Natsu attacked Artemis first, throwing a blow to her stomach. Artemis lept into the air, her wings shimmering, and Natsu fell forward, his punch getting him nowhere. She raised her hand to the heavens spoke casually.
"Gate of the Heavens: Moonlight Sphere." From her hand came a ball of bright moonlight. She held her hand out towards Natsu. A silver magic circle appeared around the ball, and she flicked her wrist out. The ball came whizzing towards Natsu. He braced himself, then sent a flaming punch toward it. Instead of hitting it as he planned, his fist passed through it. In a burst of light, he was thrown backwards, hitting the ground hard.
Lucy writhed, gritting her teeth and fighting the shadows. Artemis innocently tilted her head in Lucy's direction.
"Ah. So that's how you feel about this. Well then,"She smiled and turned back towards the crater where Natsu had hit the ground, "Let's continue the show. After all, your screams sound like the music of the angels to me." As Natsu stood up, she lifted her hand. His body was raised into the air. She flicked her wrist down, and Natsu hit the cracked ground again. Lucy whimpered.
"Natsu!" she whispered to herself, "Natsu hang in there!" Natsu raised his head weakly from the ground and pushed his arms to get up. Leaning to the side, he stood, facing Artemis. She raised an eyebrow and lowered herself to the ground.
"It's a surprise you're still living after that attack. But no matter. Your friend here here hasn't had enough." She held out her hand as though welcoming him towards her, then spoke softly,
"Stars of the Heavens. Judge him and decide his fate." From her fingertips came a magic circle. From it shot small, golden orbs. They came quickly. Before Natsu could dodge, one clipped him hard in the arm. Blood splattered to the ground. Another one clipped his cheek and his legs, tearing through the fabric to hit the skin beneath. Lucy screamed in horror as her friend was torn apart, bit by bit. Tears ran down her cheeks as she sobbed,
"Natsu! I believe in you! Fight back!" She yelled. Natsu toppled to the ground again. Lucy was sobbing as she watched the fight. When she looked up, Shade was looking smugly at the fight while Iris was smiling slightly. Lucy fought, kicking at her nearly invisible bonds. Natsu, hearing her screams, fought his way up slowly. Without warning, he sprang forward.
"STOP HURTING LUCY!" He roared. Artemis's face turned from calm to angry as Lucy felt a feeling she hadn't ever felt before. Natsu's fist passed eight by Artemis as she flapped her wings, dodging the attack. Fire erupted from his feet propelling him back around. Artemis turned as well.
"Why don't you just DIE ALREADY?" She snarled. Natsu sucked in a breath, inflating his stomach, then blew out.
"ROAR OF THE FIRE DRAGON!" Flames spewed from him mouth hitting Artemis squarely in the face. Blown backwards, she regained her balance by flapping her wings. She put her hands together and held them out. A burst of light erupted and flew towards Natsu. Lucy screamed as the light enveloped him. Artemis laughed as the light died turned to Lucy, whose face was filled with frozen shock.
"Oh don't look like that, he didn't stand a chance in the first pla-" she was then knocked to the ground. Natsu stood over her, looking furious. Artemis's eyes were filled with shock. She then looked away.
"Go on. Kill me. This was a fight to the death after all. But even so, I don't count on you defeating Shade." She then squeezed her eyes, waiting for the incoming blow. Natsu stared down at her, then raised his hand. It flamed up and he slapped her so hard, the sound ringed across the broken valley.
"That was for hurting my friends and this," he slapped her again with his flaming hand, "is for making Lucy cry. But I'm not going to kill you. I'm not like you." He then walked up to Shade.
"Let Lucy go." Shade nodded and Lucy was dropped to the ground, hard. Before she had time to get to Natsu, he was swept up in similar shackles. Lucy reached out her hand towards him, but Iris stepped to block her way.
"My turn."