Woooo sorry for the wait! I got sick and that put me out of commission for about a week, as well as a ton of stuff going on in my personal life… I didn't want to rush this chapter so I also took longer than usual… at any rate, here it is-somewhat. Despite what I said before, it seems that I will have to split this up. I was going to make this an ultra long chapter, but I also didn't want to delay an update yet again.

Chapter 15: The Final Battle Part 2

Unsurprisingly, Angelica turned out to be another giant animal - a cat, in fact. Lucy begrudgingly had to admit that Angelica was adorable with her big eyes, but rescinded this thought as soon as loose fur started floating everywhere. She coughed and swatted away fur, then faced the menacing cat and her owner.

"Meow!" The cat extended its claws and pounced at Lucy. She rolled out of the way, coughing at the hair that had found its way into her mouth. As she dodged the cat's attacks, she thumbed through her keys. Which spirit would be the best here…?

Sherry just laughed as Lucy jumped to avoid Angelica's swipes, like she was merely a toy for the kitty. Lucy spared a quick glance behind her where the king lay injured. There was still some water left in the cup Erza used to try and clean his wounds…

Lucy cringed at her next thought, but made a break for the water anyways, even running through where Natsu and Gray were facing off against Toby and Yuka.

"Running away? Angelica won't like that!"

Erza shot her a strange look, but Lucy ignored it as she shoved the key in the water and called out for her most vengeful spirit. "Open, Gate of the Water Bearer, Aquarius!"

Angelica hissed at the flash of light that lit up the room as the mermaid passed through the gate. "Aquarius, I'm so-" Lucy started. She held her hands up defensively when her eye twitched in anger, but luckily she didn't say anything. For the moment.

Instead, Aquarius summoned a stream of water from her vessel and soaked the cat. Angelica yowled and escaped out the broken window as she flew by twisting her tail rapidly. Sherry cried out for her beloved pet, asking her to come back. All she got were a couple of sad mewls in response, and so Lucy was faced with her anger.

"You hurt Angelica! My lovely, beautiful Angelica! You're horrible!" She whined. Her hands shot up and dozens of books flew from the bookshelves right at Lucy. She yelped and ducked the books, moving away from where she stood so the King and the others wouldn't get hurt.

"As if that'll do anything!" Aquarius yelled. Bursts of water from her vessel shot books out of Lucy's way. When Sherry realized her strategy of hurling books at Lucy wasn't working, she began to open the books with her magic and tear out pieces of paper, sending them flying at Lucy. Aquarius' water soaked most of the paper, rendering it useless. Many of them were starting to get past that though, and managed to cut Lucy's skin. She winced, but the pain wasn't unbearable. As a writer, she's suffered more than her fair share of papercuts.

Regardless, it was annoying. It was hard to see with both the flurry of paper threatening to slice every inch of her exposed skin and the water rushing around her. She needed to get to Sherry and put an end to this.

She summoned Cancer's Star Dress and pushed off the floor, grateful for the enhanced speed. Aquarius' water protected her as she dashed into Sherry. Her eyes widened as Lucy had seemingly come from nowhere, but scowled and jumped back to avoid the strike from Cancer's twin blades.

She made a swiping motion, and the books she had dropped to the floor earlier reformed into a giant book and paper golem. Lucy smirked as Aquarius continued to support her, shooting water into Sherry's side and messing up the golem's movements.

Lucy couldn't do too much about the hard book covers threatening to strike her head, but she used the blades to the best of her ability as she snipped and sliced through the paper that made up its body. Sherry worked hard to reform it as it fell apart, but Lucy would simply cut through the paper once again.

It put its hands together and attempted to bring its heavy fist down on Lucy, but she quickly dashed through it legs. Bulky and awkward, it slowly turned to swipe at her, but like a fly she zipped around it again, cutting its legs. The golem collapsed, and Lucy called out to her spirit.

"Now, Aquarius!" Before Sherry could reform it, a powerful wave washed both the mage and her golem away, pushing them out the broken window. Lucy ran to the edge, and watched as the water allowed them to fall somewhat safely, but as the water soaked into the ground she saw that the golem had fallen apart and Sherry was passed out next to a very sad looking Angelica.

She had no time to revel in her victory as the mermaid approached her with a very red face and familiar look in her eye. Lucy shrunk into herself and prepared for the worst.

"Stupid-agh! Can't you have some more respect for me? Summon me from an ocean next time, little girl! Or at least a full cup of water! It wasn't even half full! Barely a quarter! It was dirty drinking water!"

