I don't own anything.
"Let's just keep away from Natsu for the time being." Lucy said.
"I second that." Gray replied.
Lucy and Gray watch as Natsu explained to the Headman of the Village of what had just happened a few moments ago.
"Whoever is here, has been using a spell that collects magical energy up into the sky. The magical energy condensed into a thin layer of glass. It distorted the moon's appearance. However, it may have caused a magical illness because particles of that spell fell down upon you all in the form of dust. The excess magic most likely caused insanity because the body doesn't know what to do with it." Natsu informed the man.
"You mean that it isn't the moon?" Moka asked.
"Not even close." Natsu confirmed.
"What happens now?" Moka asked.
"We still have a job to do, once we stop the people making this spell. It'll eventually end your village's suffering. It'll be awhile before you guys can go back to being humans due to the excess in magic." Natsu stated.
Moka's eyes widen in happiness.
"Is that true?" Moka asked.
"From my understanding, it is the cause of this...curse." Natsu said.
The Headman was filled with hope and belief that the curse might end soon.
"However, I'll explore the island tommorow. I'll begin my investigation in the morning when the sun is out." Natsu stated.
"Yes, yes, get some rest. We will provide a home for you to use. Right this way." The Headman said.
The next morning.
"Let's hit the trail, we have a long day ahead of us." Natsu said.
"I'm surprised that there might be more than just the villagers on this island. It doesn't seem like a place you could house another community and where would they go anyways?" Gray asked.
"I don't know but we should look for abandoned ruins. That will give us a starting point." Natsu said.
"I heard there was a ruined temple on the island that none of the villagers ever go into because of the curse." Lucy spoke.
"Do you know where?"
"They said on the north eastern part of the island on a mountain." She answered.
"We go there first." Natsu said.
The group would begin their journey by leaving the village. The trio entering onto the trail that lead into the dense jungle.
"It looks like your arm is all healed up." Lucy commented.
Natsu flexed his fingers to still feel his skin. He felt relief at being able to feel like a human could and looked forward.
"Yeah, for the meantime anyways."
"Don't worry, you'll be the same old Natsu that I know." Lucy said.
"The same ole rulebreaker, it's gonna take more than turning into something for us to leave ya behind. I mean we are still with ya even after that whole ordeal." Gray said.
True, Lucy nor Gray ran away from him, the villagers, and continued to do the job. Natsu grew a small smile.
"Thank you." Natsu said.
Natsu was very grateful to them for that because Irene's experience had been...tragic to say the least. The group walked in comfortable silence as they went threw another section of vines populating the area. The walk was somewhat long as they had to clear out some areas with heavy brush.
"There's the entrance, beyond the trees!"
The group of three broke through the jungle as they saw the entrance that lead into a ruined temple.
"It looks really old, when did they make this?' Lucy asked.
Natsu would head up the stairs first with Lucy in the middle and Gray in the back.
"I don't like it, this place is falling apart." Gray commented.
The group walked through the doorway of the temple as it became difficult to see as the daylight didn't pierce into the room. Natsu conjured up a light orb and used it to Illuminate the darkness. Everyone could actively see inside said room as it was decorated with random symbols with ancient meanings.
"Isn't that a moon symbol!?" Lucy pointed out.
Natsu look to see that on top of other pictures there was a crescent moon. Natsu moved forward to decipher them but as soon as his foot made contact with the ground. The floor gave way.
"What the hell!?" Gray shouted.
All three of them began to free fall down a hole. All of them made a rough landing as they hit the cold hard Earth while debris rain down all around them. Finally, everything settled down.
"Who's alive?" Natsu called out.
Natsu got to his feet while dusting himself off.
"I'm alive." Lucy called out.
"Present." Gray responded.
Both of the mages got to their feet with Natsu having to Illuminate the dark hole they fell into as they saw that they were in a cave.
"Looks like we fell down into a cave network underneath the temple." Gray stated.
"Since we're down here, we might as well explore." Natsu said.
"Don't see anything wrong with that." Gray put his two cents in.
"I can handle a little darkness." Lucy boasted.
It was in agreement, they took a path before exploring the cave. Natsu saw light coming from down the hall to the right. He canceled his light as he lead the group into the room. Since Natsu is the first into the room. His eyes widen at seeing a huge demon encased in a block of ice. The ice itself producing the source of light that he saw in the tunnel
"What the hell?" Natsu breathed out.
