This part is a little shorter than my usual minimum requirements, but I liked how it ended and I was struggling to find something to fill in the end. It's also rather soon after the last one, so hopefully you'll forgive me the shorter word count.

I haven't gotten any requests for the next arc, so if you've got a request remember to get it to me soon!

As always, thanks for all the love and happy reading!


Erza appeared in a swirl of heat and smoke, immediately lowering herself into a defensive position. Natsu's call had been unusual to say the least. She hadn't gotten any sign that there was trouble, but he'd never summoned her before when he didn't need her aid, so she scanned the area as soon as she appeared.

"Hey Erza."

The demon checked around herself once more before looking down at Natsu. He was still sitting at the end of the dock, his eyes on the horizon, but his mind was obviously elsewhere. "Natsu. Are you alright?"

"Not really."

His tone more than his lack of aggression cued Erza into the fact that he wasn't in need of her weapon skills. She sat next to him at the end of the dock, her long tail trailing into the water next to her feet. "What's going on? I don't think you've ever summoned me just to talk. Did something happen?"

"It's been happening for a while I think." Natsu continued to stare blankly into the distance. He was silent for a long time, but Erza was okay with it. She knew Natsu wasn't always so careful with his words; that he was trying to hard to find the right ones showed Erza just how serious the matter was.

When he finally spoke, they were not the words she was expecting to hear. "How did you know that you were in love with Jellal?"

Erza's tail twitched, but there were no other physical signs that his words had affected her. "Why do you ask?"

"I don't know a whole lot of people who have experienced it. And of those, you're the only one I can talk to from here, since I can't leave Lucy alone." Erza was annoyed that that was his only reason for calling her specifically until he uttered his next sentence. "And you're the only one who's in love with someone so different from themselves."

That got Erza's attention. Hers and Jellal's relationship had had its ups and downs for years, with problem after problem ever since they met. Of course, that's what she'd signed up for by falling for the rarest hybrid of all- a half demon half angel.

Jellal was not only ostracized by both of his bloodlines, but he was constantly at war with his own desires because they clashed so violently. Some days he only wanted to do good and others he would try and argue passage to the other realms just so he could go kill something.

Erza did her best to help him, but he often felt like a burden and would keep away from her for long periods of time for her own good. Not that she needed it, but he was insistent.

"Things with Jellal have always been rather complicated," Erza said. "I'm not sure I can pinpoint the moment specifically when I figured out I was in love with him. After a while, it just sort of felt obvious that I cared about him." She leaned forward to get a better look at Natsu's face. "Why are you asking? Are you having similar troubles?"

Natsu's blank expression became unhappy. His eyebrows came together and he frowned as he looked down at the water. "It's not possible," Natsu said.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because she's a human."

Erza almost asked who it was before she figured it out on her own. Shocked, she looked over her shoulder. "Do you mean Lucy?"

He nodded and then squeezed his eyes shut. "I can't be bonded to her. My contract is only supposed to last a year and then I was supposed to go home, having made a new friend. That was it. That was all that was supposed to happen."

Erza's nostrils flared at his words and she raised an eyebrow at him. "Friends? Is that why you've been physical with her?"

Natsu's head whipped her way in surprise. "How did you know?"

"You smell like her, and not in the way you should just by being around her." Erza sighed. "If you just wanted to be friends, you shouldn't have pursued a sexual relationship with her."

"We agreed to stay friends afterwards," Natsu said defensively. "Besides, even if I hadn't, that wouldn't have changed the fact that she's my mate. I would have figured it out eventually anyway."

Erza blew out a breath. "Well, being mated to a human is complicated, I'll give you that. Have you thought about what you'll tell her? Perhaps she cares enough about you she'd be willing to mate with you. From my limited knowledge of dragon matings, doesn't that bond lengthen her lifespan? I know that I've heard it working for elves in the past."

"Elves are magical beings that can bear dragon children, so it's slightly more common. Something about their DNA doesn't mix well with dragons, though, so there's never been a hybrid made. Humans can create children with dragons, but they shouldn't because their bodies aren't made to carry them."

"I see." Erza glanced over her shoulder once more. "Don't humans have some sort of system that allows women to take medication that would prevent them from bearing children? You could try that, or she could get an operation to have those organs removed. It's not ideal, but there are ways to prevent her from conceiving."

"That's not the only reason I can mate her."

"So far you've only said that you can't be mated because she is human. Obviously that is not true, since it has happened to you."

Natsu shook his head. "It happened once, and it was a bad time for the human." He ran his hands through his hair roughly once more. "No, there's a reason I can't mate her, as in I can't complete the mating ritual with her."

Erza frowned as she watched him. "I can't think of a single reason that you would not be able to, although I do not know how it is completed. Is she physically unable?"

