T E N

Nashi blinks awake to bright light that should've blinded her but didn't.

"Huh?", Nashi mumbles out as her eyes try to adjust to the light. She grows confused and anxious as the light still, surrounds her.

Just about when I understand something, I get all confused again.

A short old man suddenly comes into view, and Nashi's eyes widened. He smells like Nova and Laxus. Who is this person?

"Hello," he smiles warmly.

Nashi can't help but smile back at how comfortable she felt around him. She had a gut feeling that he was important.

"Hi," Nashi greets.

"You're Nashi, yes?", he asks.

"That is my name," Nashi grins at him.

"I can see a lot of your father in you," the man gives a small laugh.

"Not to be rude, but who are you?", Nashi inquires sheepishly.

"I suppose that I'm your great-grandfather in untechnical terms, but I'm also your 3rd, 6th, and 8th master of the Fairy Tail guild," the man answers.

"You were the master before Erza?", Nashi asks with amazement.

"I should've expected that Erza would take my place. She's a great leader," Makarov muses. "I hope she's keeping my children under control."

Nashi doesn't bother to question his sentence, but instead asks, "Do you exactly know what's happened to me?"

"Your magic caused me to appear in this very vivid dream of yours. I'm sure that I'm living in the very same dream," Makarov explains. His eyes scan around them despite the fact that there's nothing to see but light.

"My magic?", Nashi asks with disbelief.

"We both have the power of light," Makarov explains.

"I do? That's really cool!", Nashi exclaims.

"Do you remember what happened last?", Makarov asks.

"I do, but it's very bad news," Nashi shakes her head with a frown.

"What seems to be the problem?", Makarov mirrors her expression with concern.

"This Zeref guy is trying to die, but if he does, my dad, brother, and I all do too," Nashi explains briefly.

"Zeref?", Makarov mumbles quietly, but Nashi could see hear the anger in his tone.

"He's a bit of a weirdo if you ask me," Nashi mutters.

"He's the leader of the people I tried killing in the cost of my life", Makarov speaks.

"Oh yeah, you're dead... Does that mean I'm dead?!", Nashi starts to panic. "I can't die! I have so much to do, to learn, to... uh... EAT! Yeah! I want to try cooking more food! And-"

"Don't worry," Makarov interrupts which grabs Nashi's attention. "This is a dream like I stated earlier," he reassures.

"So I'm still alive?", Nashi asks.

Makarov returns a nod. "Very much so."

"Then, why am I here? Why did my magic send you to me?", Nashi asks.

"That's for you to answer for yourself," Makarov shrugs. "You're going through a rough time, child."

"Doesn't mean that I get to be confused all over again," Nashi grumbles. "Besides, I'm sure they're all fine without me. I'm useless anyway with magic."

"When you join Fairy Tail, everyone becomes family. It doesn't matter who you are or what you've done. Do you know Gajeel Redfox and Juvia Lockser?", Makarov asks.

Nashi nods.

"They were both a part of the dark guild Phantom Lord who tried attacking the guild for your mother, but even past that, Gajeel and Juvia became the guild's best fighters and loyal to the guild," Makarov smiles at the memory of them.

"Woah, really?", Nashi's eyes widen with surprise.

Makarov nods and looks away from Nashi as if he's thinking about the past.

"Being a Fairy Tail member doesn't mean you're perfect. Everyone's far from perfect, but it means that you'll try your best every day with everything you got. Right now, you need to wake up and fight for the guild. Your comrades are out there fighting for you and Fairy Tail. Use this amazing new power you have for the good of others. Fairy Tail does need you. If they didn't, they would've never tried looking for you," Makarov says.

"I don't even know how to use my magic," Nashi frowns.

"It's your time to test it out then. Go as the celestial dragon slayer and fight for your family, your friends, and most importantly, Fairy Tail," Makarov starts to fade at the last word.

"Wait! Don't leave yet! I don't know how to wake up!", Nashi calls out. "And you're a pretty swell guy! Don't go great-grandpa!"

