Chapter 22

Her Dangerous Bluff

Lord Zeref Dragneel: Is a dick. Massively so. But, surprisingly, is a good leader to the bad little demons of his land. Will become aggressively defensive of the teacup collection in his castle, saying they are antiques when really, he just likes how soft and delicate they are. Antagonizes Natsu and took his last name as a symbol of 'faith' between the Dragons and Demons.

Natsu's arms were wrapped around my waist softly, steering the horse from behind me as we followed Ultear, Erza and Jellal deeper into the wasteland. The atmosphere of the Vapids was a massive change from the ice covered land that was the north. Ten steps in and you'd forget they were neighbours completely.

Darkness coloured the landscape from the dirt on the ground to the tone of the sky. I wondered if it would change at all when the night was over. Jellal had taken Natsu's horse, while Natsu and I shared mine. It had been a very brief discussion, but Erza had pulled rank and said that my safety was more important that canoodling with Jellal on a horse.

Of course, she used a different way of saying it, but the effect was the same.

Besides, I wasn't complaining, it gave me time to be near Natsu.

Bickslow's conical hat was clutched in my hands, my fingers sweaty from the change in climate. We were still all wearing our winter gear, and I was sure that once I peeled the layers of clothing off, I'd want a nice hot bath to get rid of the sweat.

"What are you going to do with it? I can burn it for you if you'd like," Natsu offered helpfully, noticing how I was staring down at the object curiously.

I laughed at his 'innocent' offer. "I don't know. I think it's kind of cool."

"So you're going to keep it?" I held it up in front of me, tilting my head at the shape curiously, noticing how there was a silver glint of metal around the brim for the second time. Natsu also noticed it, arms tightening around my waist so he could lean closer and peer at it over my shoulder.

"That's not a normal hat."

"That's what I was thinking," I admitted. "It feels almost heavy, and look at the threading, it's a little thick to be just bamboo."I turned it over, showing it to him and he hummed softly, observing it.

"Hold the reins for a second."

I handed him the hat before taking the reins as he leant back, tinkering with it from behind me. I waited patiently, smiling at his low whistle.

"What is it?"

"Watch this." He reached out in front of me and flicked his hand out, sending the hat sailing through the air. I beat down the urge to yell at him for getting rid of it, when it sliced a branch clear off a tree ahead, then rebounded right back to him. He caught it easily, and I grinned.

"It's a weapon!"

"You see the silver around the edges, that's a very thin blade. What's more, it has self-generation energy. It zaps only a small amount of magic from you, and, I would say it's a safe bet that once you target something, it almost always hits it." I took the hat back, observing it closely, noticing how the thin line of silver was indeed a blade.

"That's so cool. I wonder why he gave me a weapon."

"I wouldn't think too much of it. I could tell from the minute I looked at him, he wasn't entirely there mentally."

I thought about it for a few seconds, pondering Natsu's obvious jealousy as well, before admitting, "Well, he does have the ability to see people's souls. Who knows what sort of torment he has had to live through?"

"Gray mentioned that he was blind, but he didn't seem that way," Natsu murmured, before growling lowly, "And the fact that he's friends with sparky over in the Thunder Wilderness is another strike against him."

I sighed, a smile twitching on my lips at the fact he had yet another person he didn't like.

"Do you have any friends outside your kingdom? Or are you just a grumpy dragon to all?"

He was quiet for a few seconds, contemplative before he nuzzled my hair. "I have you."

I flushed, pleased with his response, and we fell into comfortable silence. An hour had passed with me keeping my eyes peeled for any movement, when I noticed how Ultear's shoulders were getting tighter with every passing second. Even Jellal and Erza had become quiet, thought they had chatted softly to one another for most of the trip.

My heart did a tiny squeeze to see Jellal finally back with us, and Erza looking so peaceful.

"It's the fact we haven't been attacked yet," I thought aloud, looking between my three companions. "It's worrying them."

"It is a worrying thought."

"If Zeref gave the order not to attack us - because I don't doubt he knows we are coming - would they listen?"

"We are in the outlands, so it's not likely. Not unless he went on a killing spree and enforced his dominance in the last couple of days. They are scared of him, but what Zeref doesn't know, won't kill them."

"Can you sense any demons?" I asked, twisting my body to look into his eyes as he glanced around, an easy look on his face, surprisingly not worried about the lack of attackers.

"Oh yeah. Lots. They're watching us."

Fear and shock prickled up my spine, leaving my skin sensitive with pins and needles as Natsu glanced at me, wearing a small grin, trying to alleviate the stress of his words.

"Don't worry about it. Nothing is going to happen."

