Just want to thank all my loyal readers once again for reading: the ones who read silently, the ones who faithfully comment,

and the ones who just simply 'like' and 'follow'. We're getting to the climax now. I'm almost finished writing it (although

there's still several chapters left to post). This chapter is almost like a turning point...where our heroes are going to start setting the tone for how the story

will end. Consider this a bonus chapter because I appreciate you.

I hope you'll find the ending to this story as beautiful and riveting as I do...Thank you everyone.

~ShanaHollows~


"Our people are spread throughout around town, looking for the hostages," Jellal said once the door to Sting's office was closed, "Unfortunately, it's a large city. Finding them will be like looking for needles in a haystack."

"The bomb on Lisanna is tight," Rogue said, "Our bomb expert, Gildarts Clive, can't crack it. If we try to remove the vest, it'll blow. If he tries to get to the wiring, it'll blow. If your people can diffuse the bomb vests, I welcome them to try. How in the heck are they even going to know where to start looking?"

Jellal glanced at Gajeel, "Get Wendy on the phone. Tell her to start with Lisanna's bomb."

Gajeel nodded, excusing himself to make the phone call.

"We have ways of detecting bombs," Jellal promised, "We'll find them. And if we can't diffuse them, then we'll get them out of the city."

"Would it help if our units were deployed too?" Rogue asked.

Jellal shook his head, "We work better alone."

Sting and Rogue glanced at each other, unsure what to think of the incredibly confident blue-haired man in front of them.

"Lucy and Levy said that they will meet with Dan and Samuel. They have the keys to the storage unit that used to house the gold bars we gave to you this afternoon," Jellal continued, "Dan and Samuel don't know the keys are useless."

Sting nodded, "That's good. It gives us a bit of leverage, but it's a little dangerous to just turn Lucy and Levy over, isn't it?"

"Not if we can find the hostages," Gajeel said, joining them again, "Wendy is nearby. She'll be here shortly."

"If we can disable the bombs and/or remove them from the city," Jellal continued Gajeel's thoughts, "Then we don't need Lucy and Levy to make an appearance. We'll simply take the entire group down at once."

"You make it sound so easy," Rogue said, shaking his head, "I hope you know what you're doing."

"We'll find them," Jellal promised, "It's unlikely they'll take all the hostages to the docks tonight. They'll have an out of the way base. And also a means of escape. This is where you come in."

Sting and Rogue exchanged glances again. These people, whoever they were, were impressive.

"So what do you want us to do?" Sting said finally.

"We need support in the water," Jellal said, "Making the meeting place at the docks only leaves them one route of escape. I'd also like back up along the shoreline buildings…just in case things go wrong, we'll block all the escape routes. But you have to stay out of sight until we need you. The goal, of course, will be to end this with no casualties. Not even Dan and Sam and their crew."

"Is that even possible?" Rogue asked incredulously.

Gajeel nodded, "It's our goal."

Sting shook his head, unsure if he believed what he was hearing, "And how do I get a hold of you?"

Jellal waved as he and Gajeel turned to go, "We'll find you," he promised, "If you need us, call Gajeel's cell."

The door shut behind them.

"These people are insane," Rogue sighed, "What do we do? Do we trust them?"

Sting shook his head, "I don't know what to think. But their strategy has the right idea. We'll get water support and land units in place. We need to block off escape routes. What happens from there…I guess we'll find out the hard way."


Cana walked away from the officers and the 8-Island employees to sit at a table by herself. She sighed heavily. She had that feeling again…the one of darkness and a dangerous feeling of bad things that were about to happen. She glanced back at Lisanna, who was rightfully scared out of her mind.

She took out her cards, shuffling them well before laying them on the table.

"Do they say the same thing?" Kinana asked, joining her at the table.

"Some of it is the same," Cana confirmed, "But there's something else this time."

Kinana leaned forward, gazing at the cards she definitely couldn't read.

"I'm looking at Lisanna right now," Cana said, "It appears that there is imminent danger, which I think we can safely say is true…but I don't think it's going to end badly for her. There's something else here…I can't figure out what it means."

"Look at Juvia," Kinana suggested.

Cana reshuffled her cards, glancing nervously back at Lisanna, who was deep in conversation with an officer by the name of Bixslow. He held both her hands, trying to comfort her.

She laid her cards out a second time, "I see redemption. Not for Juvia, but someone who is close beside her."

