Tempting Fate

"What the hell?" Elfman asked confused as he pummeled another member of Oracion Seis' alliance. He stopped hitting and squinted as a bright green light entered his eyes. "The floor's started glowing."
"It looks like a magical circle." Levy said. "Oracion Seis must have set it up before we arrived."
"What's it doing?" Macao asked.
"I don't know." Wakaba answered. "But do you feel that?"
"Yeah, it feels like my energy is going away."
Juvia looked up at the rumbling ceiling of the first floor of the tower. I hope Gray and the others are alright.
"What's going on?" Wendy asked Erza as they both covered eyes from the green light. "What's this light?"
"It's a magic circle." Erza replied straining to see through squinted eyes she then felt her body slowly getting heavier.
"He's finally done it." A weak voice called from beneath the rubble. The rocks moved to show a heavily bruised and beaten Angel. "He's finally awake." She said with a sadistic smile, which was offset by the fact that one of her teeth was missing.
"What did you say?" Lucy said worried as she and Aura stood over Romero who was sitting in a hole Aura created when she slammed him into the back of the stage.
"I said Draven is awake." Racer said with a smirk as he stood pinned to the wall due to Gajeel's iron nails. "Looks like times up for you Fairys."
"We'll see about that pal." Gray raced off, leaving Cobra trapped in a pillar of ice.
"Let's go Wendy." Erza commanded as she ran toward the stairs.
"R-right." The young girl said determined as she followed her.
"This is bad." Lucy said worriedly. "We have to regroup with the others." She looked over to her partner and saw into her eyes. In them was a look of mixture and fear that Lucy had never seen before, she knew that it could only be caused by knowing exactly what Draven was capable of. "Aura?"
"Not again. Dammit not again." Aura said under breath, clenching her fist tightly as she teleported away, leaving Lucy behind.
"Aura wait!" Lucy yelled reaching out her hand, but it was too late she was already gone.
"Looks like your friend left you here girlie." Romero said managing to laugh despite his broken ribs. "She's good at that."
"You shut up." Lucy kicked the downed wizard in the groin effectively knocking him out. She then jumped from the stage and headed towards the stairs. I have to catch up to her, hopefully the boys are okay. She thought to herself.
"Lucy!" a voiced called just before the celestial wizard began ascending the stairs. She turned around and smiled when she saw whose voice it was.
"Erza, Wendy, you're ok." She said with a smile. "Thank goodness."
"I'm glad you're ok too Lucy." Wendy said with a smile.
"Where are the others?" Erza asked sternly, bringing the two girls back into reality.
"The boys went on ahead of me."
"What about Aura?"
"She was here a second ago, but she teleported away when the floor started glowing." Lucy explained.
"Where did she go?" Wendy asked.
"I think she's heading for the top of the tower." Lucy said pointing upward.
"The let's go. We have to regroup with the others." Erza led the way up the stairs, Wendy and Erza following close behind.
"So why is the floor glowin?" Gajeel asked Gray as the headed up the last flight of stairs.
"I don't know, but for some reason I feel my energy being drained."
"I noticed it when we first entered the tower." Erza said as the emerged on the next floor and ran towards the next door. Lucy and Wendy looked to the right to see a passed out Racer being held to the wall by nails, clearly Gajeel's doing.
"When I was fighting Cardinal I felt my body slowing down, getting weaker. At first I thought it was because I was still feeling the effects of being sick the other day, but when the floor began glowing it became clear."
"What did?" Lucy asked.
"Whatever Oracion Seis is using to revive Draven, they need our magical power to do it. Thus the magical circles."
"So you think the green light from the magical circles draining out power?" Wendy asked.
"Yes." They entered the second to last floor, passing Cobra who was trapped in a pillar of ice. "They must be using some kind of spell to drain our magical energy and free him."
"Judging by the state their opponents are in Gajeel and Gray must be heading to the top of the tower. That means Natsu was the one who made it to the top floor." Erza stated.
"You think he's okay?" Lucy asked as they ran up the last flight of stairs.
"Natsu's too stubborn to lose a fight. He should be fine until we get there. Gray, Gajeel, and Aura should already be there to support him." Erza said not looking back at the two, but Lucy could tell in her voice that Erza was more worried about Natsu than anyone else.
