Hey guys! New chapter :D So the next chapter is the last :'(

Also! Sorry for Zeref's major OOCness. I don't know the charater all that well so I guessed his personality x.x

Running Lynx you are the best!

Anyway read on~

Natsu spent the rest of the night making a plan. They would sneak into the castle. Back when the pinkette was back at the castle, he noticed that the palace was always well guarded. The pinkette knew it would be easier to go under the cover of the night. So Natsu and Loke came up with groups. They would all search for the King and Lyon, while taking out any one in their way.

Natsu felt the moral in the house rise. Everyone joined together in the living room to eat. The group was more talkative than that morning. Natsu took a seat next to Gray. The prince looked worried and hadn't touched his plate off food. The pink haired leader frowned and slipped his hand into the prince's. Gray looked at the pinkette with a bit of surprise and then gave a small smile.

"Do you think the plan will work?" The raven asked quietly, picking up his fork with his empty hand.

Natsu nodded with confidence. He knew it would work or rather it had to work. The pinkette spotted Juiva and Wendy, making their way over to them. Juvia took a seat on the other side of Gray while Wendy on the other side of Natsu.

Gray began to chat with the rain woman while Natsu turned his attention to Wendy.

"How are you holding up?" Natsu asked her, shovelling mash potatoes in his mouth.

"Okay. Everyone has been treated." She smiled, leaning against the wall.

"You going to eat?"

The sky dragon only shook her head and looked blankly up at the ceiling.

"I miss everyone back at the tribe..."

"I do too, Wendy. Once we are finished here, we will go home."

Natsu felt Gray's grip on his hand tighten once the sentence escaped his lips. The pinkette's heart twisted. He wanted to go back home but didn't want to leave Gray behind.

"I wonder how Gajeel is handling his new position." Wendy smirked, not noticing the tension between the men.

Natsu let out a little laugh. Gajeel was the "co-leader." The steel dragon slayer would be the temporary leader of the tribe if Natsu was gone. Of course he never liked being in second place, especially to Natsu.

"I am sure he is fine." The pinkette reassured firmly. He had confidence in his friend's leadership skills.

XXX

The tribe was unusually quiet. Everyone stood in a circle with heads bowed. Tears flowed down most of the members' faces. Gajeel had gotten word from another tribe that the King had held an execution. Both of the victims had been part of the castle. Their crime was defying King Alistair's orders. The other tribe had sent a spy to watch the whole thing and he had said that Natsu was one of the victims. Though he didn't see the platform, he heard the teen's shouts and cries.

So the Dragon Tribe was holding a funeral for their leader. A marker was placed next to the pinkette's father's. The sun was setting as Gajeel started to say some words.

"Natsu was a great leader, a compassionate friend, and a fearless fighter. He died trying to get back to us. We will always remember him and keep him in our hearts."

A sob rippled through a young woman and two others tried to comfort her.

"I know Natsu wouldn't want us to be upset. He would want us to continue to thrive and move on."

The members simultaneously nodded and wiped away their tears. Most of them had known the deceased leader for a very long time, some even knew him when he was just a child. It was hard for them to let go and move on but it was what Natsu would have wanted. They all stood there in front of the pink haired teen's grave. Grief wrapped around them like a blanket.

XXX

Gray was looking up at the ceiling. He had tried to fall asleep but his thoughts kept him awake and the floor wasn't very comfortable. The raven kept replaying what Natsu had told Wendy over and over. He didn't want the pinkette to leave him! It hurt him to think about not having the tribe leader around anymore.

Am I being selfish?

Gray could hear the snores coming from said teen. He was so loud that the raven was sure no one was able to sleep. One other thought was the well-being of Lyon. He hoped that the former knight wasn't being tortured. What did King Alistair have in store for Gray's older brother? The raven's heart sank. He couldn't lose Lyon and Natsu. Then he would have no one left.

"I love Prince Gray!"

Juvia's confession rang in his head. He would have her right? He had Lucy too. Gray suddenly sighed. He guessed the wedding was off. The raven wondered what the blonde thought about getting married to him. Was she sad that they never would or did she not think of Gray that way? The raven decided to talk to her while they got ready for the battle tomorrow.

Gray wondered if he would be the one to kill his father.

