I could feel my heart pounding as we ran across the concrete sidewalk.

"So, you know where we're going then?" Gajeel's voice was steeled, and I could tell he was doing his best to quell his own anxieties.

"It's just a hunch." I gulped a pocket of air. "But I think we need to go back to the beginning."

Morning light poured in through the large glass window as he sat on the faded maroon leather. Large painted letters coated the glass looking out to the street advertising the diner's specials to pedestrians. He remembered it was this exact booth where he had seen Lucy for the first time. Well, what he had thought was the first time.

He clenched his fist around the already crumpled note, the muscles in his jaw tightening.

A slight ding echoed in the empty store followed by the soft taps of boots on the freshly cleaned tile. Fabrics rustled as Zeref slid into the seat opposite to Natsu, his aura as cool and menacing as it had always been. It made Natsu flare in anger to think he had ever forgotten how rotten his scent truly was. It made sense now, that he never truly felt any type of affection for this man, even though he was supposed to be his brother.

Zeref looked down at the small specks of white paper that poked between Natsu's knuckles. "I see you got my note." A small smile caressed his lips.

Natsu growled. "I won't let you hurt her."

Zeref cocked an eyebrow. "And you called me all the way here just to tell me that?"

Natsu slammed his fist on the table.

There was a silence, the air thickening between them.

"I can't say I know what you did, or even why," Natsu's head hung low, his brow darkened. "But for whatever reason, you seem intent on having me stay here with you."

Zeref opened his mouth to speak.

"I'm not done yet!" Natsu cut. "To be honest I don't care what your reasons are. You came after my family. My real family." His words were dark, each syllable packed with equal portions of rage and hate. "I can never forgive you for that." Natsu slowly stood up from the booth, lifting his gaze so it was level with Zeref's black eyes. "Which is why you'll fight me. Right here and now."

Zeref sighed before standing to join Natsu. "I see now the error I have made. I thought your friends would provide solace for you in your new life. But I understand now," He looked up with a solemn expression. "I should have killed them all when I had the chance."

In a flash of light Natsu swung his fist forward, his knuckles grating the edges of Zeref's jaw.

Levy and Laxus breathed heavily as they ran through the woods carrying the loads of pieces on their backs. Thick brush and branches scraped at their skin and tugged at the sacs of metal, reminding them of the importance of the heavy load they bore.

"You doing alright there, glasses? Need a rest?" Laxus called up to Levy, sweating with his muscles tight and sore.

"We're almost there!" Levy called back in huffs, pushing farther and farther ahead via straight determination.

Laxus groaned and muttered under his breath before trudging after her. "Damn! Where does she find all this stamina?"

As they pushed past the last of the brush, the cliff now in plain view, the pair all but collapsed, their lungs and muscles heaving for a reprieve.

With a deep breath Levy sat up from the ground. "We need to start building, we don't have much time."

Laxus grumbled as he sat up, nodding his tired agreement. "Yea."

Once again, the pair set to work, edging towards the cliff edge, letting each gear and plate fit together like puzzle pieces. They watched it grow, the pieces creating something large and imposing, and yet intricate. Levy couldn't help but become invested, watching how the gold gears meshed with the silver and bronze, especially as the morning light bounced off the metal. She knew how dangerous this was, and that lives hung in the balance; however, she couldn't completely ignore its overall beauty.

She wiped her brow, shutting her eyes for just a moment as they burned against the extended use. Laxus was working on the other end, his back to her as he slowly fit together two large platform pieces. Blocking out some of the light, clouds stretched over the sky. Behind Levy, the green grass slowly started to turn grey, and then black, before it started bubbling. Her eyes remained closed and unaware as a large shadow slowly stretched and towered over her, its claws sharpening and elongating. Slowly it raised them.

Laxus's voice boomed as the claws came slicing downwards towards her neck. "LOOK OUT!"

The uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach grew the closer we got to the diner. As it churned, I barely even noticed the burning of my lungs or legs.

Screeching to a halt on the concrete, panting, I peered into the painted window of the Dine and Dash. It was dark as I saw my reflection in the glass. I tried to focus my eyes to peer inside, with my heart pounding loudly in my ears.

"Get down!"

I felt Gajeel's body weight collide with mine as he slammed me into the concrete followed by the sound of shattering glass. I groaned as I sat up, small shards scratching my skin as I moved my hands and legs.