Lucy looked to the left as the continued to ascend the stairs and noticed a strange sight when she looked out of the small windows. "Hey guys, wasn't it day time just a minute ago?"
Wendy and Erza looked over to the windows and stopped instantly. The sky was pitch black, not a star in the sky, but oddly enough they could still see the nature outside as if it were still daytime.
"What is this?" Erza asked astonished.
"You think this is because of Draven?" Wendy asked worriedly.
"I don't know but its freaking me out." Lucy whined, her knees shaking.
"We have to get to the top of the tower now." Erza commanded. She began running up the stairs with a faster pace, Lucy and Wendy once again following behind.
The three reached the last door and burst through it. To their relief Natsu, Gray and Gajeel were safe, but oddly Aura was nowhere to be seen. That was the least of their problems however as the giant lacrima in the room was shooting a beam of light into the sky.
"Guys you're ok!" Natsu said as he turned to look at the girls. "What you're not illusions are you?" he gave them all skeptical looks and walked closer to them, the look in his eyes slightly scaring Wendy and Lucy but irritating Erza.
He quickly picked up Wendy under her arms, causing the young girl to blush in embarrassment. "Ah Natsu!" she screamed as he held her in the air and looked her up and down. He then sniffed her and a smile came across his face. "Yep you're real."
He put her down gently and moved on to Lucy, who he also scanned up and down with his eyes. "What are you doing?" The blonde said irritated. Natsu then began patting her on the head, ruffling her hair and causing her mood to shift from annoyed to angry. "Will you quit it already?" She said low.
"Yep you're real too." He said with a smile.
Finally he moved to Erza and the smile on his face slowly faded when he saw the death stare in her eyes. "Yeah you're definitely the real Erza." He said shirking back. He would have rather believed she was the real thing than take his chances on getting pummeled by a pissed off Titania.
"What's going on Natsu?" Lucy asked as she fixed her hair and looked at the lacrima. "Is Draven inside that lacrima?"
"Yeah." He said nodding.
"Where's Midnight?" Erza asked. "I assume he was the one you fought here."
"I don't know. He was here when the tower started shaking, but he disappeared when Gray and Gajeel showed up."
"What's with that strange light coming from the lacrima?" Wendy asked.
"I don't know." Gray answered, "But that light is what turned the sky black."
"So that's what that was." Lucy said. "Can we stop it? Like can we destroy the lacrima before he wakes up?"
"We tried but we can't get near that thing." Gajeel said. "Every time we get close some weird spell pushes us back."
"Oracion Seis must have put in place so no one can interrupt the resurrection." Erza said as she placed her hand under chin in a thinking pose. "Where's Aura?" she asked looking at the boys.
"We thought she would be with you." Gray said looking back at the girls.
"She was with me." Lucy replied pointing at herself. "But she disappeared when all this crazy stuff started."
"Well where is she?" Gajeel asked.
"I don't know." Lucy said looking at Erza who was clenching her fist. "We thought she was up here with you guys."
"Hey I think its stopping." Natsu said focusing everyone's attention on the lacrima.
Sure enough the lacrima's blue glow was flickering and fading before their eyes, but to everyone's collected surprise the giant lacrima was still standing.
"Hey guys wasn't there supposed to be a-"Lucy began but was stopped when the lacrima cracked and shattered.
Everyone covered their eyes as the shards of the lacrima scattered across the room. When they opened them again they saw a lone man standing where the lacrima once stood.
He was of considerable height, about as tall as Elfman and the top of his head was completely bare. A thin gray beard protruded from his chin and his ears were slightly pointed.
He opened his eyes slowly and the Fairy Tail wizards could feel an overwhelming pressure emitting from his red and black eyes.
He looked down at his body, not even noticing the assembled wizards as he opened and closed his fists. "This won't do." He said in a low gravelly voice as he looked down at his naked form.
He snapped his fingers and suddenly a black cloak and white pants appeared on him. The cloak was similar to the celestial garb Natsu wore during the first fight with Oracion Seis except that it was black and white and the coat was now much longer.
