Yup. I suck. I know. I really have no great excuse to be so slow with replying to your reviews (I'm sorry if I still haven't), or with updating. I truly think I'm avoiding finishing the story, because it's nearing it's end (yep Clairedamoon & booklover, it's thisclose).

Thank you my non PM-able reviewers: Cookies, VLawrence, Jennifer (I do like cliffhangers. Why not cruelly end a chapter in the midst of something intriguing? Too easy.), and hotleafjuice (reference to GoT? Awesome.)

Anyhow, you know the spiel.

~OoOoO~

Adie stared at the dagger on the cold earthen floor—where Lilith had been only moments earlier. Lucy said nothing, too shocked and too scared to bring herself to admit what she considered to be the real reason behind Lilith's actions.

Leo's voice barely carried from beside her. "I didn't think…in all the time I've known her….that Lilith would consider…that."

That.

"She intended to kill herself, didn't she?" Lucy looked at him, her lip white where it was held between her teeth. He nodded hesitantly, and Lucy sighed. "What does her key do?"

This time, Leo met her look. He glanced past her, as if considering her question. After a moment, his eyes flickered back to her face, voice low. "I don't know, Lucy. But whatever it does, it's enough for her to want to end her own life rather than be released."

So that was it. Lilith was never in her spirit form. Lucy had suspected as much. "I thought that was the case," she alluded to the second half of his previous comment. After a moment, she shared more, "She reminded me of you." Leo's brow drew together over his glasses, and his expression grew into on expectation. "She looked…..like you did," Lucy waved her hand, hoping to find the correct words, "back then."

"I see," he ruminated, closing his eyes briefly as he recalled his near-death experience. Lucy had saved his life. "She did look drained, you could say. I remember that feeling well, Lucy."

The blonde's eyes returned to Adie, who was crouched, motionless. Her fingers stretched toward the dagger, but she had yet to grasp it. A knowing smile crept upon Lucy's lips. "She was trying to protect Adie for once. She was willing to die to protect her key….even I can respect that."

"It deserves respect," Leo's whispered, nodding his appreciation of that fact. "It's not an easy decision to make."

Lucy studied him for a few moments. He had nearly died to protect Aries, his sister. She glanced at Angel's lifeless body, cringing as hopelessness washed over her. "I just don't know what to expect…it's frustrating!" It seems Ultear continues to be one step ahead of us.

"Don't expect anything, then!" Morpheus grunted from next to her. "You're slowly chinkin' away at her minions. She's bound to falter, I'd say."

"You could have warned us!" Lucy hissed at the spirit, suddenly forcing her repressed emotions upon him.

A momentary look of disappointment crossed his face, before disappearing. "Hey, even I didn't know!"

"Couldn't you read her mind?" Lucy asked, pointedly.

"It was barely enough to keep myself disguised," he watched the last of the spirits disappear from the room, ushered by Faux, who had taken over helping. He at least, was the only one not utterly despondent at the turn of events. "It was by no means easy. I was nearly at my end, girl."

Lucy calmed herself, recognizing his sacrifice. She was being silly, she knew. In the end, it wouldn't have really mattered, as they would have still forced Lilith into the Celestial World, anyhow. "I appreciate what you did."

"And?"

Lucy glared at him. She wanted to pout. "AndIamsorry!"

"Don't mention it," he grunted with slight amusement. "Looks like there's more to come…now that Lilith is on the loose."

"Not now, Morpheus. It's no joke," she waspishly replied. She felt as if her were playing upon her notion of helplessness at the inability to expect the next move by Ultear. Their enemy had been calculating every move she made, and they had played into her hand. She had expected Adie to come—to save her sister by releasing Lilith against her will. Now Ultear had control over Lilith. And Lucy suspected that Lilith may quite possibly be a powerful spirit. Furthermore, even Adie seemed at a loss as to what her sister was capable of.

The dagger waving in her face distracted her. She glanced up, "Hmm?"