"That's what everyone says before something massive happens," I moaned quietly, turning back to face Ultear who held up her hand, giving us the signal to halt. Natsu slowed to a stop, his chest moving against my back as he breathed deeply, before she glanced back, sliding her eyes over us.

"We are going to start running for the second circle now," she informed us, her voice carrying in the dead, lifeless air. I remembered that the second circle was the - for lack of better word - prestigious part of the Vapids and what awaited there was stronger, and probably less inclined to simply watch.

She didn't wait for any sort of response, instead urging her horse on, starting at a fast trot before easing into a ground-eating cantor. Natsu clicked his tongue, and our horse increased its speed easily, adapting and picking up the pace of his horse-friends.

The area was so barren that it didn't look like we were moving at all, an expanse of dark coloured rocks and dried, cracked ground as far as the eye could see. I was about to ask Natsu about what sort of demons we would encounter in the middle circle, when a dark shadow soared through the sky, heading straight towards Erza. I had just opened my mouth to shout a warning to her when she whipped her hand out, a smooth, almost golden sword materialising in her grip and the demon, unable to stop its momentum, speared itself onto the sharp point.

The shadow twisted around the metal, and it made me wonder how you could stab a shadow. But, I supposed if anyone could do it, Erza could. I could see the vague outline of a face, and a body hiding within the shadow. Still riding her horse, despite the attack, Erza flicked her wrist and the shadow body slid off, its head making a dull thud as it connected with the ground, the shadows slowly fading as he died.

"Natsu..."

"She just kebabed that guy." Natsu sounded impressed, but I was scared, terrified over the thing that we were all overlooking.

"He just died. Why aren't I getting the urge to scream?" I whispered, horrified as Natsu went quiet, passing the body that was drying up on the hard ground, returning to the dust it lay upon.

"Because demons don't have souls," he murmured, his lips brushing my ear. "You need a soul to cross over. Demons die, and they get reborn into another demonic presence. That's how the Vapids survive."

"Wait. Demons are immortal?" My head spun at the idea of demons never dying, and couldn't believe that no-one thought to mention that they were soulless. It changed the game here at the Vapids entirely for me. I had been worried that if Natsu or Erza killed someone, I would have no choice in controlling my scream, because the first one was unstoppable.

"Immortal is a stretch. The more power a demon has, the more likely it will be able to revive itself. Lower demons only have maybe two or three revivals in them," he informed me, before adding, "Demons with more power, can revive themselves more, but they also don't die as easily. Think of them like cockroaches."

I sighed, bringing my hand up to massage the skin between my eyes. "You guys couldn't have mentioned this to me earlier? I've been worrying about nothing."

"Sorry, Luce. Don't worry, there's still plenty of other things to worry about."

He snorted a laugh when I reached back and pulled on his hair, a smile sliding on my lips as a metaphorical weight eased off my shoulders.

Sure, we were still heading straight towards a foreign, and hostile land.

That may or may not want to throw us around.

But at least I had a chance of controlling my scream.

"I don't like this," Ultear stated. Her eyes narrowed and I looked around. The town that surrounded the castle a few miles away was completely deserted, which apparently wasn't the suspicious thing, as Erza had told me most of the demons lived in the castle like one big hive.

It was more so the fact that we had been in the second circle for a good hour now, and we hadn't had any visitors or attackers. In fact, we hadn't seen anyone.

Until I spotted someone, with a mop of dirty blonde hair, and two dog-like ears popping out on either side of the figures head. He stood right in front of us, cutting off Erza's reply to Ultear with his very presence. Natsu tensed slightly from behind me as the man spoke with a low growl.

"We don't welcome visitors here. Take your business, elsewhere."

"Afraid we can't do that. We have a right to something Lord Zeref holds in his castle. We come bearing no ill-will, but we demand you release what we need," Jellal spoke carefully, his horse the closest to the beast, who had markings carved on his face, chest and neck. He only wore shorts and his feet were clawed, furry and almost the colour of his hair, if a little darker.

"Lord Zeref has no need with you, or desire to co-operate with your wishes. If you do not leave, we will be forced to take extreme measures," he replied slowly, his tone almost bored as he crossed his arms over his impressive chest.

"You can try." Natsu spoke up, drawing the demon's attention to him. Something like shock, mixed with excitement, flew over the demon's features, until a cocky smirk pulled at his lips.

"Prince Dragneel. The Vapids will happily accommodate you." His eyes briefly flickered to me, as he added, "And your woman. But your friends will have to wait elsewhere." My cheeks grew pink at his words, and that seemed to delight him, as his smirk deepened into something a little less cocky and more intrigued.

"Wherever they go, we go," Erza stated firmly, but the demon barely glanced at her when she spoke, as if Natsu and I were much more interesting to him.

