Surprise! Early update to show my major appreciation for so many of you taking a moment to share some love in reviews recently. Honestly, it doesn't take much to make my day, a couple words and I am psyched. So BIG thank you in the form of another action packed chapter.

These 30s chapters are monsters. All of them 7000+ words, so with this: FTTD officially breaks 200k words.

And I think that means I owe all of my amazing readers another giant THANK YOU! Your support is what keeps this story going and keeps me motivated to share my passion for writing and fanfiction.

I hope you like these next few chapters as much as I do.

~Onward!

33

"He is coming."

"Natsu?" Lucy's eyes were suddenly wide in worry, though Natsu was too busy internally shouting back at the voice that had materialized in his head. But it was gone as quickly as the warning had bloomed, was it really Anna—that wouldn't be possible, would it? Or his own thought? Who was coming?

"Natsu—" Lucy tried again, her hand finding his face to try to snap him out of his blank stare, behind her Haru paused in dancing with Mira, turning to glance at them with concern etching his face now too. He and Mira remained where they were, but distinctly focused now, on their friends. "Talk to me, what's going on… Natsu?" Lucy continued to press.

He shuddered visibly, eyes locking with hers, and then Haru's over her shoulder, "something's coming," he said in a bare whisper, sounding terrified. That in and of itself unsettled his comrades, Natsu rarely sounded fearful of anything, especially with no apparent trigger or threat. They exchanged glances and their faces pinched in further concern.

"Are you feeling okay man?" Haru asked him, stepping forward to take his shoulder in a firm grip, there was a wild unfocused look in Natsu's eyes, as though he didn't know where his own words were comings from.

Batting the hand away, Natsu bared his teeth in frustration, "we need to go, I can't explain it, I just know." The pinkette whirled, abandoning them to gawk after him as he quickly approached Makorav to relay the unprovoked gut feeling.

"Gramps."

"Ah, Natsu ma boy!" Makorav slurred slightly as he turned with a goofy smile that faltered quickly, sobering as soon as he laid eyes on the fire mage. "What is it Natsu?"

Natsu shook his head, turning to let his eyes graze over all the Fairy Tail mages that were still largely unaware of anything amiss, aside from Lucy and the others who were still watching him closely. "Uh, this won't make any sense, I know… but you just have to trust me."

The elder just gave him his complete focus, Laxus and Gildarts had paused in their conversation and were watching intently now as well. "Something is coming, I can't explain it, it's just a feeling. We need to get to the ship. Now." Natsu emphasized, clenching his fists as he waited for the Master's inquisition, he gave none.

Laxus did scoff though, "you want us to run from nothing, because of a feeling?" he asked incredulously.

Makorav's face, that had been completely blank to this point, pinched together in seriousness, albeit calm and clear, the alcohol-induced flush in his cheeks was gone in an instant. The old man clapped titan sized hands together, "listen up Fairy Tail! Grab everything essential and evacuate to the ship," he belted. Everyone slowed and turned disbelieving faces on him, stumbling in their movements and hanging off each other in drunken celebration, no one made any effort to move. Laxus outright balked at the order, stunned that the old man was treating Natsu's half asked explanation with the utmost seriousness.

"NOW!" Makorav demanded, leaving absolutely no room for discussion or questioning.

The mages all immediately jumped slightly at the abrupt change of energy, but leapt to action an instant later, gathering anything that shouldn't be left behind and moving hastily toward the ship that was still anchored a hundred feet offshore. Natsu turned to help, but the Master clamped a hand over his shoulder as Happy flew over with a sullen look, "what's wrong Natsu," he asked cautiously.

"Happy, go help Lucy and the others, make sure everyone gets to the ship" Natsu instructed in place of an answer. The blue cat looked unsure, keeping his eyes on Natsu and the Master as he hesitantly turned away from them, Makorav nodded in assurance and Happy reluctantly followed the direction.

Basecamp looked like a shambled mess in seconds from the speed in which the group packed up, a few boxes left and a tent collapsing in on itself, the large bonfire extinguished down to a few smouldering logs. Their guildmates were already working in teams to lug boxes of supplies to the ship, evacuating quickly, though no words had been offered in way of explanation. They would trust there was a good reason to cut the celebrations short.

"Explain what you can Natsu," Makorav commanded as the final pair made one last sweep of the basecamp to make sure everyone had retreated to the ship.

