A/N: Sorry to keep you waiting! This has honestly been done for a little bit now, I just had to keep tweaking it until I was happy. Once again, HUGE shout out to all of you that have favorited, followed, and reviewed this story. Your words are such a source of encouragement, I can't even thank you enough. Your continued support helps to keep this story (and my desire to write it) alive and kicking. I hope you enjoy! Comments/reviews are always welcome!
The tremendous power and force behind Natsu's agony tore through the illusion, a fierce gust of air piercing the mist and dispelling it immediately. As Lucy watched, the guild seemed to burn down around them, ash raining down from above as the guild walls crumbled to reveal the red and white stripes belonging to the circus tents. Those too, caught fire, crackling and curling back on itself as the edges turned black, releasing a toxic smoke that made Lucy cough and cover her mouth. She was fortunate she was still on the ground, the smoke rising above her as she all but held onto the dirt for dear life, afraid Natsu's power would quite literally blow her away otherwise.
Regardless, she could not pull her eyes from the sight before her. The image of Natsu filled with such despair made her cry right along with him, but he was also breathtakingly beautiful. His hair fluttered about him, whipping around in the whirlwind created by his fire. Although his eyes were still squeezed shut, his mouth still open as his bellow continued, his elongated canines drew her attention – just one of the features that spoke to his heritage that he was so proud of. The smattering of scales now only added to that testament. "Natsu," she whispered, not sure if he would hear her over his own cry anyway.
A crashing sound behind her drew her attention, and Lucy braced herself on her elbows to look back over her shoulder. The wooden beams and supports of the stadium-style seats were collapsing, burning through with startling speed. When a ripping sound reached her from above she looked up just in time to see the top of the tent coming down; its very supports turning to ash before her eyes along with the canopy, she realized she had to get out of there or risk being buried.
Forcing herself to her hands and knees, Lucy risked one final look at Natsu. He was no longer roaring, his head lowered as his chest heaved. His hands were curled in his lap, still trembling as he looked at them in shock. His eyes were cast in shadow, concealed by his hair as he panted, his mouth partly open as he worked to come to terms with what was happening. Turmoil churned in his mind as he tried to process, recalling the actual feeling of Erza's sword piercing his flesh before he lost control of himself. But where's the wound? He patted his tattered shirt, even lifting it up to reveal his tanned skin beneath. Nothing marred his skin, save for a matching patch of scales that made its way from his pectorals down to his abdomen. Where's the sword? His eyes widened as he looked at the now dirt-covered ground before him. Wait! Where's Lucy?! Eyes darting, he was both relieved and terrified by her absence.
Lucy couldn't help it. She had to reach him, despite the risk to herself. "Natsu!" she shrieked, closing her eyes as she screamed for all she was worth in a desperate attempt to get him to hear her over the gale of his magic. The cry left her lips just as the main support snapped, immediately drawing her gaze upwards with a gasp. This is it! She screamed in her mind, her body automatically rolling onto her side, curling her legs up and protecting her head with her arms as she waited for her impending death.
The sound of Lucy's voice brought Natsu's eyes up with a snap. Without thinking, he launched himself toward her, fire erupting from his legs and spurring him faster as he scooped her up in his arms. He scarcely had time to tuck her tightly against his chest, ducking his head protectively over hers as they crashed through the burning supports and seats and out into the open. Wood splintered and cracked with his force, and when they emerged from beneath the burning canopy, Natsu's uncertainty caused him to tip, dragging his elbow along the ground before he could roll and protect Lucy. His body took the beating as they tumbled and rolled through the dirt, but he didn't notice. He was too overwhelmed with the feeling of Lucy in his arms, with the knowledge that nothing he'd just experienced had been real. He hadn't just killed his entire guild… He hadn't just killed Lucy…
By the time their momentum came to a stop, the two mages were panting, Lucy gritting her teeth as she clenched the tattered remains of Natsu's shirt and buried her face in his chest. Natsu had one hand on the back of her head, protecting it from injury, while the other held her tightly against him, wrapped around her waist. When they stopped, he refused to let her go, his grip on her actually tightening as he fought to suppress a sob of relief. "You're alive," he whispered hoarsely, burying his face in her hair. "Mavis, I thought I killed you!"
