I can't believe how long I've been writing this story. I do wonder if anyone who originally followed this story is still out there. I created a monster, and must follow it through to completion. Thank you to everyone who continues to encourage my story through adds, reviews, PMs. It's truly appreciated. Only a handful of chapters left, methinks :)

Read & Review, yes?

Disclaimer: same as other chapters.

~OoOoO~

Lucy heard the growl and gnashing of teeth, and her eyes darted toward the source of the chilling sound. She spied the feasting rock goblin a few meters away. Its head jerked from its prey, and its eyeless face lifted to the wind that was carrying Lucy's scent. Its nostrils flared as it sniffed, and Lucy's stomach dropped as its head snapped toward her, blood dripping from its sharp teeth. In a gangly leap, it managed to knock Lucy to the ground, straddling her as she held in a scream of terror. Saliva hit her in the face, and she wanted to vomit from the smell of death on its breath. It snapped at her, and she fought back—using her palm to smash into its jaw, pushing its face away from her. Its long, broken nails dug into the ground as it attempted to maintain its position over its next dinner. She could feel the acrid saliva dripping from between her fingers, landing on her chin. Blood coated her wrist as it slowly dripped down her arm. She nearly gagged at the horrible stench. Her other hand frantically searched.

"No..." She whispered, refusing this to be her end. "NO!"

Her free hand made its way into her pocket, and her fingers found the supple material she had haphazardly stuffed in there earlier. As her one hand struggled to keep the monster at bay, her other slid into the glove as she said a prayer of thanks for her good luck. She clenched her fist recalling Adie's words. With as much strength as she could muster, she swung her fist, hitting the creature hard in the side of its head. It wailed—a shrill cry of surprise or anger—as it was launched meters from where Lucy was sprawled.

"This glove is nice," Lucy huffed in awe as she quickly scrambled to her feet.

From seemingly nowhere, Miki appeared with a battle cry, quickly leaping atop the monster and grabbing its head. With a quick twist of her forearms, the monster's neck snapped as the girl grunted in satisfaction. She stood on her heels, clapping her hands together as if to commend herself. She looked up at Lucy, nodding her head stiffly. Her lip was split and swollen, blood dried on her chin. She was missing a front tooth and Lucy cringed at her now-marred smile. Both of her eyes were also blackened from her fight. Next to her, a dark-skinned mage was using a staff to ward off their opponents.

"It's never-ending," Miki remarked angrily, turning and preparing for more of an onslaught.

As if on cue, a new monster launched itself onto the staff-wielding mage before either Miki or Lucy could react. With a ferocious growl, it locked its jaw onto the young man's neck, where the mark of some obscure guild was tattooed. The sound of tearing flesh sickened Lucy, and Miki screamed in horror as the monster lapped the spurting fluid from the severed artery in the mage's neck. His eyes rolled up into his head as he whispered keep fighting, Miss Miki and collapsed from the weight of the monster. His staff hit the ground and the man's body convulsed for a few moments before all movements ceased.

In a blind fit of rage, Miki ran toward the monster but Lucy had moved much more quickly. Her diamond encrusted whip was already coiled around the creature's neck, the familiar catch of the whip enthralling for her.

The monster screeched as its bloodied hands clawed at the foreign entity that was strangling it. Miki slid to a halt, and Lucy's own screams were louder than her opponent's as she tugged forcibly. She continued to scream and tug, scream and tug, yelling "No!" over and over until she was standing over a headless monster, huffing uncontrollably. Her whip was bloodied, with bits of flesh and bone stuck in its intricate groves, and she wasn't one bit sickened by the sight.

She wasn't sickened at how much she had killed.

She was only sickened by the fact that it was the only option they were left with: kill or be killed.

The fury was overwhelming, but it kept her driven to survive. She lashed out at another nearby creature, challenging them to find her—to fight her. She refused to use her keys, her agony relieved with each monster she killed. She was taken by surprise as something catapulted onto her back, forcing her forward into the dirt. The air was forcibly expelled from her lungs from the impact, and she bit her tongue, tasting the salty fluid in her mouth after the initial sting. Lucy toyed with the thought of giving in to death.

She heard Miki yell a creative string of profanities and she felt the weight release from her back. She took a second to recover before rolling over in regroup just as Miki raised a jagged heavy rock, using the weight to bash in the monster's head. She raised it again, tears streaming down her puffy cheeks as she slammed it into the creature's cranium a second and third time. Her hands were coated in dark fluid as the goblin's body grew rigid, and her expression was filled with blind rage. She looked at Lucy, a lopsided grin of fury on her face.

