Chapter 2

Crimson Mage

The power of there combined attacks sent a shock wave of power through the city that crumbled everything in its path. From a distance you could see the last standing structure, the tower where Natsu and the others where crumbling to the ground... taking every living thing with it to the bottom.

Wendy fell to the ground in shock, she could have helped them... healed them... something, but she respected her masters wishes. Once again fairy tail was faced with death and they stood there ground until the end...

Rubble fell around them as the plunged to there deaths. Natsu looked to his right and saw her... Lucy falling lifelessly and reached out to her. His vision was blurring and his body was throbbing in pain, but he still managed to grab her wrist and pull her to him. He shielded her body with his as they fell. Everyone had given it there all... Surely they had managed to take Zeref out with them. Dark lord or not the power of there combined efforts should have been enough to kill him.

"I admire all of you" a voice called out to the falling heros. They all looked up to see Zeref floating in place. "You will all die trying... If this world had more people like you then I would not have to do this but... this world is full of pain and greed. It is the worlds fault that you all died trying".

Darkness enveloped the area and raced towards the falling fairies. They could do nothing against him... Natsu gripped Lucy tightly it was over for them.

"Enough" a voice yelled. Natsu felt his body come to a halt as wind seemed to converge around him. He opened his eyes to see the same thing happening to the others and them a bright crimson flash appeared before them. A man stood in mid air, around him black and crimson flames flared from his body. He was wearing a long orange cloak and had long wild blond hair. He held a clawed hand out towards the darkness and just as Zeref's attack was about to reach him it was stopped. Dark crimson flames pushed against the darkness holding it at bay.

"You" Zeref growled, finally showing a hint of emotion in his gaze. "What are you doing here Naru"

Before he could finish the blond man leaped through the darkness and placed his hand over Zerefs face.

"They've weakened you, im impressed" the blond man said. His crimson eyes glared into Zerefs "I may not be able to kill you but I promise you" he paused as flamed gathered around his hand. "This will hurt".

Natsu's nose flared as it took in the surrounding air. 'He smells.. like a demon'.

"demonic flames" Jellal said while observing.

"Get lost" the blond snarled "Crimson Horizon!" he yelled while pushing Zeref through the air and sending a large yet condensed flaming orb with him. As Zeref reached a safe distance the blond man smirked. "Boom" he said while snapping his fingers and they watched as the dark horizon turned into a crimson sunset.

"A-Amazing..." Makorav stuttered before clinching his side. 'Damn old age I can't handle all this damn stress'.

"Hang in there old man" Laxus said while pulling the older man onto his shoulders. Makorav smirked at this remembering the time he had spent with his grandson when he was younger and holding him on his shoulders to the the festival.

"Dont get used to this" Laxus said with a smirk earning a tooth grin from his grandfather.

"So who and what the hell are you?"Laxus said as the crimson sunset began to fade away.

The blond man slowly turned revealing his crimsons shirt and black pants. His crimson eyes seemed to shock everyone until the slowly faded away turning a soft sapphire blue.

He shined a toothy smile at the group. Erza was shocked... 'Such power' she said while staring into the mans eyes.

"My names Naruto Uzumaki... that was an impressive display...FairyTail"

Gray watched as the horizon lite up with crimson light. They could no longer feel there comrades and yet... someone had to of caused such a display of power. 'Was it a dragon?' he thought to himself while watching the light fade from the horizon.

"I am so confused right now!" Romeo yelled only to feel a strong gust of wind collide with the group. Everyone braced themselves not knowing where it could have come from.

"Whats going on?!" Juvia said in somewhat of a panicked tone. They unshielded there eyes to reveal a blond man standing before them and behind him stood the rest of fairy tail.

"N-Natsu!" Gray yelled with a smile on his face. He quickly ran to the group as they began to cheer but quickly noticed who Natsu was holding... and the expression he held on his face. Gray stopped in his steps as the rest of the group did. Naruto turned towards the pink haired youth and frowned.

"I failed" Natsu said softly, his voice dull and emotionless. "Lucy... she's".

Gray felt his heart stop as he looked at his rival... "No way" He said while taking a step towards Natsu.

Wendy quickly burst through the crowd towards them. Natsu still holding the blond women as Wendy's hands began to glow. "I'll heal her!" she yelled in a panic "Come on Lucy-San!" she yelled desperately while pressing her glowing hands against her friend.

"Breath Lucy Breath!" she hysterically screamed in a panic.

"Wendy" Natsu said calmly.

"Lucy! BREATH!"

"Wendy stop" Natsu said dully. He lifted his gaze to everyone and revealed his eyes. No shine remained in them. They where dull and lifeless... No more fire resided inside Natsu's heart...

"Natsu" Erza whispered while covering her mouth. Tears began to dribble from her left eye as she stared at the expression on her friends face.

Everyone in fairy tail began to morn for there loss. Elfman slipped an arm around his sisters as they all there cried before he looked over to Evergreen who tried her hardest to fight away the tears threatening her gaze.

"It's alright Ever" Elfman whispered catching her attention. That was it... The tears slowly made there way down her cheeks and she slowly began to slide to the ground. Before she made it there Elfmans large hand was there. Mirajane and Lisanna watched as Elfman lifted the women and wrapped an arm around her.

"i failed one of my children" Makorav said openly to the guild "And for that I am truly ashamed". The man never took his eyes off of Lucy. "Forgive me" he said softly.

Naruto watched the group morn for there lose. The women was indeed beautiful even in death. His eyes then wondered to the man holding her... 'Those eyes' he thought to himself 'Just like his...'