Lucy had to swallow before she could speak, his raw emotion crashing into her. "Of course I am," she murmured, snuggling into his embrace with a forlorn smile tugging at her lips. "I told you, you'd never hurt me. Even when you entered Dragon Force and burned down everything around us, you didn't harm me. None of it was real, Natsu."
He froze at her words, his hand pausing in its trek through her tangled tresses. "D-did you see it?" His voice was scarcely audible as he trembled beneath her.
Tears welled in Lucy's eyes as she pushed herself up against his chest, so she could look into his eyes. They were his once more, despite being in Dragon Force. The rich forest green that looked up at her was wary and nervous, his unease tugging at her heart, but it was him. Even the flickering orange flames that smoldered in his eyes were clearly him. She could lose herself in his eyes if she wasn't careful, the depths drawing her in as though he could drink in her soul. Her eyes left his to scan his face, the diffuse scales etched across the dirtied surface, and the same smear of blood that felt like it was from another day entirely, still there on his cheek. His hair fell across his forehead, his scarf somehow having fallen to take up its usual place around his neck, but it was all still him. Even the scales marring his cheeks and above his eyes were him, and she couldn't stop herself from gently caressing them, marveling at how rough and yet soft they were. Natsu's eyes narrowed at her touch, unsure, but he didn't pull away. When he remained silent, his eyes searching hers, she cupped his cheek. "I'm sorry," she breathed, closing her eyes in shame as her cheeks darkened. "I did."
Natsu stiffened beneath her, his heart slamming to a halt in his chest as his breath hitched. Lucy dropped her head to his chest, her hand still on his cheek, but the second he caught the scent of her tears, the tangy saltiness reaching his nose despite the overwhelming sense of burning wood and noxious canvas, he reached his fingers beneath her chin to force her to look at him. "Hey, why are you crying?" he asked, attempting a weak smile.
Sniffling, Lucy cocked her head at him, her brow furrowing angrily. "You're seriously asking me that?" she whispered harshly. "Natsu, I watched you try to end your own life!"
He cringed and averted his eyes. "You… I'm sorry you had to see that," he murmured. When he felt the tension in the air growing around them, he shrugged, his eyes returning to search hers. "Wouldn't have worked anyway. It was all just an illusion."
Lucy knew he was trying to play it off. He was trying not to worry her, to set her mind at ease despite the fact she could still see his torment reflecting back at her through his eyes. She loved him even more for it, even if she also hated it. "You idiot," she muttered, dropping her head back to his chest and sighing with contentment when she felt Natsu relax beneath her. He wrapped his arms around her once more, closing his eyes as he sighed into her hair.
Lucy's here. She's fine. I haven't hurt her, and she hasn't run away… The thoughts rolled through his mind, his relief palpable as he shuddered.
After a moment's hesitation, Lucy finally asked the question that had been haunting her throughout Natsu's ordeal. "Why would you do that?"
Natsu's eyes snapped open as he tensed beneath Lucy once again. His arms around her tightened in his fear as all the reasons why he would crossed his mind. He wanted to say none of them. Heaving a sigh, he sat up, Lucy moving with him to kneel at his side. When it became clear he wasn't going to answer right away, she kicked her feet out to the side, leaning on one hip as she peered up at him. His eyes avoided hers. "Isn't it obvious?" he finally asked, a wave of anxious heat rolling off of him.
Not at all sure what he meant, and her mind still confused from what she'd seen, Lucy frowned, scooting closer to him without realizing it. "I don't understand."
He cringed, gnashing his teeth together as warmth spread to his cheeks. "I… I can't live without you, Luce," he rushed in a whisper, still unable to meet her gaze.