"Virgo?" Kinana asked.

Cana shook her head, "No. Someone else."

She flipped the next card, "The death card again."

Cana and Kinana exchanged glances.

"Is it…for Juvia?" Kinana asked slowly.

Cana shook her head, "I can't be sure. But there's something else in this reading too. It's been consistent in both of these readings and the one I did at the restaurant. I can't explain it."

She flipped another card, "Heartbreak."

"I don't understand," Kinana said slowly.

"Neither do I," Cana shook her head, "It doesn't make sense."

"So what about Lucy?" Kinana asked, catching Cana's gaze. They were all worried about Lucy. They hadn't seen her in days, but somehow, they were all connected to her in the middle of whatever this mess was.

Cana took a deep breath, shuffling her cards one more time.

"It's almost the same reading," Cana said slowly as she flipped the cards, "Heartache and redemption and death…and then the cards that were common in all the readings that I can't explain."

"What are the common cards?" Kinana ventured to ask.

Cana looked up into Kinana's eyes, "Angels."

Kinana let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, "I think…that means there's hope."

Cana hoped so.

Kinana frowned, "None of the pictures of Angels you have show them with wings."

"I believe most Angels do have wings," Cana said, "In fact my mentor believed that Angels don't generally need their wings…but they can be summoned in times of dire need. Most Angels have never seen the legendary wings."

Kinana nodded, "Strange that all of us humans picture Angels as having wings then."

Cana glanced at her, "It's comforting though, right? To think that Angels are watching and protecting us?"

At that moment, the doors opened and a young girl strode into the police station. She glanced about, spotting Lisanna. She approached with a warm smile. Sting and Rogue entered the station immediately afterward.

Cana and Kinana stood up from the table. Cana gathered her cards and the two of them walked back to Lisanna's chair.

Police officers stood in front of Lisanna.

"How did you get in?" Bixslow demanded, "We have officers outside preventing anyone from getting in!"

"It's okay," Rogue said, "She's with us."

"My name is Wendy," she said, a smile on her pretty face, "I'm here to help."

Something about the young girl spread a peace throughout the room. Bixslow, Droy and Jet lowered their guard. They had all been ready to tackle her...a tiny little blue-haired girl who couldn't be older than sixteen years old. Sting and Rogue stood behind her as she approached Lisanna. But nobody asked her any more questions as she knelt down on the floor beside her.

"Hello Lisanna," she said sweetly.

Her long blue hair reached to the floor. Lisanna couldn't help admiring it as she regarded the pretty little girl in front of her. Her eyes emitted a sense of peace and protection.

"Don't be afraid," Wendy said softly, taking the shaking girl's hand, "Everything is going to be okay."


Crime Sorciere was scouring the city for places that hostages might be held. It was a losing battle. Even Erik, with his Aura, could not pinpoint unusual activity that might indicate a hostage's location.

"There's got to be a way to pinpoint their locations!" Jellal sat down on the ledge of the old apartment building they'd helped Lucy and Levy vacate only two days prior.

"There's too many people on the street," Erik sighed, "I can't pinpoint them with so many people out and about."

"We're running out of time," Gajeel grunted.

"Okay," Erza said, trying to gather her thoughts, "They would want places where there's people, right? If the bombs go off, they'll want to hurt as many people as possible."

"Not necessarily," Minerva argued, "Their point is to get what they want. I have a feeling they'll blow the bombs either way."

Everyone went quiet, desperately asking the Heavens to give them a clue…any clue to set them in the right direction.

In the darkness of his pocket, Gajeel's phone blinked. There was a voicemail from Gray there, just waiting to be discovered.


Lucy and Natsu were sitting on the couch. His head was on her lap as she stroked absentmindedly at his hair. Levy sat in the chair across from them, deep in thought.

"This waiting sucks!" Natsu announced, sitting up. He put his elbows on his knees and grabbed his head with both hands, "I don't care what Mr. Know-It-All-Doover says, Luce…you're not going to the docks tonight."

Lucy cocked her head at the unusual term. She'd heard it more than once now. What was a Doover?

"Natsu," Levy said, "Crime Sorciere is doing everything they can to make sure we never come into contact with Dan, Samuel, or anyone from their group. We just have to trust them."

"I would have run a long time ago if it wasn't for all of you," Lucy said quietly, "I don't like this any more than you do, Natsu…but you were the one who encouraged me to stay. You were the one who wanted me to trust you."

