AN: Thanks Goku275, NinjaFang1331, Wadeparker, cg037, AliceCullen3, and scoolharis. I'd like to wish you and everyone else reading my story a happy Thanksgiving (though the fact that I'm posting an update today is just a coincidence).

I hope you enjoy the chapter!

"Are you ready, Natsu?" asked Gildarts.

"I'm all fired up!" responded Natsu.

It had been one week since Natsu learned about Lumen Histoire. Natsu and Gildarts were finally having their battle, next to the crater where Fairy Tail's second guild hall once stood. Nobody else was present, either too busy or not strong enough to avoid becoming collateral damage.

"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" shouted Natsu, charging at Gildarts and throwing a fiery punch.

The S-Class Mage blocked the strike with an open hand, dispersing the flames with his Crash magic. However, in the moments before Natsu's flames were extinguished, the force of the dragon's punch pushed Gildarts back a few inches.

"Not bad," praised Gildarts, smiling calmly. "Looks like I won't have to worry about pulling punches. I'm pretty bad at it, after all."

Having said his piece, the S-Class Mage threw a punch of his own. Natsu dodged to the side and attempted a counterattack, igniting his arm. Gildarts dodged this attack, then swung his right fist down on the dragon, slamming him into the ground.

"Oof!" went Natsu, though he recovered quickly. "Fire Dragon's Claw!"

The dragon, with his legs ablaze, kicked at Gildarts. With no time to avoid or counter the attack, the S-Class Mage was forced to block with his metal arm. Said artificial limb quickly grew red as it strained against the leg, which forced Gildarts to break off the exchange, leaping backward a few steps.

"Fire Dragon's Roar!" yelled Natsu, breathing flames toward his opponent to keep up the pressure.

Unfortunately, Gildarts was unfazed by the fire. He used his magic to break apart the dragon's spell into a bunch of cubes, along with Natsu himself.

"Whoops," mumbled the S-Class Mage, feeling a bit awkward. His opponent had been reduced to a number of tiny copies. "I didn't mean to end the fight so quickly. I'm sor—"

"Not so fast!" exclaimed all of the mini-Natsus. "I'm not giving up!"

At that moment, they all released their Transformation magic, turning into a swarm of horse-sized dragons. The Natsus then attacked Gildarts with a mixture of flames, claws, and fangs. The S-Class Mage tried to beat them back, enhancing his blows with Crash magic, but their sheer numbers allowed the small dragons to land several hits on him.

"Go back to normal!" shouted Gildarts, frustrated by the assault. The Natsus reformed above him, turning into a huge red dragon. "…Shit."

"Now's my chance!" yelled Natsu, flames enveloping his body as he activated Fire Dragon King Mode. "Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!"

The dragon slammed a miniature sun into his opponent, exploding and creating a crater larger than the one where the guild hall once stood. As the flames died down, Gildarts stood at the center of the hole, covered in gashes and burns from the battle.

"I can see how you defeated Tartaros," said the S-Class Mage, beaming with pride and radiating immense power despite his injuries. "Your dragon form is definitely much more powerful… but it also makes you a bigger target! All Crush!"

The last thing Natsu remembered was seeing a giant, cross-shaped light erupt before him. Then, nothing but inky blackness.

"Urgh," groaned Natsu, waking up to agony. He noticed that most of his scales were broken, which made him realize that he was still a dragon. Natsu transformed back into human form, looking around and noticing he was lying in a new crater. "What happened?"

"I… may have gone a bit overboard," apologized Gildarts sheepishly. He was standing just outside the crater. "Sorry about that."

"It's fine," dismissed Natsu. "It was a fight, after all. So… you're still stronger than me, even after seven years."

The dragon paused for a moment, before giving a broad smile. "I can't wait to for our next battle!"

"Heh," chuckled Gildarts, amused by Natsu's tenacity. "Me too. You've gotten a lot more powerful yourself, to the point where I had to get serious. In fact, I'd say that you're well on the way to surpassing me and Makarov."

"Speaking of Gramps," replied Natsu, growing somber. "Last week, he told me a big secret about our guild. I ended up returning the favor, telling him about something huge that I learned recently and hadn't shared with anyone else yet."

"Okay," nodded Gildarts, curious where this story was going.

"After we talked, I went home and told Milly the secret…" continued Natsu. "…and, now, I want to tell you about it. The Dark Mage, Zeref… is my older brother."