There was a rustling amidst the debris to which I looked over, my eyes trying to make sense of the missile that had launched itself through the shop window.

My heart lodged in my throat as I saw rose-pink hair and a red hoodie. "NATSU!" I called, rushing over to him as Gajeel also rubbed off the debris.

"Natsu? Are you okay? Natsu?" Panicked, I turned him over, my eyes burning with the threat of tears as I saw the cuts and bruises which lined his face along with the new injuries from the glass. He grimaced slightly as he tried to move.

Glass crunched and scattered as Zeref stepped out of the diner and into the street. "Ah. Lucy. How good of you to join us."

My knuckles turned white as I held on to Natsu's jacket. I looked toward him in disdain as he approached, his eyes as cold and unyielding as the wind ruffled his hair.

Gajeel yelled to the side as he tackled Zeref, wrapping his arms around his neck. Gajeel chuckled as he tightened his grip. "I guess you only act tough! Surrender now and I might let—"

With an uproar of wind and in a flurry of movement I couldn't see, I watched as Gajeel flew backward and into the brick wall of the diner. Debris fell around him as he coughed and crumbled to his knees, clutching his stomach.

Zeref shook his head as he brushed off his jacket. "I swear you are all the same. You all claw desperately at foolish ideals relishing in the smallest of victories provided only by chance, claiming it to be the power you've always sought." He took a step forward. "You scratch and bite like wild animals convinced you know the ways of the world, when you have barely scratched the surface."

Standing up, I squared myself against Zeref, meeting his gaze. "I may not know everything about the world." I let my voice carry. "But I don't have to! I don't have to understand in order to have hope and faith that things can get better. I can choose to believe in my friends. Even more than that, I can choose to believe in myself!"

The cool wind left bumps across my skin as I stared at him. My muscles tightened as I held my ground. I had been afraid of him for so long. Been afraid of what he could take from me.

I looked down at Natsu. His body twitched while his eyes remained closed. Gajeel coughed in the corner, desperately trying to fend off the pain.

I refused to be afraid anymore.

Gripping my keys, I instinctively gravitated toward the one I wanted. Raising the key to the sky and feeling the familiar tug on my gut, I raised the key towards the sky.

"Open gate of the golden bull!" I stared daggers at Zeref. "TAURUS!"

In a flash of light that pooled around me, I felt strength as I called the dimension drift forward, commanding it to create a passage.

"MOOOOO!" He bellowed, gripping his axe as he stamped his feet.

Taurus smiled at me, the sunlight reflecting off of his golden nose ring. "Good to see you again miss Luuuucccy."

I winced as he stared at me intently, his perverted nature as full forced as it had always been. Choosing to ignore it, I walked up next to him. "You too." I let my gaze fall back to Zeref. "You ready?"

Taurus huffed while scraping his boots on the concrete.

I widened my stance and balled my fists bringing them up closer to my face. "Let's do this!"

"LOOK OUT!" Laxus's voice boomed as he bolted toward Levy.

As the dark claws came scraping down toward her, Levy yelped as she rolled out of the way.

Laxus jumped forward towards the shadow, letting his fist collide with its features until it dissipated into a cloud of mist. He rushed to Levy's side who winced as she stood to her feet, alert to his surroundings.

"It didn't scratch you, right?" Standing back-to-back with Levy, Laxus's head bent from side to side as the wind rustled the leaves of the nearby trees.

"No. I'm fine." Levy furrowed her brow.

The ground around them continued to bubble leaving the pair on high alert. Levy bit her lip, trying to remember what she had done to break the curse.

With a hiss, the grass started to morph again, creatures forming and elongating until they towered above them. Black daggers came slicing down, leaving Laxus and Levy to dodge in different directions. Laxus threw his fist forward, watching as it collided with shadowy abdomen. The creature disappeared into veil of mist. It didn't last long however before it recollected and materialized behind him. He ducked as a dagger sliced towards his neck.

Levy rolled as a barrage of needles flew towards her. They melted into the grass as she avoided their pierces.

As she dodged, and Laxus desperately punched at mist, Levy tried to calm her mind.

'Think.' She ducked as a barrage of black flew over her head. 'Think!'

She tried to remember what she was thinking of when she had brought Laxus back from the shadows.