"If you wish to go any further, you will have to prove yourselves," he notified them. "Prince Dragneel has proven himself previously, and his power can be extended to his woman. But not to you."

I tried not to look surprised at his words, since Natsu had told me he had only visited the Vapids once when he was a child. So either he was strong enough as a child to assert his dominance, or he had actually visited the Vapids more than once.

"Very well," Erza complied, sliding off her horse, Ultear and Jellal copying her movements.

"Can we assume that our horses will not be harmed in the altercation?"

"You have my word."

"The word of a demon isn't much," Jellal said, his voice loud in the sudden silence as I waited with bated breath. Three other demons came up from behind the one who had spoken to us, appearing out of nowhere. My stomach twisted painfully, worried, but confident in my friends.

"Natsu… Did you know they would allow you access?"

"It crossed my mind," he murmured back, watching as our friends paired off with demons. Erza rolled her shoulders, preparing herself, while Ultear just smiled at the man opposite her, in a friendly way, and held out her hand to greet him. The demon ignored the extended limb.

Jellal reached over to Erza who reached down into her cleavage, and pulled a sword out. My lips twitched as she handed it to Jellal, who had little magic inside of him. It almost didn't seem like a fair fight, seeing as the demon across from him was definitely gifted with some sort of power.

The demon who granted Natsu and I entrance must have realised this also, "Seliah, your opponent is only a knight. You will fight him without magic."

The demon facing Jellal had purple hair, and two dull golden horns growing on each side of her head. She had markings on her forehead, and arms, uncovered by the form fitting, sleeveless dress that was short as it was revealing.

She nodded, her expression solemn. "Yes Jackal."

"My name is Ultear, and you, are sort of cute. Despite the… scales and the shark fin. Is that what you are supposed to be? A shark?" Ultear smiled engagingly, and the large demon simply stared down at her, towering over her form in his dark skinned, scaled form.

"Torafuzar, introduce yourself to your opponent. She may not need it, but it would be a good way to break the ice." Jackal sounded amused, and let out a chuckle when Torafuzar glared at him in response, choosing to keep his mouth shut.

Ultear laughed, which brought his attention back to her. "I'm going to call you Torie. Better keep your eyes on me, Torie, this isn't a threesome." Just as she said it, three orbs flew out from in front of her, exploding against his skin, throwing him back into a building that looked like it had survived similar attacks.

She smiled sweetly when he jumped to his feet, eyes widened in shock. Natsu chuckled from behind me and I felt my shoulders relax, as Ultear got into an offensive stance, crouching down before shooting off towards him. With their fight beginning, Jellal dashed forward, trying to slice into Seliah across from him.

The only fight that didn't begin, was Erza's. The demon across from her was half-human, and half… bird. It was a peculiar mix, especially since it didn't match the curvy figure she had. But her appearance, no matter how odd it was, wasn't what was worrying me.

It was the cruel smile on her lips as she stared at Erza.

"My name is Kyoka. And yours?"

"I'll reward you my name if you beat me, which will never happen," Erza replied calmly, her face poised and ready as Kyoka laughed, delighted with her words.

"Confidence is a great trait. Shall we begin?"

Erza nodded only slightly, and Kyoka threw herself forward, lashing out with those bird like claws. Erza dodged swiftly and soon, all three battles were heated, sprawling limbs trying to gain the advantage.

Ultear sent two orbs forward, and they spun around Torafuzar, creating a glowing circle of white, surrounding him before the ground caved in underneath him. He latched onto the crumbling floor and sprung himself up, sending a torrent of black water towards her.

She dodged to the side, barely avoiding it before throwing her hands out, with a wild grin, as Torafuzar ran through his water to her. Her legs crouched and she brought her arms up, her magic power flaring as the black water beneath him froze, drawing up into large spikes of dark ice.

I watched amazed as she brought her arms back in, before dropping them to the floor. The ice shattered at the root, falling and splitting until the weight pinned Torafuzar down.

"Ultear uses ice magic?

"News to me. Not surprising, since her mother is one of the strongest ice mages in the North," Natsu stated, his voice impressed as a loud grunt caught both of our attentions. Jellal skidded along the floor, dodging Seliah's long cleaver, a weapon that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

"Natsu, are these… normal demons?"

"They are part of the Nine. When Zeref took over the Vapids, he trained and selected nine demons that surpassed the populace in power to become enforcers of his law."

"So you beat one of them and that's why you have been given freedom?"

"No. The Nine work because they are all of the same power. None of them are stronger, none of them are weaker. The only way to get past them all is by defeating them all or coming to an agreement with one. I fought their commanding officer. I beat him, so, in Vapid terms, I'm dominant to every demon below him."

