Well we've finally reached the end of this story! I hope I have managed to entertain you with this story and if I have then I'm pleased that I continued this story.
I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has reviewed, favoured and followed this little story of mine, it's you who have made this possible. It was your support that gave me the strength to continue this story when I was ready to throw in the towel so with that in mind I've written a small bonus that I will post tomorrow as my way of saying thank you to you all.
Now on with the last chapter and I hope you like it!
Previously...
"Third we have to stop them before they get hurt..." Mavis jumped off her crystal and grabbed my hand in an attempt to lead me towards the battlefield and the strangers who were just before us. "...I don't know who they were but we better stop them before they do something stupid like you said!"
I stopped dead in my tracks and grinned... It was only then did I realize what First had said and I couldn't help but drop to my knees and laugh... "I'm not scared for those two!... I-I'm afraid that Tartaros will do something stupid!" I sighed as Mavis stood there with a look of confusion.
"D-Demon!..." My eyes shot open and I pointed to a dark figure that had now entered the battlefield. "...Don't look First, this isn't going to be pretty!"
Chapter 10 - Sacrifices and Hell's Favorite Demon - Part 2
Lucy's POV
As Natsu and I arrived the first thing we noticed was the sheer size of the destroyed area. It was as if the earth had opened up and swallowed not only our guild but a large portion of Magnolia Town. The destruction was incomprehensible!
"Luce!" Natsu stopped in his tracks the moment he saw the large crater where Fairy Tail used to stand. His disappointed expression spoke volumes and my heart ached at the thought of our once proud home, now reduced to rubble.
"...Don't worry Natsu!" I reached out and gently took his hand and swung him around till we were only inches apart. "There is nothing here that can't be repaired!" I winked in a child-like manner.
"You're right!" Natsu tilted his head and grinned. "Let's go find our friends before our parents get wind of thi..."
"Ya!... They'll ruin all our fun!" I grinned back as my eyes flashed from their normal chocolate colour to a bright red and then back again. "After holding back during our earlier trip through the Nine Circles, I'm itchin' to let loose a little!"
Natsu's stopped and his eyes snapped open, "I can sense Igneel's spirit here!"
Over in the distance a large red form could be seen. It was covered in blood and appeared to be remains of the once great Fire Dragon, Igneel. Beyond Igneel's battered remains were the dismembered remains of several other dragons and it quickly became evident that these were our friends Dragons, who had at some point had come to their children's aid.
Natsu inhaled long and deep and slowly shook his head upon realizing that this was Acnologia and Zerefs doing. "I'll make them pay for hurting my father like that!"
"No!... We will!... But for now we have to get our friends to safety, unless you want to take another stroll through Limbo!" Natsu threw his hands out and waved a resounding, 'no'.
As we scanned the battlefield all that remained was a large area with unconscious or badly beaten members of Fairy Tail. They were scattered around the battlefield, with no sigh of the perpetrators anywhere... And then I realized why! They were all gathered around Zeref over in the remains of their once mighty flying cube, beast thingy!
"Nat..." I sighed as I realized Natsu had already left and was now standing near a battered and badly bruised Elfman. I smiled when I noticed Natsu release a burst of pure white light... The wave of energy emanated out from him and quickly crept along the ground as it reached out and touched every mage on the battlefield and a moment later, one-by-one they all rose and stood tall. A roar could be heard in the distance as five, now healthy Dragons, took to the sky!
"Luce!" Natsu said in a language that only I could understand. "Get them somewhere safe!" Natsu said as he pointed to the top of a hill, off in the distance. "I'm going after those assholes!"
"Fine!... But save some for me!" I laughed as Natsu disappeared.
I rubbed my hands together and grinned as a dark mist surrounded me and a moment later it quickly flowed around the field and engulfed every mage who had a guild insignia. When the mist cleared the battlefield was empty, even the Dragons that were a moment ago hovering above, were now deposited at the hill top. The only ones left anywhere near the battlefield were Fairy Tail's First Master, who was already a spirit and it's Third Master who was cursed by my father - both were safe and could not be harmed.
...And with everyone confused but very safe, I disappeared, soon to rejoin Natsu!
Natsu's POV
I walked past what could only be described as the mangled remains of some hybrid building, creature thingy... What exactly it was I didn't care to guess but what I did know was that it was dead and no amount of magic would bring whatever this used to be back! As I climbed over the crumbled remains of a shattered column I could make out a clearing up ahead. Kneeling before Zeref was eight figures and towering over them was the Chaos Dragon himself - Acnologia!
