SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 16 out, this is Chapter 17 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and the main pairing.

Chapter 17: I Can Hear the Voices Of My Friends

"Warning," Lucy droned. "Another one of the engraved seals has been removed. If the remaining three disappear, the owners will lose the right of possession."

"Lucy, get a hold of yourself! Natsu hollered.

"Struggle how you might," Brain II taunted. "It's pointless. In mere moments, Lucy Heartfilla will merge with the 'Infinity Clock'."

"And when that happens, it'll become possible for us to take control of 'Real Nightmare'." Klodoa boasted.

"I won't let you lay a hand on Nee-san." Imitatia swore. "She's going to stay with me forever. Forever… For eternity…"

"You say you wanna be with Lucy forever?" Natsu echoed. "What about Lucy's feelings? She trusted you, and even after she realized you betrayed her, she wants to believe in you again. Can't you hear that voice?"

"There's nothing to hesitate over." Brain II scoffed. "You're just trying to take back what you lost, Imitatia."

"Michelle!" Natsu barked.

"I'm sure Nee-san will be happier this way!" Imitatia insisted, striking out at Natsu with her vine frail. "After all, we were always together."

"Liar!" Romeo's flames blasted her off. "Why are you still lying? You're not the real Michelle. Even if you were together, it was a big lie."

"That's not true!" Imitatia snapped. "I was…"

"After Lucy-nee lost her family, imagine how happy she was when she met you!" Romeo went on the offensive. "Why did you betray her? Why did you tell her such an awful lie? She believed that you were her friend. Me too… I thought you… Goddamn it!" he roared.

"You can't let them shake you, Imitatia." Klodoa urged. "Anyone who stands in your way is an enemy."

"Say something… Michelle!" Romeo barked.

"Do it." Brain II ordered callously.

"Romeo!" Natsu gasped, Imitatia having slammed her vine shield into the wide-open teen.

"Dammit…" Romeo muttered and passed out.

"I got it, Michelle." Natsu stated. "Figuring out who the hell you are can wait until later. Right now, I'm going to kick your ass and save Lucy."

"There's still no 'call' from the main body." Klodoa noted. "Then, it would be good to play with you two as a slideshow to the ceremony of birth, Natsu Dragoneel, Romeo Coblot. We'll kill you slowly and make you watch as we devour the Winter Goddess."

"Now, finish him off." Brain II encouraged, Imitatia having Natsu on the ropes. "I'll do whatever is needed to make your prayer come true."

"Bind that man, my vines!" Imitatia let loosed her vine whips.

"Warning, murderous intent detected nearby." Lucy droned. "Approaching rapidly."

"Samuel!" Coco blinked, the said grown Exceed bursting in from the roof.

"Lucy Heartfilla." Samuel revealed his claws. "I'll stop the 'Infinity Clock' by spilling your blood!" he charged in, claws outstretched. "Coco, move!" he ordered, the girl blocking his path. "I don't have time to argue with you."

"Then tear through me with those claws first." Coco stood firm.

"You…" Samuel withdrew. "I'm not doing this for the sake of the church's doctrine. I'm following my own heart."

"Even though you know it's wrong?" Coco shot back.

"That's right." Samuel replied. "But to put an end to this chaos, I have no other choice."

"Why, you!" Happy head-butted Samuel off.

"Leave this to me." Lily stated. "Is that the answer you arrived at?" he asked Samuel. "I'm gonna wipe that decision to take a life right out of your head. Sammy!" he spread his wings and tackled Samuel out.

"Lucy, wake up!" Happy urged. "Can you hear me, Lucy?"

"I… can hear you." Lucy muttered. "But I can't do anything. Everyone is lying on the ground in front of me. I can't move my body…"

"Tears…" Coco spotted Lucy's tears.

"She can hear our voices." Happy realized.

"Lucy's fighting, too." Natsu declared, burning off his restrains. "This showdown ain't over yet."

"Whatever he tries to do, it's too late." Brain II shrugged as Imitatia renewed her fight with Natsu. "You people have no chance."

"Change her back!" Happy demanded, realizing that Ami was not responding to any of his calls. "What did you do to Ami? Making her face look like a doll…!"

"A doll?" Klodoa echoed. "You could say that. That woman can no long hear anyone's voice, or see anyone."

"In a state where 'the power to live' has been razed to the limit," Brain II added. "The difference between the powers of positivity and negativity is infinity close to nothing. Right now, the power of negativity, the 'Infinity Castle', can devour the power of positivity. And now, if the 'Infinity Castle' expands the 'power of chaos' to its limit…"

"His Grace?" Coco echoed, Warren's telepathy having reached them, the Archbishop having informed the group that destroying the chains would halt the merging.

"Fire Dragon's Claw!" Natsu attacked.

"What tenacity." Imitatia remarked. "This is the power of your feelings?"

"Looks like I still have a chance, huh?" Natsu chuckled.

"A faint hope, at least." Brain II snorted. "Go ahead and do your worst."

"Warning, another engraved seal has been erased." Lucy droned. "There are two left."

"Cobra is down?" Klodoa echoed. "I don't believe it."

"What my father left undone, the destruction of everything that has form," Brain II added. "And bringing about nothingness and chaos. It didn't work seven years ago. But this time, I won't let you interfere, Natsu Dragoneel." And blasted him off with his 'Reflector'. "I'll tell you one thing. The 'Infinity Clock' girl that you're trying to save… It's already too late to save her. 100 years of sleep is as simple as falling off a log. Lucy Heartfilla is becoming one with the 'Infinity' Clock', and when it's done, she'll lose her body and mind, too. And once she's become a piece of the clock, she'll be erased from everyone's memories as well."

"Erased… What?" Imitatia was stunned. "I mean… Nee-san is going to be together with me…"

"She won't leave you." Brain II assured. "She's just going to be a tool. You can be with her as much as you like. It'll work out well. For someone like you, she'll be the perfect partner."

"No…" Imitatia dropped her weapon. "What I wished for… What I prayed for… That's not it!" she let her shield fly towards the staircase. "Nee-san!" she swung herself over to the clock. "Move!" she demanded, stopping Ulyo, Coco and Happy. "Nee-san… I…" she slammed her shield at the 'Infinity Clock'. "I'm sorry!" she repeated her attack. "I'm sorry! I…"

"This is no good." Klodoa tsked.

"It's nonsense." Brain II agreed. "Imitatia, your role is finished. Return to garbage." He blasted Imitatia from behind, reverting her back to her doll form. "Pathetic, filthy doll." He stomped on the toy."

"You…" Natsu growled.

"Natsu-nii!" Romeo sent his flames at Natsu who swallowed the fire.

"Come and get me!" Brain II challenge, Natsu slamming him across the face with a charged-up flaming fist.

"Is it that funny to you when someone's sad?" Natsu hissed. "In that case, I'll beat you until you won't be able to crack a smile."

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.