Lucy sucked in a breath, a tingle shooting through her body that started in her heart and worked its way clear down to her toes. The warmth emanating from Natsu spoke to his nervousness, but she found the darkness in his cheeks the most telling. Regardless, the tense set to his shoulders told her he had more to say, she just needed to give him some time. "I thought I'd killed everyone. I wiped out the guild. And then," his voice cracked, stopping any sound from leaving his throat until he swallowed thickly. "Then, I…" He couldn't finish, his eyes squeezing shut as he relived the painful memory – the memory that wasn't real but had been too vivid to ignore as just an illusion. He could still feel her beneath him, fighting him, struggling as he robbed her of her life…
"You'd never do that," Lucy assured, clutching both his hands in her own. Despite the heat rolling off of him, his hands were surprisingly cold. His eyes met hers at her touch. "Never. You love our guild more than anyone, and I know you'd never hurt any one of us, no matter what happened. That's not who you are, Natsu."
"But," his voice trailed off as he scrunched his face up once more, disgusted at himself and what he'd "done" in the illusion, what he'd said. Tears pricked his eyes as he muttered, "What I did to you…"
She pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him as she shook her head. "Stop thinking about it. It wasn't you and it wasn't real. I trust you, Natsu." Her hand moved to his cheek once more. When he still looked shaken, his eyes dark and haunted, she took his hand with her free hand and gently placed it on her chest, right above her heart. It was pounding, racing with their proximity and from Natsu's torment, but she had to do this. For him. "You feel that?" He didn't answer, but his eyes widened slightly. "You didn't hurt me, Natsu. You wouldn't." His shoulders visibly relaxed after a moment, his eyes falling to his hand resting above her heart as though captivated by its secrets. "Besides, I'd never talk to you like that," she teased, her lips curling into a playful smile that she hoped could help bring him out of the darkness.
Natsu smirked, light returning ever-so-slightly to his eyes as he covered her hand at his cheek with his own, gently shaking his head. "You wouldn't," he agreed.
They grew still in each other's arms, their eyes only on the eyes of the other, searching as though they held the key to the secrets of the universe. Lucy's heart rate increased at the intensity in Natsu's gaze, the protectiveness and longing for once evident in his mossy depths. Natsu picked up on the change, his hand at her heart shifting to pull her closer to him as his own heart rate increased to match hers. Her molten chocolate orbs glistened up at him, the love and concern she held for him clear in her gaze. His thumb traced over the knuckles of her hand that was still cupping his cheek as he leaned into it, closing his eyes blissfully as her thumb then traced a line beneath his eye. Even with the patch of scales beneath her fingertips, her gentle touch caused a shiver of happiness and pleasure to ripple down his spine, and he pulled her closer.
There was little to no room left between them now, Lucy made more and more aware of this change by the increase in Natsu's heat that washed pleasantly over her. Although they'd been in each other's arms an innumerable amount of times, and even held each other as intimately as they were just then, there was something unmistakably different – an undercurrent riding just beneath the surface and tugging them both down with it the longer they touched. They'd been through and seen so much in just a few short hours (so much so, it felt like days), and it seemed like they'd turned a corner in their relationship. But had they? Before Lucy could even truly think about it, she found herself pulling Natsu closer, his face moving effortlessly towards hers. Their foreheads touched and Natsu's eyes slowly opened, the movement languid and slow, as his eyes met hers. The air between them was charged, goosebumps erupting on Lucy's arms as she felt Natsu envelope her with the warmth of his hooded gaze, his hand spreading wide to span her back as he pulled her even closer.
All thought left Lucy's mind as her eyes slowly drifted closed, completely trusting in her partner. His forehead against hers pressed a little more before he shifted, his cheek gently pressing into hers before his nose brushed against her. Her blood was on fire, fueled by Natsu's heat and mere presence; and made worse by the way he was moving, his breath hot on her neck before she suddenly felt it caress her lips with a soft sigh. Oh, Mavis! Is he going to – ?!
"Well, well, well! What do we have here?"
Their eyes snapped open and the two wizards immediately pulled back, their gaze drawn toward the direction of the voice. Natsu immediately recognized it as Estobar and snarled, his brows drawing down low as he slowly rose to his feet. As Lucy stood up with him, he gently pushed her behind him.
