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CHAPTER 46
Jörmungandr
According to the Prose Edda, Odin took Loki's three children by Angrboða—the wolf Fenrir, Hel, and Jörmungandr—and tossed Jörmungandr into the great ocean that encircles Midgard. The serpent grew so large that it was able to surround the earth and grasp its own tail. As a result, it received the name of the Midgard Serpent or World Serpent. When it releases its tail, Ragnarök will begin.
Lucy placed herself in front of a lacrima, set to connect directly with Igneel's nest. While preparations were underway to gather everyone who was needed to mount a rescue for Natsu, she spent her time trying to get in contact with the dragons.
So far the only thing she had managed to achieve was magical static to an empty line.
"No luck?"
Lifting her head, Lucy's eyes fell over Gray's familiar slouch by the door. His expression was hooded, face somewhat pale. She knew his thoughts were in a faraway place, just as hers were. Still, she managed a faint smile for the man who no doubt was blaming himself for Natsu's disappearance.
"I'm afraid not, I don't think we're going to be able to get a notice to the dragons in time," Lucy whispered.
Gray dipped his head in acknowledgement, pushing off the doorframe to join her. Settling a hand down against her shoulder, he squeezed it in a show of solidarity.
"Tartaros has always done a good job of covering its tracks, I wouldn't be surprised if the dragons were fending off double pronged attack on their nest just to keep them where they can't help," Gray frowned at the distress marking Lucy's face. His hand smoothed over the back of her neck and between her shoulders in a soothing rub.
"We're going to get that idiot back, I promise you no matter what the cost or consequences, Fairy Tail has your back in this," Gray said firmly.
Finally a fuller smile, closer to Lucy's true one flashed over her cheeks. She twisted her arms around his shoulders to hug him.
"Thanks partner."
"Anytime," Gray helped her stand up, clearly putting his foot down on waiting any longer. Not that Lucy needed much motivation, she rose by her own power and lifted her chin up.
"I'll get Sting and Rogue."
Lucy nodded and they headed out to go save Natsu.
Of course, it wasn't quite that easy. Such things never were. Alerting Igneel over Natsu's kidnapping was still impossible, but those remaining would continue attempting to contact Igneel and alert the nest. Lucy didn't have much faith in them getting through though. It was becoming more obvious as time went on the nest was under attack. Which meant they would be going in with a much smaller force and without backup. They could hardly leave Magnolia unprotected after all.
However, there was no force more motivated in the world than Fairy Tail, and even without the dragon's assistance in the rescue mission, Lucy liked their chances as a guild. She smiled a little as she watched the people who had become her closest friends, her family, crowd into Sting and Rogue's claws. They were each determined to help save Natsu, and it wasn't until Erza and Jellal began giving clear orders of who could go and who could stay that things calmed down a little.
It warmed her heart to see how much their adopted family loved them.
Unfortunately, that warmth didn't last nearly long enough. When they arrived back at Galuna, the whole atmosphere of the island had changed. The first thing Lucy noticed was the quiet. No one was out working. Normally at a time like this, they were fishing in shallow waters or even gathering wood for their village.
The area was eerily devoid of life, and it sent a shiver up her spine as they landed, but despite that Lucy took in the sight of the village with a trace of fondness. She and Natsu had their first kiss here, and he had been eager to return to see their friends.
She wondered if subconsciously he may have sensed what was under the temple.
There were no villagers in sight after they landed either, everyone was quiet and kept safely indoors. Sometimes a brave soul would peek out their huts, but would quickly disappear back inside. Familiar faces pressed against the barriers separating them to breathe vows of good luck at those who passed. Lucy understood their fear and had no expectation of them to fight. She doubted they were even able to, all restrained inside their huts as they were.
It seemed Tartaros had beat them there.
"This isn't good." Lucy murmured.
"Aye." Happy agreed from where he was nervously perched on her back.
"We'll have to proceed with caution." Erza declared grimly, "There's no telling who, or what, they might've left to greet us if they were followed."
"Well, the temple is that way." Levy pointed, "We could either have Sting or Rogue take us or hike the distance there."
