Chapter 40:

"Why isn't this working?!" Wendy yelled in frustration. Her hands glowed with weak green light. She was still low on magic and she knew she didn't have enough magic to do much just like he didn't have enough to help heal her master. And she hated being so damn helpless!

"Wendy... you should stop..." Charla said quietly.

"NO! I CAN'T! I... Just... can't" Wendy said shaking her head.

Makarov stood beside Wendy looking at her useless attempts to wake up Natsu. She was kneeling beside Natsu's body trying to get some life energy back in his body. He was quite surprised when she said that she could force his life force to restore faster (A/N: She did something like that to bring Jellal back from almost death state in Oracion seis arc in manga). But the problem was she needed almost all her magic to do that and right now she barely had any of it. Not to mention that for some reason she wasn't able to do anything. She couldn't heal even small cut and she should still be able to do that.

Makarov looked at Natsu's body. His eyes were still closed. Dark bags under his eyes seemed to get even darker. Even though he was as cold as ever there was sweat on his forehead like he head a fever or something. Not to mention how pale he still was and that just helped to emphasize those black scales that were on right side of his body. Wait a second...

"Wendy, concentrate on those scales and try to remove them first!" Makarov said hoping he find the answer to why Wendy's magic didn't work. She didn't questioned his reasons believing her master knows what he's doing. Charla and Lily on the other hand wanted to know why he would said such a thing.

Charla voiced their thoughts "Why do you think that would help, master?"

Small man frowned while speaking "It is clear to me that those scales were work of dark magic. He was exposed somewhere to dark magic and it most likely affected his demon form. So if I'm not mistaken Wendy's magic should help remove it since she uses pure magic."

Lily and Charla nodded at explanation.

**in newly restored camp**

Lisanna was kneeling next to her sister who was still unconscious but surely alive. She looked around. Mira, Elfman, Evergreen, Gajeel... They were all lying there in the makeshift bed. Gajeel and Levi were the first one to fight the enemy. Gajeel barely defeated them while Levi ran away to find help. She was found later by Erza and Juvia and that was the moment those red fireworks have been fired by Erza.

Levi stood beside her, in the moment her eyes looked on Gajeel's chests that were slowly rising and falling. Evergreen and Elfman fought against some weird guy named Rustyrose who was part of Grimoire's 7 kin of purgatory. They lost and were hurt pretty badly but Elfman was able to carry Evergreen all the way back to the camp.

"They'll be alright..." Levi said quietly.

Lisanna looked up to her and smiled weakly "Yeah... I guess you're right" then she looked back at Mira and her lips trembled "But still.. they are so strong... Sister and brother were defeated... Gajeel too..."

Levi put a hand on her shoulder making her stop as she looked up at Levi.

"You don't have to worry so much. Don't forget about Erza, Cana, Lucy, Juvia, Wendy, Lily, Charla, Happy, master and Natsu. They are still out there kicking enemy's but. I mean, think about it. We have dragon at our side!" Levi said and Lisanna smiled at her friend. A rustle behind them made them tense up as both of them quickly turned and took battle stance. Levi prepared her magic pencil ready to do everything she can to protect her fallow guild members.

"Scratch Natsu from that list" came a familiar voice that belonged to no one else then their master. He came walking from the forest with Panther Lily carrying Wendy in his battle form, Charla was walking slowly behind. Their eyes widened when they saw who was master carrying. He was using his titan magic so he was big enough to put Natsu's human body on his back. They immediately noticed that he was deadly pale but they couldn't see anything that would cause him to be like this. There wasn't any wound on him and the only blood was coming from his mouth.

Lisanna started running toward them thinking 'If they were able to defeat Natsu... I don't think we have a chance at even scratching them... I just hope he's alright!'

Lisanna took Wendy from Panther Lily who returned to his smaller form. She then noticed that Wendy was still awake.

"Are you okay?" Lisanna asked worriedly.

"I'm fine.. I just used too much magic" Wendy said. She smiled weakly thinking 'I'm glad I was able to remove those scales from Natsu's skin. He seems like he's already healing faster'

**flashback**

Wendy started using her magic to remove scales from Natsu's skin without question.

Master and Exceeds watched her in expectation hoping this'll work. Imagine their happiness when scales started to peel off of his skin turning in ashes when they touched the ground.

They all smiled as Wendy proceed to remove all scales from his body.

**flashback end**

Lisanna nodded with relief. She then nodded toward Natsu "What happened to him?"

Wendy looked away not wanting to meet her eyes. "He used his life force to heal master's wounds since I was too weak to do so myself."

"You are not weak Wendy!" Lisanna said frowning.

Wendy's eyes filled with tears "B-but I..."

Lisanna smiled warmly at her little friend as she laid her down on one of the beds.

"No, no, no" she said waving her finger like mother scolding her child. "No crying" She smiled at Wendy again "Remember. You promised Natsu you would not"

Wendy wiped away her tears and smiled back. Natsu was lying in the bed next to hers. You could barely see his chest rising and falling.

"You should rest too Wendy" Lisanna said and Wendy only nodded before she lied her head down and fall in restless sleep. She didn't want resting when her friends were out there fighting but she didn't have choice.