Adie looked down at her, blade in her hand, dagger's handle facing Lucy. "Let's go." Lucy wordlessly obeyed.

"And hurry, please." Faux was standing in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest and a look of consternation on his face. Adie turned toward him, her voice hedging on annoyed. "I suppose you knew something like this was going on? That she had refused to be released by Ultear?"

He shook his head slowly, face a blank slate. "She was refusing to even speak to me for the past few months." A flicker of hurt mixed into his rigid features, and Lucy believed him.

Adie narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing him for a moment. Finally her shoulders fell. "She's stubborn."

"Aye, that she is," Faux replied with a wistful look. "Besides, that girl—Meredy—had placed a Binding Spell on her. She was unable to even allude to what was happening. Every time she tried, her hair would fall out. Ultear eventually knew she was not to be trusted."

"Dammit," Adie whispered under her breath, avoiding Leo's gaze. Lucy noticed her was watching the demi-spirit with an intensity that she had never seen before. She hid her sly smile from view. Even after all of this, she thought, he still had an emotional attachment. It explained his womanizing, Lucy considered. He was a wounded soul. Adie's pale gaze traveled to Morpheus. He nodded softly in resignation. Adie sighed. "She didn't have a choker. We should have known, dammit! Two and two!"

"It's too late to be fussin' about the details," Morpheus argued. "You lasses did what you thought was necessary. None of us would have done differently, though this one may have let her die." He jerked his head toward Leo.

The zodiac spirit glared contemptuously as Morpheus chuckled. Lucy found it an inopportune time for his humor. Adie pursed her lips, calming herself. She looked nearly as worn as Lilith. Lucy vaguely wondered if she were in the same limbo form as her sister. Was she, too, slowly being drained?

She opened her mouth to ask the very question, when Adie squared her shoulders. "Faux? Find out what Lilith knows. Report back to us."

"Your uncle—" he began.

"He can lock her up, but as soon as she's summoned, she'll be gone. He can't stop it. No one can." She looked at Morpheus, who shook his head gravely. Faux wordlessly disappeared.

"I'm sorry—" Lucy began, the tension overwhelming her. She needed to say something…..

Adie's eyes were red-rimmed and bleary as she looked at her friend. She waved her hand. "Nothin' we can do. What's done is done. " She looked around the party before suddenly breaking out in a fit of laughter. Within moments, she was knee deep in hysterics. Lucy wrung her hands nervously, obviously not expecting this reaction. "I think we officially made this situation even worse. Shittier, Barsky would say!"

Lucy looked to Leo for help. He inhaled slowly, then stalked over to Adie, gripping her shoulders in his hand. She continued to laugh. He continued to shake her. Eventually, the laughter stopped, and she stood there, staring at her former betrothed. For the first time, Lucy saw the fear in her eyes. Pure, honest, fear. Lucy loathed that look. If Adie was losing her cool, then what hope did Lucy have?

"We'll figure it out," he told Adie in a low, soothing voice. "If I trust anyone with my life, it's Lucy. She'll find a way to make this all better. His Highness will forgive your sister. She was trying to help, remember that."

Adie's lower lip trembled slightly as she nodded, and Morpheus swore under his breath before disappearing with a soft plop. Suddenly, Adie stepped into him, her forehead burying in his shoulder after a look of defeat. Leo's features filled with confusion, then shock. He looked at Lucy, who made rubbing motions with her hand. Slowly, Leo patted Adie on her back. Not quite what Lucy was intending, but it would do. Leo's cheeks were growing pink in the dim light, she could tell. After a moment more, Adie collected herself, pushing away from him

"Sorry," she mumbled. "Jus' tired, that's all."

The faint vibration of the room reminded Lucy that they were likely treading on unsafe territory. She could hear small pebbles bouncing off of the floor. "I think we should get out of here and find Levy . The sooner she can free those spirits, the better they'll feel."

Adie nodded her head softly, and Leo sent the mage a look of mild annoyance for ruining his moment. "She's right," Adie agreed, straightening and taking a deep breath through her nose. It rejuvenated her slightly. "Whatever Lilith will be used for will come to pass."