Can I really kill him? He asked silently.

Would the teen really have the will or strength? He didn't even have Ice Make magic and wasn't so good with a sword. He would be useless when it came time to over throw King Alistair. There was something else that the raven thought would hold him back. Though the man was cruel and vile, he was still Gray's father. His flesh and blood.

Unlike the King, Gray had a heart. He couldn't imagine having blood on his hands. To kill another human being made the prince's stomach turn. The raven couldn't think about it, let alone do it.

It has to be done. Gray decided.

He would have to kill the King. His terror had to be put to an end. Then Lyon or himself would claim the throne and change Fairy Tail for the better. Gray needed some fresh air. He couldn't lay there any longer and dwell on his thoughts. So the prince got up, slipped on a cloak that hung near on the wall and slipped through the door.

XXX

It was cool and dry outside. No wind blew through the sky and the streets seemed empty. Gray gazed up at the castle top that peered above other buildings. He wondered how everyone was doing. He missed the familiar faces.

The raven felt a hand grip his shoulder. His body tensed, ready to make a run for it.

"It's just me," Natsu whispered and Gray's body slumped.

"Don't scare me like that!"

"Shh! We don't want people to know we are here, do we?" The pinkette smirked.

"Come on, I know somewhere peaceful we can talk." The prince murmured as he trekked ahead.

The two made their way past all the buildings and came to a stream. It was on the edge where Fairy Tail's land ended. Gray liked to go there sometimes to get away from his father. It was nice to sit there and listen to the rushing water.

The two teens laid on the hard ground and stared at the sand that stretched beyond the small river.

Gray let out a gasp as Natsu snuggled into his chest. His body was warm against the raven's. Gray slowly put his arm around the pinkette and smiled to himself. Natsu was the only thing holding him to reality at the very moment. If it wasn't for the dragon leader, the prince didn't know where he would be mentally.

"Natsu..."

"Hmm?"

"P-promise to never leave me."

Snores only reached Gray's ears. The raven chuckled as he gazed at the sleeping teen in his arms. Natsu looked so beautiful. The moon light illuminated his face and he seemed so peaceful.

Suddenly, Gray felt a hand grab a handful of his hair and drag him out of Natsu's grip. Gray let out a screech in pain as he was lifted off the ground.

"Eh~" Natsu muttered, rubbing his eyes while slowly sitting up.

"Get away from Natsu." A voice hissed in Gray's ear.

"Zeref! You idiot! Let him go!" Natsu whispered, running toward the pair.

Gray felt a fist connect with his side and he was roughly dropped on the ground. The prince shot off the ground with a groan. Zeref was making his way toward Natsu. Gray wouldn't let him get any closer. He ran toward the man and tackled him to the ground. Zeref let out a grunt in surprise as his stomach hit the ground. A black aura radiated off the black-haired male. Gray felt his throat close up and he couldn't breathe. He let go of the man and grabbed at his throat.

Zeref suddenly pushed Gray to the ground, raising his fist in the air. Gray's lungs felt like they were burning or about to burst.

"No! Stop!" Natsu shouted, pulling his ex-lover off the struggling raven.

The aura around Zeref disappeared and Gray gasped as air filled his lungs.

"You asshole!" Natsu exclaimed, glaring at Zeref.

Gray sat up, greeted by dizziness.

"Guys...shut up," The raven muttered in a rough voice. "We might have already attracted attention."

The pinkette didn't listen. He yelled at Zeref and even punched him. The black-haired male had the same straight face.

"Why did you do that?" The teen finally asked, panting.

Zeref glared back at Gray.

"You are mine. Not his," he stated, looking back to the pinkette.

"I don't belong to anyone!" Natsu growled.

Gray felt rage run through him. How dare Zeref say that Natsu was his alone!

"Natsu is mine," the prince growled as he stood up.

Said teen glared at Gray with piercing eyes.

"I am not your slave, Gray. You guys are acting like I'm some item you two own," the pinkette muttered, his expression sank.

"I didn't mean-" Gray stuttered.

"Shut up." Natsu sneered as he stalked past to two stunned males.

"Natsu!" Zeref called, running after the pissed leader.

Gray stared at the two blankly. He really screwed up.

