Chapter 11: Fear

Unfortunately for Lucy it seemed that the happiness she had felt didn't want to last. Natsu was halfway through his battle with Sting when she stiffened a darkness flowing through her head and making her want to howl in pain. Even though this was the first time Lucy had ever felt such a suffering darkness she knew exactly what it meant, but the pain was crippling her causing the concerned voices of her teammates to filter through her eyes. Natsu getting distracted from his battle as he heard their guild mates concern for her, and he did something very Natsu like leaving the arena in the middle of his fight because he was worried for his best friend forfeiting his match because he thought she was more important.

Lucy's eyes were going wild as she looked everywhere she could think of trying to find her brother knowing they didn't have much time. Crocus had to be evacuated immediately, but every time Lucy tried to speak she just ended up spitting up blood instead. The dark blood flowing through her reacting badly with her own blood because she was made of light, it was only a miracle that she didn't end up changing in front of everyone.

"Luce hey what's wrong? Wendy! Wendy!" Natsu called lifting her head up so that he could look at her. The fear in his voice showing just how worried he was for her, and his fear carried in his voice as he screamed for their guild mate.

"Luca, need Luca," she gasped out. Wishing that she knew where Dimitri or their father was, but at least Luca's guild would be here to help that is if they didn't decide to go into hiding once again. No matter what though Lucy would be staying here until she had either drove Acnologia off, or until there was no chance left for her to save everyone.

Hearing flapping wings Lucy stiffened for a moment before gold showed in her vision. It seemed that despite being by his mate's side and making sure she was alright Luca had also been keeping an ear on the arena, there was no other way that he could have gotten here so fast. His eyes didn't seem cruel or angry as he looked at her, but even if they were what she had to say was more important than pain from watching his mate fight.

"What's wrong Lu?!"

"Father ... get father ... Dimitri, evacuate ... he's coming," even those few words sent pain spiraling through her.

Lucy didn't even care at this moment that she was going to reveal to everyone who she really was. Protecting everyone in the capital was much more important than hiding that she was Lucretia's daughter the half-dragon Lumina. Although it seemed no one had quite caught on to what she was saying thinking they were just painful ramblings as they turned to Luca hoping he would clarify. The absolute horror on Luca's face however probably wasn't reassuring them that she was just stating half delirious ramblings.

Her older brother didn't even hesitate yanking out a lacrima and screaming for their father to get to Crocus as quickly as possible, giving him no more information knowing details would put the civilians into a panic. Another set of wing beats sounded as well and Lucy found her other brother standing over her pain in his eyes, but there was also determination as well as he turned to Laxus. "Get her out of here now, any none dragon slayers need to be evacuated!"

"Not ... happening ... can't ... stop ... him ... without ... me!"

"You aren't staying even if I have to knock you out!"

"You ... can't stop me!" she glared furiously at him fighting her way out of Laxus's arms even though he was reluctant to let her go. The pain was starting to subside as she got more used to the dark blood and her dragon half started to react to it fighting against it, even if the foreign blood inside of her was working as a warning.

"I'm not going to allow that monster to almost kill you again!"

"It's different this time!"

"How?!" he spat with venom.

"Because this time I know the truth. You can't stop me from doing this Dimitri, either you fight beside me, or you stay the hell out of my way. The rest of you start evacuating Crocus, Acnologia is coming," she said stomping off heading to a place where she could mediate. Acnologia was still at least an hour's fly away even with his bulky wings, and if she had any hope of fighting against him she needed to start embracing the side of herself that she had locked away long ago.

"How do you know he's coming Lucy-san?" Master Makarov said stopping her just before she left.

Lucy smiled sadly at him as she replied, "our blood mixed during our fight with him. I haven't been near him since then, so I didn't think of consequences, this sort of bond is only meant for mates which is why it reacted so violently."