"Good!... All in one place!" I mumbled to myself as I took a deep breath and jumped into the clearing which startled all those that were there.
"I was wondering when you would show up Natsu!" The black-haired mage said as he lightly tapped a dark book which he held close to his chest.
"Zeref!" I sputtered as I slowly made my way to within a few feet of everyone, who by now were preparing to attack... At least they were until Zeref waved them off.
"Don't touch him!..." Zeref growled and released a small amount of magic which quickly subdued all those around him, including the mighty Dragon, who was now lying on the ground in a submissive fashion. "...I need him alive!"
"Huh!" I smiled when I realized that my partner was only a few moments from arriving. 'The fun will start soon!' I laughed out loud.
"You won't be laughing much longer Natsu Dragneel!" Mard Geer grinned as he raised a hand and pointed at the book that Zeref clutched. Zeref smirked and nodded in agreement with his companion.
Zeref moved forward and stopped within a few inches of my face and shook his head. "When I open this book everything will change!... This world that you've protected for so long will be ruled by us demons! We will destroy human and mage alike and recreate this world in our imag..." But Zeref never got to finish his thought as a small brown-eyed blonde dressed in a rather revealing crop-top and skirt appeared from the dust of the destroyed cube.
"Demon you say!" She said, her body shook with fear as she walked up and stood partially hidden behind me. "D-Demons!... Where!" I quickly bought my hand to my face and sighed as I rubbed my face out of sheer horror.
"This is gonna be a blood bath!" I mumbled while I shook my head and dropped my hands to my sides in defeat. I felt a quivering hand tug on my arm as Lucy tried to pull me back...
"I see someone is afraid!" A female demon said as she folded her arms over her chest and laughed. "This will be fun!"
"Kyoka!... There's no need to scare our guest!... E.N.D. Will..." Zeref smirked as he pulled the book forward and was about to open it when a loud roar pierced the air as a large red Dragon landed a few feet behind us, kicking up a cloud of dust. As the dust settled, I turned around and smiled, 'right on time!' I thought.
"Hey Pops!" I grinned.
"No time for pleasantries my boy... Get that book before Zeref before he opens it and unleashes E.N.D." Igneel roared but he was too late as I quickly snatched the book from a mesmerized and somewhat stunned Zeref.
"O-Open it Natsu and all your questions about who you are and where you came from will be answered!... Open it!" Zeref said as he smiled and motioned for me to proceed.
"Questions!?" I looked at the book and then back to Igneel and finally my gaze turned back to a smiling Zeref.
"Burn it now boy!" Igneel demanded.
"It's fine Pops... It's only a book and a book can't harm anyone, right!" I said as I opened the book and waited and waited and waited. "Hmmm!... Nothing!" I giggled and dropped the book to the ground to the utter dismay of Zeref, who's bewildered face was evident as the opened book hit the ground with a thump. "Too many words!" I exclaimed.
"But!... But you should have turned by now!" Zeref shouted as he reached down and picked the dusty book up. He thumbed through the pages as his eyes never left me... He was obviously waiting for something and I grinned.
"Sorry Zeref!" I said as I pointed at the book. "I'm not that Natsu!... And I most certainly am not any relation to you!"
"DESTROY THEM!" Zeref roared as he took a few steps back. "Destroy them all!... Show them what Hell on Earthland will look like when my demons destroy everyone!" I cringed at his last few words and knew it was finally time!
I noticed every mage slowly change into their true demon form and their leader Mard Geer stepped forward. His scowl was fierce as he large demonic form towered above me. His grin revealed razor-sharp jagged teeth and as his wings flapped in the breeze, he prepared to attack.
"Prepare to die at the hands of the King of the Underworld, Zeref's deadliest demon!" Mard leaned forward and grinned and then I felt it, I knew it was coming and all I could do was sigh and step aside as Lucy stepped forward and pointed.
"A demon!... You!... You got to be shittin' me!" Lucy bent over and burst into laughter... She grasped at her stomach to alleviate the strain her laughter was causing and then as quickly as her laughter had started it abruptly stopped. She slowly straightened up and I could feel her power pushing through. She disappeared and reappeared only a few inches from Mard Geer's ear and she whispered to him, an evil smirk crossed her lips as she returned to my side, leaving a shaking Geer in her wake.
