Family

. . .

The first time Nurem fled Acnologia wrath, her and Draco were apart for a decade. It was too risky for her to use her magic, lest her magic signature create a path directly to her.

Very slowly, Draco was able to construct a magical dampening field with his own magic where Nurem could hide. It had taken a full decade to create and while it was being created, she had to stay well hidden, lest give their intentions away. However, once Draco was finished, and she had safely entered this oasis, she was free to use her magic and she and Draco were once again reunited.

It was actually a little known fact that she was Mated to the celestial being. It had only happened in this last century, well within Acnologia's lifetime. It was what allowed Nurem to stay in this world in the first place. Acnologia could only read dragon magical signatures. Given that Draco was a celestial spirit, the rogue slayer couldn't track him or his work.

"What's on your mind, my love?" Draco said in his smooth voice, taking a seat beside her in the gazebo. He had built it for her when she had finally mastered the transformation magic he bestowed upon her. The little structure had quickly become her favorite place.

Nurem sighed and moved closer to her Mate. "I can't help but think about that young man."

"Laxus?" Draco clarified.

Nurem nodded her head, her dark hair shifting colors with the movement. "If the Druid was correct, then he has a tremendous task ahead of him. And he will need a strong Mate to support him in it."

Draco stayed silent, contemplating everything that was said. "Are you certain that we have already seen part of it come true and we are not just twisting it to our current situation?"

Nurem shook her head once again. "As much as I would like to believe that, there is little room for doubt." Holding up her finger, she gracefully began to write words in the air. They shimmered with each stroke of her cursive script.

Amidst moving mountains

And flaming rivers

Kindness shall ignite

"That could only be when Electrum rescued that little boy," she sighed, waving her hand and the words dissolved into the moonlight. "That small act of kindness has certainly sparked problems."

Draco sighed, "I suppose." Nurem held up her finger to begin writing the next part.

When the guilty is reborn,

And betrayal is felt,

Fear shall spread.

"Electrum's soul is clearly within that man. I could feel it," she said, waving her hand once again.

Draco leaned forward in thought. "Yes, but what betrayal and what fear?"

Nurem looked out in thought of her oasis. "Those are likely better questions directed at Acnologia. I have felt his stirrings stronger than ever before. Whether the inklings of fear I have sensed grow is yet to be seen."

"So what makes you think that this man has a role to play?"

Nurem began her script again.

When time is split,

The weeping of stone

Shall bring new hope.

Draco furrowed his brow. "I'll give you that the man's heart was clearly broken when he came to see you, but I don't know we can assume that the Druid ultimately spoke about him.

Nurem simply raised her eyebrow and wrote out the remainder of the verse.

When heaven opens,

A combined power

will the chaos end.

"She's a celestial mage, my love. And he's a dragon slayer, with Electrum's soul. And the two have a bond."

This time Draco reached his hand forward to dispel the script. He drew his Mate into his arms and kissed her deeply. "You worry too much, my love," he said, pulling back from her embrace.

"I know," she sighed, accepting his wisdom. The two stayed silent, enjoying the comfort of one another before Draco spoke.

"Would it make you feel better to see his progress?"

Nurem's eyes lit up as she nodded her head. Draco chuckled as he pulled her into the sky with him.

. . .

Dark wings instantly cast a shadow on the entire camp and everyone froze as a mighty roar rang out. Laxus pulled Lucy further into his arms and turned to look towards the beast.

"A dragon," he breathed out. Closing his eyes, he reached down inside himself and called out to his inner soul. "Electrum, I seek your guidance."

I am here.

"We are facing a new threat."

I know. I can sense his presence. I am sorry this burden has befallen you, but Acnologia has come to this place.

"Acnologia?"

He is extremely dangerous and a threat to you all.

"What should I do?" Laxus asked. He was still somewhat weak from his earlier battles and although his magic reserves were filing quicker than normal, he was still not at full capacity.

It is very unlikely you could defeat him in your present state.

"But my Guildmates. There must be something I can do!" Laxus nearly screamed at his internal soul, who had seemed to accept defeat before even putting up a fight.

I cannot explain it to you all now. There is no time. Just know that the odds are not in your favor. But I will guide you as best I can.

Laxus nodded his understanding and looked out across the camp. No one was in any state to fight. Even Guildarts had been knocked out cold from his own battle.