"…" Gildarts froze for a moment, processing Natsu's secret. "…Really? You two are… nothing alike. That would explain you being E.N.D., though it also raises so many more questions."

Natsu began to explain what little he had learned to Gildarts. As he spoke, tension drained from the dragon's shoulders. For the third time, Natsu had revealed the dark truth and received total acceptance.

Honestly, he felt like an idiot for expecting anything else. This was Fairy Tail, after all.

"Ugh, too tight," complained Natsu mentally, pulling at the collar of his tuxedo.

A week had passed since his match with Gildarts, and it was finally time for the wedding ceremony. Makarov stood beside him, playing the role of the officiant. In front of him sat all of Fairy Tail (excluding Gildarts, who left town the day after their match), Wally, Shô, Jura and co. from Lamia Scale, and Ichiya's group from Blue Pegasus.

The ceremony was taking place outdoors, next to the wreckage of the second guild hall and the battle between Natsu and Gildarts. (It was cheaper than renting a building and then paying for the inevitable destruction.)

However, Natsu forgot about his irritation toward the formal clothing the moment his bride/wife came into view. He gawked at her beautiful, white-clad figure as she walked down the aisle, accompanied by Erza due to the lack of a parental figure.

When she arrived and Makarov began speaking, Natsu didn't hear a word. He was too busy falling in love with Millianna all over again. Makarov actually had to kick his leg to get the dragon's attention when it came time to give their vows.

"Ow!" whispered Natsu, rubbing his shin for a moment before returning his attention to Millianna. "Milly, when we first met, I was fighting you and Wally while wearing a cat head thing." This earned him a mixture of laughter and confused stares. "But, despite all that, I could tell how amazing you were. You were beautiful. You were kind. You were fierce enough to stand up for your beliefs, even against a friend. And, in the years that have passed since that day, I have only seen these traits grow. I love you, now and forever."

"Natsu," began Millianna. "Since the moment we met, you've understood me better than anyone else. You could always tell if I was lying or not, and whenever I was sad or scared you would notice and comfort me in just the right way. You even picked up on just how much I like cats."

The people who knew her laughed at this, but Millianna was dead serious. Though it may have been obvious that she was a cat-lover, only Natsu realized her affection was to the extent that pretending to be one while wearing a costume cat head on would affect her.

"However," continued Millianna. "I definitely love you more, from now until beyond the end of time, my Fireball."

"Do you two take one another to be lawfully wedded, to have and hold in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, for richer and poorer, for as long as you both shall live?" asked Makarov.

"I do."

"I do."

"Then, I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Natsu and Millianna Dragneel kissed. Their friends and family cheered them on, applauding and crying tears of joy. Although neither of them voiced it, the couple had the same thought:

"This was definitely worth the wait."

"They really are beautiful together," thought Erza, smiling as she watched the 'newlywed' couple dancing. She also chuckled at the Gray-Juvia-Lyon love triangle and found it cute when she saw Wendy and Romeo dancing.

"Are you just going to spend all night on the sidelines?" asked Wally as he and Shô walked up to Erza.

"It is not like I have anybody to dance with," she replied.

"Yeah, it's a shame Jellal didn't attend," agreed Shô, causing Erza to blush.

"W-what are you talking about!?" she stammered, her face the same color as her hair. "I definitely did not want him to compliment my new dress and dance with me!"

"…Anyway," started Shô, changing the topic out of pity for the woman he looked up to. "I was surprised to find out how accepting you were about Millianna and Natsu's relationship."

"I have known Natsu for years," answered Erza. "After my initial rage cooled off, I realized that he would always treat Millianna with the love and respect that she deserves."

"True," agreed Wally. "But it's still shocking that you weren't bothered by how Natsu knocked up Millianna."

"…" Erza's expression froze, unnerving her childhood friends. This discomfort turned into full blown terror as her face morphed into a look of absolute fury. "What?"

"D-didn't your g-guild mentioned," stuttered Wally, just barely not soiling himself. "T-the reason Millianna w-wanted to meet with N-Natsu at the t-time you and the others d-disappeared was because she was p-pregnant with Blaze."

"It seems I will be slaying a dragon today," stated Erza, walking off toward Natsu.

Logically, Wally and Shô knew that, at most, Erza would simply challenge Natsu to a duel and then beat him within an inch of his life. Yet, that didn't stop them from praying to any god who was listening, wishing that Millianna wouldn't soon become a widow and her children fatherless because of them.

"I'm sorry," apologized Natsu. "It was seven years ago. I forgot to tell you about it."

