Natsu looked behind him as Happy flew him above the town. He felt bad for having Lucy stay behind, but he wanted to get payback himself. It's not as if she would get in the way, it's just that he hadn't been able to get in a good fight since he'd arrive. It was childish but he couldn't help himself. He frowned suddenly when a smell hit his nose.

"Natsu...?" Happy asked. Sweat poured down the side of his temple. Natsu furrowed his brows at this.

"Yeah little buddy?" Natsu asked in confusion.

"Were being followed..." Happy told Natsu as he motioned his head to behind them. Natsu looked behind his furry head and grit his teeth. He knew he smelled someone familiar. He crossed his arms in anger when Lucy hovered next to him, Marie carrying her.

"So heavy..." Marie exclaimed. Lucy felt a blush creep up her neck

"Shut up! I'm not heavy Marie!" Lucy yelled out. Natsu rolled his eyes and glared slightly at the blonde. She turned to him and shook her head. Her angry expression hadn't gone away. "I know you did that back there on purpose! You embarrassed me!" She whined angrily.

"And you just lied to me just now. So were even, now go back to Wendy and the others." Natsu muttered. Lucy made a face at him and leaned in closer to him.

"Why do you want to fight Cobra so bad anyway?" Lucy unexpectedly asked. Natsu scratched his cheek, a shy smile appearing in his lips. She shook her head, not understanding what he was trying to get at.

He threw his hands up in the air. "Cause I haven't got to fight anyone yet. I feel left out!" Natsu pouted. Lucy sat there in silence for a moment. She stared at him for a moment. Was that really what he was upset about? Not being able to get into a fight. Her shoulders became relaxed. She should of known. This is Natsu.

"Really? Why didn't you just say so. Jeez, I'll leave now!" Lucy shook her head, smiling slightly at the way he lit up. He was such an idiot sometimes. Just as she was going to have Marie take her back, she suddenly felt a presence. Along with Natsu. She and Marie froze as a man appeared in front of the. He had a huge smirk on his face as he pet the head of the same snake that bit Erza.

"Lovers quarrel? Interesting." Cobra snickered.

"Absolutely not!" Lucy screamed. Natsu ignored their exchange of words and pushed Lucy back behind him. He gave her a sideways glance. She blew a raspberry and had Marie fly back. Natsu glared at Cobra and lit his hand on fire. He went to punch Cobra, but it was quickly dodged. Cobra took Natsu's shock to kick him in the stomach, poison seeping into his skin.

"Ouch- fuck!" Natsu held his stomach and glared up at Cobra weakly. Lucy twiddled with her thumbs and bit her lip. She wanted to help, she really did, but she would get in the way. And for some reason, whenever she got close to an enemy, Natsu would do what he could to put himself between them. Just like he did a minute ago.

"You have a lot on your mind for a blonde," Cobra chuckled. He was seriously getting on her nerves. But she knew what he was doing. He was just trying to urk her. She wouldn't fall for it, she wasn't as stupid as she looks. "I wouldn't say that..." Cobra muttered with a grin. Lucy clenched her fist and growled at Cobra.

While Cobra was temporarily distracted, Natsu was able to uppercut Cobra, knocking him off balance. He grunted and had his snake settle him. He wiped his bloodied chin while he gave Natsu a confused glare. He didn't even hear the pyro coming. "Focus on me, snake boy." Natsu chuckled.

"Natsu don't get cocky!" Lucy scolded. Natsu rolled his eyes and waved her off. Why was she here watching them anyway? Ignoring his lingering thoughts, he focused his attention on Cobra. Natsu went to punch in the right, but Cobra easily dodged that. Then he went to roundhouse kick him, that was also dodged. Natsu groaned in frustration.