Once Natsu rose to his full height, Estobar appeared to truly take stock of him and notice the not-so-subtle changes to his appearance. He gasped, his mouth falling open in awe as he took an involuntary step back. It was a mistake, for Natsu saw the nervous motion and took a threatening step forward, a ball of flame appearing in his right hand. "What's the matter? Never seen a dragon slayer in Dragon Force before?" he taunted, his grin spreading wide.
Estobar swallowed before he could speak, his voice trembling. While it could be argued that the image Natsu had in his fear, his Dragon Form, was considerably more intimidating than even his Dragon Force, the image the Fire Dragon Slayer presented with rage glowing in his dark eyes, struck the man with respectable terror. "Is-is this how you destroyed the illusion?"
Confused, Natsu cocked his head to the side. "Did what now?"
Suppressing a giggle, Lucy stepped out from behind Natsu's back, placing a hand gently on his now very warm shoulder. He looked back at her, his eyes narrowed as he kept Estobar in his periphery, his senses tuned for any sense of impending attack. Lucy, having seen everything – Natsu's transformation and disruption of the illusion spell – glared at Estobar, not bothering to hide the hatred in her gaze. "Of course it is. Your 'mist' can't do anything if it can't reach us." At Estobar's look of utter surprise, she cocked an eyebrow in the air. "You should have thought of that before provoking him. Your magic is no match for his."
Natsu sneered, Lucy's words lending him even more strength as warmth settled in his chest. Her praise always made him melt inside, not that he often showed that effect of her words. "So, that's how it happened, huh?" he whispered only to Lucy.
Stepping closer, Lucy answered just loudly enough for Natsu to hear. "It's the best I can figure. The illusion disappeared as soon as you changed."
Lady Sinara stumbled forward then, stepping out from behind a smaller flaming tent. Her dress was burned away in many places, her exposed skin blistered a dark pink. The entire left side of her dress was blown away, her skin nearly black along the border where the fabric had been partially seared to her flesh. She was scarcely covered enough to protect her modesty, the dress somehow clinging low around her hips and around her breasts, leaving the majority of her abdomen exposed. The left glove that she wore, once white, was now an ashy gray, holes burned randomly into the once pristine fabric. Even her hair, once elegantly styled, was singed in numerous places; some of which were still smoking as she glared at the wizards before her. "Look what you've done!" she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Normally, Natsu would feel some sort of remorse, some sense of contrition that he caused someone such pain. He was incapable of feeling that for the woman before him. The fact that Lucy shrunk behind him at her appearance did not help her case any. "From the looks of it, you got off easy," he retorted, his eyes flashing.
"Easy?!" Lady Sinara cried, sweeping her arms to indicate her numerous burns. "You call this easy?!"
"That is enough," Linkin quietly commanded as he stepped out from the burning tents closest to the forest. His white hair was covered in ash, making it look dirty and gray, while numerous tendrils had been ruffled free from their careful restraint in his ponytail. "I've moved our friends to safety in the forest. They should be safe in the trees," he calmly reported, not bothering to look at Estobar. The underlying threat that they had reinforcements so close by was not missed by the Fairy Tail wizards.
Shouts and cries of alarm were growing around them as the people of Quraie became aware of the fire raging within the circus tents and came to investigate. Those that arrived the soonest saw the confrontation taking place and cautiously stepped back, their sense of self-preservation telling them it was best not to get involved, especially once they caught sight of Natsu's Fairy Tail emblem, now blazing brightly from his exposed shoulder. Many saw the flames, scales, salmon-colored hair, and emblem and immediately knew who he was.
"That's Natsu Dragneel, from Fairy Tail!"
"Then who's the blonde?!"
"Idiot! That's Lucy Heartfilia!"
"They're part of Fairy Tail's strongest team!"
"What are they doing here?!"
"What the hell is going on?!"
"What happened?!"
"Why are they fighting?!"
Cries of shock and recognition whipped around them as Natsu refused to take his eyes from the villains in front of him. Lucy also ignored them, as best she could, as she peered out from behind Natsu's shoulder. Wait a minute! If the illusion is broken… Her hand fell to her hip and the familiar reassurance of her keys slipped between her fingers. Without even thinking, she found Loke's key and pulled it forward. "Open! Gate of the Lion! Leo!"