I turned back slightly to look at him in shock, "How tough was he?"

"He broke my spine. I shattered his," he replied, his eyes darkening. "Ever since then, it's been a fifty-fifty chance of being welcome here or not. I honestly think it comes down to Lord Zeref's mood."

"In your own opinion, can we trust them to fight fair?"

"You can never trust demons, Luce. Never," he replied softly, his words firm, and I felt a shiver of fear spiral down my spine. I closed my eyes and nodded slowly, before opening them, catching a glimpse of exactly what Natsu had warned seconds ago.

Ultear had been knocked down and was rolling onto her stomach when Seliah sent Jellal smacking into the ground, dashing for her as Torafuzar grabbed Ultear by the arms and held her up, opening her abdomen up for whatever attack Seliah was powering up.

My body reacted before my brain and I threw myself off the horse, my power rising up my throat at maximum speed. Natsu shouted my name, but I ran, feeling the power clash with my need to keep silent, to keep from destroying whatever I could.

In that second, the weight of the hat Bickslow in my hand felt heavier than it ever had been and I remembered Natsu's words quickly.

"Once you target something, you almost always hit it."

I pushed all that power in my throat down, but instead of sending it behind those walls I had been working on building, I redirected it along my arm, to my fingertips, imagining the magic of my Shriek being sucked into the blade hidden in the hat itself.

I threw it, aiming right for the demon's, Seliah's, hand that was outstretched, as if she was ready to tear Ultear's guts out through her exposed stomach.

The noise it emitted was similar to the Shriek I had heard in the vision of when I destroyed my kingdom, not as strong, but still potent with power. It caused Erza and Kyoka to stop entirely, as the hat soared through the air before slicing right through Seliah's hand.

She reared back, screeching in pain as the skin peeled back, exposing torn muscles, ligaments, until I could see the pale glimmer of bone. Blood poured out of the wound and I was in shock at the damage a simple throw had done, that I almost missed catch it when the hat returned back to me, the blade feeling dull against my own skin.

Natsu was at my back in the next second as I spoke angrily, "I was willing to play along with these barbaric games because they are your customs and we came in relative peace. However, if you would like to cheat, then I will tell my friends to do the same." I impressed myself with how strong my voice was, even though my body was shaking in fright and my power had only been temporarily misplaced. The magic I had channelled into the hat was slowly seeping back into me, and filling my body with a throbbing need to Shriek and bring the walls down around me.

Jackal tilted his head, as Seliah fell to her knees, holding the gaping wound closed, gasping in short angry breaths.

"You are not a peasant like I had presumed. May I ask your name?"

"You may, but your behaviour has made me think against giving it. Erza, Ultear; Jellal, please come here," I replied, and they backed away from their opponents cautiously. Once Ultear reached me, she brushed her fingers along my arm and I took that as a thank-you which I let wash over me, calming me with her familiar touch.

When Erza placed a hand on my shoulder from beside me, it grounded me entirely, bringing my urges down, comforting me as our link strengthened.

"Natsu, will you fight?" I asked softly, already knowing the answer but wanting to make entirely sure.

His warmth brushed along my back, a hand touching my hip.

"Hell yes."

Jackal, who had been observing us, spoke with an keen tone of interest, "You defeated Seliah, so you are allowed entrance on your own power."

Seliah growled from her place beside Kyoka, who was observing the injury. But I shook my head. I didn't understand how slicing into one of their hands counted as a defeat, but I wasn't going to question it.

I did make a mental note to ask Natsu about exactly what 'defeat' meant to demons.

"We were granted access before and your friends went back on your own word. If they fight, I fight."

"They are demons, surely you don't expect them to be held by mere words?" Jackal tilted his head, reminding me of a dog that was confused by something.

"No. I understand that demons are only held by a dominant being. Seeing as you are the same power as them, I am not surprised they ignored you." His eyes narrowed at my words, and I knew I struck a nerve. Maybe the Nine didn't enjoy being equal.

Of course, that led to an interesting question as to why they stayed equal all this time?

"Three against five seems like bad odds," he stated, ignoring my previous words as Erza replied from beside me, her voice belligerent, but calm all at once. How she was able to do that, I would never know.

"Even the odds then. One person per demon. But we demand an audience with Lord Zeref once we defeat you all."

"I will only make deals with your leader, not you," Jackal replied, his eyes trained on me. "I had assumed Natsu was, considering his power, but seeing how you all seem to migrate around the small blonde one, my assumption was clearly wrong."

They migrated around me?

"We defeat you, and we get an audience with Lord Zeref. Understood?"