"I can heal your friend," Peony spoke softly from the doorway, her hands clasped in front of her. Lucy looked at her quizzically. How did she know about Levy? As if sensing her hesitation, Peony offered an explanation, "Morpheus told me about her…the one that can help us."

"Oh." Of course. He had read it in her mind. Damn him! "I would appreciate it very much. I'm sure Wendy is exhausted."

"Then I think we better leave this place before it collapses," Leo commented, as Adie quickly took the lead in front of Peony, followed by Leo. Lucy watched, realizing that, despite the turn of events, she had done what she came to do: Free the spirits.

That recognition burned in her chest; giving her a sense of pride.

"Right," Lucy balled her fists. "Let's go end this."

"Is that all you got?" Natsu goaded, wiping the blood from his eyes. He was feeling unsteady on his feet from the last blow to his head after Happy had been downed. He worried for his friend, but the Eksheed was no match for Natsu's opponent. She was much stronger than he had imagined. She still had not removed her mask, but he was certain it was a she. She fought with a ferocity that could only be attributed to a woman scorned.

"So who broke your heart?"

He continued to persist in aggravating her as he pushed himself back to his feet. She hissed at him, an orb launching at his head. He swiped at it, a move he instantly regretted. He only had a moment to utter "shit" before it shifted and multiplied. Before he realized he couldn't dodge the impending attack. Beams of searing hot light tore through his flesh from all directions. He clamped his mouth shut to stop the screams of pain as his blood sprayed across the ground. It was over as quickly as it started, and he was left with the blinding pain and ringing in his ears.

"Had enough? Do you now realized my power, fool?" Zalty chuckled, the orbs snaking around her neck and over her shoulder.

"Not even close, lady," Natsu wheezed, his lungs burning as his mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood. "Do me a favor and remove the stupid mask. We both know that you're a woman. I'm a dragon slayer after all.

His opponent took a step forward, fingers reaching to reveal her face. "Since I'm about to end your life, dragon slayer," she shared, her voice filled with absolute certainty, "I will grant that."

Natsu tried to get a good look at her face, but his blood was smearing in his eyes, blurring his vision. He felt extremely weak. There was still so much to do. "I knew it."

Standing before him was a voluptuous brunette with proud cheekbones and high arching eyebrows. He would have dared called her beautiful, but her eyes told him she had since been lost to the madness of her quest for Zeref. Besides, he preferred blondes.

"What can I say? I often get mistaken for my mother, that weak fool of a mage," she sneered.

Natsu's eyes widened as he immediately recognized his opponent. The irony of his earlier words stung. "Ur was your mother?"

Ultear hissed, eyes narrowing and expression growing dark. "Keep her name off your lips!" She moved quickly, delivering a blow to the back of his head that caused his vision to blur. Or maybe that was the dirt in his eyes. He was feeling extremely weak. Had he lost that much blood?

"She was more of a mage than you'll ever be, if what I hear is true," he muttered into the ground, spitting a cracked molar from his mouth. He ran his tongue over the sharp edge of his shattered tooth.

"Those will be the last words you utter, fool!" she yelled, a sword forming in her right hand as she reached high—the metal materializing from the air surrounding it. Her fingers quickly curled around the hilt, with the intent to behead Natsu.

And she had nearly succeeded. Her descending blow was intercepted, and for a moment she was caught off guard. With a quick uppercut, her opponent had sent her flying backward an impressive distance.

"Sorry I'm late," Gray drew his arm back, his icy sword shattered but its purpose served. He dropped it, kneeling next to Natsu with a look of concern.

"Great, I was saved by you," Natsu pouted, attempting to push himself from where he was laying prostrate. Gray offered his hand, which Natsu begrudgingly accepted. Within moments, he was once again on his feet. It was such an unsteady process..

"Shit, you're hurt pretty bad," Gray sounded genuinely concerned.