"That does not change what you did!" yelled Erza angrily. "And wipe that grin off your face!"

Indeed, Natsu had been wearing a broad smile since Erza challenged him to a fight. This only made her madder, to the point where it was clear to everybody else that there was no stopping this duel. The best they could do was evacuate to a safe distance and watch the fight.

"It's our first battle in over seven years," defended Natsu. "Of course I'm all fired up!"

Titania responded by screaming with rage. She Requipped her Flame Empress Armor, then leapt at the dragon and swung her sword. Natsu grabbed onto the flat of the blade, along with Erza's head.

"Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" shouted the dragon, igniting his arms as he swung them and threw Titania and her sword. They tumbled across the ground, only stopping after hitting a rock. Despite its fire resistance, Erza's armor was singed around the edges, not to mention damaged in places from the attack.

"Requip!" yelled Titania, rising to her feet in Heaven's Wheel Armor. Dozens of swords materialized, flying alongside her as she charged at Natsu again.

This time, the dragon was unable to brush off her attacks. Natsu had to weather the storm of blades and Erza's personal strikes, repelling them with a mixture of flaming punches and kicks.

However, as the minutes passed by, Erza was forced to discard and more and more of her swords, Requipping new ones to replace them. The two opponents were soon surrounded by a field of warped, melting weapons.

"Requip!" exclaimed Erza suddenly, donning her Flight Armor and twin short swords. Utilizing her now-enhanced speed, she dashed at Natsu and performed an X-shaped slash.

The dragon reacted instantly, unfazed by her attempt to catch him off guard. Again, Natsu grabbed Titania's weapons. They drew blood this time, but the damage was only superficial.

"Fire Dragon's Roar!" bellowed Natsu, unleashing his spell at point-blank range. Erza was knocked back, only to rise to her feet a second later, her head facing downward.

"You have truly grown stronger," said the S-Class Mage quietly. "That much has become obvious."

"I had a family to take care of," replied Natsu, smiling but resolute.

"How mature of you," responded Erza, raising her head to reveal a smile of her own.

As the fight progressed, Titania's rage had gradually dimmed, replaced with a mixture of respect for her friend and excitement over their battle. What had started as a means of inflicting punishment had turned into a friendly (by Fairy Tail standards) battle.

Sadly, like all good things it could not last forever. The end was here, and both of them knew it.

"Requip," stated Erza, removing her armor and summoning the Demon Blade Benizakura. In just pants and a sarashi, she gripped her katana tightly, channeling all of her remaining Magic Power into it.

"Fire Dragon King Mode," spoke Natsu. Flames wreathed his body as the dragon gathered his strength for one final attack.

"Benizakura…"

"Dragon Slayer's Secret Art…"

The two dashed at one another, becoming blurs.

"…Flash!"

"…Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade!"

As their attacks collided, a blinding explosion was produced. As the fire and light faded, the two had passed each other. Their magic dissipated, yet neither turned to look at the other.

A few seconds ticked by. Then, Erza collapsed.

Natsu was the winner.

Omake

Jellal stood in the wreckage of the latest Dark Guild that Crime Sorcière had crushed. Thanks to their newest members, the battle had been easy. Yet, he couldn't help but feel gloomy.

"Sad you can't be at the wedding ceremony?" asked Ultear as she approached Jellal. When he gave a small nod, her voice took on a playful tone. "Did you want to see Erza in a dress that badly?"

"It's not like that!" he denied, blushing bright red.

"Even without my hearing, it's obvious that you're lying," commented Erik as he and the rest of the guild walked up to the two.

"I joined this guild to obtain true freedom, not to talk about your awkward love life," complained Macbeth with a smirk.

"A childhood romance truly is beautiful," stated Richard, his eyes tearing up.

"You should be quick, before somebody else snatches her up," teased Sawyer.

"I wonder if she caught the bouquet after it was tossed," mused Sorano with a grin. "You could be next."

"When you two do get married, I call being the best woman," declared Meredy.

"It's not like that!" cried Jellal again, his depression forgotten.

AN: I want to say right now that, despite my attempts to make it dramatic, the fight between Natsu and Erza was pretty one-sided. Natsu did not need to turn into a dragon like when he fought Gildarts, and even the use of Fire Dragon King Mode was… well… I suppose 'barely 'necessary' describes things well. The fight would have been close without it, but was easy with it. If Erza had her 2nd Origin unlocked, the fight would have been longer and more serious, with Natsu still winning.

That's all. Bye!