"Were back!" Natsu threw the guild doors open and gave his trademark smile with Erza right behind him.
Erza wasn't sure why. It could've been they just needed time to settle down. Maybe the master noticed it and talked to them. Or maybe Natsu's smile the one that brightened up everyone's mood did it. Perhaps a combination of all three, Erza couldn't be sure. But it seemed that the slight fear they had of Natsu was gone. Which didn't go unnoticed by Natsu, whose smile grew even wider.
Erza went to inform of the return while Natsu went to talk about the mission.
"Ah Erza. How was the mission? Did Natsu do well?"
"He made one mistake, but beside that he did very well. I plan on taking him on more S-Class requests in the near future." Erza leaned against the counter.
"Well don't do it to soon. After all the Halloween Festival is in a few weeks."
"Of course." Erza walked over to where Natsu was seated.
"And it was like it was alive. It moved protecting him. I've never seen magic like that it was awesome!" Erza watched closely as Natsu told his guild mates about the mission. Of course until Erza decided to remind Natsu he needed to be punished.
She reached out and put a hand on Natsu's shoulder causing him to stop talking. Natsu slowly turned around and saw Erza smirking at him. "Time for your punishment Natsu." Natsu couldn't help but sweat at the reminder of his punishment.
"Have fun flame brain." Gray teased
"Be sure to take it like a man." Elfman folding his arms and nodded his head.
_____________________________________
"This isn't really a punishment y'know." Natsu said as he cracked his fingers.
"I don't care. I'm tired and my back hurts." Erza was laying down on her stomach on Natsu's bed, wearing her blouse and skirt instead of armor.
Natsu started the task of massaging Erza. Something he was surprisingly good at it, Erza even went as far as to say he had magic fingers. Of course Natsu had know idea what she was talking about.
"Oh right there. Oh Natsu. Yeah right there." hearing these moans of pleasure Natsu couldn't help but blush profusely. At one point her moans became so loud that Natsu tried to hurt her a little. But that plan failed and actually spurred her
"Your not making babies." a disappointed voice came out of nowhere.
Natsu and Erza immediately turned around blushing with wide eyes.
"This isn't what it looks like!" Natsu yelled while shaking his hands.
"F-f-first what are you doing her?" stuttered Erza embarrassed by the noises she was making. "And what do you mean were not making babies?"
"What do you mean what do I mean? I thought you to were having se-."
"We weren't!" Erza cut Mavis off.
"I can see that." Mavis pouted.
"Wait. You want us to have kids?" Natsu asked incredulously.
"Of course I love kids." Mavis gave a bright smile. "And you two would have the cutest baby...So get to it." Mavis encouraged.
"We are not having having children!" Erza shouted with her face as red as her hair.
"Never?" Mavis was not happy about this.
"Well we haven't even had se-" Erza's and Natsu's face got even redder at that point. "He haven't discussed such matters yet." Erza said as quickly as she could.
Mavis looked at them studying their faces. "Ok. I guess I'll leave you two to talk then."
"Wait what? We have to talk now?" Natsu reached out as Mavis was leaving.
Mavis turned and glared at him and said. "I want grandchildren."
Natsu took a step back. 'Scary.'
Once Mavis left they both stood there waiting for their faces to return to their original color. Natsu wasn't sure how to approach the subject so he nervously dove right in. "So uh are we, are we going to have kids?"
" I-I don't know. I-I know I want to get married before I have kids." Erza answered bringing up another question. "D-do you want to get married?"
"Huh? I thought the guy was supposed to ask the girl."
"I wasn't proposing to you, idiot!" Erza smacked him upside the head. "We've been together for a few years now and I was just wondering if you that about it?" Natsu was taken aback by how shy Erza sounded.
"When you get married you spend the rest of your life with that person right?" Erza nods in response to his question.
"Well, I couldn't picture myself growing old without you by my side. And I would love to watch a little version of me and you running around." Natsu said with his trademark smile answering both questions.
