During the Tartaros Arc, certain members of Fairy Tail gained new powers after stopping Face. However, this is an AU story where they didn't stop Face but they still have those new powers. Explanation? They got stronger during the seven months between story one and story two.

And yeah... I acknowledge E.N.D. Rises: Natsu's Return has been a bit... everywhere. I could claim artistic symbolism of Natsu's own confusion but that would be a lie. Here's the basic plot so far:

Natsu turns up alive so Fairy Tail go retrieve him. A mysterious facility is after him to use his limitless IMC to contain the unlimited Fairy Heart. To protect him, they stay in the dragons' den and Zeref is brought in to help jog his memory. Both Dragneel brothers plus Lisanna get captured but escape only for Brain to set the facility to self-destruct. Natsu uses all his energy to protect Lisanna and Zeref and receives a severe head wound that caused harsh brain damage. Now Natsu can only remember 12 hours at a time and Zeref has disappeared with Mavis's ghost and Makarov. And the facility has just attacked Magnolia again...

And that's a brief summary :s

Also, I've recently been converted from NaLi to NaLu but I still love NaLi. Once I finish my stories featuring NaLi, I'll be taking a break from Fairy Tail fanfics for a while. First time I've ever multi-shipped before!


E.N.D. Rises: Natsu's Return

Chapter 11:

Run


Lisanna's sensitive cheetah ears picked up on the high-pitched sound of something whistling through the air. She turned to look only to spot a magical arrow coming their way.

"Lucy, behind us!" she shouted.

The blonde spun around and fired an arrow from Sagittarius's bow without even blinking. Lucy's arrow hit the enemy's right on the tip and split it into two perfectly symmetrical pieces. More arrows came flying their way and she released rapid-fire homing arrows. Despite this, a single arrow managed to escape her counterattack and pierced through Lucy's palm and up her arm. The Star Dress dissolved into her usual clothing as she stammered back, unable to bend her arm as the arrow was pressed against her elbow like a splint.

"YEEEEEEAAAAAAOOOOOUUUUUUCCCCHHHHH!" Lucy screamed as she held her arm straight out.

Thinking quickly, Gray broke the arrow ends and slid it out of her arm before freezing the entry and exit wounds for a temporary fix. Another barrage of arrows came into view and they ran off the abandoned train tracks and into the woods adjacent to them for cover. Natsu clutched his little black book closely as adrenalin flooded through him to keep him going. Happy latched onto his back incase he needed to fly him away and held on tightly as he was jerked around.

"It's the dang tracker!" Lisanna yelled "We need it off Natsu before we can escape!"

"It's cut into his skin, though!" Lucy yelled in retaliation.

A shadow loomed over them in the light of the setting sun and two red scarly-arms scooped them up from the ground. Natsu looked up and froze like ice at the sight of a certain Fire Dragon. Igneel seemed to smirk at them before offering words of comfort.

"Don't worry, Natsu, I'm here to help. I'm taking you to see Makarov and Zeref. They have a plan you need to hear,"


No one said anything as the Fire Dragon flew them towards the rubble of the destroyed facility. A light blue crystal was growing over the broken pieces of the building. In the middle of the one clear area where Natsu had protected Lisanna and Zeref was a lacrima crystal with Makarov and the former Black Wizard standing before it. Surrounding them were the other dragons, their scales illuminated by the glowing crystal. Igneel landed with a quake and put the humans he'd grabbed back on the ground.

"Natsu!"

The pink-haired boy looked up to see Zeref approaching them with a relieved smile. Unaware this was his brother, Natsu hid behind Lisanna with fear in his eyes. His older brother came to a stop with an understanding smile on his face and sadness in his eyes.

"What's going on, Zeref?" Gray asked "Where'd you disappear off to with Gramps? And why the heck are the dragons here?!"

"Master Makarov, Mavis and I formulated a plan so that no one can ever abuse the power of Fairy Heart. It's risky and it may take lives but in exchange, infinite power will be beyond the world's grasp once again... and Natsu should be safe," Zeref answered.

"What's this plan of yours?" Lucy asked, the adrenalin racing through her system dulling the pain her arm was in.

"Take a look around you..."

With these few words, the group took a closer look at their surroundings. The blue crystal covering the ground looked like the ethernano the Tower of Heaven was constructed of and the lacrima crystal in the center... had a body in it. Gray stared, Lucy covered her mouth and Lisanna hid Natsu from the sight. It was Master Mavis entombed in lacrima, preserving the last of her life.

"Even though I promised never to do this again... I have to. Reviving Mavis is the only way to destroy Fairy Heart. Once she's conscious, she can dispel it," Zeref explained "A side affect is that she may lose her memory of her time as a ghost and her memories of her past life. It's the same thing that happened with Natsu..."

"But... I thought it took years of construction and billions of sacrifices to revive someone..." Gray asked in disbelief.

"Normally, yes but I'm using the power of Fairy Heart to speed up the process," Zeref continued "It'll still take an unimaginable amount of magic power to start the process that I can't siphon from Mavis which is why the dragons are all here. Their Dragon Roars might just be enough power to start up the revival process,"

Lucy, Gray, Lisanna and Natsu stayed out of the way as the resurrection procedure preparations were complete. Zeref hand-carved the magic runes into the ethernano before stepping back. Each dragon took a deep breath as they waited for the signal from the ex-Black Wizard.

"Now! Fire!"

"Sky Dragon-"

"Iron Dragon-"

"White Dragon-"

"Shadow Dragon-"

"Fire Dragon-"

"ROOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAR!"


I'm sorry for not updating but I had writer's block and then... my grandmother passed away. She was always supportive of my writing and she never got to read my manuscript. She was in a lot of pain so I can take comfort in the fact she's free from that... but I am totally ticked off by the crap hospital that- you know what? I'm just going to say... do not trust Spanish healthcare.