Aquarius must've had somewhere to be since she hadn't complained as long as usual, and instead left with a huff and her arms crossed. Lucy changed into her regular clothes and saw the state of the reading room.

She paled as she saw how overboard Aquarius had gone, as she totally drowned the room and all the items in it. The window was still broken of course, and the only thing that had remained intact was the corner in which the knights and prince were watching over the king. Even Natsu and Gray hadn't done as much damage as she. Luckily, in the time it had taken her to defeat Sherry, Toby and Yuka were taken care of.

"This guy is insane." Prince Gray said, and Natsu shrugged. Lucy could only laugh, but it died down when she realized that the others were still kneeling over the almost-dying king.

Erza stood up. "I sincerely thank you guys for protecting King Igneel and us as we froze. I would've liked to help, but the king is in no position to be left alone. That being said, I'm leaving. I will take him to a healer immediately. From our side, there should be at least a couple running around close by." She carefully reached down and held the king gingerly in her arms, as if he would break. He groaned, but didn't say anything more.

"I'm going with you." Prince Natsu said.

Knight Lucy frowned. "I really don't think that's a good idea. Erza is already taking a risk to travel with your father. You'll simply paint a bigger target on their backs."

He sighed and lowered his head. "...You're right. Please take care of him Erza." They watched as Erza left, walking as fast as she could without hurting Igneel more. Prince Natsu's fists were clenched.

"So what are we gonna do now?" Natsu Dragneel asked.

"We'll free Jellal, using Ur's key from her coat draped over the throne." Prince Gray said. "After that, we'll defeat Ur… though I'm not sure exactly how."

Lucy Heart cleared her throat, and addressed Lucy. "I spoke to a woman Dragneel called 'Cana.' She told me that 'we' must combine our celestial powers. Knowing what I know now… I think I know what she meant."

"Do you mean, all of us?"

The Golden Knight nodded. "Yes. If you, Jellal, and I combine our celestial powers, we'll be able to summon the Scepter of Light. Of course, we don't know what it does, but I'm sure that whatever it may be, it will help us defeat Ur once and for all. Jellal couldn't do it on his own, but with the three of us, it'll be enough."

"Make that the four of us. I can summon my spirit Gemini and have them take my-or our form. They'll help us cast the spell."

Gray smiled. "Great plan. Now let's go!"

The group left to the throne room. Lucy found the empty darkness of the room eerie, but she simply focused on their mission: finding Jellal. On the throne Ur had left her coat, just where Gray said it would be. He searched it and found the key. It was plain and unassuming, but it was literally and figuratively the key to all their problems.

"Gray, besides Toby, Sherry, and Yuka your mother didn't bring any of the other major players?" Knight Lucy asked.

He shook his head and handed her the key. "The Lamia Court follows my brother, and Ultear only has herself. As for the Six Prayers, she announced that they would remain in the Kingdom of Hearts, protecting it in her place. They are the most loyal to her, after all. Although Midni-"

"Where could Jellal be?" Lucy questioned out loud. The Queen clearly intended to use his power in tandem with Lucy Heart's, so she would keep him close but hidden. He had to be in this very room, right?

"There is a secret escape passageway right from the throne, though I'm assuming Ur would've found it. We'd have to go in one by one, but it's worth a shot. Sit on the throne."

"I'll go first!" Natsu said, and eagerly sat in the throne.

"Wait-"

Lucy Heart pressed a combination of decals on the throne that were actually buttons. In an instant the seat disappeared, revealing a hole that Natsu fell through. She winced as she heard him crash below, but the fall didn't seem so long. With the seat still open, everyone else rushed through.

Lucy screamed as she fell through (she couldn't help it), but found herself in someone's arms instead of the harsh ground.

"Thanks." She told Natsu. "Um," she blushed, "you can put me down now." Natsu let her down, and she took a shaky breath.

She kept close as they maneuvered through the narrow and freezing hallway, with nothing but Lucy Heart's magic to light their way. Natsu and Gray offered to light a flame, but Lucy didn't want to risk accidentally starting a fire. They reached a safe room at the end, which had freshly stocked food and supplies. Lucy Heart explained that there was a ladder leading to the outside, and that there were presumably Hearts soldiers covering the exit.

In the corner, almost hidden away was a large cage. Everyone held their breath as Lucy Heart crept closer, holding her palm up and shining the light on Jellal, who was shivering. He had unruly blue hair and scars all over his visible skin, and the same tattoo as Earthland's Jellal.

