Happy Memorial Day!

Lucy was excited, for by Millianna's estimation they were on schedule to arrive at the Dragneel's in a few days! That meant their journey was near its end! Lucy was walking back from getting the Pegasi some water when she heard the sound of flapping wings in the distance. It was coming from the direction of the Dragneel's. For an instant she was hopeful that it was Natsu coming to get them, too excited to wait at his home any longer.

She was saddened and also confused as the form of a black dragon started to take shape, though perhaps Natsu had sent someone else to fetch them? She knew it wasn't Zeref, the scales weren't quite right and she couldn't quite imagine Natsu sending a complete stranger for them, but she still held out hope… until she was roughly grabbed by the set of front claws belonging to said dragon.

The face glaring back at her showed no signs of kindness like all the other dragons she had met and when it gruffly spoke she got a sinking feeling in her heart. "You do look like your mother, I see why the idiots I sent after her messed up now." the black dragon snarled. Lucy gulped and meekly said "Acnologia I presume?"

By this time Lucy's family and traveling companions had noticed the uproar and Bisca and Alzack rushed forward with bows, Yukino and Michelle protectively standing in front of Asuka. Bisca and Alzack each had magic tipped arrows at the ready, but they didn't know if they dared risk firing them off, for the dragon might try to use Lucy as a human shield.

The dragon chuckled, looking at the pathetic humans below. His corrupted mind told him that this was the real reason Grandeeney hadn't shared the scale with him, she didn't want him to have the power that he now had to do as he pleased! He would put an end to all other dragons, if it was the last thing he did. Then he would teach these humans what true magic was! They would serve him! The darkness in his soul had twisted Acnologia, there was no longer any shred of the former friend of the Heartfilias and the Dragneels remaining.

Sneering at Layla he shouted "You will regret not choosing me!" Lucy was trying to get her keys out of their pouch, a difficult task with her arms held firmly to her side but she had almost succeed, when Acnologia suddenly moved. The keys that had been loosely hanging from her fingertips, slipped free and fell to the ground. Lucy didn't have time to watch them hit it, however, for Acnologia had taken off, back in the direction he had come from.

As they flew he muttered loud enough for Lucy to hear "Don't think this is all just revenge against your mother and the dragons for the wrongs they committed against me, I know you are the one who stopped my vortex in the Celestial Kingdom." Lucy gasped, for she had never really thought about where it had come from, always too preoccupied with the damage it had caused. Now she couldn't help but wonder who had told him about it and what else Acnologia knew. The only thought giving her a small sense of peace at the moment was at least she stopped him from having even more power than he already clearly had.

XXX

Meanwhile, Grandeeney, Wendy and Shelia had all been working hard to heal Natsu. Acnologia had cracked and bruised several ribs, causing a little internal bleeding but they had him basically all patched up. Igneel hadn't dared to carry his son too far after catching him, so he had brought him directly to the ground below. He now stood with Zeref, Mavis and all of Natsu's friends as they waited to hear if the three healers were successful.

After what felt like many hours had passed, Grandeeney stood up, wiping away some sweat from her brow as she did so. Thankfully their magic levels had fully recovered as it had been a week or so since the last of the war victims had been healed. "He'll be fine, in fact I expect him to wake up at any moment." she informed everyone. A collective sigh of relief went through the group and almost as if summoned, Natsu's eyes fluttered open.

When he tried to sit up, Wendy put a stilling hand on his shoulder and said "Easy, we have only just finished healing you so you will still be sore." Natsu nodded and started to lie back down when he remembered who had put him in this shape and what he had threatened. Neither Wendy or Shelia were prepared for him to snap into a sitting position, so neither could stop him and he let out a groan as his newly healed muscles and bones protested, but he asked "What happened to Acnologia?"

"He got away, but don't worry, we'll hunt him down when you are better." Zeref said. Natsu eyes showed his fear as he said "No, he somehow knows about Lucy! He threatened her right before he threw me!" Wendy gasped and asked "You mean he knows about the scale?" Natsu shook his head as a few of their friends looked lost since they thought that was the reason she was snatched in the first place, before he said "No, he said he knew how close we were and that he was going to let me live so me and her mom would understand his wrath."

Grim expressions covered everyone's faces, they knew that was a threat of death and that Acnologia was cruel enough to follow through. "We should set out after him now." Gajeel grunted and the others were inclined to agree, when the sound of flapping wings reached the ears of the dragons and the Phipthere. All of them turned towards it, causing the magical beings whose ears weren't as powerful to do so too. "Speaking of the devil." muttered Mavis as the smell of Acnologia proceeded his form, thanks to the slight breeze in the air.

