Chapter 5: City of The Lost Voices

The town was large in retrospective, yet the population was dim. There were only 2 hotels, so the mages picked the nicest and stayed the night.

The hotel had strict rules of no more than two rooms a group, and the charge rates were extreme. So they got one room which had four small twin beds. The room was small. When you walked in, there was a small line of counters and a sink. Parallel was the bathroom.

Walking past the mini kitchen bar, you come to the tini living room with a small couch, coffee table and book shelf. A half wall separated the beds from the rest of the room.

Two beds were set next to each other, a nightstand with a lamp and phone was the only thing separating it. Across the room the exact same beds had the exact same layout.

Kurai took the bed on the same side as the half wall, but closer to the balcony. Natsu took the bed closets to the wall which was right next to Kurai's. Erza was across from Kurai and next to Gray, who was opposite of Natsu.

Kurai laid down and yawn.

"I'm going to take a bath while I wash my clothes." She said. She hadn't taken a bath in a long time. She went to the bathroom and stripped her clothes but kept her cloak and glove. She put some of her items on the counter to keep. Some money, the leather box with a star, and her whip.

She wrapped herself in a white towel and stepped out of the bathroom. She put her clothes in the washer.

"Can someone put these in the dryer when it's done?" She suddenly shrieked when Natsu and Gray came around wearing nothing but their underwear.

"Sure, we'll put these in too." Gray said as he stuffed Natsu's and Gray's clothes in. She blushed and hid her eyes.

"What about Erza?" Erza suddenly came from behind the wall. She was wearing pajamas. "Oh right, I forgot." Erza could change into anything that was in her sort of virtual closet.

"Well, I got the bath after Kurai," she called. Natsu grinned.

"We'll get ours in the morning," he annouced. Kurai quckily went back into the bathroom. That was awkward yet Erza seemed so unfazed. Kurai wondered why. She then traced the star on her leather box. She wished she could see her old friends again, but Draco had forbid her. They were needed back at home to help.

Kurai ran a hot bath. She filled it to the top and just soaked. She didn't want to use it all up because she was sure Erza would kill her for using all the hot water. Something told her that the hotel didn't have a limitless supply.

Kurai thought about her recent year. She had spent it with Draco, training like a mad man. After what Malus had done to her, she had spent six months recuperating. Then Victor and Belleause attacked and that's when Kurai began to train.

She was trained by a dragon, she just wasn't taught dragon slayer magic. She wasn't taught how to kill Draco, but fight Malus alongside her.

Kurai spent forty minuets soaking. Then she spent another forty preparing herself. She brushed her knotted hair, cleaned her teeth, and she took advantage of the hotel's free lotion and soap to really scrub her skin. When she was finish, she felt clean and brand new. She hadn't had a bath or clean like that in months.

She wrapped a towel around her wet hair and body. She walked out, gasping against the cold. She was grateful that her clothes were out, a still warm.

"Hey, Kurai-" Kurai turned, shy a little. She saw Natsu just looking at her. She closed her eyes and sighed.

"Yes Natsu?" He didn't stop looking and she was starting to feel subconsious. She still had her towel on, nothing was revealing. "What's wrong?" She asked. He snapped out of it.

"Nothing, you just remind me of someone." He said. She stared at him.

"My body reminds you of someone?" She asked. "Sounds a little prevented."

Natsu blushed and scratched the back of his neck. "Well when you put it that way," he said. "Anyway, you should hurry, Erza is getting anxious." Kurai nodded and grabbed her clothes. She quickly changed. She took her hair out of the towel, got dressed and tied her hair up. She wrapped her cloak around her arms. Grabbing her stuff, she left.

"Finally!" Erza sighed. "You take forever!" She quickly entered the bathroom.

"Sorry," Kurai muttered. She felt tired, despite not needing to sleep. She laid on the bed and loved how soft it was. She had slept on the cold ground for the past two days. She snuck under the covers. Gray and Natsu were talking in the mini living room, so Kurai just fell asleep by herself like the past year and a half. She missed it when he would sneak in to sleep with her. She loved his warmth. She missed him deepy. If only she could see him again.

She sighed and fell asleep.

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POV changes will be random! You gotta catch them! Such was when they were fighting Victor is went from Kurai to Natsu back to Kurai!

Anyway back to the story. P.S there's no need to tell you since it's all third person omni.

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When Natsu was sure he heard that soft snore of Kurai, he immediately told Gray everything.

"She came out, but her hair was in a towel and she was in one too, but when she closed her eyes, she looked exactly like her!" He said. Gray sighed.

"Yeah, I'll admit, Kurai looks a little like Lucy but their complete opposites. Maybe more than one girl has Lucy's figure, I don't know, all I know is that Lucy is blonde with brown eyes, and last time I checked she didn't have lightning powers."