Lucy Heart gasped when she saw the scars, and Jellal opened his eyes. They were wide as they took in the sight of his long lost sister, whom he thought he might never see again. They teared up, but his speech was muffled as it was covered by tape. His wrists and ankles were also tied together, ensuring that he wouldn't be able to escape.

Gray crouched next to Lucy Heart and took the tape off his mouth. He took a shaky breath and was able to muster up a weak smile.

"Lucy… do you remember me?"

Lucy Heart nodded tearfully. "Yes. Jellal, you're my brother."

"I wish I could say I'm glad you found me, Lucy, but you've all been led into a trap."

"What?"

There was a blizzard. Not uncommon for the Kingdom of Diamonds, which was practically in eternal winter, but this was the strongest storm Lucy Heart had ever seen.

She stood in a hallway, indiscernible from any other in the palace. In fact, she had no idea where she was. She looked out the window in an attempt to orient herself, but found that the snow blocked her view. Lucy frowned.

She kept walking, but this hallway was impossibly long. She kept passing into the next section, but the hallway was just repeated. Same carpet, same window, same painting hung on the wall. One intimidating portrait of King Igneel. He was glowering down at the viewer, holding a ceremonial scepter and clothed in a fancy suit, robe, and crown only used for portraits. Eerily, she felt like his eyes were following her. She didn't like it. It was so unlike him, the kind king that sheltered her as a child and praised her efforts as a knight. Only in her nightmares he looked at her with such disdain.

If she couldn't pass into the next room, what could she do?

She tried looking into the window again and saw that the blizzard was raging as strong as ever, but the view had cleared a bit. Below she could see the training grounds. And two people standing on it.

Her eyes widened. They were stuck out there in this storm?

She ran into the hallway, forgetting that it would just repeat. But this time, instead of the window there was a balcony. She opened the door and stepped outside.

She didn't know what she was wearing before, but she felt her clothes change into her familiar thick coat and boots. Her sword was sheathed at her side. It was snowing hard and the wind beat at her face, but she narrowed her eyes to see.

Gingerly she stepped toward the edge of the balcony and held on the railing tightly, looking over the edge.

Erza, with her wings fully intact was flying straight at Prince Natsu. As she whizzed past, he spun around but caught his footing before he fell. Amazingly, he made a gesture and summoned icicles, sending them flying at the dryad. She dodged as many as she could, but she got hit in the shoulder.

Lucy called out to them. "Stop! What are you doing?" She desperately hoped that they were only sparring, but both their faces were serious with concentration.

They ignored her. Erza scowled and unsheathed her sword.

"Do you believe in him?"

Lucy gasped and turned around to meet King Igneel as he appeared in his portrait. One glance inside and she saw that the painting was now nothing but black. He asked her again.

"Do you believe in my son, Lucy? You never had faith in him."

She looked back at the fight and saw that Natsu had miraculously blocked Erza's strike with a slab of ice. It fell to the ground. The magic was not without its effects, as Natsu looked tired. He held a hand to his chest and took deep breaths, but Erza didn't show any mercy. She struck again, but he rolled out of the way.

It was true that Lucy never showed much faith in him. She often brought him down herself. Looking at him down below, doubt creeped into her thoughts. How could she believe that he could win against Erza? He was already tiring from using his magic. Just because he managed to use it twice didn't mean anything.

She called out to him when she saw him kneeling in the snow. Erza smashed the hilt of her sword into his face. Red blood stained the pale snow, and Lucy watched horrified as the dryad stood over him, laughing.

"Lucy was right. You're weak. And you will never," she struck him again.

"Ever," another blow.

"Overcome that."

The prince fell with a thud, unconscious.

Lucy Heart desperately clutched at the railing, willing for Natsu to stand up as she watched her own sentiments turned to weapons against him. There were so many things she never got to tell him, like how much she loved him and that she wanted to be-

"Hm." The king was still standing beside her. He shook his head. "You're selfish Lucy. You were never good enough for him, you know. He was always going to be wed to a real princess, and not a coward."

"A coward?" She asked.

"That's right. You're a coward for running away from Ur. You left me behind!"

King Igneel's skin bubbled and melted away to reveal Jellal, as a young teenager covered in scars from Ur's hand. The floor of the balcony gave away and they both fell through. Lucy tumbled forward in the snow and kneeled, facing her brother.

"Jellal! I didn't remember you! I-I would've taken you if I could!"

"Would you really have suffered longer, waiting for a chance to take me with you?"

