Awakening

Wendy jumped across the rubble laden ground of the third floor, avoiding the hammer strikes from the giant cherub still following her. Realizing the places to run were thinning out Wendy positioned herself atop one of the broken pieces of the wall and puffed out her cheeks.

***SKY DRAGON ROAR***

She once again blew a tornado of air from her mouth, distorting Angel's vision by tossing debris in her direction.

"What was that?" Erza said aloud looking up at the creaking ceiling, dust and pebbles falling from it. She requipped into her Heart Kreuz armor and ran towards the door of her floor, leaving a beaten Cardinal in her wake; his body heavily bruised. Erza raced up the stairs, placing her hand on her throbbing ribs. *That fight took longer than I thought. I just hope I'm not too late to help the others.*

The dust settled and Angel looked around the room, but Wendy was nowhere in sight. She touched under her nose and squeezed her fist in anger when she saw the small spots of blood on her fingertips. "You'll pay for that you brat! Where are you?!" She yelled, angrily scanning the room.

Wendy stood behind a pair of standing pieces of the debris. Peeking out from the side of one of the rocks, she saw Angel and her summoned cherub looking for her. Wendy reached into her pocket and pulled out 4 of the coins Angel was previously holding*. Taking more of these coins should stop her from summoning anything else right?* She clutched them in her hand and peeked out again at Angel. *The more coins she uses the stronger the angel she summons, I think.* The young girl thought to herself.

"If you won't come out on your own then I'll just have to make you come out!" Angel yelled breaking Wendy's concentration. Angel pointed in front of her. "Go." On her command the hammer wielding cherub began floating around the room, smashing its hammer against the walls and floor in an effort to smoke Wendy out.

*I need to move.* Wendy thought worried. *But if I do she'll see me and attack.* *But if I don't I'll be crushed.* She looked at the coins in her hand once more as the booming sound grew closer.

*I don't have enough energy to use Sky Walk or any of my offensive magic.* She thought as she clenched her fist.

"It's only a matter of time before I find you little girl!" Angel yelled.

*I don't have enough time to eat either. What am I going to do?!*

Angel saw the last pair of rubble standing and gleefully walked over as her cherub raised its hammer to administer the final blow. *She found me?!* Wendy thought panicked.

"Looks like time's up." She said with a sly smile as she raised her arm. "I'll tell your friends that you couldn't make it to Master Draven's coming out party." She then dropped her arm, the cherub swinging its hammer down.

Wendy closed her eyes and braced for impact. *I'm sorry everyone.* She thought of her friends. *I'm sorry I held you guys back again.* She awaited the hammer, but slowly opened her eyes when nothing came. "What happened?"

"What the?" Angel said in disbelief, "When the hell did you get here?"

Wendy moved from behind the rubble and her eyes opened in astonishment. There atop the rubble she was standing behind was Erza, clad in her Purgatory Armor halting the cherub's mighty hammer strike with her spiked mace. She swung her weapon upward, parrying the hammer and quickly swung her mace into the cherub's ribs which sent it careening into the wall to the left, much to Angel's dismay.

"Erza." Wendy said with a smile, relieved to see that the red haired wizard was okay.

Erza turned to her and smiled. "Sorry I took so long."

…

Aura slid across the ground and crashed into the roulette table, once more she had been pushed back. She gritted her teeth and stood up, once again rushing Romero who was still standing on the stage. She pushed away his left punch and threw one of her own, but he weaved causing Aura to only graze his cheek.

He smirked at her, flipping his palm face up. Using his air magic, he created a current that turned Aura upside down quickly to disorient her, but she made use of the assumed disadvantage by landing on her hands and landing a crushing double kick into Romero's abdomen. He grabbed his stomach and stumbled back a few paces towards the stage curtain.

Seizing the opening Aura rushed him once more, but she was soon caught when Romero thrust his palm forward, sending forth a force of air that sent Aura flying off the stage, this time into one of the still standing slot machines.

Her back crashed into it, breaking the glass as it fell back with her still on it. She rolled over to the side of the machine and ended up on her hands and knees. She slammed her fist into the ground in frustration, "Dammit, nothing's working. Every time I counter, he counters me right back. I need to hurry up and finish this fight so I can meet up with Dad and the others."