"I wouldn't call them lightning powers." Natsu said. "Laxus had electricity and lightning power, her's is diffrent, I know, she electrocuted me and we both know that I should know what Laxus's lightning feels like. Plus there's the whip!" He pointed out.

"You're just looking for an excuse, what are you saying? That she looks like Lucy or she is?" Natsu blinked like Gray had slapped him.

"I didn't say that," he said quietly.

"Then what exactly are you saying?" Natsu looked down. He didn't know either. Maybe he was just hoping that Kurai could fill in the gap left by Lucy. Sure; they were opposites, and looked diffrent, but when he saw her hair and eyes hidden, he saw Lucy.

But Lucy was dead. He saw her die. She admitted she was dying. Even Kurai said Lucy was dead. Natsu was just hoping she was right when she said she could bring back Lucy. Funny how death makes you realize your true feelings. He never knew he had her till her lost her. He missed how her smile would bright his day, how her hair shown like the sun, or like how her eyes reminded him of hot chocolate on a cold winter day.

He didn't know how many times he told her grave that he love her, as and friend and well. . . More. But it always hurt when he knew she could never, even if she wanted, say anything back.

Erza walked out of the bathroom in her pajamas. She yawned. "I'm going to sleep," she announced and marched to her bed. Gray nodded.

"Me too, I'm spent." He stood and looked back at Natsu. "Gets some sleep, just remember, we might get the real Lucy back." The way he said that made Natsu feel like he agreed to some sorts. But it also felt like an accusation. What ever it was, Natsu was too tired to care.

He went to his bed. He laid there, thinking, for about a hour. Soft snores echoed the room.

A soft one. Kurai's. A purring one. Happy's. A airy one. Gray's. And an extremely loud one. Erza's.

He knew Kurai wasn't Lucy, but what if she was his second chance? He quickly shook the thought out of his head. He wasn't going to betray Lucy, not after all he did to convince her dead soul that he loved her.

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While Gray and Natsu took turns taking Baths, Kurai slept in. She was muscle sore. She didn't sleep often but she didn't feel like getting up.

Erza was making some breakfast, but that's not what Kurai would call it. Erza was eating dessert by the time Natsu had finally gotten dressed. Gray was reading a book, and Kurai was attempting to brush her hair.

Kurai put her hair in a high Ponytail again. She wrapped her cloak around her and found Natsu staring at her oddly. She frowned and tightened her grip on her whip.

"Today we find Malus," Kurai said. She couldn't bare to tell them that after she beat Malus, she was going to die. She just couldn't. She gulped.

"But where is he?" Gray asked. Kurai pulled out the folded flyer. She scanned it. "Here it says City of Lost Voices." She explained. "You all asked why I picked this city at the city on the map." She pulled a tiny book from a pocket in her cloak. "This city used to be famous for it's huge church. Millions of people would visit to just hear the churches' bells be sung. So, when the church was burned down, they called it the 'City of Lost Voices' for the lost of the church, which use to sing the bells all the time. I believe that maybe Malus is there. It used to be home to many great wizards and is said to have great magical energy. Malus draws magic energy. That's all I know." She said.

"So if we go to where the church was," Erza summoned up.

"We find Malus." Kurai finished.

"Wow, you're actually a lot smarter than you look." Natsu said.

"I'm not sure of I should take that as a compliment or insult." Kurai told him. He shrugged.

"Both?" She sighed.

They left the hotel and looked around for the lost church. It was hundreds of years old, so it's location was lost long ago.

Despite how many brochures they looked at, or citizens they asked, they couldn't find it.

"Okay, were getting no where." Kurai said. She stopped and turned to them. Happy crawled on her shoulder. He perched there and watched Kurai. "We need to think. What are churches usally?"

"Boring?" Natsu asked, looking unamused.

"Peaceful?" Gray asked.

"Beautiful?" Erza said.

"Big!" Happy exclaimed.

"Oh Happy you're a genius!" Kurai said.

"Big?" Gray asked with a frown. She nodded.

"The church was huge, right? And if it was sacred grounds for people here, and a possible tourist attraction, then they wouldn't have just built something over it! Maybe rebuild it, but the town didn't." She scanned the horizon.

"Now, what to Churches usually do to towns?" She asked.

"Preach?" Gray asked, he seemed not to catch on to the game. Erza tried but shook her head.

"People?" Kurai thought for a moment.

"Oh! Oh! They watch over the town! Like the one in Magnolia!" Happy exclaimed. Kurai crushed him in a hug.

"Why didn't you tell me Happy was so smart?" She asked. She scanned the horizon once more, now zeroing in on her location seeker. "There!" she exclaimed, pointing to a hill. The others looked at it. It was huge and bare. No trees, but had a relatively flat surface. It loomed over the City unlike the other hills which seemed to just stretched away.