"Either option poses significant risk." Erza mused, and Sting shivered.
"I'd just as soon not be shot out of the air twice thank you." He growled, "Especially since most of you don't have the ability to fly or a partner to help you."
"We'll hike the distance then." Erza decreed, "Happy, be ready for anything. Lucy will be a priority target."
"Aye sir!" Happy exclaimed with more confidence. Natsu had begun entrusting Lucy's safety to his paws months ago, and he was not about to let his best friend down now.
The group warily proceeded into the jungle towards the temple. Now it was only Gajeel who noticed the many eyes peeking at them from the village. And only the dragons heard the whispered, "Good luck." that followed them.
They moved deeper into the forest, plants hanging heavy around them and dipping into their path. Keeping their heads swivelling for danger, they peered into the thick canopy of leaves to try and spot the enemies hiding out of sight.
It turned out Erza's instincts were correct when a high pitched whine broke the silence from the forest. A bloom of smoke curled out into the path, obscuring their vision just as a rush of explosions showered all around them.
It caused their group to scatter in all directions, Lucy slamming back with Happy buried in her chest to shield him from any of the debris. She shot a worried look behind her at the village, afraid that some of the rocks may have blasted back through their community.
None of them were given long to study their surroundings however, as various attacks sent them all jumping and scattering into directions even further from one another.
From the smoke emerged several figures, and Lucy felt her heart stop at the sight of them all standing there.
Almost all of the nine demon gates were gathered, with the exception of their leader and his sadistic right hand.
Juvia lifted her arms, setting out the fires sparked with a rush of water.
"We've got this," Gray smirked at Lucy, a rush of cold spreading out from him.
"You and Erza go ahead. Stop Mard Geer and get your idiot husband back," He flashed Lucy a smirk.
"I've still got a bone to pick with that demoness bitch, but I'll put it to the side for the moment," Gray grunted at Lucy, "I'll be fine! We can't afford to waste any more time here."
Lucy hesitated another moment and then nodded, "Okay. Good luck. You'd better win."
Gray flashed her a sharp grin, "Don't I always?"
Lucy shot him a pointed look, but was prevented from answering as Erza grabbed her wrist and sprinted into the jungle.
The others apparently took that as their signal to attack as fighting erupted all around them. However, whether by luck, or Erza's innate ability to read any kind of battlefield, none of the gates were able to so much as look at them before their guildmates attacked and distracted them.
That was both heartening and worrying, but Lucy tried not to think about it as they raced for the temple. They had more important things to worry about.
Unfortunately, their obstacles were far from over.
They were confronted by a fierce looking Kyoka, who stood with confidence as she blocked their path.
"How cute," Kyoka purred, her eyes drawing over her would-be victims, "You three managed to slip through the other's gaps."
Her claws twitched and she advanced a single step, "But this is the end of your line. Beyond this ridge is my Master Mard Geer as he hopes to awaken our Lord."
Her eyes flared with her dark power, "I will not let anyone interfere!"
Erza sprang into step with Kyoka, blocking the demoness from going near Lucy.
"I've got this one," Erza said with a firmness Lucy could not argue with, "You go get Natsu!"
Lucy hesitated only for a moment, hating that she would leave yet another friend behind.
However she had faith in her. Faith in Erza's ability to win
So Lucy nodded, her jaw gritting and her keys clenched in her fist.
"Be careful," She said, meaning every word that fell from her mouth. She twisted at the waist and disappeared into the woods, allowing Erza the time to turn Kyoka's attack around.
Which left Lucy alone as she crept into the temple, the temperature climbing the further she crawled in.
The rising temperature was reassuring though. It increased the chances that Natsu was also ahead and not still stuck on Tartaros somewhere. Though chances were excellent he was subdued somehow, and it was debatable if she would be able to rouse him.
Of course, she had to find him first.
"I'm telling you! You're making a huge mistake!"
Lucy perked up at the sound of Natsu's furious raging, and she couldn't help smirking. Bless her very loud and angry husband. Those two sentences had not only assured her he was here, but that he was in a state to fight once she freed him. Further, there was a decent chance all his shouting was masking her own approach.