Romero, still doubled over in pain, coughed into his hand. He saw the blood in his palm and smirked as he straightened back up. *Was she always this good?*

Aura saw Romero standing up and rolled behind the downed blackjack table*. How am I going to beat him without using my Dragon Slayer magic?* She looked at a small flame she created in her palm, she then clenched her fist to extinguish it. She began thinking of a solution until she heard coughing coming from her immediate right. To her utter surprise she saw Lucy coughing into her hands.

"Lucy?! What are you doing here?" Aura whispered shocked.

Lucy smiled nervously and she lied prone of her hands and knees, "Well it's a funny story actually."

Aura looked over the table and saw Romero searching for her from the stage. "Well it doesn't matter now, since you're here we can beat him together." She whispered to the blonde.

"Okay, I've been watching you guys fight and I think I have a plan." Lucy whispered back.

"You mean you've been watching this whole time and you didn't think to help me out?" Aura asked with a slightly irritated look that reminded Lucy of Erza.

"Well I thought I would get in your way." Lucy replied with a nervous laugh.

Romero walked to the edge of the stage, still scanning the room for Aura, but she was nowhere to be found. "Hey Arana!"

"I told you before my name is Aura!" the girl yelled back, turning her attention back to Lucy, the celestial wizard whispering her plan of attack.

"Whatever!" Romero yelled back unaware of the girl's conversation or where they were, "I've decided out of the kindness of my heart to let you rejoin Nightshade. We could still use you."

"And why would I do a thing like that?!" Aura yelled back

"Come on, you know you had fun."

"If your definition of fun is bored to tears, then I had lots of fun boss."

"Don't be like that amore."

"I told you to stop calling me that."

"Can't help it, seeing you again made my heart jump."

"And you wonder why I quit."

Romero shrugged his shoulders. "Well you can't say I didn't try." He narrowed his eyes, "Now why don't you come out so we can finish this lover's spat?" Romero said with a smirk, clenching his fist.

Aura and Lucy smiled and nodded at one another. Aura darted from behind the table, revealing herself to Romero. Before he could blink Aura was approaching him from the left, her fist colliding with his cheek. He stumbled back and held out his palm again but Aura teleported out of harm's way.

Much to Romero's confusion the magical circle was still there when Aura disappeared, but that confusion soon turned to horror when a torrent of sand and dirt emerged from it; sending him flying from the stage and colliding into the wall, leaving his imprint in it.

He slowly opened his eyes and saw Lucy standing from behind the blackjack table, Aura and what looked like a human scorpion with red and white hair standing next to her.

The scorpion held his arms in front himself crossing them while extending his pinky and index fingers of each hand. "Wicked!" he yelled with his tongue sticking out.

*The celestial wizard?* Romero fell to his feet. *When did she get here?*

He could see Aura smirking. "Ready for round two?"

…

"Man you're slow." Racer mocked as he whizzed around the room, striking Gajeel before the Iron Dragon could even blink. Gajeel stood with his arms crossed in a defensive position and his eyes closed allowing his other senses to take over. Each punch was like a number in the Iron Dragon's head.

*1…2…3…4…5…6…1…2…3…4…5…6…*

There was a rhythm and Gajeel had figured it out. He dug his heels in the ground with his Iron Dragon Spikes and waited for the next sequence of attacks.

*1…2…3…4…5…*

"You're making this too easy for me!" Racer yelled as he came in with a swooping roundhouse. Gajeel smirked and ducked under it.

*6*

"How did you-"Racer felt Gajeel's hand tightly grip his ankle. "Let me go you-ahhh!"

Gajeel swung his arm downward sending Racer to crashing down to the hard ground. Racer felt the air leave his body as he looked up and saw Gajeel's Iron Club bearing down on him. He managed to dodge the blow and jump back, gaining some distance.

*How did he catch me?*

"The Ice stripper told me about your slowing magic." Gajeel said with a smirk. "You gotta rhythm when you fight. You hit fast but you only hit six times, makes you pretty damn predictable."

"I'll show you predictable!" Racer dashed towards Gajeel but the Iron Dragon jumped out of the way, striking with a hard kick that sent Racer careening into the wall. He removed his face from the rubble and sneered at the dragon slayer whose face showed a looked of apathy. "What's with that look?"