Rolling behind a tree she panted as she heard Laxus grunt as he swung his leg around behind him into the darkness.

'Th-' She paused. 'But I wasn't thinking then was I.' She threw her foot forward in a kick she didn't know she could do and watched as the monster dissipated into mist. She ran closer to the cliff as it reformed, preparing to strike her with a ranged attack.

With her back towards the sunlight, she closed her eyes and let her instincts take over.

"GRAH!" Laxus threw a branch across the field, dissipating the needles which flew towards Levy.

She took a deep breath as she raised her hand, scrawling quickly as the voice inside her told her what she needed to do. Opening her eyes with determination, seeing how the word manifested in front of her she threw her arms down once again, allowing the tug on her gut to build until it became almost too much to handle.

"SHINE!"

Billows of golden light swam forward from where she stood at the edge of the cliff touching the grass and the edge of the trees in waves. Laxus crossed his arms over his face to shield his eyes in fear of being blind.

As the light finally dissipated leaving in its place the soft, golden morning light, Laxus shook his head waving off the dark specks which still clouded his vision. Levy rushed forward, tending to something which lay next to him in the grass.

His eyes finally adjusting, he blinked and looked down. Lumps formed in his throat as he recognized them. The long soft brown hair of a feminine form, and the long green hair of a good friend, as well as the crazy dark blue tufts which marked another. Evergreen, Fried and Bickslow.

"They seem to be alright!" Levy called with a smile on her face.

Laxus was frozen as he looked at the ground, their chests slowly rising and falling as their lungs filled with air. His eyes burned as deep relief settled over him.

He was able to keep his promise after all.

"GRRRAAAHHHHH!" Taurus leapt into the air his axe held high over his head. As gravity propelled him downward, he slammed the blade into the ground where Zeref was standing.

His form blinking in and out of existence, Zeref dodged the attack, reappearing behind Taurus. He called forth a large black blade intending to stab him in the back.

"HYAA!" I called from the pit of my stomach as I attempted to slam my leg into Zeref in a high kick.

His form vanished again, reappearing 20 feet away. My skin crawled as I noticed the red hue to his eyes.

Taurus leapt again, swing his axe wildly.

'We can do this!' I thought as Taurus attacked in tandem. 'If we can keep him on defense, we might have a shot. He's bound to have an opening at some point!'

I retained my optimism as we destroyed the main street, Taurus's axe carving up the concrete and wildly obliterating chunks of brick buildings. We tried to keep the fight away from Gajeel and Natsu, both still struggling to make it back to their feet.

The dark aura around Zeref continued to grow, but I refused to let it deter me.

I swung my leg around once more, still only making contact with the air.

The tug on my gut continued to grow, my strength quickly evaporating. I panted. 'If this is a game of stamina, I won't lose!'

I flanked with Taurus, his axe swinging downward as I flung myself forward. I expected to see Zeref blink out again, but he didn't. 'We got him!'

I let the thought of victory cloud me too soon, blinding me to the dark black aura which continued to build around him. Before my blow could land, I felt a dark intense pressure fly around me until I grunted as my feet left the ground and I was blown backwards. I coughed, slowly trying to bring myself back to my feet. Taurus had also flown backwards, his head knocked hard on the concrete. I felt the tug on my gut disappear as he melted into soft light.

"I'm sorry… Miss Lucy." Taurus grunted out as he left me.

I coughed once more, small specks of red landing on the fragmented sidewalk.

Harsh clicks echoed in my ears until I felt my throat constrict as a strong grip wrapped itself around my neck. It lifted me up until my feet no longer touched the ground. I clawed at the hand which suspended me as I leveled my eyes with his.

"You really have been nothing but a thorn in my side from day one." His eyes were sharp as he scowled at me. "It's time to finally rid myself of you."

I couldn't breathe. I clawed desperately for him to let go, leaving marks as my nails dragged across his skin, but I could feel my strength leaving me as my vision slowly started to fade to black.

'I'm sorry, Natsu. Everyone.' My eyes started to flutter closed. 'I tried.'

In a ray of warmth and light I felt as the grip on me loosened, and gravity let me fall back to solid ground. With a fit of coughing, I sputtered and heaved as my lungs clawed for the air they had been deprived of.