"A feeling or instinct. –A warning." Natsu corrected in a shaky voice, knowing he sounded a little crazy, "something in my subconscious just told me that something is coming… it froze me to my core." The pinkette added under his breath, he observed the elder from the corner of his eye as they ran side by side toward the beach, following the parting of vegetation, trampled down by the rest of the guild's hasty travel. The short man nodded absently in thought as they made their way, "I'm not crazy," Natsu stated, as much for himself as for the Master's benefit.

Makorav looked up, face softening, "if I thought that, we wouldn't be evacuating in the dead of night, in a drunken stupor no less," he added with a smile, trying to lighten Natsu's mood.

"Thanks Gramps," he said softly, the trees parted, and the black silhouette of the ship just offshore was visible only due to a few glowing lanterns that had been lit on deck to assist the milling fairies in their tasks.

"Natsu!" Lucy called, running to meet them as they emerged from the forest, Happy was with her, flying just overhead. She threw her arms around his shoulders in relief and buried her face in his scarf, just offshore in knee deep water, Haru was watching the trio as well.

"Everyone's on board," he announced as the three mages approached, Natsu's eyes skimmed over the wide ice path solidifying the surface of the ocean to create a path for everyone.

Keeping a tight grip on Lucy's hand, for her comfort or his, Natsu wasn't sure, he gave Haru a curt nod, "good, let's go." Natsu jogged passed and pulled Lucy along with him over the ice trailing toward Fairy Tail's ship, his unease growing uncontrolled by the minute. Makorav followed shortly behind and Haru brought up the rear.

"Draw the anchor!" Makorav called as they reached the ship and began climbing the rope ladder strung over the side. Their comrades had the sails diligently loosed and tied, the anchor up and the ship turning in a wide arc away from the island before Haru's boots even touched the deck.

Lucy sagged to the deck with a sigh, leaning back against the railing though Natsu's tension didn't ease as he moved purposefully to the ship's stern to eye the dark horizon. Haru and Makorav were joining him shortly after, standing to each side of him to stare out over the blackened ocean waters as well, the night suddenly felt stifling. Natsu's grip tightened around the polished wood of the railing, "too late," he breathed, "he's here."

. . .

The night remained still except for the steady ripples of the ship parting the ocean's waters, Haru narrowed his eyes, scanning left and right along the horizon trying to figure out what had Natsu so tormented. But he saw nothing. He caught the Master's eyes, and saw no recognition or understanding in him either, but Natsu remained statuesque, seemingly caught in a trance.

"Natsu, wha—"

A blinding orange light pierced the dark, tearing the night apart in a stream that overtook the ship and obliterated the central mast and sails along with it, before anyone even knew the attack was coming. Cries and shouts of surprise and fear rang up around the ship on the lower deck, and Natsu swore loudly, his crimson scales crawling over his cheeks and arms. Haru stared at his partner incredulously, he couldn't tell if entering drive state was even a conscious decision or simply pure reflex on his part, and then another beam caught the ship at the stern, blowing a gaping hole in hull.

Whipping his head back around to peer back into the night even as the ship lurched and took in the rushing waters as the ocean began to swallow it, he searched the sky for the attacks' source. Haru caught sight of strange bluish patterns that seemed to ripple through space to mar the sky, and then a roar that split the silence as surely as the beam had split the darkness for an instant, reverberated around them. Followed by an excruciating pain unlike any he'd ever experienced before ripping through him, Haru collapsed to the ground desperately clutching his head, vaguely registering Natsu on the ground next to him. Makorav was crouching between them, eyes wide in worry but seemingly untouched by whatever the unnatural pain afflicting them was, Haru tried to focus. A muddled voice filtered through his head, but he was sure it had spoken out aloud, it just seemed so far away, washed out, "—dragon slaye—" it was saying, "—down." Flat on his back and catching the blurred shapes he assumed were his comrades moving around above him, he found himself staring up at the night sky, grappling for clarity through the piercing pain.

Then the shape of a dragon coursed across the sky above the ship, wingspan reaching double the width of their ship easily, its shape blacker than midnight save for the luminescent blue markings covering its body. The pain cut off abruptly and Haru gasped sharply, someone was easing him up, his eyes slowly focusing on worried blue eyes, Mira's mouth moving but the words still sounded muggy in his head. He groaned, cursed, and turned to find Natsu in a similar state, Lucy's hands on each of his shoulders to steady him, Erza beside her and head swivelling between each of them.

The fire slayer's eyes sharpened, "Acnologia," he started gravely.