Jackal inclined his head in agreement as Natsu murmured, "I'll take Jackal. Erza, are you okay with Kyoka?"

She nodded, as Ultear stated, "I'll stick with Torie."

When I took my eyes off Erza, I wasn't surprised to see two more demons beside Jackal, silently joining the fray. Seliah remained on the floor, holding her partially severed hand, glaring at me with enough hatred that it made the hair on my skin raise. I glanced over the two new additions before asking Jellal, "I'd find it extremely weird to fight a skeleton, mind if you take him? or is it a her? Well, whichever?"

Jellal chuckled, a small amused noise."Of course."

I gave them all one long look over before smiling brightly and saying, "Let's all try to keep all limbs attached. Natsu, don't burn everything to the ground."

"It's hurtful you think I would. Erza has a bigger chance of destroying everything than I do."

We all shared a smile before I turned back and shrugged off my coat, knowing that it restricted movement that I needed - and it was also warm as hell here.

"Luce?"

"Go."

Natsu sprang forward, and let out a roar that hit Jackal, flames billowing and lighting up the street. I rushed forward, heading towards the darkly tanned, blonde demon who wore an odd vest outfit. He barely blinked and moved his mouth. Suddenly wind swept my feet out from underneath me, but in a wild attempt to land on my feet, I twisted my power into it's lion form.

I had been careful for so long in avoiding using it, so it surprised me when it snapped together seamlessly, rising from that cave in a mass of fur, dominance and a desire to attack. My body shakily found its balance mid-air and I brought my hand out, reacting to the instincts inside of me out of a simple second nature.

My fingers touched the floor into a low crouch and I flicked the hat towards him, targeting his arm. He barely dodged, but was too busy sending around gust of air with his words, when the hat did a large circle and sliced into his arm. I ducked low, catching it before fire burst out of thin air.

I almost turned to Natsu in recognition, but the fire soaring past me didn't feel right. It took me a second to realise it was him who had conjured it, which was a second too late since he mouthed that word once more and it sent me up into the air then back down again, slamming into the hard floor.

My body jolted in pain, and I rolled, barely dodging the explosion that came next. It was hard to tell what his power was, but all I knew was, it was unpredictable. I targeted his knee next, before snapping my wrist out, the hat striking towards him, spinning in the air. He jumped out of the way, following the hat with his eyes, and I took the chance to get nice and close.

I brought my fist up, and cracked it against his jaw, grimacing at the pain that rocked through my wrist and elbow. I was positive I had messed up the punch somehow, but it had the desired effect. He rocked back, staggering, barely dodging the hat that came back towards me.

He sent the air pushing at my body, and I flipped back, throwing my weight down so I could find my stability. My lion raised itself onto its paws, pacing around inside of me, my body adapting the best it could to the added agility and strength. But it was easier said than done. My body wasn't trained as a were-lion, I knew some bits and pieces of martial arts, but not nearly enough to take down a demon like this one.

I brought my head up, staring at him with a look of thoughtfulness, trying to figure out how I was going to pull this off. He approached, eyes carefully blank as he moved his lips again and the air wrapped around my legs, threw me up into the air, before burning flames engulfed my right arm, burning and charring the skin.

My lips pressed together to stop the scream of pain, my stomach churning with disgust when I smelt my flesh sizzling under the intense burn. The torment didn't stop there, because while I was stupidly distracted with my skin turning into a blistered mess, the demon summoned two more explosions that I barely dodged, my knees scraping the ground where I landed.

I looked up at him, a low growl leaving my mouth and his eyebrows pulled into a frown, as if he could sense the wrongness of me not being any sort of were-animal, but I still making noises like one. My lioness sprang forward, and I used her focus to ignore the pain radiating from my arm, charging towards him with my lips curled into a snarl.

I aimed at his neck, thick and dark in my blurred eyesight, and threw the hat, before ducking low, avoiding the gust of wind he sent. He caught the hat, then hissed when the blade cut deep into his hand, dropping it intermediately, and it slowly rolled back to me.

"You will not win with your tricks," he stated evenly, with a low, throaty voice. He walked over to me slowly. "I am Tempester. My power exceeds yours. Submit and I will stop."

I glared up at him from my crouched position, the nerves in my hand crackling with agony, making it twitch erratically and I felt a cold sweat prickle on my skin at the pain. Though I had done in numerous times before, I was always amazed at how hard it was to hold in a Scream.

When I didn't reply, he lifted a large foot, and sent a kick to my stomach, my injured hand flying to defend it. My teeth pressed together as red hot spasms rippled through my body, making me fall to my knees, clutching my injured limb.

My lioness didn't understand. She wasn't hurt. We would heal.

But I wasn't a were-animal.

