Hey guys! Kytrin here with your Wednesday update! I hope you all have had a fabulous 4th of July (if you celebrate it) and enjoy the chapter!
CHAPTER 42
Blow The Man Down
The Captain's command to get rid of a person
Natsu sat at the edge of the outer sanctum, grinning as he watched the High Priestess giving a lesson on the Goddess. His grin widened when she smirked over where she could see the champion hidden, though she didn't pause in her lesson to those seeking to pray.
He adjusted the swords against his back and double checked the sacred key he had tied around his neck. It was warm, as always a gentle reminder of the considerable power the key held. He guarded it above anything else. His life was forfeit to it should it need to be given, although he had always taken care in its protection.
He was no longer a stranger to being Champion. He'd worn that badge proudly over the years, honing his skills and strength into something that could challenge the most powerful creatures.
There were those who were always after the key. But Natsu knew it was safer with him than anyone else. A drowsy smile flickered over his face as his attention wandered, remembering how just last week his goddess had agreed to marry him. It would be on the solstice, when she would be at the height of her magic. Natsu was unsure why it was necessary, but she always seemed to enjoy celestial events.
He knew he had attracted a lot of attention. His proposal to Lucy had turned many heads in jealousy, and just as many in celebration, but the Celestial King and Prince both approved of him and his devotion to Lucy. And that was all he truly cared for.
Lucy assured him their union would be blessed. He didn't need a blessing, all he needed was her.
Natsu wasn't ignorant to the angry and jealous gazes of some of the gods though. Many hated him for daring to propose to Lucy. One in particular concerned him. Acnologia.
He was particularly worrisome. His desire for Lucy bordered on the obsessive, and while Natsu would readily admit his love for Lucy was deep and encompassing... if she refused him, he would respect her decision.
Acnologia did no such thing.
He came by the temple often, and since finding out about the proposal, had come every day.
Natsus eyes narrowed on the man glaring at him from the pews. That dark, murderous glare didn't even flinch away from Natsu.
"Here again today Acnologia? I've warned Lucy not to come, you will not find her here." He muttered, knowing the war god could hear him, "I've kept her temple protected from you. You can't breech her inner sanctum, and you can't get to the celestial realm either."
"You underestimate me boy." The god rumbled in response, his voice sounding to Natsu as if he was speaking in his ear, "The princess will be mine. One way or another."
Natsu's temper flashed as he glared back at the god, "That is Lucy's choice. Not mine and not yours. And she's made her feelings on the matter clear destroyer. You should stop this before you embarrass yourself more."
And indeed, embarrassment was a light word for what had happened. He hadn't been there, but Lucy had shown him her memory of the event, too torn between fury and tears to speak. In a way, he would've felt sorry for the war god if the events that had followed hadn't happened. He well understood the awkwardness of speaking to Lucy, the fear of laying your feelings bare. And to Acnologia's credit his initial approach had been wholly sincere.
He just hadn't known about one very important detail. Him. And Natsu sympathized with any man who approached a woman for courtship only to find out that not only was he refused, but he was far too late to have even a prayer of winning her heart.
It was what had followed that had dried up any ounce of sympathy Natsu might've possessed.
Because instead of accepting his loss as gracefully as possible and withdrawing, he'd become enraged. Natsu vividly remembered the memory of him shouting at Lucy, demanding to know what a mere mortal had that he did not. Of daring to lay his hands on her. Just thinking about the last one had his blood boiling, and he silently thanked Jellal and Erza again for their intervention.
That alone would've been bad enough, but the god had refused to give up. Instead harassing Lucy every time she stepped out of the celestial realm no matter who scolded him for it. A habit that had led them to this very moment.
"I hardly need to." Acnologia replied as he slowly got up, "Because you see champion, while you may have ensured I cannot reach my princess... you've left yourself wide open."
Natsu tensed and he throttled back the urge to go for his swords as he narrowed his eyes at the god, "You would dare even consider spilling blood on her sacred soil?" He growled, "And you consider yourself worthy of her?"
"I hardly consider spilling the blood of a mortal a crime," Acnologia responded, beginning a slow advance towards Natsu.