He looked over at Natsu and the others, and a chill came down their spines as his eyes bore holes into them. "Are you the ones that freed me? You have my thanks."
Natsu stepped back as a cold sweat dripped down his face, he didn't' know why but he felt he was staring into the face of death. He knew then that Aura's prophecy had come true, and that Draven had arrived.
He noticed their guarded reactions. "Is something the matter? You 6 are the ones that freed me from that lacrima correct?"
The group stared in slight fear as Draven began walking towards them. Natsu bit his lip until it drew blood trying to calm himself down. Gotta calm down. I can't let this guy get to me, but something about him smells weird. He sort of smells like Loke.
"Not talking?" Draven asked. "I see, you are speechless in front of your new master."
Without thinking Natsu dashed forward his fist ablaze.
"Natsu wait!" Erza yelled but her words didn't reach him.
Slightly surprised by the sudden action, Draven held out his palm and a white magical circle appeared. Erza felt the power radiating from it and ran after Natsu.
"Erza!" Lucy yelled.
Natsu pulled back his fist to attack when suddenly a shadowed figure appeared behind Draven, kicking him in the head and sending him flying into the wall. The circle cracked apart and beams of white light spread in different directions. Natsu stopped in surprise and Erza grabbed him by the scarf, quickly dashing back towards the others. "Move!" she yelled as she ran past them.
With Gray grabbing Lucy and Gajeel grabbing Wendy, the pairs darted in different directions at Erza's order.
The light from destroyed circle struck various parts of the floor and created multiple holes in the walls. The dust settled and the group saw Draven sitting in the wall, virtually unscathed.
"What happened?" Lucy asked as Gray put her down.
"Someone attacked him from behind, probably saved all of our lives." Gray said.
"Who was that?" Gajeel asked still holding Wendy in his arm.
Wendy looked over to Natsu and Erza who were standing opposite of them. A purple circle appeared over the pair and Wendy's eyes lit up when she saw the person falling out of it.
"Aura!" She yelled happily. "You're okay!" She then looked up at Gajeel with a red face. "You can put me down now Gajeel."
"Oh my bad." He apologized as he set her down. Once she was on her feet she started to move towards Aura.
"Wendy stay back!" Aura yelled holding out her hand, to which the young girl hesitantly agreed.
"Where were you?" Erza asked sternly as she and Natsu stood up.
"I was waiting for an opening to attack. Sorry I took so long." She replied not looking at her parents. She looked at Draven who was slowly moving from the wall. Her rage was building as the dark wizard nonchalantly dusted himself off. "That was mildly annoying. Damn human." He said under his breath.
Aura positioned herself to run at Draven again, but she soon thought against it when she felt Erza's hand on her shoulder.
"I could have taken him." Natsu said irritated as dusted himself off. "He doesn't look so tough." He said ignoring the quaking feeling he experienced earlier.
"Don't be a fool Natsu." Erza scolded "If Aura hadn't saved you, you wouldn't be here right now."
"Mo…I mean Erza's right." Aura said looking at Draven attentively. "He isn't someone we can take alone, we need to attack together."
"You pack quite a punch girl." Draven said looking at Aura. "Not many humans can get the drop on me." He then disappeared, much to everyone's surprise.
The trio's eye widened when Draven was suddenly in front of them. He's fast. Erza thought trying to ready herself. He kicked Natsu in the stomach sending the dragon slayer sliding against the floor and into the wall.
"Natsu!" Erza called out but she soon found herself receiving a back fist from Draven. She put up her hands to block it but still flew back into the debris laden floor.
"Mo…Ack!" Aura yelled but found her air gone when Draven grabbed her by the neck and hoisted her into the air. Aura kicked her legs in the air and hit Draven's arm as the dark wizard continued choking the life out of the young girl.
"Let her go now!" Gray slammed his hands into the ground and spikes of ice rose from it, heading towards Draven. To Gray's surprise the ice evaporated when it touched Draven's back. He looked back at Gray and a magic circle appeared on his eye, suddenly Gray's same attack came back towards him causing him to fly back into the wall.