"Natsu." Erza whispers as her eyes water with tears of joy.
Erza lunges forward to kiss Natsu causing them to both fall on the bed. "I love you Natsu." Erza said quietly with her lips against his.
"I love you to Erza." Natsu responded causing Erza to intensify the kiss. The kissed passionately until a thought hit Natsu. "Wait does this mean were engaged?" Natsu asked looking up at Erza who was laying on top of him.
"I think engaged to be engaged is more appropriate." Erza responded as she got off Natsu and sat against the headboard.
Natsu copied her and they sat there for a few minutes thinking the same thing.
'I need to tell him.'
'I need to tell her.'
They both took a deep breathe and turned to face the other.
"Natsu I need to tell you something."
"Erza I need to tell you something."
They both blinked a few times. "You go first." Natsu offered.
Erza sighed and decided to get straight to the point. "Natsu I need to tell you what happened to you at the Grand Magic Games."
"What do you mean? What happened?" Natsu tilted his head in confusion.
Natsu sat there in shock. Erza just finished telling him what happened at the Grand Magic Games. "S-so I k-killed him?" Natsu choked out.
"Natsu listen to me." Erza wanted to stop those thoughts immediately. "Look me in the eye when I'm talking to you." Erza grabbed him by the shoulders.
"There's nothing you can say to make this better Erza! I killed a man! I'm no different then people like Erigor, Brain, or Zero!" Natsu pulled away from Erza's grasp only to be slapped by Erza.
"Did you make a conscious effort to kill him?" Erza shouted as she pushed him against the wall. "Do you not feel guilt over that mans death even though he took pleasure in your pain!" Erza cringed as the image of Natsu's arm getting cut off flashed through her mind. "No you don't even remember killing the man because it wasn't you! I don't know what it was, but I do know it wasn't you!" Erza yelled trying to get through Natsu's thick skull.
"I think I might know." Natsu mumbled as Erza backed off and gave him some space. "You said that you felt my magic change right?"
"Yes." Erza nodded her head.
"I'm not sure what it is but there's another magic inside of me. I don't know much about it but I do know Igneel doesn't want me using it. I've tried to keep it under control but it's been getting harder and harder." Natsu walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Do you think that's what it was?" Erza sat next to Natsu.
"I'm not sure. I don't remember much after my arm got cut off." Natsu puts his hand on the giant scare that went around his shoulder. "Everything is pretty fussy. But it makes sense doesn't it?"
"It does." Erza exhaled loudly. "At least we have some idea of what this is." They sat in silence for a few minutes. Both thinking of ways to deal with the problem at hand.
"Erza." Natsu turns to look at her. "What's wrong with me?" Natsu asked with fear in his eyes. But this fear wasn't for his well being. It was fear of the possibility of losing control and hurting his guild mates. Or worse hurting Erza. Erza once again put a stop to his thoughts by grabbing Natsu and placing his head on her lap.
"I don't know." Erza responds as she strokes his hair. "But we'll get through it just you and me."
"You mean we don't have to tell master?" Natsu asked as he looked up at Erza his eyes hopeful.
"I don't believe master knows how to deal with this. So I don't see the need to tell him." Erza smiled down at him.
"Thank you." Natsu smiled back. He didn't want to tell anyone. They finally started to act normal around him. He didn't want them fearing him again. And if they knew that, that incident could happen again they surely would fear him again.
"Alright time to finish what you started." Erza turned and laid on her stomach.
"You gotta be kidding me." Natsu frowned until a thought occurred to him causing his to grow a mischievous smile. Natsu fingers wiggled as they slowly approached Erza. Erza felt a chill run down her spine. She was about to turn around but it was too late.
"Hahahahaha what are doing? Hahahahaha stop it Natsu hahahahahah. I hate hahahaha when you do hahahahah this hahahahaha." Erza tossed and turned as Natsu continued his attack.
'One of Erza's three weaknesses strawberry cake, Ichiya, and tickling. And I know them all.'