He sat back down beside her, taking her hand, "I'm sorry, Luce."

She smiled down at him. Levy frowned. Something had definitely changed between them.

"Where are the keys?" Lucy asked, "I assume since you went to the storage unit, one of you has them."

Levy took the keys from her pocket, offering them to her.

Lucy shook her head, "They're no good to me now. The memories that used to tie the keys to my mother are tainted now. I wish you would have leveled with me, Levy. We've been friends for a long time."

"I'm sorry," Levy said, sitting on the other side of Lucy, "I wish I could've. I just…saw the opportunity where someone could help us and took it. I'm tired of running."

Lucy shook her head, "I am too. It's the worst feeling in the world knowing that I caused this. Lisanna, Juvia, Virgo and Laki might die because of me. Magnolia could suffer major damages tonight…because of me. Your life has been ruined. Countless other lives are gone. Because of me."

Both Levy and Natsu looked at her.

"I need a minute alone," she said softly, tears edging in her eyes, "I'm going to the bathroom."

Natsu stood up, "We can go talk in your bedroom."

She shook her head, "I just need to be alone."

Natsu looked solemnly at Levy when she'd left the room, "Levy…"

"I know, Natsu. I don't what to do either," Levy sighed, "Part of me wants to run again. The other part knows we need to make our stand."

She watched him carefully as he fumbled with his fingers. It was an awkward silence, lasting several minutes.

"Natsu…did you tell her? That you're an Angel?"

Natsu looked up, "No. I've almost told her twice. Every time I come close, something happens and I don't get to finish."

"Something has changed between you. You're acting differently with her...overprotective. You slept with her, didn't you?" Levy asked.

Natsu nodded, looking down again.

"Natsu, you know –"

"I KNOW!" he muttered, "But I love her. And you have to understand, Levy…we need each other. She's the only person who has ever loved me…I'm the only person who has loved her since her mother died. Besides you. But it's different!"

Levy nodded, pain etching through her eyes, "But you know it can't be forever. What will you do when you have to go back to Heaven?"

Natsu's eyes clouded with tears, "I don't know, Lev. I guess a part of me hopes I won't have to go back. I didn't belong there, Levy. I screwed up everything I did. It's different here…with Lucy. We belong to each other. She needs me. She said so herself! I've helped her smile again. She's learned to laugh. I need her too. I'm nobody in Heaven. I'm a joke. I might only mean something to Lucy here, but I'd rather mean something to only Lucy than be ridiculed and laughed at in Heaven. And if I'm forced back to Heaven, what will happen to Lucy? She'll lose her smile again. She'll have nobody. I mean…you might stick around, but…"

His voice trailed off. Tears edged his eyes, dripping down onto his knees. He tried to wipe them away, but more came in their stead.

Levy leaned over, drawing him in for a hug. She didn't know what to say. As much as she agreed with him, she didn't make the rules of Heaven.

"I don't want to be the Angel of Oops anymore," he murmured into her shoulder, "I just want to be with Lucy."

They hugged for a few minutes. Natsu was so upset, Levy found herself using presence on him. He needed the calm reassurance. Everything would work out somehow.

Levy sat straight up, "Natsu…what you need to understand is that you're not a joke. Not to me, not to Gajeel, not to Erza, and not to Gray. You have accomplished some pretty major things in your short time here in Earthland. No more Angel of Oops. You've made lasting friendships with all of us. And all of us will protect you in Heaven. As for Lucy…."

Levy stopped in her train of thought, glancing around, "Lucy's been gone for awhile now," she said, eyebrows furrowing.

They both stood up, heading for the bathroom. Natsu's tears were forgotten as they began to panic. The door was wide open. Nobody was inside.

"Luce!" Natsu yelled out.

There was no answer.

"Oh my Mavis," Levy breathed out. The door to the garage was wide open too. Gajeel's car, which had been parked on the street was also gone.

"She's gone to the docks!" Natsu half-yelled, heading out the door.

Levy was right behind. She grabbed her cell phone, dialing Gajeel's number immediately.


Lucy had found Gajeel's car keys and was driving his car down the road toward the docks. She didn't want to be responsible for any more heartache or death. It seemed the only way out was to turn herself over to Dan and Samuel. She felt bad for betraying Natsu, but she knew he would never let her go. She didn't want anything bad to happen to him if he did, by some miracle, agree to let her go to the docks. No, it was better if she went alone.