Charla was sitting next to Wendy. She suddenly tensed up. In front of her eyes appeared pictures.

Blood... Smoke... A dragon. A black dragon that looked like Natsu but he had blue lines instead of red ones. He was preparing to unleash his roar. Black wing covered her sight of the dragon. Then... bright light before everything was consumed by darkness.

Suddenly she could see normally again. Lily was standing in front of her with worried expression.

"Are you alright? You started shaking all of a sudden" he asked and Charla nodded. She was still shaking a little. She had visions of future before. She truly hoped that this was just some kind of nightmare even though she was awake.

"I'm fine..." she said finally. Lily didn't seem to convinced but decided to drop it for now.

**with Ultear**

"Ugh..." Ultear groaned as she collided with the tree. Zeref walked toward her. His eyes still glowing red.

"What do you want?" Zeref asked appearing behind Ultear kicking her in the back.

"AAHH!" she cried in pain. 'How can I be thrown around so easily?! I know he's Zeref but I'm one of the 7 kin?! SO HOW?!' She yelled inside her head.

"You want my power?" Zeref asked calmly. He walked toward Ultear who just started getting back to her feet.

She looked him in the eyes and just when she was about to use her own attack Zeref raised his magical pressure making it hard to breath. She gasped in surprise and fell on her knees.

"Or maybe you want my brother!" Zeref growled. Magic started leaking around him.

'Brother?!' Ultear thought as her eyes widened in surprise and fear.

**with Lucy and Cana**

"Uhh... That stupid goat.." Lucy groaned as she got back to her feet.

"Yea.. no kidding..." Cana said with annoyed tone.

In front of them was white human-like goat in black suit.

"What are they even looking for?" Lucy said as she draw one of her key.

"Heck if I know..." Cana said as she take few cards in her hands.

"What are we looking for, you ask." Goat said "Not what, who"

Cana and Lucy narrowed their eyes.

"You maybe heard of him. His name is Zeref"

Cana's and Lucy's eyes widened in surprise.

"Z-Zeref?" they said in union.

**with Ultear**

Ultear was standing over Zeref's unconscious form.

"You may be a legendary black mage. But in your 'sleeping state you're no match to me.

**flashback**

Just before Zeref unleashed his final attack at kneeling Ultear his glowing red eyes turned back to black. He stopped himself from using that spell and stumbled back holding his head. Magical pressure that was holding her on the ground disappeared and as soon as she felt that she jumped on her feet. A sphere appeared floating above her hand.

Not wasting the opportunity she said "Arc of time: FLASH FORWARD!"

The sphere multiplied and flew toward Zeref knocking him out. Then with swing of her hand trees grew from the ground binding Zeref. They warped around his wrists and ankles holding him firmly.

**flashback end**

Ultear straighten her self wiping blood from her lips. She looked at Zeref seriously. She then got crazy look in her eyes as she smiled, then chuckled before she started laughing like maniac.

"I got him!" She yelled enthusiastically "I GOT ZEREEEEEEEFFFFF!"

**with Lucy and Cana**

"Open, Gate of the golden bull! Taurus!" Lucy yelled as sound of the bell rang trough the clearing where she and Cana fought against goat-man.

"What can I do for youuu, my pretty lady?" Taurus asked with hearts in his eyes.

Cana hearing this sweat-dropped and Lucy face-palmed herself.

She then pointed at goat-man and said "Just fight that goat over there"

Taurus looked at where Lucy pointed and his eyes grew wide "Capricorn?"

Lucy and Cana looked at him surprised.

"You know him?" Cana asked.

Before Taurus could say anything a new voice said "Yea.. He's a celestial spirit. One of the Zodiac twelve; 'The Goat' Capricorn"

Everybody turned to see Loke and Gray standing there.

"Loke?" Cana asked surprised to see him here.

"He's one of the Zodiac?!" Lucy screamed.

"Yea" Loke said "And I would like you to leave this fight to me"

"What?! Why?!" Gray yelled/asked.

"He can use magic that decreases abilities of humans that are around him but since I'm not human I don't have to worry about that"

"Well that explains why my attacks had so little effect on him" Cana muttered.

"Lucy go! I'll take care of this" Loke said looking Lucy in the eyes.

Lucy looked at him uncertainly "We'll take care of this. You don't need to worry your beautiful boody!" Taurus said

Lucy nodded and then said "Okay but you better come back to me! No matter what!"

"Sure!" Loke said and then looked at Taurus "You should go with her"

Taurus nodded before returning to spirit world waiting to be summoned.

After that Cana, Gray and Lucy ran with Lucy taking one last glance at Loke.

When Lucy and the others were out of sight Loke said "Regulus, give me power."

**time skip- with Lucy and others**

They were running trough the forest when one of the Lucy's keys glowed. She smiled happily.

"Loke won!" She said to the other two who smiled as well.

"That's great!" Gray said.

"We should split up and try to find others" Gray said after they ran for few minutes in silence. They stopped.

"Yea... You're right" Cana answered.

"I don't know is that the best thing we should do right now..." Lucy said worriedly.

