Heya everyone! Kytrin here for Samhain update too! As I said over in the Wild Aces chapter, we're really sorry we didn't update yesterday. Nothing happened or anything, we just kinda talked about it and then got caught up in one of our current projects and promptly forgot. Oops. That said, I hope you all enjoy the chapter!


CHAPTER 12

Chusok

In Korea, the festival similar to Halloween is known as "Chusok." It is at this time that families thank their ancestors for the fruits of their labor. The family pays respect to these ancestors by visiting their tombs and making offerings of rice and fruits. The "Chusok" festival takes place in the month of August.


Lucy's trouble was just getting started.

The trip through the portal had not been like Natsu's shadow-stepping. Perhaps it was just the magic being used, but the trip through had left her disoriented and mildly nauseous. Which had not been improved in the slightest by the sight of several powerful demons staring coldly at her.

She raised her chin like the queen she was supposed to be and stared back while Zeref joined her, trying to ignore the aching fear in her heart. Weakness was the absolute last thing she could afford now, and she was not going to give Zeref, or any of these people, the satisfaction.

"Ah, Mard Geer." Zeref purred and one of the male demons immediately knelt at his king's feet.

"My lord." The demon responded and glanced at Lucy, "I take it the trip to the mortal realm was successful?"

"Very much so." Zeref chuckled and gestured at Lucy, "This is the Lady Lucy. My brother's bonded. She's agreed to be our guest for the foreseeable future."

"I hardly call coercion agreeing." Lucy muttered with a snort, and shot Zeref a glare.

"And yet you went willingly through the portal." Zeref replied, amusement flickering in his tone.

Lucy raised an eyebrow at him, "You're seriously going to play that card?" She asked incredulously, "Give me a break. We both know my options were either die there, and take Natsu with me, or live and give him a chance to come beat you into a pulp once and for all."

"You should watch your mouth human!" One of the demonesses snapped in outrage, "A human insect like you isn't worthy of so much as speaking to our king!"

Lucy transferred her gaze despite the fear gripping her at the power radiating off these individuals, "And yet it's this 'human insect' that bonded to Natsu." She retorted, "A feat I notice you can't claim. Makes me wonder which of us is really deficient."

"You filth," the woman spoke, her voice cold but a slow smile curling over her lips. She didn't mount herself in a fury over her words, but merely drifted over to touch her finger just under Lucy's chin. She didn't graze her skin, but it was close enough for Lucy to feel the sparking of her magic.

"I only need one touch, just a single graze from me for you feel pain unlike anything you've ever felt before until you beg for death," the demoness promised her, "Perhaps my lord Zeref will allow me the opportunity to bring my beloved pain to you."

Another demon threw his head back and cackled wickedly, laughing with utter glee. He pushed into Lucy's space, a mad smile bursting off the corners of his face as well as glittering madness boiling in the backs of his eyes.

"You've gone and pissed off Kyoka. Not a wise thing to do considering what her magic is. She'll get every drop of information END has given you," Jackal purred, "torture is her magic. While mine is-"

His fingertips crackled with magic that was more explosive than anything she had seen before.

"Let your prince come. He may eat fire now, because he sullied himself with dragon magic, but I'd like to see him try and eat a bomb when he comes to save you." Jackal cackled.

Lucy felt a fresh shiver of fear for Natsu as well as herself but she was careful not to show it on her face. Did demons have heightened senses like the dragons did? She wasn't sure, but she hoped not.

"Enough," Zeref said quietly, "once I have completed my tests on the woman to determine how the bindings work, Kyoka you can have your fun with her. It will be fascinating to see how deep the pain on her can afflict Natsu."

"But for now let's get her somewhere safe. It won't take my brother long to realize she's been taken, and knowing him he will charge in here with a single minded focus."

Lucy tried not to cringe as Zeref reached out to grab her arm only to gasp as an infuriated roar tore through the air, and the warmth she'd come to associate with Natsu coursed though her soothingly.

"Natsu!" She breathed with a grin, her relief palpable, and her eyes widened at the sight of the enormous dragon winging his way towards them, carving a swath of fire and destruction as he went.