"Haru, you gotta push the ship back to shore, or we'll be sitting ducks," he declared urgently. It seemed likely that Natsu had hoped they could get away, but now that that was impossible, being in the middle of the ocean with nowhere to fight back could mean their demise.

Haru ran a hand through his hair, pushing his bangs back as he screwed his eyes shut tightly and blinked the blurriness out of them again. Then with a physical shake as though that could dispel the residual pain clinging to his nerves, he stood, summoning his drive state to bolster his power, and moved to brace himself at the front of the ship. Haru began to guide the calm ocean waters in time with the movements of his arms, just as a composer would direct the acts of a concert. The waters thrashed below beginning to throw the ship into a violent rocking, but Dragon Slayer motion sickness couldn't begin to compare with the pain that had incapacitated them moments ago.

"Everyone, grab something to hold onto!" Natsu screamed in warning.

With a final upward sweep of an arm, a wave rose to dwarf the ship, and the water slayer pivoted and threw both arms down in the direction of the island. The tidal wave caught the ship and threw it violently into the shore to land in a mass of fractured wood, the large sail draped over most of the deck, hiding the majority of the groaning mages beneath.

. . .

Natsu had Lucy caged between himself and the railing, gripping a support post on either side of her, his head dropped onto her shoulder as he'd braced for the impact and she still clung to him tightly. He glanced over his shoulder when everything stilled for a fleeting moment, cautiously loosening his grip as Lucy reached up to wrap a shaky hand around his biceps, "what in the hell is happening Natsu?" Natsu met her eyes, he didn't know what he could offer her, hell, he didn't have the faintest clue what was going on either. How could a dragon just show up out of the blue when, (if he could believe the claims), one hadn't been seen in Ishgar in centuries, outside his and his fellow dragon slayer's upbringings.

"Natsu," Lucy said again in a bare whisper, "how did you know?" Was that fear in her voice? Not of him… right? She did succeed in raising his other biggest concern though, he didn't just suppose this was Acnologia due to Anna's warnings back in Edolas… he KNEW. Without a shadow doubt, knew, that this dragon was Acnologia.

"I don't know Luce," he told her honestly, eyes focusing on a subtle ripple in the sky, "I really don't. But we're going to have to figure that out later—"

He grabbed her hand and tore her from the deck, snagging Erza by an elbow as well and spun to sprint across the upper deck of the ship with the girls in tow, behind him, Haru had reacted instantly as well and was right on his heels. He had Makorav tossed unceremoniously over his shoulder and Mira's wrist gripped tightly as he darted forward too, just as the deck they'd just been occupying exploded in a shower of splintered wood. The group threw themselves from the ship to land hard on the ground below, all their guildmates were spread around the beach watching in stunned silence as well. The ship was destroyed, and just like that, they were left with no other choice than to fight a real, living dragon.

Gajeel stomped forward to stop in front of the Twin Dragons and slammed a fist into an open palm, "we're going dragon hunting guys!"

Laxus sauntered up behind him, with his seemingly easy carelessness, but anyone who knew him could see the nerves and subtle stiffness in the way he was carrying himself. They were all scared, but they weren't going to resign themselves to whatever fate the dragon had in mind for them, without every effort to prevent it. Natsu and Haru exchanged a glance, a silent conversation stretching out between them, there wasn't really any other option, it wasn't like they could swim for it.

Wendy ran over, fending off Carla's opposition as usual, "don't forget about me! I'm way stronger now, I can help too!" she shouted determinedly. Despite the slight tremble in her lip when she finished, her words left no room to deny her.

Natsu dropped a hand on top of her head, ruffled her hair affectionately, "alright then, let's go slay a dragon, team!"

. . .

Lucy gawked as the dragon slayers spun and took off down the beach without pausing to see what the rest of the guild would do. Running headlong in pursuit of the apocalypse dragon that was gliding over the ocean toward the island, dragging a wing tip through the waters as it did so. Lucy turned toward Erza and Mira, nodding sharply, and the women went to take off after them to throw themselves into the battle when Makorav snagged Lucy's wrist with a magic-stretched arm. The stellar mage founded on him, eyes flashing with a brilliant snap of fury, "don't you dare tell me not to help them," Lucy bit out between clenched teeth.

Unphased by her anger, Makorav gestured to Mira and Erza who'd paused as well, to continue on, his eyes trailing over the rest of the fairies racing toward the Dragon Slayers to provide back up to their comrades. "Lucy, I need you to do something for me."

"What could you possibly need me to do right now?! I won't leave them to fight alone!" She yelled back in desperation.