He felt a tug against his arm and looked down. Lucy had tears streaming down her eyes. "Don't go. Not again. I can't lose you again," she said, seeming to understand what the big blond was thinking.

"Lucy, I vowed to protect you. I need to do this," he explained, crouching beside her. She was so beautiful. He didn't know why someone as kind and gorgeous as her would care about him at all.

"But you'll die," she nearly sobbed.

Laxus sighed. The howl of the creature rang out again over the camp and he grimaced. "I vowed to protect you, and I'm going to do just that." He lifted her chin and looked into her chocolate brown eyes. Moving forward, he captured her lips with his own and tried to ignore the taste of her salty tears. Pulling back he smiled and stood to his full height. "This will be the last time she cries because of me," he vowed.

"Laxus!" he heard the old man's voice behind him and he turned to see his Grandfather hobbling over to him, his own injuries very severe.

"You can't stop me, Gramps. This is something I need to do. Besides, I'm the only one here in any shape to fight," Laxus said, setting his jaw.

His Grandfather sized him up and sighed, seeing the conviction in his eyes. "When I banished you, I never wanted it to be the end." He paused, "Don't let this be the end. Fight your way through this and back into the Guild."

Laxus nodded his head in understanding and turned on his heel to meet his next challenge.

. . .

It didn't take long for Laxus to find the creature; it was massive and after running through the trees for a few minutes, the two made contact. The black beast made an initial roar at the blond, which he barely avoided. Looking behind him, he had to kick himself from trembling, as an entire row of trees had been turned into dust.

You must focus, my son.

"How can I possibly defeat him. His power!" Laxus exclaimed back, narrowly dodging another attack.

You will not be able to defeat him in his current form. We must lure him out so he reveals his true self.

"Huh?" Laxus projected, rolling to his side to hide behind a tree. Laxus began to charge up his electricity to throw an attack but Electrum stopped him.

We need to hit him with it when it most surprises him.

"Okay," Laxus responded, unsure of Electrum's strategy but trusting him nonetheless.

Unbeknownst to Laxus, Lucy had snuck out of the camp and followed him from a safe distance. Watching from the sidelines, she had her finger on Leo's key, ready to pull him out to fight if it looked like Laxus was in trouble, but her power was extremely low and she needed to save it for the worst case scenario. So far, the blond had managed to avoid all of the beast's attacks, but there was only so long he could go on doing that. And when that happened, she would save him, for a change.

Acnologia came barrelling through the trees again, roaring at random, trying to kill the man he saw trying to challenge him. Laxus continued to dodge his attacks and hide behind trees and boulders until finally, Electrum gave him direction.

When next he attacks, I want you to draw his power into you.

"Are you crazy?"

Trust me, this will work. Your magic is compatible. I will explain it all later. Careful now, he's charging up, reach out and sense it.

Laxus followed his inner soul's instruction and could feel static in the air beginning to make its way towards the dragon. The blond smiled faintly, recognizing the similar magic signature to his own and knowing that Electrum's plan might work.

Lucy watched in horror as Laxus rolled out from behind the boulder he'd been using for shelter to stand directly in the path of Acnologia's roar. She screamed, calling forth Leo, who appeared beside her and immediately clasped his hand over her mouth. "Shh, Princess. Look!" Lucy's eyes widened and she saw Laxus still standing.

It had been a tough shock to his system and he owed Cristoff another beer for opening his third origin; without it he'd never have survived. The energy from the roar seemed to be never ending and at a certain point, it began to strain his system so that he began to feel fatigued.

This is normal. His roar was extremely powerful and you will not be able to fight him after this.

"What!?" Laxus nearly screamed back. "I need to protect everyone in camp! How can I if I cannot fight?"

Look! Electrum projected back simply. Laxus turned his gaze forward, somewhat hunched over from the effort of taking in the magical energy and watched in awe as the magnificent beast began to shrink in size until it was just a man, standing before him.

The roar ended and Laxus' eyes widened as this man threw his head back and let out tremendous laughter. It stopped abruptly and Laxus did his best not to flinch as he turned his cold eyes upon him. "Quite a nice trick you learned there, father!" he nearly spat the words.

Laxus was instantly confused before his inner soul began to project at a volume much louder than he was used to. What is the meaning of this, Akun? Did I not teach you better?

