxus, his cheeks bulging out with magical energy. "Iron Dragon's Roar!" Creating a funnel with his hands, Gajeel launched a tornado of intense wind and metal debris at Laxus.
"You bastards!" Laxus snarled, raising his arms to block Gajeel's attack. Despite taking little damage, the force behind Gajeel's roar still sent Laxus skidding back several feet. However, he quickly recovered and fired a blast of electricity at Gajeel. Reacting quickly, Gajeel springboarded off a nearby pillar to dodge the stream of lightning. "GAH! Stand still damn it!"
"Don't forget about me, Laxus!" Natsu exclaimed, leaping up from behind Laxus with his hands clapped together, a massive ball of flowing, orange electricity over his above his head. "Lightning Dragon's Blinding Flash!" Laxus roared in pain, as the explosion of electricity sent him flying back. "Gajeel, keep those attacks coming! Don't give him a chance to retaliate!"
"You don't have to tell me!" Gajeel yelled, as he formed several iron kunai in his hands. Cocking his arm back, Gajeel hurled the kunai at Laxus. "You know what to do Salamander!"
"I'm on it!" Natsu exclaimed, jumping into the air above the kunai. Gathering up orange lightning between his hands, Natsu unleashed a wave of electricity at the kunai, charging them with his magic. Several of the electrified kunai hit their mark, piercing Laxus' shoulder and legs. Letting a fierce roar, Laxus yanked the kunai out, blood spilling from his wounds. "Quick Gajeel, before he can fight back!"
"Then, let's finish this Salamander!" Gajeel shouted, as his cheeks once again bulged out with magical energy. "Iron Dragon's..."
"Lightning Dragon's Static..." Natsu yelled, landing right beside Gajeel, orange lightning leaking from his mouth.
"Roar!" Both dragon slayers unleashed their roars simultaneously. Natsu and Gajeel's attacks were separated at first, however the metal within the iron dragon slayer's roar began to attract the dual dragon slayer's lightning. Eventually after a few seconds the two roars fused together, forming a powerful stream of electrically charged iron shrapnel.
"WHAT THE HELL?! A UNISON RAID!?" Laxus thought, as his eyes shot open in shock. "This is ridiculous! These puny worms shouldn't be this strong!" A split second later Natsu and Gajeel's attack hit, causing a massive explosion that completely enveloped Laxus. The explosion filled the cathedral with blinding orange light and created a cloud of smoke and debris.
"Did we beat him?" Gajeel asked, trying to peer through the smoke and spot Laxus. "There's no way he could still be standing after that."
"No..." Natsu said with angry edge to his voice, as he tightly balled his fists. "He's not down yet, I know it."
"What are you talking-"
"Is that all you two got?" Gajeel's eyes widened in a mix of shock and worry when he heard Laxus' voice echo out from within the cloud of debris. "Man, I was an idiot to be worried about losing to you two..." As the dust and smoke finally began to settle, both dragon slayers saw that Laxus was indeed still standing. However, his clothes were in complete tatters and his body was littered with numerous cuts and bruises. "So, this is the powerful 'true' dragon slayer magic that Natsu is always blabbering about? Heh, doesn't seem like much to me."
"Impossible!" Gajeel exclaimed, as he felt his entire body begin to tremble. "Salamander wasn't fucking around...this guy really is strong...he used his own dragon slayer magic to protect himself..."
"Gramps always told me to keep quite about this little detail..." Laxus said, a devious smirk spreading across his face, as his mouth filled with lightning "But now I guess it's time to start showing it off." Inhaling deeply, Laxus' cheeks began to bulge with lightning magic. "Lightning Dragon's Roar!" The powerful stream of lightning was aimed directly at Gajeel, who was trembling too much to move out of the way.
"GET DOWN GAJEEL!" Natsu exclaimed, as he tackled the iron dragon slayer to ground. Laxus' attack wasn't a direct hit, but a good portion of it managed to strike Natsu's back, causing him to hiss in pain as the powerful dragon slayer magic coursed through him. The pink-haired dragon slayer used his body to shield Gajeel and absorb most of the magic, but some of the lightning still transferred from Natsu's body into Gajeel. With a pained grunt, Natsu rolled off Gajeel, laying flat on the ground next to him. "Damn it...my entire body feels numb right now...can you still move Gajeel?"
"Kinda..." Gajeel said, attempting to sit back up, but gave up after a few seconds. "My body is tingling so much right now, every movement feels like I'm being pricked by a bunch of needles...even though I was only hit by a little bit of his magic. Fuck, it feels similar to when we fought..."
"Huh? You're both still alive?" Laxus asked, annoyance clear in his tone. "I guess I'll just have to finish you both off...Erza and Mystogan too...hell, even the people of Magnolia!" Natsu's eyes widened in fear, as Laxus began to unleash an enormous amount of magical energy. "I will exterminate you all!"
"This magic...it can't be...it's just like jii-chan's..." Natsu muttered in horror, as he recognized the spell from when Makarov had faced off against Jose. "There's no way...everyone will die..."