"This could be our only shot, Lucy, and your magic is the most compatible," he told her cryptically. Lucy narrowed her eyes but stopped pulling against the titan grip preventing her movement.

"Master, if you don't stop talking in riddles—"

Makorav shook his head, and placed two fingers on her temple, a location and images flashed through her mind and she flinched at the feeling of having her mind intruded upon. "Find the First Master's grave, if anyone can do this, it's you… but hurry," he told her urgently, eyes flickering over to the intense battle that had erupted just a mile or two down the beach. Elemental magics were exploding at sporadic intervals, briefly brightening up the stretch of shoreline and their family fighting fervently. A wide streak of fire shot up into the sky in a cyclone before Makorav's eyes shifted back to hers, "I'm afraid we are no match for Acnologia, we will stall him as long as we can."

Lucy's attention snapped back to the hulking shape of the dragon that blended near flawlessly against the backdrop of the night, when she heard a pained cry that she immediately recognized as Natsu's. She screwed her eyes shut as tears slid down her cheeks, gritting her teeth, she nodded at the Master and reluctantly turned away, her star reform wings appearing in a golden flourish before taking off into the forest at dead sprint.

. . .

Natsu laid flat on his back in a daze, running the flat of his palm across his torso to assess the damage from the hit he took, cauterizing a gash when his hand came away wet. He blinked his eyes against the blinding white that was now obscuring his vision, "well, that wasn't fun," he mumbled to himself. Just witnessing Acnologia's attacks was like being too close to a flash bomb going off, especially in the dark when one's eyes weren't adjusted for bright lights. Worse, Natsu knew the dragon was just toying with them. Acnologia hadn't struck with any particularly destructive attacks since the Fairy Tail mages confronted him, he just batted them away with the swipe of a claw. It was like watching a cat play with a mouse.

"You alright man?" Someone asked from above him.

Natsu jammed the heels of his hands into his eyes, "Gray?" he asked, confirming.

"Uh, yeah," the other man drawled, "did you hit your head? That hit was pretty nasty."

"No… that last attack just blinded me a bit." Natsu let his hands drop back to his sides, the shapes around him were slowly coming back into focus again, still fuzzy, but at least the white splotches were diminishing.

Gray grunted, "oh is that all," he spat sarcastically, before reaching down to take a strong grip under the fire mage's upper arm and yanked him back to his feet. They stood for a moment, the ice mage reluctant to spring back into battle if Natsu was lacking sight. "SHIT," Gray bit out, spinning to wrap an arm across Natsu's chest and lunged, throwing both of their weights back harshly, Natsu landed hard on his back coughing out a lung full of air with his friend's weight draped across him.

"Shit," Gray repeated breathlessly, pressing himself up, he shouted, "everyone okay?!"

A series of groans sounded in confirmation, and attacks from their comrades that remained unscathed continued to flare across the beach.

Natsu couldn't be sure exactly what had just happened, but he'd heard multiple screams from their comrades, and he could assume that whatever had just happened, Gray had managed to get the two of them out of harm's way. The fire mage irritably scrubbed at his eyes again, frustration boiled in him, he could see as well as any nocturnal beast in the darkest night, normally, and he'd never felt so defenseless before. "Gray what happened?"

"Acnologia hit half the beach with his tail," Gray supplied. "Natsu, I need to go help the others, you should stay back 'till your vision clears."

"Not fucking happening."

"Are you fucking stupid?! Or do you just have a death wish?!" Gray rounded on him furiously.

Natsu flared his magic again, reinstating fire drive, his eyesight wasn't all he could rely on, and he certainly wasn't going to hide in relative safety while his family fought for their lives. The fire mage let his eyes drift closed, he could follow the magic signatures of his comrades around him, sense them by smell, zero in on each distinct breath and movement the dragon took. "I'm good Gray, thanks," Natsu assured, and vanished in a burst of flames, leaving the ice mage slack jawed and shouting at him aghast and angry.

Flashing around the battle as he honed his available senses, Natsu picked up the missing scent quickly from the rest of his guildmates, just as the Titan form of Makorav stomped across the beach.

"Sorry for the wait, my children," Makorav's voice boomed, now the size of the dragon itself, the Master threw himself forward to wrap his hulking arms around Acnologia's neck and the dragon roared in displeasure.

Natsu materialized next to Haru, "have you seen Lucy," he asked, head turned in Makorav's direction as he focused his remaining senses on the fight.

