SailorStar9: We now continue with Chapter 159 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and my OCs.

Chapter 159: Alvarez Empire Arc: Sting, the White Shadow Dragon

"I've spent all this time trying to reach Natsu's level." Sting stated. "Guys like you really get in the way of that."

"I intend to purify Natsu's soul personally." Larcade declared. "I have no interest in a lowly nobody like you."

"Let's see what you think of my power combined with Rouge's." Sting growled. "The very essence of Sabertooth." his first punch sent Larcade flying backwards.

Larcade retaliated by unleashing several tendrils of White Arts magic. "They dissipated?" he frowned when Sting swatted his attack off.

"Sting's power can cancel your white magic." Rouge remarked.

"And Rouge's shadow magic can wreck you." Sting punched Larcade with a magically-charged punch, before pummeling Larcade with a series of rapid punches. "And then, if we put both our powers together." he combined both his and Rouge's magic and fired off a 'White Dragon's Flash'. "Damn, he's stubborn." he cursed when Larcade was revealed to be unfazed by the attack.

"Both your powers?" Larcade mocked. "Combine as many people as you want. You cannot fight your desire. Fall into the everlasting sleep of death." he cast his third spell. "Rest In Peace. The instant you close your eyes, you die."

"Damn it!" Sting roared, punching himself in an attempt to prevent himself from succumbing to the sleep spell.

"People cannot resist their wants." Larcade grinned. "Not even Acnologia can. That is what makes me the ultimate mage and gives me an actual chance of defeating Acnologia."

"Sting, go inside your shadow." Rouge suggested. "All your senses get sharpened when you're inside it. It won't last long, but it should wake you up."

"That's easy for you to say." Sting muttered. "How do I even..."

"'Feel' the gravity." Rouge advised. "Focus on it until your feet and ground become one."

"If it's gravity you want, I'll press you into the ground myself" Kagura stepped up, activating her 'Gravity Magic: Earth'.

Sting allowed himself to sink into the earth and melted into his own shadow.

"I can see it." Larcade noticed the streak of shadow heading towards him. "Spirit, into the open skies."

"This is the combined technique between me, Rouge and Kagura." Sting emerged from the shadow. "White Shadow Dragon's Rough Silk!" he sent a web of light and shadow beams towards Larcade. "It's time for you to go to sleep." he ended the fight.

Inside Natsu's mindscape...

"How far are we going, Sting?" Natsu whined.

"I'm Rouge." the Shadow Dragon Slayer corrected. "We're inside your mind, remember? Did you know that your scarf is made of Igneel' scales? Do you know why it's white when Igneel's scales are red? You never wondered about it until now, I see." he sighed. "After a dragon's scales come off, they lose their color. What matters is something else, though: humans can touch dragon scales after they've lost their color. You don't actually think Igneel knitted a human-sized scarf, did you? It was a woman named Anna who made your scarf." the mist cleared to reveal an image of Anna with her knitting needles. "You've probably forgotten, though."

"Lucy?" Natsu blinked.

"Looks like your friend, doesn't she?" Zeref took over. "Anna was a very kind and caring person. Now then, your death draws near. Your final answer is nearby, too."

Outside...

"This is bad." Porlyusica was worried. "His body temperature keeps dropping. Lucy, remove your clothes. It's our last resort. You'll have to warm him with your body. A person's warmth and love; a miracle is all we can hope for now."

"I'll do it." Lucy nodded.

"Zeref..." Natsu muttered. "I will beat Zeref."

"It's okay, Natsu." Happy wailed. "You can stop now. If you defeat Zeref, you'll die, too. Remember? I don't..."

"Wait a minute, Happy." Ulyo voiced. "What in the world are you talking about?"

"God, please save Natsu!" Happy pleaded. "I don't like any of this anymore."

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.