Once he was close enough for the dragons to hear him, but not close enough to try and nab him, Acnologia growled out "You should all stay where you are." "Oh yeah? And why's that?" questioned Natsu, not too happy that a psycho like Acnologia was trying to call the shots… until a soft cry from a familiar voice and brief whiff of her scent reached his nose. All grew still as Acnologia showed he held Lucy within his claws.

Acnologia glared at Grandeeney as he shouted "I see why you held back this power from me, you were afraid that humans could be more powerful then you, so you gave it to one who was too weak to ever use it for its true purpose." Grandeeney glared, she didn't like the implications that Layla was weak, nor that it was fear that kept her from giving him one as well, but she held her peace, not sure what to do to keep Lucy safe.

Turns out keeping quiet rather than responding was the both the right and the wrong choice for the moment, for Acnologia took her silence as acknowledgement, though his satisfaction in this quickly turned to wrath as he felt wronged by Grandeeney. After all, all of this could have been his sooner and he might have had a shot at getting Layla for his own, if she had only given him a scale too! Lucy let out a cry as his claws briefly tightened and it was only Sting and Rogue holding him back that kept Natsu from springing at Acnologia and trying to tear him to shreds.

Her cry reminded Acnologia that he still held her within his claws and for the first time since grabbing her he took noticed of her. It was then that he sensed the magic of a dragon scale on her person and saw the mark on her, though he hadn't paid attention when Bhikhu had bound his scale to him, so he didn't know what it meant. Growling he said "So, even Layla's daughter rated a scale when I didn't? The magic is too strong and new to be Grandeeney's scale, perhaps your pink haired dragon friend is more than just a friend?"

As Lucy stilled and paled in his claws, he felt that he had guessed correctly. Seeing the necklace that the Celestial Spirits had given her, he ripped it off her neck as he said "This will make this all the more sweeter." Before Lucy could question what he meant, he released her causing her to drop from the sky towards the ground. The magical beings were all in shock and Natsu couldn't get himself to move as he watched with horror as Lucy fell. He could never reach her in time.

Lucy let out a scream, but she forced herself to think, there had to be a way out of this! It felt like the world was moving in slow motion and at high speed, but she felt a zing of energy from the bracelet around her wrist and she knew what she must do. Looking in the direction of Natsu, she closed her eyes and whispered "I bind myself to your way of life, for you are everything to me."

Unlike with Acnologia, Lucy started glowing immediately, her fall coming to a halt as the ancient magic of the dragons did its work. Natsu stared in awe as Acnologia cried "No! I took the scale! How is this possible!?" Wings burst from the light and gave several strong flaps that took Lucy away from Acnologia and towards Natsu and the others. Lucy landed as the light faded, revealing her dragon form.

Her scales were a pink that nearly matched Natsu's hair color, but it was her wings that drew everyone's attention. They were nearly transparent, tinged with the same pink as the scales, but along the lines that marked the bones and the edges of the wings, were star like patterns, which Lucy would learn when she used them at night could glow if she wanted them to. Never had a dragon had these kinds of wings and none probably ever will again.

Lucy could tell the magic that the Celestial Spirit King had bestowed upon her was gone, replaced with a more dragon like one, but she was sure it was what influenced her wings design. Lucy walked up to Natsu who was still staring up at her, having collapsed backwards on the ground. She brought her forehead to his and held it there as they both closed their eyes, each feeling more complete by being back in the others presence.

Acnologia couldn't stand the happy scene before him and launched himself towards the happy pair, only to be halted by a wave of attacks by their friends and Natsu's family. Acnologia growled as he was hit with all forms and kinds of magic, but it was Igneel who had to make the tough decision. He knew the friend he once knew was gone, that he needed to view him as any other enemy.

And so with a mighty growl, Igneel latched onto Acnologia's left shoulder while firmly gripping his arms. Grandeeney pulled Wendy and Shelia's arms so they were one of the few who didn't witness Igneel tear Acnologia almost literally in half. Grandeeney squeezed her eyes shut, mourning the loss of her one time friend. Romeo lit the body on fire, both to get rid of it and to give him a proper dragon burial as Igneel turned away and walked off for a few quiet minutes alone.

Wendy held her mother as she cried, Shelia remaining still as Grandeeney held onto her and Wendy for dear life. Until that last moment she had been hoping that there would be way to save their former friend, but she knew in her heart that Igneel had made the right decision.

Meanwhile, just a few feet away, Natsu and Lucy were blissfully ignorant of what had just happened. Lucy smiled at him as she opened her eyes and softly said "Hey Natsu, can you teach me how to go back to my human form?" Natsu chuckled equally softly before telling her how to do so. When that was done, he scrambled to his feet before pulling her into a hug. Lucy sighed in happiness, she had missed him. The letters were fine and all, but this, this was way better.