"You do care," Natsu teased. Really, it was a move to keep himself from looking at the deep gashes on his chest. And holes in his arms and legs where the skin was burned away. He couldn't muster the energy for his dragon scales.

"Shut up, asshole!" Gray growled in retaliation, quickly averting his gaze.

"That's Ultear," the dragon slayer quickly pointed out, "Keep your cool. No joke."

"I know." Gray sobered immediately. "I was prepared for this. Looks like the real fun's about to begin, right old friend?"

"She's strong, buddy," Natsu promised.

"She's Ur's daughter, I'd expect that to be the case," the ice mage quipped, eyes scanning the vicinity.

With a swift movement, Ultear was back on her feet, crouched before them. Her lower lip was split, and blood dripped from her chin. She spun two orbs in her left hand, expression murderous. "Two for one deal, now? Your odds still aren't great."

"I hit you, didn't I?" Gray didn't miss a beat.

"Watch out for those things, they multiply at the very last second!" the dragon slayer shared. "You'll look like Swiss cheese like I do."

"I'd never look as bad as you. Either way, Porlyusica's on her way, so don't worry," Gray told him under his breath, eyes on the orbs. He quickly pre-empted with a one-handed ice make attack. A wall shot upward as the orbs were launched their way. He brought the wall down, launching a lance at Ultear.

She easily dodged it with a look of amusement. "My mother's element. How weak."

"You have no idea Ur's strength," Gray told her, "You were too busy hating what you didn't understand."

"And you were too busy playing house with a mommy who couldn't cut it," she glared at him.

Gray wordlessly launched another lance, only to be blocked by a large ice flower that grew skyward in front of Ultear. Gray's eyes grew widened at the unexpected revelation that she was an ice mage as well. That and she didn't use her hands—an indication of her mastery. Gray could do that as well, but his control was subpar. Ultear returned the attack with icy vines that wrapped around the two men. They fell back-to-back as crystalline flowers budded then bloomed, followed by the growth of icy thorns. Gray cursed under his breath as his left arm, chest and thigh were deeply gashed by the briars. Natsu used his fire to melt the ice, but with each halted bloom, the vine divided into two, now a thick wall of ice flowers with thorns. Natsu felt his reserve wearing thin.

"I'm coming!" He heard Happy's voice overhead as the Eksheed swooped down to grab both men, determined to carry them to safety. A flower resembling a Venus flytrap clamped him into its icy jaws.

"No!" Gray yelled, as another thorn bit into his side, drawing more blood. "Shit!"

Ultear took advantage of their prison, leaping high into the sky, her sword once again brandished and ready to strike. This time, the two Fairy Tail mages had nowhere to go. As she swung the weapon, a beam of light shot through her sword hand. Natsu couldn't believe his luck as Ultear cried out. Droplets of blood sprayed over her ice creations. A gale of wind threw her to the ground, some distance away. Natsu quickly finished off a section of her briar trap.

"Sorry, I'm getting slow in my old age," Makarov informed them, apologetically.

"Gramps!"

"Not now, Natsu," Laxus warned him with a cautious glance. Natsu nodded, he knew Makarov didn't have much reserve, and what he did have was likely going to be used on this battle.

"This doesn't concern you, Old Man!" Ultear called out from atop of an undead creature. She was cradling her injured hand, blood dripping down her wrist. She quickly used ice to staunch the bleeding, as Natsu had seen Gray do on many occasions.

"Excuse me, missy," Makarov replied, growing slightly bulkier in size. "But you've come into my town, into my guild, into my family and harmed the ones I watch over. This is my business." His face grew red and Natsu had only seen him this angry on a few, rare occasions. The soft plopping of Porlyusica next to him and her swift moving hands momentarily distracted. He felt the familiar warm thrum of healing magic and he sent her an appreciative look.

"He's pissed, yes?" he asked her.

She sent him an annoyed look, then she smiled softly, "You could say that."

"That's bad. For her."

"For all of us," Porlyusica replied.

"Please help Happy first."