"FAIRY LAW!" Laxus roared, an incredible amount of magic swirling around him.
"H-He's joking right..." Gajeel stuttered out, as his eyes filled with fear. "That's the spell that took Master Jose out in one hit...he's insane if he uses that here!"
"GOD DAMN IT! STOP!" Natsu roared, struggling with all his might to stand back onto his feet. "YOU'LL KILL EVERYONE! EVEN INNOCENT PEOPLE!"
"RAAAAGGGGHHHHH!" Laxus exclaimed, as the magic energy swirling around him began to gather and condense between his hands. "IT'S ALL OVER FAIRY TAIL!"
"STOP! LAXUS!" Gajeel's eyes shot open in horror when heard a familiar voice scream out from the cathedral's entrance. Managing to turn around, Gajeel's fears were confirmed when he saw Levy standing in the cathedral's doorway, panting heavily with sweat dripping off her brow. "You have to stop this right now!"
"Levy! That idiot, what the hell is she doing here?!" Gajeel thought in a panic, as he struggled to get back onto his feet along with Natsu. "I have to protect her!"
"The master is..." Levy struggled to say, fighting back tears with every word. "Your own grandfather...is on death's door!" Laxus' eyes widened when he heard this, and the magic he was gathering began to slowly fade away. Unable to hold back anymore, tears began to pour from Levy's eyes. "So please...please just stop this nonsense! Just go and see him! This might be your last chance!"
"That...that can't be right..." Natsu said weakly, as he tightly balled his fists. "Jii-chan's...on death's door? He might die...this can't be happening..."
"LAXUS!" Levy screamed, trying everything she could to plead to him. "Just stop-"
"Well that suits me just fine!" Laxus cut Levy off, as a twisted smile spread across his face. "Looks like my chances of becoming master just got even greater!"
"What are you saying..." Levy gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. "You can't possibly mean that..."
"You son of a bitch..." Natsu growled, as he glared fiercely at Laxus. "You take that back right now..."
"BWAHAHAHAHAHA!" Laxus laughed hysterically, continuing to gather magic for Fairy Law. "Time to disappear Fairy Tail!" The ground underneath Laxus began to crack and crumble because of the immense amount of magic surrounding him. "I'll build you back up from scratch! A guild that'll never lose! One that will make others tremble in fear! I'll create the greatest guild the world has ever seen!"
"No!" Levy exclaimed, as she collapsed to her knees, crying into her hands. "You can't!"
"Fairy Law!" Laxus roared, clapping his hands together. "Activate!" A blinding white light filled the entire cathedral, followed by an incredible shockwave of magic. The white light soon began to flood all of Magnolia, engulfing the entire town in the span of a few seconds. For everyone in Magnolia there existed nothing but a sea of pure white nothingness. Panting heavily, Laxus hunched over as he tried to catch his breath, a satisfied smile on his face. "I've done it...I've surpassed him..." However, Laxus' joy was quickly dashed when he heard coughing coming from within the cathedral. Raising his head, Laxus was shocked to see that Natsu, Gajeel, and Levy were all still alive. "N-No...this can't be! WHY?! WHY ARE YOU ALL NOT DEAD!?"
"Are you okay Levy?" Gajeel asked, as he coughed up a lungful of dust.
"Yeah...I'm fine..." Levy replied, dusting herself off. "What about Natsu."
"I'm good..." Natsu growled, as he got back up onto one knee. "I can still fight..."
"What the fuck is going on here?!" Laxus exclaimed, stomping his foot onto the ground, crushing the stone floor beneath him. "How could anyone survive an attack like that?!"
"Everyone is still safe..." A new voice echoed out from the cathedral's entrance. Everyone present was surprised to see Freed limping towards them. "Not a single person was injured."
"That's just not possible!" Laxus roared, as he bared his fangs in rage. "My Fairy Law was flawless!"
"It's not your technique..." Freed said, causing Laxus to quirk an eyebrow in confusion. "It's your heart Laxus. Your strength and magical prowess aren't the only things you've inherited from Master...you also have a heart that cares for your comrades, even if you won't admit it. Fairy Law only affects those that the user truly considers an enemy, do you understand what that means? You can't lie to your magic, Laxus This is how you truly feel."
"NO!" Laxus exclaimed, as he tightly balled his fists. "Anyone who stands in my way is an enemy!"
"Please just give it up already Laxus..." Freed pleaded, leaning against the cathedral's doorframe. "Just go see Master..."
"I don't care what happens to that old bastard!" Laxus yelled, as he unleashed a burst of electricity in rage. "I'm Laxus! Not the Master's grandson! I'M LAXUS GOD DAMN IT!"
"I'm get really fucking sick of your shitty attitude...and how little you respect your family..." Natsu growled, slowly getting back onto his feet, orange lightning crackling off his body. "I didn't have a chance to say goodbye when my father and brother disappeared...now when your own grandfather is close to dying you won't even go spend time with him...that really pisses me of..." When Natsu raised his head, Laxus was taken aback when he saw tears trailing down his cheeks. "I would do anything to see my father and brother just one more time! Yet you're sitting here acting like a fucking brat, while you're grandfather is at death's door! That's not something I can just ignore!"