I lifted my eyes seeing clearly the rose-pink hair and ragged dark locks which Levy had been so drawn to. They stood in front of me, blocking me from Zeref. He gripped his hand, a clear burn forming there, as droplets of blood dripped from his cheek where a cut had been made. Natsu's fist burned brightly with a warm and violent flame. Gajeel's fist was iron, formulated into a club.

"I already told you!" Natsu yelled. "I won't let you hurt her!"

Gajeel tsked. "Yea, the pipsqueak wouldn't let me live it down if something were to happen to her." He rubbed the back of his neck.

Zeref grunted, letting his burned hand fall to his side. "And I already told YOU." His mouth twitched. "I am done being merciful!"

They stared at each other in a tension that was palpable with neither breaking contact, until a small shadow flickered at Zeref's feet. He turned slightly in the direction of the woods. "Hmm..." He looked back at Natsu and Gajeel before leveling his gaze on me. I could see him calculating in his head, running scenarios of how quickly he could kill me. "I see." He sighed in a way that almost sounded like a growl. "I leave this to you then."

It seemed he spoke to no one in particular as he blinked out of existence. "HEY! GET BACK HERE!" Natsu yelled, rushing forward.

"Where'd he go?" Gajeel joined him, as they looked around the now broken city street.

My heart pounded, anxiety overwhelming me. "The cliff!" I gripped my hands to my chest. "He's going to try to stop Levy!"

Gajeel growled. "Oh no he doesn't!" He immediately started running towards the direction of the tree line when the ground started bubbling.

With little warning, shards of dark needles started to shoot up from the ground.

Levy wiped her brow as she fit in the last plate, tightening the screw around the panel. Elation overwhelmed her as the cool of the metal seeped through her jeans.

"Haha!" She laughed. "We did it!"

Evergreen sighed, standing up with her hands on her hips, one of the small brown sacks which they had used to carry the pieces up to the cliff fitting snugly on her curves. "I can't say I know exactly what we just did, but I must say I'm glad it's finished so I can go home and get some actual clothes." She flicked her hair back behind her shoulder after which she crossed her arms.

"Personally, I think I could get used to this!" Bickslow chuckled as he pranced on top of the metal platform the sack wrapped around his waist.

"Fresh clothing or not, I'm sure everyone is ready to go home." Fried piped in, his voice as calm and steady as ever as he attempted to make the sack look regal.

"You could say that again." Laxus crossed his arms as he looked to Levy. "So how do we turn it on?"

Levy reached a hand to her chin as she pulled out the small brass Lucy had given to her before she had left. "Well, I'm assuming we use this." She walked gingerly around the platform, and the hole which gouged the middle, until she reached the panel which protruded out. She thought for a moment, looking at the small hole in the panel itself. "Well… here goes nothing I suppose." Levy inserted the small key and felt a click as she turned it. She waited for a moment, hoping something, anything, would happen.

But the only sound which echoed was the chirping of the forest birds.

"What's wrong?" Laxus walked closer to the panel, reading the confusion on Levy's face.

"I-I don't know…" Her brow furrowed.

"I must say I'm impressed that you even made it this far." Leaves crunched as boots exited the edge of the forest.

Levy held her breath as he appeared, his dark aura undulating around him.

"I thought of destroying this immediately." His fingers caressed the edge of the platform. "Making it so it could never be used again. But I suppose my pride got in the way of that." He hooked his hands behind his back. "It's a mistake I won't make again."

Evergreen, Fried and Bickslow tightened their fists, quelling their anxieties in preparation for a fight.

Laxus stepped in front of the panel, standing between Levy and Zeref, with the other three joining him.

"That's because you won't get the chance." Laxus cracked his knuckles. "We can take care of this Levy, you just keep working on the gate." He took a step forward as Zeref's aura continued to build. "Bring it on."

I dodged as another hail of pitch-black needles cascaded towards me. The shadows surrounded us, and it was all we could do to keep ourselves from being marked. We all knew that just one scratch would be enough to take us down.

"FIRE DRAGON IRON FIST!" Natsu threw his inflamed fist down towards a collection of shadows, evaporating them into dust.

Gajeel extended his clubbed hand gouging holes to do more of the same. But no matter how many times we misted them, they would always return, attacks ready to drag us down into the shadows with them.