"Yes, you do. You've known this whole time, and if you don't, you're smart enough to figure it out. Believe in yourself and the guild. Never fail to put your trust in those two things. If your parents raised you well enough, I know you're a good person. Goodbye, Nashi," his short body disappears all the way this time and leaves Nashi confused and sad.

She shook her head. "Nashi, there's no time to be sad. You need to help your guild even if you die in the process!", she nodded her head as a certain idea came to her mind.

Nashi spread out her arms. "Time to eat like there's no tomorrow," Nashi says. She grabs light with her hand and grows amazed at the texture. "Pretty...", she mumbles fascinated. Her fingers plop it into her mouth, and she smiles.

"That's really good!", Nashi moans at the delightful taste. She continues to munch and munch until she feels dizzy with the flavor.

Natsu and Zeref continue with their brawling as Luke and Grisam leave the small building with an unconscious Nashi in search of Wendy.

Zeref's eyes widen in alarm as Luke and Nashi grow away from his sights. "You foolish-"

He's interrupted by an enormous flaming ball of fire in his path.

"Where do you think you're going?", Natsu says furiously. Zeref had already gotten away from him before. There's no way in hell that he's gonna do it again!

"Thanks, Dad", Luke calls out over his shoulder with a short grin before refocusing on the task at hand.

Zeref's eyes harden, "Natsu, I-", he interrupted by an instant punch to his cheek.

"I don't think I'm being clear enough with you," Natsu roughly grabs Zeref's shoulders and glares at him. "We're fighting right now, and I'm your opponent." Zeref's eyes widen at the literal flame he could see inside his pupils showing his evident anger.

"My brother, I don't have time for this!", his wrists swiftly flick to the side making Natsu fly off balance and up into the hard cold wall.

By the time Natsu is up and ready again, Zeref is gone.

"Damnit!", Natsu punches the stone wall of the building before he too runs out.

Meanwhile, Grisam sprinted surprisingly well with the weight of Nashi on his back while Luke stayed in the front to sniff out where Wendy could be.

"Do you have any idea where she could be?", Grisam asks as he takes a few moments of sniffing around.

"It's as if the direction of the wind is everywhere," Luke explains with slight frustration. "I smell her. I smell everyone that's on this island, in fact, but I can't figure out where."

Luke takes off in a direction, and Grisam quickly follows. "You found her?"

"No, but I can hear someone's footsteps, and they're traced with the same sound of Zeref's shoes," Luke answers.

"You better hurry up, then," Grisam speaks.

"You think I don't know that?", Luke retorts irritably.

As they're running, Luke ungracefully falls to the ground with a thump.

"Shit," Luke curses as he tries to stand back up.

"What's wrong?", Grisam asks as he adjusts Nashi on his back who unconsciously tugs in his shirt.

"Nothing," Luke answers and stands up. "I think my ankle will be fine now. Come on, let's keep going."

Luke is about to run when Grisam stops him. "We should just walk now. I think we lost Zeref." He's worried that his ankle may not end up too great if he's up and running again.

"No...", Luke's forehead crinkles with disappointment in himself, "We didn't."

Zeref walks into view with his normally expressionless face. Grisam takes note of how all the trees in his path wither away in the presence of the dark wizard.

"I'm not afraid to fight you," Luke lights up his fists.

"You cannot defeat me without your dear sister to help you," Zeref spoke.

Grisam gripped Nashi's legs tighter out of instinct.

"You," Zeref looks at Grisam straight in the eye. Grisam looks back with determination shown in his dark green eyes. "Hand her over."

"No way in hell," Grisam's eyes narrow at Zeref's pitch black ones. "Find some way to live in peace without bringing Nashi and everyone else in it."

"My curse can't allow me to be one with peace. I'm stuck with the permanent infliction of pain within my life," Zeref's eyes turn sorrowful.

"We don't care!", a familiar voice roars with fire hotter than the sun itself.

Grisam's eyes widen at the power being tossed at Zeref.

