what we choose to become

chapter 24

Natsu & co look for Laxus. Freed fights the shadow.

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"I think I found something!" Natsu's shout was muffled by the scarf wrapped tightly around his face, leaving only a small slit for him to see through. Ahead, through the dunes, he could barely see what looked like a shimmering purple box. Erza's hand was on his shoulder, and she urged him forward, keeping a tight grip on him as they waded through the swirling sand.

"It's Evergreen and Bickslow!" Lucy cried, dropping to her knees next to the rune cage. Static crackled and zapped her hand as she tried to touch it. "This looks like Freed's work!"

"Are they alive?" Natsu asked. Erza nodded.

"They're both breathing, but we have to get them out of here." She prodded the rune cage with her sword, but all that happened was purple electricity swirling up the blade.

"Yeah, problem is, where's here?" Natsu growled, straining to see anything other than sand and sun. "And where are Freed and Laxus?" Suddenly a shape began to coalesce through the storm. "Wait, I think somebody." Erza looked over to where Natsu was indicating, and saw two figures approaching.

"Freed? Laxus?" Erza's shouts were whipped away by the wind.

"Something's wrong," Natsu said softly, instinctively dropping into a fighting stance and summoning flames in his hand. Erza took his cue and withdrew her katana. Armour wouldn't do her any good out here in the sand, where it would lock up her joints and keep her immobile. "Oi, Laxus, is that you?"

~*~*~

Laxus collapsed onto his knees, coughing and choking on the whirling sand. The shadowy bonds around his chest tightened, but he did his best to ignore them. The skin around them was blistered and cracked, leaving a dull burn in their wake.

"Another break?" The thing in Freed's body sneered at him. Laxus coughed again, resigned to the dots of bright red blood on the sand in front of him. A water canteen was shoved against his lips, and although he wanted desperately to refuse, he was too thirsty to care about his dignity.

Hold on, Laxus. Freed huddled in the corner of his own mind, watching his body move as if from a great distance. They will send someone for us. I know they will. Then he turned back to the work in front of him. Runes were scrawled in the tiny headspace, hidden from the shadow's prying eyes by several wards. Freed was actually fairly impressed by the work, but didn't have time to celebrate. His trap was almost complete.

"Better?" The shadow yanked the canteen away from Laxus, watching the larger man struggle to his feet. They had been walking for...how long now? Days? The information from Freed's mind said they were almost out of the desert.

"Go to hell," Laxus growled. His vision blurred, but he stubbornly remained standing. He wasn't sure how long it had been since he had last eaten, and although he was loathe to admit it, he wasn't sure how much longer he would last. Hurry up, Freed, he pleaded silently. He knew his friend was still in there, and was going to figure out a way to save them. We don't have much time left.

"Oi, Laxus, is that you?" The blonde man's head snapped up at the familiar sound of Natsu's voice. Peering ahead, he realized that he could see the vague outline of trees through the swirling sand. The same trees where Freed had become possessed...

"How DARE YOU?" Freed's voice shrieked beside him, and Laxus turned to see the green-haired man with his fists in his hair, eyes wide. "You LIED to me!" He shook his head, eyes blurring from normal to black, and Laxus realized that he had released the shadow bonds.