"No, I haven't, she was with the girls, wasn't she?" Natsu's head swivelled to him despite keeping his eyes closed against the disorienting partial vision, concern and exacerbation warring on his face. "Hang on, let me ask…" Haru relinquished.

"Mira says Master was talking with her, last she saw."

"Then find out what gramps wanted!" Natsu snapped impatiently.

Both dragon slayers flipped back simultaneously, dodging another sharp beam of concentrated light that the dragon fired off to rip a scar through the earth, though Natsu's movements lacked their usual athleticism, doing so blind. "She's not here, Makorav stopped her—"

Natsu heard Haru yelling at him as he sprinted off toward the Master and Acnologia, launching upward with streams of fire projecting him, he landed on the giant's shoulder. "Gramps, where's Lucy?" he demanded even as he added his attacks to the Master's, raining blazing fires down on the dragon that the old man continued attempting to wrestle into submission.

"The First's grave."

Skimming over the why Natsu asked incredulously, "You sent her alone?!"

"She's safer than we are here, and her success might be our only hope!"

Acnologia's thrashing was getting increasingly violent by the minute, Natsu could almost feel the dragon's rage at being immobilized by a mere human, throwing his giant head back, Acnologia released an ear-splitting roar into the night. Instantly disoriented by the piercing volume threatening to burst his eardrums, Natsu staggered as his hands flew up to block his ears and consequently lost his footing. He toppled backward at the same time as a tortured sound was torn from Makorav. Someone snatched him out of the air and went skidding to a stop, Natsu experimentally cracked an eye open, met with still blurred vision of a red figure next to him desperately calling for Wendy.

"I'm fine," Natsu rasped, gripping Erza's forearm hoping to calm her.

She turned to him briefly, before looking away again, "not you," she choked out in a sob.

"I'm here!" Wendy called, sliding to a stop next to them all, Natsu's mind reeled for answers, only just noticing the smell of blood filling his nose.

"Is he—will he be okay?"

Natsu shifted, dragging his aching body up to take in the fuzzy shape of Makorav's form on the ground beside him, fighting for laboured breaths as Wendy worked glowing blue hands over a sizable wound in his belly. The vegetation around them told Natsu that Erza had gotten them back into the tree line for some cover. 'Master…' he thought, 'don't you dare die, I will make sure we get out of this, so you just –don't die.'

Struggling back to his feet, the fire mage took a couple wobbly steps forward when Erza reached out to grab his arm preventing his advance, she hissed in pain and reflexively retracted her hand just as quickly, "you're scalding hot, Natsu!"

He paused looking back over his shoulder at her, a reddish glow pulsing around him giving visible form to his magic pressure, Erza recoiled a bit as his magic continued to climb, the heat rolling off him was blistering. "Where are you going? Don't think I haven't figured out you can't see!"

A slight smile pulled the corner of his mouth up and he gave her an apologetic look, her fear of losing him and any of their family was evident in the trembling of her voice. Natsu placed a hand on her head, "Gramps sent Lucy with instructions to find something that he believed could save us." The pinkette explained, he knew she was right to be concerned, the rest of his dragon senses still couldn't fully make up for the deficit his compromised vision caused him.

"She's safer than we are here," Erza responded missing Natsu's point.

"I'm not going after her. I believe in Gramps, and I believe in Lucy, she'll be giving it her all and I will buy her the time she needs," he vowed.

Erza's lips parted slightly, there was a shimmer of unshed tears in her eyes, "w-what will you do Natsu?"

Flashing his signature toothy grin, he declared confidently, "whatever I can!"

With his magic pressure hitting a threshold, Natsu's irises flecked in gold, glowing subtly as they seemed to draw all the sparse light the night offered. Then the deep red Erza remembered from months ago washed out the rosy-pink spikes of his hair and two orange-gold flames flickered up over his head like fiery horns. Her eyes widened and without the slightest twitch of movement he vanished before her eyes leaving only a charred ring of sand and tendrils of smoke where he had been standing.

. . .

"Dragon slayer's secret art: Ocean's vengeance, storm blades!"

"Dragon slayer's secret art: Karma demon, iron spiral!"

Haru and Gajeel each flew toward Acnologia in unison with their advanced spells whipping around them from either side of the dragon, and Gildarts leapt into the air straight at his snout, crash magic crackling around his fists. Behind them Laxus and Gray stood ready in offensive stances, and Mira hovered in the air, each prepared for a subsequent wave of attacks. Acnologia struck out with a massive claw, swatting Gajeel out of the air and sending him barrelling right into Gildarts, the two collided with the shore in a cloud of sand. Haru's attack hit its' mark with seemingly no damage, completely unphased by the mere annoyance, Acnologia didn't even acknowledge the strike. Haru dissolved into his water, skipping back across the beach to slide to a stop surrounded by his comrades, dropping his hands onto his knees to suck in some deep breaths.

