Terran attempted to bring down Ankhselam himself, but it was all for nothing. The united guilds might be one step closer to winning this war with Terran's death, but it might not matter. Acnologia is getting closer and closer to reviving. With Terran's body left alone, Storm was at the point of exhaustion. Luckily, his family was around to help him.
"Are you okay, Storm?" Juvia asked.
"Do I look okay? I'm running on fumes here. I'm not sure I can even stand." Storm said.
"I've got you covered." Gray said as he held him up and was forming ice in one hand. "Eat this. You need to replenish your strength."
"Thanks, Dad." Storm said as he started eating the ice to help get some strength back. Gray kept it up until Storm is able to move again. While Gray was trying to help him, Ul looked over at Terran's body. She almost felt sorry for him.
"How does it feel to take down one of the biggest bad guys we ever faced?" Ul said. "I've got to say you gave us a good scare when it looked like you was going to use Iced Shell. Way to fake him out."
"Yeah..." Gray said as he tightened his hold on him. Storm could tell he was in some sort of trouble. "Storm, if I ever catch you using that spell again, you're going to wish that guy did finish you, am I clear?" Storm looked into his father's eyes and could see that he really gave his father a good scare. He can understand why.
"Yeah... Sorry, Dad." Storm said.
"Now, keep eating. We're not done yet." Gray said as he continued to try and give his son some strength. They need to take the chance to recover while they can. This war isn't over and they might not get another.
...
Lucy
"Lucy, you holding up okay?" Loke asked.
"Don't worry too much about me. Just keep fighting." Lucy said. She summoned Loke earlier to help. She fought as hard as she could against the soldiers, but she was getting tired herself. "Damn these guys. They just keep coming. Each time we knock one of them down, it's like three more take his place."
"It's not looking good over there either!" Loke said as he pointed all the way to Ankhselam reviving Acnologia. Acnologia is close to being rebuilt. Lucy took a look herself and noticed something. Acnologia's ENTIRE body was being rebuilt. That's including the arm he lost long before his demise.
"You've got to be kidding me." Lucy said. "He's even bringing back that arm that Igneel tore off." Acnologia had his arm torn off by the dragon that raised Natsu. She knows what a hard time that was for Natsu. She hated what she was seeing. "Natsu... How many of our memories is that monster going to destroy?"
...
Drake
Drake was doing his best to fight off Serena, but she was a powerful enchantress. He tried catching his breath, but it looks like Serena is perfectly fine. As she allowed Drake to catch his breath, she was well aware of what happened to Terran. Especially since she stopped his act of betrayal on Ankhselam.
"So, Terran is actually gone." Serena said. "It would seem that I am the last of The Ten."
"Seriously? You're the last one now?" Drake questioned.
"That I am." Serena said. "I will admit that you and your friends did rather well. You defeated all the other members of The Ten, and you're able to hold off against a force that possesses around a million soldiers with just a handful of guilds. Still, you are far from out of the woods."
"Yeah, yeah. I've heard it all before." Drake said.
"Maybe so, but you really can't win." Serena said as she placed her hand over her heart and blushed. "My beloved awaits. My love will not be kept waiting."
"Your love?" Drake said.
"Yes. The finest man that has ever walked this awful world." Serena said.
"I can hear your thoughts. I know who you're talking about." Drake said. "You really love a man like him? Look at all that he's done. He's a monster."
"You don't know what you're talking about." Serena said. "Lord Ankhselam is a great man, and I shall become his goddess!" The one Serena loves is Ankhselam and her feelings for him clearly can't be locked.
"You're unbelievable." Drake said as he was getting irritated. He could hear all the things she thought about him and couldn't believe anyone could think such things about Ankhselam. "How can you love the likes of him?!"
"Lord Ankhselam and I have history." Serena said. "I was actually the very first he came to as he built his empire. We understand each other. I was abandoned and had nothing. I may have been profound in magic, but everyday was a struggle for me. He was the very first to help me in this cruel world."
...
Flashback
Before the Duat Kingdom became what it is today, Serena tried to survive on her own. She had no home, no money, no family, or really anything. All she had were rags for clothes with some knowledge on magic. Every day was a struggle for her, but she used her magic to help her get food.
"A few apples might not be much, but at least it's something." Serena said as she ate. She took cover in the woods to eat. Everyday was like this for her. All she did was care for herself because it seemed like no one else would. As she was helping herself to the food, someone was able to find her.
"What do we have here?" Serena looked up and was met with Ankhselam for the first time. "What's a lady like yourself doing out here?"
"Mind your own business. What I do out here has nothing to do with you." Serena said.
"That's a little rude." Ankhselam said. He took a look at her to get a better idea as to what he was dealing with. He could just tell there was something special about her.
"Don't get any ideas." Serena said. "I might look good, but I do know how to defend myself."
"Do you?" Ankhselam said as he stepped a little closer.
"I'm warning you." Serena said as she held some magic in her hand. "Mess with me and you will regret it." She tried to scare Ankhselam off, but he wasn't the least bit intimidated. He took her little dare as he took one step closer. "I warned you." She fired the magic from her hand and it connected to Ankhselam. She thought she did some damage, but he endured it. It was a surprise to her.
"Not bad. Let me show you mine." Ankhselam said. He held out his hand and formed a black orb in it.