"The cat?" she raised an eyebrow, "He's just stunned. You're bleeding internally. Of the two, you're more likely to die."

He said nothing, allowing her to continue her work.

Ultear threw back her head and laughed, "Fine! You can die with your family, is that what you want? How touching!" She sent a dozen or so orbs toward the group, each of which divided exponentially—the group now facing hundreds of orbs.

A greenish blue light flittered around Makarov before white beams of light shot skyward while the wind kicked up around them. Makarov crossed his arms in front of his chest as he watched the orbs easily bounce off his barrier. Ultear growled in frustration, sending a second barrage. With a wave of his hand, Makarov directed the orbs back at her with a strong gust of wind. They exploded in an odd melody, a cloud of dust billowing around them. Natsu could still smell her—that and the faint trail of blood. It wasn't Ultear's blood, however. He narrowed his eyes, noticing the trickle of blood from Makarov's nostril. The former guild master reached up and wiped it away quickly.

Makarov continued to increase his girth, his hand signaling for his son and grandson to step away from him. "Funny you should mention it. Family, that is."

"I don't have time for endless banter, Old Man!" Her voice was low and steady—filled with annoyance. "Let's end this. I have business elsewhere, it seems. I'd like to try out a new weapon."

"First," Makarov continued to grow, his scowl deepening, "I will teach you manners, child."

"I have no need for manners," she spat. "I will soon be a god!"

"Delusional god or not," Makarov scoffed, uncrossing his arms and forming fists at his side. "You will learn that this is no way to greet family. Much less your own grandfather!"

The blue-haired mage worked diligently, her runes removing every last race of the horrid collars. Some spirits wept, others silently disappeared, and a majority swore the allegiance to Lucy—their new master. Erza had been around to help, but more than a few were leery to have her swinging her blade at their necks, even after Jellal confirmed it was how his choker had been removed.

When the last of the spirits had disappeared, hopefully getting some much needed rest, Levy collapsed to the ground. She had much more color than earlier, due to Peony's magic. The healing spirit had been invaluable, and Lucy was grateful for the added help. She looked around, hoping to glimpse the pink-haired celestial being, but Leo's mother was nowhere to be found.

She noted Adie, sitting some distance away, turning Reaver in her hand while eyeing the relic closely. She had been silent since they had returned above ground. A handful of spirits had respectfully inclined their heads to her, a few even daring to speak to her. She had politely responded with as few words as possible, as Lucy knew her mind was preoccupied with greater things. Leo had appeared concerned by her behavior, or perhaps more concerned about what was to come.

Lucy's fleeting looks failed to capture Natsu, but, she noticed that Makarov and the others were not immediately visible. She suspected, eyes dancing over the devastation around them, that the handful of Fairy Tail mages were banding together. The smell of death, burning grass, and dry earth filled her nostrils. The sun had not moved from its equinox, and Lucy knew it was a powerful spell, one that Ultear did not yet remove. The earth was barren and littered with bodies as far as the eye could see—both alive and dead. In the distance, she could see the gentle upslope of the hills as they climbed toward the icy blue sky, as if to escape the devastation in the depths of the desolate canyon. Her ears caught explosions, as heavy fighting was still occurring, though at a slower rate. There was more time to rest. To regroup.

Something was happening, she knew.

"Whew!" Levy wiped her head as Gajeel stood guard over them. He was her protector, and Levy shone when he was at her side.

"Thank you, Levy!" Lucy crouched down, pulling her friend into an awkward hug. Peony's magic was appreciated, as it imbued vigor in Levy that Lucy hadn't seen for some time. She would definitely give her profuse thanks to the spirit, who was now moving around the battlefield and helping alleviate Wendy of some of her burden.

Morpheus was at Lucy's side, his presence alarming her. She kept her surprise to herself. He chuckled. "Got ya."

"Shut it," she replied.

"They are alright. I think they've found Ultear—Natsu and your friends, that is," he informed her solemnly.

"I wish you wouldn't do that."