"What's wrong Natsu?" Lucy asked.
Finally, Gray came into the room. He was the most vocal out of the three.
"What the hell isDeliora doing here!?" Gray shouted.
Deliora!? That means this must be Ur! Natsu turn to face Gray.
"You know this thing?" Natsu asked.
"There's no possible way it should be here! Let alone in a place like this! How could!? How could!?" Gray shouted.
Lucy shaked Gray as best as she could by grabbing onto his collar.
"Gray, get a hold of yourself!" Lucy hissed.
Gray finally controlled his emotions as he took a step away from Lucy. Gray now free from her grip.
"Deliora, The Demon of Disaster-"
Natsu heard foot steps coming from behind them.
"Quickly, hide now!" Natsu ordered.
They took cover behind some rocks as they watched three people walk into the cavern room.
"I heard voices coming from in here." One of the trio stated.
"It seems like the left the area Yuka."
"This is the first time this has happened, eh Toby?" Yuka asked.
"First time or not, we have to end their life before the moon ceremony tonight. It wouldn't do us any good if word got out of what we are trying to do." A woman said.
"Yes, Sherry has the right idea. We should end their lives before The Reitai gets word of intruders within the premises."
"Yes, for our dear Reitei, we will show them true love." Sherry spoke.
"The Moon Drip ceremony must be conducted without delays. Sherry, check the lower levels of the temple, Toby look around outside the perimeter of the temple. I'll look on the upper floors." Yuka ordered.
Those three ended up leaving without realizing that the intruders were right in the same room as them.
"It looks like they're the ones responsible for the curse on Galuna Island." Lucy said once thet were far enough away.
"And trying to melt the ice around Deliora." Natsu stated.
Gray felt his hands turn into fists as the rage within his body threatened to consumed him.
"What...?" Lucy asked.
Natsu turn to face Lucy.
"Moon Drip is one of the few spells that can melt the form of Ice Make: Shell." Natsu informed Lucy.
"Ice Make: Shell...that means she-"
"My Master Ur sealed this demon up with Ice Make: Shell! The problem is, that Deliora was sealed in the Northen Continent but they somehow dragged it all the way here! I don't know who they are but they're going to pay dearly for attempting this! I won't let my Master's sacrifice be in vain!" Gray yelled.
Gray let out a few breaths as he calmed himself. Natsu meanwhile was looking at the block of ice that encased said demon. He walked up to the ice gaining Gray's attention.
"Natsu what are you doing!?" Gray yelled.
"Doing something."
For years, Natsu was waiting for this moment. Ultear needed to know and if it took her own mother to knock some sense into her, so be it. Though he didn't want to start stating reasons for doing this because that could lead to being found out that he was a spy. Therefore, Natsu used actions over words. Natsu placed his hand onto the ice as six magic circles formed around the perimeter of the ice. The magic power that came from Natsu sent Gray flying back. As it would no doubt attract attention. Lucy had to brace herself from where she stood or suffer the same fate. What the hell was Natsu doing!?
"Natsu! Can you explain to us what's going on!?" Lucy yelled at him.
Natsu grew a smirk.
"Setting someone free." Natsu spoke.
Gray got to his feet.
"You can't, if you do, it's impossible!" Gray shouted.
Natsu turned his head to look at Gray.
"Impossible? Not in my dictionary." Natsu responded.
He would use some of Ultear's knowledge of magic. She would not be able to bring Ur to her original form because of the ice having specific properties. However, Natsu found a way to control the ice due to simultaneously using healing and ice magic. The block of ice would be surrounded by a bright yellow light. Now came the fun part as he would need to keep his magic from running out while rebuilding Ur. The entire block of ice would dissolve into flowing ice with light magic surrounded each and every one of the streams of ice. Now Natsu began to chant as he used medical magic to keep Ur alive.
"Return the accursed to what thy once was by melding their soul and body as one."
This spell, "Body Renowned," would provide a body for said person. This allowed for Natsu to rebuild her body as the streams of ice made a female.
"Is he...?" Lucy asked.
"...I thought it was..."
Eventually, he got all of the ice in one location. Despite the shape of Ur being present. It would not be that easy to simply resurrect her. Iced Shell was still in effect but now he could move on to a more...ancient spell. Though since Ur is still alive, he wasn't really messing with the balance of life and death.