Her happy cheerleader persona was gone, before me stood my partner and wife, Hell's Favorite Demon... Lucyifer!
"I'll show you what a real Demon looks lik..." She stopped when I felt a familiar force approach and I knew that this was gonna go bad real fast.
We both turned around and noticed six figures walk out of a black mist and stroll up towards us. Yup it was who I expected... Leading the way was my Father all decked out in his white robes, accentuated by that stupid long white beard. At his side was his go-to guy, the angel Micheal, who was also clad in white carrying a staff with two wings at it's top. To Father's other side was Lucy's Father, a tall dark haired man dressed in a black suit and clinging to his side was her Mother Miu, dressed in a school girls uniform and at her side a step back, was two tall demons, Baul and Beelzebub... 'Yup! Shit just got real!' I thought.
"Who in the hell do you people think you are, interrupting our fight!" Roared Acnologia.
"Quiet you fool!" Igneel roared as he lowered his head as a sign of respect. "My boy, I take it that you know these people!"
I turned and smiled at my foster father and nodded, "Yup!... Our family!" I grinned.
"Glad you found them my boy!" He smiled back at his young charge.
"Me too Pops!"
"AH!... Damn it!" Lucy growled as her Father took up position at her side. "I-I wanted to have some fun!" She said as she looked up to her Father and sighed.
"He!..." Satan pointed at Geer and grinned. "...He insulted you and our family so that makes this my business as well!" Lucifer snapped his fingers and those across from us were frozen in time.
"Fine!" Lucy huffed.
"Hey your not leaving me out of this!" I growled and took a step forward and stood between Lucy and her Father. "I'm now your son too, so I have every right to defend our name!"
Miu smiled and thought back to when her daughter returned and cried as she had finally realized who Natsu was... She cried for days when she thought that there was no way someone like Natsu could ever love her, a Demon but Natsu showed up later and proposed to her... They were joined as husband and wife in a ceremony in Heaven! It was the first time since the uprising that Heaven had allowed Demons into it's hollowed circle. Their union eased tensions between God and Satan, which also eased the tensions between those residing in Heaven and Hell... After all they had a common bond now - their children!
"He's gotta point there!" The old silver-haired man said as he waved his hand and a set of bleachers appeared behind them. "We'll have a seat and watch the show!" He laughed as he again waved his hand and everyone except for Acnologia, Zeref, Tartaros, Lucy, Lucifer and I were now seated as a young boy ran around delivering popcorn and hot dogs to the spectators.
"Don't get to comfortable old man... This will be over in a flash!" Lucifer grinned and looked at Lucy and I and we all nodded. "Let's destroy them!"
A dark mist swarmed around Lucy and Lucifer and all I could do was look on with awe as they both grew a few feet taller. They looked like carbon copies of each other... From the pointy ears to the long black wings, they looked like true Demons and upon their heads were two large horns, identical in every way, that showed that they were indeed father and child.
"Well!... What are you waiting for!" Lucy sighed as she crossed her arms and stared at me.
"Huh! Ah sorry!... I was busy admiring you two!" I grinned.
"Enough of the admiration... I want to see your Demon form! Besides you've seen my Angel form, so you owe me!" Lucy huffed as she tapped her foot, her impatience was getting the better of her.
"I smiled and nodded! "Fine!" A white mist surrounded me but quickly turned dark. Sparks and flames danced around me and a few seconds later when the mist had dissipated, there I stood, a pointy-eared Demon.
"Hey!" Lucy said as she pointed towards me and started to giggle. "You!... You! Look just like us except... Except!..." She was interrupted by a laughing Lucifer.
"Pink hair!" Lucy and Lucifer said in unison. I sighed as I looked around and saw the bleachers were full of friends and family doubled over with laughter. Some pointed at me but most just cracked up!
"Fine!... If you're gonna act like that then..." I growled and disappeared. Yet the laughter continued even when I returned they were still laughing. "What?... Is it that funny to see a pink-haired Demon!"
"Yup!" Lucy laughed but tried to compose herself. A few minutes later the laughter slowly died down.
"Sorry my boy but a pink-haired demon hardly strikes fear into the hearts of those around you!" Lucifer said as he shook his head and grinned.
"Oi!... We'll see who has the last laugh in a moment!" I roared as I walked away and took a seat on the bleachers and sulked.
"I'm sorry Natsu!... Please forgive me!" Lucy sighed as she walked over and took a seat next to me. "Forgive me!... Okay!"
