3rd Person's POV

The group was happily going through town, watching their dragon slayer friend. He was going all over the place. Everything was going well. They decided to stop by a bar and grab some food. They ordered some food (Happy ordered for Natsu since he didn't understand). Natsu was staring at his food for a while. Lucy looked over and saw that Natsu was crying.

"Natsu?"

"Hmm?"

"Is everything alright?"

"I... I don't know... I don't remember feeling this way before."

Lucy looked at her friend. She walked over to him and hugged him. His eyes widened, not realizing what was happening. He soon relaxed as he felt safe in her arms.

"Why are you doing this? I don't understand."

"Well... why did you help us?"

Natsu looked at Lucy. Should he tell her the truth or say what he thinks she wants to here. He stayed silent for a little bit.

"I didn't want your friend to go through what I went through."

"Well, he's your friend too. Plus, you shouldn't live that way anymore."

Lucy gently pet his head. Her touch relaxed him. He thought about it and he realized the last time he felt this kind of touch was when Taku...

"Natsu, how would you like to have a home at Fairy Tail?"

"Fairy Tail?"

"Yeah, it's our guild. Anyone is welcomed there. I know that you would be welcomed."

Lucy saw a small spark of hope shine in his eyes. He started to smile, but quickly frowned.

"I can't."

"Sure, you can. Natsu, we know about your... curse, and we think that we can help you."

He looked at her. He knew that there was no cure. He has been told that over and over by her. He can't get her out of his head, no matter what. He was just delaying the effects. They were trying to give him hope. He had no hope of being cured, but maybe he could be accepted? That is something he could hope for. He didn't want Lucy to worry so he nodded his head. Natsu then ate some of his food. He found that he really liked it. It was called a Cuban Sandwich. (First thing that came to my mind. XD) After they ate, and paid, they left. The left the town as well.

"Hey, Pyro, you listening?"

"Huh? Sorry, no, I wasn't."

"I was asking you how you are liking it out here."

"Oh, well, I like it very much. It's so different than I thought. I really enjoy being here."

"That's good. When we get home, you'll love it even more."

Natsu nods his head. However, he felt uneasy. Something wasn't settling right with him. Was it the food? No, that wasn't it. It felt... worse than a stomach ache. He shivered as a chill went down his spin. He felt the wagon come to a stop. That confused him. He wasn't the only one.

"Why did we stop?"

"There is someone in the middle of the road."

Natsu sniffed the air. His eyes widened.

'It couldn't be... not here... not now!'

The young male thought. He went to the front of the wagon and looked forward. He saw a tall, thin woman. She had dark black hair that was pushed back. She had red shining eyes. She wore many rings around her neck. She wore a long black dress with sleeves that reached her wrist. Her nails were long and black. She had pale skin and red cursed marks running down her face and arms. Natsu stared at her. She looked straight at him. Her eyes stayed narrowed.

"We need to get out of here..."

Natsu said as his voice shook. The others looked at him confused. He was clearly nervous, and all from looking at that lady. Natsu knew her, but how? He didn't know many humans to their knowledge. Did that mean that she wasn't human? She started to walk toward the group. The horse started to panic, and Erza had some trouble regaining control.

"You guys get out of here."

"What?"

They all look at Natsu. A look of fear was in his eyes. A similar look that was shown when he saw Taku. He looked at them.

"Run. Just get out of here."

"We aren't leaving you."

"She doesn't want you... She wants me."

None of them understood what he meant. That is, except Erza. Her eyes widened. She looked at the woman before her and knew that she was not a human, rather she was the demon that cursed Natsu. Akumu.

"We will not hand you over to that demon."

After Erza spoke, it clicked in their minds who that was. They never saw her and they thought that she would look more like the demon that attacked Gray. She looked more human. They didn't know that this was just an illusion and that this "human" before them was not her true form. They didn't know that her true form was far from this human woman. Natsu knew her true form.

"~Natsu, my dear boy, why did you run? How did you get out of my grasp? ~"

Her voice was raspy and sounded as if it was a snake talking.

"Shut up!"

Natsu shouted. He placed his hands over his ears to block out her voice.

"~Come home, my son. These humans will only kill you. ~"

Gray was furious at the demon's statement. He stood up and shouted at the demon.

"That's a lie! We won't kill him!"

She was intrigued with his response. She found it amusing. A smirk crept into her face.

"~Even though he is like me? A demon? ~"

Lucy stood up next to Gray. Erza stood next to him as well. She shouted at Akumu.

"He isn't like you! He's human! And our friend!"

Natsu looked at them. Why? Why were they doing this? He hardly knew them, but they were willing to stand up for him? Natsu let his head drop. He can't let them die. He can't.

"If I go with you, will you leave them alone?"

The others look at Natsu.

"Natsu, no, we aren't letting you go. It was our fault this happened."

Natsu looked at them.

"Nothing you did could prevent this. This isn't your fault. This is my world; you shouldn't have come here."

Natsu started to shout out utter nonsense to the young wizards.