The blond took a step towards them all and made his way to the blond womens side. "Natsu was it?" he asked not getting a response from the pink haired man.

Naruto's eyes looked to his scarf and reached for it only to be stopped by Natsu strong grip. The veins in Natsu's arm bulged as he gripped Naruto's hand.

"Relax kid" Naruto said softly "I mean you or your friends no harm".

"I don't care don't" Natsu paused while looking up at the blond man. His eyes slit and seemed to glow "Don't touch us".

"That scarf of yours was given to you by Igneel" Naruto said softly "It has the essence of a Dragon embedded in it"

"Whats your point" Natsu asked still gripping Naruto's wrist.

Naruto kneel down by the two "Dragons essence can be used for many things... Would you be willing to surrender your fathers gift to me..?"

Natsu's hand loosened his grip and his eyes grew wide. Natsu reached for the scarf and slowly pulled it from around his neck.

"Even if it destroys the scarf?" Naruto added and noticed the boys resolve remained the same.

"I'd pay any price..." Natsu said in a low tone. Naruto grinned...

"Just bring her back home!" He yelled. Everyone around watched as Natsu handed the scarf to the blond man. He took a deep breath and ran his hand down the scarf. Crimson ruins slowly began to appear in his hands wake and the scarf began to glow.

"Lay her down Natsu" Naruto instructed Natsu and he did so gentle.

Naruto laid the scarf across the girls chest and placed his hands over the scarf and brilliant white magic began to flow from.

"Thats!" Wendy said softly in shock.

"Wind magic, in it purest form... There is a short window that can be used with this magic to bring the dead back to life, but without a powerful anchor it is almost impossible" Naruto said and sweat dripped from his chin.

"powerful anchor?" Gray asked.

"Yes, think of it as an exchange... He is using the essence of Igneels scarf, the essence of a dragon as an anchor... how should I put this..."

"Fill her with the wind of life again" Naruto said softly. "Dragons themselves live for very long periods of time, some even live forever. Which is why the anchor is perfect... but it could also come with some side effects".

"Side effects?" Mirajane asked.

"Yes... It could be anything from her attitude to her appearance. Anything physical or mental... even her ability to use magic... Can you handle that Natsu? If I bring her back and its not the same Lucy will you except responsibility for her?"

Natsu nodded his head "Its my fault she's lying here lifeless in the first place" Natsu said softly while gripping her cold hand.

"Natsu..." Erza whispered.

Naruto stared at the boy and closed his eyes feeling memories from long ago flood his mind

'Don't die Damn you!' he cried over a mans body. The area around the two was completely decimated and refused to nothing but rubble and ash.

'D-did we kill the bastard ?'

Naruto quickly snapped out of it and smiled looking at the determined look of Natsu.

"Whatever happens I know Lucy will be Lucy... She could never be anyone else to any of us... to me..."

Naruto nodded and closed his eyes "Good answer".

Naruto placed a hand in the air and held it there as wind began to slow around it. "Living winds.."

he paused feeling everyone's eyes on him "REBIRTH" He yelled before bringing his hand down over the scarf. Lucy's body began to glow along with the scarf and the ruins dissolved into the scarf...

'Those where protection ruins' Lavi thought while catching a glimpse of them. 'Who is this man? Wind magic, and ruin magic?'

Natsu gripped her hand tightly as she felt her beginning to rise from the ground.

'Breath Lucy' Natsu thought...

'I swear ill never let any harm come to you again...'

"Do you hear me Lucy" Natsu said out loud.

Everyone's eyes where on him now...

Naruto fell to one knee as he exerted himself. 'More... a little more'

"DO YOU HEAR ME LUCY! WAKE UP!"

'Gasp!'

Naruto felt his world go dark as he doubled over to the ground. Lucy's glowing eyes sprung open and Natsu felt her hand tighten around his as she began to fall back to the ground. Natsu quickly moved under her and caught her in his arms still holding her hand tightly.

Her breathing was rapid and tears filled her eyes as she started to kick and shout and slap at whoever was holding her... "No! Please no!" She screamed at the top of her lungs only to feel a warm hand on her now darkening cheek.

"Lucy" Natsu said softly.

The blond women looked up to see none other then Natsu looking down at her. She then realized his arms where wrapped around her and he was gripping her hand tightly.

"N-Nats-u" she said before beginning to sob. She quickly buried her head in his shirt and began to sob uncontrollably. "I was so scared Natsu" She cried.

Natsu smiled softly and placed a hand on the back of her head "I know... we where all scared don't you even leave my side again got it" he ordered earning a sad yet cut nod from the girl in his arms. Everyone watched either crying or over joyed. Jellal turned Naruto over on his back and checked him to make sure he was alive... which he was to Jellals amazement. He should have died from the amount of power he put into that.

Lucy noticed Natsu's scarf was in between her and him and pulled away slightly. She went to grab it "Y-your scarf Natsu"

As she reached for it she watched as it seemed to merge with her chest followed by a warm spreading through her body. Her cheeks blushed and she clenched Natsu's jacket tightly. Natsu noticed this and placed his hands on her shoulders to support her.

"Lucy are you alright!?" He asked.

"Y-Your scarf... w-what happened? I..." She paused "Don't be mad at me Natsu I swear i-i didn't do anything to it" She said in a groggy tone. Her eyes where almost shut as she grew exhausted all of a sudden.

Natsu smiled and placed a hand under her knees and behind her back before lifting her up like a bride. She looked up to him with a groggy glare and tried opening her eyes as much as she could...

"Don't worry Lucy I swear ill never let anything happen to you agai-" before he could finish he looked into her eyes and froze...

'her eyes... they're... slitted'

TBC