Hey guys! Kytrin here with your, belated, Wednesday update! Apologies for being a little late with it, I was a little too brain fried after work to go over the chapter properly lol. I hope you all enjoy the juiciness to come!


CHAPTER 50

Code of Conduct

A set of rules which govern pirates behavior on a vessel.


"Natsu!" Lucy cried in alarm, jerking violently against the chains still holding her, heedless of the way they cut into her skin.

Natsu growled around the vicelike hand holding him, but no matter how he clawed and struggled he couldn't so much as shift the god's grip a fraction.

"Now, shall we dispense with the play?" Acnologia smirked as he held up the key, and Lucy paled.

"No!" She cried, ignoring the way her head throbbed as she struggled against her bonds, "Stop it!"

She wasn't sure exactly what Acnologia planned to do, but she knew it was bad. And in the back of her mind she sensed she did know. And that feeling was worse than anything she ever could've dreamed of.

Because there was a part of her going hot and cold by turns and she had no idea why, but the growing dread only fueled her frenzy

Acnologia smiled broadly, every tooth in his face showing, "I've waited a very long time for this." He purred as he pressed the fragment against Natsu's head, almost like he was unlocking a door, "Eternity lock."

The words reverberated through the air, and Lucy felt something in her chest clench then shatter as a pulse of celestial magic coursed through Natsu, causing him to jerk and gasp in surprise.

"No!"

The anguished sound tore from her throat before she even realized it was building, tears cascading down her cheeks for something she didn't fully understand. Except she knew she did, and in her desperation to understand, to remember why this was important, she reached into herself and tore the barrier to her memories apart with a pained shriek that echoed in the real world.

Outside the temple all fighting came to an abrupt halt as an explosion of magic surged from Acnologia's temple, shooting high into the heavens and sending out a shockwave that knocked everyone for miles around off their feet.

There was a feeling of breathless awe in the air as the power rippled around the world, and a knowing. A memory sparked by the divine itself.

The Celestial Princess, Commander of the Celestial Armies, and sister to the Spirit King himself, had been reborn.

And she was angry.

Natsu blinked in dazed confusion feeling strange and as if he had suddenly lost something. Acnologia dropped him heavily to the floor. He grunted and shook his head, a strange emptiness echoing in his chest.

Aside from that though, he felt completely fine.

However as he pushed himself upright, he caught sight of Lucy, furious and golden Lucy ripping herself free from her chains.

The stunning sight almost distracted him from what he was witnessing. The goddess herself, the Celestial Princess had broken free from the chains of her memory and not only the physical ones binding her.

"Acnologia!" She screamed in rage, her eyes a full, holy glow. Natsu jerked a bit when the Destroyer took his own dagger to hold at his throat.

"Lucy stop!" Natsu shouted back at her, uncaring of the blade held against the scar of his throat.

The furious goddess froze at both the blade at Natsu's neck and his cry.

"Your power will cause the stars to fall on the world Lucy! You need to calm your anger!" Natsu growled.

"Yes Lucy, calm yourself. You wouldn't want my hand to slip," Acnologia chuckled. Lucy froze, her expression growing pained as the glow left her eyes and settled around her.

"Natsu, he's done something terrible to you," Lucy whispered, angry tears boiling in her eyes.

Natsu flashed her a small smile, "I kinda figured that cap'n." He replied, "I mean, let's not forget who we're dealing with. But I ain't dead yet."

"You might as well be!" Lucy snapped, the tears spilling over, "Natsu, he's taken away one of the most precious things in creation! Your rebirths. If you die now you'll never be reborn! Your soul will sink to the bottom of the river of souls and never again venture forth! Not even my brother can save you from that fate!"

Natsu's expression morphed from horrified to soft at the news, "I ain't dead yet cap'n." He repeated, "And until I am, there's no point in worryin'."

"A remarkably carefree statement considering I have you at my mercy." Acnologia chuckled darkly, "All it would take to destroy you forever would be to slide the knife along your neck." His eyes gleamed with madness, "It would be so very satisfying too."