"Muhahahaha." Natsu started laughing evilly out loud.
"W-hahahah what are you hahahahah laughing at?" Erza asked as she became teary eyed. Natsu hesitated to answer giving Erza the opportunity to roll off the bed and escape Natsu's attack. Erza slowly got up as Natsu backed off to the other side of the bed.
"You'll pay for that." Erza said slowly.
"You'll have to catch me first." Natsu runs out the room just as Erza dives across the bed barely missing him.
"Get back here!" Erza yells as she chases after him.
"No way!(crash) Hey don't throw that! Are trying to kill me?"
"Take you punishment like a man."
"I don't wanna."
"(Splat) Ewww that's disgusting."
"Sorry I thought it was something else.(Crack) Whoa! That was a close one."
"Will you stand still."
"Will you stop trying to kill me."
"Don't over exaggerate."
"You have murder eyes!"
"Oh Natsu."
"What are you wearing? Requip back into your regular clothes! No I won't fall into temptation. A man like me will not fall into temptation."
"Then why are you are peeking through your fingers?"
These were the words and sounds that filled the house as Erza chased Natsu throughout and even on top of it. The home that they have many fond memories in. A home where they will create many more fond memories.
Day of the Halloween Festival.
2:00 pm
"I'll meet you at the guild Happy. I'm gonna get ready." Natsu poked his head out of the bathroom.
"Aye sir!" Happy flew off in his fish costume.
"Wonder why Erza picked this costume?" Natsu mumbled to himself as he looked it up and down.
"Natsu are you ready?" Erza asked as she entered the house.
Natsu stepped out of the bathroom. "This is another one of your hints isn't it?" Natsu asked as he noticed her costume. Erza was wearing the maid outfit she wore at the Miss Fairy Tail Contest and Natsu was wearing a matching butler costume.
"It's not my fault the guild is filled with blind fools." Erza walked over to Natsu and wrapped her arms around his arm. Then dragged him in front of the mirror. "Are you saying you don't like my costume?" Erza purred.
Natsu couldn't but blush feeling Erza's breast rubbed against his arm. "No it looks good on you." Natsu said shyly.
"And you look very handsome." Erza leans forward to fix his tie. "Alright we need to get to the guild so we can start our shift."
"Why are we doing again?" Natsu asked as they left the house.
"(Sigh) I told you already were working at Fairy Tail's Cafe. There will be a lot of costumers today so I volunteer us to help out." Natsu frowned at those words. "Don't worry I chose this shift so we would get off for the festival." Erza reassured him.
"Alright. As long we don't miss out on the festival." Natsu brightened up.
They walked in silence enjoying each others presence until they approached the guild. "We seem to be early. We should get something to eat before our shift starts." Erza said and Natsu followed her in the guild.
The couple entered the guild and much to Erza annoyance nobody seemed to notice that they were wearing matching costumes. 'Are these people really that dense? Oh good Mira. She'll figure it out.' Erza grabbed Natsu by the hand and dragged him to the bar. They ordered their favorite. Natsu fire and Erza strawberry cake.
"You two look cute." Mira commented as she returned with their food. "Are you two going to join The Couples Costume Contest?"
"I don't know this is the first I've heard of it." Erza said she took a bite of her cake.
"Well you two should participate. And don't worry you don't have to be a real couple to join." Erza's eye twitched as she heard this. She had to restrain herself from screaming 'We are a couple you airhead!'
"Gray and Juvia are participating." Mira said igniting their competitive fire. Natsu looking for another chance at beating Gray and Erza not wanting to be outdone by another Fairy Tail couple.
"Were in." they said in unison as they slammed their fist on the counter.
"O-ok I'll sign you up." Mira stammered taken aback by their intensity.
Natsu, Erza, Gray, Juvia and four other couples from outside the guild stood behind the curtains waiting for the contest to start.
"Your going down campfire." Gray pointed at Natsu.