She still took care as she crept forward, but it only took her a few more steps before she was rounding the corner into the cavern quite abruptly.
She froze, not only at the sight of Mard Geer's back to her, but the large tomb beyond him that probably contained Zeref himself.
Her blood ran cold as she realized that Mard Geer was busy performing a ritual that would wake up the darkest wizard in history, his darkest creation, and turn them both loose on the world.
They didn't have much time.
She glanced over at Natsu, who had spotted her and was staring at her in mingled surprise and delight. She lifted her finger to her lips. She raised her whip and cracked it down sharply, "Earth Wave!"
Natsu's eyebrows climbed straight into his hair when he realized Lucy's attack was not on Mard Geer or the tomb. Rather, it was on the magical circle he was sitting smack dab in the center of.
Lucy smirked as Natsu's expression flickered from delight, to pale faced horror as he threw his arms up to shield his face.
Sure enough, Lucy's attack was strong enough to blast him right out of the circle, and she watched with satisfaction as his restraints broke.
Her husband slowly stood up, his wings stretching out to balance his swaying body.
Now freed, he glared up at Mard Geer, who hadn't so much as paused during the commotion. His fingers flexed, profound relief a jarring emotion over his face. It seemed like there were parts of him fighting with an inherent fear of being powerless again, but he was struggling to keep them hidden.
Lucy was glad she had trusted her instincts. Eliminating the restraints that were keeping her husband trapped in the hands of his tormentors was worth passing up a shot at the bastard keeping him hostage.
Natsu looked up, his face steeling with remembrance and anger. For a moment his eyes drifted over to Lucy, both adoring and filled with gratitude. But they flashed back to Mard Geer in a second. His fingers curled into fists, fire blooming from his mouth to show the full extent of the anger he felt over being a prisoner again.
"Mard Geer!" Natsu snarled at the demon, "Enough! I'm going to smash your skull into next century!"
His fists came together to punctuate his words, and fire licked out of his mouth. Natsu's eyes flashed to Lucy, both nodding at one another as they advanced towards the Master of Tartaros.
No sooner had they gone three steps though, did a sudden shake boil through the whole temple. Stone and dust filtered down from the ceiling...
But what was more horrifying, was the long crack that appeared on the black tomb door.
"You're too late END," Mard Geer smirked, his expression joyous as he stepped back. His arms spread open wide.
"Now rejoice, as our Lord returns to us."
"Shit." Lucy breathed as the crack widened and spiderwebbed outwards into an increasing web until the whole thing suddenly collapsed on itself, kicking up a lot of dust in the process.
Lucy coughed a little, unconsciously shifting closer to Natsu as she did, and as the dust settled the form of a dark haired man could be seen. She watched in horror as Zeref's eyes slowly blinked open, and heard a low, hateful, growl erupt from Natsu.
It attracted Zeref's attention and he smiled in delight at the sight of Natsu glaring at him like he wanted nothing more than to tear him limb from limb and beat him to death with them.
"Well!" He exclaimed, ignoring Mard Geer as he stepped calmly out of his tomb, "I believe that's the most emotion I've ever seen out of you Natsu! That's very good. I hope you have the strength to back up that hatred. You'll need them shortly."
His eyes turned to Lucy curiously, "And who are you my dear? Natsu's new mistress?"
Lucy glared at the dark wizard, "I happen to be Natsu's wife." She bit out, her fear turning to anger at the sight of the wizard that had so casually destroyed so many lives.
The one responsible for creating Deliora. The one who had started this seemingly unending war.
She stared at him and for that moment she understood exactly how her husband felt.
Natsu bared his fangs, clearly sensing his mistress' desires, which only fed his own bloodlust.
Fire erupted along his arms and he sprang at Zeref. His wings caught the warm air currents as his hand wrapped around his creator's throat and slammed him into the ground. His grip tightened threateningly.
"She's a clever one, isn't she? Somehow your mistress even managed to discover your true name. Remarkable," Zeref wheezed, his hand wrapping around Natsu's sturdy wrist.
"I am very happy for you though Natsu, you found love for yourself." He choked out.