"I don't understand," Erza said. Gray shook his head.

"Me neither." He said.

"Happy get's it!" Kurai said, high-fiving the blue exceed. Happy nodded.

"Do I get a fish?" He asked. She sighed. He just ruined the moment.

"Sure, but not now. We got to catch Malus!" She exclaimed. The hill was almost a mountain and across the city. The hitched a ride on the wagon.

Kurai sighed when she saw Natsu double over. He looked like a purple snowman. She fiddled with her whip as the wagon bumped along the road.

"What shall you do after we defeat Malus?" Kurai heard Erza ask. She looked at the Mage and shrugged.

"I wasn't planning on staying long. I was actually going I leave the guild." Gray frowned.

"What? Why? You just joined like two weeks ago!" He exclaimed.

"I never planned to stay. You see, Malus almost killed me. Took me half a year to just be able to walk again. So for a whole year I just trained. But I still don't have the power." She clutched her hand into a fist. "I joined Fairy Tail looking for help. I can't defeat him alone."

"Is that why you created the job and told us the lie about Lucy?" Kurai flinched at Erza's words.

"What?" She asked.

"Were still gonna help," Erza told her. She looked her in the eye. "If you tell use who you are and what you're doing." Kurai hide her eyes and smiled.

"You were always smart, Erza. I own some people for saving my life from Malus. Then I found out that he was targeting them, sucking out their power like a vaccum. I asked them to make the flyer. Just so that you'd follow me. But," she let a hasty breath out. "Malus is the one who killed Lucy.

"But there's no way to bring Lucy from the dead." she whispered. Erza looked at the ground, a single tear rolling down her cheek. Gray looked angry and clutched the armrest to the wooden chair. "She never died."

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Too short? I'm sorry! Please forgive me but I really wanted a cliff hanger!!! Agh! I'm sorry!!! You know, forget it, i'm continuing *sets brave face* Part 2 everybody!!!!

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Part 2

"Never died? What do you mean?" Erza asked, standing.

"I'm sorry, but that's all I can say! I owe Lucy not to say!" Kurai protested. Erza growled.

"Who are you?" Kurai took a deep breath.

"I'm from the celestial world. Well, recently, I wasn't born there. Anyway, Malus doesn't just suck out Magic energy or paralyze people, he's stronger now. He likes to suck out Celestial magic. He said it had a different taste. He killed a lot of spirits. That's why they sent me to the Celestial Dragon, Draco. Here on earth, I trained for one whole year. Now i'm here to finish the job." She said. She didn't dare reveal anything about Lucy.

Erza looked like she wouldn't believe Kurai even if she had showed her herself. She sat with her arms and legs crossed. "I'll say your story make some what sense, but I don't understand why you need us." Kurai smiled saddly.

"I need trust worthy, strong people. I was told Fairy Tail was the place to go."

"Where's Lucy, then?" Gray asked. Kurai didn't answer. The wagon jerked. The pigs pulling the cart snorted.

"Were at the base of the hill!" Said a voice. They climbed out, Erza dragging Natsu. Kurai paid the man driving the cart a small token and the man dipped his hat.

"Have a nice day," he said, ushering his pigs forward.

"Thank you! You have one too!" Kurai called back. She looked away from the wagon to the giant hill. She gulped. It was even bigger in person. It wasn't a hill anymore, just a small mountain.

Erza laid Natsu on the ground. She tried talking to him to wake him up.

"Natsu!" She cried. "Natsu!" While he did that Gray crept up to Kurai.

"So, what happens to us if we defeat Malus." She looked away. "Will Lucy come back." She shook her head.

"Even if she could, she doesn't was too. Dead should remain dead."

"But you said she never died." Kurai nodded.

"But you all believed she did. That's still dead in her eyes."

"Lucy said long ago that humans can't stay in the celestial world long, just like spirits can't stay here long, so she's on earth." Kurai flinched. How had he figured that out so quickly? He smiled. "So she is?" Kurai didn't answer.

"What about you?" This question surprised her. She didn't expect to him to ask, much less care.

"Like I said; Malus almost killed me. I practically was dead. After I best him, my dues will be paid and I can finally rest." She said softly. She didn't care that she was giving her life up. She just wanted to sleep forever, but in peace.

"Sounds like you're giving up." Gray said. He was right. In some way, she was. But that thought didn't bother her much.

"After defeating Malus, my power will leave." She said. "I'll be human again, no wizarding. I don't have friends, or family anymore. My powers from Draco will disappear, everything will be gone."

"You'll have us," Gray said. "You'll have Fairy Tail. This is your new home!" He said. She shook her head.