"You so much as nick his skin Acnologia..." Lucy growled, her temper flaring again.

"You would bring war on me in the mortal realm?" Acnologia asked, "And in my own sanctuary? All for him?"

"You don't want to know how far I'd go for him." Lucy replied ominously, "You think you know something of anger? Just lay one more finger on him."

"As it happens... I believe you princess." Acnologia replied cheerfully, "However, I would be a fool to give up my best bargaining chip. So we're at a stalemate."

"What do you want?" Lucy demanded impatiently.

"Aside from you?" Acnologia smirked at Lucy, his grip tightening on Natsu when her champion let loose a furious growl, "I believe you know the only thing else I desire is the fall of the gods."

"Those who turned their backs on me after morphing me into a divine monster," Acnologia hissed, "I will not have them interfere with me ever again!"

He nodded to Natsu, who glared stubbornly ahead, "Take my relic from my waist band worm and toss it to your goddess with the rest of yours. I'll have her assemble it."

Natsu merely laid still, his eyes locked on Lucy's. Knowing Acnologia had just the one arm, he resisted complying as he was unwilling to even attempt to give him what he wanted. Not without his goddess's command.

Acnologia pressed the blade harsh against his throat, his eyes gleaming with cruelty.

"Just give me a reason scum, I would sooner see you dead and have my revenge," Acnologia snarled back at him, "I would be willing to give up the staff if it meant finally washing my hands of you."

"Then do it you pitiful excuse for a god," Natsu hissed, "My life is pledged to the celestial family. I won't be used as a bargaining chip to seal them away."

Acnologia snarled in frustration and slammed Natsu's head into the floor, dazing the man and dropping his foot against his throat. He ripped the staff from Natsu's throat and tossed them to Lucy along with the one at his own waist.

"Assemble it my beloved, or I will crush his throat like a grape beneath my heel," he growled.

Lucy glared darkly at him, "I never want to hear you utter those words again." She hissed even as she reluctantly crouched to collect the items.

"Lucy..." Natsu wheezed, "Don't do it."

Lucy transferred her gaze to him, "I swore to you millennia ago that I wouldn't lose you." She replied, "And I will not break that vow now."

"But Lucy..." Natsu protested, only to cut off with a gargle as Acnologia's foot pressed a little harder.

Lucy's eyes flashed gold as she slowly straightened up, "Acnologia..." She growled warningly, "Have care lest you lose your only leverage over me."

The pressure on Natsu's neck receded, and Acnologia smirked, "We wouldn't want that now would we my love?"

Lucy visibly shuddered, "Don't call me that either!" She snapped, "I am not now, never was, and never will be your love, beloved, or anything else!"

Her grip on the spear fragments tightened as her eyes glowed with badly leashed rage, and the spear responded in kind as it glowed a golden green and the parts rose in the air. With a sound that was almost musical they circled the angry goddess and then in a flash of white light assembled themselves with a snap. Lucy blinked as the various fragments, that had looked nothing like an actual spear before, transformed into a thing of deadly intent.

It wasn't ornate, or encrusted with gems. Rather it was a thing of simplistic beauty. The shaft smooth and lovingly crafted, but hinting also at it's wild origins. The tip, more a long slightly curved flint blade than a normal spear tip, glinted in the sun sharp and deadly. The single phoenix feather tucked into the wrapping beneath the blade the only real adornment. And yet it made Lucy's blood sing. It was the sort of weapon she could remember using back when humanity lived in caves and hunted the long dead giant animals of the day.

It was the sort of weapon that spoke of the wildness when creation was young, and she and her brother had just been sculpted by their father out of the stars themselves.

It was a weapon that brought back memories of wearing furs and running with wolves for days on end for no other reason than the pure exhilaration. Memories of campfires, and watching the small, fragile, beings her father and uncle had coaxed into being tell stories.