Natsu's fingers tensed with the promise of a fight bearing down on him. However he refused to be the first one to draw his blades on the sacred soil of his beloved. Still, his eyes flashed to the high priestess, who had gone silent at the presence of a god in their midst.
He signaled to them to leave out the side, afraid there was going to be a fight and innocents would be hurt. He didn't want any to fall by Acnologia's blade. She nodded, quietly shepherding Lucy's followers out in the middle of the prayer.
"Your life is but the length of an insect. She will forget you by a moon," Acnologia hissed back at Natsu. His eyes fell over the mortal in disgust.
Natsu watch the war god draw his blade, a calm sort of serenity rushing over him. He kept his arms crossed, aware that the High Priestess was quickly moving people out and not wanting Acnologia's attention drawn to them instead of him.
His chances of winning against a god were vanishingly slim. Especially the god of war. Acnologia was powerful, strong and never inclined to show mercy.
But Natsu was not a slouch in combat, and despite not having any magic of his own, he could give Acnologia something to think about.
Natsu surged to the left, avoiding the flash of Acnologia's sword. It buried deep into a pillar, locking the sword into the support. Natsu bared his teeth and slammed his shoulder into Acnologia's chest. He parted him from his sword, Natsu grasping the handle and spinning it free. He sliced across the gods middle, hoping to gut him where he stood.
A thin line of golden blood dribbled from his abdomen, Acnologia having dodged at the last moment. Natsu flipped the sword back and stood up, "I didn't think it would be that easy."
"Still, hoping for a headstart," Natsu grunted, dancing back a few steps when he saw Acnologia's face transform from shock to rage.
"You won't find it that easy!" Acnologia snarled, swinging his blade around for another strike, and Natsu quickly found himself far too busy fighting to mouth off anymore. It was abundantly clear why the Destroyer was so feared across the mortal realm. In moments Lucy's pristine sanctuary was in shambles, and he feared Acnologia was only getting warmed up.
Aware that his beloved would not remain in the celestial realm for long while her family's sacred ground was violated, Natsu broke off his fight with Acnologia to sprint to the High Priestess's quarters. Specifically, to a particular tablet that connected magically to everything in the temple.
Ordinarily, he paid it little mind. The High Priestess was as devoted to the celestial family as he was, and she was a vigilant guardian of the temple. However, with her busy elsewhere, he was the only option left.
He hastily pressed his thumb against the edge of a blade and smeared it across the stone, "I invoke thee in the name of the celestial family." He breathed, painfully aware of Acnologia's step behind him, "Secure thy children and bade no one enter thy grounds lest there be word from the Spirit King, his High Priestess, or his champion. Please, keep them safe."
Immediately the clarion sound of bells tolling wildly reverberated throughout the temple as runes lit up in a bright gold along all the walls. This would alert any who hadn't been in the sanctuary that there was a serious problem and to get to one of the shelters immediately. No doubt it would also alert Lucy and her family, but only the Spirit King would have the authority to override the lockdown and enter the temple. It would prevent Acnologia from entering the celestial realm and going after Lucy himself.
"Locking down the temple already?" Acnologia mocked, "Are you so unsure of yourself in battle mortal?"
"Uncertainty against you doesn't enter into this war god." Natsu replied as he brandished his swords again and smirked, "I'm just ensuring you're denied the prize you so desperately crave."
Acnologia's eyes widened as he realized what Natsu had done. Fury transformed his face and darkness began to overtake the walls of the temple.
"I will destroy you!" Acnologia roared. He rushed at Natsu, only to be tossed backwards by a glow of brilliantly golden light.
The light dimmed, swathing over Natsu's body and filling his eyes with divine magic, the key at his chest shone with the very pulse of the Spirit King's heart. His swords were drawn, eyes narrowed in anger, "I may be destroyed, but I will not allow you to touch Lucy again!"
"The Celestial King's magic?" Acnologia bore witness to the magic, his lips pulling down into a furious snarl. He watched the worthless mortal advancing towards him, daring to have his double blades drawn and looking to do a god harm.
"But how!" The Destroyer demanded, throwing up his guard just in time for Natsu's sparking blades to scatter along his. He poured his own magic against the weight of Natsu's attack, leaving them equally matched.