As they pulled back enough to see each other's face, Lucy couldn't help herself and she kissed the scar that still remained as a testament to the scale he had removed for her, the scale that had saved her life. Natsu looked surprised for a minute, but his face softened into a smile of pure joy as he said "Gosh I missed you Luce." Lucy giggled and said "I've missed you too!" Natsu whispered "Want to sneak away for a bit so we can talk?"

Lucy nodded, even though she would love to talk to her other friends, she really just wanted to have Natsu to herself for a few minutes. Natsu stepped back and shifted into his dragon form, Lucy slowly and awkwardly following suit. The flapping of their wings drew the attention of the others and while Levy huffed, it was all in fun and her and Gajeel shared a knowing smirk. Levy looked forward to the day where she would be flying off with Gajeel, side by side.

Lucy was enjoying her first true flight, soaring high like they did on the trip to her house all that time ago. Okay so it was only a little over a month, but it felt like forever since she had so many good friends she had to leave behind. And of course since Natsu wasn't there, he had become very special to her and she was pretty sure he was feeling the same things about her that she was about him.

Soon Natsu smiled at her and said "Follow me!" He veered down and Lucy followed, the both of them landing beside a lake. Natsu motioned for her to follow by jerking his head to the side, his smile in place as he slipped into the waters. He let out a soft groan, the water soothing the still remaining aches, but they were quickly forgotten as Lucy joined him. "You look amazing as a dragon Lucy! And I have to say I am very partial to your scales."

Lucy chuckled at his teasing tone, before nuzzling her head under his and saying "Thank you. I'm glad they match your hair color, you are very important to me Natsu." Natsu nuzzled her back for a moment before saying "And you are very important to me Luce! When Acnologia dropped you, my heart fell with you. I'm so glad you remembered the words and that the scale was in the bracelet and not the necklace." Lucy laughed and dryly said "You and me both."

A silence fell between them, one that was a little awkward before Lucy quietly asked "What are we Natsu?" Natsu nuzzled her cheek, a dragon kiss though Lucy wouldn't know that, before motioning for her to follow him out of the water. Once she had done so they both shifted into human forms, for Natsu felt like she would still be more comfortable in it and that it would be easier to talk with her because of this.

Natsu took her hand, using his other to lift her chin so she was looking into his eyes instead of at the ground. Then he said "We are whatever we want to be. I care deeply for you and while I want to say I love you, I don't want to rush you into anything or make you feel pressured into anything. More than anything I want you to be happy Lucy. We can take this, whatever it is, slowly."

Lucy smiled at the dragon she loved and said "I know that we haven't known each other long, that some might say we are rushing it. But ever since I saw you after waking up in your family's home, you put me at ease and made me feel protected. Maybe some would say it is too early in whatever this is to say this, but I can't help myself. I love you Natsu Dragneel."

Natsu's face sported a big grin after her words and he replied "And I love you, Lucy Heartfilia." The two shared a kiss, one that spoke of all the love they held for the other, of their hopes and dreams for the future. After breaking off from the kiss, they settled down beside the lake, still in their human forms with Lucy resting her head on Natsu shoulder and him resting his on hers and they spent the next couple of hours talking about everything and anything.

Aww only one more chapter left : ( I've loved this story so much its sad to see it end, but I am working on my next project which I hope to bring to you soon!

As with the previous chapters, I'll answer the reviews right after my magical being info thing, so if you aren't curious about that and have a review that you wrote on the last chapter that you want to see the answer to, feel free to jump ahead to there!

This time I will be covering Harionagos! Based on the ones from Japanese mythology, they are described as beautiful woman with extremely long hair tipped with thorn-like barbs. The hair is under their direct control, so when I saw all of this I immediately thought of Flare. Now unlike the ones from the Japanese mythology, the Harionages in my story don't use their hair to ensnare/attack men, but rather just as weapons. Not all have barbs either, some can light theirs on fire, send poison to their tips, etc. Granted, Flare is the only one even mentioned in this story, but I wanted it to be clear there were many types of magic in their hair :'D

Answers to Reviews!

Ember Reverie: I hope you enjoyed the reunion in this chapter :D

Amanny: Indeed they were and many thanks :D

FireShifter: Thanks, hope the cliffhanger you had to endure made this chapter worth it! Bhikhu's fate will be revealed in the next chapter! Hope you enjoyed this chapter :D

FTAnt: lol sorry not sorry XD I do love my cliffhangers :'D