"Gray!" Lucy said as he flew past her. She then saw Gajeel and Wendy race past her. "Guys wait!" she reached out her hand to dissuade them.
Aura grabbed Draven's wrist and started beating on his forearm with a flame fist but nothing was loosening his grip.
Gajeel and Wendy leaped into the air behind Draven and puffed out their cheeks.
SKY DRAGON-
IRON DRAGON-
ROAR
Their breath attacks combined but Draven waved his hand to dissipate them, much to their shock. He looked at the two as they landed on the ground and moved his index finger toward himself. An unknown force pulled Gajeel and Wendy towards Draven despite their attempts to stop themselves.
He caught Wendy by the neck and stomped on Gajeel's chest, holding him in place.
"Dragon slayers." Draven said slightly astonished. "I thought you had gone extinct." His irises turned red and he could see the essence of their power, manifesting itself as different colored flames. His eyes searched all three of them as they continued to struggle.
"Grandeeney and Metalicana." He said looking at Wendy and Gajeel. "I expected a bleeding heart like Grandeeney to take on a child, but Metalicana is a surprise to say the least." He then looked at Aura and squinted in confusion. "You on the other hand. You use Fire Dragon Slayer magic so Igneel must have been your teacher, but your magic power is too faint to have been taught by him directly."
"Let us go you bastard!" Gajeel yelled beating Draven's leg but it did nothing more than make the dark wizard wince. He smirked and stomped on Gajeel's chest, causing the Iron Dragon to cough up blood as he tightened his grip on the two girls. "You certainly are as defiant as Metalicana." He looked down at Gajeel with a sadistic smirk. "Perhaps I should kill you first."
"MOOOOO!" A voice echoed from behind, catching Draven's attention. A huge axe swung downward slashing Draven across the back. He yelled in pain and let go of Aura and Wendy, the former grabbing Gajeel by the leg as they jumped away. Draven sneered and turned around to see who had the nerve to assault him. When he saw who it was his eyes widened in surprise.
"Taurus." He said with a small smile upon looking at the axe wielding cow man. He looked behind him and his eyes widened even more. "Layla." He said relieved.
"I thought you were dead. Why did you-"
CIRCLE SWORD
ICE MAKE ARROWS
Taurus jumped back and Draven looked up as a circular arrangement of swords fell from the sky and on top of him which were soon followed by a barrage of ice arrows.
Erza and Gray regrouped with the Dragon slayers, Erza requipping from her Heaven's Wheel armor back into her Heart Kreuz armor. "Are you three alright?" she asked as she helped Wendy to her feet.
"Yeah, I'm good." Gajeel answered slowly standing.
Aura coughed as she tried to get air back through her windpipe but soon enough Natsu was helping her to her feet. She wiped the blood from her mouth. "Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yes I'm fine. Thanks."
"Where's Lucy?" Wendy asked.
"Here." Lucy said as Taurus set her down. She walked next to Gray. "Is everyone ok?"
"Yeah." Gray said shifting his jaw.
"That bastard is tough." Gajeel said rubbing his chest.
"He would have killed us if you hadn't helped out Lucy." Wendy said a bit relieved.
"That's only the beginning." Aura winced in pain as she stepped forward, clutching her ribs. Erza caught her before she fell to one knee. "I'm ok really." She said looking at Erza who let her stand on her own two feet.
"What do we do now?" Lucy asked.
"We have to keep attacking while he's downed for the moment." Erza said. "Are you ok to move again Natsu?" Erza asked not looking at the dragon slayer.
"Yeah."
"Ok." Lucy nodded looking at Taurus, the bull nodding back.
Taurus raced forward, Natsu and Erza close behind him but they were soon blown back when an explosion sent them flying in opposite directions, causing Taurus to disappear. "Taurus!" Lucy yelled concerned as she watched the spirit disappear.
In the crater, Draven raised himself from his kneeling position, his cloaked nearly ripped to shreds. He looked up at Lucy and smiled uncomfortably again.
"Layla, I've missed you so much." He walked towards the group with his arms open.
Lucy felt an uncomfortable chill go up her spine as she watched him.
