Hi guys! This is the second part to Chapter 36 and also as I've mentioned before - the update for August. There's a lot of talking in this part to be honest ^.^" But I had to convey the message someway and this was just the best way for me, hope you guys enjoy reading about 'Evil Lucy' and I hope the end of this fight isn't too anti-climatic (**I personally do but I haven't been able to change it to anything better**)
I would like thank you reader as well for coming this far with me, it's already the 37th chapter and we're reaching this story's end. Hope you guys will stick around more for other stories I might come up with in the future! Enjoy~
Chapter 37 (A Fool's Eternal Freedom & Electrifying Chaos:Pt 2)
Normal POV,
Natsu scoffed, "Lucy is Eclipse, I don't know who you are but you're not Lucy." Eclipse's smirk grew wider, "Indeed the Celestial Spirit Wizard is me, but at the same time she isn't me. You see, I'm the darkness curled within her soul, the evil that's within all human beings. I am her shadow."
Natsu bit his lip, "Whatever, I'm going to beat you out of her, I will protect her even if it is from herself." Eclipse laughed, "And who are you? Her mighty prince in shining armour? You know she was the one that called me out today."
"It's been a long time since I've seen the light of day you know and I have to say it feeels great." Eclipse laughed and curled her fingers into a tight fist.
"I'm not a power the Celestial Spirit Wizard can control so easily, the one who awakened me is my true master but I'll do her a favour today." Eclipse smirked at Natsu, "She seemed very intent to get rid of you."
"My though, she did have a point, only a Dragon Slayer can defeat a Dragon Slayer. From the magic power I sensed in you before, I have to say you are quite the worthy opponent."
The sound of Eclipse cracking her knuckles echoed through the arena as she stared at Natsu, "Let us begin." Without a second glance, she moved towards Natsu at lightning speed, her fist connecting with his jaw in just seconds, making Natsu fall flat onto his back.
Eclipse stood above Natsu, blowing at her fist as she looked down at him. "The Celestial Spirit Wizard is either very brave or very stupid, are you the reason why?" She asked questioningly.
Natsu scowled as he stood up shaking. "Lucy isn't stupid." He hissed, grabbing Eclipse by the throat and slamming into the wall behind him. Eclipse coughed, "Is that so? I thought only brave idiot would try and seem out Dark Lord and thinking they could take him down."
Natsu's eyes widened in shock. "Zeref?" Eclipse smiled and used this opportunity to throw Natsu to the other side of the arena. The Fire Dragon Slayer landed into the stone walls with a crack, leaving him almost embedded into the stone.
"Indeed, haven't you heard Zeref is going to destroy humanity. He even tried to recruit us, but unfortunately little darling said no."
Natsu gasped as he tried to forcefully pull himself out of the crumbling stone wall, "Why are you telling me this?!" He snapped as Eclipse neared him. "Because it's fun!" She cooed as she walked closer.
"I heard he was going to destroy Crocus first because we rejected his offer. The Celestial Spirit Wizard was wracked with grief, terrified he was going to destroy everything she loved."
"Not like everything she loved wasn't already gone, right?"
Eclipse chuckled, "Is that why she's so keen to find him? Zeref." Suddenly with a groan the wall collapsed, leaving Natsu heaving on the ground. "L-lucy is trying to kill Zeref - her own?!"
Eclipse nodded ignoring Natsu's heaving mess, "Oh yes, she even refused that red head's offer. It's quite interesting how keen she is on fighting by herself. Is she a masochist or just trying to kill herself?"
Natsu panted as he tried to push himself up, "S-she would never do any of those things, sh-she's Lucy. She would never abandon us, no matter how shitty things got, she never left us behind."
Eclipse smirked and with a flick of her foot she kicked Natsu back onto the ground, the sound of bone cracking echoed as her booted foot came in contact with one of Natsu's ribs.
Natsu coughed profusely making Eclipse giggle, "How pathetic, you still have hope in this girl? Faith? She barely has any in herself!" Eclipse leaned down towards Natsu curled up form and grabbed him by his collar.