Gildarts was back on his feet already, but Gajeel was still on his knees holding an injured shoulder, the others spoke over each other in escalating arguments about what they could possibly do.

"Shut up!" Laxus bellowed, throwing a hand out to point at the dragon, Haru and the rest turned and he sucked in a sharp breath. Cold terror washed through him as though he'd dived into an ice pool in the middle of winter. Acnologia tipped his head back, cheeks puffing out and jaw parted to draw deep pulls of air into his lungs, sucking the plants lining the beach toward him when they were caught in the force of the inhale. Haru vaguely registered that he was screaming at everyone to run, though he didn't remember making the decision to do so as he didn't think it would even be possible to avoid a dragon-scale breath attack at such close range. Some of their guildmates ran for it out of pure survival instinct, but he and his five comrades on the front line just froze and watched the buildup of the impending attack. Mira appeared in front of him and threw her arms around him, burying her face in the crook of his neck and Haru wrapped his arms around her tightly in turn, but his eyes stayed on the dragon's eyes defiantly.

'There must be something we can do… this can't be it.'

"Fire dragon king's demolition fist!"

Natsu's call sounded, but Haru couldn't locate him, eyes darting over Acnologia and hoping that his reckless partner wasn't about to put himself square in the middle of a deadly breath attack. A ball of fire exploded at the corner of Acnologia's jaw, and the dragon's head was knocked to the side, his jaw snapping shut over the first flares of the attack. Eye's flashing the dragon merely brought a claw up to scratch at the impact point as though it merely itched, but at least the attack was momentarily thwarted. Haru still couldn't get eyes on Natsu, a glance at the rest of the team told him that none of them had either, and then a blaze of fire materializing between them had them each reflexively stumbling away with wide eyes. The flames died away, and Natsu's gold eyes were scanning over them, "everyone okay?"

"Dragon force? How in the hell—" Haru yelled in surprise, taking in Natsu's transformation, the other five looked equally confused seeing the shift for the first time.

Turning a more elaborately scaled arm over to peer down at the crimson coating his skin as though just noticing for the first time, Natsu turned his palm back up flexing his fingers, subtle claws glinting in the light from the embers that licked at his skin. His eyes flicked back up to Haru's, but he passed over the group's confusion—he wasn't sure how he entered force either, he addressed the six gathered as a whole instead of dwelling on it further.

"Gramps believes there is a way to save us and sent Lucy out after it," he informed the group, Natsu dropped his eyes, "he's down, bad shape, Wendy is trying to save him."

They all exchanged concerned looks at the news, but stayed silent, behind them, brighter blues were bleeding into the sky as early dawn approached and Acnologia roared furiously again. Natsu spun back in the direction of the dragon, "we need to hold Acnologia off until Lucy can get back to us," fire erupted off him again, as though in response to his conviction, tipping his head back to glance at them again he asked with a partially maniac grin, "ya with me!?"

"YEAH!"

All seven of the mages bolted forward again, launching themselves into the air with a variety of magic enhanced attacks, and when the rest of their guildmate's noticed they hadn't stopped fighting, those that were uninjured joined in as well. Levy and Juvia summoned magics to provide Gajeel and Haru with their elements to replenish their dwindling magic reserves, Elfman saddled up next to Mira vowing to protect her with everything he had, and Freed announced the same to Laxus to which both S Class just chuckled. Working together, the mages coordinated on offensive and defensive teams, alternating to ensure there was always a group available to counter should an attack fail, as well as build on any success, however small.

Lucy

Lucy's lungs burned in protest as she darted through the forest back across the island, dodging around gnarled tree roots and low hanging branches, absently aware of the slight golden glow emanating off her body.

She'd found the First's resting place without much effort, but when she'd kneeled down in front of the tryptic of stone markers and noticed the intricate runes etched over the surfaces, she immediately cursed the Master under her breath. Fingertips brushing over what she quickly realized was an incredibly complex incantation, she had to wonder what Makorav had been thinking. It was true Lucy was fairly adept at translating ancient runes, but not nearly as efficient at it as Levy was and to top it off, Lucy was far more skilled in a fight than the bluenette, the Master's choice made no sense given their situation.