"ZEREF!" Natsu roared, his voice shaking the very brick to the castle before him, "WHERE DO YOU HAVE HER!"

"Go!" Zeref commanded his demons sharply, and grabbed Lucy, "Stall him! I cannot risk him rescuing her!"

The demons obediently took off towards the rampaging dragon, and as soon as they were gone Zeref pulled at Lucy, fully intending to at least drop her into one of his tanks before his brother got in range. Or that was the plan anyway.

Except Lucy chose that moment to prove that she'd been an attentive student to both Natsu and Erza and promptly stomped on Zeref's instep before delivering a sharp elbow to the stomach. Not enough to hurt a demon perhaps, but more than enough to knock the breath out of one when caught by surprise.

And the last thing Zeref had expected was resistance.

His grip loosened fractionally, and Lucy seized the chance to tear herself free and sprint away as fast as she could move.

She dove for her keys, her heart pounding in fear that Zeref would pop up in front of her at any second, and nearly cried in relief when one practically leapt into her hand, "Open!" She cried, somehow knowing which she was holding, "Gate of the Lion!"

The words were barely out of her mouth when the spirit burst into brilliant light, coalescing in front of Zeref. Loke didn't hesitate and swung upwards, fist smashing square into the demon Kings jaw.

He staggered backwards, the holy light from the celestial spirits punch knocking right into him. The demon kings eyes narrowed with barely leashed rage.

"So your magic took the shape of the stars, one of the few magics to hurt a demon," Zeref said with ice in his voice, "I never suspected the heavens would bind themselves to a mere mortal."

"This mere mortal is leagues above you Zeref," Loke spread his stance and nodded towards Lucy, "I've got this, go get to Natsu!"

"And leave you on your own?" Lucy demanded, "That's not my style Loke! Let's kick his tail!"

She knew reasonably both she and Loke would not be able to defeat the king, only hold him off enough for Natsu to get there and possibly finish the job.

Loke gave Lucy a wry smile and tossed a hollow rod from his side to her, "If you're going to stay, you'll need that. It's a gift from Virgo."

Surprised, she channeled her magic through the instrument and found it forming the shape of a whip. Her eyes widened as she realized her spirits wanted her to be able to protect herself, and admittedly she could do more damage with a whip than with her bare hands.

"This is the first time spirits have contracted themselves," Zeref purred as he approached both lion and human, "but arm yourself with as many weapons as you like. Nothing is going to save you now."

-::-

While Lucy was squaring off against Zeref the demons loyal to their current king had made for their errant prince as fast as they could move only to discover the forces Natsu had brought with him behind him.

No sooner had one engaged the demon-dragon than one of Natsu's friends pulled them away, leaving the way clear for him to continue, and even in the depth of his rage Natsu couldn't help sparing a thankful thought for his friends.

As he landed heavily in the palace courtyard, he hastily shifted back down to his human form and glanced around. There was no one there, but that didn't slow him down as he turned and sprinted towards a walkway that would eventually lead to the roof of the palace. Lucy was that way. He was certain of it.

As he ran he passed by pockets of fighting and the clash of steel and magic as those loyal to him turned on their brethren, but he ignored them. Even if he could've told who was who apart, he didn't have time to stop and look. Though he couldn't stop a surge of satisfaction knowing he'd won over enough demons that the royal house itself was divided.

An explosive flash of holy light near the roof, which attracted more than just his attention, prompted him to speed up. There was only one way an attack like that could've happened, and he wasn't about to let Lucy face his brother alone any longer than he had to.

He took every short cut he knew, and if it meant scaling up the walls of the castle itself he would. He slipped through shadow gates between floors, stepping through the darkness until he was close enough to charge towards the light.

The light was Lucy. There was nothing else that spoke to him like it.

He burst up onto the roof, eyes furious and blazing as he caught sight of a struggling to stand Lucy being supported by an equally battered Loke.

In front of them was Taurus, trying and failing to keep Zeref at bay with his considerable strength alone.

Natsu took a second to feel the pride for Lucy summoning two spirits at once, but he could tell it was a move out of desperation. She was flagging now, barely capable of moving anymore.