With their gazes aligned she smiled sweetly and spat onto his face, "Let me tell you something, Natsu Dragneel. I know how much you love us, or the Celestial Spirit Wizard anyway but she's no angel. Her hands are covered in blood, blood that I did not take and the lives I have taken she weighs them on herself."
"She had spirit, bravery, strength but all of that can be taken away." Eclipse held out a small stone in her other hand and closed her fingers around it. "Like a rock, with enough pressure in the right spots it'll break just as fragile as glass."
Her grip tightened and the sound of rock breaking could be heard echoing in their ears. Eclipse opened her hand to reveal a small pile of dust sitting in her palm and dropped it down to the dirt below.
"And be reduced to little more than dust, this girl is weak just as well as strong. She feels a need to carry everything upon her shoulders but struggled with the emotional weight. Whether she becomes stronger the longer she carries it, or weaker is up to her."
"But people like you and that Holy Dragon Slayer are her bindings, for some reason she holds people like you close to her heart and tightening just a little will make her shatter."
"Loosening a little will make her fall apart."
"That night, you confessed to your feelings was the night she fell apart. The Celestial Spirit Wizard has lost everything just because she believes she's lost you and that other man. She wants no part in this world and seeks freedom, a never ending freedom called death."
Eclipse's eyes twinkled as she spoke, her voice filled with glee, "You've killed her. Not me, not the Dark Lord, you." Natsu who had been staring at the ground a minute ago, looked up and met Eclipse's gleeful gaze.
"Is that all?" Confusion flew over her face, "What?" Natsu's eyes were stony as he repeated his question, "Is that all you had to say to me?" Eclipse scoffed, "There's more but that would be boring." She laughed and dropped Natsu to the ground.
"You're no fun, I thought this would be a lot more exciting." Eclipse groaned turning her back on Natsu before starting to walk away. A silence fell upon them when suddenly Natsu spoke, "I won't let her do it - I won't let her just kill herself."
"Because she hasn't lost me, she hasn't lost anyone. Deep down she knows we all still care about her, that we love her."
"At least I know I do."
Natsu got up, his shoulders shaking as he scowled tearfully towards Eclipse. "Lucy is better than you think she is, the fact that she cares so much everyone, that she's willing to take all of the blame is what made her so amazing." He yelled, his voice shaking and hoarse.
"She's better than you ever will be!" He snarled, tears and sweat plastering his face. Eclipse chuckled, "So what are you going to do, Natsu?"
Natsu coughed roughly as he spoke, evidence of his broken bones, "I was going to save her from Tartarus, but now I know."
"I have to save her from herself."
Eclipse turned back slightly and smirked, raising her eyebrow in amusement. "It seems you're not so boring after all, come on give me all you've got, Natsu Dragneel."
Natsu screamed his voice hoarse and shaking before igniting his entire body on fire with bright red flames, lighting the whole ground beneath on fire as well. Eclipse could only watch in awe as the Fire Dragon Slayer, ran at her.
"DRAGON FORCE, CRIMSON LOTUS: PHOENIX BLADE!" Natsu snarled as he slammed into Eclipse, sending her flying into sky before pummelling her to the ground.
Dust erupted into air, blinding for the moment as he stood there panting, admiring his own work. The only thing he could think about was whether he had won or not.
Somewhere in the background he could hear cheering and the sound of bells as he stared into the dust but somewhere within him he knew the battle was far from being over yet.
A senile laughter echoed through the dust, freezing in him tracks and confirming his suspicions. That wasn't enough.
"Dragon Force?! What beauty indeed, such power to behold." Eclipse praised as she walked out of the dust cloud with barely a scratch, "Oh it did hurt, just not enough." She said smirking as she caught the look on Natsu's face.
"I have some of those tricks up my sleeve too." Eclipse tapped at her ear and smiled, "Second Orgin: Chaos Poison Dragon Slayer!" She announced. Nats's eyes widened, he knew Lucy was a third generation, but he had never seen her second orgin for her himself.
Chaos and poison.
"CHAOS POISON DRAGON'S ROAR!" Eclipse screamed as a pillar of Dark Matter was sent churning at Natsu's way, missing by just a bit again as he dodged to the side at the last minute. Eclipse scowled, "Stop moving." She hissed.