While Natsu was in a state of panic and was distressed, Gray created an ice wall, Erza grabbed Natsu and ran off. Lucy followed close behind and Happy flew by them. Akumu frowned.

~They think they can run off with my son? I don't think so.~

Gray looked and saw that his friends made it to the nearby woods. He quickly created ice spikes to slow her down, but it won't last long. He followed after them. When he caught up with them. Natsu was shaking. Gray looked at Lucy.

"He won't stop shaking and he stopped listening to us. I don't think he hears us."

There was worry in her voice. Gray put his hand on Natsu's shoulder. That caused Natsu to stiffen and look up at Gray. He stared at Gray. His eyes widened.

"You… you can kill her….."

Gray stepped back.

"What?"

"You have the ability to kill demons. I felt it. That's what helped you when you were attacked and almost died…. You can use that power and kill her!"

Gray realized that Natsu was right. This magic he possessed…. he gained it so he could kill a demon that killed his family. He could finally use that power to protect his new family.

"I….. you're right, Natsu, I could. I will need your help though."

Natsu nods his head.

"I will help you in any way that I can."

He smiled but something seemed off to Erza. That wasn't a real smile. What was Natsu hiding?

"So, here's the plan…"

Akumu was looking around the woods.

~I take my eyes away for one second and they run off again. Troublesome humans.~

Akumu let out a sigh. She heard a sound. She turned her head to the rustling sound of leaves. She sniffs the air. She smiles as she smells her dear child.

~Natsu, did you really think you could run away from me?~

I wasn't planning on running….. not this time.

~What do you mean, my child? I can't hear your thoughts right now, but I did a moment ago. What did they do to you?~

They saved me. They helped me. They will help me end your life.

~Natsu, my dear, you don't want that.~

You don't know what I want because I don't know what I want! I do know that this world would be better off without you.

Akumu couldn't hear her "son's" thoughts anymore. It had to be that amulet thing they put around him. Or even that "medicine". She walked forward, and as she did, changed to her true form. She looked like a smokey dragon. She was completely black and had wispy scales that seemed to move down her body and fade. Her eyes were a bright red color with no pupils. She walked on all fours and kept her eyes out for her foolish son.

As she continued to walk, she didn't notice that Gray was close by. He had activated his demon magic and half of his body was now covered in a cursed mark.

"~There you are, my child.~"

She sees Natsu right in front of her. She took the bait. Natsu sparked his hand with his flames and his normally golden flames were mixed with black flames. Akumu stopped walking.

"~You dare try to fight me, child?~"

Natsu says nothing. He just lets his had fall to the side and the forest stated to catch fire. The curse mark started to crawl up on Natsu's arms. He just needed to keep her focused for a little bit longer so Gray can kill her. Erza jumped out of one of the trees and stabbed Akumu's left forearm. She winced in pain. Natsu winced as well. He grabbed his left shoulder. Lucy saw this. Natsu wasn't attacked yet, he seemed like he was in pain…. Why-

Gray got ready to cast his ice spell. Just a few more steps and she would be in range.

Lucy thought about it. Erza said something about how Natsu had a fake smile when he told Gray to kill Akumu. But why? She suddenly remembered what Clover said.

"…He is trapped here for he and Akumu are connected…"

Her eyes widened.

"Gray! NO!"

Gray cast his ice spell and impaled her heart. She cried out in pain. Natsu's eyes widened. He staggered before collapsing.

"NATSU!"

~In Natsu's mind~

He is standing in an open field.

"~So….. this is the end?~"

He turns his head to seem the demon who cursed him. He smiled.

"Yeah…. Looks like it….."

"~You could have lived for a long time.~"

"Not with you in my head. I wouldn't be me anymore."

"~Would that really matter? People left you anyway. That dragon you called father left you.~"

"Even so…. There are good people out there."

"~You refer to those humans.~"

Natsu nodded his head.

"They risked their life to save me. Even if…. They couldn't. I believe they have been here long enough."

Akumu started to fade and Natsu opened his eyes. He looked up at Lucy, Gray, Erza, and Happy who were all looking at him worriedly.

"Natsu?"

"You… you guys… Thank you…."

Natsu started to cough. His breath was staggered.

"You're going to be okay. We will get you help."

Lucy told her friend. He smiled at her.

"You…. Don't need….. to… you…. Helped… me… already… Thank…. You….. for… every…. Thing… You….. made me….. really happy…. I think….. I should….. have told you… but…. I couldn't…. Thank you…. For letting me… see the world…. I had dreamed to see….. for so long… Thank you….. for freeing me… Taku…. Send them….. send them home…"

He looked at all of them. Lucy was holding his hand. Tear threating to spill from her eyes. He took his other hand and put it on top of hers.

"Goodbye…. My friend."

He closed his eyes and let out his finally breath.

"Natsu!"

A/N: I, umm, well... I have nothing to say accept... I did warn you guys that it was gonna get worst... And, uhhh... mmmm. *hides*

(Anyway, there is one more chapter left and that will end this book, see you in the next and Final Chapter.)

~Zolf

Posted: 11/07/2020