Hey Readers! I hope everyone is doing well and keeping positive in all the crazy that's happening.

I just wanted to take a moment and let you guys know that I'm sorry this took so long to put together. To be blunt, I am not doing okay. There's a plethora of things coming together that are making me unhappy, and it's making it difficult to find the motivation to do anything, even writing, which I love to do. I'm not in danger of hurting myself or anything; I think I'm just depressed. I'm working on it, but I'm struggling more than usual. I don't want you guys to worry about me, I just want you guys to know why this is taking longer to finish than usual. So... not a cry for help or anything, just letting you know where I'm at.

On a lighter topic, this was supposed to be done by now… I greatly underestimated how long this last day/ fight was going to be. There will for sure be another chapter after this one, possibly two. We'll see. But it is almost done! Promise!

As always, thanks for all the love and happy reading!

Lucy could have sworn her brain shut down. There was no Zeref, there was no mess, there was no fighting. There was only Natsu, her Natsu, kneeling in front of her with that little smile on his face that she had missed so much.

"Natsu…" His name was barely a whisper leaving her lips, but he heard her- of course he heard her- and then his smile morphed into a grin. His grin.

Another explosion rocked the air, throwing them both high into the air and making Lucy scream.

Just as she began to fall, she was yanked to a stop. She looked back and saw that her spirits had not gone back as she thought they had. "Gemini!"

"What can we do, Miss Lucy?" they asked.

A grunt pulled her attention away and she saw Natsu catch himself just before he rolled off the shed's roof. Zeref stood below him, a frown on his face. "How on earth did you do that?" he asked loudly.

Natsu's growl was audible even from this distance and Lucy gasped as she finally got a good look at him. He was Natsu, the real Natsu, there was no doubt, but he was different. He was shirtless, wearing a dirty pair of shorts that left most of his skin exposed, revealing a much thinner frame covered in large patches of black skin. His hands and feet were covered in red scales and his fingers ended in sharp black talons. When he stood, his fists began to burn as he stared at Zeref with more anger than she'd ever seen in the dragonslayer's eyes before.

"You took me away from Lucy," he hissed.

"You came to me," the other man pointed out.

Natsu moved so fast, Lucy was surprised Zeref was able to dodge. He landed with a crash, barely missing his target as the other wizard jumped out of the way. "You tricked me!"

Gemini began to fly Lucy backwards, forcing Lucy to kick back into gear. "No, don't take me away." She scanned the property and saw that none of the battles had ended. Even Levy, who didn't like fighting, was still going strong, trying to protect their facility. "Set down over there," she said, pointing to an area in the corner of the property.

A crash nearby drew Lucy's attention back to the shed. Another large hole had been created in the roof. Natsu was flying through the air, on his own power it appeared, while Zeref was flying behind him, creating another ball of black in his hands.

"Turn into me," Lucy said. Once Gemini morphed, Lucy scanned the sky. "Let's do the spell we learned with Jellal."

"But Miss Lucy-"

She cut Gemi off, "It's fine, I promise. He'll know what we're doing and get to us." I hope. And if he didn't join them in time… she'd just have to make up for it. It was only one person, surely she could handle the extra strain on her magic for that, right?

Gemini looked uncertain, but didn't argue again as they held out their hands, left palm down, right palm up. Once their hands were close together, both lowered their heads.

Zeref needed to be stopped. Leo had said he'd been a problem years before. He was creating demons and using them against the world. Worse than that, he was turning others into demons and controlling them. He'd created a demon out of Natsu and forced him to fight for him! That was unacceptable. She didn't know what else he'd done, but that much was enough for her.

Lucy was relieved to see the stars twinkling overhead. Using their light as courage, she checked once more to make sure Zeref was busy before she and Gemini started to collect their magic.

"Why?" Natsu hissed as he slammed a flaming fist against Zeref's black barrier. "Why did you target me?"

Zeref didn't answer as he made his shield pulse, sending out a wave of force that pushed Natsu back. Natsu landed heavily a dozen feet away before he charged again. "I don't know why you say it like that. I merely sent out word that the thing you wanted most was available if you still wanted it."

