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CHAPTER 49
Absolute Bearing
The bearing of an object in relation to north. Either true bearing, using the geographical or true north, or magnetic bearing, using magnetic north.
Cana stared down at her arm in shocked awe. She'd done it? She'd actually truly done it? It seemed impossible, but she'd witnessed the proof with her own eyes. Even now the knowledge of how to use the spell embedded in her skin was filtering into her mind as if it had always been there.
Emotions she couldn't name surged through her as she reached out and grabbed the last piece of the broken staff. Finally. Finally she would be able to help her captain. The girl she'd tucked so very firmly under her wing during their parent's brief love affair.
She'd never outright said it, but Lucy had always felt like a little sister to her, and not once had she ever been able to let go of the feeling. It had stuck even through the years apart, and surged powerfully to the fore when she'd heard rumors of a new young Heartfilia captain taking to the seas.
It was that feeling that had fueled her impassioned speech, and now she was nearly breathless with gratitude that at last she could help properly.
Maybe she would never be a goddess, or a champion, or anything like that, but it didn't matter now. She turned to the Creator, intending to thank him, only to blink in surprise at the sight of the Titania standing beside him with an approving smile.
"I'm impressed." The goddess chuckled, "You passed a trial I never could." She cocked her head thoughtfully, "You may have the makings of a champion Cana Alberona."
"What are you doing here Erza?" Makarov asked gruffly, though not unkindly.
"War has begun Master." Erza replied firmly, "My place is here."
"You cannot fight Acnologia." Makarov admonished, "You know that."
"I have no intention of fighting him." Erza replied, "That fight is Natsu's, and I've already given what blessings I can for it." She turned her gaze to Cana, "You, however, are now in possession of the last piece of the Lumen Historia. And you are down a protector."
She drew her sword, her expression steely, "Therefore, I will accompany you to Acnologia's temple. Though I cannot engage the god myself, I can, and will, cut a clear path for you."
"You will not be slowed in your mission Miss Alberona, I give you my word," Erza said without wavering, steel glinting in her eyes as she walked towards the entrance. Like Levy and the others, Cana noticed that Erza no longer had her cloak of divinity draped around her. No doubt her considerable power would have been ideal in any situation, however even in war it seemed as though her hands were tied.
Still, the goddess of Victory was fierce and held herself with the utmost confidence that bled into Cana. Erza gave her word, and she assumed it wouldn't be broken lightly.
"Come, we need to advance now if we have any hope of making it in time," Erza commanded, pointing ahead with her sword.
"Come on," Levy smiled and drew her hands through the air to conjure her magic, "with Erza here and us covering your sides, there won't be anyone who will stop us."
"Be careful when you get inside child," Makarov rumbled from the side, "Do not think to stay and linger to help in the fight. Your battle will lay elsewhere. Get the staff piece to Natsu and restore the Lumen Historia."
"Got it," Cana grunted, chafing as she was to admit it, with Gray out of commission she alone was left to carry out Natsu's orders regarding the crew.
"Get ready!" Wendy balled her small hands into fists when they approached the entrance to the temple.
"Godspeed my children," Makarov said fondly, dropping his shield to allow them out.
Erza didn't wait a beat, her sword flashing like light itself as she lunged the moment the shields went down. Her armor gleamed in the sun, a blinding goddess who cleaved down a path of enemies in a single stroke.
"Hurry!" Erza shouted over the cries and clanging of the battles that had filled the streets.
They had to make it back to the Destroyers temple.
—::—
For Natsu's part, getting Lucy out of her chains was not proving to be an easy task. He just wished Gajeel was present to bite down on her manacles, but the god of the forge was busy with Jellal.
If it were just him, he would have melted the cuffs off, but seeing as Lucy didn't have the tough skin of a fire dragon then that left his options a little limited.
"Alright Luce, this is going to get a little warm alright?" He gave her a grin and reached his arms around the chains themselves. Heating up the links themselves, he placed a foot on the wall and gave a great heave.