He plucked a whisker, watching her, "You are relieved at that information." She nodded wordlessly. He looked at the sky, "That woman is something else. Her mind is so…dark..and angry. She was able to keep her thoughts from me, as if she were expectin' someone to read her mind. I caught glimpses, still."

"She wants to revive her father?" Lucy watched Adie. She seemed so….torn.

"Somethin' like that," he agreed. "More or less she wants a world of only magic. And in this world, she thinks she'll find...happiness."

"Happiness." It was a whisper, and that single word made Lucy's heart ache. She shook her head to clear her thoughts.

"Seems impossible," Morpheus agreed. "But don't give up, kid. There aren't many things worse than devotion without progress."

Lucy's brows drew together as she glanced at him from the corner of her eye. It wasn't like him to talk like this. To banter. Was he affected by Ultear's mind? After a moment of consideration, she realized what she had been so blind to, all along. "You'd do anything for her, I know."

Morpheus said nothing. He didn't have to.

"You…love her, don't you?"

"Don't get all romantic on me!" he hissed, incisors bared. He paused for a few minutes, caving to her earlier question, though indirectly. "I'd die for her without question. All she would have to do is to say the words."

She nodded her understanding, tears prickling her eyes. His secret was safe with her. "I think you should tell her."

"No use."

"There's always hope," she replied softly, her voice steady with conviction. She suspected, to a degree, that his feelings were not so unrequited. He must have been hedging in on her thoughts, because she saw his posture change. Her fingers traced the new keys she had acquired. She needed to figure out what to do with them.

"Why don't you ask her?" Morpheus told her, head bobbing in the general direction of the ruddy-skinned spirit that was approaching the pair.

The newcomer's eyes were on Morpheus. She hesitated, her fingers dancing over his face as his eyes widened slightly by her contact. "You are….well?"

"Aye, Mistress," he croaked. Lucy stifled a smile and she saw him rudely gesture at her with his digit.

If you'd stop reading my thoughts, jerk!

"Thank heavens," Veleda's lips parted in genuine relief. "And Peony?"

"She's helpin' out around here." Morpheus informed her spirit. It earned a nod.

"I'm happy you are well, Pheo," Veleda warmly told him, her hand lingering on his cheek. "I would have been upset if anything were to happen to you—"

"Bah!" he waved at her, voice gruff, "I'm fine. Women!" He rolled his eyes briefly, and Lucy tsked under her breath. He looked between the two, golden eyes on Lucy, "Too much of your female hormones, here. I'll leave you to discuss your keys with Mistress Veleda. I have some Oneiroi to gather. Seems they've been…..effective?"

"Quite, thank you," Lucy bowed her head in thanks. "I appreciate you sending them."

"You summoned them," he interrupted. "Leave me out of it!" With that, he disappeared. For a brief moment, Lucy pondered discussing Morpheus' confession with Veleda, but quickly decided against it.

"I don't know anything about these keys," Lucy lifted the key ring in explanation. "If I did, perhaps I could ex-quip them for use. But there are so many, and even I can't memorize each of them in such a short period of time! I know Libra, of course." It was the last of the zodiac keys. She now had a complete set.

The spirit studied her for a moment, the reached out, fingers planted firmly on Lucy's temples. Flashes of visions caused Lucy's voice to catch in her throat. She saw the faces of the spirits she had rescued and brief introductions in the form of pictures. More importantly, she saw Lilith, bowing before the King. Her face was downcast, and Lucy couldn't read her expression, but the King looked dismayed by what he heard, tugging at his facial hair. Suddenly Lucy was directed toward a hooded woman—three actually, but honing in on one of the three. There was a loom in front of her, the string snaking away and dissipating in the nothingness that was thin air. She didn't understand why she was seeing this, but she knew it was important for whatever reason. There was an older vision—a woman that deeply resembled Veleda and an armored male—a spirit, she thought. Their hands were joined as Zeref was thrown backward into the dark, lifeless space, and their bodies disintegrating as that gap closed. Then a flash to Adie, but not the Adie that was just before them. She was a child—a thriving child being held to her mother's breast. Then she was with Lilith, using their keys like tiny swords. Lilith summoned shadowy wisps, which were evaporated by the golden light from Adie's key. Suddenly, Lucy was observing an interaction between Freya and Veleda—the former's face firm with concern and sadness. Lucy saw Adie's key being broken, the prong forged into a tiny blade—the same blade Lucy had at her waist.

