This is going to be the last chapter I post for another week because I'm going on vacation and will not be taking any electronic devices besides my phone. Remember, please vote on my poll!

Lucy numbly stared at Natsu, now barely breathing and ash-colored. His hand was cold, so cold she could swear he was already dead, but the faint sound of his breathing kept her holding on. Jude waited on his daughter's reaction to this blow she had been dealt. So far, she seemed to be rather lucid.

"Are you happy now, Jude? You've stolen everything from me; my childhood, my freedom, and now my best friend that I might have loved. Are you prepared to pay the price for my life?"

She gripped her keys, holding on to Virgo's key, knowing she would be most helpful in avoiding these black magic monsters. As soon as she touched her key, though, she dropped it in shock. She had no magic power. Where had her power gone?!

"Oh dear, Lucy, it seems you're out of magic. I guess I should have told you that the cell you were in sucked it all dry. You won't have any magic for a couple days, at least. What will you do now?"

A black tendril shot down, barely missing her. She grabbed Natsu, clutching him close to her. His breath lightly fanned over her neck even as she felt the tears rolling down her face again. She couldn't protect herself; how could she protect him? Jude watched while his daughter attempted to shield the boy from the magic attacks, only succeeding in damaging herself. After a couple minutes of her blood being spilt all over the floor, Jude called the magic off. The only one that would kill his daughter was himself. He took out the pistol he kept in his jacket pocket.

"You see, I'm not the one who paid for your life. Your boyfriend here did. Too bad he didn't know that I'm a thief, not a negotiator. Your deaths will make my world better. Thank you, Lucy. You delivered his life to me on a platter."

His daughter didn't respond, just hung her head, blood pouring out of her nose and mouth. Jude placed the gun to her head.

"Is there anything you would like me to relate to your guild mates when they arrive, if they arrive?"

She was silent for a moment, but Jude waited. He knew she would have something to say. This stupid brat always did. At first he didn't hear it, Lucy's mumbling. He couldn't understand what she was saying, but it didn't seem all that important. The mumbling got a little louder until he could catch occasional words that he couldn't make use of.

"Speak louder, Lucy. I can't hear you."

Lucy bit her lip before continuing. She understood that this would be her last spell, her last stand, because using this spell would cost more magic than she had, which meant it would use her life force to supply it. She would die, but so would this bastard. Natsu didn't stand a chance at survival if Fairy Tail wasn't here by now.

"Open thy malevolent gate. O 88 Stars of the heaven... Shine!URANO METRIA!"

The last thing she saw was her father's horrified face as he realized what she had done. She allowed a smile and whispered a silent farewell to Fairy Tail.

Natsu felt the warm sensation of magic surround him like a cocoon. Whoever had done this was outputting entirely too much magic in one shot. The smell of cinnamon hit his nose, so he breathed in the magic, breathing a little easier as it game him more strength and cleared his head. His eyes shot open only to widen in utter shock. The universe was around him, moving at speeds almost too fast for him to follow. All the entities in the universe, planets and stars alike, were bombarding a man under a black shield. The shield became transparent for one moment, and he realized that Jude was under the shield. Turning around, he had fear grip his heart when he saw Lucy supplying the magic for this monster of a spell. He sucked in the magic, hoping he could eat enough of it to create an attack. Lucy's life might hinge on it. The magic heated his extremities, but heat he was used to.

"Thanks, Lucy."

Aware that the spell he was about to cast had a name, he grinned in anticipation.

"Unison Raid: ROAR OF THE ZODIAC'S DRAGON!"

Gray grabbed Erza's arm before she blew the door down, feeling a rumbling beneath his feet. Erza's eyes widened, and she threw him to the ground.

"EVERYONE DOWN!"

All the Fairy Tail members hit the floor as the walls and doors around them disintegrated in a magical blast full of superheated stars flooded the room. The screams of the Heartphilia guards filled their ears, a horrible noise to accompany such a beautiful sight. A more familiar scream rang out, one that chilled Erza's blood. Natsu never screamed like that, but there was no doubt that it was him. The stars began to wink out; Erza took her chance. She leapt to her feet, dragging Gray with her. Upon stepping over the remains of the walls, Erza couldn't help the panicked gasp that left her. Lucy was dissolving with the starlight, hovering just above a bloodied, crying Natsu. He kept trying to grab her hand, but she wasn't even tangible anymore. Lucy looked at each of her friends, knowing her time was almost up.

"Thank you, everyone. It is over. I am free, and I will next meet you as a free woman. Take care of my keys, Natsu. I love you."

With that, their friend vanished. Natsu stared in mute horror at the spot where Lucy had just floated, her scent still permeating the blood flowing out of his nose. The blood loss began to get to him, pulling him back into the blackness. Gray ran forward, grabbing Natsu before he could hit the ground.

"WENDY!"

That's a wrap! Not quite a cliffhanger, but still not conclusive. I hope to hear from you guys, and thanks for reading and reviewing! Don't forget my poll; it's very important! Thanks!