"Thy gave their body to implement safety over their own, gods hear my plea. Let thy start a new so that they will recieve a second chance to walk this world. To experience your plan." Natsu chanted out.
The spell was called, "Walk Once More." This spell allowed for the soul to house itself back into its original body. Since Natsu reconstructed Ur's body. This allowed her soul to be housed back into place. The woman's physical features were still the same as ice. Now Natsu would be able to move to the final step.
"May the awake from their long slumber for it is foretold that they had proven themselves to walk this Earth once again. Let them walk Along the Passing Shore."
Ur entire body began to formulate itself to show what she looked like before casting Iced Shell. Finally, after using two types of magic, three seperate spells did Ur fully come back from her self made ice shell. The light dimmed around her body before vanishing completely. Natsu took a knee at having expanded almost all of his magical container in one go. He was sweating at this point from the task.
'That was no joke.' Natsu thought.
Natsu looked over to see that his spells had, on the surfaced, worked.
"What..." Gray replied.
Gray's mouth dried up at seeing Ur. Natsu was able to speak.
"Gray, check her pulse." Natsu snapped at Gray.
Gray ran over to his unconscious master as he knelt down. He put two fingers against her neck as he felt a pulse. Gray's eyes widen at feeling that pulse. Ur...Ur is alive.
"She's alive, she's alive...I, what did you do Natsu?" Gray asked.
Natsu got to his feet while facing the Deliora. They didn't need to see him so worn out from the strain of casting almost all of his magical container. He didn't want to appear weak.
"Don't really worry about it, just know I figured it out and got her out of that spell." Natsu said.
Right now, Deliora is thawed out and the demon's body let lose a loud cracking sound. It gave out another cracking sound, before multiple cracking sounds could be heard. Finally, Deliora's hand broke off from its arm as it slammed into the ground. A loud smashing sound could be heard with everyone stiffening at the noise being made in the area. That wasn't the end because piece by piece Deliora broke apart until it was left in a pile of its own body that was in pieces. Natsu gave a whistle.
"Damn, she really beat that thing." Natsu commented.
He was impressed that Ur had taken Deliora down. Natsu would be grateful for the woman because in his condition. He wouldn't be able to put up a fight.
'I'll seal away your darknsss.'
Gray remembered Ur's words to him. She had sealed away his darkness and because of his mistake. He lost Ur, his master, and now she was breathing in his arms. The female warm as if she just hadn't imprisoned for a decade. There is a swarm of questions in Gray's head. He was going to ask one of them but Natsu turned to face him.
"We still need to leave the temple, we have to get Ur out of here and they'll most likely go to the Village. We have to defend the villagers." Natsu commented.
Gray wanted to know but Natsu is correct. They already attracted a lot of attention and it was true that the intruders would come from the village. The villagers had to be protected.
"Natsu I have a lot of questions for you but for now the mission comes first. However, I want to take care of the bastards in this cave. I'm gonna give them hell." Gray settled.
Natsu figured he owed Gray that much for the time being.
"Lucy you back up Gray when he is giving them hell. I'll have to take Ur back to the Village and defend them." Natsu said.
Natsu picked up Ur and noticed one of her legs was made out of ice. He didn't pay any attention to it now. The male slugged the woman over her shoulder.
"Got it!" Lucy said.
"Scatter!" Natsu yelled.
Natsu climbed the hole that was made while Gray and Lucy followed the tunnel to the temple's actual basement. Gray saw several people walking into the tunnel. They must have heard Deliora crumbling to pieces. Though now all he heard was his thundering heartbeat filled with rage.
"Ice Make: Lance!" Gray shouted.
He summoned solid images made out of ice that were in the shape of several lances. His attacked connected with the group of people that were dressed in white robes. They were easily dispatched by Gray's attack. All of them hit the ground or flew back into the room. Gray and Lucy went into the room to find it filled with more cloaked people.
"The more, the merrier." Gray said.
Meanwhile.
Natsu climbed out of the hole to reach the first story floor. Ur still unconscious didn't react to being hoisted up the hole. Natsu hoisted the woman over his shoulder once more and got to his feet. He tried going forward but someone spoke to him that made him stop in his tracks.