Natsu roared angrily in Zeref's face, his temper causing his nails to dig into the tender flesh of his throat. He was no longer Natsu's master. Zeref held no control over him.
And in truth, Natsu would have snapped his neck right then and there, had it not been for a sudden, encompassing aura that filled the entire tomb.
"What is that?" Mard Geer breathed.
"Trouble, no thanks to you." Lucy snapped even as she instinctively backed away from the source of the aura.
"That is true." Zeref wheezed around Natsu's grip, "You remember Acnologia don't you Mard Geer? By awakening me, you've awoken him as well."
"The black dragon?" Mard Geer replied, going pale as he realized what END had been trying to warn him about.
"Natsu..." Lucy called tensely as the rumbling increased, "Is it just me, or is he more powerful than your memories showed?"
"Nothing has changed about Acnologia's power." Zeref replied before Natsu could.
Natsu flashed him a glare, but wasn't sure either way. His memories of Acnologia hadn't seemed this bad, but at the same time his soul had been crushed by then. Even viewing it in the third person the way he had things might've been muted.
He didn't have more time to think about it though as the golem himself burst into view.
At least his memories of what Acnologia looked like were accurate. He would give the bastard that much anyway.
He had long hair that curled in wild locks around his face and down his back, much like Natsu's had when he first woke up. Before Lucy had Cancer visiting him regularly. But furthermore, the markings on his skin that so similarly reflected the ones on Natsu's own body were a light blue in contrast to his tanned skin.
But when Natsu had fought him before, Acnologia had been a dragon. Now he was a demon. Perhaps he was the same strength as he had been when he was sealed away, but Natsu had never fought him while he was in this state.
And that oppressive magic alone felt like it was powerful enough to absolutely crush them.
The perfected golem took two staggering steps, which seemed like it was all he needed before he stood upright, completely balanced. His sharp eyes narrowed with malicious intent, his fangs baring as a low growl ripped from his throat.
His eyes fell to Zeref, and then Mard Geer, trailing over Natsu and landing finally on Lucy.
"Worms. Everywhere." Acnologia snarled quietly at Zeref, his fingers clenching into fists at his side, "And you, wizard, you made me just like the wretched creatures."
"Worms?" Mard Geer growled indignantly, "We are Lord Zeref's greatest creations! You should be thanking him for taking the time to personally select you to become one of us!"
There was a moment of silence following Mard Geer's proclamation and then suddenly, in a blinding fast move, Acnologia lashed out and gripped him tightly around the throat.
"I am a shadow of my former self." The golem snarled lowly, his grip tightening on Mard Geer's neck, "That filth you call a Lord should be begging for mercy under my talons! Instead I am forced to obey his whim!" The crazed look in his eyes grew, "I! Who once ruled all of dragonkind!"
Lucy glanced uneasily at Natsu. There weren't many ways this could possibly get worse. Acnologia was very obviously as completely insane as he was powerful. Whether that had happened before he'd been turned into a Golem or after was irrelevant at this point. What mattered was he was awake, and they were going to have to deal with him.
Even more worrying though was the way Acnologia's marks had started flickering and fading as he spoke. She didn't know what that meant, but she doubted it was anything good for their sake.
Sure enough, Zeref reeled backwards, a lashing of magic from him cracking down into the earth. A large crater formed from the dark spots his powers touched, but no one paid it any attention. Not when there was something much more important going on just a few feet from them.
"He's breaking free of my control Natsu," Zeref admitted, a trickle of sweat trailing down his temple. It was the only sign he was losing control, his face as unflappable as it was when Natsu had been strangling him, "If he breaks free, there's no telling what he'll do!"
"And what do you care?" Lucy demanded, her anger boiling over as she glared at the wizard who was responsible for so much pain in their world. The one who had enslaved her husband, created the demons of Tartaros, and had killed her father, "If Acnologia runs loose and destroys everything, that would suit you just fine wouldn't it?"
Zeref didn't reply at first, his hand raising to try and keep Acnologia at bay. But the dragon was too full of fury, the blue markings seeming to fade faster than Zeref could reapply them.