The brilliant yellow magic circle that appeared beneath her made Lucy weak with relief. The corresponding ding-dong that announced her spirit's arrival made her want to openly weep in relief, nearly as much as the Celestial Spirit appearing himself.
"Princess," Loke greeted with a smile as he pushed his glasses higher up his nose. "You had us worried." There was no question or reprisal in his voice, just a quiet statement. "It's good to see you're okay," his voice petered out as he realized the odd markings on Lucy were actually burn marks – not from open flames, but from what appeared to be an extremely hot material pressed against her skin. "Lucy," he whispered, reaching out as though to touch one such burn.
Pulling back from his touch, Lucy gently pressed Loke's hand. "I'm fine," she whispered, pleading with Loke with her eyes not to bring attention to her injuries. Natsu was in no frame of mind to be worried about that. Regardless, she witnessed the way Natsu's shoulders tensed at her words. "Would you mind giving us a hand, please?"
His brow furrowed, Loke obediently lowered his hand with a gentle nod of understanding. A moment later, and he smiled the smile that could (and did) melt women's hearts. Several in the growing crowd of people from town murmured amongst themselves. "You know you don't need to ask," he muttered, turning flashing hazel eyes at the three before them. "Now, which one of you hurt my princess?" he demanded, his voice rich but harsh with anger as it rang through the growing darkness. The only sound was the raging fire at their backs.
Bristling, Natsu glanced at Loke out of the corner of his eye. "Your princess?"
Quirking an eyebrow, Loke grinned mischievously. It wasn't a comment that typically visibly bothered Natsu. "Care to dispute that?" he teased. Unlike Lucy, he'd been able to hear all that Natsu said during his illusion, despite being trapped within his key. All of the spirits had heard Lucy's repeated calls, pleas for their aid, but had been unable to respond due to the nullification magic that was a part of the mist as well as Lady Sinara's restraints. It had been torture for them, so he could only imagine what his mistress and her partner had been going through. Fortunately for Natsu, as the strongest Celestial Spirit, Loke was the only one capable of hearing Natsu's whispered words (as well as Lucy's when she was under the spell). Seeing the Fire Dragon Slayer's anguish had hurt Loke in a way he cared not to admit, Lucy's agony at her partner's state reverberating through their strong bond and crushing him. He would no longer stand between them, even though they'd never understood he was doing that in the first place. If he thought about it hard enough, he would realize he'd been attempting to provoke Natsu all along, to see just how far he could push him before his feelings would be obvious – at least to Lucy. These thoughts in mind, he pointedly ignored Natsu's heated look and asked, "Who shall I leave for you?"
His lips pulling back into a snarl, Natsu fixed his gaze on Estobar. The temperature around him rose so high the air rippled and wavered around him as his flames grew larger. Thoughts of hurting Lucy, of Lucy's anguished and terrorized screams echoed in his mind, driving his rage and strengthening his resolve. "Leave the Ring Leader to me."
Loke smirked, dropping down into a crouch before sharing a look with Natsu that belied their anticipation for a good fight. "So, I'll take Whitey?"
Shrugging, Natsu turned to look at Lucy. "You care, Luce?"
Her eyes narrowing into dangerous daggers, Lucy stared down Lady Sinara. She would never forget the feeling of helplessness Lady Sinara caused by keeping her from going to Natsu in his time of need. She only faintly recognized that Natsu must have gone through the same thing. "I'll take the lady," she growled.
Natsu and Loke agreed in unison. "Got it."
The words scarcely left their mouths before the two men burst forward – Natsu with a blast of fire and heat, Loke with a flash of light. Lucy stood in their wake, her hands clutched together in front of her chest as her hair whipped about her in wonder. For a moment she could only stare, transfixed by the men fighting before her. Natsu was all strength and raw power, his emotions fueling his flames; while Loke was grace and finesse, his immense strength hidden beneath the beauty of his attacks. They'd never fought together so perfectly before, so in tuned with what the other was doing without any apparent effort, their goals perfectly aligned. A gentle smile touched her lips as her heart warmed. She'd never been prouder of either of them…
"Whatcha standin' there for, Luce?" Natsu called back, after smashing a flaming fist into Estobar's face. A moment later and he was blasted by an invisible force and thrown back several feet, although he remained standing, the look of determination on his face even more fierce.