Cobra then attacked him. He sucked up a breath. Natsu and Lucy's eyes widened at the familiar scene. "Poison dragon roar!" Cobra screeched. Natsu and Lucy yelled out when it hit them dead on. Marie and Happy coughed violently. Both animals could feel their arms getting weaker. Cobra smirked. "This poision is slowly making its way into your blood system. It'll dry you two up quickly."

"Dammit! Wake up Natsu!" Natsu screamed to himself as he felt his eyes drop. Lucy was in the same boat, although she was succumbing to the poison more easily. Natsu turned around and noticed this. He prayed the gods forgive him, before he slapped her across the face. She jerked awake and frowned at him.

"The hell was that for?!" She mumbled as she rubbed her sore cheek.

"Whatever you do, do not go to sleep! Now just stay back and let me handle this." Natsu huffed. Lucy wanted to argue, but the energy was leaving her quickly. She nodded and had the weak Marie pull her back. Natsu turned back to Cobra and gasped when he didn't have a scratch on him. Cobra noticed this and decided to elaborate.

"Cubellios can release a toxin from her mouth that can heal my wounds," Cobra said as he rubbed the head of the snake. Natsu felt his anger spike suddenly, all his weakness disappearing. He couldn't even focus on Cobra's puzzled face he was so frustrated. Taking his frustrations on Cobra, he released relentless attacks on him. And it was actually doing something. "What the hell? I can't read his moves!"

"Natsu I figured it out!" Happy announced. Natsu stepped back and looked up at Happy. The cat flew him above Cobra and gave him a smile. "Just don't think, he can't read your moves if you don't think about them." Confused at first, Natsu then smiled widely when he understood. Natsu tried not to think of anything, but now that he was doing it voluntarily, he couldn't do it. His mind ways brought him back to something.

"Dammit Happy, why didn't you tell me it was gonna be so hard?!" Natsu whined. But Happy hadn't said anything back. "Huh? Little buddy-" Natsu coughed out when he was punched across the face and kicked into the stomach. And this time, Happy couldn't steady them. He was too weak to hold them up. Lucy struggled agaisnt Marie.

"You gotta let me help!"

"No, wait. Look, something's happening." Marie said, having Lucy lean down and watch. Natsu looked up at the sky and saw as Cobra grabbed him by the neck. A yell of anger bubbled in his throat, and once he realised it, it became louder and louder. So loud Lucy had to cover her ears. His scream reminded her of a...dragon's roar. She awed as she watched Cobra gasp.

"It's so damn loud!" Cobra screeched, trying to cover his ears. But it was far too late. His ears bled down the side of his face. He lost his balance on Cubellios and crashed to the ground. Natsu rolled away from Cobra and grabbed Happy, bringing the sickly cat to his chest. Marie and Lucy landed next to him. Lucy helped him up, allowing him to lean on her.

"That was really smart Natsu." Lucy said with a bright smile. She stared at Cobra and stuck her tongue out at the unconscious man. Natsu scratched his cheek.

"What did I do?" He asked curiously. Lucy turned to him with a confused expression.

"Y'know, the whole screaming-" she sighed when his face showed her he had no idea what she was talking about. "Know what? Never mind, good job Natsu." She pat his back. Since Marie was too weak to carry everyone back, then slowly trudged back to Wendy to get healed. It was particularly difficult as Natsu and Lucy couldn't stand whenever the thing they were on moved. Which was more often than not.

"Hey Wendy!" Lucy yelled out, using most of her strength to do so. Wendy turned to them and gasped, running to them. But her foot had gotten caught on a rock and she tumbled to the ground. "Wendy, are you okay?!" Lucy said as she knelt down to the sky maiden. Wendy lifted her head and pouted.

"Yes I'm fine Lucy-san. Can you please let me heal all of you." She asked. Lucy nodded and sat down with the others. Wendy started with Happy and Marie first. Getting poison out of their body was a lot easier than full grown adults. Natsu sighed and looked at the ground blankly. He wanted to fall asleep so bad.