"I've never seen Dad like this before," Luke mumbles.

Zeref blocks the breath with his own dark power, and the two continue the previous fight.

"You've certainly grown stronger. Very strong," Zeref says to Natsu as he takes a swing.

"I've been training nonstop for all my life," Natsu responds when Zeref takes another one of his blows.

"Too bad that it's not strong enough," Zeref frowns.

"It will be!", Natsu yells and takes a deep breath to Zeref which he merely flicks away as if it were some feather floating to him.

"Only light can conquer the darkness," Zeref says as Natsu glares coldly at him.

"But isn't fire a form of light?", Grisam asks Luke. He shrugs in response.

As if answering his unheard question, Zeref says, "Fire can be found in the pits of hell. Only pure light can truly defeat me." Zeref sends a punch to Natsu's gut which makes him choke up blood as he hits the hard forest ground.

"Natsu!", a woman's voice screams.

Grisam and Luke all turn to see five figures running towards the fighting scene.

"Mom?", Luke mumbles.

Lucy's eyes trail from Natsu over to Luke. She runs up to him and hugs him tightly. "I'm so glad you're okay."

Luke blushes out of embarrassment of being hugged by his mother, but Grisam turns away from the scene with a small sad look on his face. Lucy was a nice mother.

"Not to be pessimistic, but we're far from okay," Natsu mutters from his spot on the hard ground

"Natsu!", Lucy releases Luke much to his satisfaction and runs to Natsu.

"I'm fine," Natsu gets up slightly wincing at the soreness of his limbs already and brushes the dirt off his pants.

But Natsu regrets saying those two words as Lucy starts to lecture him.

"Maybe Lucy Heartfillia could do it," Zeref considers quietly to himself, but Natsu catches the sentence with his special trained ears.

"No," Natsu growls at Zeref.

Zeref looks at Natsu. "Excuse me?"

"You cannot use Lucy for this," Natsu glares at Zeref.

"Her magic is the only way without your daughter, Natsu," Zeref says.

"What are you two discussing?", Erza steps into the conversation.

Natsu ignores the question and says, "No, it isn't. I will kill you."

"You're not strong enough yet," Zeref sighs. "You can't. There's only one magic that can defeat me."

"Natsu," said mage turns to his blonde partner.

"Huh?"

"I'll defeat him," she smiles at him.

"No, you won't," Natsu frowns at her.

"Yes, I will," Lucy nods feeling her smile shrinking at Natsu's frown.

"You can't," Natsu shakes his head stubbornly.

"But I will for the sake of the guild," Lucy says with her eyes glowing in courage.

Lucy turns to Zeref, but Natsu grabs her arm. "No, Lucy."

"You can't tell me what to do, Natsu!", Lucy's voice grows louder with irritation.

"I can if I'm making sure you won't die on me," Natsu growls.

"I won't! You can trust me!", Lucy yells.

"I trust you, but I don't trust him," Natsu shrugs once towards Zeref.

"Natsu," Lucy says in a warning tone, but Natsu does nothing. "Let me go."

"No, I can't," Natsu refuses.

"Yes you can, damnit!", Lucy snaps.

"Nope," Natsu slugs Lucy over his shoulder. "I'm taking you far away from here."

"You're a fucking idiot!", Lucy screams as he runs away.

"What just happened?", Luke asks confused.

"They're your parents. How should I know?", Grisam mutters.

"I definitely see where you get your weird from," Storm tells Luke.

"At least my mother is saner than Juvia," Luke retorts.

"What's wrong with my mom?", Storm feels a vein popping.

"Other than the fact that she stalks everyone at the guild, well, let's think...", Luke trails off into fake thought.

"At least my dad isn't a total idiot who burns downs buildings for fun like his son," Storm grumbles.

"I don't burn down buildings!", Luke defends.

"Two weeks ago, we only got half the reward because you decided that a town didn't mind if it burned down," Storm sighs.

"Well, I'm not the one who strips everywhere he goes like a stripper!", Luke points to his lost clothes.