Natsu didn't respond, but knew Acnologia discovered the answer when his eyes landed on the key bouncing at his chest. It brimmed with divine magic, his eyes pulsing in time to the power hidden in the key.
"The divine King's power. The gateway to the Celestial Realm and power reserve of the king himself. It weakens gods and draws you to the height of a god walking on mortal soil," Acnologia observed, "But temporarily."
"It will burn you up from the inside out. You will die regardless, and I will pluck that key from your corpse to bypass your wards and go to the celestial realm myself!" Acnologia smirked, but grunted when he was displaced and forced to change his footing by Natsu's strength.
"Not if I kill you first!" Natsu snarled as he landed a solid punch on Acnologia's face.
He watched in satisfaction as the god staggered back, but didn't wait around for the immortal to recover as he followed up with a kick he'd learned straight from his goddess's hands. With his augmented strength it was more than enough to send Acnologia flying painfully into the wall. He winced a little over the damage done to the temple, but there wasn't anything he could do about it now. Lucy and her family would just have to rebuild later.
He brandished his sword, silently praying for guidance, and channeled the divine power roaring through him into the blade before swinging down in what would've been a devastating blow had he been aiming to hit. As it was, the motion unleashed a fiery gold crescent blade that crashed straight into where the still stunned Acnologia was.
Acnologia himself roared with pain at the impact, but though he emerged from the blast bruised and bloody in a dozen places, it wasn't nearly enough to take him out. Natsu's scowl deepend as he shifted and rushed his opponent.
He'd just proved he could hurt the god. Now it was time to kill him before he did more damage.
"I hope you enjoyed that." Acnologia snarled as he pulled up his sword in time to block Natsu's next blow, "Because it's the last time you'll ever score a hit on me."
Natsu narrowed his eyes, but didn't get a chance to respond as he was blasted through a window and into the courtyard beyond. He groaned a little as he picked himself up, already starting to feel too warm for comfort, and spun just in time to parry a heavy blow from his enemy.
"That all you got little champion?" The Destroyer taunted as they pressed against each other for dominance.
"Not even slightly asshole." Natsu replied as he strained, only to abruptly leap back, causing the god to stumble slightly. He smirked as he leapt back in, intending to land a shot to the back, only to find himself blocked again.
"I'm the god of war runt. I know all your moves."
"All of them?" Natsu panted back, smirking fiercely at the god. He grasped Acnologia by the wrist and twisted under his arm. Gambling on a prayer, he threw his back to Acnologia and forced his sword up.
Natsu grinned fiercely as he felt Acnologia's body seize up. Blood, hot and golden splattered out across Natsu's face, his sword slicing clean through bone and tissue. He widened his stance and twisted away doing his best to ignore Acnologia's screams as he was separated from his limb.
People were screaming and running. They prayed all around them, but Natsu had no choice but to tune them out. Praying to the gods was no doubt putting the Celestials in a panic. They would be unable to access their own temple, but as their Champion his highest priority was their safety.
Acnologia dropped to his knees, screaming his pain and fury as his arm dropped from his body. It was freed by Natsu's blade and the champion couldn't help but smirk fiercely even as the fever began to overtake him.
Natsu was running out of time, the key glowing bright against his chest. He could feel shadows at the edges of his vision threatening to overtake him. The key would allow him to kill the god of war right then and there. He would just have to be quick.
A shimmer of light echoed in his vision just out of the corner of his eye as he stood over the bloodied Acnologia with his sword raised. He stopped when a familiar voice shouted.
"Natsu! What're you doing!" Jellal shouted from behind him. Natsu turned at that moment, distracted.
Acnologia took immediate advantage as he plunged his sword into Natsu's gut.
The champion screamed in agony as he staggered back, blood and celestial light both pouring from the wound. Jellal rushed forward just as Acnologia staggered to his feet and raised his sword again, and pulled Natsu out from under the blow before it could hit.
"Stupid!" Natsu coughed angrily as Jellal laid him down, "I coulda finished him!"
"Oh hells Natsu!" Jellal breathed in horror as he realized what he'd done, what Natsu had been trying to do, "Hold on! I'll get you help! Erza and Jade are on their way..."
Natsu scowled and shoved at Jellal as hard as he could, which did nothing to move the celestial, "No stupid! Get back!" He rasped, "Get back to Lucy!" He tugged at his key, "Hurry! He's gonna..."