XXX

The next morning, everyone was getting ready for the operation. Natsu was hiding in one of the spare rooms. He had locked himself in there and sat in the corner. Only his thoughts kept him company. Wendy, Lucy, and even Juvia had tried to get him to come out but the leader wouldn't budge.

Natsu was angry, sad, and confused all at the same time.

He hated how Gray and Zeref acted the night before. It hurt the pinkette that Gray still thought that he owned him. Now the pink haired teen didn't know who he loved anymore.

Natsu had been positive that it had been the prince but then Zeref had come back into the picture. The teen remembered how much he loved the man back then but as he got older he realised it was all out of pity.

What will I do when the war is over? The pinkette asked himself over and over.

Would he stay with Gray, Zeref, or Wendy? It gave Natsu a pounding headache just to try to choose one person. He didn't want to upset any of them but he wanted to be happy. Zeref was very possessive and protective. Gray was stubborn and very obnoxious but loving. While Wendy was caring and sweet. It would be a good choice to choose Wendy, right? She was the nicest girl and if he went with her and the teen would see his family again. Although he was in love with Gray and possibly Zeref.

Natsu let out a groan as someone knocked on the door, racking his train of thought.

"Can I come in?" Gray asked from outside the wooden door.

"Go away!"

"Natsu, please let me talk to you."

"No."

"God, you are so stubborn."

"Me? Stubborn?" Natsu laughed, gazing at the door.

Gray sighed. "Open the door or I will kick it in."

"Like you have the strength."

Sure enough the door flung open but not by Gray's foot. No, Juvia was standing in the doorway with a smile and keys in her hands

"Juvia found her keys!" The bluenette cheered.

"Thank you, Juvia." Gray smiled as he walked in and shut the door.

Natsu turned his back to the raven.

"I said go away." Natsu grumbled, pulling his knees into his chest.

The pinkette didn't want to talk to the prince. Everything was complicated enough. Gray hugged the teen from behind.

"I am so sorry," he whispered.

"I don't want to talk."

"Well you are talking now right?"

Natsu huffed. "Shut it."

"I just...I can't think of Zeref taking you away from me. Natsu, I love you. I didn't mean to upset you. My mind was fogged up with worry and anger," Gray explained, still in a hushed voice.

Natsu felt the prince bury his face in the pinkette's neck. It sent a shiver through his body. The room fell silent. The pink haired teen wriggled out of Gray's lose grip and turned to face him. Natsu took a deep breath and kissed the unsuspecting prince. The two melted into one another instantly. It felt blissful and Natsu felt his heart hammer in his chest.

There was only one thought in the back of his mind that bothered the teen.

Is Gray really the right choice?

XXX

After breakfast, Juvia ran into a storage place and pulled out a big huffed and smiled at the rest of the group.

"Juvia's father collect's swords and knifes. At the main house he ran out of room so he stored some here."

The whole room lit up in excited grins. Everyone lined up to pull out a weapon out of the trunk. Natsu had declined, claiming his fire would do just fine. Gray was worried about the pinkette. He couldn't lose him. Not then and not ever.

The raven was the last one to get a weapon. He pulled out a nice sword. It reminded him of Erza's old one that she had loved so much. Before the prince turned around to go join Natsu and Lucy, Juvia tapped him on the shoulder.

"Here Gray~" She smiled, handing him a short, shiny dagger.

"What is this for?"

The teen squeezed Gray's hands while he's holding the dagger, a knowing, mysterious look on her face.

XXX

The moon slowly crept into the dark sky. The stars quickly following its lead. The rebels were getting ready. Some of them were still hurt but refused to hold off the attack for another day. So everyone had grabbed their hoods and weapons. Natsu was standing next to Gray with a look of confidence. The pinkette couldn't help but feel like everything would work out just fine.

He was on the same team as Gray along with Zeref and a few others. Their team would look for the King while the second team would find Lyon. Natsu hoped for Gray's sake that the man was alive and well.

"Let's go!" The pink haired teen shouted and everyone cheered.

They marched out the door, slinking their way past buildings. Careful of any people or light that would blow their cover. The castle loomed over them as they inched their way over. No one ever seemed to be outside at night but they did come across a young couple kissing in the alleyway. Natsu was thankful that they were to occupied to notice them pass. Once the castle gate and the two guards came into view, Gray walked ahead of the group, dropping his hood.