Natsu smirked, "I can't let cha' catch me, I keep my words. I will beat you outta Lucy." Eclipse laughed, "I'll take that as a challenge." Without a second word she ran towards Natsu and slammed him into the wall, her hand tightening as she pressed Natsu deeper into the wall.
"Still trying to be the hero?!" She asked, her voice coated in sugary sweet sarcasm. "Don't make me laugh." Natsu answered, landing a punch to her jaw. Eclipse backed off, leaving Natsu time to attack.
He panted as he leaned against the wall behind him for support, he was tired and beaten up, his side was finally starting to hurt and he knew regularly moved weren't going to phase Eclipse.
Natsu stared at his hands, he had to go Second Orgin in order to get anywhere at this point.
Closing his eyes, he breathed in a sigh of the dusty air. Second Orgin, he had to focus on Second Orgin. Focus on the sky, lightning.
Lightning.
Eclipse stared at the Fire Dragon Slayer in amusement, when suddenly a bolt of thunder crashed down in between them. Eclipse screamed and jumped back, completely caught off guard from the lightning only to see Natsu on the other side, the flames on his body burning brighter than ever and electricity buzzing and bouncing across his skin.
"Second Orgin: Fire Lightning Dragon Slayer!" Natsu smirked darkly at Eclipse, "CRIMSON LOTUS: EXPLODING FLAME BLADE!" Natsu yelled as lightning struck the ground again, causing the ground to crack and shudder.
Natsu ran at Eclipse, his hand burning with electrified fire as a pillar of electricity and flames spiralled at the other Dragon Slayer. Without time to run or even dodge the attack the Chaos Dragon Slayer could only think of one thing.
Dragon Soul.
Eclipse stared at the churning pillar straight for her and closed her eyes in horror, "DRAGON SOUL!" She screamed as a pillar of white light engulfed everything around her, the arena, the people even Natsu and the electrified pillar of fire were suddenly turned into a white wasteland.
The sky turned white as the outline of the Chaos Dragon flew above and across the sky. Within seconds the white light faded enough for people to see the outcome, the bell for the match rang as the entire arena looked down anxiously to see what had happened, only to reveal a tie.
"And it seems the fight of the century has just revealed it's ending, a tie!" Chapati yelled into the speaker as he stared into the arena. The arena was alight with mixed screams of excitement and horror as paramedics were sent to bring both of the unconscious mages to the infirmary.
Hours Later,
Lucy woke up with a start, her head banging against the metal bed-frame as she jerked awake, her heartbeat hammering in her head as she sat up. She winced as she glanced at her wounds, a few cuts here and bruises.
She glanced at the tattoo that intertwined between her pale green veins and was surprised to see them more prominent than ever around her wrist, chest and even her neck area. They had gotten bigger and more complicated, swirling over and over across her skin like ancient magic spells.
Rubbing her shoulder she looked around to try and decipher her surroundings, she knew she was in the infirmary - the bed, the light even the clock on the north wall told her it was the infirmary.
But what had happened she could only faintly remember.
She knew she had given into the darkness that afternoon, in her desperation to defeat Natsu she had let Eclipse who she hadn't even known could take over like that, take the reigns.
The next few things she could remember was a pillar of fire coming straight towards her, an attack that she recognise as distinctly Natsu's and bright white light.
With the way she was now she could only assume she had lost, yet she had somehow survived.
Groaning Lucy got off her bed and walked over to her window, it was probably around 7pm yet the moon was already out high in the sky. The moonlight danced across the surface of the window as she looked through, the clock of the infirmary ticking quietly in the background.
Closing her eyes, she let her mind sink into the peace as she stared out into the evening bustling street outside. Lucy couldn't quite believe she was giving this all up tonight, living.
Lucy couldn't help but think just how beautiful yet ugly living was. She had hated the way she had lived her life all the way until now but she was going to miss these little moments of peace.
Sighing Lucy pulled herself from the window and went in search for her clothes. She had to get moving soon, considering the fact that she didn't have a clue where Zeref was in the city but she had a feeling she didn't really need to find him.
He would find her, he always did.
Lucy finally found spare clothes folded up inside a closet near the door and quickly got dressed. As she was putting on her cloak though, the door creaked open.