"It's no use!" I called out, swinging a kick at the nearest shadow. "We can't keep this up! We have to get to Levy!"

Gajeel growled as he slammed his fist backward. "Thanks for stating the obvious!" He remarked sarcastically. "I'm open to any suggestions!"

Natsu yelled, slamming his flames into the next group.

I bit my lip. What could we do? So far it seemed as if Levy was the only one who could break the curse. I ducked as a dark claw came scratching after me.

Were we doomed to lose?

I panted as I swung my leg around once more.

After coming so close, was this all we could do?

I could feel all three of us quickly tiring. We couldn't keep this up much longer. The shadows had an advantage of regeneration. All they had to do was wait for us to slow down, and at the rate we were going, it wouldn't take long.

A spark flickered in the corner, followed by a clapping sound. Shortly after a cloud of smoke covered the street where we fought for our lives. As it filled my nostrils I started coughing, my lungs irritated at the new element.

As the wind blew again, it shuffled the cloud, dissipating some of it into the air. My vision cleared allowing me to see the shadows which had stood in our way. I watched as they wriggled and screeched. They seemed to thicken and become more like goo which dripped down and sizzled as it touched the ground. The forms grew solid as they writhed until I could see them become more and more human.

The wind blew once more, clearing the last of the smoke and leaving us with a clear view of the people which had fallen before us. Looking across the street I could also see a clear bun of pink hair, and a white coat.

"Porlyusica!" I called for her, rushing closer. I could see she was carrying a small bag which had been stuffed with vials of a shimmering liquid.

"Is that…" I paused as I finished approaching her.

"An antidote of sorts." She stated matter of factly. Natsu and Gajeel slowly approached her as well, the confusion apparent on their face and mixed with relief. She sighed. "I always felt that something was off. That feeling grew even more when you came to my office on the brink of death." She handed us a few of the shimmering vials. "Can't say I know exactly what's going on. But I have a feeling you'll need some of these."

"Thank you." I pushed the vials into my pocket.

"This isn't the time for pleasantries." Porlyusica admonished in her usual flat tone. "I'll handle things here," She gestured to the bodies which now littered the broken concrete. "You just go and put a stop to this. Go!"

She pushed us forward and with a nod we rushed towards the tree line.

The forest cracked with echoes of lightning, combined with the surges of dark magic.

"Fairy Machine Gun: Leprechaun!" Evergreen launched herself into the air, sending a host of missiles towards the dark mage. They landed sporadically in the dust as Zeref flickered in and out of existence as he dodged.

She landed back on the platform, panting. She screamed frustratedly. "What the hell is going on?! That should've been enough to level at least half of this damned forest!"

Laxus slammed a fistful of lightning down into the ground, hurtling it toward Zeref.

Zeref dodged, sidestepping whilst the electricity shot up through a nearby tree. Fried slid up behind him, already scrawling runes into the air.

"Dark Écriture: Pain!" He called out the attack, but the runes stuck to the air, refusing to attach themselves to the dark mage. Zeref looked down at Fried as the runes shattered. With a blast of dark energy, Fried went flying back, the trunk of a tree cracking as he slammed into it.

"Fried!" Bickslow yelled as he jumped forward, positioning himself for a dive kick. Zeref called forth a dark black blade which sliced through the air at Bickslow. Too late to dodge, Bickslow gripped his chest as he fell down to the platform, small blotches of red falling to taint the metal.

Levy scrambled at the panel, turning the key and desperately playing at the wires. "Why? What am I doing wrong?" Her mind raced as she tried to retrace her steps, the platform refusing to burst into life.

Laxus and Evergreen rushed Zeref again. Fried coughed as he attempted to rejoin the battle but struggled against the pain.

Levy closed her eyes. 'Panels and gears for transferring power, circulating it to a certain frequency. The panel to start the circulation…' She froze gripping the panel. 'Power. There was no power source.'

Levy fell to her knees.

It was all for nothing. She had failed.

A chuckle reverberated as another dark wave sent Laxus and Evergreen flying off the platform. "It seems you finally understand." Zeref's words were filled with satisfaction. His boots clicked on the metal as he made his way closer to Levy. "You understand that your fight was always futile."