Lucy opened her mouth to speak, only to see Miki's expression quickly change. She leaped up, throwing the rock with a yell of warning. Lucy only ducked under the projectile, hearing it connect with its intended target moments later. Miki didn't hesitate, launching herself over Lucy and nimbly landing atop the rock. The sound of bones crunching told the spirit mage that the monsters ribcage was no longer intact—nor was its innards. It gurgled a dark greenish fluid and Miki stomped once more for good measure before leaping off the rock and landing on her knees. She huffed, her fists hitting the ground in muted frustration.

Lucy slowly rose and placed a hand on the Miki's shoulder. The young girl shuddered and sobbed, and Lucy whispered encouragement.

"I'm so…tired!" Miki mumbled through her tears. "Of it all! Dammit, he didn't deserve to die like that!"

"I know," Lucy softly replied, her own resolve wavering like this before.

"They just don't end! When will it end?" Miki's tears were dripping on the dirt as she drew a fistful of earth and grass.

"They will," the stellar mage promised, hoping her voice was soothing her friend.

"I'm not sure I'll be around to see it," Miki cryptically added, her face downcast as she released the dirt into a pile on the ground.

Lucy angled her head, confused and ready to offer more encouragement. Her eyes spotted the blood oozing between Miki's fingers as the young woman held her side with one of her hands. Why hadn't she noticed it before?

"You're injured! How?" Lucy fell to her knees, quickly scanning for nearby enemies before pulling Miki's hand away.

Miki grit her teeth, allowing Lucy to see the injury. The spirit mage gasped, seeing the pinkish white viscera through the gaping wound. Blood was freely flowing from the injury.

Miki laughed. "It clawed me when I pulled it off of you. Just a freak accident. Ha!"

"It's gonna be OK, we'll find someone to heal you. Put pressure on it!" Lucy shoved Miki's hand into the wound in a frantic hope to buy them time. She looked around for Wendy, but knew that the likelihood of finding her was slim. She also knew that too much time had passed for Gemini to offer assistance in Wendy's form.

"Look around, Lucy, no one's here to help!" Miki airily waved her bloodied hand, her face ashen.

Lucy shared her despair, but she wouldn't let her fears overwhelm them. She considered calling Morpheus, but remembered the earlier warning she had received.

"I hope Pii-chan is OK," Miki mumbled, falling onto her side, the blood quickly flowing from the wound. "I'll miss him."

"Don't' say things like that, you hear me, Miki!" Lucy yelled, shaking Miki by the shoulders as she began to panic.

The sound of a snort made Lucy freeze with fear. Oh no. Not now!

She slowly turned to find a goblin only a few meters away, its widely-spaced eyes watching her. Its gums slid back to reveal its ferocious teeth, and the stench of its breath reached Lucy's nostrils. She suppressed a gag, her finger twitching to find her whip. She wasn't certain she could release her whip or call a spirit in the mere seconds it would take the creature to leap upon her. She wondered if she could decimate the ground with her gloved hand, but was uncertain of her or Miki's fate if that was unsuccessful. Was it worth the risk?

Before her next thought could form, a one-armed goblin leaped over the gollum, teeth gnashing for a taste of Miki's warm flesh. Lucy wasted no time and attacked, tearing its head from its body without remorse. A second monster sprung on top of her, pinning her down. She fought against it, tears in her eyes. She saw a third lunge for Miki, who was bleeding to death on the ground.

"NO!" she screamed helplessly as it closed in and inhaled Miki's scent. Tears fell from Lucy's eyes as she watched Miki smile at her, her eyes growing blank with despair.

Suddenly the monster exploded in a fit of flames. Lucy quickly felt the pressure lift from her chest.

"Ooops," Happy muttered, releasing the body, which fell to the ground, its skull smashing with a nauseating crack as it hit a rock.

"Sorry, we're late," Natsu told her from over his shoulder.

"Almost didn't make it, aye," the feline called to the dragon slayer, who was now looking over Miki's wounds between glances at the gollum.

Natsu's body was between Lucy and the monster, as if he would provide a human shield. He had the good sense not to look at Lucy, who as currently feeling the backlash of every repressed emotion she had experienced in the past twenty four hours. Humiliation washed over her as she realized that Natsu had just saved her.