"What do you mean, what I wanted most?" The force of Natsu's attack caused Zeref's shield to sink further into the dirt with each swing. "What I wanted most was to return to Lucy and you stopped me from doing that." He slammed both fists down, creating a momentary distortion in the magic. Zeref frowned before wrapping Natsu in the ball instead. Natsu cried out as the magic began to inhibit his magic, causing his flames to slowly sputter.

The black haired man dusted himself off as he studied Natsu. "What you desired most was family, wasn't it?" He circled Natsu, his hands clasped behind his back. "You have no parents. Your adoptive father, a dragon of all things, disappeared when you were young and then appeared once more only to die before your very eyes! All you've ever had is that little shack in the woods," he said as he stopped in front of Natsu, whose flames were nearly out. "I only wanted to let you know that I was available if you wanted to meet; to let you know that you could still have a family."

"I have a family!" Natsu's fire returned in a flash, incinerating the black ball and sending Zeref flying backwards. "Fairy Tail is my family! Lucy is my family! I don't need anyone else!"

"Not even your own brother?" Zeref asked as he landed on his feet.

Natsu slammed into him, knocking him onto his back. "I have no brother!"

"Well, that's just not true." Zeref grunted as Natsu's hands closed around his throat. "I didn't lie… about us… being brothers."

Natsu threw Zeref, who crashed into a large tree. He barely seemed to feel it as he righted himself and dusted off his clothes. "That's some way you have to treat your brother," Natsu said as he stalked forward.

"Are you serious?" Zeref chuckled. "I was helping you become the most powerful being on the planet! I even had a new name for you- E.N.D." Zeref dodged Natsu's next attack by flying up into the air, supported by his magic. "Etherious Natsu Dragneel. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think? You were going to be so powerful, no one could stop you. We were going to take over the world!"

"Why?" Natsu asked. He felt something shift in his chest as his heart continued to beat even harder, but he ignored it. "Why would you want to do that?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Zeref asked, folding his hands behind his back once more. "Being in charge would come with a plethora of benefits, chief among them being that I'd never be hunted again. I wouldn't have to be bothered by these trivial matters of right and wrong- being in charge would mean that whatever I did would be right. I could devote myself to my studies and stop worrying about being caught by the authorities or those pesky celestial spirits. Especially once I have those keys." He frowned as he looked down and finally seemed to realize Lucy had disappeared. As he looked around for her, he didn't see the attack coming that sent him plummeting once more to the ground.

As he righted himself once more, Natsu landed hard in front of him. The dragonslayer bared his teeth as he growled, "You will never lay so much as a finger on Lucy." His fire continued to grow around him, the heat increasing as it sputtered and flashed, reacting to his volatile emotions.

"We'll see about that." Zeref held out his hands, palms towards Natsu. "I think I've indulged you long enough. My men should be finishing up soon, and we have to take care of that little blonde of yours so we can leave."

Lines of black bolted out of Zeref's palms, hitting Natsu before he could dodge. He gasped as the magic prickled along his skin, settling in his chest like a lead weight. "What did you do?" he asked as his fire began to warp around him.

Zeref smiled and let his hands fall to his sides. "Nothing." His eyes flashed as a small smile spread across his face. Natsu charged at him again, knocking him sideways into another post. The man did nothing to defend himself as he was knocked around the remainder of the barn like he was in a pinball machine.

When he flew through the roof, Natsu joined him just as Zeref's body landed across the peak with a thud. The black haired man coughed as he sat up, his clothes the only sign that he'd been tossed around. He dusted off a sleeve as he finally spoke again. "What do you think your dear wife did while I had you?" he inquired. Natsu stalked towards him, smoke billowing from his nose, fire licking up his arms and legs. "How long do you think she mourned you? How long before she accepted that you weren't coming back? Maybe even dead? Do you think she moved here to get away from your memory?"

His eyes flashed with sinister intent. "How long do you think it took her to move on? To find someone else." Natsu grabbed him by the throat and threw him through the roof again and then jumped down after him.

Zeref didn't bother to right himself, just remained sprawled out under the bits of wood and tin. "She's a beautiful woman." Natsu stomped to his side. "I'm sure there were plenty of suitors after you." Natsu yanked him up and then punched him, making him flip backwards into more debris. "I bet she found someone else. It has been six years after all." With a flaming fist, Zeref was thrown across the building once more. This time, he caught himself with his black shield before hitting the wall. He slid to the ground, landing lightly.

