Hey guys! Kytrin here with your belated Sunday update! Apologies for the delay, Mslead was distracted by other things and didn't get a chance to really look at it properly before she had to crash. Regardless, I hope you all enjoy! :)
CHAPTER 47
Chase
A vessel that is being pursued
"Hurry Sting!" Gray encouraged as the white dragon flapped through the air at a speed that, despite Gray's encouragement, was far faster than the human had ever dreamed a thing could move.
"I'm hurrying!" Sting growled at the human caged in his foreclaw, "If I go any faster I might miss them!"
Gray swore softly, but didn't argue as he poked his head out between Sting's claws to take a look around, trying desperately not to think too hard about what had caused Natsu to send his warning, and failing just as miserably.
They'd been warned this could happen, repeatedly. They'd been warned and they'd done it anyway. Not that there had been much of a choice, or that the gods hadn't bent over backwards to try and help, but still. They'd known something could happen to make Natsu send his warning roar, and now it had.
The only question was what exactly?
That Acnologia was involved was a given, but the possibilities beyond that had Gray's heart in his throat.
As Sting wheeled around the mountain that lead to Gray's hometown, he prayed desperately to every benevolent god out there that they wouldn't be too late to help his captain, his lover, and his friend. He'd already lost them once. He couldn't bear doing so again.
His heart clenched at the sight of the still devastated town, the guilt of all those years ago still gnawing at him, but pushed it down as he forced himself to scan for trouble.
"Gray... this place..."
"What's left of my home aye." Gray said tersely, "Keep your eyes sharp and head towards the end of the valley. My family's house is back there." He glanced up at the sky and scowled, "I don't like those clouds one bit."
And it seemed he had reason to as he caught sight of a mob standing around six familiar figures. Two of which were squaring off against a terrifying mountain of a man that had Gray's heart thundering against his ribs in recognition.
Acnologia. The bastard god who had begun all this. The one who had destroyed both his lives, and cursed his family. He was there with Natsu and Lucy, and suddenly Gray wanted nothing more than to be down there with him, to strike his own blow against the god that had taken so much.
He never even noticed the way his curse mark pulsed under his gauntlet.
"Get me down there Sting, they need help," Gray hissed, seeing how Natsu seemed to be holding a fist up, but by the way he was standing in front of a felled Juvia, he seemed to be hesitating.
"What about you? That guy looks like bad news," Sting grunted, twisting his body through the air and diving through the clouds.
"That's the Destroyer," Gray grunted, "The rest are his puppets and demons! Drop me down next to Natsu and you start taking care of his crew!"
"Aye Aye," Sting grunted and tilted his body, going into a steep, angled dive.
"Planning on using that key on me?" Acnologia purred to Natsu, drawing his sword and slowly dragging it across the snow. The tip cut a path in the ice, leaving a swath of blackened earth beneath it.
"We both know it won't work. Not if you want to prevent Juvia from being injured as well. The keys powers aren't as accurate as they used to be since you broke it," Acnologia hissed, stalking towards Natsu.
"Why don't we test it out then?" Natsu bluffed back, knowing full well he couldn't unleash the keys power with Juvia behind him. Not if he wished to have legs to stand on.
They didn't have any weapons against Acnologia. None save the one which required him to burn up his own life force. And if it meant protecting Lucy, he would gladly do it to buy them some time.
"Stand down sailor," Lucy hissed at him as if sensing the direction his thoughts were falling, "You aren't usin' that key. We'll be knocking this god's teeth in the old fashion way!"
"How adorable," Acnologia smirked at them. He advanced towards Lucy, every step an imposing one as he lumbered towards the blond woman, "Have you forgotten your promise to me my bride? The vow you made to marry your god of war? It cannot be broken."
He held his hand out to her, "Or your family and friends forfeit their lives to me."
"You're the scourge and scum that lays on the bottom of a barrel, I would not go with you if you were the last man gracing this world," Lucy snarled back at him.
"You always were fond of making me chase after you," Acnologia lifted his hand, a glowing beam of blue light shimmering in his palm, "I suppose I should kill your champion then, it might make you more agreeable."
