With the battle all but lost, Mount Olympus fell under the control of Mard Geer and the six remaining Demon Gates. The once-golden paradise of the Olympians sported the scars of a war they failed to win. Dark clouds smothered the skies and bolted out the heavenly light. The gutted remains of weapons, chariots, and majestic architecture stood bleak, sporting different degrees of damage. The gods and goddesses were captured and enchained by the usurpers, forced to serve their every whim.
"Hup, two, three, four! C'mon, everybody!" Kain and Rustyrose led the captive and helpless gods in a straight line. Holding a megaphone in his hand, Kain screamed at Leo's ear, "I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"
Leo winced, "Ouch! Easy on the ears, fat man." He rubbed his ear in agitation, "It's tough all over, all right?"
Meanwhile, Igneel was still trapped in the mound, frozen from one side and scorched from the other, courtesy of Jackal and Seilah. Mard Geer watched the scene unfold in the comfort of a large chair that used to be his brother's throne. He chuckled smugly, "How does it feel, brother? The mighty king of Olympus, meeting his downfall at the hands of Etherious, the very first rulers of the world before it was born. I had such high hopes for you… I thought you were the strongest of all the gods."
Igneel did not reply. His breath came heavy, and his face was cold and severe.
Mard grinned, "But I suppose fate had other ideas. You could've been remembered as a herald of change, the founder of a grand new world. As it turned out, the only one with the title was me. A new time is upon us, and I'll be on top of the heap. And I've set the precedent for what will be done to you."
Igneel looked his brother right in the face with fire in his eyes. "You will reap what you have sown," he scowled. "So help me, Mard, when I get out of here…" He didn't finish his sentence, as the fire and ice swallowed him whole.
Mard scoffed, holding a glass of wine in his hand, "I'm the one giving the orders now, Fire Breath. And I think I'm going to like it here." Proud of his ultimate victory, he took a sip…
"Don't get too comfortable, Mard!" a familiar voice boomed, causing the Lord of the Dead to spit the wine out of his mouth. Looking around, he caught sight of the one who made the noise… and it was with heavy shock.
"NO!" Mard exclaimed furiously, bursting with his dark aura. "IT CAN'T BE!"
Emerging from the dark clouds was a blazing comet of fire. When the flames subsided, it revealed Natsu, Wendy, Romeo, Happy, and Carla, having entered the fray to put an end to Mard's ambition.
Metalicana exclaimed, "Hey, look! Ig's kid!"
Weisslogia cheered, "The son of Igneel has come!"
Skiadrum stated, "And he's not alone!"
Aries began, "He's brought…"
"Wendy!" Grandeeney noticed Wendy's arrival with a joyful expression. "It's my child! My daughter! She's come to aid my brother's son!"
Kemo-Kemo pointed out, "And he's brought another one with him!"
Aquarius guessed, "The mortal child. His name is Romeo, isn't it?"
Imitatia grinned, "It's a team of three! They've come to set us free!"
Mavis cried, "Thank Gaea! We're saved!"
Taurus shouted happily, "Heck, yeah! Those kids are makin' their moooooove!"
The gods and goddesses cheered, praising Team Natsu's arrival. Taking it as the cue, the salmon-haired boy smirked. He signaled Wendy and Romeo, "Alright, Team Natsu, it's time for business!"
"Okay!" Wendy nodded.
"Alright!" Romeo complied.
"Aye, sir!" Happy affirmed.
"Ready!" Carla nodded.
"This oughta even the odds! Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade!" Natsu transformed his arms into indestructible blades of radiant fire.
"Sky Dragon's Sharp Wind Blades!" Wendy transformed her arms into blades of wind capable of slicing anything it touches.
"Purple Fire: Scissors!" Romeo's left arm transformed into purple fire materialized into a giant scissors.
Utilizing their respective techniques, Natsu, Wendy, and Romeo sliced through every single chain, freeing all of the Olympians from captivity.
"Alright, Natsu!" Leo cheered, beating up Kain and Rustyrose and getting himself free. "Thank you, man!"
"GET THEM!" Mard roared at the Demon Gates.
Jackal the Lava Etherious breathed molten lava, and the young heroes took notice. "Look out!" Natsu shouted. Immediately, they moved out of the way, and the molten lava missed its mark and covered Mard in it instead.
Mard coughed, "No, not me, you idiots! Them! THEM! THEEEEEEM!"