Taking a deep breath and trying to reign in her reactivity, Lucy had told herself that the elderly man always had a reason. He hadn't told her that she was the 'best for the job,' he specifically told her that her magic was the most compatible, so this wasn't as simple as her intellect. But that led to the next point to ponder: had he been referring to her celestial spirit magic, or her star reform magic. Blasts had continued to reach her ears even given her distance, and occasionally the ground beneath her would quake in protest to the ongoing battle, the battle she knew her family was desperately fighting while they waited for her. She would not let them down.

"Fairy Sphere will take total concentration and coordination from everyone present, focusing on your connections with one another, the bonds you all share as Fairy Tail mages will need to be as strong as you tell me they are, Lucy."

Gaze flitting over to the incandescent apparition now floating along next to her, Lucy nodded, "your guild is everything you set out to create, First Master." Mavis smiled, bright green eyes sparkling.

As it turned out, Makorav had had both of her magic affinities in mind as potential solutions, though if she had to guess, he wasn't expecting her to make use of both quite so thoroughly. After discovering that each of the three stones held the scripted instructions to each of Fairy Tail's legendary three grand spells and determining that Fairy Sphere was an absolute defense spell, she was able to discern Makorav's motivations. But that didn't stop the dread that settled over her. As a light attribute magic, it was true she could facilitate the grand spell through her with the help of the entire Tenrou team, but she didn't have the time it would require to master the incantation right here and now. Even with a shred of hopelessness gnawing at her resolve, she continued to comb through the pristine tablets searching for anything else that could help them, and she'd found her answer. The stones weren't ordinary grave markers, Mavis had used an enchantment to bind her fractured spirit there, and with the same principles that guided celestial spirit magic, Lucy could essentially bind the First's remaining spiritual energy to her.

So now with Mavis guiding her and the ability to meld with the First, though granted for incredibly short periods, she had the tools to cast Fairy Sphere. She could save her family. She would save them. Lucy burst out of forest, finally laying eyes on the Acnologia, somehow more daunting in the early morning hour with the orange-streaked sky behind him. The black of his scales appeared even more black, like the dragon held a void within himself, was a void, the embodiment of the end, of nothingness. She shuddered at the course of her thoughts and began waving frantically at her guildmates.
"I'm back, I've got the spell!"

She skidded to a stop, panting for the air her lungs demanded from the strenuous pace she'd set, and half her comrades turned toward her while the other half continued to fight back the dragon. In the thick of it, as she'd expected, Natsu and Haru were fully engaged in battle, having just fired off their usually devastating Twin Dragon's elemental break. Though all the unison raid seemed to accomplish this time was pushing Acnologia back a few meters and creating minimal damage. "What ya got for us Lucy?" Natsu called, without taking his eyes off the current threat before them, but she could hear the confidence he had in her, clear in his voice.

"Fairy Sphere!" She shouted, knowing that most of them wouldn't have any more idea what she was talking about than she had a mere hour ago. "Think you can hold him off a little longer?"

"Count on it!"

Erza approached, supporting a heavily bandaged and seemingly semi-lucid Makorav, who smiled weakly and praised her success. Lucy's eyes skimmed down over the pink-tinged bandages covering his entire torso, but he shook his head, dismissing her concern and took his place in the large circle his children were already forming.

Natsu and Haru continued to defend as best they could as Lucy gathered the remaining Fairy Tail mages into the large circle. Laxus and Gray argued back about aiding in the fight but Makorav silenced them, telling them Fairy Sphere would take as much power as they could spare from the defense team. The Twin Dragon's flawless teamwork and powerful combinations made them the obvious choice if just two of their mages were going to hold the beast back while the rest of them prepared the spell. Increasing their efforts to keep the dragon's attentions preoccupied, Natsu and Haru continued to shoot around the dragon with bursts of magic. Acnologia had a noticeable affixation with the dragon slayers, that had become apparent right away, he seemed to be able to zero in on the five slayers instinctually. So, keeping the dragon's focus on them wasn't too challenging, thankfully.

. . .

"Natsu, Haru!" Lucy called again, when she had everyone else organized, she stood at the center of the circle with her hands outstretched and an intense gold magic building up around her. Natsu caught her eyes, even at the distance with dragon force eyesight and noted the bright green tint that had replaced her normally brown eyes. He wondered what high-level magic Makorav had her taking on, and hoped it wasn't asking too big a toll of her magic, but he couldn't worry about that now and he trusted her. "You join us as soon as I give the call, NO EXCEPTIONS," Natsu could hear the concern plain in her demand, she hated leaving them to hold of Acnologia.