I sighed but quickly pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her cheek. "I love you Luce, I'll always forgive you!" I whispered into her ear.
"I love you two!" She whispered back with a smile as she released her Demon form and I in turn followed suit. "Hmm... I like this Natsu much better!" She giggled.
"Hey Father-in law!... They're all yours!" I grinned as he smiled and turned back towards the mages frozen before him.
"Wise choice son!... I'll make quick work of these fools and we'll be on our way!" He laughed and snapped his fingers, releasing his hold over them... His jaw hit the floor when he realized that his pray was now 'literally' falling to pieces before his very eyes. "W-What the hell!"
A low chuckle escaped my throat as I tried my best to hide my guilt but immediately I was busted... Before I could even throw my hands up and attempt to deny my guilty involvement in the total destruction of Zeref, Tartaros and Acknologia, Lucifer was a mere breath away from my grinning face. He opened his mouth to speak but just shook his head and smiled...
"Well!... I guess you really are one of us!" Lucifer laughed as Miu jumped into his arms and passionately kissed him. "...And that's the resolve Miu and I refereed to when you both walked through Hell for your friend! The willingness to sacrifice what you are for the ones you love... I'm proud of you both, you Natsu for doing what was necessary to defend those you love and cherish and you Lucy for understanding that stepping back isn't an admission of weakness but a declaration of strength!"
"Well done my boy!" The fire Dragon and the silver-haired man said in unison. They looked at one another and nodded showing respect to each other as each had played a pivotal role in raising the young Dragon Slayer... One a birth father and the other a surrogate father but each deserving of his admiration and respect.
"Thank you!" I said as I smiled at my parents. It was nice to know that I was loved and respected and it didn't hurt that I had my other-half tucked tightly under my arm... The love of my life, the one for whom I had many years ago touched! I remember that faithful day when she or should I say he was born and I thought that it might be interesting to see what it would be like to have someone that I could share myself with on a level that I could never share with any other creature in existence... So that faithful day when Lucifer handed his son to it's mother, I reached through space and time and kissed his head and Lucy was born!... Everything since then has lead us to this point in time...
"Hey old man!" I politely laughed. "I mean Father, would you please do the honours!" I said as I pointed to all the damage around us.
"Mere child's-play!" He laughed and waved his hand across the battlefield and everything was as it was before Fairy Tail was attacked.
"Thanks!" I smiled as I turned to Igneel and looked up and grinned. "Igneel can you and your friends protect Fairy Tail and the people of this wonderful town? I'm afraid Lucy and I won't be able to return to protect them anymore!" I looked down at Lucy who sighed back at me.
"Of course my boy!... I'm sure the others will be more than happy to help me fill your last request!" Igneel grinned the best he could for a Dragon before taking flight and disappearing over the horizon.
"It's time we all left this place, so those anxious mages up there..." God said as he pointed to the mages on the hill as they slowly made their way down towards their home, towards Fairy Tail! "...can get back to their somewhat peaceful lives!"
"Hey it's Fairy Tail, I'm sure it won't be peaceful for long!" Lucy laughed.
"I believe you're right on that one my daughter, I mean daughter-in law!" He chuckled as he saw the glare Lucifer was sending his way.
"That's enough from you two!" Miu said as she led everyone away. As they all disappeared only Lucifer, the Old Man and Miu remained, they stopped, turned around and smiled... And with that, they disappeared, leaving only Lucy and I standing in front of an empty guild hall.
"So where should we go Luce?" I pulled her in for a long hug. I looked down and smiled as she looked up and whispered...
"Somewhere warm!" She grinned as she took my hand and led me away from Fairy Tail.
"I know just the place!"
"Lead on..." Lucy said as her gazed dropped down to her exposed midriff and smiled. "Perhaps we should have told them!"
I smiled as I placed my hand on her stomach and grinned. "Na!... They'll find out soon enough I'm sure!"
"Hmmm!... Layla would be a nice name!" Lucy said as we disappeared into the evening sunset. Our last official duty as mages of Fairy Tail was now, complete!...
I think that's the longest chapter in this story... I hope you enjoyed it!
Please leave a review if you liked it.
Oh!... On a happy note, tomorrow evening I have a bonus chapter for all of you. My way of saying thank you for your support. So look forward to it...
Next chapter... Chapter 11 - Last Man Standing!
Till Next Time...