Lucy turned around swiftly only to see Yukino holding a laundry basket in her arms, filled with her clothes from earlier in the morning. "Yukino?" "Lucy-san why aren't you in bed, are you going somewhere?"
Lucy bit her lip, wondering whether it would be too late to lie to Yukino about where she was going. "Y-yeah I'm leaving for somewhere." "Tonight? Isn't it the last day of the Grand Magic Games tomorrow?" Lucy stared at Yukino's questioning blue eyes and felt her heart sink lower into her stomach.
She knew Yukino was one of the few people she had a pure friendship with, someone who she had absolutely no complications whatsoever with. They were just friends, who got to know each other in the same guild.
Plus they were both Celestial Spirit Wizards and Lucy knew after the Zentopia incident there were only so many of them now.
If she left, Yukino, as she knew would be one of the people who would cry for her.
"Yeah, but this is a little more important." Lucy grabbed Yukino's basket and set it down on her bed. "I've left the guild anyway, so I won't be coming tomorrow."
Yukino's eyes widened as she took a step back, "What are you talking about, Lucy-san?" Lucy sighed and showed Yukino her bare hand, "The guild mark is gone, Minerva finalised it with me."
"But why? Why are you leaving? And why didn't you tell us?" She whispered, her blue eyes tearing up as she spoke. "Yukino I'm sorry." Lucy whispered, engulfing the other girl into a hug. "Yukino, I'm sorry I didn't tell you of the others but this... This is just really important to me ok?"
Yukino sniffed into Lucy's chest, "Are you leaving permanently? You're never coming back? Are you.. Are you going back to Fairy Tail?" Lucy laughed softly, leaning her chin gently against Yukino's white head. "No, of course I'm not going back but... I promise you'll see me again, alright?"
Yukino was silent for a minute before silently nodding, "Ok." They were like that for a few more minutes before Lucy broke the silence once more, "Tell the others I'm sorry alright, for not telling them this."
Yukino chuckled, "Sting won't be happy about this huh?" Lucy was silent for a minute before smiling back. "I'm not so sure... Thanks for understanding, Yukino." Yukino laughed, "That's what guildmates are for right? We're friends!" Lucy was silent for a minute, before smiling genuinely this time. "I guess you're right Yukino.." She whispered back.
Minerva couldn't find the guts to go in as she leaned against the wall outside of Lucy's room, a cup of lukewarm coffee in her hand. There was no way Minerva was going in after what had happened that morning, besides she already knew Lucy was fine.
The doctors had told her so already.
Yukino had originally asked her if she wanted to come in when she saw Minerva outside but she declined saying she'll wait. Minerva looked down at her own guild mark and sighed in regret.
She was really letting Lucy do this, huh? She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall - she could hear them now, those two.
"That's what guildmates are for right? We're friends." Yukino's voice echoed through the hall, making Minerva's heart skip a beat. She was right, Lucy had been her friend.
The coffee that she had been clutching in her hand dropped to the ground as those words echoed in her head.
She had let her friend leave, let her life slip through her hands.
She hadn't changed at all since her father was defeated, she hadn't changed a bit.
Erza woke up to soft white light dancing across her bedroom floor, her mouth still open in a silent scream as she chased after Lucy. She had dreamt Lucy had already left to find Zeref and she had went after her.
But when they were both standing in front of Zeref there was nothing she could do to save her as she was devoured by the Dark Lord. Erza's breath quickened as she thought about it now.
She had felt so helpless, so little. She sat up in her bed, her shoulder still shaking as she scanned the clock. Suddenly she realised what the time was. Staring at the bright red numbers on the digital clock made her heart drop all the way to her stomach as she realised with a jolt that it was already 8pm.
The words 'too late' seemed to be etched within the numbers, scoffing at her incompetence. Erza stood up, her head dizzy as she leaned against her bed for support.
Too late, was Erza already too late in trying to stop Lucy from doing something she'll regret?
"Shit."
So, that's Pt2 and the final part of Lucy vs Natsu. Hoped you guys liked it, please do mind the mild swearing in my fics but oh well, swearing is swearing right XD Anyway hope you guys liked it, read and review!