Then Wendy hovered over Natsu and began to heal his body. Natsu hummed, he could feel his strength returning. Lucy smiled in relief and leaned back on her hands. "Thanks for this Wendy." Natsu smiled.

"No problem...I'm always happy to help." Wendy said as she licked her lips. Wiping her sweat ridden forehead, she scooted on her knees to Lucy. Lucy pat Wendy's head and gave the girl a grin.

"Yeah we appreciate the help a lot. You've done so much on this mission. We'd be dead without you." Wendy blushed and looked away.

"It's not big deal..." Wendy muttered. Just as Wendy finished up, Lucy put a hand to her forehead and frowned in pain. "What is it, Lucy-san!?" Wendy asked in panic.

"I-I don't know. There is some kind of mental image in my mind. Wait...Hibiki is that you?" Lucy said as she gazed up at the sky. Natsu pursed his lips, before he realized what she was talking about. He just gotten the same message. What the image was trying to say was to go inside of whatever they were on and to destroy lacrimas. But there was a catch. Zero, the leader of Oracion Seis, will be in one of six of those lacrimas. And that they were given only twenty minutes. Lucy's head throbbed at so much information at once.

"Man I feel like we weren't even here half the time," Lucy chuckled as she stood up. "Come on guys, I'm going to take lacrima three." Natsu nodded at her words and ran with her to where the lacrimas were being hidden. One in each leg. Natsu split from Lucy and traveled into the first tunnel. He could smell Zero pretty clear from there.

"There you are!" Natsu smirked down at Zero. He jumped up and went to punch him across the face, but Zero grabbed his hand and spun him around. Letting go to slam him into a wall. Natsu grunted out in pain and stood back up. Natsu sucked in a breath and released a fire dragon roar at Zero. The man sat there and took the attack. But had not a scratch on him.

"Are you even using your full power? I feel like this is a day in the park!" Zero cackled up at Natsu. He clenched his fist in anger and went to kick Zero in the gut, but it felt as if his stomach was made of steel. Natsu reeled back. Why couldn't he get a hit in? Why was this not affecting him at all?

"Dammit!"

Zero signed and crossed his arms. "I think it's time I go offense." Natsu didn't have a time to react as Zero punch him across the cheek, then under the jaw, then the back of the head. Before Natsu could fall to the ground, Zero grabbed his arm and hurled him across the room. He threw him up and kicked him in the stomach. Natsu coughed out amounts of blood and laid on the ground while Zero cackled maniacally.

"What the hell...I can't even move..." Natsu wheezed. A smell then filled his nose, but he couldn't care. Someone bent down next to him and held a beautiful golden flame in front of him. Natsu lifted his head just enough to see the face of his savior. Only to have a sour taste fill his mouth.

"Jellal!" Natsu growled. But he didn't have the strength to punch the bastard across the face.

"You can hate me. I know I do, but please use this. It can help you destroy Zero and the lacrima." Jella set the fire to Natsu's mouth, waiting for him to eat it. Natsu pushed back his hand.

"I don't need your damn help..." Natsu hacked. Jellal felt a vein appear on his forehead. He grabbed Natsu by the scarf and looked into his eyes.

"I'm not doing this so you forgive me! I'm doing this for Erza, and you should do this for your friends, for the ones you care about. So stop being so stubborn and eat the last of my power!" Jellal shook Natsu, awaiting his answer. Natsu stared at him beside nodding.

"Okay," he signed heavily. "Fine, but I'll never forgive you for making Erza cry. But...thanks for this." Natsu consumed Jellal's flames and felt a major power boost. Fire engulfed his body as he stood up. Jellal sighed with a smile and left Natsu to his fight. Though Jellal was still a jackass, he was useful. Zero raised a brow and waited for Natsu to attack.

But Zero could hardly see it coming. Natsu was almost as fast as Racer. He punched Zero so hard to the ground, he fell through several stories of the robot. Zero growled and shot up at Natsu, but he dodged and kicked Zero across the jaw.

