I'm rocking these early updates because I'm so excited over this story! However, sadly this story is coming to a close, perhaps with 1- maybe 2 more chapters. However, I would like to remind everyone that I take requests for oneshots if you'd care to PM me. (If you don't have an account a review is fine) The next chapter should be longer then this (this is the normal length) although I don't know if it'll be as long as the previous one. I should be updating soon, however the latest it would come out is Nov 17th.
Pneumonia
Lucy was on autopilot. Her directions: retrieve the book of E.N.D.
That's why in her mad dash she barely processed the inhumane cry that sounded through the air. The moment she finally caught up with time was the one where she felt the brush of claws against her neck.
The movement ruffled her hair and she gasped while stumbling forwards in shock, just as a chill enveloped her and the presence behind her was whisked away with the bitter cold. From her position on the ground, she saw Gray now standing in front of her, protecting her, when her eyes fell on the being he was opposing.
There stood E.N.D., his black wings fanning out behind him in a regal sort of way. This along with the obsidian horns protruding from his head represented the terrible power he now held. She gulped as the realization of the past few seconds struck her.
E.N.D. had attacked her. He would have killed her without a second thought if it weren't for Gray. She subconsciously reached towards the back of her neck, placing her fingers across the ghost of the claws that had nearly beheaded her. She pulled away sharply as she sensed a dull sting and noticed the slight staining of crimson.
Another second and Mard Geer wouldn't have been the only headless corpse due to E.N.D.
Lucy trembled from the fear and shock that took hold of her. Despite that, she steeled her mind and stood back up, prepared to make sure she saw her plan through until the end- because she would fix this. She watched E.N.D. and Gray for a moment, admiring the way their forms faced each other fearlessly and firm, both of them prepared to fight through hell and back in order to win, no matter the odds. However, Lucy knew that the odds were not in her favour, as she felt that if the two of them keep fighting like they were – that only one of them would make it out alive.
The thought spurred her on even more, and she once more raced towards the abandoned claw Igneel lost defending himself from E.N.D. Said dragons were once more rejuvenated and attacking each other relentlessly. They alternated between the earth and air, neither of them – respectively –capable of maintaining either for long periods of time. Even in their weakened states, they fought with the world spectating in awe at their phenomenon.
Phenomenon, Lucy thought, describes this situation pretty damn well.
She glanced once more towards the Etherious and Devil Slayer alike, surveying their battle with eyes untrained to follow such power. She watched as suddenly said slayer in question was sent flying sideways, propelled from an attack Lucy didn't even process. A blink later E.N.D. appeared next to the soaring Gray, and shoved his head into the ground.
Lucy gasped in shock. Things were not going well. She could only hope Gray was okay while she forced herself to look away. She was now directly in front of the detached limb of the dragon, the Book of E.N.D. clutched within its depths. She pried the talons open with all the strength she could muster, and after a minute of struggle her fingers brushed the spine of the dreaded book.
The book sent out a wave of displeasure – if that was even possible – once it was settled in Lucy's grasp. Her senses tingled with the book in hand, and as if ignoring all her other thoughts, the urge to look behind her immediately erupted.
Lucy spun herself around with no more than that, trusting her gut-feeling – or maybe it was the Book of E.N.D. – although what she saw couldn't be described as anything but terrifying.
She couldn't tear her eyes away from Gray, as he was suspended by the neck in the iron-grip of the friend-turned-demon. Blood soaked from underneath E.N.D.'s hand, dripping onto the earth below. The Ice-Devil Slayer tore guilelessly in an attempt to free himself to no avail. In response, E.N.D. simply squeezed.
Lucy couldn't breathe. She couldn't think. She couldn't even stand as she collapsed to her knees, watching as Gray struggled fruitlessly against what could likely be his undoing. Slowly, almost impulsively, Lucy's gaze drifted towards the book she now held.
Was there a way… could this book do something? Lucy thought frantically, What do I do?
Without breathing, without thinking, without formulating any sort of comprehensible plan or any outcome other than the one that was possible – she screamed.
The blood-curling sound tore through her own eardrums, as the name ripped apart her voice in a vain attempt to stop the inevitable.
"NATSU!"
Time froze. Lucy kneeled there, throat torn and lips bloodied, praying to any God out there that Gray would live. She didn't care what happened to her but she didn't want to see a friend die – especially not by the hand of a friend who just didn't know it.
She almost cried in relief when the Etherious released his grip on Gray, the ice-wielder falling like a ton of bricks to the ground, gasping and coughing up blood.
Her relief was short-lived however as E.N.D. disappeared and reappeared in front of her during the time of a split-second. A scorching mass of air erupted his form, sending a heat wave directly towards her. She cringed but didn't back away as she stared up at his form from her vulnerable kneeling one.
He smiled to her then, making Lucy realise how much she loved that smile on Natsu, but hated it on E.N.D. He tore up the heat-warming gesture into something terrible and scary – effectively inflicting its job on Lucy. It took all her willpower not to recoil from the motion and forced herself to stare into the demon's eyes.
She didn't even have time to flinch as suddenly his bloodied hand gently caressed her cheek, trailing Gray's blood over her face. Just when she thought he wasn't going to hurt her, the talons dug into her cheek, prying the skin apart and tearing the flesh. She cried out hoarsely with the remainder of her shredded voice as she instinctively dropped the Book of E.N.D.
A soft voice encompassed her senses, dulling the pain whilst somehow soothing her worst fears. She didn't know if she simply imagined it, but all the same she held the words like her life depended on it – which it might as well had.
"I'm sorry, Lucy."
Potential Last Chapter POV: Natsu/E.N.D. or Gray
Choose wisely ;) One of them extends this fic by a chapter!