And the injuries that were scattered over her, filled him to the brim with blind rage. It was coupled with the relief she was okay, and the usual giddiness from being the first time he had seen her in a couple of months, but that didn't calm his fury one bit.

He wanted to sweep her away from the dangers of this battlefield, proud she had done so well by herself with no other way of fighting. It was only right that he vanquished his queen's enemies. Otherwise what good was he for? He watched Zeref burst through Taurus' defense, taking the spirit down in a shower of gold as he rushed Lucy.

Quickly, Natsu stepped through the shadows, appearing before Lucy and the ragged Loke. He met Zeref head on, his expression blank as his hand wrapped around his brother's raised fist.

"Zeref," Natsu spoke, his voice quiet, barely heard over the din of battle around him.

"Natsu." Zeref replied, a slight look of surprise crossing his face at the interruption, "I wasn't expecting you so soon. How ever did you beat my demons so soon?"

Natsu didn't answer as Loke helped an exhausted Lucy to her feet, "Are you alright to stand?" The spirit asked her in concern.

"I'm fine." Lucy panted and immediately winced, "Not sure I'll be running any marathons soon though."

"Loke." Natsu growled without turning around, "I need you to get Lucy out of here. This is going to get messy, and I don't want her caught in the middle."

Loke stared at the demon for a moment and nodded, "Right." He scooped Lucy into his arms, ignoring her slight squeak of protest, "Good luck."

Natsu didn't reply or even glance in their direction as Loke ran off with Lucy as fast as he could. Instead he glared at his brother, his fury breaking through his expressionless mask.

"You kidnapped my bonded." He growled softly, his fist tightening where it was holding Zeref's in place, "You took her from her home and frightened her. You would've used her against me. Threatened her and hurt her. And when she resisted you tried to kill her."

Fire erupted around them as Natsu's eyes blazed red-gold, "You are going to pay for what you've done to her!"

"Then you wish to challenge me little brother?" Zeref pulled his hand back, summoning shadows to his side in a vortex of ice. His red eyes met Natsu's, their stand off complete in that moment.

"No," Natsu breathed, fire bursting from his mouth as his own magic ran over, "I wish to destroy you."

They came together in a clash, fire erupting between them intermingled with shadow. Zeref grasped a fistful of Natsu's hair, sinking his fist into the dragons stomach. Natsu didn't let himself pause to absorb the hit, striking his forehead hard into Zeref's skull.

Alone Natsu didn't believe he could win against an enemy like Zeref, but Lucy's magic was a companion, buffering lightly against his and pushing him to greater strengths.

He would be her sword, galvanized by the threat to their happiness. He would cut down any enemy for her. He snarled as shadows grasped at his ankles and slithered up his body like chains to keep him locked where he stood. He struggled against the shadows physically for a moment before Lucy's magic sparked in his veins.

He reached for it, Lucy's pure magic like her hand on his shoulder and gently unthreading the darkness wrapping around him.

"What!" Zeref exclaimed in shock as the holy magic crawled over his brother's body and dissolved the bindings on him without so much as causing a burn on Natsu, "How is that possible?"

Natsu smirked darkly, as he broke free and leapt forward, "Fire dragon's crushing fang!"

Zeref frowned as he hastily dodged the attack, "Resorting to dragon attacks already? Not exactly becoming of a demon prince."

There was no response as Natsu immediately leapt into the air and Zeref felt a trickle of unease make its way down his spine as Natsu summoned more fire. His brother had always been loud and impulsive in his anger. Prone to banter and easily provoked. A trait he'd picked up from their father. For him to be so quiet was just wrong.

And yet there was no doubting his baby brother's fury. He held nothing back as he launched attack after attack, the only words being spoken being the attacks themselves. Which did little to help Zeref as he'd paid little attention to his brother's dragon training.

At the time it had amused him, and he'd indulged it, thinking it harmless and perhaps ultimately useful. Now he was beginning to wish he'd paid closer attention.