Shaking herself free from her thoughts, Lucy grabbed her whip and turned to Lady Sinara. "Right!"
Lady Sinara sneered as Lucy approached, but the fear was clear in her eyes. Her face was pinched in pain and her movements were slow as she deliberately avoided moving her left side much. Regardless, the wizard grit her teeth and went to flick her right hand, but Lucy saw it coming. Like Natsu, Lucy's empathy was stretched thin as she released her whip, catching Lady Sinara's wrist before she could release her attack, the green flecks of her energy dying like embers at the tips of her fingers. "That's a cheap trick," Lucy ground out before pulling the whip back towards her, dragging Lady Sinara with it. "How do you like it?!"
An animalistic screech left Lady Sinara's lips as she stumbled forward and fell to her knees. Disappointed, Lucy relented in her attack, but left the whip wrapped around her wrist. "Without your magic, you really have no fight left in you, do you?" she asked, her voice soft.
Bright blue eyes blazed with pain and hatred when Lady Sinara looked up at Lucy. "You expect me to fight like this?" she murmured, lowering her eyes to her battered form. "Your damn boyfriend nearly killed me!"
For once, Lucy didn't have it in her to correct the misunderstanding. Besides, weren't things changing? Was it possible that that's what both of them wanted? Their fears and how they interplayed with each other certainly seemed to indicate that something was different… But it wasn't the time or the place to think about that and she had to shake her head to focus, narrowing her eyes at the prostrate woman at her feet. "If he'd wanted you dead, you'd be dead," she threatened, dropping into a crouch before her. "But that's not how we operate." Standing back up, she pulled Virgo's key. "Open! Gate of the Maiden! Virgo!"
Once again, the fact that her key worked, just like it always did, a pink magic circle appearing before the familiar ding-dong sounded, made Lucy weak with relief. She stepped back just as Virgo materialized before her and had to wipe the tears from her eyes. They could rejoice once this was all over.
"Would you like to punish me, Princess?" Virgo asked with a gentle bow.
Lucy smiled at the familiar question but shook her head. "No, Virgo." She pulled her whip from Lady Sinara's wrist – the woman wasn't resisting – and pointed at her with the end of it. "Can you restrain her for me, please?"
Virgo followed the handle of Lucy's whip, her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Is she the one that kept us from coming to your aid?" Her voice was deeper and rougher than normal, a dark aura emanating from the Celestial Spirit that Lucy hadn't seen since they made their contract.
"N-not entirely…"
Cocking an eyebrow at her mistress' choice of words, Virgo nonetheless immediately restrained Lady Sinara, moving so fast Lucy could scarcely keep up. Although her face was its typical expressionless mask, Lucy could see the rage burning within her bright blue eyes. "Would you like me to punish her, Princess?"
As much as she wanted to see Lady Sinara suffer as Natsu had suffered, as she had suffered, as all the people in the previous towns had suffered, Lucy shook her head. "No, Virgo. Please just keep her secure."
Virgo bowed, her face etched with disappointment. "As you wish."
With a sigh, Lucy turned back to the fight raging among Fire Dragon Slayer and Celestial Spirit, their attacks shaking the ground as dirt and debris was flung into the air and toward the bystanders. She could still hear the whispered confusion, but no one was rushing forth to stop them out of fear for their own safety, which she was eternally grateful for. It was then she became aware of a familiar voice, sounding like it was far away but rapidly coming closer.
"LUSHY!"
Her eyes immediately raising to the sky, Lucy beamed a smile as she spun in the direction of the voice. "Happy?!"
The blue Exceed in question seemed to drop out of the sky and into her arms. Lucy immediately hugged him, squeezing him so tightly he couldn't breathe, as she practically crushed him against her chest – not unlike Erza's fierce embraces. "I came as soon as I heard all the commotion!" Happy wailed, burying his face in her chest. "What's happened?!"
