Shortest chapter, I think, of the whole fic. Also kind of... well, you can tell me what you think of it.

Enjoy! :D


The first thing I do is start rebuilding energy in my body so I can break free of Adam's shadow link between us.

Aki approaches us. "Guess it's a good thing I have two Caelum spirits. Adam, hold him right there." She holds up a second key, "Open Gate of the Chsel! Caelum!" She calls, a second sphere appears next to her. The one is more of a gold color, where the last one was silver. "Caelum, please transform into your cannon form," she requests. "Please hurry before he manages he to break free of my brother's shadow spell!"

Her weapon spirit changes forms, this time it takes the shape of a cannon. Aki's hand flares up with purple flames. "Together, Caelum! Adam wants him dead!" Aki says, her eyes' emptiness contrasts the enthusiasm in her voice. I grit my teeth, trying to think of an out.

"Don't you dare!" Lucy snarls from behind me, running around me and tackling Aki. Cancer and Sagittarius come in behind her to take Caelum out, but it just blasts through both of them with one shot and they both vanish.

I watch Lucy fight Aki, step by step. She does pretty well for herself, using that whip of heers until Aki manages to outdo her. I can tell Aki has had a lot more combat training than Lucy has. She manages to knock Lucy down and set her sights back on me. I keep on building the energy I need to break Adam's hold on me, now so that I can protect Lucy from them.

"I need to finish this!" Aki declares, charging me with her hand drawn back, blazing purple flames at the ready.

"No, Natsu!" Lucy calls, jumping up to stop Aki from hitt me. Adam stands at a safe distance, watching with a gleeful expression on his face as Lucy charges in front of Aki to block her attack on me.

"Lucy!" I cry, my eyes widening. It happens in slow motion. Just like that Aki's hand pierces through Lucy's body like a spear through a paper target. Her flames rip through my chest, straight through my heart. All of the energy I'd been building up shaters and fizzes out upon impact.

And then it's over.