Request Pairing : NaLu.
Lucy and Gray arrive during Natsu and Zeref's final battle, Natsu sees the END markings on Lucy and realizes what's happening, Natsu deflects Zeref's attack so that it destroys the book of END, Natsu knocks Zeref at the same time, Natsu slowly starts to disappeae Infinity War-style, he tells Lucy not to cry and that he loves her right before he disappears. Lucy and co. are heartbroken, Mavis and Zeref sacrifice their lives and their curse while reviving Natsu.
Natsu stood there, panting. He knew the battle against Zeref would be exhausting, but he underestimated him greatly. He continued to attempt landing some punches on his opponent but he skillfully kept on dodging them. Natsu was growing tired, he needed some fire to get some fighting strength back. He needed to make an end to Zeref existence who has been a thorn in their sides for far too long.
"I should've ended you back on Tenrou Island, when you defiled our guilds holy ground." Natsu spat Zeref's way while activating his Curse Power.
"Ah but dear brother, you weren't capable of such things back then. You're barely capable now." Zeref countered with a devilish smile. He was trying to taunt Natsu, and it was working. Natsu rushed forward with a blink of an eye and punched him with such force, he was sent flying into the boulder behind him.
"Who are you calling 'barely capable' now, huh?" Zeref just laughed as he wiped away a trail of blood from the corner of his mouth, placing himself in a battle stance and dashing forward to strike Natsu. He was fast, but so was Natsu now. The two of them continued landing punches on each other, sending each other flying into the boulders around them.
Lucy, Gray and Happy felt the shock waves and heard the colliding sounds from afar.
"That has to be where Natsu is!" Lucy yelled at the others whilst running towards the battlefield. The three of them swiftly neared where Natsu was battling Zeref, until Gray made them pause.
"Lucy, what is that on your arm?!" Lucy looked at her arm and saw a black mark starting to appear and grow into the markings that looked exactly like the marks Natsu has in his demon state.
"Gray.. This looks like.." Lucy stammered distressed.
"…The marks Natsu has." Gray finished the sentence for her. "This isn't good. We need to get to Natsu, and fast." They continued running until they reached Natsu. Lucy's breath staggered as she saw Natsu. She was glad he was still alive, but even though she could've expected him to be in his demon form, it still shocked her to see him that way. Maybe the reason she was wearing the marks was because Natsu was in this form?
"Natsuuu!" Happy cried out, hoping that he could hear his plea. Everyone wanted Zeref destroyed but what would it cost? "Natsu…" Happy lowered himself so Lucy could hold him. Natsu was too engaged with the fight to notice the others. Zeref, however, did notice them. He also noticed the markings on Lucy's arm.
"So she's the one you've been trying to protect all this time. I'm surprised the curse actually spread to the person you care for the deepest. I didn't expect that to happen honestly." Zeref said casually while inspecting the growing markings from afar. The statement made Natsu realize that they weren't alone anymore. He turned back and saw Gray, Happy and… There was a sharp inhale as he saw Lucy, the one he had been trying to protect from Zeref. Although they fought alongside each other, he was always fighting to protect her, and he failed. He failed miserably this time.
"What did you do to Lucy?" Natsu's voice was like a low growl in the back of his thought. There was no way that he was going to let Lucy get caught up in their fight. "Get those of her right now!" Natsu knew there was only one way to get those marks of off Lucy, and that was by destroying his book. The book Mard Geer tried to protect and defend with his life. The book that would end his own life if destroyed. Natsu hurried over to Gray.
"Gray, The book!"
"You stupid flamebrain! You're gonna do exactly what I think you are, aren't you?"
"It's the only way to save Lucy…" The pain was clearly visible in his voice, and Gray had to swallow hard. "Please keep an eye on her and Happy after this is done. They'll need a friend. Throw the book on my mark." With that, he turned back to Zeref, determination painted on his face.
"I will make an end to this." Natsu growled at Zeref as he sprinted to attack him. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" His flamed hand connected with Zeref's abdomen as Natsu leaned in close, "This is for involving Lucy." Whispering maliciously in his ear. Zeref recuperated quickly and kicked Natsu away from him. Natsu saw a familiar stance, he was going to use his Bullet Magic. This was his chance.
"Gray, now!" His yell echoed though the space as Gray threw the book in the air. Zeref fired his Bullet Magic, and just like Natsu hoped for, it was the Piecing Bullet.