Torafuzar the Aquatic Etherious summoned a tidal wave of poisonous water against Natsu, Wendy, and Romeo, but Happy and Carla flew their Dragon Slayer partners out of the way in time, and Romeo rocketed himself from range. The tidal wave smashed Mard, and the moment it connected with the lava he was smothered in, the fire was extinguished, resulting in hot steam that scorched Mard's body with extreme pain.
"YEEEEEEEEOOOOWWW!" Mard screeched in agony. His body was filled with tremendous burn marks, and his clothing was charred and wet. "NO, GET THEM! NOT ME, THEM!"
Seilah the Ice Etherious breathed a storm of deadly icicles at Natsu, Wendy, Romeo, Happy, and Carla, but the young heroes knocked them away repeatedly with their respective magics.
"Follow my fingers! Them!" Mard ordered, before Seilah's ice storm accidentally froze his body solid. He continued through gritting teeth, "The brats with the cats."
Wendy offered, "We'll distract Mard and the others!"
Romeo urged, "You go ahead and help your dad!"
Natsu smiled, "Thanks, guys. You're a big hand." He turned to Happy, "Take me to my dad!"
"Aye, sir!" Happy replied. He flew Natsu towards the stone mound Igneel was trapped in, and dropped him right on top of it. With his bare hands, the Fire Dragon Slayer split it wide open, setting Igneel free. Screaming in absolute rage, Mard erupted in a dark, fiery explosion, freeing himself from his icy prison in the process.
"Thank you, my boy," Igneel smiled warmly. He placed his hands around Natsu's shoulders, proud to see his son amidst the strife and turmoil. Natsu smiled back.
"Sky Dragon's Crushing Fang!"
"Purple Fire: Superman Punch!"
Wendy and Romeo chased down Kain and Rustyrose and pinned them with their spells.
Wendy smiled playfully, "Good to see you again, Mard's friends. Long time no see!"
Romeo pointed a finger at the two minions, "You captured us and tried to hurt our friends! We're here for some payback!"
Carla grinned mischievously, "Let's finish this, shall we?"
Wendy and Romeo agreed in unison with a smirk, "Let's."
Rustyrose yelped, "Now, now, children. Be nice. Our intentions were pure."
Kain shivered, "Yeah, I really was attracted to the pretty girl in ponytails."
Wendy and Romeo proceeded to beat up Kain and Rustyrose like punching bags. Carla laughed in amusement, and Happy flew over and stood beside her.
Carla remarked, "Wendy never ceases to impress. She stood bravely against the Lord of the Dead and his band of monsters. In my opinion, she's become the best Sky Dragon Slayer ever!"
"You said it, Carla," Happy agreed. "Wendy, Natsu, AND Romeo are three of a kind. We're lucky to have friends like them."
"Oh, you have no idea—" Carla began.
She stopped when Happy kissed her on the cheek. The kiss caused her to blush like crazy, and she began to giggle awkwardly.
Happy asked dreamily, "Wanna share a fish with me when we get back home?"
Carla replied blushingly, "Oh, why, yes. Of course. I'd love to share a fish with you."
After defeating Kain and Rustyrose, Wendy and Romeo took notice. They smiled to themselves, glad that Happy and Carla were starting to get together. Just then, another unexpected thing happened: the two were holding each other's hands! It would appear that Happy and Carla weren't the only ones…
Meanwhile, Ezel the Rock Etherious and Kyôka the Plant Etherious surrounded Igneel and Natsu. "Not so fast, Igneel!" Ezel bellowed.
"You've got nowhere to go!" Kyôka sneered.
"Yes, nowhere to go… but through you!" Igneel smirked, noticing the endless mounds of fire created from Jackal's lava-like body. He inhaled mightily, and the gigantic sea of fire was absorbed into his stomach, increasing his strength a thousand fold. Igneel laughed madly, energized and more fired up than he had ever been, "HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! I'VE GOT A MAJOR FIRE IN MY BELLY!"
Natsu laughed, "Hey, that's my line!"
Igneel yelled, "Now, watch your old man work!"
"Uh-oh…" Ezel and Kyôka gulped.
Igneel hurled his mighty fire breath again, this time increased to ultimate, more destructive levels. The first fire breath attacked Kyôka; every trace of her body was consumed by endless flames, including all of her roots, her thorns, and her plants. With a dreadful scream, Kyôka exploded in a bright shockwave of fire, the remains of her body reduced to an endless rain of dust and ashes. The second fire breath struck Ezel; the fire was a thousand times hotter like the sun that Ezel's solid rock body melted and split in two. With that, the Rock Etherious fell motionless, and by the time he collapsed, he was reduced to a large pile of rocks.