Zeref had no way of knowing that while Leo had taken Lucy far enough away from the battle, she was quietly sitting still and giving as much of her strength that she had left to her bonded. While there wasn't much she could do in the actual fight anymore, she closed her eyes while Leo guarded her, lending her magic to ward off the shadows from Zeref's attacks.

He was not going to touch her husband.

Natsu bounced back, step by step from the blades of shadow that threatened to cut him in half. He used every trick at his disposal, fire, shadow, his environment, and Lucy's precious shielding magic that helped counter his brother's attacks.

However, even with that it was not enough. He faltered for a moment and let out a sharp gasp of surprise as one of Zeref's blades came up too close to his face, only to gasp again in surprise as it to burst into light when it came harmlessly into contact. He and Zeref stared at one another for a stunned moment, but Natsu recovered first. An ice cold smile drifted over his face, amber eyes boiling in his quiet fury.

"This is the power of the 'pathetic woman' you tried to destroy!" Natsu growled softly as he rushed forward, his hand closing over Zeref's throat and catching his brother flat footed.

Zeref's eyes widened in horror as he struggled against the steely grip and Natsu pulled his fist back, "Fire Dragon King's..." Zeref struggled to lash out as a heat unlike any he'd encountered from his brother before engulfed the fist, but all of his attacks bounced off thanks to that holy shield, "Demoliton Fist!"

Natsu's grip around his throat vanished, but Zeref didn't have time to dodge before the impact of that heated fist crashed into his face, causing pain to explode all over as he was sent flying.

However, Natsu wasn't done yet. The demon prince gathered the last of his strength, "Fire Dragon King's Roar!" He bellowed, his eerie quiet finally shattered.

Zeref could do nothing but watch helplessly, every nerve screaming in agony, as his doom raced towards him.

The entire battlefield watched on as Zeref's shadow was obliterated by Natsu's flames.

There was complete stillness for several moments as the watching combatants struggled to comprehend what had happened. Then a rebel demon began a ragged cheer. One that was taken up by the rest of Natsu's followers as their faith was rewarded with a new king.

From where she'd been perched out of the way, Lucy opened her eyes and smiled, "It's over."

Loke smiled back at her, "It is. And a new era is opening for demons. Thanks to you."

He grinned as he helped her to her feet, "C'mon. I think there's someone else you'd rather be talking to right now."

Natsu surveyed the field, hardly aware of the audience he had gathered. He blinked at the touch of light rapidly approaching, and raced across the demolished battleground towards the walkway where Lucy was slowly moving towards him with Loke's help and smile of relief worked its way over his face.

Expression brightening, he sprinted to her side, wrapping her in his arms the moment she was within his grasp.

Slowly, relief surged through him and made him weak at the knees. Natsu sank down to the ground with her in his hold, injuries he had previously ignored making themselves known now that his bonded was back in his arms.

She was safe. She was okay and the bond was settling, and suddenly Natsu felt drained. His visions blurred at the edges and he wondered just how long ago he had burned out all his magic, and for how long his bond had been fueling him for. Though he supposed it didn't really matter. They'd won and she was right where she belonged. Back in his arms.

He smoothed his dirty hand over Lucy's sooty cheek, thumb brushing under her eye.

"Hey Luce, long time no see," Natsu teased, a smile of joy crawling over his face.

Lucy let out a disbelieving laugh, her fingers twisting into his hair and jerking him towards her in one motion.

She captured his lips right then and there, uncaring of the demons watching on as their new king reunited with their queen. For all Lucy knew in the world, was the profound relief and love that her husband was safe in her arms.

And the war was over.


And that's it! That's our last official chapter of Samhain! I hope it has been as wild and enjoyable a ride for you to read it as it was for us to write it! I want to thank everyone who has reviewed throughout the story. It's been awesome watching all of your many, and varied, reactions to what we put in. I hope to see a few more yet lol.

We DO have a little "What happened after?" epilogue we'll be posting Sunday as usual to give you all a little glimpse into the future, but as it's much shorter than our usual chapter length I won't be posting a preview of it. To do so would only give out spoilers and we wouldn't want that!

Much love to you my darlings! We'll see you Sunday with the epilogue! :)