It hearkened to the oldest, wildest, part of herself, and as it laid itself in her hands the shift was palpable.

"Bring it to me, quickly now," Acnologia said without comment to her threats and glares. He didn't bring his heel up off Natsu's throat, not wanting to release the dragon back into Lucy's hold. But he was hearing his counterpart's swift approach.

The Titania had breeched the outer and inner walls of his temple. She was only minutes away from him now, perhaps even less. And once she arrived, he would lose any hope of sealing away the gods. His only chance at that point would be risking the Celestial Princess' rage and destroying her champion.

That was an ending he could live with.

But not one he preferred.

Eyes filled with hate, Lucy carried the staff towards him and held it out for him to grasp.

"Let's get this over with," She hissed angrily, her magic sparking and snapping against her skin as she fought back the urge to obliterate the impertinent god before her regardless of what it would do to creation. It was only the fact Natsu was held hostage that she restrained herself even slightly. For there was no way she could strike without Acnologia killing him first.

And that was completely unacceptable.

"Don't, Lucy you've just gotten your life and family back," Natsu wheezed, his fangs gritting and hand locking around his ankle.

"I'm sorry Natsu, but an eternity without hope of your return is too much to bear. Acnologia will not win." Lucy breathed.

"Won't I?" Acnologia smirked and grasped the staff.

At once there was a flare of magic that blinded Natsu, enough to almost mask the arrival of Erza slamming her way into the inner sanctum.

"Lucy!" She cried out, shocked at the sight before her, but freezing as the magic of the staff took over her.

Sword clattering to the ground, Erza disappeared on the wave of magic. The distant sounds of battle halted as well, as the gods which had taken up arms fell silent.

Their magic fell into the staff as a collective, the power pulling Acnologia and Lucy together enough for a moment to have him release his hold on Natsu.

And that moment was all Natsu needed.

With a speed he would later swear was entirely due to Erza's earlier blessing Natsu rolled out from under Acnologia's foot and onto his feet. He didn't even pause to think as he sprang for Acnologia before the god could regain his footing and grabbed for the key fragment.

He hated what he was contemplating, knowing he would never be reborn, and that it would hurt Lucy. But if the alternative was this, the world burning to a madman, even briefly, then he would do whatever he had to. He'd pledged himself to Lucy and her family, and he wasn't going to fear death now.

That was the thought foremost on his mind as he wrestled with Acnologia over the key before finally pulling it away from the startled god just as he was thrown off his back.

"Stupid move." He laughed as he crawled back upright, "I got this back."

He held up the fragment and Acnologia snorted, "So what? That thing can't contain my divinity in this form." He smirked, "And you wouldn't dare use it in any other form."

"Wanna bet pal?" Natsu replied, a cocky half smirk curling his lips.

"Natsu no!" Lucy cried in alarm, "If you do that you'll die!"

"And if I don't you will!" Natsu retorted fiercely, "Lucy, you know what'll happen if this freak isn't stopped! He'll burn the whole world! Nothing will be safe from him! Least of all you!" He met her desperate eyes, "I love you more than I can ever express, and I'm sorry it's come to this, but this is our only chance to save everything your father and the Creator built. I can't let this pass by."

"Please Natsu!" Lucy begged as she rushed to him, "I can get us out of here! I can elevate you now! Just don't do this!"

"You elevate me now and it's all over." Nastu replied roughly, "A god can't fight another god without destroying the world. Destroying Fairy Tail and our family! And we'll never have the bastard exposed like this again. We run away now and there will never be peace."

He curled his fist tightly around the key fragment and pulled her into a passionate kiss, a goodbye kiss, "Promise me, when this is over, you'll find love again someday." He smiled crookedly, "You're too damn nice not to cap'n."

He pulled away and stepped forward, celestial power enveloping him as he did. It proved to be the last of the power of the former king as the key evaporated into golden motes that sank into Natsu's skin, igniting a power within him that no mortal should possess. That no mortal could possess for long.