"Bring it ice pack." Natsu retorted.
Erza ignored the fight as she stared down her competition. Mainly Juvia causing her to shrink in fear.
'She's definitely a threat.' Erza looked at Juvia's costume. 'No we can still win. But if I get Natsu to do "that" our victory is assured.' Erza smiled.
After a few minutes the lights were shut off and the curtains opened. They put a spotlight on each couple when they announced them. The first four got a good solid applause which would decided who won.
"And now we have our next couple. He'll fix you up but she'll stop your heart. We bring you Gray and Juvia!" Max announced. The spotlight appeared on the two revealing Gray to be wearing a doctors costume. And Juvia wearing a nurses outfit that stopped mid thigh and showed not to much but not to little amount of cleavage. It was very obvious that Gray and Juvia took the lead.
'Damn. Looks like Natsu's going to have to do "that".'
"Natsu do you remember a few months ago when I was approached by that man on the train?" Erza turned to face him.
"You mean the bastard that tried to hit on you?" Natsu gritted his teeth in jealousy.
"Yes him. Remember that smile you made fun of him for?"
"The jackass smile" What about it?" Natsu tilted his head in confusion.
"Use it." Erza simply stated.
"What? No way." Natsu refused.
"Do you want to beat Gray?" Natsu nodded his head. "Then do it."
"Fine." Natsu once again gritted his teeth. "When do I do it?"
"I'll tell you when."
"And now for the last couple but definitely not the least. From fighting off wizards to serving you tea. Your wish is their command. Natsu and Erza."
They both bowed as the spotlight hit them. "Now." Erza said as they both stood back up. When they stood up they were met with silence but Erza smirked. With the lights now on she could see the crowds faces. Everyone's faces were dyed with red from the girls to the guys. The guys blushed at the sight of Erza. Even though she wore the costume before she still was able to stun the guys.
But what made the girls blush was no other then Natsu. When Natsu stood up he "the jackass smile" although any other person would call it nothing short of charming. His teeth and eyes sparkled catching all the girls by surprise especially the ones from the guild. Erza had to keep herself from glaring at the girls and telling them to "back off he's mine!" seeing the way the girls were looking at him.
Makarov couldn't help but be impressed seeing all the girls blush. "Who knew Natsu had this in him...What! Not you to first?" Makarov's jaw hung opened seeing Mavis blush.
"Shut up." Mavis said as she turned away from him trying to hide her face.
After a few moments of silence the crowd erupted in a roar making it clear who won the contest. The cheers continued for a couple of minutes until they turned into screams as people started to drop to the ground.
"What the hell is going on?" Natsu asked watching people in the crowd dropping one by one.
"I have know idea. Maybe master knows." Erza jumped off the stage followed by Natsu.
"Wendy can you heal them?" Makarov asked the young girl who's dressed as a witch.
Wendy tried but couldn't do anything with her magic. "I'm sorry master my magic isn't working." Wendy said in a defeated voice.
Natsu stood there looking at the people who lost consciousness until he noticed that they were all wearing masks with the same weird design on them. "Hey Erza check this out." He walked towards her and Makarov. "There all wearing these masks." Natsu handed her a mask.
Erza studied the mask then gave it to Makarov. "What do you think master?"
"I've never seen such a design before. Does anyone know where these came from?" Makarov asked as he stood up on the table.
"I've seen a booth giving these away. I'll go find the guy and get some answers." Gray said as he starting running out of the guild.
"Elfman, Juvia you two go with him." Makarov ordered.
"Yes master." they said as they quickly ran after Gray.
"Mira go get Porlyusica. Hopefully she can help." Mira nodded and left.
Natsu turned his head and saw Wendy staring at the floor. Natsu sighed he knew she had confidence issues. Something Natsu couldn't relate to. But that doesn't mean he couldn't comfort her. Natsu put his hand on her hair and ruffled it. "You know Igneel use to say 'failure is just another chance at redemption'. So just train harder and be ready for the next time you need to step up." Natsu gave her a wide smile.
