A Railgun In Fairy Tail, Book 6: Apocalypse

Maverick's Sacrifice

"Mikoto...wake up...Mikoto.."

Natsu's voice seemed to come from a million miles away. Mikoto tried to clear the fog in her head..but couldn't. She was exhausted, her body was too tired to do anything..her right leg was gone..and she could feel her left leg was fractured. Her arms were bleeding badly, and several of her ribs were broken. If there was any place she knew she needed to be right now...it was the ICU at the best hospital imaginable.

Mikoto strained to open her eyes. Her lips tingled as they still remembered the sensation of Touma's farewell kiss...the first kiss her lips had ever recieved. And there she beheld a wonderous sight. The massive glowing golden gate that stood upon the small island off the shore of Fiore. Mikoto could feel Natsu still carrying her, she could hear his scarf fluttering in the wind as he brought her closer...to the beginning of the end.

She could see the dark silhoutes of Lucy and Nicole and she could feel Elli on her chest, her warm fur providing a comfort. she had not felt in a long time.

"We're here Mikoto.." said Natsu. "We're finally here."

Mikoto knew it, the key which had suddenly turned freezing cold and burning hot at the same time was heavy as it hung around her neck.

"Natsu...you know..you guys don't have to come with me.." said Mikoto. "To die with me.."

"You're not going to talk us out of this." said Natsu. "Not now...not ever. Besides..I think you're a little too beaten up to be doing this alone right now."

Mikoto gave a sad smile. "Natsu..Lucy..Happy..Elli..there's something I didn't tell you guys..my Mom....my human mom...she's.."

"Misuzu?!" Lucy said. "What? Is she alright?"

"She's fine.." said Mikoto. "More then alright...she's pregnant."

There was a stunned silence. Then Lucy squealed out. "OH MY GOD!! You've got a sister!...AGAIN!!"

"Congratulations!" Happy yelled out.

"Some time to be telling you eh?" Mikoto muttered. "Right when we're on the edge of world darkness standing next to a stupid gate the size of Kyoto."

"Well ya had to tell us eventually!" said Natsu with a grin.

"There's more.." Mikoto murmured as the gate grew closer. "Just in case...there's the slight chance that we do survive this...My mom...she wants Lucy to be.."

Before Mikoto could finish her sentence. there was a sharp explosion right in front of the group as she heard a voice say. "Amaterasu! 28 forms!!"

After that all she could hear and see was panic, and blood, as the others struggled to keep her away from the foe that was apparently attacking them. Natsu dropped Mikoto on the sand as another explosion knocked him off his feet. Elli was knocked off as well and rolled into the sand unconscious.

Then Mikoto saw it...a silver chain made of magic shooting towards her..towards her heart. Time seemed to slow down, the chain seemed to take an eternity to reach her as her life began to flash before her eyes. Then.

There was a splatter of blood...but it wasn't Mikoto's blood. The purple Exceed known as Maverick stood in front of Mikoto, the chain piercing bloodily through his chest as he spread his small paws out protectively.

"MAVERICK!!!" Mikoto heard Nicole scream the name of her friend with a voice she had never heard leave her mouth. It was a scream of pain and disbelief, of utter horror, and denial.

"I'm sorry Nicole..." said Maverick as he fell to the sand. "But it looks like I won't make it to the end...after all.."

Maverick turned to look at Mikoto. "You must end this..for everyone's sake...for your sister's sake..."