"My powers will disppear," she said softly. "But I don't mind. It was fun spending my last days with you guys." She said. "Despite almost dying several times and sleeping in a forest two nights in a row." Gray gave her a small smile.

"Whatever you choose, we'll always remember you as a Fairy Tail Wizard!" She smiled.

"Thank you, Gray." She said. Then she saw Erza stand and walk to them. She looked defeated, something the Kurai had never seen in Erza.

"Happy, you stay here with Natsu while we go ahead." Erza said.

"No need," Kurai said. She stepped forward and placed her had on his chest again. She sent an electric pulse through her hand and he jumped.

"Ow! Kurai!" He complained. He looked at his chest to where her red hand print was. He gave a pouty face.

"Onward!" Happy announced, bobbing up the hill. The others follow, preparing for their giant fight.

"For Lucy!" Gray murmured.

"For Lucy!" Erza whispered.

"For Lucy!" Natsu shouted. They marched up the hill. It was long and steep. Several times whips and magic had to be used to just climb.

By the time they got half-way up the mountain; they were all worn and tired. The sun was setting low against the horizon. The four wizards and cat stopped.

"Maybe we should rest before plunging into battle," Erza suggested. "We'll stay here for tonight and continue tomorrow." So they all broke camp. Happy and Natsu left for fish and food. Gray collected firewood. Erza and Kurai scouted the area, looking for any sign of danger.

They didn't want to risk a someone seeing the fire and smoke, so they made a sorta tarp over the fire. It would scatter the smoke, therefor not giving a direct indication of where they hid.

They also made the fire small, a little bigger than a person's hand. Gray didn't seem to mind the cold, however so he just went to sleep first.

Erza was taking first watch, but she never strayed from Natsu, who was like a walking thermos. Kurai sat next to the tiny fire, chin set on her knees. She had pulled down the hood of her cloak. Sometimes, it made her feel claustrophobic and scared that it would suffocate her, but that fear was what reminded her that she was alive.

She watched the flames dance on and lick the firewood. They reflected in her amethyst eyes and she just wrapped her cloak tightly around her for warmth.

She missed her friends ever so dearly. She wished she could go back to before she ever knew Malus existed and just replay her days. She wished that Malus would have died years ago so she didn't have to deal with him. But she had to avenge the Celestial World. They did so much for her. She had to make it up to Lucy. That was why she originally came to Fairy Tail.

Kurai looked up at Natsu who was sprawled out on the floor, Happy curled up on his chest. She sighed loudly.

She felt someone sit next to her and looked over to see Erza. Her scarlet hair was shining in the fire. She looked down on the fire.

Kurai turned back to look at the fire, she wondered why Erza sat next to her. Natsu would have been beyond warmer.

"Who told you about Fairy Tail?" Erza suddenly asked. Kurai looked at Erza. She wasn't allowed to say, really. Not because Draco had forbid her, but because she didn't want to hurt them. She actually considered them friends.

Instead she let out a small laugh. "You seemed to have left quiet an impression, you were spoken highly of." She looked at the fire again.

"So, what are you going to tell Natsu about Lucy?" Erza asked. Kurai frowned.

"What do you mean? He was with us when I- Don't tell me." She dead-panned. Erza nodded with a small smile. Kurai face palmed and sighed. "He can be the lamest person sometimes." She sighed again. "What should I tell him?" She asked.

"Nothing, Gray told me about you're conversation." Kurai nodded. "I think you just tore a new wound in his heart, one that'll probably never heal. I think he really loved Lucy. We all did, but he had something more. Something that he didn't realize. I believe Lucy did, too, but now it's all too late."

"Did Gray tell you about where Lucy is?" Erza suddenly stiffed and sat up straight.

"No." Kurai mentally slapped herself. If Natsu heard about this, he would march straight off the mountain.

"Lucy never died." Erza nodded. "Gray mentioned that she once told you guys that humans can't stay long in the Celestial World. Like spirits on earth."

"But Loki-"

"Was strong, it's a mirical he stayed alive for 3 years, 1 alone is impossible enough. Anyway, Gray caught up faster than I would've thought."

"Lucy isn't in the celestial world-" Erza suddenly concluded. Kurai shook her head. "She's here." Kurai nodded.

"I didn't want to say because after this mission, she and I will both die." Erza flinched.

"What?" Erza exclaimed. "Why?" Kurai strugged.

"We're suppose to be dead. After dues are paid, i'll go silently. That was the deal with the King."

"Well, that was a foolish de-" Kurai clamped a hand over her mouth, shushed her and listened. Erza frowned. When nothing happen, Kurai pulled her hand back.

"Sorry, but saying things like that will make the King himself shoot you down." Erza nodded.

"Sorry." Kurai smiled.

"S'okay." She turned back to the fire putting her hands up, trying to warm them. The cold may not kill her, but she still didn't like it.