Again.

It didn't matter that she was in much need of saving. Or that both she and Miki would have died. Or that he would have done that for anyone in the guild, not just her.

"Lucy?" the voice was soft, interrupting her thoughts. "You OK?"

Lucy didn't answer. She felt weak. Weak and furious and vulnerable. Her anger was growing, though she knew it was being misdirected.

Natsu's hands clenched into fists as his eyes remained ahead and his voice soft. "Luce, you hafta get up, it's not safe to sit like this." I may not be able to protect both you and Miki if you stay on the ground, I'll have to choose.

"I know!" Lucy stammered vehemently as she pushed herself up, swatting Happy away as he attempted to help her. "What are you doing here?" Her rational side knew that she would have done the same for him, but she was too tired to think straight. And too ashamed.

His fist burst into flames as the muscle in his jaw twitched, "I—"

"Uh oh," Happy muttered under his breath, his words ignored by Lucy, "Lucy's pissed off."

"You thought I needed you here to fight for me?" Lucy huffed, ignoring the inner voice that was telling her to calm herself. "I don't need your help, Natsu!"

Natsu squared his shoulders and risked a glance at Miki, which sobered Lucy. Happy swooped down to distract the monster momentarily. "I'm not protecting you because I think you're weak, you know…Why can't you see that?"

His words made her gut twist with regret. Before she could respond or he could explain further, the gollum brayed and charged. All that Lucy could think of was that her last words to Natsu may very well have been those regretful, childish insecurities. She stood quickly, sniveling like a child while trying to collect her wits.

Natsu roared, his fiery blow striking the gollum in the mouth with a force Lucy was surprised he could still muster. The monster rolled, shaking the broken teeth from its mouth and scrambling to attack again, its long legs sliding on the loose earth like a newborn foal. The dragon slayer wasted no time, leaping high and plummeting with his elbow—which hit the gollum's spine with the tell-tale crunch of fracture. The monster whimpered and convulsed as it lost the use of its back legs. Happy had returned with a rock, as if planned, and dropped it on the gollum's head and ending its suffering. The cat landed next to Miki, putting a blue paw on her neck. She thought she heard him sigh.

"She's still alive. Barely," he gravely told them. "Now can we focus on the more serious issues?"

Happy's right. Lucy thought, feeling ashamed at her earlier outburst. Now was not the time for this.

She turned toward Natsu, her face tear-stained and dirty. "Natsu, I—"she hiccuped.

He didn't look at her, walking past her toward their fallen comrade. "Maybe I do protect you," he softly admitted, glancing at her from the corner of his eye, "but it's not why you think."

She stared at him, his face was solemn—a mixture of anger, fear, and torment. Was it all for her? He didn't elaborate further, instead speaking to the cat. "Happy, could you take Miki to where the healers are?"

However many have survived.

"Aye," Happy wiped a tear away, his wings springing outward as he prepared to take Miki's body. The girl's eyelids fluttered every so often, and she whimpered an incoherent word or two.

Lucy heard guttural moans from behind her and turned to see more creatures moving toward them. She unleashed her whip, her body weary. How would they continue to fight these creatures with so little reserve?

Natsu sighed, standing with a grunt of fury. "It's not gonna end."

Lucy shook her head, looking at Miki. "We just have to keep fighting."

Natsu watched her, his brief grin gone as quickly as it came. "If anything were to happen to you, Luce, I don't think I could live with myself."

Lucy felt her stomach sink; it sounded as if he had given up hope that they'd live. She looked at him, eyes flashing anger, "Don't you dare talk like we aren't going to make it, Natsu Dragoneel."

"Lucy, I—" he began, his face showing the first signs of wear she had ever seen on him. She felt a chill in her core.

The shrill sound or a bird caw pulled her attention away. She looked up into the sky, shielding her eyes as she took in the magnificent sight of a beautifully plumed bird. Something was flickering from its tail feathers. Flames?

"Pii-chan?" Happy asked, Miki's head in his paws as he paused.

"He is a phoenix," Lucy agreed as the bird flew lower, swooping in a graceful circle around them, flames licking the ground and leaping high. They spread outward, engulfing the surrounding monsters. Black flames indicated the charring bodies of the enemy as Pii-chan's flames flickered around them. They glowed a beautiful shade of violet and orange and didn't feel overwhelmingly hot, as Lucy had expected from a wall of flame.