Lucy winced when the metal warmed around her wrist, uncomfortably hot but not painful. She grinned as the chain snapped loose from the wall.
"Can't say I'm fond of your idea of jewelry sailor," Lucy teased.
Natsu laughed quietly and began working on her other wrist, "Really? A man sails over the many seas to free his captain, but she has the gall to complain about the bracelets he's picked out for ya?" He winked, "Such standards you have!"
"Or perhaps just an eye for treasure," Lucy breathed and grasped his face once he freed her other hand.
She took a precious few seconds to grasp him close and drag him into a desperate kiss, joy for his brave actions bubbling under the surface. However along it came the fear of a trap.
"Natsu, Acnologia knows you're coming here. This is all a trap!" Lucy hissed to him.
Natsu nodded and flashed her a knowing grin, "Of course he knew we would come. We'll always come for you captain, we'll deal with it like we always do!"
He knelt down to begin working on her ankle, "Where's your piece of the staff?"
"Right here."
The speaker of the voice filled the room with his presence, sending an icy shudder running down Natsu's spine as they were joined by the god who had such a significant part in ruining their lives.
"So good to see you again Natsu," Acnologia purred, holding his piece of the staff in his one hand.
Natsu slowly stood up, giving Lucy an apologetic look as he was forced to stop his work on her ankles.
"I see you have something that belongs to me," Acnologia gestured to the pieces of the staff tied to Natsu's waist. The blade and the first part of the stem.
Natsu turned towards Acnologia, his hands curling around the key at his chest, "I don't see anything here that belongs to you!"
The power of the key was not enough to elevate Natsu as it had in the past. He could only use one of its abilities at a time. He could weaken Acnologia without trying to encompass the power of a god in his mortal body. It was the only way they would all walk out of this.
He was a dragon in this lifetime. Much older and with the memories of his past life adding to his experience. If he was careful, this might work with all of them coming out alive.
"I'll be taking those pieces now," Acnologia smirked.
"Try it," Natsu hissed.
-::-
Jellal tensed as he heard his champion's hissed challenge to Acnologia.
"It's begun." He murmured, "Natsu's engaged Acnologia again."
Gajeel scowled at the news, but didn't falter in his movements, "Cap'n will be fine. Th' others 're down there helpin'." He looked Jellal in the eye, "More important we get his key to him."
Jellal nodded solemnly, though neither god could hide the worry in their eyes. The odds of them getting the key done in time were vanishingly low if the main battle had already begun. However, there was nothing they could do about it now. To stop mid-forge would cause more problems than continuing would.
"This is the last of it." Juvia panted as she handed the final raw lumps of metal to Gajeel. Gathering the raw material from the abyss for the forging was a difficult job as each piece had to be both untouched by mortal hand and the oldest and most primal material of its kind. Only she could retrieve it, and that made it difficult.
The fact that she was doing so at a distance to maintain Natsu's legs and they had considerably less time than the year and a day the original key had taken, did not help.
"Thank you Juvia." Jellal replied sincerely, dropping a warm hand on her shoulder as Gajeel began the smelting, "How long Gajeel?"
"Ain't long now." The dragon god grunted, "You need t' start imbuin' this stuff."
Jellal frowned and nodded. He'd learned the process from his father, though he'd hoped to never need to use it, and focused on what he wanted his key to do.
Experience had taught them all much, and though he could never fault his father for how he'd forged his key, Jellal was determined that never again would a celestial champion be put in the position Natsu was.
"Guide my hand father." He murmured as he raised his hand towards the molten gold, "Though your spirit be shattered over all creation, I know your heart lives on. Guide me!"
Bright golden light flared around Jellal in an intensity that would've killed a mortal in an instant as he focused it on Gajeel's forming creation.
"Rest Tempest," Gajeel grunted as he held the burning metal steady in his forge, "Won't be long now."
He just hoped it would be in time.
—::—
Natsu grunted as he was slammed back into the wall next to Lucy, his eyes widening when he saw the razor edge of a sword sailing towards his face. He rolled out of the way in the nick of time, hand wrapping around the hilt and yanking it free from the stone.