"I'm getting bored. This fight was way too easy." Gajeel replied irritated.

"What?!"

"You're quick but I figured you out, no use in draggin this out any longer. I got stuff to do and frankly you're not worth my time."

"You bastard."

"I'll do you a favor, I'll finish you with a move I've been saving for Salamander." Gajeel's smirk sent a chill down Racer's spine. Gajeel clasped his hands together above his head as his magic energy began to swell. His hands began glowing and transformed.

What Racer saw would haunt him for the rest of his life.

…

***ICE MAKE LANCE***

Spears of ice cut through the air but missed their mark as Cobra effortlessly dodged them all, shuffling behind Gray. He pulled his arms back then swiftly brought them forward, crossing them as two elongated snake like waves of poison moved towards a shocked Gray.

***POISON DRAGON TWIN FANG***

Gray jumped back, narrowly managing to put some distance between himself and Cobra. He landed a few meters away but the waves were still coming.

***ICE MAKE SHIELD***

Even with the spread of his shield Gray still felt Cobra's attack, sending him flying back. He managed to catch himself before he collided with the wall behind him.

"You're pretty quick on your feet frosty." Cobra said with a smirk as he shook the ice off of his arm. "I can see why Racer took a shine to you."

"I don't know whether I should flattered or offended." Gray replied, wiping the blood from his mouth. He and Cobra began walking in a circle, feeling each other out before they made their next move.

*This guy's pretty strong.* Gray thought to himself as they continued to walk. *Fighting at a distance won't work as long as he keeps pulling moves like that one from earlier.* *And since he's a dragon slayer he has a breath attack like Natsu and the others.*

"Are we gonna fight anytime soon or would you rather we keep dancing around?" Cobra mocked.

*Okay.* Gray raced forward slamming the side of his fist into his palm. *Close range it is.*

***ICE MAKE SWORD***

A sword of ice appeared in Gray's hands and he slashed at Cobra, but it was blocked.

Cobra parried and forced Gray back. Gray reset himself and looked forward at Cobra. His eyes narrowing in irritation when he noticed that Cobra's arms were now covered in dark red scales. He grinned showing his sharpened teeth. "Salamander didn't tell you about my Poison Dragon scales?" He asked mockingly as he clenched his fist.

"Must have slipped his mind." Gray retorted as he cursed Natsu's forgetfulness in his head.

…

"Achoo!" Natsu sneezed allowing Midnight to land a solid punch that sent the dragon slayer flying against the wall.

"Getting sick are we?" Midnight asked mockingly.

"Shut up!" Natsu yelled back as he advanced towards his opponent.

…

"Too bad for you." Cobra hopped on the back of Cubellios as the snake began to float into the air.

"Where are you going?!" Gray yelled as he ran towards them. He slammed his palms into the ground.

***ICE MAKE PILLAR***

Suddenly a pillar of ice emerged from the ground at an angle, propelling Gray towards his foe. He pressed his hands together to prepare for another attack but Gray could tell from the grin on Cobra's face that he had fallen into a trap.

***POISON DRAGON FANG THRUST***

Another wave of poison, this one shaped like a snake's head, made its way towards Gray.

***ICE MAKE BLOCK***

Switching to defense, a block of Ice appeared between Gray and Cobra's attack, but the Ice wiazrd was too slow. The ice cracked, the poison slowly seeping towards Gray as he fell back to the ground. He darted to the right once his block was fully destroyed but the attack connected with his right arm.

"Dammit!" Gray yelled, sliding against the ground. He stood up, gripping his poisoned right arm as it hung limply at his side.

"Looks like I finally caught you." Cobra said looking down at Gray. "That arm's useless to you now."

Gray smirked, confusing Cobra. "Wanna bet?" Gray clutched his right forearm tightly with his free hand. He gritted his teeth as his right arm slowly began freezing over. Satisfied he let go and slowly lifted his arm which was now a mix of purple and white.

"You're crazy." Cobra said with a laugh. "Freezing your arm to slow down the effect of my poison? Even if that does help your arm will fall off before long."