She had to go. It was the only way to stop this once and for all.

She wasn't incredibly good at driving Gajeel's car. It was a standard and being that she and Levy had been on the run pretty much all of their adult life, she hadn't exactly had a lot of driving experience. She didn't even have a licence, but she figured tonight, the police had their hands full of other issues and nobody was going to stop her.

She ground the gears as she made her way through town, keeping to the back roads…just in case someone saw her.

Her nerves were starting to bite at her. She willed herself not to think about it. It was necessary. For Natsu. For Levy.

Taking a deep breath, she parked the car several hundred metres back from the docks to take the surroundings. It wasn't time yet. For now, she would just observe. She let out a silent prayer.

She reached over to the glove compartment, trying to open it. It was locked. She used Gajeel's car keys. The compartment opened. As she suspected, there was a revolver insider. She pocketed it hesitantly, put the keys back in the ignition in case she needed a quick getaway, then got out of the car. It was time to go confront Samuel and Dan. Hopefully, they would already be there even if it was a few minutes early. She knew the others would be hot on her heels. If she could help it, she wanted to be gone by the time they arrived. She didn't want anyone involved anymore. Too many people had been hurt. She determined tonight it would end...one way or another.


Wendy sat with Lisanna on the floor. They were alone. She had used compel to send everyone else to another room, even Sting and Rogue. She needed to speak with Lisanna on her own.

The girl's white hair was soaking with sweat. Her face was etched in fear. She'd cried out most of her tears and now, her body simply shook.

"Lisanna," Wendy said, catching her attention.

Lisanna looked her dead in the eyes. Wendy let her body glow, a luminescent blue aura surrounding her. Lisanna's eyes widened.

"I know you're scared. And you have every right to be. But you need to know that you're not alone," Wendy smiled gently, sending vibes of peace throughout Lisanna's body, "And you're not going to die tonight. It's not your time. I can't explain to you what I'm going to do, so I need you to trust me, okay?"

Lisanna nodded, feeling comfort and warmth surround her body. Wendy closed her eyes, grabbing both of Lisanna's hands. Lisanna followed Wendy's lead, closing her eyes. She tried not to burst into tears as she waited for whatever was going to happen, but it was a futile attempt. She was terrified, even with the peace and warmth flowing in the air. Would it hurt to die? Would she feel the bomb tear apart her body? Would she be aware of the last moments? How many people would die with her?

Wendy used transport, concentrating on only Lisanna and leaving the vest behind. They only transported two feet, but Lisanna collapsed into tears as she saw the vest lying harmlessly on the floor beside her…amidst her clothing. Immediately, Wendy retrieved her clothing. Lisanna got dressed slowly, panic still in her eyes as she eyed the vest.

"I have to get this out of here," Wendy said softly, picking up the vest, then pausing to give her a hug, "I'll be sure to tell your brother and sister if I see them what a beautiful young woman you've become."

Lisanna looked into the eyes of the young girl again, "My brother…my sister…"

"Yes. They're Angels now, Lisanna. They are so proud of you for being so brave. I'm an Angel too. Take comfort in knowing that you're being looked after. You'll be okay."

Wendy released Lisanna from the hug and headed for the doors with the vest in her arms, Lisanna staring wide-eyed after her. As Wendy exited the door, she flicked her wrist, erasing Lisanna's memory of the last 10 minutes, but leaving the peaceful feeling. Wendy transported to the forest to get the vest a safe distance away.

Moments later, it seemed like time unfroze as the police officers assigned to protect the people in the station and the 8-Island employees flooded back into the room.

"The vest is gone!" Kinana gasped.

"And so is Wendy," Loke said, glancing out the glass doors.

Lisanna stood alone with a look on her face that could only be explained as a cross between confusion and tranquillity.

Kinana gave Lisanna a hug, "I'm so glad you're okay!"

Bixslow put a hand on her back, "Are you alright?"

Lisanna was still staring at the door. A deep sense of peace flooded through her. She wasn't crying or shaking anymore as she nodded slowly, "I don't understand…how?"

Cana followed her gaze to the glass doors that Wendy must have left from. A surge of comfort passed through the station, making everyone feel relieved that the immediate danger for Lisanna had passed.

A small smile on her lips, Cana joined the rest of the 8-Island crew as they hugged and cried tears of absolute relief with Lisanna.

She understood the tarot message now.