"Sorry m'lady," he grunted towards Lucy, who was still grasping at the chains on her ankles and trying hard to free herself. The metal wouldn't give though, and as frustrating as it was for her to be unable to help, it was worse seeing Natsu fighting on his own.
The match was surprisingly even though, and she could attribute that to the key weakening Acnologia. Natsu was using every ounce of strategy he had gathered in his long life, and every bit of strength he possessed from being both dragon, merman and champion.
"Don't worry about me. Get your head in the fight sailor," Lucy growled, wishing she could at least get her keys so she could summon a spirit to Natsu's side.
Her head pounded in agony, causing her legs to wobble and drop to the smooth floor. Natsu paused where he was holding both Acnologia's sword and the Crimson Lotus. "You okay?"
"Just hurry," Lucy grunted, knowing Natsu was running out of time to use his key.
"She's almost back, isn't she?" Acnologia purred, holding his hand out to summon a new inky blade, "soon the Celestial Princess will rise again."
"But not even she, will all her mighty power can destroy me. The gift of that key alone has the power to kill a god," Acnologia purred.
"Even if I can't kill you, I'll still take the consolation prize of ripping you apart," Lucy spat.
"Ohhh, what spirit!" Acnologia laughed, throwing his sword up when Natsu charged him once more. Their swords came together in sparks, Natsu and Acnologia straining against one another to gain any ground.
Natsu's eyes flamed with fury, his rage pushing him to take a step towards Acnologia, pressing the god back by sheer force, "Shut up!"
Acnologia looked faintly surprised by Natsu's sheer determination, but lowered his swords enough to slam his forehead into Natsu's skull.
The dragon jerked back from the strike but his feet didn't give ground, a wild smile flashing over his face, "I'm not going anywhere!"
"Insolent, you would have made a decent demon had the Tempest not interfered with my curse to rob you of your soul," Acnologia smirked at him, "But there is still time for that."
He twisted their arms to slam their swords into the ground and lifted up his foot to kick hard into Natsu's gut.
It forced separation between them, and Natsu panted as he stumbled back under the skylight.
He glanced back at Lucy, who was curling her arms around her head, molten gold burning in her eyes in glowing pulses. They were running out of time. He couldn't keep playing cat and mouse with this god, but it was hardly an easy fight.
Flames licked along the edges of his blades and he sank back into a ready stance.
"Just hang on a little longer Lucy!"
"Natsu!" Lucy shrieked, pointing up behind him, "look out!"
Natsu managed to twist out of the way of an arch of shadow that lashed out at him, Acnologia himself emerging from the darkness. He blocked the first strike, but the second was too quick and slid under his guard.
He lost the spare sword, leaving him with just Crimson and threw up his defense over his head. The god powered on though, sensing Natsu's imbalance and taking advantage of those strikes.
Natsu was forced to a knee, his breathing heavy as he could only endure the Gods strikes from his spot. His arms ached from the effort, giving Gajeel a silent apology for the wear he was putting on his beloved sword.
He could hear Lucy screaming and the blood roaring from his pounding heart into his ears.
But behind Acnologia, from his position on the floor he could see a glimmer of circling golden light through the skylight above.
A head of familiar brown hair ducked out of sight, and just as Natsu thought he was going mad, the glass from above abruptly shattered.
Acnologia startled at the suddenness of a new attack, giving Natsu the opportunity to roll away just as Cana, standing from the safety of the roof, held her arm out in front of her.
"Gather! O river of light that's guided by the fairies! Shine! In order to perish the fangs of evil! Fairy Glitter!" Cana shouted.
A golden ring surrounded Acnologia, providing Natsu with a precious distraction as the circle tightened around the god and exploded with a devastating force that rocketed Natsu back against the wall with Lucy.
"Nice to see ya Captain! Lookin' a bit sunny in the eyes though!" Cana panted from the skylight.
"Cana!" Lucy stared, "that spell!"
"Wasn't enough to put that bastard down I'm afraid!" Cana pulled out the last piece of the relic and threw it to Natsu. He caught it, swiftly tucking it into his belt.