Feeling the guild's combining magic power spiking up shore from them, Natsu wearily eyed their the black dragon as their guildmates seemed to be drawing Acnologia's attention more and more, it was all he and Haru could do to keep him at bay. Golden light was pulsing off the mages now, almost like a singular heartbeat, and Lucy had been chanting from the center of the circle all the while. Vaulting over the sweep of the dragon's tail, Haru appeared beside him, matching his sprint in a wide loop around the dragon. The two let their magics collide again, the destructive fire and water raging up around them once more. Wordlessly, they launched upward with a burst of their magics to drop onto the dragon's back, the massive orb of seamlessly spinning elements reaching its peak just as they landed. The pair shouted their elemental break a second time, but at much closer range this time, the spell seemed to shatter the air around it as it submerged Acnologia's head and upper body and the dragon's resulting roar finally sounded with a tinge of pain.

With a beat of his giant scaled wings, the winds around them whipped up in a storm as Acnologia thrust himself into the skies before spinning in a sudden violent movement that threw both Natsu and Haru from his back. Natsu crashed into the beach, kicking up a stream of dirt in the landing that had him rolling to cough up a mouthful of blood. Lucy yelled from a few meters away for their attention, the absolute defense spell was prepared and she was desperately holding it for their arrival. Natsu pushed himself up, ignoring various stabbing pains, he looked over toward Lucy and the rest of the guild, a column of faint shimmering light shone around them and towered into the sky overhead.

Offshore a massive tsunami overtook Acnologia, pulling the dragon down from the air slightly, Natsu caught sight of Haru, standing on the ocean's surface with a wall of water a hundred feet high behind him, arms outstretched. He clenched his jaw, 'I'm sorry Lucy,' he thought, before shouting back to her, "I've gotta help Haru! Whatever you're going to do, DO IT NOW! WE'LL HOLD HIM OFF!" Natsu shot back at Acnologia like a meteor, crashing into his neck and joining the fight over the ocean once more, Haru was back up as well and the Twin Dragons were reunited atop the dragon's back. Natsu heard Lucy screaming for them, a broken and anguished sound that felt like it held the power to shatter him to the soul, more than anything the dragon could ever deliver. He didn't know what spell she was casting, but he'd promised to buy her the time if it meant saving Fairy Tail, and he was going to deliver. But then Acnologia puffed up, drawing so much of the oxygen around them that for a fleeting a moment Natsu thought he could suffocate. Another massive tsunami guided by Haru collided with the dragon attempting to thwart the building attack and Natsu leapt over his head spinning with the power of his secret arts to smash into Acnologia's skull. Acnologia flung his head to the side but the ball of blinding white-blue light continued to build between his fangs, and with a roar that seemed to shake the space itself, he expelled a concentrated beam that overwhelmed the entire island in an instant.

Flinching away from the stifling power, Natsu shielded his eyes from the bright light that signalled each of Acnologia's attacks and had rendered him nearly blind earlier, until he'd stumbled onto into the power of Force. Residual magic hung heavy in the air around them, crackling, but that was the only sound that reached Natsu's ears. Suddenly everything seemed deadly silent, he didn't want to look, a feeling in the pit of his stomach nauseated him, he heard Haru gasp beside him and hesitantly forced himself to turn.

The island was gone.

A/N. Oh my goodness people. This chapter and the next leave quite a few questions remaining to be answered, so bear with me, will you? ;)

I'm going to have some fun with this Mavis/Lucy stuff, the random Mavis ghost popping up to cheer the guild on at GMG after saving them on Tenrou always seemed a little unexplained to me. I mean I could assume some stuff, but I think having her spirit 'bonded' to Lucy (for lack of a better word), presents some unique options for the story and Lucy's progress.

Kay, seriously, I feel SO lucky to have you all here for this first story of mine, when I started writing it, I honestly didn't expect to be taking it to a 200k+ word count. But here we are… and with lots of ideas still bouncing around in my head. The support after last chapter was such a nice surprise. So, endless thank-yous to SuperSaiyajin4Vegeta, Valerioux, Loso, CVBlovesu93, Joker D. Zero, FireShifter, EternalFlame, nandemona1ya and guests, I will strive to keep delivering quality reading for you all!

(and now you don't have to sit with the time skip cliff hanger for very long... bonus!)

'Till Saturday!

R&R

xx. LokaMuse