Disclaimer: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima


ACT III: Crossroad - Where demons roam

Approximately X793

Chapter 8: Isolation

Zeref was carrying the book and eyeing it carefully, when it started to glow. It didn't take more than a few seconds before the light started pulsating, in an even and steady rhythm almost as if it was a heartbeat pumping in his hand. For each beat the book made, the smaller the light around the book became, signifying that the content in his book was synchronising and returning to the demon's body.

Before long the radiating light vanished, making the book in his hands nothing more than a hollow relic from the past.

~ o ~ O ~ o ~

"Yes for..."

Lucy exhaled a long breath and felt how her body seemed to become numb.

everything

Huh?

Why did that last word sound weird?

Wait?

Why did that sentence sound weird?

And that one as well?

What?

WHAT?

What was going on?

Lucy opened her eyes and to her big surprise Natsu was right above her

"FUCK!" he screamed and evidently tried to search for her pulse "No! I'm not having it!"

What was going on? Why did he look like he was about to loose control?

And why did she feel so strange? It was like she was still in her body, but she couldn't feel anything.

Like her body was either dead or drugged.

So yeah Lucy felt freakishly weird, especially when Natsu started performing first aid on her.

In a way it was a possibly a good thing that Lucy couldn't feel anything, because she could tell just by looking, that he was putting a lot of force into it.

And then there was the thing about their lips meeting...

Again and again and again...

Lucy wanted to blush and she had no idea why. Well yeah sure she was a girl, who had fantasies and ideas about getting a boyfriend and eventually she knew she would experience her first kiss.

She never imagined it would be like this though...

Awkward...

Well technically it didn't count, because he didn't kiss her. No, he was doing something to bring her back...

Wait, bring her back from where?

"Come on... god damn it!" Natsu said in a frustrated tone making Lucy look up at him.

Why did it look like he was on the brink of cracking?

She was right there! She was fine!

So why did he continue performing first aid...?

"Lucy-san!" Wendy shouted from somewhere in the distance but she couldn't see her, since she couldn't move her body. But suddenly the tiny healer was suddenly hovering above her.

Yes! This was a good thing! Maybe the healer could feel her presence? That she was still here, but she just didn't know... where? Or how to communicate?

Feeling frustrated but also slightly paranoid, that Lucy might not be heard she started screaming in her mind and calling out for her friends.

"Wendy...?" Natsu turned his head to look at the girl "She's gonna be fine right? You can fix this right?"

Yes you can! Lucy screamed in her mind. I'm right here! Don't look so down Wendy I'm right here!

"Sure you can..." the Dragon Slayer said.

Listen to him Wendy!

"... it's not like she's..." Natsu's voice cracked in pain, making Lucy flinch in horror and sympathy.

He turned his head and looked down at her "... that she's..."

Can you see me? Please... somehow... I'm right here! Yuuu-huuu!

"I'm sorry... I'm so, so sorry" Wendy said in a sad tone and stopped the healing process, before covering her eyes with her hands "It's too late..."

No! No, no, no! Please! Don't say that!

"... no..." Natsu looked at Wendy and Lucy in turn "... it can't be..."

You're right! It can't be, because it's not!

"... I'm sorry..." the healer whimpered, clearly distraught by the situation "I can't..."

I'm not... Lucy's voice cracked painfully as she felt something inside of her shattering.

If she was in her normal body, she was sure tears would be falling by now. But nothing happened... all she could feel was her emotions ravaging, threatening to overwhelm her.

"No..." Natsu shook his head in denial, before crawling over the celestial mage's body, where he placed his hands on each site of her body "... it can't be... Lucy please..."

Natsu... I'm right here... please don't... don't cry...

It was weird but she actually wanted to feel, the tears that was landing on her face.

Not being able to feel her body and knowing how her body would usually react was too much...

"Luce... you can't..." the dragon slayer sucked in his breath before placing his forehead against hers "... please"

I'm not... why can't you hear me? Why... why are you crying like that...

"... no..." he closed his eyes and placed his hands on her cheeks.

Why do you look so fragile... shaking, crying... please... I don't want to see you like that...

Please...

Suddenly a unnatural and primal scream emerged from Natsu's lips as his body started to twist and turn, as if he was in pain.

What's wrong?

Natsu clutched his head with both hands and got into a standing position.

Please tell me...

Lucy watched as the markings on Natsu's arm started to glow and spread across his body, until the markings was covering various places.

It looked so painful... ohhh god... his scream... it was like listening to a tortured soul.

She had never heard anything so heartbreaking before.

Don't give in! Hang in there! Be strong and fight it! Come on don't...