He trailed off as the darkness encroaching on his vision blanked it out for a moment. He was so tired, and it hurt so badly. He ached to rest. Just for a moment. Was it getting colder? That was weird... hadn't he been too hot a moment ago?
A violent shake jostled him and he groaned as he reluctantly pried his eyes open again to look at Jellal's worried face, "Go." He rasped, the memories returning, "Save her."
He tried to speak again. There were so many things he wanted to say. Promises he wanted to make. He wanted to see Lucy one last time. But his chest seized painfully as the pulse of magic from the key he carried faded away. And this time when the darkness claimed him he didn't have the strength to fight it.
His hand squeezed around the key, his body frighteningly cold. He could hear Jellal screaming, distant from him. His very spirit rose up, squeezing the key in his grasp. No matter what happened, Acnologia would not have a gateway to the celestial realm or untethered access to the Spirit King's magic.
Perhaps he would have even survived with Jellal at his side. But he was their Champion first. Their protection was his priority. Lucy would not be endangered.
He gasped his last breath, using the last of his strength to force the key to shatter in his grasp, and it took away his spirit as it did. Acnologia let out a roar of fury, one that echoed up to the stars as the first Champion departed the mortal plane.
His last thought was of the proposal song he'd composed, and the look on Lucy's face when she'd said yes.
Above the stars, Lucy let out a scream of horror as she felt Natsu's spirit pass. His soul appeared before her, burning bright like a flame and ever light as it kissed against her fingertips. She wept, cursing her champion's foolishness in preventing her from aiding.
But Acnologia could not be reasoned with, and Lucy gasped as she felt the Celestial Realm quiver and shake. Her father, weakened by the destruction of his key, looked up in shock next to her as Acnologia rode along in the gate made by her brother's attempt to return. Hijacking the Celestial's gate was the largest taboo of their realm.
Natsu's mortal body laid along the stars, brought by Jellal, even as his spirit flared angrily in Lucy's hands. At this rate he would not know peace.
Acnologia's eyes fastened onto Lucy, splattered with the blood of her love and his own. His stump of an arm bleed heavily, golden splashes on his clothes and painting the heavens with their contamination.
"Acnologia you dare come here after killing our champion! You defile our home in the pursuit of your own vanity!" The Spirit King thundered, "Release my son, or you shall have war with the heavens!"
"War?" Acnologia's eyes gleamed, his true divinity taking over him in a sweep of power. He threw Jellal away and grasped at Natsu's body, plucking the damaged key from around his neck.
"Why that's precisely what I want Spirit King. If you won't give me your daughter, then I will take her by force!" He roared, "And if it means staining the heavens gold with your blood, so be it!"
"You will not touch my father!" Lucy shouted furiously, tears cutting tracks down her face, "And you will pay most dearly for what you've done to my brother and my beloved!"
Acnologia paused as he regarded the furious goddess, his expression softening a little with regret, "I am sorry it has to be this way Lucy." He told her, "But really this is your own fault. Had you not clung so tightly to that filthy mortal I could have courted you properly."
Lucy's expression darkened as she called her zodiac soldiers to her side, golden armor enveloping her form with a thought as she drew her signature weapon, "You dare attempt to place blame on me?" She hissed furiously, her divinity flaring angrily, and pointedly reminding the war god that the princess was also the commander of her father's army and no stranger to combat herself, "You dare speak thus of my beloved champion?"
"Allow us Princess." Leo growled darkly, light shining from his fist, "He's not worth dirtying your hands over."
"He's not worth a lot of things." Lucy snarled, "And for his insults I will finish what Natsu started and relieve him of the rest of his limbs!"
"My fight is not with you Princess." Acnologia replied evenly, "Agree to become my wife and I will call off this war."
"I. Would. Rather. Die." Lucy snapped, "Pisces! See to my brother! Leo, Taurus, Virgo, and Aquarius with me! The rest of you protect my father!"
She gently kissed the fiery soul still in her grasp, "Be at peace my love." She whispered to it, "I will see you again one day."
She lifted her hand up and letting Natsu's soul go. She guided it under Leo's star, to follow that of his father's spirit which came to her decades ago. To the nest of dragons, setting him on his path anew.