"H-How are you doing this?!" Natsu grinned at Zero and lifted his hand in the air.

"Because I'm using my friend's strength. This is all them!" Natsu shouted as he punched Zero so hard in the face, the man barrel rolled back and through the metal of the moving object. Zero fell down many trees, finally hitting the ground with a hard thump. He stared in fear as Natsu glared down at him. Zero then promptly passed out, defeated.

Natsu grinned and turned back to the lacrima. He could hear the countdown of everyone else, so he decided to join in. "Five...four...three...two...one...zero!" Natsu jumped up and punched the lacrima so hard it shattered into pieces. Natsu cheered as he could feel the aura that lifted everyone's spirits. But it was short lived. As the vehicle they were one was beginning to fall into ruins. Natsu yelled and ran passed the broken lacrima.

"Ouch!" He heard a voice yell. Turning back, he came across Lucy who had her leg trapped under some debris. He kneeled down to her and grabbed her upper arms. She opened her eyes to see him. "Natsu, you're okay! I could feel your fire from all the way across the room. I'm glad you won." She said with a warm smile.

"That's great and all, but can we save the small talk for after we get out?"

"O-Oh yeah! My ankle is stuck, you gotta pull me out," Lucy huffed as Natsu pulled on her. He growled and stood, grabbed the large piece of metal and lifting it up. Lucy slid her leg out and allowed Natsu to drop it. She stood up, only to be lifted and hauled over Natsu's shoulder. "What the hell Natsu!?"

"We don't got time for this, it'll just be faster if I carry ya!"

"Yeah, but in such an embarrassing way?" The blonde muttered, grabbing the back of her skirt and pulling it over her bottom. Natsu held in the urge to laugh as they jumped down from the robot. He ran through the woods and in the outskirts of the guild Cait Shelter. The thing Zero was after the whole time. He sighed relief when he saw everyone gathered around in the same group. They were bloody and beaten but they were happy.

"Hey guys! Where's Wendy?" Natsu asked with a smile. Like he totally forgot he just had Lucy over his shoulder. Gray shook his head with a snicker and pointed to the small girl that was healing some of Ezra's wounds. "Thanks ice princess!" Natsu grinned.

"Natsu would you put me down, I'm so embarrassed..." Lucy said as she covered her hands with her face, her neck visibly red.

"What for? I'm just carrying ya? Anyway, hey Wendy!" Natsu yelled out. Wendy turned to them and blushed suddenly. "Can you help Lucy again? She got her ankle caught." She nodded and hovered her magic coated hands over Lucy's exposed ankle. Wendy frowned, it was already swelled. Wendy gave Natsu a small smile and stepped back when she was done.

"She'll have to be off it for a day or two, but otherwise she'll be okay." After Wendy was done with Lucy, she traveled around the group and asked anyone if they needed healing. Natsu smiled at the scene, before coming across Jellal and Erza talking. He expected Erza to be screaming at him and hitting him. Natsu also noticed one of the Oracion Seis members were there, except he looked less scary and talked animatedly with Jura.

"Goddamit Natsu!" Lucy whined. Natsu snapped out of his trance and laughed, finally setting her down. She limped to a set of large stones and sat down along with Happy and Marie. Natsu smiled at her and sat in front of her. Everyone was pretty content, until someone tried to go farther than the general vicinity. They came to what felt like a brick wall.

"What is this?" Erza asked as she put a hand to the invisible wall. "Rune magic. Someone trapped us in here." Erza frowned.

"Yes. This was the only way we would be able to do this. We ask for Jellal Fernandez and Hoteye. Then we will be on our way." Groups of men came from the shadows. It was the magic council and their knights. Jelleal stood up and went to walk forward, but Erza put a hand up to stop him.