Lucy pulled Happy away for just a moment, the darkness of their experiences evident in her gaze as she gently shook her head. "We'll fill you in later. Right now, can you keep an eye on the town's people, please?"
Happy looked over Lucy's shoulder to the gathering of people. If he remembered the afternoon correctly, it seemed like the entire town was present, their mouths slack-jawed in shock as the wizards rampaged behind him. "Will you look out for Natsu for me, then?" Happy asked, his eyes wavering in his attempt to fight back tears. "I heard his cry…" Just the memory of it brought a chill to his spine.
Ruffling the fur between Happy's ears, Lucy smiled sadly, goose bumps rippling out on her arms at the same memory of Natsu's bellow. "Of course I will."
Sniffling, Happy puffed out his chest and jumped from Lucy's arms, his wings taking shape as he flew over her shoulder. As Lucy's gaze returned to Natsu and Loke's fight, her breath caught in her throat.
Loke stood with his feet braced wide and his hands gripping either side of his head, as though fighting a horrendous headache, or more likely, mind control. He staggered as he took a step toward Linkin, who held his hands up in front of him defensively, but the glint in his orange eyes told Lucy he was using his magic. Without pause for thought, she rushed forward, releasing her whip with a crack just in front of Linkin's face in order to break his concentration. He's really strong enough to effect even Loke?! "Loke!" she cried, running to her spirit's aid.
Once Linkin's focus was broken, Loke stood back up, his eyes flashing dangerously. In a rare show of his true form, his lips pulled back in a snarl, showing canines that weren't usually elongated, elongated. His voice was low and gravely, rumbling from deep within his chest as he gathered a ball of light in his right hand. "Is that what you used on Lucy?!" he growled.
Linkin's only reaction was a slight widening of his eyes. When Loke moved, faster than Linkin's eyes could follow, his mouth fell agape, and he took a small step back in order to better center himself. The movement was wasted as Loke called out, "Regulus Impact!" just before his fist connected with Linkin's chin, throwing the Control Mage upward into the air and back. Loke followed the arc of his movement for only a moment before leaping into the air, gathering more light around his body. Lucy immediately recognized the beginnings of Lion Brilliance, but the fact that Loke wasn't calling out the spell meant that he intended to use the more powerful form of the attack, where he could use his light to batter his enemy, leaving allies unaffected – so Natsu's vision wouldn't be impacted by his strong spell. Once his body was completely encased in the bright yellow light of his magic, he released it, striking Linkin full force and throwing the wizard back to the ground. Loke landed a moment later.
"Loke!" Lucy called, immediately running to his side. He put a hand out to stop her just as she noticed Linkin struggling to his feet.
"How dare you defy me," Linkin grumbled, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. He spit blood before smiling, red discoloring what used to be his stark white teeth. As Loke and Lucy watched, he gathered a ball of white energy before him, and Lucy recognized it as an attack he'd used on the clowns during the circus. Had it been real?
She no sooner questioned the attack's validity than Loke pushed her behind him. "Get behind me."
Bristling, Lucy refused. "How many times do I have to tell you, my spirits are not shields?! I will not cower behind you while you fight! I'll fight with you!"
The fire in Lucy's eyes, made even more fierce by the reflection of actual fire in their depths, made Loke pause before he slowly nodded. "As you wish."
Before any of them could so much as move, the sound of wood collapsing, fire crackling, and what remained of the canvas of the circus tents ripping reached them. The trio turned curious gazes to the growing pile of rubble behind them, just as Natsu burst forth from its depths. "Ha! You think that's going to hurt me?!" he cried, throwing his head back and cackling as he dusted debris off his shoulder. His shirt crumbled to pieces at his feet, unnoticed by the Fire Dragon Slayer. "You've got another thing coming!" His eyes caught something in the sky and he stilled, his mouth going slack before breaking into his toothy grin he was so well known for. "Happy!"
Hearing his name, the blue Exceed turned over his shoulder to smile at his best friend. "Natsu!" He pawed Fairy Tail's sign, throwing his index finger up in the air with the back of his hand facing forward. "You show them what it means to mess with Fairy Tail! I've got this over here."