"How does that make you feel, little brother?" Zeref asked as he cocked his head and studied the dragonslayer with calculating eyes.

"Don't call me that." Natsu huffed, anger burning hotter through his veins than ever before. He couldn't seem to focus. He knew he was hitting his target, but try as he might, he couldn't focus on the fight. His thoughts shifted from this bastard, who lied to him, who drugged him and abused him, who kept him from his family, from Lucy, for so long to what Lucy did in in his absence, to why she was living on this farm, to the other magic presences he could sense, to where Lucy had gone-

"How many do you think there were?" Zeref continued, interrupting his thoughts. "Do you think there was only one? How many men do you think have spent time with your little wife?"

The weight in Natsu's chest increased.

"How many men did she date?"

This heat. Something was wrong. He was too angry- he needed to calm down.

"How many did she touch-"

She would never-!

"-did she kiss?"

Natsu growled as his flames heated up exponentially, instantly incinerating the nearby grass and setting the building and remaining nearby trees on fire.

Zeref's voice floated through the air, the words coiling around Natsu's heart… the whisper the loudest sound he'd ever heard. "How many men have shared her bed?"

He fell forward, his breath leaving him in huffs as his heartbeat accelerating to a near painful speed.

Zeref's smile widened with malice. "How many of them have touched her, tasted her, seen what she hides under those barely-there clo-"

The roar that left Natsu sent Zeref and the rest of the building flying. Fire surrounded him as he reared back, his body jerking as he clawed at his head.

The force of the explosion nearly knocked over Lucy and Gemini, who sat nearby readying themselves for their spell. Lucy covered her head with an arm, focusing so she did not lose the magic she had already gathered. Jellal had told her that the spell worked more efficiently if she concentrated as much of her magic into her hands as she could before starting. She'd given herself and Gemini a couple minutes to do just that while Zeref had been distracted, but now it was time to cast the spell. When she tried to look over her shoulder, Gemini reached forward and stopped her.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

It was still strange seeing her own face sometimes, but she'd never experienced so much anxiety as she did in that moment. Gemini was staring passed her shoulder, their face set in a combination of worry and resolve, but it was the eyes that had her keeping her gaze on them.

They were terrified.

"Miss Lucy, we need to cast it now," they murmured.

Lucy nodded and then looked once more at the stars. It was strangely quiet. There were no sounds of fighting anymore, but what had happened? Were the others okay? Had they been beaten?

Would Jellal get there in time?

The spell they were going to use was similar to Fairy Law, but much more powerful. It could target one or multiple targets, but instead of merely defeating an enemy, it took away their magic, forever. Because of that, it required too much magic for any single person to cast, even a wizard saint.

It needed the direction of a celestial wizard, as well as at least two other sources of similar magical energy. Gemini was a perfect choice, and Jellal's magic, combined with how strong he was, meant that they could perform the spell with just three of them.

But if he didn't join them in time…

"Miss Lucy," Gemini said more urgently, grabbed her hands, their own glowing with the same light. "We must start."

With a nod and a quick prayer to the stars, they returned their hands to their previous position and Lucy began to say the incantation with Gemini.

"Oh Heavens above, hear these words,

For they are the will of the ones who utter them.

The land needs help, and we answer that call.

Preserve what sustains us,

So that we may be sustained.

Take that which threatens us,

Eternally."

When Lucy glanced up, she realized it wasn't enough. The spell manifested in the shape of a flower, a large grouping of purple heads that increased in brightness as the magic flowed into them. She'd never performed the spell before, but she knew the lights weren't bright enough; the spell wasn't being given enough magic.

"We call upon the bodies, the spirits, the king!

Take, so you can preserve."

Lucy took a deep breath as the light around them coalesced, the tug on her magic increasing as she tried to take on the added burden. Jellal didn't get here in time…

Help me mom.

"Prendi-!"

Lucy was cut off as she was suddenly flung backwards, a burning sensation in her leg momentarily distracting her as she slammed into a tree. She collapsed against the ground with a groan.

"Sweet," came a voice. "That was awfully close. Where'd you learn such a fun spell?"