IRON DRAGON SWORD
ICE MAKE LANCE
Gajeel's sword slashed the side of Draven's face and Gray's lances barely grazed the dark wizard as he continued to walk forward. They then ran forward, Gray clasping his hands together.
ICE MAKE: ICE HAMMER
IRON DRAGON CLUB
Gray's spike hammer and Gajeel's club descended from the sky but Draven caught them, much to their surprise. Clutching their weapons tightly, Draven began swinging Gray and Gajeel around.
"Aw crap!" Gray said angrily.
"Dammit." Gajeel said.
Draven then let go, sending them flying and hitting the walls. He then resumed walking towards Lucy and Wendy.
"Wendy." Lucy yelled with a determined look.
"Right." The young girl nodded.
OPEN GATE OF THE SCORPION: SCORPIO
Scorpio appeared on all fours with his tail extended.
"Scorpio as well?" Draven said with a slight smile.
Wendy puffed out her cheeks.
SAND BUSTER
SKY DRAGON ROAR
The two attacks collided, creating a unison raid but Draven simply shrugged it off. He held out his palm and slowly tightened it into a fist. Lucy watched in horror as Scorpio disappeared.
"Scorpio!"
"Lucy-Ahh!" Draven backhanded Wendy, sending her flying, but Aura teleported and caught her just before she impacted with the wall.
Aura teleported behind Draven again, coming in for a kick but he caught her leg and twisted it.
"Ngh!" she screamed in pain as Draven slammed her into the ground.
"Aura!" Lucy yelled. She looked up and her knees began shaking as Draven was now standing before her, a sadistic smile now on his face.
"Layla, you don't recognize me?" he asked Lucy who was trying to keep a strong face despite her fear. His eyes narrowing in irritation, Draven grabbed Lucy by the collar and held her in the air.
"Let me go." She said struggling in his grip.
"Why do you keep attacking me Layla?!" He yelled angrily as Lucy continued to struggle. "Don't you realize I'm doing this for you?!"
A hard fist struck Draven's stomach, causing him to drop Lucy and slide back. He held his ribs and looked at his attacker. Lucy regained her breath and looked up at her savior.
"Loke." She said weakly as she stood up.
"Sorry for the late entrance doll." Loke said pushing up his glasses with a smirk. He then looked at Draven, his gaze turning stern. "That's no way to treat a lady pal."
"Leo." Draven snarled. "I did not expect to find you here."
"Well lots of things change in 7 years." Loke clutched his wrist as his fist began glowing. He then ran towards Draven, hitting him hard in the face. Draven staggered and returned with a fist of his own, hitting Loke hard in the stomach. The two traded bone crushing blows as Lucy looked on.
"L…Lucy." Aura said weakly. She tried to stand up but her left leg was heavily injured.
"Aura." Lucy grabbed the red haired girl and draped her arm over her shoulders, helping her to her feet.
"You summoned Loke?" Aura asked looking at the two trading blows.
"No he came on his own."
"Aura, Lucy." Wendy ran over although she was heavily bruised. She knelled down and began healing Aura's leg. Soon Aura was able to stand on her own feet again and she removed her arm from around Lucy.
"Thanks Wendy." She said with a small smile as the three girls looked at Loke and Draven brawl.
"Looks like Loke can handle this." Lucy said with a smile.
"No, he's losing." Aura said narrowing her eyes. She darted towards the two. "Wendy go heal my parents!"
"R-right. Come on Lucy." The two ran towards Erza first.
Draven's fist collided with Loke's stomach again, causing the celestial spirit to fall to one knee. Draven prepared for the finishing blow but Aura blocked his attack with her forearm.
"You again." Draven snarled. "I'm growing quite tired of you."
"That makes two of us." Aura forced her forearm upwards forcing Draven off balance as she drove a hard fist into his side.
He jerked to the right and clenched his side. He then held out his hand as a white magic circle appeared. Aura prepared to counter but when she saw Natsu and Erza jump from behind Draven she and Loke and slid back much to Draven's confusion.
FIRE DRAGON WING ATTACK
FLAME SLASH
The two fire spells collided and scorched Draven's back he yelled in anguish which gave a revived Gray the opening he needed for his attack.
ICE MAKE HAMMER
The large ice hammer appeared above Draven and fell on him creating a crater in the floor.