Not even giving Master a chance to respond to the info she had just given him Lucy ran faster than she ever had before. Knowing that she didn't have a second to spare if she wanted to be any help against Acnologia. She was only lucky that unlike dragon slayers half-dragons instinctively knew how to use their gifts once they stopped fighting against it, so all she would have to do was finally allow herself to become whole.

Even though she needed a clear mind to meditate and bond her two halves together Lucy couldn't help, but think of everything that could end up going wrong. Thinking that one wrong move could end up with her losing a dear friend or loved one. That if she wasn't careful that this time around she really would die. Next year no matter what Lucy was going to stay as far away from the Grand Magic Games as she could, apparently they were cursed if she entered them always ending badly and with dragons.

For a brief moment Lucy was glad that she and Laxus hadn't mated because this way if she did end up dying in the battle it wouldn't destroy him. Yes she was his mate, but they hadn't even truly started the mating ritual, so he wouldn't become an empty shell of himself if she died. She didn't dare allow herself to think that she might lose him, if it even came close to that she knew she would end up jumping in front of any attack for him. Laxus meant more to her then anything in her life ever had.

Yet at the same time she was a little sad that she hadn't been able to mate with Laxus before all of this. Going into what could be her last battle knowing that Laxus loved her more than he ever would anyone else would be a confidence boost, and it would allow her to be at peace if something did end up happening to her. She regretted not mating with him, not realizing he was her mate sooner, or telling him her true feelings even if she had only recently discovered them. Vowing if she did make it through this battle with Acnologia that she would make sure to tell Laxus just how much she truly loved him.

She also had a few other regrets like the way she had treated her dragon family. Acnologia was a fierce opponent and there was no way for her father to have gotten to her in time if he had heard of Acnologia's attack she realized that now. So she regretted not having an actual relationship with her father, wondering how she had made the same mistake with him that she had with Jude Heartfilia, allowing her pain to cloud her heart. It would break her if he ended up dying before she had a chance to truly know him, and hear of how her mother used to be when he knew her as Lucretia. Lucy had always known that Layla Heartfilia was just an act her mother put on, and she wished to know the truth about her mother.

Then there was Luca and Dimitri the brothers she had constantly pushed away and hurt with her cruel words, even going as far to imply to Luca that she didn't accept him as her brother. Hopefully they would still be willing to give her a chance in the end because she wanted to be a family with them. Wanted to be able to tease Luca about Allison, and Dimitri about his future mate like a little sister was supposed to do. She also wanted to apologize to Luca for how she had treated him after he decided to fight Laxus because she know realized he had just been trying to push her to realize what Laxus meant to her.

Pushing those thoughts out of her mind Lucy began to search for her magic losing herself to the swirl of golden energy mixed with energy currents the energy currents representing Laxus's place in her life. Lucy allowed herself to fall to her instincts not aware of the world around her, so she never knew when Laxus came to find her finding his mate in a swirl of golden energy that had sparks flying off if it. Unaware that large golden wings fanned out behind her and that delicate scales were framing her face, or that her nails had become dainty little claws.

It was only when Lucy heard that terrifying roar that she jolted out of her meditation her eyes going wide as a small blackness sparked off of her as well. Laxus immediately rushing over to her, and catching her as she stumbled trying to get up neither of them speaking a word, but their eyes shared unspoken promises.

They both hoped there would be time enough to speak later, but indulged themselves with one last bitter sweet kiss. The kiss speaking of their fears that they would end up losing each other in this battle, but both knew that nothing they said to the other would dissuade them from protecting those they loved. Instead they were saying goodbye with a hint of hope, praying that this brief goodbye truly wouldn't be eternal.

Sharing one last look they broke apart then Lucy picked Laxus up flying him back to the arena where the other Dragons half or full, and Slayers were waiting for them. Seeing scenes like the one they had just shared all around them as mates and families conveyed their final goodbyes. Everyone shuddering when the sky above them went black as the Dragon of the Apocalypse appeared in front of Lucy for what she prayed was the final time.

AN: I know that I'm evil leaving the chapter here. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter please tell me what you think :)