"What is that?" Serena asked as she was starting to get a bad feeling about this. Ankhselam tossed it at her, but she managed to jump out of the way. When she did, the orb connected with stone and pushed right through it. Serena was shocked at what she just witnessed. There was a large hole that went right through solid stone.
'It went all the way through solid rock!' Serena thought. 'If that had made contact with me, it would have burrowed right through me easily!' Serena could see she made a mistake to try and pick a fight with this guy. He stood over her and he was like an intimidating shower. Serena found herself paralyzed with fear. She never encountered anyone who just did what he did. Ankhselam reached out for her and she was afraid she was going to die. "No! Leave me alone!" She thought he was going to hurt her, but his hand caressed the side of her face.
"You don't need to be afraid of me." Ankhselam said. He dropped down to look her in the eyes. "Life isn't fair, is it? Someone as beautiful and powerful as you being treated like this. I can sense you have great potential. I know what it's like to have nothing, and it seems like no one cares about you. I understand how cruel the world really is. I plan to change the world, but I know I can't do it alone." He stood up and Serena was seeing him like he was standing in a divine light.
"What do you want?" Serena said as she was being enticed.
"I want you to join me." Ankhselam said. "Do you desire to have everything you could ever want? Believe me when I say that I understand what you're going through. Come with me. We might be able to help each other." He held out his hand for her. Serena didn't know what it was, but she felt like this was some sort of sign for her. For the first time, someone was willing to help her. She could tell that Ankhselam meant it when he said he understand how she feels. She reached out and took his hand.
End of Flashback
...
"I was skeptical, but drawn to his power." Serena said. "I soon found myself falling in love with him. He was the first to actually help me, the first that actually understood me. Everything I did was for him. I devoted my life to him! That is why when he changes this awful world, I will stand by his side!" Serena was filled with such devotion and love for Ankhselam that it was practically her being.
"Wow. You got some crazy in your eyes." Drake said.
"Well, love can make you crazy." Serena said as she was beginning to calm down. "Regardless of what you think, Lord Ankhselam is a great man."
"But you know you and he can't be, right?" Drake said. "For him to love you, he would have to care about you more than himself. That can't happen because of his curse. The more he cares for life, the more life is drained away."
"I'm not naïve. I'm well aware of his curse, and I don't care." Serena said as she can just feel pleasure around her body. "I know his curse could be a problem, but I don't care as long as I am by his side. I will do anything for him! If he would love me back, I will die in bliss! Even if he can't, I will gladly allow my body to be an instrument of pleasure for him!"
"You're that smitten with him?!" Drake said.
"I am!" Serena declared. "My body is his to use as he pleases! He can do whatever he likes to me! If he loves me back, I will die happy!" Serena's love for Ankhselam clearly knows no bounds. It might sound like obsession and lust, but her feelings for him are genuine.
"Lady, you've lost it." Drake said.
"I don't need your approval." Serena said. "I might sound crazy, but that's just how I feel. You and your friends don't stand a chance against us in the first place. Just give up. Look at what happened to Natsu Dragneel and his brother." When she mentioned that, Drake was starting to get annoyed. "Do you want to share his fate?"
"Look, lady! I don't really give a damn about your feelings towards that madman!" Drake said. "He's going to pay for what he did! You might think you guys are all-powerful, but that doesn't mean a damn thing to any of us! Natsu and his brother were great men and your lord killed them! Still, no matter what we're up against, Fairy Tail is never going to give up the fight." Drake reached down and was calling upon his best spell. "We'll face Hell itself if that's what we've got to do!" Light shot straight into the sky as he called on Fairy Glitter. Serena was actually impressed that he could pull something like that. "Fairy Glitter!" Drake unleashed the full force of the attack down on her. He unleashed all the fury he could with that attack.
"Impressive." Serena said as she came through the smoke. Drake couldn't believe this. She was able to walk out of there with magic flowing from her hand. "That's quite the impressive spell you have."
'You've got to be kidding! She was even able to weaken that spell?!' Drake thought as he found it unreal.
"Your spells, determination, and tenacity is all impressive for such a little man, but I'm afraid it's too late." Serena said. Drake was about to retort to that until he realized something. He looked and saw Acnologia was nearly rebuilt.
...
Ankhselam
"Yes. Yes!" Ankhselam said as he Acnologia's return was near. It was close to happening and no one can stop him. Nashi was trying to force her way through. Ankhselam was practically in her sight.
"No!" Nashi said as she hurried. She tried to push through the soldiers to make it in time to stop him. "Out of my way!" She tried to force her way through, but the soldiers kept getting in her way. She tried going directly through them, but they kept hitting her around. A couple grab hold of her and was holding her down. She held out her hand as Ankhselam was just in her reach, but Acnologia was about to be revived.
"Acnologia, live again!" Ankhselam declared.
"NO!" Nashi shouted. It was for nothing as the giant sphered glowed and combusted. The shockwaves traveled through as they all felt it. It was the most dreadful feeling anyone felt for those who knew this meant. Black wings cleared the smoke away and they could see it. The living embodiment of destruction let out it's mighty roar as it vibrated through the air. The black wings of the once feared Dragon King has taken through the skies once more.
AN: Given what Serena admitted to, this Top Ten is appropriate to ask. Let's cut down the number to five, Top Five. I'm just not sure if I put in enough in the story. Name your top five PAIRINGS! You heard me. I don't care if it's canon, fanon, semi-canon, or just two random people you like together. If you want to add more than five, go right ahead.