She reached out to touch them without thinking. They did not burn her skin. Her hand passed through them easily and when she withdrew it, the palm was soft and unblemished.

"I'll be damned!" she breathed incredulously. "A real phoenix!"

"Huh?" Natsu asked, examining the flames.

"Inhale them," Lucy instructed him, uncertain of where the idea came from.

"Wha? You know what happens—" he started to argue.

"I said to inhale them, dammit!" she hissed. He immediately obeyed her instructions. "Now aim them at me!"

He did as she bid after a skeptical look, and she clenched her eyes shut, hoping she was not wrong. The flames coated her, and she felt a tingling warmth washing over her. Rejuvenating her.

Yes!

She opened her eyes and looked at her legs as her fingers skipped over her formerly broken ribs. Her skin was no longer scraped, cut, or bleeding, and the pain in her chest had resolved.

She looked at Natsu, smiling. "Well? How do you feel?"

He shrugged, "Pretty good, I guess. What's this all about?"

"Those are phoenix flames," she told him.

He stared at her, confused.

She sighed in exasperation, "They have the power to heal. Plus, Pii-chan just got rid of our monster friends!"

Natsu grinned suddenly, "Hey Happy, watch this!"

"Stop blowing them at me! Help Miki!" Lucy shook her fist at the dragon slayer.

Natsu sobered, "Sorry."

He inhaled more flames, his cheeks wide with the burden. He quickly washed them over Miki. Her skin healed immediately. The trio waited expectantly. Her eyes didn't open and Lucy knelt beside her. Her pulse was thready and weak.

"It's too late?" she muttered, tears rimming her eyes. "Oh no."

A soft purring noise from beside her alerted her that Pii-chan was next to Miki. She looked helplessly at the bird. "You're too late, Pii-chan," her voice wavered.

The bird looked at her steadily before shaking itself like the bathing pigeons in the town square. Lucy narrowed her eyes as the bird moved away, leaving a glittery tail feather where it had stood. Lucy took the feather in tentative fingers, feeling the bird's stare on her.

"So beautiful," she whispered.

The bird crowed at her, jerking its head toward Miki. Lucy understood the bird's gesture, and obediently placed the feather over Miki's chest. Pii-chan launched into the sky, circling low over Miki, flames slowly bursting from the bird's body. The feather on Miki's chest did the same, but glowed a deep cyan as it smoldered to extinction. A large gasp of air rushed into Miki's chest as her body arched from the force of her inhalation. Her eyes fluttered open and her arms reached for the sky as she fought to breathe.

"Pii-chan!" Miki hoarsely cried, seeing the blazing bird above her. She reached for the bird, which softly landed next to her, nudging her with its head. She pushed herself up and Happy assisted with the movement, eye wide as he focused on the bird. Lucy briefly wondered what had happened to the prospect of a magical glass eye for the cat.

"Oh, Pii-chan, you saved me!" Miki hugged the bird, who stood tall in its flaming glory. She stared at her friend for some time, her smile fading. "You're leaving me, aren't you?"

Her voice wasn't frantic, but it was filled with hurt. The bird lowered its head, tears glistening from golden eyes. They silently dropped to the ground, disappearing into the dry earth. Miki smiled sadly, her own tears falling freely as she reached out and stroked the bird's head.

"Thank you so much for being such a good friend, Pii-chan." The bird purred. "I love you."

She leaned down and kissed the bird. Pii-chan looked up at her with as much surprise as a bird could muster, in Lucy's opinion. Its flames grew brighter but not hotter, and the phoenix spread out its wings as its body turned gray then black. The flames continued to grow brighter and within seconds, all that remained was smoldering pile of ash.

"They are supposed to live 500 years," Miki shared with them, eyes glistening. "And are reborn at that point. But, if they sacrifice themselves, the cycle ends."

Lucy and Natsu watched solemnly, saying nothing. Pii-chan had committed suicide in the phoenix realm. Lucy stared at the pile of ash, which was now blurry from her tears.

Miki wiped her nose on her sleeve. "Thank you guys for staying with me. That was close."

"I'll say," Happy agreed, moving close the ash pile. "Love," he murmured softly as he stared at Pii-chan's remains.

"What're you talking about?" Natsu made a face.