"Let's finish this." He growled as he launched himself forward, burning red-gold flames enveloping his fists.

"Work on getting the gods free Lucy," Natsu shouted, tackling the god with a renewed ferocity.

Lucy let loose a strangled sounding noise, practically seeing Natsu's very soul burning up with the force of his celestial flames. Acnologia let out a laugh of delight as he engaged Natsu.

"You've sealed your own fate Champion! There will never be another to bear the mark of the celestial family, and I will finally be rid of you for good." Acnologia laughed, summoning his sword back to fend off Natsu's attacks.

"My fate will always belong to Lucy." Natsu roared back, fist slamming into Acnologia's gut and sending him straight into the wall of his temple with devastating force.

"Even gone I know I'll be kept alive by her memories. I can go easy knowing you're dead and gone out of Lucy's life forever!" He began his assault in earnest.

Lucy watched the golden streaked flames swirl and dance through the air, Natsu letting loose explosive blast after explosive blast. Her grief was palpable, unable to stop herself from being both furious with Natsu for going against her wishes and sick with the pain of knowing what he was sacrificing to save her.

She dropped to her knees beside the staff, cradling it in her lap and curling her palm against the blade to spill golden drops of blood onto the seal. No matter what she was not going to let her beloved's sacrifice be in vain.

She was just lucky it was still malleable. It hadn't cemented or steadied over thousands of years, this one still had he signature of her own power behind it.

Natsu let out a roar of flames that engulfed Acnologia and warmed Lucy.

"You wretch!" Acnologia snarled, his body burning in pieces.

Natsu's own nature as a dragon helped fuel the magic of the key, his natural stamina and hardy nature giving him more flexibility with its divinity, but even slow he was dimming.

He slammed his forehead into Acnologia's as Lucy began to pry open the spell she cast to seal the gods. Natsu let out a roar as he rushed Acnologia, flames encompassing his entire body.

The flames seared and boiled his own skin though, not even draconic skin capable of resisting divine flames. Natsu was numb to the pain though as he knelt and poured all his power into one attack.

"Dragon Gods Brilliant flame!" Natsu roared, the mixture of flames now overshadowed by the outpouring of golden energy coming from His body.

A spiral of magic whipped out from Natsu, crushing into the helpless Acnologia, who no longer held his smile.

Natsu let out a roar as the god fell, consumed by the golden flames.

It was finally over.

Natsu dropped to his knees, watching Lucy pop the seal on the gods, a weary smile on his face as the world started to go fuzzy.

He was a little afraid of what would happen next to him. There would be no second life. No more chances for him. No more Lucy.

But she would finally be free.

That thought alone brought him a measure of peace as the celestial power burned through him, and he smiled as she broke through the seal only to immediately drop the Lumen Historia to rush to his side.

"Natsu..." She sobbed brokenly, uncaring of the lightshow behind her as the rest of the pantheon was freed, "You stupid dragon."

"Hey..." He grunted, reaching out to trail his fingers over her cheek, "It'll be alright cap'n."

"Like hell it will!" Lucy cried, "You're going to die and you can't come back! I can't face eternity alone without you!"

"And you won't have to sister."

Lucy blinked through her tears to look blearily up at Jellal as he joined them, giving Natsu a fondly exasperated look, "You are far too eager to die for your love my friend." He smiled, "I admit it's a trait we share you and I."

He held up his freshly forged key, "However, I'm not the least inclined to deal with a sad little sister for the rest of eternity, so you're just going to have to stay right where you are."

"But... how?" Lucy gasped as Jellal pressed the key against Natsu's skin, a small flare of light indicating it was working.

"I'm not father Lucy." He reminded her with a grin that was much more in keeping of the old jovial Prince than the solemn King, "My key works a little differently. It will keep his soul right where it should be. For a while at least. But a while is all we need."