The two knights stared at the raven in shock, one raised her sword. Natsu held his breath as Gray held his hands in the air signing surrender. The other knight said something to the the raven and walked inside. The leftover guard let her sword drop a little.

Natsu stared at his lover's hands, waiting for the signal. There is was, Gray made an "L" shape with his thumb and index finger.

The group charged, alarming the knight. Before she could lift a finger, Gray pulled out his sword from underneath his cover. He slashed at her, hitting the visible flesh of her fore arm. Natsu was at the raven's side in an instant. His fists set ablaze. The guard hissed, one hand gripping her injured arm.

There was a sudden shout and the slam of the front door. Five knights streamed outside, charging at the rebels. Natsu held his hands to his mouth and blew out fire, knocking three of the enemies off their feet. The other two had lunged out of the range of the blazing fire. The pinkette didn't see who they started to fight with but he heard the clang of metal against metal. Without missing another beat, He grabbed Gray's arm and ran into the unguarded castle. The rest of the group followed, leaving alone the two who were fighting off the leftover knights

They entered the parlor. Natsu looked around wildly. It seemed that the parlor was quiet beside the ticking of the clock that hung on the wall. The pink haired teen turned around to face the group.

"Alright, you all know what you have to do. When you're done, we will meet back at the base." Natsu whispered but loud enough for them to hear. Everyone nodded and separated into groups.

"They are over there!" Someone shouted and Natsu cringed at how familiar it sounded.

Jellal sprinted into the parlor, a group of 15 or 20 others close behind him.

"I thought something was wrong when Angel said Prince Gray was at the door." The blue haired man smirked.

"Where the hell is Lyon?" Gray hissed instantly, lifting up his sword.

Natsu stood on guard. Jellal and the other knights could attack at any moment.

"He is fine...The King just had a few questions to ask," Jellal muttered. Without any further hesitation, he charged.

Natsu cursed as he tackled the prince to the ground. The pinkette was going to help but had his hands suddenly full. A knight bravely tried to hit him with his sharp sword. He seemed to be shaking and his eyes were wide with adrenaline. The teen's fists lit up and the knocked the sword out of the man's hands. The man squealed as he tried to avoid Natsu's fist. The dragon hit him hard in the chest. The knight staggered backwards a couple of steps before he collapsed.

Natsu turned to see Zeref fighting Jellal instead of Gray. The pinkette looked around for the raven but couldn't pick him out of the swarm of bodies. He watched as Jellal clawed at his own throat and sank to his knees. The pink haired leader ran over to Zeref who had the strangest grin on his face.

"Zeref! Where is Gray?" Natsu called.

The dark-haired man looked his way and pointed to the hall the broke off from the parlor. Natsu gulped. He knew that down that hallway was the King's throne room. He had to get to Gray and fast. The raven couldn't fight King Alistair without him!

"Natsu!" Juvia cried running toward him. "Let Juvia come with you!"

XXX

Gray crept down the hallway. He was thankful to Zeref for the first time. If it wasn't for him he would have been sliced to pieces. The prince had tried to remember all the sword training his dad made him go through but even with that training he wasn't on the level that Jellal was.

Gray saw the large double doors come into view. He wasn't surprised to see that the doorwaywas unguarded. The prince was sure that the knights were in the parlor fighting. Gray heard footsteps on the floor. He spun around to see Natsu and Juvia running his way.

"Gray!" Natsu hissed as he made it close. "You idiot! Wait for me."

'I can handle it myself, Flamebrain."

The pinkette scoffed and Gray smirked. Natsu didn't know how much the raven loved him. Juvia didn't say a word as they opened the doors.

Gray stared at the empty throne room. Did his father know that they were going to attack and fledfor safety?

"This is such a pai-" Before finishing the sentence, Natsu screeched.

Gray spun around, heart racing. Juvia was holding a dagger; blood dripped down the blade. At her feet was the pinkette.

XXX


DUN DUN DAH! Juvia how could you?!

Thanks for everyone who reviewed last chapter :)

Check out Running Lynx's story In The Deseart! It is amazing!

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