She glanced at Natsu. "He loved her, right?" She asked. "Lucy, I mean?" Erza nodded.

"I wish we could go back to the days where she would look at him like. . . But he didn't realize until. . ." she stopped slowly, looking down.

"Till she was gone," Kurai finished. Erza nodded.

"Love can be a funny thing. I know from expirence." Kurai's eyes popped.

"You're in love?"

"Prehaps, but I know how in love I was when I was younger. But the time I think he realized, I was far too gone for him to even talk to me." Kurai looked at Erza.

"Jella," she whispered. Erza frowned and looked at her.

"How did you know?" She asked. Kurai looked away. She felt so piled in lies that she thought one more couldn't hurt. She defiantly almost blew her mission with that one. Fairy Tail absolutely had to be in the dark, or else, all would fail.

"You talk on your sleep." Kurai chuckled. That wasn't a complete lie, just a diversion of the truth. Erza blushed deeply.

"Oh," was all she said.

"Tell me about him." Kurai asked. Erza had a small smile.

"I don't know who he is anymore. Too much is clouded with mystery for me to even comprehend." She said. Kurai understood. She felt as if she couldn't experience love or have friends until Màlus was gone.

She snuggled down deeper into her knees. She looked at Erza, who hadn't moved.

"When I was little, becoming a wizard was my dream. Joining a guild was a star in my life. I never thought it'd be so hard. All I thought of was the adventure." Kurai said. Erza nodded.

"Magic is best know for deceiving people." Kurai couldn't have said it better herself.

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During the night they all switched their duties. But Kurai never slept. She didn't need it, and she would have preferred to help the others.

Gray would glance at her ever so often. She knew he was thinking about Lucy. She waited for his questions but he never asked, and she was grateful.

Natsu kept insisting that he tell about Draco. She had barley told him anything. She didn't want to tell him about Lucy, and the others seemed to agree. She told him about Draco in little detail. She explained how Draco didn't personally talk to her, but watched Kurai as someone interpreted for her.

Natsu seemed fascinated. He kept asking her if she was a Dragon Slayer, and no matter how many times she explain that she was not, he wouldn't have it.

"You were trained by a Dragon!" He said with a grin. She sighed and tried to explain for the hundredth time.

"Yes, but I wasn't taught Dragon Slayer Magic! And it was a year. Like Wendy's healing magic! She knows Sky Dragon magic, but her healing isn't dragon magic." He still didn't process that through his thick skull and Kurai just gave up.

"But she's still a Dragon Slayer, so you are."

"Sure Natsu, and may I ask you what type of Dragon Slayer magic I use?" She asked. He looked at her like she was crazy.

"You should know that, why are you asking me?" She groaned. He didn't get it. She was glad when the sun finally came up. She woke up Happy and they left to find food. She found a stream and caught four small fish. Happy collected only a few berries. His stomach growled, and Kurai knew that they would all starve on what they were eating.

"Don't worry, Happy." She said, rubbing his soft belly. "Well be off the hill in no time! Why don't you ride on my shoulder to save yourself energy." He nodded and cradled the berries while he sat on her shoulder. They walked back to camp and saw Erza and Gray up already.

"Good to see you're awake," she said.

"Did you sleep at all last night?" Gray asked, worried. She forgot she hadn't mentioned her blessing.

"Yeah, a little," she said. They looked unconvinced. She shrugged and tossed them each a fish. Happy set the berries down. They all took a handful. All except Kurai. She gave Happy the last fish and he chomped it down while the other's roasted theirs.

Natsu frowned sat Kurai. "Aren't you gonna eat, we had four fishes." His eyes glided to Happy. "Did you-?"

She nodded. "You haven't eaten in what- 5 days?" She bit her lip. She guessed she couldn't make up a lame excuse again. They knew too much already.

"I don't have to eat," she said. Erza frowned. She hadn't even bitten into her fish.

"Of course you do!" She exclaimed. "I don't care if you think you can go five days without eating but I will-"

"No, you don't understand. I actually don't need to eat. It doesn't do anything for my body. Draco gave me a blessing." She said slowly and carefully. She was trending in shark invested waters, she needed to be extremely careful. "I don't need to eat or sleep. Heat and cold don't effect me. I can't get sick or age." The all watched her with amazement.

"You're immortal," they said slowly. She shook her head.

"I can die. If I fall in battle, there's no getting up. You see this blessing is also a curse, my body takes battle hits more fatally. Getting stabbed in the arm may hurt or kill someone if they're really unlucky, but that could as easily kill me as being stabbed in the stomach."

The all watched her. "Why don't you where armor?" Erza asked. The others nodded.