Happy glanced at Lucy, then at Natsu, something passing over his features that made Lucy's face turn red. "Love," he replied simply, "It performs miracles."

Lucy nodded, wiping her eyes as Miki stood with renewed vigor. They all felt refreshed from Pii-chan's flames. Happy lifted and lowered his eye patch multiple times and Lucy noticed his ear was fixed. She pointed toward him and was about to say something when Natsu commented on the bush that had sprouted where Pii-chan's tears had landed. Miki examined the bright purple fruit that had developed from the rapidly sprouting buds.

"Phoenix fruit," she told them, "It'll cure most things, except death. We should collect these and give them to those in need. Or remember that it's here. It'll keep sprouting for…thirty days and thirty nights, I think it was."

"Right," Natsu said, grabbing a handful and shoving them into his pockets and eyeing Miki dubiously.

"Idiot, here," Lucy mumbled, pulling Charle's handkerchief from Happy. The cat nearly argued, but recognized the utility in her actions.

Natsu reached for the proffered item, and Lucy briefly grabbed his hand, squeezing it roughly but with meaning. His gaze met hers and held her look for a few moments.

"Thank you, Natsu," she told him softly, her earlier anger a distant memory. He smiled, taking the handkerchief and shoving the round fruits into it, taking time to sniff a few. Happy and Miki were helping him as Lucy watched.

She looked at the sky. Pii-chan's flames had deteriorated and the protection now gone.

She briefly ruminated Natsu's earlier words. He had always been there for her, and she had always attributed it to his feeling that she needed him. But, it was he who needed her. How had she not seen it before now? He had taught her the value of true strength, and for that, she vowed to protect him with everything she had, when the time arose.

A smile pulled at the corners of her mouth as she watched him. Miki was safe, and she felt a faint flicker of hope that it was possible they may all very well survive this war.

"Thank you, Natsu," she whispered to the wind, "….for saving me."

Erza stood still, feeling the fleeting thrum of her pulse as she looked at the man who had been her closest friend and confidant during her childhood. Her palms grew clammy, and her mouth was suddenly bone dry. She had prepared for this very moment, yet, her former resolve felt as if it were slipping away.

He returned her curious gaze, the tattoo over his right eye and cheek faded. Despite his sardonic grin, he looked thinner—weaker, even. She turned her head slightly, "Are you unwell?"

"I'm quite well," he murmured in return, his face blank. "Well enough to know when you are stalling. Should I make the first move, Erza?"

The way his voice hummed when he spoke her name sent a thrill up her spine. She felt her stomach contract, and immediately was sickened at her response to his coy words. Worse was that he knew exactly the effects his words would have over her. He always did. Surely he must know how she feels about him?

She chastised herself for acting like a child, and she hardened her efforts. One of them was about to die, and she had no plans for it to be her. It was her turn to smile as his eyes momentarily widened. She felt the wind on her bare back and abdomen as her wide-legged pants fluttered in the breeze, making the flames along the hem dance as if they were alive. Her breasts were bound and her injuries bared to the naked eye. She pushed her hair from her face and stood readied before him. He had seen her wear the same suit once before, in a long-forgotten tower when Siegrain had plotted to obtain an unfathomable power. It had nearly ended in her death and she had presumed him to be deceased. Every time she thought she had lost him, he had returned to her. Why couldn't it have ended on much happier note?

Because life is not a fairy tale, silly, she told herself. And childish dreams of knights in shining armor do not truly exist.

"So, this is how it will end, Jellal?" she asked through gritted teeth, the sword clenched in her sweaty palm. Part of her wanted to cry at the predicament they were in: once good friends now about to fight to the death on the battlefield as opponents. It was a cruel outcome. And she hoped she could deal that blow when the time came.

He watched her carefully, a brief flicker of something crossing his features before he resumed his cold, calculating stare. "One of us will die today, Scarlett."

She nodded her head slightly, her slim sword readied in her hands as she watched him. There were so many questions flittering through her head but this was not the time to ask them. Besides, she knew the answers would only cause her more pain. And, right now, she had a duty to uphold. A duty she was sworn to upon becoming a Holy Mage.

Her eyes narrowed as he pulled the jacket higher around his neck. The wind was picking up, surely he was not cold?

There was no more time for words, and she didn't hesitate as she had in the past. Judging by his reaction, it was obvious he hadn't expected her to. She dodged the ball of energy he fired at her, noting the predictability of his moves as he swiftly attacked from her periphery. She ached to say something to him.