I looked up exactly when he sent another bone crunching kick to my abdomen, this time, smashing against my side. The crack of a rib made me gasp, my power filling my throat, ready to press at my mouth, demanding that I protect myself from the threat.

Another kick to my ribs made me curl up tightly on the floor, trying to block the soft parts of me from his heavy kicks. I had to wonder why he wasn't just using his explosive power, but then made the assumption that he just had to defeat me, not actually kill me.

But I couldn't let that happen.

"Prince Dragneel, if any of your friends interfere with her fight, you will forfeit entry to Lord Zeref's presence," Jackal panted, sounding rather tired as Natsu low growl filled my ears, the angry noise amping up the power, instead of settling it down.

I had to win.

Now.

Determination and stubbornness filled me. I focused that power on my eyes, sending up pulses of the Shriek's raw power around my body, making my body feel weightless, numb. I shredded apart my lioness form, and the mist filled me, a lot harder to control and a lot angrier, reacting to my emotions like an ethereal form of my ire.

I remembered asking Natsu how he controlled the change and what he had told me. He spread his magic to his fingertips then imagined his wings popping out, then his tail.

I closed my eyes tightly, imagining my hair turning black. I felt power prickle at my scalp and when I rolled to my knees, the black strands of my hair filled my peripheral vision. The magic inside of me flared, not fighting against my control of it exactly, more like resisting it slightly.

I pushed the inky locks from my face with my good hand, now picturing the markings that normally adjourned my skin when I went into what we were calling my 'true form'. My eyes followed the curves of black that began to paint into my skin, the thin line of gold chasing the curls.

When I looked up, Tempester took a slow step back, his eyes stuck to me. I slowly stumbled up, staring into his slanted eyes.

"What are you?" he asked, his voice throaty. I took a step towards him, preparing my bluff as the air around me began to twist and move around my body, my hair moving with the roughening current. I began to build that magic inside me, trying not to focus on actually Screaming, but instead, on emitting a strong aura of power, hopefully to trick him into thinking I was getting ready for a stronger attack.

I was impressed with myself for being able to call forth my true-form, with no training, silently thanking Natsu through the bond that was a tether at the back of my mind. I felt his proud warmth echo back to me, as well as his caution. He was probably reminding me not to Shriek.

Well, if this goes right, I won't have to.

He took another quick step back which I reacted to with a large step forward, before opening my mouth slowly. My power leaked out of my pores, directed by my own will so that it increased my aura of magic, until it was shaking the ground lightly. Seems like I could conjure up some pretty kick-ass effects if I so chose.

I heard a grunt and through my peripheral vision, I saw Erza slice through the air, the tip of her sword dragging along Kyoka's collar bone. Kyoka jolted, throwing herself forward, advancing despite the wound. When I glanced around, I noticed that the demons were still on the offensive. Even Ultear, and Natsu, who had offensive stances, were battling aggressive demons that refused to defend, or even take a step back to check their wounds.

A realisation came to me, standing there for that half second. I focused all my attention on Tempester, who seemed unwilling to get closer to me.

He doesn't fight what he doesn't trust?

It didn't make sense in my head, demons were supposed to be uncaring. He could easily tear me apart, especially since I wasn't going to Shriek, so why wasn't he running at me with everything he had?

I took another step forward, sending a pulse down my leg so when my foot touched the ground it shook with what I could only assume was the force of my unheard Shriek. He watched me cautiously, as I approached him, not moving back, but not advancing forward like his demon brethren.

I have to scare him…

How do I scare a demon?

I tilted my head at him, then let a sweet smile creep up onto my lips, deciding that no matter how many times Ultear and Natsu tried to teach me, I just couldn't pull off their creepy, bone-chilling smile.

Sweet was all I had to work with.

Tempester flinched, and I reached my hand out, my brain working frantically for the next step of this crack plan. Honestly, it surprised me that it was working this far. I was closing the distance rapidly between us, when my power got sick of playing and climbed up my throat, a threatening Shriek throwing itself at my closed mouth.

I stumbled, hands going to my throat as my time ran out, the pain in my head making my knees weak. Every single injury on my body felt like nothing compared to the feeling of nerves sizzling inside my skull, screaming for release, demanding I let it out.

Don't.

Don't do it.

A rough hand grabbed my arm, hauling me to them and I stared up at Tempester who frowned at me, before lifting his fist. My heart raced inside of my chest, adding fear to that terrible concoction of anger, pain, and terror.

I was being threatened.

I needed to defend myself.

I caught his fist with my small hand just as it came down to strike me, and my power snapped. My mouth opened and I vaguely heard Natsu shout, but no noise came out of my mouth. Because it was echoing inside of his skull. His eyes widened before they rolled back, and I watched as the blood vessels in his eyes popped one by one.