Natsu growled and stepped forward, arm casting out to cover Lucy with his body if he needed to. He glared at the smirking god.
Natsu was so distracted by Acnologia, he completely missed the icy white tail that snuck up from a snowbank.
It swung wide, catching the god in the side and throwing him into the nearby mountain. Sting's white body emerged from the snow, large head swinging around and looking quiet pleased with himself.
"Oh sorry, my mistake. Silly me, I'm so clumsy with my landings!"
"Sting! Gray!" Lucy called out, overjoyed to see their back up.
Sting immediately shifted forms so not to cause further damage to the town, sprinted off to do crowd control.
Gray ran towards his captain, grasping his hands around her wrists, "You okay?" He turned his worried gaze to Natsu who nodded.
"We're fine, but Juvia... they used the key on her," Natsu said apologetically.
Gray shook his head, "Key? What key?"
"My father's key." Lucy growled, the brown in her eyes almost drowned out by the fiery gold, "It has the power to weaken a god to the point a mortal can kill them."
"So whadd'r'ya waiting for?" Gray asked, "Use the damn thing!"
"I can't!" Natsu hissed, "When I broke the key in my first life it shattered the accuracy. If I use it now I could kill Juvia!"
Gray's eyes widened and then narrowed, "Then I guess there's just one option left."
"What option?" Acnologia sneered as he regained his footing, "I'm still at full power as I would never lower myself like your pitiful gods, and there's no way an insignificant worm like you could defeat me without that key."
"No?" Gray smirked in reply as he unsnapped his gauntlet and let it fall to the snow, "Don't be so sure about that. Or do you really think you could survive being blasted by your own power?"
"Hah!" Acnologia laughed, "You think me a fool boy? You were too scared to use that power ten years ago to save your own town! You won't use it now."
"I was scared ten years ago." Gray growled lowly, "I'd heard all my life how those cursed to bear this mark were doomed to have terrible lives. How if it was used it would take everything from me. Including my sanity. And not even my sister's torture was enough to shake that fear."
"Gray you can't!" Juvia protested, "You know what that power will do to your soul!"
Gray lifted his chin, "You know the difference between then and now?" He asked, the power in his arm flaring, "The difference is I have hope. And faith. I've learned that nothing in this world is absolute. Not even you and your thrice forsaken curses!" He glared at the god, "And I have absolute faith in my friend's ability to break yours."
He smirked as he shifted into a fighting stance, "But you know what dog? Even if he didn't... it would still be worth it. For the chance to save him and the people I care about. Because I know they won't stop until they beat you. Which is more than enough for me."
Acnologia stared at him for a moment and burst into laughter, "You talk a big talk boy." He sneered, "Let's see you back that up."
"Ice Devil's Rage." Gray growled in response.
"Gray," Natsu breathed in shock as the god and the cursed pirate lunged at one another, magic flaring up between them.
"Gray you idiot!" Natsu roared, watching the magic snake up his friends arm and chest, a black stain that sank into his skin to bury through his soul.
"No," Juvia whimpered, struggling to sit up. Lucy bent by her side and helped her rise, the goddess lifting up shaky hands, "No he'll be gone if he does this..! Lucy we have to stop him!"
Lucy looked at Juvia and the way her eyes filled with tears. She grasped her friends hands in apology and shook her head, "We'll fix it Juvia. I promise, somehow we will."
"Sting! We need an exit!" Natsu roared out, sprinting towards the struggling Lyon and snapping open his restraints. He moved quickly on to Meredy and Ultear, not willing to waste the time Gray gifted them.
"Aye sir!" Sting roared back, his body shifting to transform back into his larger shape.
As powerful as Gray appeared in this form, his strikes seemed to be slowing. There was a hesitation forming in his eyes where there had once been certainty, and as he struck back against Acnologia and pushed him back, there was a longer delay in each strike.
Acnologia spat out a golden spray of blood onto the snow from where Gray had nailed him in the cheek with the hilt of an ice sword. His eyes glowed with a purple light, the darkness creeping over his body.
Each passing moment turned him more into that of a demon, and Gray let out a roar of rage that bordered on the inhuman. Natsu swore as he helped Ultear onto Stings back.