KARMA DEMON: IRON GOD SWORD
A large iron sword swung down on top of Draven making the crater bigger and creating a hole in the floor. Aura looked over and saw Gajeel breathing heavily, that last attack had taken a lot out of him but he managed to remain standing.
"Did we get'em?" Gajeel said breathing heavily, one of his eyes closed.
"Yeah I think we did." Gray said as he held him up and walked towards the others.
They all looked down the hole and saw a pile of rubble on the floor below them.
"Did we win?" Lucy asked.
"I don't know." Natsu replied.
"We shouldn't let our guard down." Erza said her eyes still focused. "Wendy I know you don't have much energy left but can you heal the injured?" Erza asked not looking at the young dragon slayer.
"Yes, I'll do my best." The young girl nodded determined
"Ok, start with Gajeel. Everyone else follow me." She requipped into her Blackwing armor and jumped down the hole along with Natsu, Gray, Lucy, Loke, and Aura. They all surrounded the rubble and readied their next assault but they were taken aback when they heard mumbling.
"What's that noise?" Gray asked.
"Sounds like he's talking down there." Natsu replied.
"What's he saying?"
"It doesn't matter, we need to go down there before he has a chance to recuperate." Erza said preparing to attack.
"I think I can make some of it out. " Lucy began leaning in.
"With such shine. O Tetrabiblos... I am the ruler of the stars..." Lucy heard the words and her eyes opened wide in terror.
He knows that spell? She stepped back slowly as the rubble began floating.
"Lucy what's wrong?!" Loke asked, his eyes winded too when he saw the rubble.
"We have to get out of here now!" Lucy yelled to everyone's surprise.
"What's going on?" Natsu asked confused. He looked around and saw that the tower was gone and they were now floating in what looked like space, with what looked like celestial bodies floating in the air around them.
"Where are we?" Aura said confused looking around.
Erza's eyes widened when she felt the power flowing from the rubble. Such overwhelming power. "Lucy's right we have to move!"
Wendy finished healing Gajeel and the pair noticed the space scenery around them. "What the hell is this?" Gajeel asked standing up.
"I don't know." Wendy replied but she could feel the overwhelming power coming from the lower floor. "We have to help the others." She said, she and Gajeel preparing to join their friends.
Draven revealed himself from beneath the rubble, his body shining as a golden circle appeared in front of him, the balls of light glowing around him. "Open thy malevolent gate. O 88 Stars of the heaven... Shine!"
Everyone's eyes widened in terror.
URANO METRIA
The balls of light flew towards everyone assembled around Draven. Erza quickly requipped into her Adamantine armor and ran in front of Lucy and Loke. "Everyone get behind me!" she yelled as Natsu, Gray, and Aura quickly followed the order. She combined her shields, creating her adamantine barrier.
"What's going on?" Wendy yelled covering her eyes.
"I don't know." Gajeel replied.
The floor gave way beneath them and the two fell to the lower floor.
"Ahhhh!" Wendy screamed frightened as the fell. Gajeel quickly grabbed and held her close as he fell on his back to brace the impact.
"Nnnngh." Erza took a step back as the force of Draven's spell began overpowering her.
"Erza!" Natsu yelled concerned as she fell to one knee.
"Stay back! I can hold this." She said straining as pieces of her armor began breaking away. "Everyone just stay…behind me." She continued to hold her ground but it was all for naught. Urano Metria broke through Erza's shield and armor forcing her to requip to her blouse and skirt.
The balls of light came from all corners, striking all of those she was trying to protect. Her screams of pain along with theirs ringing in her ears, Loke disappearing back to the Celestial world due to the extent of his damage. "Loke." Lucy said weakly.
The force was that of a thousand meteors and felt like it would go on forever. Then it suddenly stopped and Erza and the others fell to the ground defeated.
The remaining Fairy Tail wizards struggled to stand as Draven walked closer to them. He soon stopped at Natsu who was lying on his back and kicked him hard in the ribs, forcing him to turn over to his stomach and writhe in pain. There was no real reason as to why Draven chose Natsu, anyone would have done. Natsu just had the misfortune of being the closest.