Gray looked at his opponent with a renewed look of determination. "Well it looks like I have to beat you before that happens won't I?"

…

Natsu attacked with a flurry of punches but none of them hit their mark. Midnight continued to effortlessly dodge him. Natsu slammed his fist into the ground, cracking the stone flooring as Midnight leapt back towards the giant Lacrima.

"I honestly thought you would be stronger than-"

***FIRE DRAGON ROAR***

Midnight's eyes widened as the torrent of flame enclosed on him.

"I got him." Natsu said with a smirk as he stood up straight.

"You're pretty quick." Midnight said with a smirk, he was now standing behind Natsu. Natsu narrowed his eyes in frustration and swung behind himself with an elbow, but Midnight ducked under it and slid back towards the lacrima. His confident smirk only serving to anger the dragon slayer even more.

"Dammit stop moving so much so I can hit you." Natsu said frustrated.

"Sorry, I'm not a fan of being clobbered." Midnight said with a smirk. He looked behind himself at the lacrima, which was even more cracked than before. "He's almost ready." He said low. He walked towards Natsu, who readied himself for Midnight's attack.

"Tell me Salamander, do you really think you can win this fight? Even if you and your friends beat us, you won't be able to stop Draven."

Natsu didn't reply as he once again dashed towards Midnight, his fists again engulfed in flames.

***FIRE DRAGON'S WING ATTACK***

He jumped into the air and whipped his arms around, causing two streams of fire to head towards Midnight.

The dark wizard simply waved his arm in front of himself, causing the streams of fire to fly to opposite ends of the room.

"What the?" Natsu said confused. Not wasting any time he clasped his hands in front of his mouth as he continued to fall to the ground.

***FIRE DRAGON ROAR***

The torrent of flame was also deflected by Midnight, who was grinning in the inferno. He waved his index finger in the air.

***SPIRAL PAIN***

The air around Natsu began swirling until a vortex engulfed the dragon slayer, the debris and force of the winds slicing at his body causing him immeasurable amounts of pain. The wind dissipated and Natsu fell helplessly to the ground.

He struggled to stand, his body racked with pain. He managed to make it to one knee and looked up at Midnight, whose superior smirk continued to make Natsu's blood boil even more. "Stop smiling you jerk…I'm not done yet." He stumbled a bit, but soon regained his bearings.

"You are a tenacious one." Midnight praised. "I can see why my father had such a hard time with you."

Natsu's fist burned brightly once more. "You done talkin? Because I'm ready to end this."

Midnight crossed his arms. "I'm ready whenever you are."

Natsu ran at Midnight once more.

"Natsu!" A voice called stopping Natsu's advance. He looked to see Erza and the others standing in the door way to the stairs.

"How nice your friends have come to die with you."

"Shut up." Natsu retorted swinging a fist at Midnight who once again dodged and jumped back to the lacrima. Seeing an opening Natsu ran over to his friends.

"You guys are okay." He said with a smile.

"Of course we are." Gray replied.

"You didn't think those Oracion Seis losers could take us did you?" Gajeel said with a smirk.

"Although they were pretty tough." Lucy said with a smile.

"Nothin we couldn't handle." Aura said also smiling as she and Lucy gave each other a high five.

"We're just glad you're ok." Wendy said.

"You did well Natsu." Natsu looked to Wendy's left and saw Erza smiling at him.

"Erza." He said with a smile.

"Is that Draven?" Gray asked pointing at the man inside the large lacrima behind Natsu.

"Yeah, that's what Twilight said." Natsu replied.

"Midnight." Lucy corrected.

"He doesn't look so tough." Gajeel scoffed.

"Well let's finish this before he can awaken." Erza drew her sword and everyone else readied themselves.

"Right." Natsu turned around ready to fight but to his and everyone else's surprise Midnight was nowhere in sight. "Where did he go?" Natsu said confused.

Wendy stepped forward and looked around trying to sense the air. "I don't-"

Everyone's eyes widened in shock and horror as they turned to look at Wendy. She was looking down in shock as a sharpened tentacle jutted from her abdomen, dripping blood onto the ground.

"Wendy!" Lucy screamed in terror.

Wendy's body began shaking as her blood loss increased. The tentacle then slowly exited from her back and a gush a blood flowed out. She fell to the ground but Natsu caught her before she hit. "Wendy!" Natsu held her tighter.