"Yes but we need to find enemies as quickly as possible" Gray said. Cana looked at her purse before taking out few cards with their pictures on it.

"Here. We can communicate with this util we meet again" she said.

"Great!" Gray said "Then let's go"

And with that they split up.

**with Lucy**

'It will be the best if I go first to the camp. They most likely put there those who were hurt so I'll go help there if anything is needed. If not then I'll just go and try to find Erza or maybe...' A picture of pink-haired teen that was tearing his enemies with his claws flashed before her eyes. She sweat-dropped 'Better Erza'

With plan in her head she started running toward camp but was stopped when she heard something behind her. She quickly turned and her eyes widened comically when some giant, fat man was about to stomp on her.

She jumped barely avoiding it.

"Who the hell are you?!" She screamed. The next thing she saw made her almost falling on ground in disbelief. White skinned giant was hiding behind a tree shaking.

"Screaming won't get you anywhere... I'm one of the 7 kin of Grimoire hart, Kain Hikaru... I'm really strong you know" he said still shaking.

Lucy sweat-dropped.

"Yeaaa" Lucy said sarcastically.

"Anywaayyy... Since you're from dark guild that threatens my family I'll fight you" Lucy said.

"Oh... Okay!" Kain said "Now! Behold!"

Kain reached inside his coat and took out a creepy looking doll.

"Mr. Cursey!" Kain yelled.

Lucy sweat-dropped at the name.

"Now give me some of your hair!" he yelled.

"Huh?! No way!" Lucy yelled taking a step back.

"B-but Ushi no Kokumairi (A/N: name of his magic) needs some hair to work!" Kain said.

"I'm not giving you my hair!" Lucy yelled.

"Look.. If I put some of your hair on this doll (Mr. Cursey), just as you expected I'll be able to manipulate your movements! That's my ultra-super-cool-deadly dark magic!"

"After hearing that I'm definitely not going to give you my hair!" Lucy said.

"And besides! I'm sure you're bluffing! I never even heard of that magic before"

"If you don't believe me then here" Kain said as he out one of his own hair on the doll's head. He handed her a doll.

Lucy took the doll with blank expression. She swing the doll trough the air and to her surprise Kain, fallowing the doll's movements fly trough the air.

"HAHAHA" Lucy laughed.

"Wait a second!" Kain said.

Lucy's eyes flashed evilly as she smiled devilishly 'I'm spending to much time with Natsu...' she thought

"Take this!" Lucy said as she starched doll's legs.

"AHHH!" Kain screamed with anime tears running down his cheeks. Lucy made few more 'stretches' before Kain yelled "That's enough!"

He took doll from Lucy's arms "Now I'm pissed!"

He started running as did Lucy.

"AAAAAaaaahhhhh!" she screamed as she ran.

She jumped over a tree and right when Kain was about to hit her a tree flew in his head.

Lucy looked to see where did the tree came from.

Her eyes widened in fear when she saw purple haired woman standing on top of the tree with some man in her arms.

"Kain?" The woman asked surprised but quickly grew angry "Get out of my way!"

And with that the woman was gone.

"Lady Ultear!" Kain yelled after the woman.

'That was another of the seven?' Lucy thought.

After Kain watched her leaving he turned back to Lucy.

They looked each other in the eyes before Lucy started running again.

"AAAAAaaaaahhhhh!"

**with Erza**

"Puf...puf...puf..." Erza tried to catch her breath.

She just finished fighting that pink-haired girl Meredy and now Juvia and Meredy were lying unconscious. To make things worse this lunatic Azuma appeared.

"Requip!" Erza said preparing for the fight.

"Yes! Yes! You are worthy opponent indeed!" Azuma yelled with smile. Erza glared at him in her Heavens wheel armor.

**in camp**

Levi and Lisanna were talking about something. Makarov left to help his children so right now only Lisanna, Levi and Exceeds were here with injured. Sudden voice get them on their feet.

"Well, well, well... What do we have here" grey haired man said.

"Who are you?!" Lisanna yelled as she took battle stance in between the man and her injured friends.

"My name is Rustyrose, it's pleasure to meet you" Rustyrose said smiling.

Lisanna's eyes widened as did Levi's 'That's the man that defeated Elfman an Evergreen!'

**with Ultear**

'Now I finally have Zeref!' Ultear thought happily. She was carrying Zeref's unconscious form trough the forest. She put her finger of the arm that didn't hold Zeref on her chin thinking out loud "And that brother he talked about... I didn't know Zeref has a brother... And if he's on this island..." She smiled "I'm going to find him and take him with me as well"

End of Chapter 40.

I'm so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so sorry I didn't update sooner. The school is sooo annoying! I didn't had any time to write. I hope you're not mad at me. Anyway... About this chapter. I know there wasn't much Natsu moments in this chapter but I'll try to get him back on his feet in next chapter. When will I update again...? I have no idea... I truly hope I'll have enough time do it sometime soon. You can ask me any question you want any time you want. I'm on this site almost everyday to see if there's something you wanna know since I don't have enough time to write a chapter. Hope you like this chapter and please review.

Thanks for reading :)