"What's a blessing without a curse? People get so hung up on stopping the weakness, they get distracted and forget the blessing. I don't see anything wrong with death. Death is actually something beautiful." She said. Happy crawled in her lap and pressed his ear to her stomach. She petted his head.

"We need to get going if we are to get to Malus." Erza sat next to Kurai.

"But if we kill him, you and," Gray cleared his throat loudly. Erza glared at him. She mouthed, I know. "You'll die. What if we just capture him. You won't die."

"I appreciate the thought, but it's not killing him. Just defeating him, that's what kills me." Natsu eyes widened.

"Wait, what's this?" Kurai felt like she was stepping around a mine field.

"But that'll kill her too!" Erza exclaimed.

"Who?" Natsu asked more urgently. Kurai placed a hand on her new friend's shoulder and stood.

"I told you before, dead are meant to stay dead. Defeating Malus is the last thing I have to do." She looked at the sky. "Then we can all rest."

"But you never died!" Gray cried. She thought that maybe because they were so close, they were finding it harder to let go.

"Someone fill me in!" Happy flew up to him and whispered in his ear. Kurai and the others watched as his eyes widened. He looked at Kurai. She didn't know what exactly Happy was saying but he had a feeling it was all of it. She expected Natsu to be mad. She looked down at the ground, heart full of guilt.

Instead she felt someone huge her. She was suprised. Natsu had her in an warm embrace. Her arms were trapped against her chest so she couldn't hug him back.

"Were not gonna let you die, we'll figure something out." He whispered.

"What about Lucy?" She asked.

"Lucy, too." He said. He released her from his hug. "Even if I have to fight Malus for a year so you can find her." Kurai nodded, tears in her eyes. This time, she hugged him.

Gray and Erza smiled. "You're part of Fairy Tail. There isn't anything we wouldn't do to help you." Kurai wanted to cringe. She hadn't been shown this much kindness in a while.

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It took two hours to finally reach the top of the mountain. Kurai didn't know the time but she felt it was early morning.

"Looking at the trajectory or the Moon and Sun, i'd say it is day time." Natsu annouced. Kurai glared at him through squinted eyes.

"Yah think?" She asked, looking at the sunlight. He nodded and she just rolled her eyes.

The top of the mountain was a flat plain except for some broken ruins of rock walls that erupted every now and again from the ground.

They walked along, not knowing what to really look for. It was pretty around the ruins of the church. Wildflowers grew in random places, attracting butterflies. Ivy grew along the rocks, and the chrisom flowers glowed in the sunlight. Wild golden wheat grew patches, standing tall and proud over tiny little buttercups and daisies.

When the walked forward they didn't see anything till they felt it. They all gasped as the felt they switched into another world. Kurai felt a slight tugging sensation on her body, like her soul was trying to be sucked out. She felt weak and the others looked no better.

She looked at the grass, which was once green and alive. But now it was brown and dead, withered flowers curled into dead husks, and dead wheat stems jutted from the ground, looking sharp enough to cut you. She stopped and looked back. There seemed to be a line, or a segregation. One side was normal and lively, and the other seemed to be just dead.

They all stopped and looked at the grass. Kurai stepped back into the live section. She turned around and her jaw fell slightly open. They were gone, and so was the dead grass. It looked as if there had been nothing ever there.

"Guys?" Kurai called. "Where are you?"

"What do you mean? Were right here." She heard Natsu say. She looked around. Then she saw Natsu. Well actually half of Natsu.

"It's a barrier," she concluded. Natsu looked down at he body and sheriked.

"My body!" He fell back into the barrier and Kurai followed. She was greeted by a pale shaken Natsu, Erza, Gray, and the death grass.

"This is an amazing trick if you want to keep hidden," she said, pushing her hand in and out. Then she stopped. She pulled her hand back and looked at it, drawing it to her chest. "It would require amazing magical energy." Her eyes popped. "He can feel it," she whispered. "Get down!" She suddenly screamed. They frowned but Kurai takles them to the ground as a blue jagged lightning bolt came down to earth, smashing where Kurai once stood.

They weren't hit directy, by the force was enough to send them all flying in different directions. It smashed the ground to little rocks, sending a cloud of debris in their faces.

Kurai tumbled and groaned, her knees and elbows were scraped, but she kept rolling. The four mages, and cat, where scattered among the field. Kurai winced as she felt a rock jan and cut her back.

She stood up shakily. "Malus!" She yelled. He came floating down from the sky, amusement in his eyes. He looked the same from when he last attacked the celestial world. His dark hair wiped at his evil eyes. He wore a dark suit and amused grin. He looked at Kurai.

"Oh, it's you. Welcome. This is what? The third time i'm gonna kill you?" He asked. She growled, thunder tickling her hands.