"Where the hell is he?!" Gray asked looking around but still saw nothing.

The young girl looked up at him tears in her eyes as she looked back at her blood stained hands. "N…Natsu." She said weakly as she continued to shake. "I…I don't want to die." Her tears flowed even more.

"You're not gonna die okay?!" Natsu yelled, "You're gonna be ok, just hang on!"

"Natsu…I…" the light began to fade from Wendy's eyes as her arms fell to her sides, her life completely extinguished. Natsu removed his hand from her back and looked at his hand, it was covered in Wendy blood. He couldn't move he was paralyzed with fear.

"Wendy no." Lucy covered her mouth as her tears flowed.

"Natsu get up!" Gray yelled. "You can't do anything if-"A tentacle soon pierced his chest and his heart killing him instantly.

"Gray!" Lucy yelled as he fell to the ground. She looked over to Natsu who was still holding Wendy's body.

"Salamander stand up!" Gajeel angrily yelled. "I didn't know you were such a coward." He sniffed around and pinpointed Midnight who standing a fair distance away from them. "There you are you bastard."

Gajeel dashed towards Midnight, dodging the tentacles heading his way.

"Gajeel wait!" Erza yelled.

Gajeel grabbed Midnight by the collar and held him in the air but the dark wizard wasn't fazed in the least. "What the hell are you smiling for?" Gajeel pulled his hand back, changing it into his Iron Dragon Club. He drew his fist forward until he felt something pierce his chest.

He let go of Midnight and saw a tentacle coming from the ground. He coughed up blood. "D…Dammit." The tentacle retracted and Gajeel fell next to Midnight.

Erza requipped into her Heaven's Wheel armor and looked over at Natsu who was still holding Wendy, if he had known about Gray and Gajeel being defeated, he made no indication of it. She then looked back at the still shocked Lucy. She clutched her swords tightly.

"Let's go Aura."

"Right." The young red head nodded.

The two red haired women dashed towards Midnight. "Lucy help Natsu!" Erza yelled back.

"R-right." Lucy said still afraid as she walked over to Natsu.

Erza and Aura gained ground but Aura was suddenly halted when Midnight threw Gajeel's body at her. She caught him slid back a few feet as Erza forged ahead.

Erza swung her sword at him but Midnight reflected it. "I've awaited this rematch Titania." He said with a smirk as he pushed her back, sending tentacles her way but she slashed them away with her many swords.

Midnight continued smirking at his advantage until he spotted something descending upon him from the corner of his eye, it was Aura. She came down with a mighty punch but Midnight jumped back at the last second, causing her fist to collide with the ground.

"You're quick." He then saw Erza advancing on her, managing to slash his arm but he was able to repel her as he slid back.

"It's my fault." Natsu said low.

"Come on Natsu you have to snap out of it." Lucy said shaking him.

"It's my fault."

"Please you have to snap out of, if you don't Erza and Aura will die like everyone else."

"It's…my fault."

***SPIRAL PAIN***

The torrential air tore into Aura as she floated in the air.

"Dammit." Erza grunted as she held off more of Midnight's tentacles.

He threw Aura against the wall, her body creating a dent in it.

Lucy looked in horror at the site. "Natsu please you have to-urk!" Lucy choked as one of Midnight's tentacles grabbed her by the neck and slung her away from the Dragon Slayer.

"Lucy!" Erza yelled as she watched the blonde being strung along.

Lucy tried to loosen his grip but it was too late. She crashed into Aura, turning the dent into a full opening in the tower wall. Midnight let go seconds before Lucy hit Aura causing them both to fall to the ground outside to their end.

"No!" Erza forced the tentacles back and slashed towards Midnight but he jumped out of the way to avoid her strike. He surveyed the ground and grinned evilly, he moved his hand up, pointing it at Natsu as more tentacles rose from the ground and moved towards Natsu.

"Natsu!" Erza ran to his defense, requipping into her Adamantine Armor. She made it just in time, standing in front of him and combining her two arm shields together to create her adamantine barrier.

"Erza?" Natsu said weakly, slowly snapping out of his sorrow to see her standing over him.