Wendy looked up at him after hearing these words. "Your right." Wendy said with a look of determination. "I'll train harder and became a strong dragon slayer like you and Gajeel. Thank you Natsu."
But Natsu didn't respond as the mentioning of Igneel caused him to go in his mind 'Why do those designs keep bugging me.' Natsu stood there for about five minutes staring at the masks.
Wendy watched this and started to get concerned. "Nat-" she began but got cut off by Erza. Erza put a hand on her shoulder and shook her head.
"Let him think." one thing Erza learned about Natsu over the years is that he held a lot of knowledge about things lost over time. And these designs seemed of an ancient origin. She figured that was the reason Igneel didn't teach him more then the few words he knew. He was teaching him things he couldn't learn anywhere else.
"Samhain." Natsu muttered.
"What was that?" Makarov asked.
"Samhain." Natsu said louder causing the other guild members and towns people who were still there and conscious to look at him.
"Who's Samhain?" Makarov raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Halloween. He's the origin of Halloween. I knew those markings were bugging me for a reason."
"Natsu what are you talking about? Who is Samhain" Erza stepped closer to him.
"Samhain was a demon that would rise this day every year." Natsu explained
"A demon like lullaby and Deliora?" Makarov asked.
"No. Samhain is on a whole other level then those two." They all stood there absorbing what they just heard a slight chill running up their spines. "Today is the day when the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest. He would rise and massacre across the land." as Natsu started to speak they could tell that he was talking more like a recording then someone telling a story. "Masks were put on to hide from him. Sweets were put on doorsteps to appease him. Faces carved in pumpkins to worship him. But he was exorcised centuries ago" Natsu decided to give them the short version.
"Are saying this is his work?" Makarov asked seriously.
"No like I said he was exorcised centuries ago. I think someone is trying to summon him. They must have used these masks to steal these peoples souls." suddenly a thought occurred to Natsu and he bolted out of the guild ignoring the voices yelling at him.
"Natsu where are you going?" Erza asked as she came up beside him avoiding the bodies that littered the streets.
"We need to get to the train station."
"What? Why?"
"Whoever is trying to summon Samhain would need more souls to do it."
"So whoever is doing this is moving to another town to steal more souls." Erza quickened her paceas she quickly caught on to Natsu's thoughts.
Once they started to approach the station they could see a hooded figure boarding the train. "That must be the person." Natsu yelled out. As they got closer to the station the train began moving. "Damn we need to hurry!"
They ran faster then they have ever ran. If they didn't reach the train soon it would become to fast to catch. The couple jumped as soon as the reached the edge of the platform barely landing on the small balcony like platform at the end of the caboose. They took a few minutes to catch their breathe then stared at each other making sure the other was ready to go. They both knew that they had to stop Samhain's summoning at all cost. They also knew that a summoning this powerful had to be done by someone with great power themselves.
They opened the door and stepped into the first car of the train. The train car was completely empty and the lights flickered on and off. "Your not motion sick." Erza noted as they slowly walked through the train.
"That's because were this persons dimension." Natsu gritted his teeth.
"What are you talking about?" Erza asked genuinely confused.
"Ancient magic where you turn an area into your own little world."
"So technically where not in a train. Were in this persons realm. Where they're most likely be able to manipulate it to their advantage." Erza quickly summarized.
Natsu blinked a few times surprised at Erza's quick deduction. 'Wow she really is smart. It took a whole day to figure that out.'
They kept their slow pace as they walked through the train. Until suddenly a magic circle appeared and as soon as it appeared the window shattered sending glass flying everywhere. They both covered their face to keep glass from getting in their eyes. "What happened?" Natsu asked.
"Those happened." Erza didn't need to point at what she was talking about as hundreds if not thousands of tiny little demons with sharp teeth and claws came pouring into the railroad car filling it up like water.
"What the hell are these things?" Natsu asked as he punched, kicked, and grabbed and pulled the little demons.