"It's called the Lumen Historia! You'll need two gods to activate it! Lady Erza is fighting through the gates now!" Cana looked back, "She's making her way to you now, you just need to hang on a little while longer! The timing is going to be everything!"
"Got it!" Natsu shouted, "go give her a hand Cana! I'll take it from here!"
He held a hand out to Lucy, helping her stand up.
"It's just about time," Natsu gave her a gentle smile, "be ready."
Lucy swallowed and nodded, her head giving an insistent throbbing.
The pain had been steadily getting worse over the past few days as they'd waited for Natsu and the others to show up, but she'd stubbornly fought it off. The last thing she'd wanted was to regain her divinity and disrupt all of Natsu's plans. Because she knew he'd have them.
However, she wasn't sure how much longer she could fight it.
The pulsing was getting worse and worse. Even the slightest motion made her head throb as the memories, and more importantly, the power behind them shifted restlessly. It was like what had once been a thick wall was now the thinnest of barriers and the slightest provocation would make it pop.
Something she readily admitted to herself she was reluctant to do for more reasons than just strategic ones.
She was a little afraid of the power she could sense within herself now. And of the memories. How much would they change her? Natsu himself had changed in subtle ways as he'd regained his memories, and so had Gray. What would happen to her?
She was proud of who she was, what she'd built for herself. She didn't want to become a sugary princess or remote goddess.
'And you shall not.'
Lucy started a bit at the voice sounding in her head, a voice that sounded very much like her own.
'Ah, you heard me.' The voice replied, 'Don't be alarmed. I'm you. The you that was a goddess.'
Lucy stiffened as a wash of feeling pushed through the barrier in her mind, but it felt like nothing more than a warm hug, 'Don't fear us.' The voice pleaded, 'We are you. But we are only part of the whole. Don't you remember our mother's words?'
"I am on a journey." Lucy whispered hoarsely unaware she was drawing attention from the combatants, "The journey... is a rebirth." She clutched her head as the throbbing sharpened into a spike, "From... from who I am, to who I will become."
'Exactly so.' The voice approved, 'You will not lose yourself to us Lucy Heartfilia. You will simply become more than you are. Just as Natsu has. We will not stop you from charting your own course in the future. You know this.'
"Maybe." Lucy chuckled as the pain receded again, "But you'll forgive me if I fight a little longer."
'Naturally.' The voice replied, and for a moment there was perfect accord as she focused back on the fight with Natsu.
In her distraction, Acnologia had engaged Natsu once more. She watched her champion wrestling with the god, Natsu taking step after step forward.
Acnologia's eyes went wide, his shoulders bowing back as the galvanized champion shoved him back to attack.
Natsu drew a dagger from his belt, sinking it sharply into the gods shoulder. Acnologia let out a roar of pain as he dropped back, sword clattering to the floor. Natsu let loose a fiery punch to the gods jaw, kicking out his ankles to slam him down.
Lucy felt her heart lift as Natsu stayed on the god, wondering for a moment of the relic would even be necessary. If he could finish this then they would never need the Lumen Historia.
Of course that was what she thought until suddenly Natsu was being flung back.
Her dragon gasped as the air was compressed from his lungs. His eyes flew open wide as the god unleashed a powerful surge of magic that was unnatural to the world.
There the god stood in a towering height of magic that was far beyond any rational scope of human mind. Had Natsu not been a Champion, the sight alone might have killed him. But as it stood he was a dragon and a champion.
A champion before a god, in full destructive power and shattering the ancient rules of the Creator to keep him contained on mortal land. Perhaps it was saving grace he was on temple grounds that kept the world from falling straight into chaos, but Lucy knew there would be repercussions and ripples throughout the world as a result of the unfettered magic.
Acnologia roared and grabbed Natsu by the throat, lifting the surprised man up through the air by the neck. The broken key could not keep up with the sudden surge of magic.
He ripped the key off Natsu's neck, the cord snapping loudly.
"You lose," he snarled.
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