Lucy watched in horror as horns suddenly started to emerge from Natsu's head. When they were completely spawned, he stopped screaming and just stood there panting.

No... no... DON'T do this! Come back!

Bewildered she watched as Erza approached him, her hand on the handle of her sword.

"Natsu...?" the woman asked while narrowing her eyes.

Erza don't... he's not him...

"No" Gray's voice came from somewhere she couldn't see, but it sounded like he was both bewildered but also slightly angry "It can't be"

"What's going on?" Happy's fragile voice came from somewhere beside her.

"Natsu-san" Wendy's voice was shaking indicating that she was crying.

Please someone... save him...

A high-pitched laughter escaped Natsu's mouth as he leaned his head backwards, almost as if he was laughing at the sky.

Yeah because the sky was incredibly funny... someone should give it an award for being so hilarious. Wait what was she thinking? Stupid, stupid Lucy!

"I presume that you are no longer our precious comrade" Erza unsheathed her sword and pointed it towards Natsu's neck "With that said, I think I know who you are"

"Tsch, like d'uuuh?" Natsu spat with a hint of annoyance "You ain't as quick as the blonde girl, but it saves me the trouble of explaining myself"

"What?" Happy was suddenly standing in front of her almost shielding her view "Who?"

"END" Gray snarled in a voice, dripping with anger.

"No..." the cat shook his head "... it can't be"

"Ohhh yes!" Natsu's eyes widened making him look slightly crazy "Hell I am! And you know what?"

"What?" Happy said in a low and barely audible tone.

"I am the sort of demon that eats cats for breakfast!" he licked his lips "And I haven't eaten in like forever!" another laugh emerged from Natsu, making the cat flinch in horror.

Don't listen to him!

"Anyhow..." Natsu turned his head to glare mockingly at Erza "... I'm not really in the mood to fight you guys right now, so do you mind looking the other way as tap dance my way outta here?"

"You know we can't do that" the armoured mage narrowed her eyes.

"Come on, don't you wanna see how awesome I am at tap dancing?" Natsu tilted his head to the side and smiled widely.

Wow, and you constantly say I'm weird...

"Enough of your shenanigans" Erza snorted impatiently "Now tell us how we can bring back our friend you foul beast, before I cut your throat"

"I dunno" the demon shrugged "So I guess you'll just have to cut my throat. Like..." he motioned his claw like finger in a straight line across his throat "... sssshhht!"

"You..." the scarlet haired woman growled.

"So you also feel like slicing my throat Graa~aay?" Natsu chuckled "My best buddy!"

"Shut up!" the ice mage snarled.

"Whaaat?" Natsu pointed a finger in the direction she presumed Gray was "We totally are aren't we? You're my old pal and my favourite chump"

Don't fall for it, you know better than that!

"I'm not your friend" Gray's voice was low and filled with anger.

"No? Ohh well I didn't think you were ready to go to the next level yet..." Natsu winked at the ice mage.

"What are you talking about?!" he shot back.

"You know what I'm talking about" the demon chuckled and waved with his hand "There's no need to be shy about it"

"Shy about what?!" Gray shouted impatiently.

"That we're totally in love with each other "Natsu winked and blew a kiss in the ice mage's direction "Just you and me, sitting in a tree... eating them apples"

"Holy shit have you gone mad?!" Gray yelled in outrage.

"Maaaaybe..." the demon started to laugh hysterically for a few seconds.

"You know what, I'm gonna kick your ass just for being an idiot" the ice mage spat.

"Ahhh well..." Natsu shrugged as he cracked his knuckles "... guess I can't avoid kicking your asses now, huh?"

No don't... please! Gray you know better than to fall for his taunting!

Lucy saw dark flames spawning around Natsu and a second later she saw them all engaging in battle. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately, she couldn't watch all of it because they moved out of her field of vision.

Well not all of them, Happy was still standing next to her obviously shaken and traumatised from the turn of events.

The sound of the battle was horrifying and nerve wracking, especially because she couldn't see who was winning.

Or seriously injured...

Lucy wanted to do something, anything but no matter how loud she yelled nothing happened.

No one could hear her screaming.

"What is this?" Erza yelled all of a sudden "I didn't take you for a coward. Come back here and fight me like a man!"

"Fucking idiot...!" Gray roared"... you better fucking come back here and remove this!"

"Hell naw, bro!" Natsu laughed cheerfully "I ain't got time to play with you, but call my secretary and we can set up a date, kay? A play date! Then I'll show you guess my toy collection and everything!"

What was going on? Why couldn't she see! Gosh darn it!

"Ohh..." Happy started shaking uncontrollably.