"What about Gray! You can't expect us to leave him!" She protested.
"Of course not," Natsu snapped at them and hoisted Juvia onto Stings claw, nodding his thanks to Lucy, "But with everyone here, we're just a distraction!"
"Sting, you need to get Juvia far away from here. Lucy too, get them back to the ship! I'll stay behind to help Gray. If she's gone I can use the key and stop him here," Natsu growled.
"Natsu," Lucy hissed in warning, "If you think that I'm going to leave you here, you're wrong on that front sailor."
"Lucy!" Natsu snarled, "I can't risk you!" He glared into her startled eyes, "Don't you understand that? I am your Champion! This is what I swore an oath before you and your family to do! And I'm not going to fail again!"
Lucy stared at him for a moment, stunned by how much this clearly meant to him, and laid a hand on his arm, "Last time we both failed when we fought alone." She replied softly but firmly, "And it's taken us over a thousand years to even get close to where we were before. So let's not make the same mistakes again. Let me fight with you."
Natsu hesitated, struggling against his urge to keep her out of harm's way, to keep her from dying again, and the reality that she may be right.
It was a hesitation that proved costly as at that same moment Acnologia punched Gray into the side of a mountain. The momentary distraction was all the war god needed to throw out a tentacle of power straight at the group. Natsu's eyes widened and he shoved Lucy out of the way, intending to take the hit for himself, only to be taken by surprise when the attack didn't land.
In a move that left him gaping the smoky tentacle snaked around him and wrapped firmly around Lucy's middle.
"Natsu!" She shrieked in surprise and fear, flinging her hand out for his.
He lunged forward as she was pulled back into an expanding portal of shadow and smoke, desperate to get his hand around hers, but their fingers only just brushed before she was sucked inside with a scream.
"At last." Acnologia panted, "At last she'll be mine." He smirked at Natsu as he too vanished into a portal, "And once she is... I'll deal with you Champion. You and every other miserable god. The world will be reborn anew in fire and blood."
"Lucy!" Natsu raged, rushing for Acnologia, but it was far too late and the god was nothing but smoke and a cruel laugh by the time he got there.
"No!" He swore furiously into the empty space, "Damnit no!" He glared up at the sky, "You jerks are supposed to be fighting against this! So get off your godly asses and fight already!"
Without waiting for a response he turned and stalked over to where Gray was lying dazed in the snow, "Goddamnit Frostbite... you better pull through this. I ain't got an unlimited number of miracles I can pull off!"
He dragged the confused ice mage through the snow and over to Sting, "Get us back to the ship!" He snapped, "Now! I want us making full speed for Acnologia in less than an hour!"
He wasn't sure he could pull off even one miracle much less the several they were going need now. He grunted and stepped up onto Sting's claw, trying to think past the pulse of his own raging temper.
Brow furrowed, he settled Gray's trembling form next to Juvia's. The goddess was curled onto her side, weakly reaching out to brush Gray's fringe of hair.
He took a moment to sit down in Sting's claw and bow his head into his hands. It was surreal how history was repeating itself, and that sudden thought gave him a spark of clarity that broke through the red haze in his mind.
It was dangerous, unspeakably so, but perhaps the only way to defeat Acnologia was to give him what he wanted. Or at least what he thought he wanted.
His anger cooled into something calmer, instead dragging his attention to his former First Mate. The one who was willing to face his fears, his curse, and the darkness for Natsu.
"I'll fix this Gray, just keep yourself in one piece until we can put ya back together again. You got it sailor?" He growled softly to him.
His fist tightened around the key in his pocket.
Gray made a sound under his breath that sounded more like garbled curses than anything else. Natsu just settled himself down to think and plan the way back to the ship.
When they landed and herded everyone onto the ship, Gray and Juvia's being swiftly put under the care of Wendy, Natsu took control at once
Unlike before where Lucy had been momentarily relieved of command, their captain had been forcibly taken by the very god they were trying to save them from. Not a person spoke up to complain about the change. Especially not with Natsu looking as fierce as he was.
He looked every bit the fearsome Pirate King the rumors and stories had once been about.