As quickly as they started, the visions ended, leaving Lucy to blink away bleariness and shock. She wanted to ask what the visions meant, but Veleda suddenly collapsed into Lucy's arms. She lowered the spirit the ground, realizing that she was seeing more than Veleda had likely intended to share.

"I'm sorry, I forgot it drains you!"

"I'm fine…..I wanted you to see how Zeref was sealed away," Veleda told her, milky irises staring ahead.

"Where was that?"

"Void, it's called." Veleda smiled grimly. "It's between our world and yours, and is kept separate by the constant work of the Matres—the sisters are the oldest living celestial beings. They are highly revered for keeping the balance between our worlds, all three of them."

"Why are you showing me this?" Lucy asked.

"Because apparently, that's what Ultear is after, according to Lilith. More specifically, the one I showed you. She thinks that if she can unwind the thread weaved in the loom—"

"She can open the void to Zeref!" Lucy gasped.

Veleda nodded, "His Majesty and council are considering cutting the thread entirely." She licked her lips. "This would sever our bonds entirely."

Lucy considered her words carefully, "You mean removing all Celestial spirits from this world? Forever?"

Veleda nodded again. "That is his Majesty's proposal."

"He can't! My friends! Is that what the spirits want?" Lucy shot to her feet, pacing frantically and talking quickly. "How can we stop it?"

Veleda's eyes were clearing of their former cloudiness as she followed Lucy's voice. "If it happens…if Zeref is freed—"

"It won't!" Lucy's shrilled. She could tell that Levy was doing her best not to eavesdrop, though unsuccessfully. "I won't let it happen, Veleda."

The spirit raised a hand, her voice soft. "If it does…." Lucy attempted to interrupt, but Veleda forged on, "It is my destiny to seal Zeref again….as my mother had."

Lucy's voice caught in her throat as she considered what Veleda desired. "If," Lucy agreed hesitantly, "But why would you sacrifice your life?"

"It is my choice," Veleda looked at Adie, her vision restored.. "And because I owe it to those girls. I deprived them of both of their parents, in a sense. It's the only way I can repay her. And it's my duty—my…destiny."

Lucy's eye narrowed. "But both of your parents sacrificed themselves. A human and spirit." Suddenly her eyes grew wide, "You'll need a human to sacrifice themselves!" Veleda watched her carefully, and Lucy felt the blood drain for her face. Her voice was small when she spoke, "….Me?"

From the corner of her eye, Lucy thought she saw Levy make a gesture. She was too engrossed in her conversation to ask Levy the meaning of it.

"That," Veleda stood, the brevity of the situation suddenly so very apparent, "Is your choice, Lucy Heartfilia."

Lucy sighed, once again feeling as if she were drowning slowly. Ultear hadn't found all of the keys to Zeref's prison, so she was planning to destroy the Celestial Spirit World in the process. The thought made Lucy irate, but it all seemed so intricate, so planned. What was Ultear's plan for Adie? Did she know something Lucy did not? Their enemy seemed so close to success.

Except Lucy had Adie's key.

And Lucy wouldn't give that up easily.

And neither would Adie, who was far more stubborn. Besides, hadn't Adie said the key couldn't be used by Ultear, anyhow? So unless Ultear could manipulate Lucy into using it against hers and Adie's will—

No.

Lucy would not allow it as long as she lived. She looked up at the sky, her heart aching for all the things she wanted to do and say. She would do whatever was necessary to stop Ultear. To protect her friends and family, even if it meant her death.

That was her choice.