She watched Pisces help Jellal up, his right cheek stained with bloody gold from a sword strike by Acnologia.
"Very well. I see I will have to punish my future wife," Acnologia flipped his sword in his grasp, "You made a mistake by declaring war on me. It only makes me more powerful!"
Jellal struggled in Pisces hold, trying to shout out a warning to his sister as Acnologia raised a glowing fist. It held Natsu's broken key in it, dampening down on the magic of the Celestials. He could use the force of its magic without concern over being burned alive.
Lucy still fought, matching Acnologia even as her spirits were swatted away like insects. She motioned to her brother to get help from their Uncle, and much to Jellal's displeasure, half blind and weakened by the spell, he gated away to do just that.
Unfortunately it left the weight of the fight solely on Lucy, who battled Acnologia, step by step. But the power in the remains of her father's key was truly dangerous, and she felt her strength being sapped.
She held the god of war at bay, pushing him back until she began to overpower him, fighting to keep her advantage.
"You truly are incredible my lady," Acnologia grunted, arm trembling to keep himself upright, "I would say we are more closely matched than I thought. Both of us fighting while handicapped!"
"Don't flatter yourself, if you didn't steal that key you would have been lain to waste by now," Lucy snarled back at him.
"Perhaps, But you are lacking something your champion was not." Acnologia smirked at Lucy, who frowned without understanding.
"You fancy your mortal wretch as a child of the stars and your champion, but war touched him from a young age. He was doomed to die by the blade and he knew his weaknesses. You however have none, and rely on your strength and skill," Acnologia smirked, "Your beloved champion was a child of war."
Knowing he was distracting her but unsure why, Lucy took a step towards him, pressing down on his sword with both hands to drag him to his knees. It hardly mattered now if she felled him here.
Acnologia grunted, struggling to stand but unbalanced due to his arm. He smirked at her still though, arm trembling with the effort to keep her at bay.
"He knew his weaknesses, his terrain, and the best way to hurt his opponent," Acnologia smirked, abruptly dropping his guard and twisting to the side. Lucy's sword cut into the heavens, cleaving the Milky Way in two.
Unbalanced, Acnologia kicked her legs out from her and flung her sword away. He smirked at her and glared back at the exhausted looking Spirit King.
"If I take this throne from the king, then the heavens and spirits belong to me," Acnologia smirked at the mighty king, who glared back at the war god.
His sword morphed into a spear, raising it up at his side, "Just one strike, and Lucy, the heavens, and the throne upon up high will all belong to me, your brother will fall next just as swiftly."
He lifted the broken key to the King, "Kneel."
"You will have to kill me first," the Spirit King thundered back.
Acnologia grinned back, mad and pleased by the response, "Then I suppose I will oblige you your majesty!"
He threw the spear forward, not seeing the shimmer of light materialize before the king. Lucy formed there, gasping as the spear struck her straight through the center. Her attempt to save her father costing them both greatly.
And costing Acnologia his very prize.
"No!" Acnologia roared, watching Lucy collapse to the ground, the goddess felled by his own hand.
Lucy gasped as she clutched at the spear impaling her and dropped to her knees, golden blood dripping down her chin as she coughed wetly. At once, her spirits and her father cried out in denial and surged towards her, but it was far too late.
"To... protect... my family..." She panted around the pain, "I would do anything. Even die." She smiled beatifically, "I understand now... Natsu."
"Lucy please..." Leo wept at her side, "You can't..."
"Don't... have a choice... old friend." She replied and reached out to touch his cheek, inadvertently smearing it with blood, "Find me when I'm reborn?"
"Always." Leo breathed, his hand clutching hers, "I swear it. The zodiac will always be at your call. No matter what."
Lucy smiled at him and collapsed into his arms, unable to hold herself upright any longer, "You lose Acnologia." She smirked at the devastated war god, "And... you always will. I swear... on my last breath... never will you have me..." She choked as a surge of pain rippled through her, clutching Leo's arm tightly, "I belong... to Natsu."
Her eyes drifted shut as she breathed her love's name one last time, her chest stilling as the breath that should've lasted an eternity left her.