"We will not give you Jellal! He has redeemed himself and so has Richard. They don't deserve this!" Erza yelled. Lucy frowned and crossed her arms. She would stand with Erza, though she wasn't sure how effective that would be with her ankle. Everyone trapped in the rune magic glared at the magic council and nodded along Erza.

"That isn't how the law works. They both must pay for their past crimes. For God's sake, Jellal almost revived Zeref and killed millions of lives!" Jellal bit his lip and stared at the ground. He stepped forward.

"I'll go."

"But Jellal-"

"Erza, no. The man is right. I have to do this if I ever want to forgive myself." Jellal muttered. The rune magic dissipated as some knights slapped cuffs on both Richard and Jellal. Jura held back Erza as she struggled to fight against the magic council. Then, a thought came to her.

"Richard, your brother, you told us. His name is Wally right?" Erza suddenly asked, her arms becoming limp. Richard looked back at her and nodded. She smiled. "I grew up with him. Right now, he's traveling the world and exploring the endless possibilities. He's alright and he's alive. He's happy." Richard stared at her before bursting into tears while he was hauled away.

"I can rest easy now, thank you Miss Erza." Erza smiled sadly. At least she could make someone happy today. She watched as Jellal stepped into the vehicle. But before hand, he muttered something.

"What was that?!" A knight yelled, shaking him around.

"It was the color of your hair." Jellal muttered louder, loud enough for Erza to hear. The redhead's eyes watered as he was taken away. She couldn't believe he remembered. She subconsciously grabbed a lock of her hair and twirled it between her fingers. A small smile coming to her lips.

...

"Oh Wendy, your guilds wear is so beautiful. I love it!" Lucy squealed as she twirled around in an outfit some of Wendy's guildmates made. Wendy gave Lucy a huge smile and patted down her own dress.

"Thank you Lucy-san! Say, Erza-san, how do you like your outfit?" Wendy beamed when she gazed at Erza. Although the redhead was distracted. And she looked less than happy at the moment. Lucy sighed and pat Wendy's back, leading her out of the building. "Did I say something wrong?" Wendy muttered.

"Of course not. Ezra's just upset about what happened last night. Believe it or not, that man that was taken away was really close to Erza when they were kids. I'm sure she's just sad he's gone." Lucy hummed. They both joined a crowd filled with people from her guild and people from the mission. Everyone was smiling and happy about finally finishing it. But Wendy's master didn't.

"Master, what is it?" Wendy asked as her master stared at the ground.

"Wendy we have to tell you something..." Her guild master said. She nodded and watched as everyone from her guild and village surround her. "We aren't who we say we are...truth is we are over hundreds of years old," Wendy gasped. "And we are not actually here. You see, when you were brought here, I was on my last leg. I was so close with death but I used the last of my magic to generate a guild for you and a village for you to grow in."

"N-No..." Wendy muttered.

He nodded. And slowly, everyone around them began disappearing. "My time has come Wendy."

"You can't, Master! I'll be so lonely!"

"But you won't, sweet Wendy. You've made tons of new, real friends. You have people you can laugh with, cry with, and fight with. You don't need this fake village to survive. Because you've been doing this all on your from begin with. Wendy...you're strong..." The old man mumbled with a watery smile. As the wind blew, his ashes were spread out into the air. Wendy gave into her tears and fell to her knees. She sobbed as everyone around her stared in surprise. Charle laid in her lap and wiped hed own tears away.

"It's okay, Wendy don't cry...your friends are right here with you..." Erza nodded, putting a hand on her shoulder. Lucy cried for Wendy quietly. Everyone felt a heavy aura surround them as Erza and Wendy hugged each other. And even through this, Lucy couldn't help but smile. At least together, they could mourn for the people they cared about. Wiping a tear away, she turned to Natsu.

He looked back at her with a sad expression. But she gave him a smile. Things were going to work out. She had hope for that.

And happily, things did. Wendy decided to come back with them to Fairy Tail. Things were finally becoming happy again.