"J-Just shut the hell up, Natsu!" Laxus exclaimed, as he tightly balled his fists. "Just disappear already!"
"I'm not going anywhere until I beat some fucking reason into you! Someone who won't even spend time with his family isn't fit to lead Fairy Tail!" Natsu roared, before turning to face Gajeel. "Can you move now?"
"Yeah, I think I'm good." Gajeel said, as he stood up on shaky legs. "I can't move too fast, but I can still launch some attacks at him."
"I won't need you to do that, just do as I say and we'll take this asshole down." Natsu said, gathering a small, concentrated sphere of orange lightning between his hands. "Now close your eyes and cover your ears Gajeel, Levy!" Both mages look confused momentarily, but they did as they were told. "Lightning Dragon's Flashbang!" Natsu hurled the condensed ball of lightning at Laxus, which landed and exploded barely a foot in front of him. Instead of dealing an direct damage, the ball of lightning released an intense blast of light and sound loud enough to rival a thunderclap. The blast completely disoriented Laxus, causing his vision to turn white and his ears to ring. "Now Gajeel, give me a boost." Immediately understanding what Natsu wanted, Gajeel used his Iron Dragon's Lance to quickly extend his metallic arm towards Laxus. "Lightning Dragon's Flash Step!" Natsu's body instantly morphed down into an orange streak of lightning. Attracted to Gajeel's metallic arm, Natsu used this to close the distance between him and Laxus in the blink of an eye. Natsu transformed back to normal right in front Laxus, immediately hitting him with a barrage of punches. "This is for all the Fairy Tail mages you've insulted! Lightning Dragon's Erupting Fist!" Each place Natsu hit was struck by a blast of orange lightning, constantly bombarding Laxus. Releasing a fierce snarl, Natsu dashed behind Laxus and wrapped his arms around his waist. "This for starting this stupid fucking game in the first place! Lightning Dragon's Detonating Suplex!" Letting out a throaty growl, Natsu fell backwards, slamming Laxus headfirst into the ground, moments before he was hit by a blast of lightning. "This is for getting my nakama hurt! Lightning Dragon's Static Claw!" With his foot coated in orange lightning, Natsu kicked Laxus in the stomach, launching him into the air. Not letting up for a moment, Natsu used a nearby pillar to leap high up into the air above Laxus. "This is for not going to see your grandfather! Lightning Dragon's Static Horn!" Kicking off the ceiling, Natsu hit Laxus in the chest with an electrified headbutt, sending him crashing back into the ground. By now Laxus was barely conscious, as he tried desperately to at least defend himself. "And this...is for insulting the magic that my brother Valinor taught me...insulting REAL dragon slayer magic! The magic that smashes through dragon's scales...crushes their entrails...and reaps their very souls! This my strongest dragon slayer technique!" Natsu made a rapid circular motion with his arms, as torrents of orange lightning sparked of them. "Sparkling Lotus: Exploding Lightning Blade!"
The orange lightning pouring of Natsu's arms barreled towards Laxus in a massive spiral of electricity. Laxus could only watch in horror as the attack closed the distance. Then Natsu's attack hit, each stream of electricity that hit Laxus causing a powerful explosion of lightning. For almost ten seconds, Laxus was constantly barraged with incredibly powerful lightning. When Natsu stopped his attack, he was left panting heavily, sweat pouring off his body and his magic almost completely drained. Laxus on the other hand was on the other side of the cathedral knocked completely out cold, twitching slightly as orange sparks still crackled off his body. The self-proclaimed 'strongest man in Fairy Tail' had been defeated.
"RAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!" Natsu let out a mighty roar of triumph, standing tall over his defeated opponent. After almost seven years of constant failure, Natsu had finally managed to defeat his rival for strongest lightning dragon slayer in Fairy Tail. He was the final lightning dragon left standing, finally proving that true dragon slayer magic was indeed stronger than anything a lacrima could provide. Wobbling for a few moments, Natsu's legs eventually gave out and he collapsed, but he was quickly caught by Gajeel before he hit the ground. "I really did it...I finally kicked that son of a bitch's ass..." With a satisfied smile plastered on his face, Natsu passed out.
And done! Man that was one hell out a chapter! Well it's finished, Natsu has finally defeated his arch-nemesis, Laxus! I hope the fight lived up to all your expectations! Next chapter will finish off the Battle for Fairy Tail arc and will likely have the Natsu x Mirajane lemon I know you've all be waiting for! I will try to have the next chapter out as soon as possible, then I will begin work on the next chapter for my Akame ga Kill fic. Remember to Follow/Favorite if you enjoyed, PLEASE REVIEW (I NEED AND WANT YOUR FEEDBACK), Remember to check out my profile and other fics if you haven't already, and PM me any ideas you might have for any of my fics! So until next time, I'm outta here!