-::-
Lucy surged upright in bed, a gurgled cry on her lips and grief tearing through her.
"Lucy!"
Natsu's panicked cry had her looking down at her side as Natsu flailed upright as well, his eyes wide and wild with fear and worry.
"You're alive..." She breathed, tears slipping down her cheeks, and before she could stop herself she pulled him into a tight hug, ragged sobs tearing from her throat.
His chest heaved, pulse fluttering in neck. Hand lifting up, it settled over her arm. He turned and looked at her, "Lucy?"
He had a dream of his final moments alive, the prayer of Lucy in his mind and the hopes that he had been able to keep her safe the last things he thought before he died. But this dream had been so odd, strange and haunting as he watched Lucy's life be snuffed out.
"Yeah, yeah I'm alive Lucy," he sat up and gathered her in his arms. His thumb brushed into her cheek, swiping her tears away and pressing his mouth into hers. His heart twisted with wretched pain and he held her close.
He soothed his hand down her spine, curling her body into his chest to keep her warm in the drafty cabin.
"I dreamed that you died, Acnologia killed you and came to the Celestial Realm. He fought me after injuring Jellal and came after my father. But he-he-"
Natsu's face fell and he gave her an apologetic look. He bent his forehead towards hers, eyes closing, "A memory? I dreamed of it too just now, and I got to say it wasn't my favorite."
Lucy choked on a wet laugh, torn between a sob and a giggle. She gripped onto his shoulder, letting his arms pull around her and draw her into his safety.
"Yes, seems we dreamed of the same, if similar events," Lucy murmured.
She looked at him, "But the key Natsu. I don't understand what it was. Or why it was broken so badly. It seemed to affect my father."
Natsu took a moment to be awed by their shared dream, but stroked his hand down her hair as he did. Collecting his thoughts, he clicked his tongue.
"The key was bestowed upon me by your father. It was to keep the mortal plane in balance with the gods. A means of which to keep them in check I suppose," Natsu gave Lucy a crooked smile, "It uses the power of the celestial king, which has many uses and can open a door onto the heavens."
"The removal of a mortal's reincarnation line, the power to elevate a mortal to that of a god's power — at the cost of their life, a gateway to the heavens," Natsu listed off, "The power to weaken a god enough they can be killed."
His hand settled over where Lucy's was clutched over her chest.
"I'm sure you know that one," He murmured in apology.
"Acnologia has the key," Lucy smiled at Natsu and touched his cheek. Her eyes glittered, shaking past Natsu's remorse and hope filling her, "I think we have just found a way to finish him for good."
Natsu raised an eyebrow at Lucy.
"Let's go kill us a god."
Natsu's lips curled into a wry smirk, "That'll be a helluva lot easier said than done cap'n, but if the fragments still hold the power... aye. It can be done."
"I'm almost certain they must." Lucy replied, "Even shattered, my father's spirit was indomitable, and no doubt Jellal's own energy has been working to renew a key of his own since." She frowned a little, "How do I know that?"
"Knowledge working it's way back in probably." Natsu replied caressing her cheek with his thumb, "It won't be long before you get all your memories back."
He hesitated, "But you know, killing him might require a sacrifice."
Lucy's eyes narrowed and she cupped her hands around his cheeks, "Whatever the sacrifice, I will not lose you again." She growled softly, "We'll find a way around it."
She poked his chest, "And if you even think about tapping into the key's power like that again..."
Natsu grinned back at her, "Yes ma'am!"
He leaned over and nuzzled her neck tenderly, unable to resist caressing a hand down her bare body, "But let's think of it later hm cap'n?" He purred softly, "I'm in bed with the most beautiful, naked, queen... I'd rather savor that than talk about plans."
Lucy giggled and let him guide her back down to the mattress, "And just how do you plan to savor this?" She smirked, and laughed softly when he rolled on top of her with a grin.
"Let me show you how a drake enjoys his queen."
And that's the chapter! Alas you guys only got 27/30 and did not quite make the cut for the preview this chapter, but I want to give an extra shout out to everyone who did review for us! Your reactions to last chapter were awesome, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading them lol! Regardless, I hope those of you celebrating had a good 4th and got to watch fireworks and all that other patriotic jazz. We'll see you Sunday! :)