"Damnit... Where did I lose it?", Storm looked around.

"Stop this fighting," Erza says sternly.

"Yes ma'am," Storm and Luke say in unison.

Wendy scurries over to Nashi with her healing magic on her wound while the two mages argued.

"So?", Grisam asks impatiently.

"She'll be fine. It'll heal with time, but I was able to close the wound with my magic," Wendy assures.

"Thank you," Grisam forms a small smile which makes Wendy brighten up.

"She's my own guild member too. It wasn't a problem at all," Wendy smiles at him and walks over to Carla.

"My brother isn't one to think before his actions," Zeref speaks grabbing everyone's attention.

"I almost forgot you were here," Luke turns towards the dark wizard.

"I must fight someone," Zeref states says.

"How about I be your opponent?", Erza challenges.

"I've heard about you, the great Titania," Zeref muses. "I'm sure you may be up to par with me."

"I'm sure also," she nods.

"Come at me," Zeref speaks.

"Requip: Black Wing Armor," Erza's clothes transform into black armor with wings.

"Good choice," Zeref nods.

"Requip: Lightning Express Sword," a staff with two blades upon the top, forms into Erza's hand.

"Interesting," Zeref says.

In a flash, Erza slashes her sword through Zeref. In pure horror, her staff is shown to be split in half.

"I need purer light. One of the stars not of the light from the most destructive storms," Zeref says.

"Requip: Morning Star Armor," Erza announces.

Zeref smiles.

"Let me go, Natsu!", Lucy screeches at him.

He decides to finally listen to her and stares at her in her honest brown eyes.

"Lucy," said mage peers back at his onyx eyes wondering why they appeared so sad.

"What's wrong?", Lucy asks.

"Don't get mad," Natsu mumbles.

"Huh?", Lucy asks with sudden fear rushing through her.

"I need you to kill me," Natsu says in a serious tone.

Lucy smiles. "Enough with the jokes, tell me. What's wrong?"

Natsu frowns which causes Lucy's smile to fade. "No. You're joking."

"I'm-"

"Joking," Lucy finishes for him.

"Damnit, Lucy! Just listen to me!", Natsu yells.

"I am, but I think you're being delusional if you expect me to kill you," Lucy says with a shrug.

"I need you to," Natsu says. "Even if you don't, I will eventually die along with Nashi and Luke too. If you do, Nashi and Luke won't."

"Nashi and Luke will...", Lucy stares at the ground.

"That's why I need you to...", Natsu trails off.

"I still can't. I feel so selfish, but I need you, Natsu," Lucy looks up at him with unshed tears.

"Lucy..."

"I could never do it. I love you too much," Lucy feels a tear run down her cheek.

"If you do, do this for our family, for me," Natsu wipes the tear from her cheek.

"What will our family be without the dad? We both felt heartbroken when we lost our dads. Do you want them to feel the same?", Lucy sits on the ground feeling as if her legs couldn't stand to move.

"I do if it saves their lives," Natsu sighs and sits beside Lucy.

"What you're asking me to do is unthinkable," Lucy pulls closer to Natsu.

"I will do it myself if you don't," Natsu says.

Lucy shakes her head, "No, you won't."

Natsu frowns at that statement.

"I'm not saying that you're horrible for not. I'm just saying that you wouldn't be asking me to do it if you could," Lucy explains.

"I don't want to leave you, Lucy," Natsu picks up her right hand and kisses it tenderly.

"Then don't. We'll figure out a way," Lucy stares at her hand.

"You're right," Natsu grins with cheers Lucy up. "We will figure out a way."

"That's the spirit!", Lucy smiles.

"I'm all fired up!"

Erza sent light towards Zeref's chest, but his dark magic blocked the light.

"You're not very skilled with this armor, I see," Zeref states.

Erza doesn't respond and sends more pockets of light towards Zeref.

"Even if you succeed in my will, Natsu, Luke, and Nashi will fall too," he warns.

That sentence pauses Erza in her actions.