Lucy blinked at him and he ruffled her hair playfully, "Have you forgotten little sister? Our champion here just defeated a god. That means he's the next Destroyer." He smirked at Natsu, "So I'm going to keep your soul right where it should be until you finish your transformation. Though I hope you'll come up with a better name than Destroyer. I think we can all agree that one's left a bad taste in our mouths."

Lucy gaped at her brother, shock warring with joy as she processed what she was being told. Natsu would live. And not only that, but he would become a god. He would be hers forever.

A squeal of pure happiness erupted from her as she nearly tackled her brother in joy, "Thank you!" She exclaimed, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Jellal chuckled as he held her close, "Anything for you Lucy." He murmured, "Welcome home."

"Wait." Natsu hissed, his hand drifting to the key burning on his chest. He flattened his hand over it, as if to remove it, however he did not push it off.

"I don't want his power. It's what turned him evil, isn't it?" Natsu hissed, his eyes flashing to Lucy.

"I would rather die now and never be reborn than ever do what he did," Natsu growled.

Lucy released her surprised brother, equally shocked herself that he would willingly turn down divinity. She settled a hand against his forehead, "You are not Acnologia Natsu. You won't succumb to the same things he did. And even if you were tempted, we would never allow it."

"Acnologia was hardly weak willed," Natsu protested, "And he was kind before he became a god."

"But Acnologia did not have friends. Didnt have family," Juvia joined them, settling next to Lucy and giving Natsu a smile, "We might have failed Acnologia in his teachings, but we will not do the same to you."

"Do you trust me Natsu?" Lucy took his hand in hers, squeezing gently as they were joined by their other divine friends.

"Do you trust us?" Lucy asked.

Natsu looked up at the scowling face of Gajeel, over Levy's sweet smile and Juvia's hopeful face. He looked to Erza, his sister's calm but intense stare begging him to stay with them.

His eyes drifted to Jellal, who merely watched and waited without judgement for his decision before falling to Lucy.

And Lucy, his perfect goddess. He would die for her. He had in the past. And he had in the present.

Perhaps now, even though it was scarier, he could find the strength within himself to live for her too. Despite facing the unknown, Natsu was willing to preform the task.

Lucy's eyes were filled with love and hope, knowing she couldn't influence his decision but praying he would choose to stay with her.

Even at his last moments, he could deny her nothing.

Slowly he nodded, drawing his hand away from the key, "I trust you with everything that is me. All of you."

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as the golden flames from Acnologia soared through the air to rush towards him. He breathed them in, the flames warming him from the inside out and burning him in a way he hadn't felt before.

The transformation seared into his very bones, and Natsu's mouth fell open as he felt it boiling the mortality out of him.


And that's the chapter! I wanna first say thank you for everyone who's gotten this far with us! We're down to one chapter and the epilogue left! I also wanna give a huge shout out to our reviewers! You guys knocked it out of the ballpark this chapter! Thank you so much for all your encouraging words and everything else! We love you guys! Enjoy your very well earned preview, and we'll see you Sunday! :)

"Both of our curses are gone..?" Natsu's smile broke over his face and he reached for Lucy's hand. His eyes glittered with a divine light which had been previously absent.

He looked at Juvia for confirmation once again, and as she gave him a muted smile and nod, it was like a bolt of lightening struck him.

"But Gray..." Natsu's eyes slowly widened, "His didn't go away with Acnologia's death?"

He shoved himself upright and to his feet, nearly staggering as Gray's pale and mad face floated into his mind.

"No Natsu, his curse was one he chose to activate. By doing so he gave himself over to the Destroyer. Much like your key, in exchange for that much power there are certain consequences," Lucy apologized to Natsu.

Natsu blinked rapidly, Gray's face sending a sudden surge of voices mumbling in his head and desperate prayers he couldn't untangle. He grasped a fistful of hair and breathed deeply.

"How do I fix him?" Natsu growled, his eyes flashing to Lucy with an edge of pleading, "I took Acnologia's power. I can make it better, I know I can!"