"Nat…su." Erza said weakly, straining to crawl to his aid.
Natsu grabbed Draven's leg and looked up at the dark wizard defiantly.
Draven smirked at him. "You are a stubborn one boy." His eyes began glowing and he noticed the fire blazing in Natsu's stomach. "You're the true Fire Dragon Slayer. Your magic is much more potent than that girls. You must have been the one trained by Igneel."
"What…do you know…about Igneel?" Natsu said weakly.
"Enough to know he was a fool of a dragon." He saw the look in Natsu's eyes turn more resilient and stomped his head into floor.
"You insolent whelp." He said. "How dare you look at me with such disrespectful eyes? You damned human."
"Leave him alone." Lucy said straining.
"Don't worry Layla you will have your turn soon enough for betraying me."
"You bastard." Natsu said angrily, his speech muffled by the rumble.
"What was that?" Draven pulled him up by the hair and held him aloft.
"You hard of hearing old man?" Natsu said with a smirk.
Draven drew back his fist and slammed it against Natsu's abdomen causing the dragon slayer to spit up blood.
"Natsu!" Gray yelled trying to stand.
Aura struggled to roll over from her back as she watched Natsu get pummeled. Dad.
"I'm afraid I couldn't hear you. Care to speak up?" Draven asked mockingly.
Natsu coughed some more but his smirk reappeared, causing Draven more anger. "You won't win."
Draven hit him once again. Natsu gasped for air as his vision started to blur. "I apologize, I'm afraid my hearing has slowly decayed over the centuries."
"You…won't…win."
Another fist struck the helpless dragon slayer. "You humans. Always believing that you are the ones who will inherit the land." He struck Natsu again, this time in the face. "Always feigning superiority. It sickened me watching you humans from the celestial world at the king's side. Subjugating my brethren to your greed, pride, and sloth."
"You're…a celestial spirit?" Lucy asked in surprise looking at Aura who was still trying to move.
"I was, but now I am something more." He struck Natsu in the stomach once more.
"Let him go!" Gray yelled as he clutched his arm.
"You are welcome to stop me ice wizard." Draven replied with a sadistic smile. "You humans and your hubris are polluting this world, only by opening your hearts and accepting me as your master will you all truly be free. This notion of good and evil none of it matters when the world is cast in shadow."
"So you're saying we should just…bow down to you?" Aura said as she made it to one knee. "I've seen what your rule does to the world, and I would rather die than go through that hell again."
"Me too…" Lucy said slowly standing.
"We're taking you down." Gray said.
"You haven't won this fight." Erza said next.
"Yeah we're far from done." Gajeel said as he and Wendy exited the rubble they were trapped in.
Draven felt Natsu's hand grip his wrist tightly. He looked at Natsu's face and saw the fierce look in his eyes. "You're not gonna rule anything." Natsu's fist burned and he drew back for a punch.
FIRE DRAGON IRON FI-
Draven caught it, much to everyone's surprise. Squeezing Natsu's fist as he extinguished the fire. Draven placed his hand on Natsu's forehead and squeezed it tightly.
"Natsu!" Erza yelled leading the charge towards Draven, but they were too weak to make in time.
"You don't understand dragon slayer." Draven said low. "You have no future."
A black magic circle with a star in the middle appeared in Draven's eyes as he gripped Natsu's head tighter. Natsu screamed in agony as he felt a surge of dark energy course though his body, his eyes showing the same circle that was in Draven's eyes.
"Stop it!" Lucy yelled desperately but it was no use the damage was done.
Natsu's screams slowly faded as the dark aura around his body slowly dissipated and his arms fell limply to his side.
Draven dropped Natsu and the dragon slayer fell to his knees. Everyone felt they were moving in slow motion as Natsu fell from his knees to his back.
"Natsu!" Wendy yelled as her eyes misted.
"Salamander." Gajeel said in disbelief.
"Dammit, you bastard!" Gray yelled in anger as her slammed his fist into his open palm.
"I'm going to kill you." Erza said in a low roar as she requipped into her Armadura Fairy armor.
Draven looked at the group with a sick smirk as he stood over Natsu's unconscious body.