Lucy POV

My fist collided with Jackal's face, causing Jackal to fall limply to the ground. I looked over his body with a small smile.

"You're curse is gone, big brother." I smiled. "You can start over, now."

He stirred and looked up at me. His hand cupped my cheek and hoarsely he said, "Thank you, little sister." His hand moved to take a lock of my hair. "You look better when you look like mom…" He mumbled before passing out.

I heaved him up and half-dragged him over to Laxus, who picked up the weight I couldn't pull. I gave him a sad smile. "I'm sorry, Laxus."

He scowled at me. "Save it. Apologize when I feel like listening."

I understood his anger. I had abandoned him on a train, but like my mother had once told me and Jackal, with good intentions come bad consequences.

"Ok āsan! Are you alright?" Sting asked as he and Rogue ran up to us.

"I'm fine. I'm fine… I was just… wrong."

Laxus snorted. "Understatement of the year, that is." His tone was full of anger, but it was in no way misplaced.

"Laxus…" I asked with hope in my voice.

"No. I don't want to hear it. You're gonna tell me how giving yourself to Zeref would save all of us, but it wouldn't. Desperate times do not call for desperate measures. You were the Guild Master of Fairy Tail! Has that taught you nothing?!" He shouted. "If you fall from the light, and with a dangerous magic like yours, don't you think that innocent people could get hurt, or in the worst case, die? It's our job as mages to protect the defenseless."

"Lucy," Natsu said quietly, "You haven't picked up on the fact that you're the glue that holds us all together. If you aren't here, everything falls apart."

"For once this idiot is right, Lucy." Gray said while pointing his thumb at Natsu.

Erza laid a hand on my shoulder after Laxus and I set Jackal down on a nearby park bench. "Lucy, you mean the world to all of us."

"We need you, Lucy." Mira said as Freed, who was holding her hand, nodded in agreement.

Tears began to brim in my eyes as I gave them all a smile. "Minna…"

Lisanna walked up to me with tears flowing down her face and gave me a bone-crushing hug. "I was so worried. Don't run off like that ever again, Lucy. We were all so worried…"

I returned her hug and tears tenfold. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…" I repeated over and over again for a good twenty minutes before we pulled away from each other.

Gently, with my enhanced hearing due to my newly awakened Dragon Slayer magic, I heard my older brother groan and roll off the bench with a thud.

"Damn it, Lucy. That hurt!"

"Onii-san! Sorry!" I squeaked. I looked up and realized I got quite a few raised eyebrows at this. "Oh, Minna, meet my older brother, Jack Heartfilia or Jackal as he prefers."

"WHAT?!" They screamed.

Jackal looked up at them with an 'I'm not amused' look. "Yeah, this is my little sister. We're both children of the Dragon of the Heavens. We're the last two I believe. You see Heavenly Dragon magic works a lot like Nirvana. We each of what you would call "light magic" and a "dark magic". Lucy's is her-"

"Celestial Spirits! And her dark magic is her Dragon Slayer magic!" Levy shouted, putting the pieces together. "You also have Dragon Slayer magic, right?"

Jackal looked down at his feet and I rushed to go comfort him. "No… I'm the black sheep… Or as Grandfather put it, I'm a disgrace."

"As he was saying, we have Nirvana within ourselves, but that doesn't mean we're immune; we just have a higher tolerance to it. We also have to keep one side in check…" I looked to my older brother with pleading eyes for him to continue.

He gave me a soft smile and a pat on the back. "We can choose what side we fight for, the Light or the Dark. If one completely takes over, the other starts to die. If they are kept in a close balance or in Lucy's case, one side is dormant, we're stable." He took a deep breath and continued. "I know we don't exactly have the best history with each other, but please, don't hold this against her. Pin it all on me. I was the one that told Zeref about her existence. I was the reason he awoke her memories four years ago. It was my fault, so please don't hold this against her." Jackal bowed, showing his plea was sincere.

Master Makarov was the first speak up. "Of course, child, we don't hold it against her, or you. You were misguided and it is Fairy Tail's duty to steer people back onto their path."

Gajeel walked up to Jackal. "What Master is saying is that you should join Fairy Tail. You'll do well here."

"Juvia and Gajeel-kun were both steered back to the right path when Juvia and Gajeel-kun were in an evil, dark place. Juvia thinks Love Rival - err - Lucy's brother should join Fairy Tail."

Jackal looked to me and I gave him an encouraging nod. "Go for it. You'll like it there. We fight all the time, we take crazy missions, and we're a family. And I'd love to have my brother there with me." I held my hand out to him.

Slowly, he placed his hand in mine. "Okay, for my little sister, because you can get annoying when you beg." He teased with a grin gracing his features.

"I DO NOT!" I yelled.

"Oh, I recall different. Remember when you were five and you begged me to carry you around the mansion in my back? You wouldn't stop crying until I finally caved."

I laughed. "It's not my fault you can't handle girl tears."

"It's not my fault you're such a crybaby." He retorted.

I began to tear up a little with fake tears. "But, Onii-san…"

He looked at me and a flash of guilt was seen through his face. "S-sorry, Lucy." He brought me into his side and patted my head awkwardly.

I smirked and poked his side. "You're too easy, Onii-san."

"…You faked that, didn't you?!" He said with an eye twitch.

"Yep!" I yelled as I ran away to hide behind Laxus who just stepped away and went to go lean against the wall of an apartment building.

Jackal glared at Laxus before storming over to him. Jackal spoke quietly, but the dragon slayers could hear him loud and clear. "She did what she did with you and your kids in mind. She was going to go dark and use those powers to knock Zeref on his ass. She knew most of you could not go up against Zeref and survive. Who are you to hold that against her? You're her mate and you're just going to leave her out to dry because you got your feelings hurt? You're supposed to be there for her when no one else is."

"Listen here, Jackal. You're gonna learn real quickly not to piss me off." Laxus cracked his knuckles and pulled back his fist preparing to swing.

I rushed over to my older brother, getting there just in time to receive the blow that was, even if he didn't know it, meant for me.

So, what do you think? Will Lucy go Dark Side again or will she remain on the light? What do you think of Jackal? Also, his back story is coming in the next chapter or so!

Also, shout out toAnimetime for the extremely flattering review. I'm glad you like it that much.

Drop me a review, okay?

-Jay