I want to thank you all for following, favouring and reviewing my story... I'm glad some of you are enjoying it.

Only two chapters left... So I hope you enjoy this chapter and look forward to the conclusion to this story next time.

Previously...

I had seen Natsu run before but this was truly impressive! By the time I noticed he was gone, he was already on the second bridge and quickly closing in on the third one.

"I-I love you!" I said as tears rolled down my cheeks and fell to the ground below, staining the stones beneath my feet. "Goodbye Natsu!..." I sighed as I slowly turned and disappeared leaving only a faint wisp of black smoke behind.

Chapter 9 - Sacrifices and Hell's Favorite Demon - Part 1

Fairy Tail, Several Days later...

Makarov's POV

It's been nearly a week since Lisanna returned home safe and sound but...

...I put on a brave face as I explained to everyone that Natsu and Lucy would not be returning to us at that particular time, there were many complaints and some obvious disappointment due to my announcement but they understood that sometimes a mission goes beyond it's intended time-line... I lied!

A few days later as if by some strange occurrence or maybe some higher-power's intervention, everyone had forgotten who Natsu and Lucy were or even that they were once close friends... It was as if they had never existed! Only Lisanna and I knew that this simply wasn't the case!

I was never told exactly what had transpired in Hell, only that Lucy's mother had passed a message on to me stating that Lucy would not be returning. She wouldn't give any further details other than the basic mumbo-jumbo! As for Natsu, I've not heard a word about him or his whereabouts and I fear the worst as he may have ended up stuck in that awful place, a sacrificed to save us!

I was sitting on the bar enjoying one of Mira's finest, when my mind started to wander... As I looked out over my children, I sighed as I thought of the two children who would not be returning me. I knew it was out of my hands, yet it was still a bitter pill to swallow... I laid my drink on the bar and coyly wiped the tears that was threatening to fall.

"Master!..." A low voice stirred me from my thoughts. "I'm sorry... I-I truly am! It's my fault they're not here!" The young Take-Over mage said as she leaned over the bar and rested her head on my slumped shoulder.

I looked up and did my best to offer up a reassuring smile, "child this isn't your fault! They made their decisions and we must live with it... I'm sure they did it for our sake!" I said as I lightly patted her head.

"Really!" She sniffed as she desperately tried to force back the tears that were threatening to fall. I smiled as I reached over and wipped the corners of her eyes. "I hope they forgive me for what I did!"

"Of course they do my child..." I leaned in and softly whispered so even our Dragon Slayers couldn't hear. "They crossed Hell just to bring you home... I hope that can somehow put your fears to rest!"

"It helps Master!... I just wish they were here! Even though no one remembers them and they are all back to normal... Still, this place doesn't feel the sam..." Lisanna sighed as she was interrupted by her older sister, who had just returned from serving Gajeel his usual plate of scrap iron.

"What was that Lis?... Remember?... Remember who dear?" She curiously asked as she rested her elbows on the bar and waited intently for an answer.

"Hmmm! What was that child!?" I nonchalantly said in hopes her query would vanish.

"Oh! Nee-chan, we were... Umm!... Talking about a story Gramps said he told us when we were kids. H-He said that none of us remembered it... But I did!" Lisanna smiled.

"...And what story was that?" Mira said as her curiosity was aroused.

"Well!... Let me see. I believe it was a story about a feisty, Fire Dragon Slayer and a big-breasted, Celestial Maiden! About how the two inseparable mages saved Fiore and it's people over and over again from those that would harm the innocent!" I said with a proud smile.

"What was that about a Fire Dragon Slayer?" The young Ice-Make mage said as he took a familiar seat at the end of the bar and grinned. He gently moved about making himself comfortable and his grin quickly turned to a warm smile as contentment crossed his face.

"I wanna hear that one Master... They sound manly!" I slowly shook my head as I noticed we were starting to attract a crowd... Actually it would seem all my children were now gathering around myself and Lisanna, hanging on every word I spoke.

"Please tell us about them!" Happy exclaimed as he landed on Lisanna's head... She forced a smile for her young one.

"I'm interested to hear about this weak slayer as well!" Gajeel laughed.

"Weak!..." I burst out laughing at the thought of the destructive pinkette. "My boy, he was anything but weak!... I'd say he was the strongest Dragon Slayer that ever walked through Fiore!"

"Doubt that Gramps!" Laxus grinned as he took up a familiar position, leaning against the bar-back with his arms folded.