"You did teach me. You taught me to seek out challengers. And I surpassed even you," the man said with laughter in his eyes.

You have perverted everything I sought to instill in you.

"And whose fault is that? Huh?" The man turned his attention back to Laxus. "And I see that I was a disappointment so you found yourself a new student. Is that it?"

Electrum stayed silent but Laxus had had enough. He didn't know the history between these two but he didn't care. "Hey, asswipe. Do us all a favor and get the hell off this island."

Acnologia seethed. How dare this impudent little human speak to him so disrespectfully. "I bet you trust that inner voice you hear to the fullest, huh? I bet he was the one that taught you how to strip away the energy from my roar and into you, yes?" Laxus stayed silent, measuring the man up. He was completely exhausted from magical overload and it was all he could do at the moment to stand.

"And maybe that would have worked back when I was his student, but times have changed and I've grown stronger. I am no longer the scared pup that beast saw me as!" Laxus could feel the horror brewing in his second soul as Acnologia began to draw out the magical energy Laxus had consumed from his body. "I have learned things Electrum could not even imagine," he said with mirth as he began to shoot small bursts of magical energy at Laxus, forcing the blond to continuously back up.

Acnologia continued to approach, pulling more and more magical energy from Laxus, depleting his reserves further and further, past the point where he had been when he started.

"Lucy," Leo whispered, starting to fade. "Your magical energy is being strained as well. I cannot stay here in this world on your power. But I will attempt to break through on my own." Lucy nodded her head in understanding as she watched Leo disappear in golden light. He had assisted her in her fight against Capricorn earlier and that had all been on his own power. Whether he was able to make it through again, she wasn't sure.

Completely drained, Laxus felt a tree hit his back and braced himself for the end.

I am sorry, Laxus. It seems I have failed a second student in my second life.

"It's okay. I messed a lot of shit up before you spoke to me. At least it ends on an upswing."

Laxus closed his eyes, bracing for the last blast that would surely end him, but instead he heard Lucy's voice.

Straining, he managed to open his eyes and watched in disbelief as the woman jumped from somewhere above him to land on top of his aggressor. She had a crazed look in her eye and she was swinging punches at the man with what energy she had left.

"Lucy," Laxus breathed, trying not to cry. Why did she follow him? Now they would both surely die. He could have passed peacefully, knowing he had broken the Conquest bond and given Lucy her freewill back, but now? So soon after she gained her freedom, she would die? He couldn't let this happen.

"Don't you touch him!" she screamed, punching the man hard in the face again. Acnologia merely started to chuckle before grabbing her wrists. Lucy struggled against his grip and his face turned serious. "I'll admit that you startled me, but enough!" he said fervently before throwing her aside. Laxus watched in horror as her body went crashing into a tree and crumpled to the ground.

"Lucy!" he yelled, finding the energy to run to her. Ignoring his assailant, he crouched down to her and laid her flat. "Lucy?" he yelled and said a prayer to the heavens when she cracked an eye open. "What were you thinking?"

Acnologia stood a little ways away, looking bored with the whole scene. He knew he was going to kill both of them, might as well give them this last moment.

"Go kill that motherfucker," she said as she pushed her hand against his chest. Laxus stumbled backwards briefly only to return to her side. She was still breathing but she had passed out completely. "What the-?" He didn't know how to explain it, but when Lucy had touched his chest, she had pushed some form of energy into him. He could feel it blending with his own and increasing his power where he stood.

"So sorry to break up the routine.," Acnologia said, approaching the pair. "For a minute there, I had hoped you would be a worthy challenger, but," he turned his head to the side and looked sad for a brief moment. "I suppose it was not meant to be."

With his last words, Laxus stood and turned to face his opponent. "Shut up," he said calmly before rushing him. Acnologia began to smile but the emotion was instantly wiped off his face when Laxus threw a punch at him, charged with a magical energy that was completely different than his own. Not being able to absorb it, he took the hit and the energy passed into him and he screamed.

Acnologia was thrown back and before he could even catch his breath, Laxus was on him again, hitting him with an energy signature that he didn't understand. The two men began to scramble in the dirt, Acnologia trying his best to regain control over his magic as he was continuously assaulted at close range. He could tell Laxus was slowing down; the man's second wind could only last for so long, and that was when he planned his escape.