"You tell me. You seem to be an expert about stuff like this." Erza replied as she summoned two thins sharp swords and starting cutting down as many demons as she could. "We need to get to the other car." Erza said as she cut and stabbed as she starting trudging her way to the other cart.
"Ok. But what the heck is that gonna do. Wont they just follow us." Natsu followed Erza as he threw flaming punches and kicks. "Damn it's like walking through snow." Natsu refereed to all the demons crowed at their feet.
"Except snow doesn't bite and claw at your legs. They also don't ruin your maid costume." Erza looked down at her ripped up costume.
"At least it's not cold."
"Your never cold."
They finally got to the front of the car and opened the door. Once they made to the other car Erza cut the connector keeping the two together. Natsu followed up by blasting a fireball at the car destroying it. They pulled of the remaining demons clinging onto them and threw them off the train.
"I hope we don't have to deal with that in every car." Natsu grumbled.
"My costume wont make it if we do." Natsu blushed at the thought. "Focus Natsu." Erza said reading his mind.
They walked through the car to once again see a magic circle appear. "Aw crap." Natsu whined. Before they knew it the they started to sink in the ground. They looked down and saw that the ground was gone and was replaced with purple goo. "What the hell is this stuff?" Natsu tried to grab on to a chair only for it to turn into more goo and almost engulf him fully.
Erza reached out and grabbed him and pulled him away. "Natsu don't let this stuff get into your mouth or nose." They struggled to keep themselves from sinking further into the goo. 'This isn't good. If we don't get out of this soon we'll sink to deep and suffocate.'
'Damn I can't use my magic.' Natsu gritted his teeth.
'(Sigh) It would be a pain for me if you died. So I'll help you out of this.' Natsu's eyes widened when he heard this. He looked at Erza to see if she heard it also. But with the look on her face he could tell she didn't.
'Who are you?'
'I'm the guy that can save you. Just like I saved you at that stupid tournament.'
'You really think I'll let you let out after you used my body to kill that guy? I'd rather die!'
'What about your girlfriend over there? Are you willing to let her die?' at that question Natsu felt a pit in his stomach. He didn't want help from that other him but he couldn't let Erza die.
'Your not using my body. Give me the power and I'll use it to get us out of here.' Natsu declared.
'(Tsk) Your a stubborn little brat aren't you? But luckily for you we don't have time to argue.' Natsu didn't trust the other "him" he had to make sure it didn't try to take over. So he closed his eyes and focused on the releasing just enough magic to get out the current situation.
"Natsu!" Erza screamed in horror seeing him sink under the goo. Before she reach out for Natsu a blast of blue fire shot out in an outgoing circle destroying the goo. Erza covered her face as the blue flame came towards her but to her surprise she was uninjured. She blinked a few times then she realized what Natsu just did. "Natsu you didn't?"
"I had to. We'll talk about it later." Natsu said with a scowl on his face. Erza could tell that he hated him using that power just as much as her. So she agreed and they quickly made their way to the other car to only be met with a torrent of water. Erza quickly requipped a thick sword and stuck it in the floor and grabbed Natsu with her remaining hand. They struggled to remain on their feet against the rush of water. After a few minutes of fighting to keep themselves from getting thrown back Natsu decided he had enough of these stupid traps. "Erza on three switch places with me." Natsu pulled himself behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"1"
"2"
"3"
Erza spun behind Natsu and wrapped her arms around him. At the exact same time Natsu used Fire Dragon's Sword Horn and shot them through the water evaporating it. But he didn't stop there he continued to bust through the other cars before the traps could activate. Erza suddenly stabbed her sword in the floor again using her free hand to hold onto Natsu and pull him towards her. Just as Natsu jolted to a stop a giant ax came inches from his face.
"Whoa! That was close. Thanks Erza." Natsu gulped at the thought of could of happened if Erza didn't notice the attack.