"I have no excuse for my actions. I took, pillaged, and destroyed wherever I saw fit." Zeref responded, "I did it all for my own reasons. Ones I thought were correct at the time, to try and repair something that happened long ago. I didn't even consider, for a very long time, what the consequences would be."
"It was only when I was sealed with Acnologia, did I have the time to reflect on everything I had done. To realize what I had done to the dragons, to humans, and to understand just a fraction of the pain I could never repair," Zeref frowned, just by a fraction of a degree, "I wished to cleanse the world, never to destroy it."
Lucy's fists clenched tightly as she stepped closer to the dark wizard, "I don't believe you will ever comprehend what you've done." She hissed, "And I would love nothing more than to kill you myself for all the pain you've put us through the last four hundred years, but right now you're the only thing holding Acnologia back. And you will keep holding him back or so help me not even your best demons will stop what I will do to you!"
She paused just long enough for Zeref's eyes to widen a little in surprise before she spun around to face an equally surprised Natsu. Though there was a dark, approval in his eyes that had her blushing slightly.
"Lucy..." He growled lowly.
Lucy's blush deepened, with a smile, but she gestured to where Acnologia was growling and clearly distracted as he kept fighting the controls and restraints Zeref was putting on him, "Lets deal with that."
Natsu nodded, fire erupting at his fists, but before he could so much as breathe in Acnologia's direction the former king roared furiously.
"No! I will not be controlled any more!" He snarled, "And I will not lose to Igneel's son!"
The blast he unleashed next was so powerful, it nailed Natsu right in center mass. He hurtled backwards, slamming into Zeref as they both tumbled over themselves and into the wall. Acnologia's eyes flared with madness and a rage that boiled over in his magic.
"I don't get it!" Natsu snarled as he shoved his way up, "Why is he able to fight against your commands? I can't do even a shred of what he can do!"
Zeref groaned, his concentration failing as Acnologia's spiraling tattoos finally began to fade away.
"I miscalculated in my experiment," Zeref said grimly, "I believed a soul of a dragon would be enough power to fuel the weapon I needed. However what I originally wanted was the soul of a fully mature dragon that would not need training or time to grow."
Anger flared through Natsu and he hissed at the black wizard, "You wanted my dad."
Zeref's eyes flashed towards Natsu, a somewhat muted smile on his face, "Yes." he admitted, "I suppose at the time I did, but I settled for second best - Acnologia."
"But I didn't have the means of capturing him. Not without a dragon. So I took you as a hatchling," Zeref reached out, struggling to keep a grasp on Acnologia's last chain, "I didn't realize your obedience came from the lack of maturity in your soul. Acnologia has well over a millenia of life and experience. The control I have over him is barely sufficient to keep him still much less give him commands."
Which meant Acnologia's soul had experienced so much in its life, it didn't need Zeref's magic to keep it sustained. He had life on its own.
Natsu rushed back to his feet. In that case, it meant they had only seconds before Acnologia truly began to hurt them.
But, Natsu's stomach clenched with hesitation, it didn't have to be that way. Acnologia was the only other creature like him in the whole world and there was a part of him that knew he had to at least try to get through to him. Acnologia had been captured and subsequently slain by his hand. Which meant he was Natsu's responsibility.
"Acnologia," He called out, pleading with the older golem, "I know what you're feeling now! You're just as much a victim in this as I was. But breaking loose and killing everyone isn't going to help you! We can give you another chance!"
Acnologia had gone still during Natsu's exchange with Zeref, his eyes wide with surprise as he stared at the young fire drake in a new light.
"You were a hatchling?" He rumbled, ignoring the rest of Natsu's plea for the moment, "I knew you were Igneel's son, but I was unaware you were so young."
Natsu blinked in surprise at the shift in Acnologia. The soft rumble of concern in the old dragon's voice was genuine, and for the first time he could see just why Acnologia had been king before his father. This was a powerful drake. One who cared deeply for his people even if he had no tolerance for humans, and a small part of him warmed instinctively in response.
"Yeah." He replied, hope surging in him that maybe it was possible to salvage this after all, "I was taken just a few days before I was due to hatch."