No. The answer was no and she knew it. Did that make her selfish? To suffer Ur's abuse any longer would have killed her.

She looked to where Natsu lay unconscious and saw that Erza had also morphed into the Queen of Hearts. Ur seemed undisturbed by the wounded prince and sight of blood, and she stepped over him on her way to Lucy.

"It's all your fault, coward, for running away. I wouldn't have hurt him if you had stayed. Your prince wouldn't know such doubt without your example. Can you say you love him, when he lays cold and unmoving because of you?"

More than any sword, dagger, or fire, Ur's words cut deep. She was right. Because of her lack of faith, Prince Natsu had grown unconfident. Because of her pushiness he had grown dependent on her for protection. And when it came down to it, he lost the battle because he thought he couldn't go on. Lucy never answered Igneel's question. Not to mention her own brother Jellal who was left behind and forced to suffer in her place. If she stayed and complied, Jellal wouldn't have been hurt.

But how could she have known? All her actions were made with good intentions, or for the sake of self preservation. She did love Natsu, no matter what Ur said. If she hurt him, she was sorry for it. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she held her head in her hands.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."

Sorry won't bring him back. She thought bitterly, but waved the thought away. She pointedly ignored Ur and Jellal's dark gazes and looked at the prince, a sob stuck in her throat.

The Earthland mages appeared suddenly, running toward her frantically.

"Don't listen to them!" Her counterpart yelled. "This is a nightmare!"

Just like that, the world around them shattered. The edges of the horizon began to crumble away and the prince twitched.

Jellal scowled. "What are they doing here?"

Ignoring him, she pushed past her brother and the queen to run to the prince. She flipped him over and brushed the snow off of him. If this was a nightmare then she might have another chance. She bit the inside of her cheek and held back tears. Smiling softly and with a strong grip on his hand she said, "I believe in you."

Natsu opened his eyes and smiled back warmly, with the radiance of a million glittering diamonds. "Lucy." his voice was hoarse.

She leaned down and pressed their lips together, putting all her apologies into the kiss. She ignored the metallic tang of blood and focused on the warmth, somehow still in him.

Once the other Lucy said it was a nightmare, everything clicked. Lucy Heart didn't realize she was in a dream. Igneel's question had been a test, and she failed.

The other Natsu and Lucy had reached them, standing awkwardly and pointedly looking away from the kiss. She thought they might even be blushing, but chose not to tease. She gave her hand to the prince and helped him stand up. She knew he and the others were just products of her subconscious, but what about the Earthland mages?

Before asking them questions, Ur and Jellal had also run to them. Ur growled and grabbed at Lucy, unable to use her fire in this blizzard.

Lucy unsheathed her sword and slashed through Ur, dissipating the illusion. She turned to do the same to Jellal, but her arms were locked as she stared into his pained eyes and the scars all over his skin. He held his hands up in defense.

"Don't hurt me, sister. Not again."

"That's not Jellal." Lucy Heartfilia said sharply. The knight hesitated, still unable to strike.

Her voice thick with fear she asked, "Then who?"

"Midnight." Natsu Dragneel answered, glaring at the fake.

Jellal's form disappeared in smoke to reveal Midnight of the Six Prayers, one of Ur's personal guards. The Six Prayers were rarely seen, but they were said to be the strongest mages in the whole Hearts Kingdom, all of them users of different forbidden magics. Midnight was skilled in Black Nightmare, a combination of illusory and sleep magic that forced you to live in a nightmare manifestation of your deepest fears. Accordingly, he was dressed in steel armor and wore his signature black lipstick and dark eyeliner. His hair was long and shaggy, almost covering his eyes, with multiple long sections of braided white hair.

If Midnight was here, Ur must be close, wherever her physical body was. She assumed they had dragged their now unconscious party somewhere and tied them up. Lucy Heart herself might even be separated from the group, as Ur still needed her magic to summon the artifact.

His voice was like tar, oozing hatred and disgust. His pupils were red spirals, signalling that he was currently using his magic. "You won't escape my Black Nightmare!"

The world crumbled away faster, disappearing around Lucy Heart's feet. Earthland Lucy held on to her and Natsu's hands as the world finally melted away, leaving nothing behind. She shut her eyes tightly as they fell further down the rabbit hole of nightmares.

Haha, rabbit hole. Get it? Hopefully you all like the addition of this new enemy, since Ur is not as strong as she thinks she is and also needs some time to figure out how she's gonna get Lucy's power.