"Don't mention it." Erza said as she glared at the eight foot tall ogre that attacked Natsu. "You go ahead Natsu. The person that's behind this all should be in the next cart. I'll deal with this thing." Erza exquipped her sword and requipped two long thin swords.
Natsu nodded. He ran towards the ogre and slid between it's legs and ran to the last car. The ogre raised it's ax to attack Natsu but Erza attacked first giving it two large gashes on it's side. "That was my future fiance you just tried to kill. You'll pay for that."
The ogre roared out in pain and swung it's ax down on Erza's head. Erza quickly dove to the right towards the seats dodging the attack. The ogre grunted as it pulled it's ax out of the floor and swung it horizontally cutting through the back of the seats. Erza back flipped towards the back of the car avoiding the ax and jumped off the wall and stabbed her swords into the ogre's shoulder. The ogre roared as it threw Erza off itself and towards the windows.
Erza yelped in pain as she crashed into the window causing the glass to shatter and cut the back of her head and neck. But she didn't have time to recover from the throw, as the ogre came rushing at her. With no room to escape Erza reached outside of the window and stabbed her swords into the train and pulled herself onto the roof. She slid across the top of the train and stabbed the swords again into the train and swung herself back into it.
The maneuver Erza pulled was so fast that the ogre was still pulling it's ax out the side of the train when she landed behind it and stabbed it's leg and calf. The ogre screamed in pain as it to one knee. Erza raised her swords to decapitate it but it swung it's arm sending her flying towards the back of the car.
Erza's head snapped back as she hit the wall causing it to smack against the wall. Erza groaned in pain as she tried to shake off the blurry vision and ringing noise in her head. Once she did the widened when she saw the ogre throw the the ax at her. She hopped to her feet and jumped up splitting her legs barely avoiding the ax. Once she landed she smirked. The ogre was weapon less and had one good leg. Erza charged forward ready to end the fight and get to Natsu.
The ogre horizontally swung it's arm at the charging Erza but missed as she flipped over it and cut it on it's back. The ogre turned back to face Erza and tried to slam it's fist down on her. But she rolled out the way and stabbed her sword through his arm pinning it to the floor. The ogre screamed as it attempted to use it's free arm to pull out the sword. But Erza had other ideas. She used her other sword and pinned the ogre's other arm to the side of the train.
Erza quickly requipped a very long sharp sword and cut off the it's head. With the ogre dead Erza let out a loud exhale and sat in one of few remaining seats to catch her breathe. "I have to get to Natsu."
Natsu ran into the last car and stopped when he saw a hooded figure holding what looked like an urn. 'That must be where the souls are being kept.' Natsu glared at the hooded figure.
"So your the one that has been setting off my traps." the hooded figure spoke up. "I'm surprised you made it this far."
"Who are you? And why are you trying to resurrect Samhain?" Natsu asked angrily.
"Oh you know of Samhain. That's not knowledge you can get at some library. Your a very interesting individual. Sadly you having such knowledge means I'll have to kill you." the hooded figure sighed as the disappeared in a magic circle.
Natsu took off his tie and coat. "Like I haven't heard that before." Natsu roared as he raced towards the figure his hand a blaze. The figure ducked under the punch and stuck out his hand. A black magic circle appeared on his hand and a black ray shot out of it. Natsu quickly turned his body barely dodging the attack. Natsu responded by delivering a flaming round house kick that was caught. The hooded figure used his free hand to attempt to shoot Natsu's leg. But Natsu jumped with his other foot and attempted a straight kick to his face. Forcing the man to drop the attack and put up a shield with his free hand.
Natsu pushed off the shield with his foot sending him back flipping away from the man. But the man was on Natsu as soon as he landed blasting another ray at his face. Natsu ducked out of the way and delivered uppercut. The hooded figure stepped back dodging the punch and then stuck out his foot at Natsu. Natsu's eyes widened when he saw a magic circle appeared on his foot.