"It's not that." Natsu groaned. "I don't know if I'm not allowed to share the information. I haven't had any chance up until now since Happy has been spending so much time back home."

"Ah." She nodded. "That explains why he hasn't been here. He must have figured it out and wanted you to have time alone with Lucy so that you could as well."

"Yeah, well, I still can't do anything about it."

"I won't force you to tell me why," Erza said, "but you know that I would never share information shared with me in confidence."

"I know," Natsu said with a small smile. "Even if I'm not supposed to, I don't think I'd mind anyway. Would serve Leo right, for how he's been handling everything."

"Leo?" Erza sat up straighter. "Do the angels have something to do with this thing with Lucy?"

Natsu nodded and then looked her way. "Have you ever heard of the Blood Bond Prophecy?"


Erza nodded slowly as she sorted through the information that Natsu had given her. "I can see now why you're having so much trouble."

Natsu nodded as well as he looked out at the ocean once more. "Yeah. I managed to get contracted to a human who I shouldn't have been able to, and then bonded with her, even though I can't actually bond with her."

The demon crossed her arms. "I know that you probably don't want to think about it, but have you considered stopping the physical arrangement you have with Lucy? Or perhaps even ending your contract entirely?" Her frown deepened. "It is going to be extremely difficult for you to continue to be around her, Natsu, and while I do not like the idea of you having to be separated from her, for the sake of the realms, it may be necessary."

"Why?" he asked angrily. "Do you think I have no control over myself, too? That I can't be around Lucy without sinking my teeth into her?"

"No, Natsu, that's not it." Erza sighed. "Despite your usual manner of acting first and asking questions later, I can see you've changed in your time here with Lucy. You have put a lot of thought into this already, despite only knowing for a handful of hours. I believe that you understand what is at stake and are going to do your best to avoid the damage that would come with completing your ritual.

"However, I think it would be better for you if you stopped this sooner rather than later." Erza held her hands up to silence his protests. "Let me speak. The longer you are around her, the longer you spend time with her, the longer you are here getting to know her, the harder it will be to leave. The contract will end, yes, and you will be sent back, but what's to stop you from convincing her to resummon you immediately after you are gone so you can return?

"What happens here when you do not leave, do not age, and her friends begin to ask questions years down the road? It will be hard on her to try and hide that you are not aging from her family and friends.

"Added to that, she will age. What happens when she begins to resent that you are still young and attractive, that your body still works with ease, while she gets older and has more trouble moving and isn't as pretty?

"What happens if she gets sick, or when she gets old, and she's dying and you're right there watching? Your mate, that you've spent all that time with, dying in front of your eyes? Will you be able to keep yourself from using your magic to save her life? Will you be able to refrain from mating her so that you can stop watching her waste away before your eyes and preserve that life so she stays with you until it's your time to die?

"Natsu, I don't have it easy, but I can't imagine being in your position." Erza put her hand on his shoulder. "There is no good choice to make here. Either way, you are going to end up losing her. You have to decide which way will be easier for you, in the end. If you leave now, you will miss out on time with her, yes, but it might also hurt less."

Natsu opened his mouth, but shut it as his head whipped around toward the cabin. Erza saw a light gold color begin to mingle with the familiar dark of his eyes and sighed. "She's awake, isn't she?"

"I can hear her sitting up on the couch."

Erza nodded. "Well that's all the proof I need. Even with ears as good as yours, I don't think you would have heard something like that before." Erza turned and watched as the back door to the cabin opened and Lucy stepped out to look around, no doubt searching for Natsu. "You have to think about Lucy too, you know."

Natsu didn't seem to hear her as he watched his mate step farther out into the moonlight. Erza grabbed his hand and waited until he turned his eyes her way. "Natsu, you are in a relationship with a human. They are not only fragile physically, but emotionally as well. If you stay too long, she will likely fall in love with you, and when you leave, it will be equally hard on her. Some humans mate for life, similar to dragons, and if she falls for you, it may take her entire life to get over it."

Erza squeezed his hand. "You have to figure this out soon. Figure out what is best for both of you. She didn't sign up for any of this, so try to do your best for her. She is your mate and your master. Do what you must to protect her and preserve her happiness and wellbeing. At this point, that is all you can do."

Erza got to her feet and offered him her hand. "Come on. I know you don't like to lie, so I will speak with her about why I am here. And know that if you need anything, I am only a summons away."

Natsu stared at her hand for a long moment, not sure if he wanted to accept her aid. Allowing her to help him up felt as though he was accepting her words, and he wasn't sure he wanted to do that just yet.

He didn't like feeling like he had no choice. He didn't like feeling like he had to give Lucy up. He didn't like feeling as though the most monumental moment of his life had also irrevocably ruined it. He didn't like feeling the weight of the realms on his shoulders.

In the end, however, he took Erza's hand.