Tears pricked at the edges of Levy's eyes. "No. No it can't…"

"Levy!" I called to her as we rushed out of the forest, seeing the carnage play out in front of us. Zeref's eyes were once again painted red as he looked at us. Laxus and Evergreen fidgeted as Fried and Bickslow, his chest still bleeding, tried to help them to their feet.

Natsu nodded to Gajeel, and in a moment of unspoken agreement they rushed towards Zeref. I scrambled closer to Levy gripping her shoulders as she huddled.

"Levy!" I shouted once more over the sound of magics colliding with darkness. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head. "I can't start the gate. It doesn't have a power source!" She crumbled. "He must've destroyed it before we could get to it!"

My heart fluttered in anxiety before I heard the dissonant ringing from my keys. "Power." I muttered. "Levy! We can start it!"

She cocked her head.

"You're thinking of power as something only external but remember!" I smiled at her. "We have magic!"

Her eyes brightened as I grabbed my ring. Levy slid the brass key into the lock where there was a slight groaning of the metal. As I lifted them, the golden keys which graced my key ring started to glow and spin, faster and faster until the light was almost too intense to look at.

Seeing the platform come to life, Zeref started to bolt towards us. Predicting his attempt, Natsu blocked him, slamming him back towards the forest and off the platform. As the keys spun faster, showering the cliff with multicolored light the platform started to hum before it tilted upwards and towards the cliff.

"Hurry!" I grabbed Levy and we slid off the metal, grunting as we landed on the ground.

The platform continued to tilt upwards until it was entirely vertical and balancing on the edge of the cliff. The light continued to grow until it seemed as if the towering platform could no longer contain it.

"NOO!" Zeref yelled dropping his composure as the bright light burst outward in a strong beam. We ducked, covering our eyes as the blinding ray pushed forward.

Slowly, the light subsided, and we stood paralyzed. We remained in the forest, at the edge of the cliff, however where once the sea was visible, a speckled dark purple sky lay before us. Arrays of multicolored stars and constellations waiting across dimensions.

I walked forward allowing myself to touch the edge of the sky which was visible from inside the platform. It was ice cold as my fingers traced it, its texture almost that of gelatin.

"I WON'T LET YOU RUIN THIS FOR ME!" Zeref bellowed as he furnished a dark black blade and bolted towards me.

"Not so fast." He paused as a silver sword rested on his clavicle. I looked up, seeing as the scarlet hair tumbled around her silver armor. It was Titania. Queen of the fairies. And with her, was her people. Coming out of the forest and to the cliff, lead next by Jellal, was Makarov and Mirajane. Jet and Droy. Elfman. Juvia and Grey. Gildarts and Cana. Porlyusica and everyone else who didn't belong here. "You've lost Zeref."

His form darkened and flickered before he appeared closer to the edge of the cliff and the platform. He sighed. Erza leveled her sword to him, ready to unleash whatever attack was necessary.

"I think part of me knew this would be too good to be true." Zeref closed his eyes. "Knew that creatures are resistant to change and aspire for everything to remain the same as it has always been." A small smile crept on his lips. "I suppose I am guilty of that too." He looked at Natsu. "Was it so wrong? For me to want to try to be a family again?"

Natsu balled his fists.

"Well. Never mind." Zeref looked out at the crowd and then back at Natsu, the flame in his brimstone eyes burning brightly. "Very well. The next time we meet, I suppose one of the two of us will finally lose our lives."

"Wait!" Erza called out too late as Zeref fell backward into the gate, his body disappearing into the arrangement of galaxies.

There was a deep silence as shock overcame the crowd. As realization settled in, a cheer echoed into the sky. Celebration and excitement prevailed as we all realized something incredibly important.

Natsu came over to me as I stared into the gate. He wrapped his hand around mine, his warmth breaking any doubt I had.

"Let's go home." His words were soft as his smile brightened, the scratches and bruises that marked his skin seeming to be inconsequential.

I looked back towards the forest. The crowd of people remained giddy and smiling as they waited for us to make the first move. I knew then that the nightmare was over. All the days I had spent hollow and uncertain would fade into the background like a dream as I moved forward with my life. No, not like a dream, a memory. A memory that I could grow from. Learn from. It would stay with me and remind me to never stop believing.

I squeezed his hand as I walked forward towards the gate, Erza, Jellal, Grey, Levy and Gajeel close behind followed soon by the rest.

"Yea." I smiled. "Let's go home."