"Levy," Natsu said sharply from the wheel, motioning for Gajeel and Cana to join them. The news about the captain had spread like wildfire. Natsu paid no mind to any of the talks.
"Where is the last part of the staff?" He asked, his voice flat.
"Magnolia," Levy spoke up, her eyes fierce, but the uncertainty on her face made her doubts clear. She wasn't sure Natsu should be focusing on the relic when their captain was missing.
She wasn't the only one who felt that way, because Cana made a sound of disbelief.
"The relic? What about setting sail after Acnologia?" Cana protested and whipped around to glare at Natsu, who leveled Cana with a look that bordered on impatience.
"Do you know where Acnologia would have taken Lucy in all of his temples all over the world? If she's even in the mortal realm?" Natsu asked her, "Because last I checked, we didn't have the time to check every island and temple, and even if we did Lucy would have been forced into marriage with that bastard by then."
"We get the one thing he's been wanting besides Lucy," Natsu growled to Cana, "The relic. Magnolia is the perfect stage for him to launch his attack against the gods. It's the home place of the pantheon, as well as the last place for the relic."
"He will be there, with Lucy," Natsu straightened up, "And we will give him precisely what he wants."
He glanced at Gajeel, "And I've got something special for you."
At the dragon gods curious look, Natsu fished around in his pocket and withdrew his broken key. Slowly, he settled it into Gajeel's palm.
"Think you can fix it?"
Gajeel frowned as he studied it intently, "Key t' the original Spirit King." He rumbled and shook his head regretfully, "Sorry cap'n. There ain't no fixin' that. It's tied to a soul that ain't there anymore. What ever happ'n'd to it after he died it ain't sustainin' that key or it woulda reformed by now. All's left is residual magic."
He leaned back thoughtfully as Nastu frowned, "But that don't mean you're outta options neither. Jellal ain't forged a key for himself yet. I reckon he was waitin' for you t' get your memories back."
Natsu perked up a little at that, "How long d'you think it would take to forge one?"
Gajeel shrugged, "Dunno. Never forged a celestial key before. That was pops. But assumin' Jellal's willin', an' I know he is, I might could have it done by the time you get to Magnolia." He shot Natsu a shrewd look, "You know we all heard that little rant o' yours."
Natsu flushed a little, but refused to apologize. His frustration with godly rules was entirely justified under the circumstances.
Gajeel snorted a laugh, "I'll head back up an' have a talk with Jellal. I expect you'll be getting back up on the way now too. We want this done as much as you."
A slow smile curled Natsu's lips at the eager glint in Gajeel's eyes and he nodded, "Get 'er done sailor." He ordered and took the fragment back, "I'll hold onto this for now. Just in case."
"Aye cap'n!" Gajeel replied and in a moment he vanished.
Natsu watched him leave and spared a brief prayer to Jellal that Acnologia would be too distracted to pay any attention to Gajeel or anything else.
—::—
Far off towards Magnolia, Lucy woke up to find herself on the black polished floor of a cold temple. Her eyes fluttered open, her heart leaping into her throat as her gaze swept around her.
Chains rattled around her wrists and ankles, locked against the wall and keeping her in place. She gasped and sat upright, drawing the attention of the god seated in a throne next to her.
"Ah, you're awake," Acnologia observed, "I wouldn't struggle too much my dear, those chains were forged from the stone heart of a dragon. You won't find those easy to break."
Lucy surged to her feet, getting yanked back down by the short chain and jerked towards the wall, "Acnologia! You rotten bastard!"
"You didn't strike me as the type to wake up cranky in the morning," Acnologia teased with a familiarity that made her blood boil, "What a curious thing."
"Excuse me for being cranky over being kidnapped and ripped from my crew!" Lucy snarled back at him, tugging fruitlessly at her chains.
Acnologia rose from his golden throne, sweeping towards Lucy and bending down to lift her chin to his face. Her eyes boiled with golden rage, his smirk flashing over his face, "You are almost ready to emerge my goddess. Soon you'll be back to full strength."
Lucy spat in his face.
"And you better be far away from me when I do," She hissed a warning, uncaring of his crushingly tight grip on her chin or the furious burning of his eyes.