Lucy looked up, anger flashing in her eyes as she met those of the sand wizard, Ajeel. He was bruised and blood trickled down one arm, but he was still standing.

Oh no, Lucy thought, eyes widening. He was the one fighting Jellal.

"Hope I didn't throw you too hard," he said with a grin. Lucy tried to get to her feet, but the pain in her leg made that impossible. She glanced down and saw that her entire shin had been shredded. As Ajeel stepped closer, she realized it had been his sand.

Gemini! Lucy jerked her head up and looked around. The man in front of her laughed as he crossed his arms. "Are you looking for those little spirits? They went back. Pop! Gone." He grinned and reached out a hand. Instantly she was surrounded by a swirl of sand that lifted her into the air. She tried to push her way past it, but even though she could see through it, it felt solid.

"Don't move too much. The more you fight it, the more you'll get cut up." His grin widened, revealing bloodied teeth. "We wouldn't want you killing yourself before we finish repaying you for your services."

Lucy reached out, but couldn't feel Gemini anywhere. Worse, Natsu's magical signature had disappeared again. That more than anything else caused Lucy to remain frozen as she was taken out of the woods and returned to the crater that used to be the large shed. Even Gray's ice shield was gone, as well as he and Juvia. Lucy's heart ached as her vision blurred, keeping her from taking in the sight before her- but she didn't want to.

Zeref had been standing there, his hand raised and pressed against the black snout of Natsu- no longer human, but in a full demon form. His eyes burned black and on his back she had seen wings- wings made of black magic just like Zeref's.

She was suddenly thrust through the air, stopping mere feet from the pair. Lucy blinked away the tears as fear threatened to consume her when she saw the rest of his men nearby. No, not all of them. Invel was missing. Still…

Her friends had been beaten.

"What do you all think?" Zeref said as he continued to pet the giant demon's nose. "I think my pet is looking a bit… peckish."

Several murmurs of agreement had Zeref cocking his head. "What do you think, hmm?" Zeref removed his hand and the demon- her poor Natsu- turned her way. He sniffed at the air around her and then made a noise in his throat.

"I know, she is a little thin," Zeref agreed. "How about you just kill her for fun then?" The demon's eyes lit up, making Zeref laugh.

"No!" Lucy realized her body had gone numb, even her leg, so she couldn't struggle free. "No, Natsu, please don't!" The demon cocked his head, but that murderous gleam was still there.

"Please, Natsu, I know you're in there," Lucy tried again. "Please! You don't want to do this!"

"I do believe he does," Zeref argued.

"What did you do?" Lucy asked, her anger slowly diminishing, but refusing to disappear even as fear filled the void left behind. "He was better! What did you do?"

The black haired wizard chuckled. "Actually, I have to thank you for that. I believe your cleanse may have actually helped."

Lucy's eyes widened. What?

"You see, I've spent the last few years perfecting the formula to fuse the DNA of a demon with that of a magical being in an effort to create a more powerful and obedient pet. I must admit that the thought of clearing out his system of the previous experiments did not occur to me. I kept injecting him with my newest concoctions, which probably skewed my results.

"Your potion appears to have cleared out the old gunk that remained and left at least some of the new formulas. Fortunately for me, your cleanse wasn't strong enough to get it all out, which is why he didn't revert all the way. All I had to do was get him angry enough to reactivate the formula that remained." He winked at her. "Ego is the most efficient way to fully activate the bond, but anger is much easier to accomplish."

Zeref grinned as he cocked his head. "I thank you for your assistance in fixing my pet. Honestly, I was running out of ideas. Now," he said as he took a step back, "I think I'd like to give you one final gift before I leave, Ms. Heartfilia." The smile he gave her was bland at best, but his eyes... She'd never seen a gaze as evil and worrisome as the one he turned her way.

"Death."

So like I said, there will be one more chapter for sure (I think I can wrap this up in the next one.) After that there will be an epilogue- because honestly, you guys want some Lucy/Human Natsu interaction. I can feel it.

My question to you guys is this: what would you guys like to see in the wrap up? Is there a specific interaction? A visit? Another character perhaps being treated at the facility if they fix it up and stay? Let me know! I'd love to get some ideas of things you'd like to see. I have my own things I'll be working on of course, but I'd love feedback. PM or review and let me know!