There's no way she could indirectly kill her comrades like so. As the master of the guild, it was her duty to protect each and everyone who bore the emblem of Fairy Tail.

"Master?", Luke asks.

Grisam looks back at the sleeping Nashi who looks so peaceful despite this traumatizing event.

"Do it," Luke looks over to Zeref who nods with understanding.

"Are you sure you want to continue with this?", Zeref asks.

"Anything to save Nashi," Luke nods with certainty.

"What is your idiot-self doing?", Storm demands.

Luke shakes his head and walks over to Zeref.

"I need your sister here too," Zeref looks at Grisam.

"What are you doing?", Grisam asks as he hesitantly carries Nashi over to the two.

"Something that will make Nashi mad," Luke answers.

"If you make Nashi cry-"

"I can't promise anything," Luke says.

Grisam frowns remembering when Nashi told him about what he did during the GMG.

"Luke," Erza says in a warning tone.

Zeref begins to release magic energy.

"Enchantment magic?", Wendy recognizes.

"What are his plans?", Erza asks.

"Wait...", a voice croaks out, but Zeref continues.

"Nashi?", Luke's eyes widen.

She gets up shakily off the ground and looks around. That extra magic made her dizzy, but she keeps her eyes focused and narrowed on Zeref. She places her hand out in front of her and shoots a yellow laser of light through Zeref's leg making him fall to the ground. "Don't even think about it."

"This is what I needed. The true pure light of the stars," Zeref's face forms a small smile which contorts as he grunts in the pain of his leg.

Nashi turns to Luke with a glare. "I know you're an idiot, but honestly, I'm wondering if you have brain cells at all."

Luke grumbles under his breath.

"I'm serious, Luke," Nashi gives the coldest look that Luke has ever seen. "Never do that again."

"A-Aye," Luke mumbles out.

Natsu drags Lucy behind him as he runs around the island. The celestial mage doesn't question his actions and decides to follow in slight curiosity. Despite his tendencies to be a very impulsive person, Lucy trusted that he wouldn't do anything too rational.

Being back on Tenrou Island brought back memories of the S-class trials. Lucy smiled at how Natsu still chose Happy to be his partner because the flying blue cat isn't strong in any offensive magic - except maybe words to Lucy. Lucy gave a sadder smile at how Kana was so upset on not winning the trials. Kana wondered why Makarov gave her so many chances because she always lost. Lucy believed it was ridiculous how the card mage assumed that Gildarts would be disappointed in her being his daughter, but she still decided to help her out. There was no way she'd let her friend quit the guild because of such a reason.

Natsu also bathed in the pool of memories. He remembered fighting against Gildarts during the S-class trials. The fight had him determined and set on winning, but in the end, his power was too much. The dragon slayer felt lame for crying in front of his role model at the time, but now, he takes it as a learning experience that fear doesn't make a person weak. Fear allows us all to understand our weaknesses and become a much kinder person.

That's why, right now, Natsu isn't afraid to admit that he's afraid. He's scared of his family (including all of Fairy Tail) being hurt or even worse. The pink haired mage takes a look at his partner who has a determined face set on finding a way to save her family too. He would do anything to keep her happiness with her, so even though he's scared, he doesn't care. Sometimes in order to be brave, we must all endure our fears and pull through.

"I'm terrified," Lucy admits very quietly that Natsu almost didn't catch the sound from her lips.

"Me too," Natsu says.

Lucy's face somehow seems to grow more with encouragement. Many times, Natsu has kept these opinions to himself in order to appear stronger, but with him saying those two words, it made him look stronger than before. Bravery doesn't mean you're not fearful. No, bravery means that you don't let fear hold you back. Lucy could easily describe her partner as brave.

Natsu tugs on her right hand and rubs the back of it with the Fairy Tail emblem. Lucy realizes that Natsu is wordlessly telling her that we are members of Fairy Tail. Fairy Tail has a reputation to keep up, and if we give up, that also mean giving up on everything we live by.

Because the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.