"Move it..." Natsu said from somewhere not that far away.

"... n-no..." the cat raised his arms as if he was trying to shield her.

What the heck?!

"... please Happy... I don't want to hurt you" the former Dragon Slayer pleaded.

"But..." the cat sniffled loudly.

"I'm not gonna do anything weird, I just wanna say goodbye to her"

Why would he want to do that?

"I..." the cat reluctantly took a step to the side and a second later Natsu was hovering above her, his eyes sparkling in a red devious colour.

"... you stupid idiot... why did you have to go and get yourself killed" a sad chuckle escaped his lips as he gently scooped her into his arms and hugged her against his torso.

Huh? Wait what... huh?!

"I guess I should thank you though. If you hadn't died then I wouldn't be here. But still... that was a high price to pay... ohh well" he said and gently placed her on the ground "Nothing is fair in life is it?"

Yeah, but why are you hugging me? This is freakishly weird!

"Ohh but before I leave" he removed his scarf and wrapped it around her neck "I don't need this no more"

Why are you leaving that here? Why?

"Ahhh, it's been ages, since I've felt this great" he said his face twisting momentarily, as if he was in pain "It'll change soon though..."

Change... what will change?

"I can feel it..." he placed his hand on his face and peeked through his claw like fingers, his eyes glistening with madness for a second "... the anger... is building up... I can't control it much longer. I have to..."

Have to what? Please tell me...

"... Natsu..." Happy whimpered, but the demon ignored him.

"Anyhow..." Natsu sighed "... I better get going, before I change my mind and somehow manage to kill those idiots... take care of her corpse cat" the demon waved his hand dismissively, before he started walking away and soon he vanished in the distance.

What... what happened... Happy... she looked at the cat who was silently crying his eyes out.

Ohh...

Lucy didn't know how much time passed, as she listened to Erza, Gray and Wendy talking to each other. Unfortunately they were too far away for her to listen in on their conversation, so all she could do was lay there and listen to Happy crying.

Ugh... this was getting old and frustrating!

After a while she heard them approaching and a second later they were all standing above her staring at her with tears glistening in their eyes.

Wait... not you too? Why can't you hear me, why can't you see me? I'm not dead...

I'm not... dead...

What if she would stay forever like this, captured in her body?

The thought was horrifying, making her scream in frustration.

"I'll carry her" Gray said before placing his arms underneath her body.

None of them said anything as they started walking, presumably towards their guild.

She didn't know why they didn't talk... maybe they were too emotionally involved in what had happened, that they didn't feel the need to say anything.

Hopefully someone at the guild could sense her... if not... the future might be rather horrible.

~ o ~ O ~ o ~

Lucy was right in predicting the future would be horrible. Actually it was really heartbreaking, making the celestial mage feel miserable.

When they got to the guild, all the members there went frantic and started screaming, crying but also yelling in outrage. Some people hugged her, others started taking out their anger on objects. A lot was too shocked to do anything and some tried their best to comfort each other.

It was so sad... she never wanted to experience something like that...

Because she wasn't dead! She was right there!

They just didn't know that...

After a while they placed her, in the room that was next to the guild hall, because looking at her unmoving was too much for them.

So now she was all alone...laying on an old bed...

Greeeeat...

Lucy laid cursing her unfortunate fate, when the door opened and a blue cat entered the room.

"I know you can't hear me..." Happy said as he stood next to her "... but I don't know where else to go..." he shook his head "... I want to be alone and yet... I don't..."

The cat sniffled as he started to cry out loud.

"It's... not fair" snot was now streaming out of his nose as well, but the cat paid it no attention.

And why would he? He thought he was with a corpse?

Still crying the cat laid down on top of her body, hugging her tightly with his tiny arms.

Wait... should she be weirded out by this?

They laid like that for a long period of time, when Happy suddenly seemed to stiffen.

"What...?" the cat mumbled and rubbed his head forcefully against her chest.

Oy, oy... perverted cat!

"... no way..." Happy whispered as he laid perfectly still, with one ear pressed against her chest.

"Maybe it's just my imagination..." the cat muttered "... no... there it was again..."

Happy looked up at her before he stormed out of the room, only to come back dragging Wendy behind him.

"Please, just listen okay? I need to be sure it's not just me" the cat said in encouragement to the healer.

"Su-sure" Wendy stuttered as she found herself suddenly standing beside the celestial mage.

The girl let out a sigh clearly uncomfortable about the situation, before placing her head on Lucy's chest.

Nothing seemed to happen in a long time though.

"I'm sorry" Wendy said in a sad tone "but I don't think... ohh..." she jumped in surprise.

"You heard it?!" Happy asked enthusiastically.