It came not a moment too soon. Laxus threw a hard right and hesitated a split second to catch his breath. "Enough!" Acnologia roared. If he couldn't draw the lightning slayer's energy into him, he would draw it from the world around him. Laxus' eyes widened as he felt life energy from the sky and earth all move into the man. He backed away from him quickly, grabbing Lucy and began to run from the fight with barely any energy left.

He turned around to look in horror as Acnologia transformed back into the dragon he had seen at the start.

You gave it your all, my son. There was nothing more you could have done. Electrum projected to him with a sad tone.

Laxus knew it was true. He also knew Lucy had given him some sort of strength to land the last few punches on the man. He had just wished it was enough to defeat that thing. And with that last thought, he and Lucy fell, both completely unconscious in the middle of the forest.

Overhead, a dragon began to circle the island.

. . .

This was not what Draco had envisioned when he invited his Mate into the sky with him. Laxus was currently squaring off with Acnologia in an intense battle.

Nurem was clutching his sleeve as she watched the events unfold below. "We must do something for him!" she exclaimed.

Draco shook his head. "Nurem, you cannot interfere. If you do, Acnologia will surely be able to find you and will come after us."

"I don't care!" she said passionately. "I cannot stand by to watch this happen!"

Her Mate knew there was no talking sense into her when she got like this. "It would mean leaving the oasis," he responded quietly.

Nurem took a deep breath. She had lived an incredibly long and fulfilling life. She knew the implications of what she was about to do, but some things were more important. She would regret every day extra she lived if she had done so at the expense of this man. "I understand."

Draco nodded his acceptance. It was something they had spoken about at length, the implications of Nurem having to leave the oasis, but they had weathered before and they would do so again. He just hoped they could get another sanctuary established quick enough this time. It had been so close last time…

"I love you," he said to his Mate, his words filled with tremendous emotion.

"You have been the light in my life in the midst of so much darkness, my love. We will see each other again," she said, trailing her hand down his face gently. After a brief kiss, the couple turned their attention back to the scene in front of them.

Draco pressed his left thumb into a small tattoo on the underside of his right forearm, a ripple of power filled the area and a woman appeared with the two. "Finally used that little spell I gave ya?" She asked as she gave a quick hug to the both of them. "You two look great, it's been a while."

"It has," Nurem reached out with both hands and the two women embraced. Merlin was a vision. While Nurem knew she was even older than herself, she looked not a day older than twenty-five. Dark, shimmering hair cascaded down the back of her svelte figure. Tattoos adorned most of her body, the most intricate of which being clocks on the underside of her right forearm and thirteen sigils on her left arm from her wrist to her neck.

"There is truly no time to explain. Might we ask your assistance."

Merlin cocked an eyebrow and looked at the scene in front of her. A group of incredibly wounded individuals was huddled at a small camp at the East of the Island. Another two were lying unconscious further away and Acnologia circled up above. She put her hand to the ground and closed her eyes, letting her unique magic flow from her. Scanning the Etheramo signature of the area, she thought she felt Zeref but he was gone.

Merlin didn't like to get involved. She had many times in her youth but as she gained a bit more perspective she stayed out of things. Draco was a big help to her after the incident in Minstrel, as he helped her learn self-forgiveness and taught her some meditation exercises to control her emotions a bit better.

For him to have gone a hair over five hundred years without calling it in, saving these people must mean a tremendous deal. She looked at Nurem and nodded her head just as she saw the entire group link hands and stand in a circle, ready to face their deaths together.

The dragon began to charge his breath and Nurem shouted, "There is no time! Quickly!"

"Right, hang on, we're going plane shifting!" Merlin shouted. Nurem took the direction, instantly using her Lunar abilities to put everyone into a deep sleep. When the dust had settled, Acnologia had disappeared and Tenrou Island was gone.

END CHAPTER 35

. . .

Hello lovers!

Big thanks to MadSoullessQueen for letting me use her original character Merlin. I'm sure if you messaged her with any questions, she'd be happy to answer them. Or you can leave them here and I will forward them to her. Mad also helped with Merlin's dialogue in this chapter to hugs to her!

Thanks for all your support and reviews. You have to know that getting those little hugs from you guys keeps me writing and keeps my writing interesting. No one wants to read Mus' depressed writings lol.

Sending you all my love!

Musicera