"No, this will be the third time you failed to kill me!" She said. She pointed her hand to him and a yellow lightning bolt traveled through her arm and out her finger. She hit him, covering him in ash from contact. She smiled. "It's my turn now!"

She heard him laugh and he flew out of the explosion but it looked more like he just walked out. Was he flying?

He swipe his hand and the ground around Kurai exploded like machiene guns, sending her flying back. The others were recovering their wit and started to join the battle.

Natsu and Gray looked at each other and nodded.

"Fire Dragon Roar!" Natsu said, spitting out flames like a flamethrower.

"Ice Make: Lance!" The hit together, but not at Malus. It exploded and thick steam acted like a giant wall. Erza suddenly burst through the steam. She was wearing new armor and had a wicked sword by her side. She came down on Malus. He blocked. Lightning came down and countered Erza.

Erza landed on the ground, looking more mad than hurt.

"Ice Make: Sheild!" Gray called just in time as Malus tried to hit Erza with strange green energy.

Kurai was determined to fight. Too long had she watched from the sidelines! She got up. She pulled out her whip and it crackled with electricity.

"Malus!" She screamed. "I have waited a whole year to kill you!" She jumped up and swiped at him with the whip. He was sent sidewides, tossed out of the sky. She ran to him and whipped him again, but he caught it, looking unfazed.

"You think a measly whip with the power of a lightbulb is gonna stop me?" He growled. She glared at him and sent a jolt of electricity through her whip. He yelped and let it go.

"It's not the wipe, it's gonna be me!" She yelled. She charged at him, her sword forming in her hand as she slashed at him. He stepped back just behind her sword.

No matter how many times she swung and whipped, or slashed and stabbed, she would miss. "This power," he smirked. "It came from your friends. Every single one I absorbed and killed." She screamed with tears and swung her fist. it crackled and when she hit him the whole hill rumbled with thunder. When she looked at him, he didn't even seemed affected. He laughed.

She was breathing hard, wondering why her she wasn't hurting him. She was almost at the peak of her power, why was he unhurt? Not even a scratch to be seen.

He appeared in front of her with amazing speed. He lightly placed his hand between her chest and throat. He smirked as her eyes widened, realizing what he was gonna do. He sent a jolt of electricity and sent her flying back. She skidded on the floor, ripping her clothes. She made deep trenches with her body as she almost flung off the mountain. The only thing that stopped her was a ruin wall. Her body was smashed against it, slowly her fall as she fell to the ground. The wall, as a little "F You" gift, toppled over onto her, pinning her down.

What he did was a dirty trick. She was glad the Celestial Spirits made her learn Lightning Magic. If not, she wouldn't have such a resistance to his magic. But same went for him. She wasn't sure even her strongest move could kill him.

She laid on the ground unable to move. Her back felt broken, well, actually, everything felt broken. She needed to get up! She couldn't see her friends, she was well pass the death line. She chocked and tried to stand. She crawled to the line slowly, but just as she passed through, she collapsed.

Natsu saw when Kurai was flung like a rag doll. It made him even more angry when he saw her try to crawl back, in desperation to help her friends.. He looked at Malus.

"You made this personal!" He growled. Then he looked at the man and his eyes widened.

"I remember you!" Malus said. He seemed calm, but there was no strain to keep the anger out of his voice. "You're friend so called defeated me. To bad she died trying." He laughed and Natsu felt his whole body flare. He killed Lucy.

"She didn't die, though, a shame too." He said. Natsu stumbled. "Oh you don't know, I figure since they knew." He threw his thumb at Erza and gray. "She's not dead, but I heard she on earth somwhere. When I finish killing her," he nodded at Kurai. "I plan on finishing Blondie off, too." Natsu couldn't explain the emotions that seemed to corse through his veins.

Anger, betrayl, disbelief, love, but most of all, hope. He didn't know if that guy was telling the truth or not, but he felt himself have to defend his friends. He ask later why Happy didn't tell him Lucy was on Earth. He'll ask Kurai why she lied. He'll ask Gray, Erza, Kurai, Wendy, Happy, and Carla to help him find Lucy. He wanted to make this jerk pay for separating him from his best-friend. Or more than just that. Lucy was a lot to him. She was the first one that expanded Team Natsu. She understood and cared about him. She fought for him and Fairy Tail, willing to die to save them. Lucy loved him, and Hell if he didn't love her back.

A small fire seemed to ignite in Natsu's chest. "You're not gonna kill anybody." He growled, the flame growing bigger.

"Oh?" Malus asked. He extended his hand to Erza and Gray and suddenly where they were exploded. Erza and Gray were flung. Natsu's heart jolted as they were carelessly left to scattered on the hard ground. His eyes threaten to spill. But this only added to the flame in his body. He felt his body engulf in flames, and they grew outward.