"You need to learn some respect for your future husband." He growled, "It will save you quite a bit of trouble."
"Heh, or what?" Lucy demanded, "You'll beat it into me? Is that all you are? A pathetic wife beater?" She met his gaze hotly, "Then again, you're pathetic enough to force me to marry you regardless of what I want, so I shouldn't be surprised you'd stoop so low."
"I am the god of war!" Acnologia roared, "The first mortal to ever ascend! The mightiest of all gods! I struck down your father, the Spirit King himself! I am the beating heart of mortal men! I hold more power than anyone mortal or divine! And you will respect me!"
"Like hell." Lucy growled back, her temper too far gone to care about his rage, "You're nothing but a coward whose only real power is in intimidation. Well guess what, you don't scare me." Her eyes blazed brighter, "Not this time."
She lifted her chin, "Maybe once I was a soft goddess, untried in battle, and an equally soft princess. But not this lifetime asshole. Thanks to you I'm Captain Lucy Heartfilia of Fairy Tail! I'm the godsdamned pirate queen! I own the fucking seas!"
A palpable aura enveloped her, "I've fought more combat than any five soldiers combined! I've fought for everything in my life! And I will not submit to you any more than I did my bastard father! I would rather die again!"
She smirked, "But I won't have to. Because I know that no matter what my family is on the way. And you are going to regret everything you've ever done to me, Gray, an anyone else you've harmed. Because we are Fairy Tail, and my crew will never stop. That's not the Fairy Tail way." She grinned darkly at him, "So I hope you're ready war god, because I promise you'll pay for every one of your crimes."
Much to Lucy's surprise, Acnologia's face broke out into a pleased smile. His eyes narrowed in amusement of her rage and he released her chin.
"The arrival of Fairy Tail? Do you mean the ship I cursed 400 years ago or the one sailing under you now?" He teased, "It gets so hard to keep it straight you know?"
He chuckled and shook his head, "If there is one thing that's true, it's the persistence of that ship, in any lifetime."
"In fact, I've planned specifically for their persistence, and your rage," he wiped his face clean and swept back towards his throne.
"Even the unpredictable heart of your champion and the gods which rally at your side," Acnologia settled back in his seat, curling his fingers around the piece of the relic which had been on Lucy.
Lucy glared at him, not knowing what traps the canny god of war had laid for her family, "They know your tricks and your ploys Acnologia. Natsu won't lead my crew into one of your traps. He knows how you think."
Acnologia barked out a laugh and nodded in agreement. He settled his chin onto his hand, "The fool has worked to foil me across many lifetimes. I imagine he is well acquainted with how I work by now."
He smirked at Lucy.
"I'm counting on that."
And that's the chapter guys! Congratulations to all of our reviewers for your persistence! You guys were absolutely amazing have earned your preview this chapter! I gave you an extra long one in celebration. I hope you all enjoy thoroughly, and we'll see you on Wednesday! :)
"You intend to give him the staff?" Jade asked in disbelief, "But why? You know what that thing can do! There was a reason why the gods sealed it away!"
"Aye." Natsu agreed solemnly, "But it's also our ticket in." He pulled out his key fragment, "This thing doesn't work like it used to, but it works well enough. If he's the only god around then I don't have to hold back with it." His expression darkened, "I can finally kill him."
"But why the rush?" Erza asked, "Natsu this is extremely reckless! There are a hundred ways this could go wrong!"
"Because we ain't got time!" Natsu snapped, "Lucy's memories are about to pop. An' once they do I won't be able to use my key without hitting her." He scowled, "More'n that, there's no tellin' when that bastard's going to force her to marry him, and I swore he'd never touch her again!"
"Then you're right." Jade replied seriously, "Taking the time to plan will do nothing but create more trouble." She nudged him, "Go. I'll have my dragons help evacuate the city. Once the innocents are clear I'll join you in that accursed temple. Gods willing, sight or no sight, this mad plan of yours will work."
"The gods are willing." Erza replied and straightened up, "There are certain rules we cannot break if we don't want to destroy creation, you know this, but on my honor if you give me an opening to strike that worm... I will take it!"