"He kicked your as..." I cleared my throat as I just caught myself in time. "I mean... He could kick your ass is what I meant to say!" Lisanna giggled as she lightly grabbed my arm. "Shhh!" She leaned in and whispered to me.

"He was that strong!" Erza sighed as she laid her plate and fork on the counter and leaned in to listen to my tale.

"What about this Celestial Mage..." Mira asked with a slight grin. "Not as strong as my Celestial Spirit Take-Over I'd bet!"

"Well my child you'd loose that bet!" I laughed as Mira crossed her arms over her chest and huffed.

"Please tell us their story Master!" Wendy said as Gajeel reached down and picked her up, gently placed her on the bar directly in front of me. She was startled for a moment but quickly thanked him.

"Well why not, I got some time to kill!" I smiled as everyone began pulling up chairs in an effort to get comfortable while I began my tale. I rubbed my hands together as I searched for the best way to tell them about their missing friends for which they had no memories off and then a brilliant idea occurred to me... Embellish the truth!

"It all started many, many years ago when a young Dragon Slayer went off in search of his father... The great Fire Dragon, Igneel!" I stopped as I was quickly interrupted.

"I-I heard of him, wasn't he the King of the Fire Dragons! I heard he was almost as strong as Acnologia!" Gajeel said with a smile.

"That's the one!..." I smiled. "Anyway, he was a rambunctious and fool-hardy kid who was always the first to run towards a fight, where most would run in the opposite direction... And It often got him into trouble but he always seemed to over-come whatever obstacle was placed before him."

"He'd fit in here, perfectly!" Carla sighed as she landed on Wendy's lap and took her normal spot.

"Funny you should mention that..." I grinned as I slowly took a sip of my ale and carefully placed my glass back on the counter. "He was a member of Fairy Tail at one time but that seems like a lifetime ago now!"

"Wow that's so cool!" Nab said as he listened intently.

"As I was saying, he loved to fight! Whether he was over-compensating for his pink hair or his over-active slayer abilities, whatever the case may be he was always in a fight - well let's just say he was a handful!..." I leaned forward and drew in everyone's attention and softly whispered, "...But between you and I... He was as dumb as a sack of nails!" I chuckled as I recalled some of his finer moments.

...The guild burst into a fit of laughter at my dull humour, even Lisanna lightened up a little and cracked a smile.

I lifted Lisanna's face up and winked, "I knew you could smile child!"

"Thank you Master!" Lisanna said and I quietly responded. "Your welcome child!"

"Now where was I?..." I paused as I rubbed my chin and then it occurred to me. "Right!... The Dragon Slayer! Well he was the first ever Dragon Slayer that our guild had ever had, so we had no idea what he was capable off but over time we came to learn that he was a loyal boy who would gladly lay down his life for his friends. You could say, that he'd walk through hell and back for you, for his friends, or anyone worthy of his respect because that was the type of person he was!... And strong!... His magic and strength grew as he grew and over time he was one of the most powerful mages in Fiore. He was on par with the best of the best... Wizard Saint strong, he was!"

"Wow!... I wouldn't mind testing myself against someone of his calibre!" Gildarts grinned.

"I suppose you would!" I laughed at the though of all the times Natsu challenged Gildarts and failed miserably. "Anyway, he'd heard a rumour about a Dragon in Hargeon Town and he rushed off with hope that it was Igneel, his adopted father but it wasn't... Several days later he returned with a beautiful brown-eyed blonde in tow, apparently they had met in Hargeon Town and practically destroyed the port town. Why?... I don't know, but I remember seeing a request in our old files for remuneration for the damages they caused."

"...But Master you said she was a Celesial Mage!" Droy curiously said. "That would make her a Holder-Type wouldn't it and we all know that they are pretty weak against other magic users!"

"My boy that may be the case most times but I can assure you that it was far from the case with regards to her... She wasn't a fighter like most here but she was as powerful a mage as any one standing in this room. I remember hearing that she could summon two Golden Zodiacs at a time. She could perform a unison raid with anyone she felt comfortable with... Her kick was legendary! Even our young Fire Dragon Slayer would cower when she was pissed!" I turned to Lisanna and laughed.

"I could take her!" Laxus laughed and I lowered my head and sighed only to be rudely jostled back to reality by the clanging of metal as Erza had her sword pointed at a terrified Laxus' throat.

