Anime: Fairy Tail

(Y/n)'s POV

One, two, three. The candles were alight, the dim hallway casting a ghastly glow that complimented the moon's rays. Any passerby would run at the sight of such a frightening mansion, but this ancient building was my sanctuary.

Flare's fiery wings flapped gracefully in the air as she landed on her perch, her eyes constantly watching, constantly waiting. I cracked a small smile as the phoenix made a noise similar to that of a bird's cry when claiming their food.

"Seems like we have company."

I remained in my seat, seeing no need to go greet my intruders. They'd end up here eventually...if they could. I...could sense them now. Their presences were powerful, unlike those worthless scum who had tried to take my throne before.

Perhaps this time, it would be different. Perhaps I may have found opponents worthy of my skill. Flare's wings struck the air as she took flight, her sharp claws reaching for the object in the intruder's hand.

She returned and dropped the necklace in my lap. I looked up, meeting the gazes of those who had dared venture into my home. My black nails glinted in the moonlight as I examined the necklace that had once belonged to my mother.

"You were planning to steal this, were you?"

"No, Natsu just happened to be roaming around your room. We're here to defeat you," exclaimed a red-haired girl I had come to recognise as Erza Scarlet.

"Sorry to disappoint you but I have no intention to leave nor 'be defeated'. But don't you find it rude to announce your plan to capture me without even stating what it was that I had done wrong?"

"Apologies, (Y/n). I did not realise that you wished to be treated like a queen who thinks her actions are always righteous. In short, your so-called way of living and scaring of innocent people has gone too far."

"Very well, Titania. If that is what you think then I won't bother changing your mind. However, let me warn you, I am not an easy opponent."

"I figured as much."

She requipped into her heaven's wheel armour. Interesting. I clicked my fingers. Flare dove from above and vanished into my body. My eyes flashed a fiery golden colour as fire bounced from fingertip to fingertip.

Flare and I were familiar and master. We were joined in both body and soul. I could even describe her as an extension of my mind. Erza changed into her fire empress armour, charging at me without a moment's hesitation.

She cut through the wall of fire I had generated, pointing her weapon at me. Touching the tip of her blade began the disintegration of the metal. She cursed under her breath and summoned yet another.

"Gray, you take over for now. She specialises in fire, using her phoenix as the medium, just like the report said."

Erza threw a spear my way but I simply burnt it to ashes. The man known as Gray created ice swords that danced around as they charged at me. What beautiful magic. I created fireballs and sent each of them flying his way with each click of my fingers.

He encased his hand in ice, an ice gauntlet, and aimed for a punch. I blocked his attack with my arms, coating them in flames. He froze them but I simply kicked his arms and broke the ice.

"You're talented."

"I could say the same about you. Where did you learn your magic?" he asked.

"My my, trying to gain information utilising the mask of naivety. What a dirty way to play."

"You know that that wasn't my intention."

"Hmm, do I?"

Flare separated from my body, her eyes ablaze and ready to fight. I used my mother's necklace, which I had hung around my neck, and made a slit on my wrist.

Thick, scarlet blood oozed out from the wound. The others stared at me in pure shock and suspicion as my blood began to harden and form a scythe, which I could now take into my hand.

"It seems that you lot weren't aware of my other power."

"Who...are you?" Gray asked.

"(Y/n) (L/n), the last descendant of a family of familiar users. This blood weapon is our family secret."

Gray's mouth formed a thin line as he stared at me, his expression giving nothing away, save for the discontent he saw in my stature. Making yet another cut in my arm, I drew hooks from my blood and threw them at the ice mage, pinning him to the wall.

"Gray!" Natsu, the fire dragon slayer, yelled.

"Don't come near!" Gray exclaimed.

I placed two fingers on the male's chin and lifted his gaze to meet my own.

"You seem frustrated."

"I remember now..." he whispered.

"What was that?"

"I remember now. I met your deceased parents."

"And your point is?"

"How can their daughter turn into this?! I remember her! I remember her kind smile! I remember her laugh! She may not have known me but I've seen her enough times to know what she was like. Her parents were kind too...yet your whole family was slaughtered become nobody understood you."

"H-how...do you..."

"What happened to you? I-"

"The girl that you remember is long gone. She's never going to come back. She died."

"How could you say such a thing? Why did you have to change so much?..."

"I take it your name is Gray? Well, let me just say this. I've never met you before and so, your concerns don't bother me."

He gritted his teeth. What a shame such talent had to go to waste. I made a cut in his neck, ready to transfer the power in his blood to my own until a large headache overcame my senses.

Flare's cries echoed across the room as she returned to the spiritual world to regain her strength. Natsu had given her too much fire, he had overfed her. I screamed in pain. It felt like my head was being ripped in two.

Just as I had my guard down, Natsu aimed an attack at me. Was this...how I'd end up dying? By the hands of a dragon slayer? What a wretched fate my family had...what a wretched fate I had...

"No, don't!"

Gray broke free of the shackles that bound him and created an ice shield in front of me. Having one hand on my head and the other trying to steady my wobbly body as I stood up, I could only stare at the ice mage with disbelief.

"Why?..."

"Deep down, the (Y/n) I watched over is still alive. Your parents believed in you and I will too."

"I tried to take your life."

"But could you really? If Natsu hadn't interrupted?"

"Of course, I've taken countless lives before."

"Without hesitation? Without frustration? Every one of their lives is in your hands. I know you need to take the power from others' blood to find strength, similar to how Natsu eats fire. Your mother told me so."

"I'm a murderer, not the innocent girl you once knew."

"And I'm betting my life on the fact that she still lives on within your heart, so attack me with all you've got. We'll see who's right with this duel."

What a persistent man. Yet if that was what he wished, then so be it.