Acnologia cocked his head slightly, his expression intent as he studied Natsu more carefully, "Your expression was blank when I met you the first time." He observed, "It appeared your soul had been destroyed. How has that changed?"
Natsu grinned a little, "Lucy accidentally bonded to me and released me from my seal a couple years ago. Her magic healed me from Zeref's abuse, and she's taught me how to live since then."
"I see." Acnologia glanced briefly at Lucy before returning his attention back to Natsu, "And how close are you to your own freedom?"
"My own freedom?" Natsu blinked, his arms relaxing down at his sides.
"Don't listen to him Natsu!" Zeref grunted, his magic loosening by the moment, "You need to destroy him now!"
Acnologia's eyes narrowed at Zeref, and with one final push, shattered the remaining link the black wizard had.
Zeref went reeling back, and Natsu stared at Acnologia in muted surprise. Especially since he did nothing with his newfound 'freedom'.
"Yes," Acnologia rumbled, "I can't imagine you must have had much opportunity being as young as you were. In truth, you've only been up and running perhaps a decade in total. Not even that."
"You are still little more than a fledgling in terms of dragons," Acnologia growled, "But you have begun to experience things anew..."
"Yes!" Natsu said in a rush, finding it a little dizzying to know that such a thing was possible for a golem. He could gain freedom?
Not that he ever felt confined when he was with Lucy, and he had come to love their bond dearly.
He still knew his presence put her life at risk, and that was a fact he would rather do without.
"Natsu...?" Lucy's voice was hesitant, her eyes flashing between the two golems.
Natsu sensed the worry in her, and privately acknowledged it, but didn't take his eyes off Acnologia. If Acnologia could be talked down then he had to try it. And if he could find a way to break the bond that kept Lucy in the spotlight... even better.
"Emotion." Acnologia rumbled to his unspoken question, "Emotion is the key. But not just any emotion fledgling. You must experience all of them, and for that you need a full life."
His eyes glowed a little, "I have lived such a life. I had a queen at my side for centuries before I lost her. I was a father and a brother. I was a king before I lost your father's challenge. I have experienced every emotion imaginable. It's that experience that gives you strength. Strength of will enough to overcome the bindings placed upon you no matter how long it takes."
Natsu's eyes widened in surprise. That was the key? Experiencing life itself? Then that meant... Lucy had been unknowingly helping to free him since the moment they bonded!
But... if that was the case then something had to be missing. Something that kept the bond strong. His markings hadn't so much as faded even a little in all his time with Lucy, let alone to the point Acnologia's had before they were broken.
What could be missing from the mix? Lucy and the rest of his nest had worked very hard to teach him as much about life, the good and the bad, as much as possible. Even if they didn't know they were doing it at the time.
He wasn't sure, and he doubted this was something Lucy or anyone else would know either.
"I see." Acnologia rumbled again as he appeared to get tired of holding Mard Geer by the throat and threw the demon forcefully into Zeref, "You must be very close if you're so confused about what you're missing." He prowled a step towards Natsu, "Close enough I can help you achieve your freedom."
"Natsu..." Lucy said again, a little more tensely this time, "I don't trust this..."
Natsu could sense his mistresses distress, and he turned, whining a little in the back of his throat. It was a type of apology for having neglected her growing distress.
He huffed out a sigh, turning towards Acnologia and straightening his shoulders. It took strangling his curiosity, but for the time being it was for the best.
"I'm already free," Natsu said after a long moment, "Lucy taught me everything I need to know about life. Everything I want to know at least."
"Now, you're free Acnologia. There's no point in fighting anymore, right? You should come with us, and we can help you find a new home," Natsu gently prodded, hoping the other would take the bait.
Acnologia heaved a tremendous sigh, his chest rising and falling. Happy caught up, fluttering up near the door behind them.
"I'm afraid you're wrong," Acnologia said, his voice growling deep somewhere in the pit of his chest.
Natsu felt just the barest hint of ice slide down his spine when suddenly Acnologia shifted his weight.
And was gone.