The remaining Demon Gates caught wind of Kyôka and Ezel's death and began to panic. "Let's get out of here!" Jackal yelled, and he and his fellow Etherious started to leave, fearing the same thing might happen to them.
"Come back here, you cowards!" Mard snapped at his Demon Gates' cowardice. "Get your ethereal rears in gear and kick some Olympian butt!" Just then, Wendy and Romeo snuck up behind him, and the Sky Dragon Slayer conjured up small, sharp winds that cut Mard's hair, splitting it in half. Mard yelped, "M-My hair! What happened to my hair?!"
Wendy and Romeo laughed at Mard's expense, before they gave each other a hi-five. Romeo remarked, "Good one!"
Meanwhile, Natsu spotted Tempester the Tornado Etherious fluttering his tornado-shaped body. His mind flashed with an idea; he found the opportunity to defeat all of the Demon Gates at once. Burning with determination, Natsu grasped Tempester's tail and lifted him up, the monster unable to escape his grip, and the Tornado Etherious ended up sucking Jackal, Seilah, and Torafuzar into him. Natsu spun Tempester round and round, the three other Etherious mashed into a mixture of elements, and with all of his might, he threw them endless miles away into the empty vastness of space! Seconds later, a colossal explosion erupted, signaling the destruction of the four Etherious.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" Igneel laughed delightfully, giving a hi-five to Natsu. At last, the Eight Demon Gates were no more, never to pose a threat to the world again, thanks to his son.
"Whoo-hoo! You rock!" Natsu cheered victoriously.
"Congratulations, nephew," Mard remarked sarcastically, as he, Kain, and Rustyrose made their escape in their chariot. Natsu, Wendy, Romeo, Happy, and Carla took notice and began to chase after him. "But at least I've got one more consolation prize— a friend of yours who's DYING to see me!"
Natsu paused, his eyes widening with horror. He realized who his evil uncle referred to.
"Lucy…"
Observing the present world using the All-Seeing Eye in a mysterious dimension, the Fates predicted the inevitable. The final message of their prophecy proved true. The Eight Demon Gates fell, and Mard Geer Tartaros had failed; they knew it would happen all these years ago. Which brings them to their next task— Lucy Heartfilia, a mortal woman on the verge of death.
Natsu, Wendy, Romeo, Happy, and Carla descended to the world below as fast as they could, in the hopes of getting back to Crocus. They kept a remarkable pace, simply passing over the clouds that blocked their way.
Belno held a Thread of Life, the essence of a person's life… and it was Lucy's they were about to cut.
The young heroes sped faster and faster. They prayed for Lucy's well-being.
Hilda took out the scissors and inched it towards the thread.
They hoped they weren't too late…
SNIP!
The thread was cut.
And the next second, Lucy's hand turned limp in Yajima's hand.
"Lucy?" Natsu and his friends arrived back where they left Lucy. They went over to the blonde-haired girl's resting spot, their eyes silently pleading for good news.
Yajima looked back with a saddened expression, and he shook his head. This meant only one thing.
Lucy was gone.
"Lucy… No…" Natsu's face contorted with despair, his body trembled, and his eyes watered with tears. The anguish in his voice turning to silent sobs, he picked up Lucy's lifeless body, hugged it closer to him, and pressed his face against her chest. Natsu's friends felt their own grief of Lucy's death: Happy stood still and wept silently, Carla kept her gaze downward and closed her eyes mournfully, and Wendy instantly burst into tears and hugged Romeo, sobbing quietly in his arms, the latter hugging back while shedding tears of his own.
Yajima came over to Natsu, wiping a tear from his eye. He said sympathetically, "I'm sorry, Natsu. There are some things you just can't change."
Those words were sharp and penetrating; at the same time, they exuded a sincerity of sorts. His breaths slowly became normal as he stopped sobbing.
Natsu loved Lucy with all his heart. Everything had been perfect since she came along. He wanted to be with her, spend the rest of his life with her. Things hadn't changed, though, when the Lord of the Dead had entered the scene. Because of him, she was gone.
Or was she?
When he was forced to make a deal, that's when everything had gone wrong.
His debt lay with Mard Geer's.
Suddenly, Natsu lifted his face from Lucy's chest. Tears stained his face, but any other trace of sorrow had disappeared, and was instead replaced with a strong, determined expression. He gave his answer in a trembling voice, but its tone was filled with resolve.
"Yes, I can."