To Protect You

Chapter Twenty - Two: the dragon and the demon

"This ends here and now!" Natsu roared, his eyes deadly. Pierre stared at the dragon slayer in shock, gritting his teeth in anger.

"You are under my control, Dragneel!" Pierre snapped, glaring at Natsu as the dragon slayer tightened his fists.

Natsu remained silent, turning his back to Pierre and running to Lucy and Gray.

"Natsu..." Lucy breathed and Natsu fell to his knees, taking her face into his hands. "Natsu...are you...?"

"Ah...it's me." He said, his thumbs gingerly brushing across her cheeks. "Are you okay?" He asked and Lucy nodded, the tears from her her eyes evaporating as soon as the neared Natsu's hands causing steam to rise from her skin. "Lucy, I'm so sorry."

"No, don't." She said softly, raising her hand up and placing it on his cheek. "It wasn't you. You don't have to apologise." Lucy smiled at him and he watched her, leaning forward and placing his lips against her forehead.

"I'll finish this quickly. Rest." He murmured, his lips brushing against her skin and she nodded. She moved her hand from his face to grab his hand, squeezing it softly as he stood, turning to stare at Pierre. The man was acting like a scolded toddler, ranting and stomping the ground as he pulled at his hair.

"Gray, watch after her." Natsu said and Gray nodded, picking Lucy up and holding her softly. "I'll take care of this."

"No!!" Pierre shrieked and threw his hand up, a wall of black plowing towards Natsu. The dragon slayer stood his ground, the flames around him growing hotter as he yelled, slamming his body into the wall. The sound of shattering glass echoed around the wizards and Pierre stared at Natsu in shock, his spell disepating as it hit the ground.

"Everyone, get out of here!" Natsu yelled and Wendy bit her lip, running forward and glaring at Pierre.

"He hurt us too, Natsu-san!" She said and Natsu smirked, lowering himself into a fighting stance. Soon the other dragon slayers joined, Gajeel letting out his signature laugh as the six slayers prepared for battle.

Gray looked to Lucy and nodded, running towards the rest of the group with the girl in his arms. "Let them handle it. The hot head hasn't had a good fight in a while so we might be caught in the crossfire if we get in the way." He said and Lyon smirked.

"The sooner I can see my beloved Juvia and make sure she's alright, the better." He said, causing Gray to look at him in annoyance.

As the other wizards retreated, Laxus yelled, lightning cracking around his feet. Gajeel changed his left arm into a sword as Wendy held her hands out, wind forming quickly around them. Sting and Rogue quickly changed into Dragon Force, the two smirking as Pierre began to grow ballistic, throwing his head back as darkness swirled quickly on the ground below him.

"I'll kill you all!" He yelled and Natsu let out a roar, the fire around his body sending out a huge blast of heat as his power surged.

"Let's do this!"

Rogue and Sting lunged first, combining their attacks above him as Wendy shot forward, easily knocking Pierre off his feet. The man let out a sound of surprise as Gajeel lunged forward, roaring as he swung his arm towards Pierre. Slamming to the ground, blood erupted from his mouth as the earth cracked beneath him. Laxus quickly thrust himself into the air, clenching his hand into a fist before slamming his body into the man, causing the earth to crater beneath him. As the dragon slayers all backed up, Pierre dragged himself to his feet.

"Enough." Pierre said softly, jerking his head up.

The look on his face was maniacal as dark torrents began to swirl around his arms, dripping from his finger tips like water. "This is dumb. You will never beat me, you puny wizards." Pierre spat this and the dark matter shot forward, a blast of wind throwing the teens to the ground. Wendy cried out, the dark matter wrapping around her waist and lifting her into the air.