The Shriek roared down his bones, demanding he pay in blood for hurting us, demanding respect, dominance, but the longer it went, the more it felt less like a feeling and more like a wild instinct had taken over.

His hand around my arm tensed, squeezing painfully before Tempester's eyes slipped closed and his body was falling, lifeless to my feet. The noise his body made when it smacked the ground made me flinch and take a step back, until I realised that everyone had stopped to watch.

My power sunk back into me, flowing over my bones, filling me like a cool, comforting wind as I stared down at his dead body in shock. Porlyusica words flowed through my mind.

"Leora Heartfilia, overtook the noise. She could pinpoint one person in a battlefield, and make her Scream only heard by them, and them alone."

Did I just…?

"Princess Heartfilia. It has been a long time since we had someone of your family in the Vapids." A calm, ambivalent voice spoke, bringing my attention to the black-haired man, dressed in dark, carefully adjusted robes. His lips were in a pleasant smile as he looked down at the demon at his feet.

"You bested Tempester. Such a feat would be impressive, if he was anywhere near your power level."

My heart clogged up my throat at his words, and I gazed over him worriedly before noticing the nose, and the eyes. I felt a little piece of me break away as I realised, he was definitely related to Natsu.

And he was definitely Lord Zeref.

"I apologise but he left me no choice."

"There is no need to apologise." He waved my words away, walking towards me slowly as he continued, "Admittedly, you did disturb my sleep. But, when I felt the magic power increase by such a feat, I knew the visitors we had were the cause. Naturally, I had to come and see for myself."

"And now you've seen." I managed to make my voice emotionless, but the slight distrust was still lingering. I gulped around my galloping heart, staring at the approaching ruler of these lands. I had never been very good at distinguishing power on first sight. Erza and Natsu were particularly adept at it, but I struggled.

However, with Lord Zeref, his power was obvious. It sunk over me like a heavy darkness, endlessly black. It made me feel hopeless for a second, but then I shook it away, frowning at him.

He smiled, appearing delighted. "I apologise, I wanted to see how you would react to my power."

"You make people feel things?"

"It is one of my talents, yes," he replied back pleasantly before reaching out to me. "Lord Zeref Dragneel, Ruler of the Vapids. I welcome you to my land and offer my hospitality."

I stared at his hand for a long second, wondering if I could politely decline from touching him. Something was wrong with him. It may have been the fact that he tried to make me feel hopeless, but I felt like if we touched, he wouldn't just try, he would succeed.

He could make me feel anything he wanted me too.

He didn't drop his hand, as if knowing what I was thinking and refusing to give up. I felt his power swirl around me, trying to goad and lull me into obeying with a nudge of submission. I pushed back with my own magic, flaring against him before slowly raising my hand, prepared to slide it into his and hold on for dear life.

However, right after our fingers touched, a hand grasped his arm tightly, making me snap my hand back. Zeref, rolled his eyes away from me to look at Natsu, their height making their eyes even with each other.

Natsu cleverly positioned himself between us.

"Natsu, what a pleasant surprise. What brings you to the Vapids?" Zeref sounded like he already knew, or was just amused by the presence of Natsu. It made my stomach tighten in worry, but my injuries took precedence, so I remained quiet, placing a hand to my ribs with a wince.

"I accompany Lucy. Get the fuck back," he growled out, his tone shaking with anger. I shuddered, curling my hands around my suddenly freezing arms. It felt like my core temperature was plummeting inside of me, and I reached forward, grasping the back of Natsu's shirt, halting the staring match they were currently having.

"Natsu, he's doing something to me."

Natsu glanced over me, placing his hands on my arms. "He can make you feel cold, or hot, but it's all in your head." I shuddered again, my teeth chattering painfully as the cold swept me up. Natsu growled over his shoulder at Zeref.

"Stop this."

"If she can break the effect, it will prove to the other demons that she is stronger. You have done it once, although, yours was much more physical. Allow her the same honour."

"I'll do it for her," Natsu stated angrily, a low snarl ripping up his throat as I stumbled, my fingers slowly beginning to freeze. Zeref didn't reply, and the cold didn't stop. I realised that he was probably ignoring him, focusing all of that horrible power on me.

"Lucy, listen to me. You keep your power behind steel gates. You keep it in. Now, you have to just keep him out," Natsu urged, pressing my head against his chest. But I felt no warmth from him, my knees buckling underneath me. He held me up, blocking my body from Zeref's eyes with his.

"Keep him out. Block the power."