"Natsu run." Erza said as she struggled against Midnight's attack. "You have to get out."

"What?" he said a bit more conscious.

"He's too strong, we can't beat him."

"The mission…"

"Forget that for now. We can always regroup and try again." She felt her defenses weakening as pieces of her armor broke. "Go! I can't-" One of the tentacles broke through her barrier, piercing her stomach.

"Erza!" Natsu yelled, as more tentacles pierced her body.

She fell next to Natsu, blood dripping from her wounds. She looked over to him, tears streaming down her cheeks as she smiled. "Natsu…please run…" she then closed her eyes slowly, as she lay dead.

"One more to go." Midnight said as he looked at Natsu.

The dragon slayer laid Wendy next to Erza and then stood up slowly.

"Are you going to run like a coward?" Midnight mocked.

Suddenly a torrent of flame erupted from Natsu's body, surprising Midnight. "What's this?"

"Errrraaghhh!" Natsu roared as the flame formed into a dragon and scales appeared around his eyes.

"Dragon Force." Midnight said in awe. Suddenly Natsu was in front of Midnight, striking his face with a hard punch that sent him flying against the wall. Midnight sat on the ground, rubble covering his body as he coughed blood into his hand.

He looked at it, and a grin appeared on his face. Natsu moved the rubble away and picked Midnight up by the collar, before Midnight had time to counterattack Natsu struck him hard in the stomach, breaking a couple of ribs, before slinging him against another wall, this one close to Wendy and Erza's bodies.

Midnight coughed due to the dust surrounding him and watched Natsu walk towards him. "Was it something I said?" he said facetiously as Natsu stood over him. Natsu picked Midnight up again, his fist blazing as he drew it back.

"I'm going to kill you." Natsu said in a low roar. He prepared the final strike but stopped when a green light began glowing from the ground they were standing on. Natsu looked down and saw what looked like a magic circle from under some of the rubble. "What's going on?" he asked still holding Midnight.

Midnight grinned evilly and grabbed Natsu's arm, surprising the Dragon Slayer. "Thank you Salamander. I couldn't have done this if you weren't so incredibly gullible."

"What?" Natsu said angrily confused.

Midnight snapped his fingers and Natsu watched as the bodies of his friends began to disappear.

"What did you do to them?!" Natsu yelled angrily tightening his grip.

Midnight began to laugh, "You're such a fool! Those were just illusions."

"Illusions?" Natsu said with a slightly confused look. The light began glowing brighter underneath them and the tower began to shake.

"Inscribed in each floor of the tower is a magical circle whose sole purpose is gathering energy for the lacrima Draven is trapped in. We modeled it after the Tower of Heaven's R-System."

"I don't get it."

"Of course you don't. Ever since you and your guild entered this tower the circle has been slowly draining your magical energy. Each floor has a circle on it. We could have stayed avoiding you and waited till your power was drained completely but we needed to speed up the process."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Battle." Midnight said with an evil smile.

"Battle?"

"We knew that you would split up and try to reach the top of the tower, so we waited on each floor for you to come. By forcing you to fight, you expel more energy which feeds the circle and speeds up the process." Midnight smiled wider. "And you just gave us the final bit of energy we needed."

"What?" Natsu said angrily.

"Because of your stupid notion of 'friendship' I knew that watching your friends dying in front of you would make you angry, but I didn't imagine it would be this much. I should have done this from the start."

"You tricked me!"

"Of course I did you fool." Midnight began laughing as Natsu clenched his fist in anger.

The lacrima began to glow brightly, blinding Natsu. He dropped Midnight on the ground, instinctively covering his eyes to block the light. Natsu squinted but managed to see the lacrima cracking even more.

"What's happening?!"

Midnight laughed even louder as he sat against the wall unable to move due to his injuries. "It's finally time! After 7 long years he has finally awoken from his long slumber!"

The light grew brighter as the walls of the floor began cracking.

"Take a good look Salamander! Witness the return of the world's true master! Watch as the last bits of light become shrouded in darkness! Witness the return…of DRAVEN!"

"Ah!" Natsu covered his eyes once again as a beam of light erupted from the top of the lacrima, breaking through the roof and into the blue sky…turning it dark gray.