"Dragon Slayer's Secret Art, Crimson Lotus, Exploding Flame Blade!" He yelled out as he deflected the bullet meant for him, to the book Gray had thrown. The flames powerful enough to knock Zeref unconscious. Natsu saw the book being pierced, and disappearing. That is when Lucy realized what was going to happen. Natsu turned back into his usual self, before falling into Lucy's arms who was running towards them.
"Natsu, you fool! Why did you do that!" Lucy sobbed.
"It's alright Luce, the marks are gone now. You get to live." He tried to reassure her, caressing her cheek wiping away her tears. "Luce, don't cry. I did this all for you. Everything I did, from the moment we met, was for you. You deserve to live."
"Natsu, no. You can't leave me too. I don't know what to do without you." Lucy's words were barely coherent as she held him tight to him, hoping this would stop him from disappearing. Erza and the others caught up to Gray and paused when they saw Lucy kneeling on the ground, holding Natsu tight to her. That's when they saw his feet slowly crumbling to dust, taken away with the wind.
"Luce," Natsu unwrapped his scarf from his neck, and wrapped it around hers. "I want you to keep this, so you'll remember me." He noticed he was turning to dust pretty fast.
"Luce, look at me! I love you. I love you so much. Take care of Happy. And remember, no matter where you are. I will be there, watching over you" With these last words, he pressed a kiss to her forehead as his last remains were taken away with the wind.
"NATSU!" Lucy screamed painfully as she sat there shaking while clutching his scarf, tears streaming down her face. Happy went up to her and hugged her while tears went down his face. Gray wanted to comfort her somehow, but he was trying so hard to hold himself together, he was afraid his voice would break the moment he started speaking. Erza and Mirajane were clutching on to each other while Levy en Juvia buried their faces in Gajeel and Gray's chest. Wendy was down on her knees hugging Carla close to her. They had never felt such a pain of loss before. Lucy, who had lost people close to her before, felt like her heart was ripped out of her. So this is what heartbreak feels like.
Mavis suddenly appeared in front of them. Calling out to Zeref to end their curse. As if awoken out of a dream, he stood up and walked over to the blonde haired girl whom he has known for decades now.
"You hurt my guild. You made them cry." She scolded him. "You killed your own brother. Is this what you wished for to happen? Didn't you want to see him happy, and live a happy life surrounded with people he loves and love him?" She looked sternly at him, but her face quickly softened up. Looking him lovingly in his eyes. "Ankhseram can't curse us twice can it?" Zeref looked at her with surprise in his eyes and knew exactly what she was implying.
They stood there facing each other, holding on to each other's hands, chanting in ancient Potamelian. Levy looked up from her spot in Gajeel's chest as she saw the two chanting a familiar language, a magic circle appearing around them, followed with another above them. There was a brilliant white light which was almost blinding that radiated off of the two mages. Lucy and Happy who were kneeling so close to the two mages paused their breaths as a little magic circle started to form exactly where Natsu lay moments before. The circle expanded its area and was now underneath both Happy and Lucy, reaching beyond where they were sitting as something began to materialize before their eyes.
"Wha-. What is happening?!" Lucy asked as she felt some weight press on her folded knees. She had to blink and rub her eyes from the remaining tears a couple of times to believe what she was seeing. In front of her she saw the silhouette of the man who just bid her farewell, and told her to continue living. She looked over at as smiling First Master, who cheekily gave her a wink.
"Our time here is done. Continue living, Lucy Heartfilia, Natsu Dragneel and Children of Fairy Tail." With that said, both Mavis and Zeref disappeared from their sight. Leaving a perfectly healthy Natsu laying on Lucy's legs.
"Natsu?" Lucy urged gently, touching his hair to make sure it was real.
"Lucy?" Natsu's eyes flew open at her touch. "Why, what, how?!" He shot up from his place on her legs and started to inspect her arms, and then looked around for the book.
"It's gone Natsu, it's over. Mavis and Zeref sacrificed themselves to revive you. It's over." Lucy said while she flew into his arms, holding him against her. "Don't ever do that to me again." Natsu wrapped his arms around her while patting Happy on his head.
Before he knew it, everyone present gathered around and joined the hug. Crying tears of joy on Natsu's return.