Why? Why, dear friend?

Her katana slashed at him, the blade biting through his jacket and into the flesh of his arm. He only smirked, the dark shadows creeping around her. She was prepared for their constricting depths and easily charged before he could complete the spell or form the orb.

"You'll have to do better than that."

He raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, lips tightly drawn together. He abandoned the spell, his fist hitting her in the ribs. The air was knocked from her lungs, but she managed to barely duck under another punch. Magic balled around his hands, a spell she anticipated he would use. The air swirled around him, his jacket carelessly whipping in the wind. Erza's breath caught in her throat.

That momentary hesitation nearly cost her her life, and from the look on Jellal's face, she was certain he had expected her to move much...faster. She touched the singed ends of her hair, now shoulder length and choppy. She thought she must look like a rag doll at this rate, face swollen, bloodied, and hair dirty and tangled.

"Still, this is all you have?" she taunted, hoping to get closer.

"Hmph," he replied, hands rapidly moving through the spell as the beams of magic pierced the ground around her.

She stood there, facing him with her sword tip buried into the ground. He was only toying with her, only his most recent attack coming close to killing her. The white pillars of magic spread, and she knew she needed to move. She was easily becoming distracted by her thoughts. She quickly morphed into the armor that made her the most fleet-footed, squeezing between the closing wall of white. She called the unfamiliar sword, noting how easily it fit into her hands, as if it were made for her. She had yet to use it, and she faintly recalled her conversation with Adie. The black blade glinted in the light. It was a beautiful sword, and she had ached to put her hands on it. She was saddened it had to be under these circumstances.

Despite knowing what she must do, her heart wanted to believe that there must be a reason behind his actions.

It won't change anything, Erza, she told herself as she dodged another attack.

This time, she was quickly upon him. He barely managed to block her onslaught. He was fast, but not as fast as she had remembered. Her eyes were on her mark, and with a grunt of frustration, a block, parry and elbow to the neck, she managed to knock him to the ground. She stood above him, her foot on his chest, his lip bleeding and brow swelling from an obscure blow she had manage to land.

"You've won," he smirked, the corners of his mouth wavering.

She looked down at him, her thoughts racing and heart pounding.

"You threw the fight," she told him, simply, the sword aimed at his heart. "Why?"

"I didn't," he smoothly replied.

"Liar," she laughed angrily, tears threatening to surface. Not now, fool!

"You know what you have to do," he looked at the sword, preparing for the impending doom upon him.

"It didn't have to come to this," Erza yelled, her voice shaking with fury.

"It was always going to come to this, Erza," he softly argued, eyes still on the sword, "We are on opposite sides, it can't be helped. Good and evil."

"You could have joined us! Instead you chose this!" she didn't know why she was protesting. Perhaps she wanted him to give her a reason—something that would make the pain lessen. She had held so much faith in him, and for so long. It hurt to think that the man she used to know had turned into…this.

The expression momentarily flickered across his face-bewilderment, regret, resignation. All those things tore at her heart as she longed for explanations she would never obtain. The more she lingered, the more pain it caused her. She fought back the biting anger that wished for any negation of her argument. Yet, he offered her nothing.

And it hurt.

Like hell.

"It's not like a Holy Mage to seek pleas of mercy at a time like this," he murmured. "You are stalling, dear Erza. Afraid?"

"I'm not afraid," she cried, "I'm asking you for an answer. Why can't you answer me for once in your life? Dammit!" Tears welled in her eyes as she looked down at him, "How can you have chosen this, Jellal? This isn't you, I know that."

"I don't have the answers you want," he whispered, sadness encroaching into his voice, "And I'll face the punishment for my actions, dealt by your just hand."

His eyes met hers and, for a moment, she had her answer. It was all she needed as her hands gripped the sword hilt more tightly.

"And I'll deal it, as I have sworn to do," she murmured, knuckles white as she swung the sword above her head. The dark metal wavered ever so slightly as she said a silent prayer, her heart breaking as it had never before.

Jellal was right; it was always going to come to this.

He had chosen his path, and she, hers. Good versus Evil.

With that last thought, the sword came down swiftly, blade intended to decapitate. He lifted his chin ever so slightly, eyes closing as he mouthed the words, thank you, love.

This time, she didn't hesitate, tears falling freely as the blade hit its mark.