"Do not disrespect our nakama, especially one who is not here to defend herself!" Erza growled as she slowly with-drew her sword and motioned for me to continue. It bought a smile to my face to see Erza still defend her dear sister even if she had no memory of her.

"T-Thank you child!" I nervously said as she kindly smiled. "Don't be a fool boy!... That girl you just said you could easily take was able to summon the Spirit King himself and no Celestial mage has ever been able to do that, other than her of course! So don't you dear, make light of her!"

"Geez, sorry it was just a joke!" Laxus grumbled, his face red with embarrassment.

"No one is to make lite of either of them as they were both proud and honourable members of this guild!" I growled.

"I think I would have liked her, but I'm sorry Master, I think he would have rubbed me the wrong way!" Gray sighed and then started to laugh as if he was envisioning a fight with said Dragon Slayer. "Fire and Ice don't mix, you know!"

"Love-rival..." Juvia said as a lone tear rolled down her cheek.

"How can she be a "Love-Rival" if she's not here!" Evergreen explained with a smug grin.

I just kept thinking that even though they don't remember either of their missing comrades, somewhere deep down they know them somehow, a very deep-rooted bond perhaps... And that made all this worthwhile.

One Year Later...

We were slowly loosing our battle with Tartaros and it looked like our end was near... Face was destroyed and some of Tartaros' lesser demons were eliminated but the battle was still raging on and had come with a terrible price, as most of my children were either incapable of fighting on or were now on the brink of death... Our only hope was Lumen Histoire, Fairy Tail's last hope!

"I-I'm sorry First!... I..." I fell to my knees as my tired old body felt the years of abuse it had suffered and yet I knew I would survive this... My sins had yet to be re-payed! "I..."

"Third, don't!... We both knew it would come to this!... It would happen eventually!" Mavis said as she sat a-top a large crystal that housed her human form. "...Besides Gray, Gajeel, Mest and Erza are just about at their limits! I fear they won't last much longer!"

"...But to sacrifice one life for another, that just doesn't sit right with me!" I sighed as thoughts of old friends flashed through my mind... A destructive Dragon Slayer and his beautiful blonde companion. "I miss them now more than I'd care to admit!"

"Miss who Third?" The blonde Master curiously inquired as her dangling legs swayed back and forth.

"Oh!... Sorry First, just the ramblings of an old ma..." I never got a chance to finish my sentence when a blinding flash of light appeared before us. As I pulled my arm down from shielding my eyes, two familiar figures stood before me. My knees grew weak at the sight of my lost children as they stood proudly in front of me with bright smiles - they hadn't changed a bit not since I had last seen them... Even their clothes were the same! They smiled and proudly flashed their guild marks.

"Gramps!" The pink-haired mage grinned

"Master..." The Celestial Maiden exclaimed. "Sorry we're late! You can blame this idiot here, for that!"

"S-Stop calling me an idiot... Idiot!" Natsu growled and cowered as he'd realized what he'd said.

"...And who got us lost?" Lucy returned Natsu's growl. "...And don't call me an idiot!"

"ENOUGH!" I roared and a second later they were both standing at attention with smirks on their faces. "W-Why are you here?"

"Well!..." Natsu tilted his head and grinned. "...To kick some demon ass, of course!... Besides Luce was itchin' to let loose and have some fun!" Lucy leaned in and kissed Natsu's cheek and grinned before pointing to the battlefield.

"Let's have some fun Natsu!" Lucy's aura darkened as her red eyes never turned from the battlefield off in the distance.

"Oh no!..." I lowered my head as the two mages disappeared. "...I hope they don't do anything stupid!"

"Third we have to stop them before they get hurt..." Mavis jumped off her crystal and grabbed my hand in an attempt to lead me towards the battlefield and the strangers who were just before us. "...I don't know who they were but we better stop them before they do something stupid like you said!"

I stopped dead in my tracks and grinned... It was only then did I realize what First had said and I couldn't help but drop to my knees and laugh... "I'm not scared for those two!... I-I'm afraid that Tartaros will do something stupid!" I sighed as Mavis stood there, her face mired in confusion.

"D-Demon!..." My eyes shot open and I pointed to a dark figure that had now entered the battlefield. "...Don't look First, this isn't going to be pretty!"

Okay so only one chapter left... I hope you all look forward to it!

Chapter 10 - Sacrifices and Hell's Favorite Demon - Part 2 will be up next weekend and MAY be a longer chapter than normal. COOL!

Till Next Time...