"Think I just killed your friends." Malus said. Natsu tried to breath evenly but there was no controlling his anger.

"No! We never die! Lucy didn't die! Kurai didn't die! Fairy Tail doesn't die!" He yelled. He plunged at Malus. His whole body was on fire and he came at Malus like a bullet.

He would punch and roar and hit, but Malus would counter. A good thing was that he was hardly keeping up. A bad thing was that he still is. He was too busy defending that he couldn't attack.

He growled and the pointedn at Natsu. Suddenly Natsu was hit with green energy that felt like being hit by a truck. Natsu flew back, but twisted. He put his hand forward to try and find something to grip and slow his fall. He looked up as Malus flew in the air.

Malus created a giant green energy orb and shot it at Natsu. Natsu jumped over it. He laughed at the feeble attempt to hit him until he heard a bloody scream. He looked and realized Malus wasn't aiming for Natsu, he was aiming for Kurai.

He looked and saw Kurai in a deep whole. Her body shook as she tried to pull herself up. The anger Natsu had felt began to expand tenfold. He looked at Malus.

"Natsu," Kurai said weakly. "The barrier, he's weak if-" she screamed again as Malus sent a smaller energy orb at her.

Natsu wanted to help her, but he knew he would only help of he defeated Malus. Still, if he defeated Malus, there was a 100% chance of Kurai dying. But of he didn't, there was a 100% chance of all of them dying.

Natsu jumped in the air.

"Fire Dragon Wing Attack!" The attack knocked Malus out of the sky, but he quickly regain his position. Natsu was beginning to realize that in his area of power, Malus was unstoppable. His power had grown since they last fought, it was always centered on something. Here it was the barrier, if he left it, it would be harder for him to keep it up. At the extent of magical power, it will fail. Malus would be weak. But if it did fail, his centered power would he even weaker.

But Natsu was sure Malus would have thought of that and it would be extremely hard to get him even close to the barrier.

Gray and Erza were starting to get up. He saw Erza creep to Kurai. He looked at Gray. He understood.

"Ice Make: Lance!" The ice lances shot Malus, but he again seemed unfazed. Natsu growled.

"Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" He yelled, smashing his fist against Malus. Malus flew back. Gray immediately took advantage.

"Ice Make: Hammar!" A giant ice hammer formed in the sky and came crashing down. When the debris from the explosion cleared; Malus did not look happy. His clothes were torn. He had countered the Hammer with his lightning, smashing it to tiny pieces.

He flew at Gray, energy ball forming. He released it.

"Ice Make: Shield!" He yelled. The Shield blocked the direct hit, but the impact still blew Gray away.

Natsu was begging to tire. He didn't stop however. "Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" His hand connected with Mauls's face and pushed him slightly back. Malus got up and electrocuted Natsu.

Erza was still tending to Kurai, but they both watched as the saw Malus suck out Natsu's magic energy, leaving him on the ground. Malus had a mad grin spread ear to ear as he stalked toward Erza and Kurai. Erza stood and reequipped. She glowed for a few second then the light dimmed as she was in a new armor, with a spear, and angry eyes. She charged the spear point at Malus, planning to run him through.

He sent an energy ball whizzing toward her. She summers saluted over it just in time. When she started falling back to the ground she threw her spear. It planted itself on Malus's shoulder. Malus wailed and pulled it out. He gave Erza a murderous look. She reequipped and got a new sword. She crouched low, waiting for Malus to attack first.

He watched her and the two seemed to square off. He studied her and she him. Then he rushed forward. She dove between his legs, appearing behind him. He stumbled forward and Erza brought down her sword hilt on his bent over back. He fell to the ground with an "emf!"

Then he started laughing. Erza stepped back in confusion. He looked at her and the mad look in his eye was enough for anyone to whimper.

"You can't defeat me! Not in my area of power!" He gave an insane laugh. His hand then reach out, catching Erza on suprise, and he clutched her throat.

She gasped and clawed at his hand and then suddenly; her whole body went limp. While she couldn't move, the relinquish and hatred fired up in her eyes. She gritted her teeth as Malus tightened his hold of her throat. He rose her in the air, her limp body swaying. He grinned as he slammed down her whole body. The ground cracked under the pressure and Erza was knocked unconscious.

Or was she still paralyzed?

Kurai wasn't sure, all she knew was that she had to help. She had to get up.

She mustered all the energy she had left, trying to push herself up from the crater she had created. She felt like she was doing the last of 1000 push-ups with 5 tons of metal on her back.

She knew she couldn't fight, but that didn't stop her. She could at least buy her friends some time to heal or run. She knew she was originally doing this so she could rest peacefully, but now she saw how selfish she was. She had planned on dying, and now her friends had to watch.

She growled, finding newfound energy. It was the energy to protect her friends.