"Nats-!" Lucy's voice cut off next to him, gasping hoarsely from where he hadn't even been looking.
Freezing, he turned to see Acnologia's hand wrapped around Lucy's delicate throat. His grip was bruising, and Natsu already knew colorful bruises would bloom on her pale skin.
"The human wench has you tight under her leash, so she has not taught you everything yet," Acnologia growled dangerously, "But don't worry fledgling, I'll free you."
Natsu's eyes widened in horror as Acnologia's meaning became clear, but before he could do more than clench his fists and take a step towards them Acnologia roared with pain and staggered as a black spell crashed into his back.
Lucy took that exact moment to try and used her Taurus enhanced strength to tear away from Acnologia's grip. An action that had the dragon hissing furiously.
"Human worm!" He snarled hatefully as Natsu rushed him, his fists blazing. The older golem never twitched though as he casually backhanded Lucy into the far wall with enough force to create a crater the size of a full grown dragon.
"Lucy!" Natsu cried in horror as his wife crumpled to the ground, rocks falling around her, and did not move.
"Be free fledgling." Acnologia growled uncaringly, "The human filth is beneath us anyway." He turned his attention to Zeref, not giving Natsu another thought, "And now it's time to deal with this worm."
"You will not touch my Lord Zeref." Mard Geer growled darkly, having obviously recovered from his own near strangling, interposing himself between Acnologia and Zeref, "I will destroy you myself!"
Natsu paid no attention to the sudden fight that was happening behind him. He was sprinting towards Lucy's prone body as if his life depended on it. In a way, it did, but not for the reasons that were obvious. Lucy was his absolute world. And without her in it-
Nothing was right.
Natsu didn't see the frantic rush of wings as Happy left in a hurry to try and get help, only dropping down beside his wife and crawling forward onto his knees.
"Lucy..." He croaked softly, his hands gently coming to cradle her head. It was too limp in his hold, too fragile and oh god there was so much blood. His breath came in a ragged push of air, causing his lungs to nearly deflate to the size of a straw.
Her eyes met his, cloudy and unfocused with pain as she fought to smile through what had to be an awful sort of agony. His hands trembled, sensing her pain as if it were his own and hating himself for even thinking for a second he could have talked Acnologia down.
Lucy had known.
Lucy always knew.
"S-sorry," Lucy whimpered, his sensitive ears picking up the quiet wetness in her lungs. His heart stopped as he realized the extent of her injuries. A dragon as powerful as Acnologia could crush a normal wizard with a single thought, "I wanted to show you- the world-"
"Don't, I don't need the world. I just need you," Natsu breathed desperately, pushing a blonde lock of hair from her face that was too sticky with red slickness. Her blood was on his hands and soaking into his pants. He saw the way her eyes began to close, and panic flared in his chest, "Wendy!" he roared.
Tears stung at his eyes, like hot trails of fire that scorched and boiled his skin. His chest felt tight as Lucy's body grew very still in his hands.
"WENDY!"
His desperation served no purpose though, when he felt something strong rip through his chest. It was a pain he felt before, like a searing rod trying to tear his soul from his body.
It could only mean one thing - that Lucy was...
No.
No!
Ahem. And on that note, Kytrin and I will be going into hiding for a bit. Enjoy your sneak peek! We're not through yet!
30 REVIEWS EQUALS A SNEAK PEEK
"You killed her." He whispered roughly, but the sound echoed through the chamber, pausing the fight he'd been ignoring, "You killed my queen. The only good and pure thing in my life."
He looked up, his eyes raw and burning, "And why?" He asked, his voice cracking, "Because you thought I wasn't free? Because you thought she was beneath you?"
"LUCY WAS WORTH A THOUSAND OF YOU!"
He roared as fire erupted all around him, his pain and grief channeling itself into a wild rage that was directed entirely at Acnologia.
Natsu was blind to everything but Acnologia. The battered demon and broken Zeref meant nothing to him. There was only the one who had snatched his wife away from him before they could begin to live out their life together.
And now, now - after four hundred years, Natsu was no longer a slave to the commands of another. But never had he felt more imprisoned in his life.