I closed my eyes, nodding once, then twice, my neck sore and tight, the cold freezing the blood inside my veins. I pictured multiple steel gates, throwing them around my body in my weakest spots, stacking on power on top of it as an extra layer of protection. I continued, gasping in small breathes until I blocked off all my chi-points as well.

I concentrated on my power, that mist inside of me. It twisted, annoyed that something was playing with us, but not feeling threatened yet.

I was feeling cold.

I buried my head against Natsu's chest and took a deep breath in, allowing his smell to ground me as slowly, warmth began to fill me again, fighting against the cold that Zeref had inspired. The freezing stream of power weakened with every passing second as I went around my body, imagining that all the steel walls were high, impenetrable.

Once I felt stable, I opened my eyes and looked up at Natsu.

"Good?" he murmured, his eyes a muddy cross between green and red.

I nodded slowly, my breath still accompanied with a hitch, as he moved to the side and I faced Zeref once more.

Zeref smiled as if he had expected me to do exactly that before waving to the castle behind him and saying, "I welcome you all to the Vapids."

When you need to write multiple fight scenes but the urge to write smut is killing you slowly ~

*throws Zeref for the crowd to pick apart* Enjoy my dusted muffin.

I've got a Natsu as Wrath x Lucy as Lust one shot coming out today in my 'Colours' as well as Tumblr, so if anybody is interested, go take a look!

Question Time!

Will Acnologia be in this? Yes, he will. ;)

How would a soul taste anyway? Bickslow says some taste spicy, other's taste sweet. Then there's souls like Lucy's that are dripping with that something something and they give him a mouthgasm.

Zeref is going to try to kidnap her, isn't he? If he somehow manages to do that, will he brainwash her? Ya'll, firstly, Lucy wouldn't allow herself to be kidnapped by that crud. And secondly, NATSU, ERZA AND PROBABLY ULTEAR would never allow that. Brainwashing sounds like a very extensive and interesting procedure that a fresh person like me would enjoy.

Did he really have to make out with her to "taste" her soul? Or is bix just being bix? It's just Bix being Bix, my friend.

I thought Ultear said that she barely had enough poison cure for barely one person let alone two? Apologies for the two or something people who picked up my mistake from last chapter. I swore I wrote 'barely enough for two, let alone anyone else' but apparently I wasn't my freshest self when checking it over. Or writing it. For all the people who wanted Ultear to die, if you all are aching for it, I will have to… do something drastic. (p.s when I saw these, I went back and fixed it )

Is the holy macig power Mavis? Well, it depends if macig is an english word or not ;)

Why does Lucy scare me a little? Because you recognize her sheer awesomeness

Is Zeref observing the gang without their knowledge? My dusty muffin has eyes everywhere so WHO KNOWS

You're such a SAVAGE! Please continue with your sassy answers to our questions! Don't tell me what to do…

What's wrong with this story!? I believe that there was an issue with FFNET and not emailing their users of new updates but it's been fixed now? OR MAYBE IT'S JUST TRASH LIKE THIS THAT DOESN'T DESERVE TO BE READ. SOILED.

Why did Jellal's soul have to go back into his body through his mouth? Shouldn't it be through the chest or something?! Dramatics, my son. draMATICS.

Why'd you have to hurt the poor blueberry!? *SNORT* Because I can

UGHH ZEREF SHOW UP! Can they still be brothers... please! Not brothers but related. Remember, Zeref's parents died. So in the timeline, there is no way he could be ruler of the Vapids and still have a mother that could be getting busy with Igneel.

Can we get the next chapter on Natsu's POV? PLEASE! It's not that time yet, but soon!

Will we see Lucy purposely use her full power when she gets pissed off or threatened or someone she cares about is threatened? You sort of see that here but it's more to protect HERSELF from a threat. And she is a lil bit angry about how much Tempester hurt her.

Have you seen the newest chapter (534)!? What are you thoughts on it? THIS IS A SAFE PLACE. DON'T BRING PAIN AND SORROW AND WORRY AND LOVE HERE. ONLY TRASH. (but srs, help, Jellal, stop touching things that don't need to be touched, and Lucy… Natsu. Goddamit.)

Are Bickslow and her gonna have like an allied fight scene in the future? You can assume that at least 70% of the characters introduced so far fleetingly will appear later on in one massive heap of buddies. *gracefully dodges the question*

What crazy antics do you have planned for us Fresh? Aw bby, you have no idea ;)

Will we see Gray again? Can confirm, you will see my frosty seahorse again!

You guys hit that 40 review mark like it was nothing! ~ Two days ahead of schedule (bravo my friends, bravo) It's another 40 for an earlier update !

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and have got your Dragon Cry tickets/ninja outfits on to sneak into the cinema's!

Stay fresh and minty, dears!

xo freshprincess