Returning Happy's gesture, Natsu's grin only widened. "Okay, Buddy! I'm counting on you!"
Tears were welling in Happy's eyes once more as he turned back to the crowd, easing them back as Natsu's power only increased the destruction surrounding them. "Aye!"
Linkin, watching the exchange, saw what he thought would be an easy target, narrowing his eyes at Happy's hovering form. Loke immediately suspected what was about to happen and gripped Lucy's hands. "Let's do this Lucy!"
Lucy turned her back to his, pressing against him and closing her eyes as she lent Loke her power. The light that quickly grew from the magic circle at Loke's feet should have been blinding as it blossomed like a flower, but it wasn't. Natsu and even Estobar saw the attack building in strength and simply watched, distracted by its brilliance even as it seared Estobar's eyes and he had to shield them with his hand. Natsu, however, was unaffected, watching as Lucy's hair whipped around them, Loke's own fluttering as his light created a gust of wind around them, much as Natsu's flames had. Lucy's eyes were shut tight, her brow furrowed in concentration, as she willed her magic power through her hands and into Loke's. Loke's glasses glowed from behind his light enchantment, and as he crouched, the power of the attack only increased.
"Come to my aid my beasts!" Linkin cried, attempting to flee the blinding light rapidly growing in front of him.
"Shit!" Natsu cried, darting forward with a Fire Dragon Roar to intercept the mass of animals suddenly charging Loke and Lucy. When faced with a wall of fire, the lion, tiger, bear, elephants, alligators, and horses all balked, crying out in fear, but a strange light in their eyes told him it wouldn't last for long. "Hurry up and finish him off already!"
Loke's eyes snapped open at Natsu's taunt, glaring at him for a fraction of a second before he released the attack, light striking Linkin and enveloping him with its blinding power. The wizard was rocked off his heels and thrown into the air, his eyes white from Loke's light, before crashing to the ground on the other side of Natsu's wall of flames.
Satisfied and drained of his magic, Loke's light slowly dwindled and receded into the faint magic circle that remained beneath their feet before disappearing altogether. He stumbled with a pant, and it was the first time Lucy realized just how battered he was, blood dripping from a wound on his arm and from his hairline.
"You all right, Princess?" he asked, staggering sideways in an attempt to remain on his feet.
"I'm fine, but you," she started, holding him up.
He smiled crookedly, his eyes falling to the man they'd defeated. "Forget about it," he interrupted. "He deserves worse," he grumbled, slipping his arm around Lucy's shoulder as she helped him stand upright. If Natsu sees this, he's gonna flip… The thought only made him smile wider as he heard the Fire Dragon Slayer in question yelling at his opponent. As Virgo came forward to restrain Linkin, he made sure she gagged him and covered his eyes with a cloth, not sure how his magic exactly worked. "I should help Natsu," he admitted after a moment.
Lucy looked at him as though he'd just sprouted two heads. Under normal circumstances, she would agree, but these weren't normal circumstances. Estobar and the others had taken something from them, both of them, and Natsu had to fulfill his task – had to feel like he'd returned the balance to what it was, or he would not rest. He might need the help, but he'd refuse it just as surely as he'd beat Gajeel in order to fight Sting and Rogue by himself during the Grand Magic Games. "No," she quietly commanded, placing a restraining hand on Loke's chest. "Let him do this."
Loke looked at her, his eyes searching hers for long enough Lucy's cheeks darkened, before he released her and stepped away with a soft bow. "Then if you don't mind, Princess…"
Gasping, Lucy clapped her hands to her mouth. "Oh! Of course! Please, go home and get better." She bowed low, making sure he saw her, before adding, "And thank you, Loke."
His smile widening, Loke ruffled her hair as he began disappearing in a shower of light. It was always beautiful to behold, even when she didn't want him to leave; his light like a smattering of stars in a black sky as they broke apart and danced in the air before slowly blinking out. Sniffling again, Lucy wiped her eyes and turned back to Natsu's fight.