Natsu quickly jumped up dodging the blast then pushed off the ceiling and brought down a flaming punch down on him. Or so he thought the man jumped back once again dodging Natsu's attack. Natsu pulled his hand out of the floor and dodged to the side narrowly avoiding a black ray. Natsu rushed at got within a few feet of the man and released a Fire Dragons Roar at point blank range.
"Crap." the man muttered as he put up a shield in an attempt to protect himself which caused an explosion. Both Natsu and the mystery man were sent hurdling towards opposite ends of the train car.
"Damn this guy is tough." Natsu muttered as he struggled to get on his feet. Suddenly a magic circle appeared under his feet and he was blasted up out of the train. Natsu bounced and rolled across the still moving train until he slid to a stop. Natsu breathing was ragged as he once again struggled to get to his feet. He looked up and saw the man standing on the other side of the train. Natsu gritted his teeth as he charged across the train.
The hooded figure smirked as he knew Natsu had no room to dodge. Natsu gritted his teeth even harder as he started taking shots all over his body. But he didn't stop he pushed through the pain and continued forward. Natsu ignited his fist as he took a sluggish swing at the man. The man easily ducked under the punch and shot a blast at Natsu's side sending him off the side of the train.
Natsu reached out and grabbed on the window sill ignoring the glass digging into his hand. He slowly pulled himself onto the top of the train. Once Natsu was back on top of the train he froze when he saw the man holding the urn which was now glowing. He was also surrounded by six magic circles.
"What are you doing?" Natsu asked fearing he knew the answer to the question.
"I had a feeling you were still alive. So I decided to end this by summoning Samhain."
"What? But you can't have enough souls to summon him." Natsu gulped.
"I may not have enough to summon him at full strength. But with these souls he will be plenty strong enough to reek mayhem again." as he finished explaining one of the magic circles started glowing a blood red color.
'I have to stop him.' Natsu sucked in a deep breath then shot a Fire Dragons Roar but it was being stopped by a barrier. 'Damn it! It's not getting through.' a second magic circle changed colors. 'Damn it.'
'How pathetic.'
'Go away I don't need you!'
'You sure about that? If Samhain is released where do you think he'll go first? He'll go to the closest town. Wanna take guess which town that is?'
'Magnolia' Natsu's eyes shot open.
'Bingo. So do you really wanna take that risk?'
Natsu's mind was racing. He didn't want help from "him" but if he failed his friends would die.
'I-I.' Natsu began to speak but was cut of.
'Doesn't need you!' Natsu's eyes shot open and his attack stopped.
'E-Erza?' Erza's mind joined in their internal fight.
'You don't need him Natsu.' Erza wrapped her arms around Natsu's waist from behind and rested her cheek on his back. 'If you can't do something on your own then we'll do it together. Ok?' Erza thought softly.
Natsu's stunned face turned into a smirk. 'You bet.'
'(Tsk) Whatever. Just don't get yourself killed. I will be back and this body will be mine.'
'If anybody's going to take this body for themselves it will be me.' Erza said possessively.
'Feisty I like it.' with that said the other Natsu's voice faded away.
Now the fourth magic circle changed colors. "You ready?" Erza looked up at him.
"You kidding? I'm all fired up!" Natsu reared his head back and his along with Erza's magic circle appeared in front of him.
"Unison Raid" they both roared out as a giant flame twice the size of the Fire Dragons Roar.
"Is that it? The man asked seeing his barrier holding up. "Soon Master Samhain will walk the earth again!" the fifth magic circle changed colors.
Erza smirked and the mans eyes widened as a giant dragon's claw made of steel emerged from the flame. The claw ripped through the barrier destroyed the magic circles and crushed the urn, releasing the swords to return to their bodies. With the barrier destroyed the fire engulfed the claw and blasted the hooded man causing an explosion.
"Did we beat him?" Natsu asked waiting for the dust to clear. Until suddenly he rushed to the side of the train and threw up.
"I believe we did." Erza replied figuring with the hooded man defeated his dimension was now taken down.