"Yes!" the healer placed her head on Lucy's chest again, waiting for whatever sound she had heard a moment before to spawn again.

"I'm getting the master" Wendy nodded towards Happy and rushed out of the room. It didn't take long before she returned with the master who weeping behind her.

"Can't you..." he sniffled profoundly "... leave a poor old man alone to mourn the loss of his children"

"Please, you need to hear this" the healer urged.

"Listen to what?" Makarov wiped his eyes.

"I need you to listen to her chest"

"Her... chest?" the blush that had already been on his cheeks, due to him probably drinking his sorrows away, increased.

Aww hell no...

The man coughed dramatically into his hand but she saw the lusty smirk on his lips, he was trying to hide from the others.

Ohh but she saw it! That perverted old goat!

"Very well, if you insist" giggling Makarov placed his head on her chest.

Which he was rubbing way to much for her liking... eww! Talk about being necrophilic!

"... what...?!" he suddenly became very still and listened more intently to the sound he had heard "what?!"

Makarov turned his to the healer looking both outraged but also eager.

"I know" Wendy nodded.

"But how... that shouldn't be possible" he rubbed his chin and gave Wendy and Happy a determined look "You guys stay here, I'll go get Porlyusica"

And with that said, he left the two to stare at each other for a few seconds, before they started staring at Lucy intensely.

Which quickly got rather awkward and weird...

She didn't how much time passed before the master returned with Porlyusica.

Who still looked super terrifying.

"Mmm..." the elder woman grabbed Lucy's wrist and stood with it for a couple of minutes. Which made the blonde feel really uncomfortable.

"Well..." Makarov asked in a demanding tone.

"Zeref did this right?" Porlyusica asked in her cold voice.

"Aye" Happy answered in intimidation.

"Mmm... I see" the woman nodded "I think I know what this is"

"What?" Makarov narrowed his eyes at the woman.

"Suspended animation" the older healer sighed "It's a dark magic, where you force the body to shut down for a specific period of time, leaving it in some sort of stalemate"

Well that made sense!

"Ohhh" the tiny man's eyes widened in surprise.

"Sorry, but I don't get it" Happy said while staring at his feet.

"It's like someone put her body on pause" the master said "Is that why we could hear something that sounded like a heartbeat?"

"Yes" Porlyusica nodded "When the time period of the spell starts to vanish, her own body starts to slowly pull itself back to life. However her body will be weak when it recovers, and needs time to do so"

"To life?!" Happy gasped in surprise "No way?!"

"Really?" Wendy asked in a cheerful tone.

"Were you listening to what I just said?!" Porlyusica growled, making Wendy and Happy yelp before they started hugging each other.

"But when? How?" Makarov asked.

"Soon, I would guess" the woman answered "If I'm not mistaken she is already here, trapped inside her own body"

"Ohh... hehe... so she might have seen that" Makarov chuckled nervously and rubbed his neck.

You bet I saw! And when I get back I'm gonna kick your ass so hard, that you'll receive a one way ticket to the spiritual world..

"Did you do something perverted again?" Porlyusica looked at him with judgemental eyes.

"No, no! I would never!" he waved his hands in front of him in protest.

Tsch, fat old liar!

"If that was all I'm going back home" the woman turned on her heels and stormed out of the room.

"That's good news!" Happy cheered and was about to leave the room to tell everyone, when he felt someone grab his tail.

"We'll keep this quiet until she wakes up" Makarov said.

"Why?" Happy asked looking bewildered "Everyone needs to know"

Yeah why?

"Imagine if something went wrong and she doesn't wake up" the master said "I don't want to get their hopes up only to crush them again. Besides if she wakes up soon, we wont have to keep it a secret for long now do we?"

Ohh...

"Okay..." the cat nodded "... in that case I'm staying here!"

"Me too!" Wendy clenched her fist in determination "Who knows how she feels when she wakes up? I mean maybe she needs me to heal her or something"

"You guys" Makarov was suddenly crying again "You're making your father proud"

Still with tears streaming down his face the tiny man left the room.

Happy and Wendy looked at each other and nodded.

Now all they had to do was wait.


A/N: Enter the world of angst, oh yeah! XD

Right now END/Natsu sounds weird and insane, but you'll understand why he acts the way he does later on. I mean I don't want him to be 100% chaotic evil all the time, because I want him to be slightly more versatile. That makes him a far more interesting villain, instead of him only going on a rampage. Besides he's a guildmaster, so he must have some rationality somewhere, right? ;)

Thank you frozem1 for your reviews :) I can't answer guest reviews, but I want you to know that I really appreciate it *bro fist*