ACT 4

4

58

A Midsummer Night's Dream

"The course of true love never did run smooth." ―

William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Gray swore as he and most of the the rest of the guild stared at the entrance to Natsu's hoard, heat blaring from the opening. Never before had they been able to find the dragon's home, not even a trace, it was so well hidden. But with Happy and Carla guiding the way it had been almost embarrassingly easy.

However, now Gray was almost wishing they hadn't.

The grass and plant life had begun to die and wilt just from the heat pounding into them. It was boiling.

Juvia gasped nearby, her wintery coat getting pulled off in favor of getting some more air. Personally Gray was just glad he had pants on.

Thank small mercies for his stripping habit.

Another pulse of heat rushed out, and Gray glanced back at the others who had gathered to try and contain Natsu. Lucy was nowhere in sight, and Gray was worried she had been trapped inside the hoard with Natsu.

"Any sign of Lucy?" Yukino called out fearfully, heralding the approach of the remaining dragons, "The last time we talked to her was a while ago and she didn't sound good!"

"Not yet," Erza replied tensely, but reached over and set a hand on Wendy's head. The little dragonslayer looked worried and Erza gave her a soft smile, "Don't worry. She'll be fine. Lucy would have known to get out of there."

"Containing Natsu here is the priority. We can't let him out of his hoard and into Magnolia," Erza continued firmly. However, before anyone could respond, a new, sudden rush of heat enveloped over them, and a winged silhouette appeared at the opening of the cave.

Natsu emerged in a cloud of smoke, black, spiraling horns sprouting from rosy hair, and blackened cracks all across his body. Red scales gleamed out in struggle against the rising demon, but the snarl that emerged from him was frightening enough to make hair stand on end.

"Go away," Natsu hissed in a voice so low and garbled, its warning almost didn't make sense.

Before any of them could respond the glow of a gate opening flashed and Lucy stepped out. She looked disheveled, but mostly unharmed. However, unlike when Sting and Gray had been talking to her, her chin was lifted stubbornly and she was eyeing Natsu with a determined look that would not have looked out of place on the dragon himself.

It certainly surprised Natsu.

Even in his madness he reacted to that look, and took a confused half a step backwards, "Lucy..."

Lucy nodded at the growl, "That's right Natsu." She replied, "I told you we were going to fix this and I'm not breaking my promise."

She kept her eyes on him as she carefully edged around to where Gray and the others were standing, not trusting the heat if she got too close again.

"I can fix this." She told him, "But I need you to keep fighting it. Just a little longer. Try your best. We'll help you. I promise."

She glanced over her shoulder at Gray, "I have a plan, but I need you guys to cool him off enough I can get close."

Gray smirked as the temperature around him plunged, "We can do that."

Natsu started growling at the implied threat, but Gray just smirked back as the dragons joined him, "Not this time you pyro."

He had no idea what Lucy had in mind, but he trusted her when she said she did have a plan. Nor was he the only one. It only took a moment for the others to line up with him, preparing for battle.

"If it's cool Lucy wants, then that is what she will get!" Erza exclaimed as she requipped.

That was apparently enough for Natsu as his expression darkened and he lunged for them.

A stream of fire erupted, spreading out in an uncontrolled flame as sense left Natsu's eyes. A guttural snarl ripped from his throat.

"Hold steady!" Makarov shouted out, swelling in size to swat at Natsu before he could venture too close to Erza and Gray.

The flames raced up the Master's arm, forcing a minor retreat as the guild began their defense. Natsu was like a wrecking ball. The attacks certainly connected and struck him, but it was like he was oblivious to it.

The madness had seeped into his mind and made it impossible for him to even feel pain from attacks despite the magic specifically designed to combat demons that Gray used.

It was a minor miracle he hadn't transformed into his dragon shape, a sign if any that Natsu was still struggling with himself.

Lucy grimaced and joined the fray, using Aries' wool bomb to keep Natsu's more dangerous attacks from striking and smothering his flames. Something that clearly irritated the insane demon, but despite his fury he was clearly only sending half-hearted attacks her way.

It seemed Natsu still recognized her, even in the heat of battle. He might have been roaring plumes of fire in an unrecognized fury at his guildmates, and even his nest, but something about Lucy kept him from turning those flames on her.

Lucy touched the scarf around her neck, wondering if that had something to do with it when Natsu once again turned away from her to throw Droy into Gajeel.

"Gray! Now!" Lucy shouted at him as Natsu caught his balance, taking advantage of the fact Natsu was turning away from her.

"Right!" Gray shouted back at her, his demonslaying tattoo rising up onto his forearm. He got into position, "Ready!"

Natsu turned in a lightening fast blur Gray, fire burning at the back of his throat. The demonslayer was nearly taken by surprise when a whip dragged around Natsu's neck and his head was yanked towards the side.

Lucy kept her shaking arms on her whip, the cord straining under the effort to keep him from frying Gray. She knew it was risky with fire boiling in the back of his throat, threatening to rush out at any moment. But the red, frightened gleam in Natsu's eyes kept his mouth shut. His teeth ground together as he tried to force his head away from her, so she held on as tight as she could. Natsu wouldn't release his flames when he was facing her.

But his body was pulling her, tender heels digging into the hot earth. Natsu was forcing his way back towards Gray, whether he was leashed or not.

At least until he was struck from the back by Erza, donning her Flame Empress armor, a watery sword clenched in her hand and dousing the flames coming from his body for a split second.

Steam rose from Natsu's shoulders and Erza sprang off the demon's back, "Gray!"

Not needing a better opening than that, Gray unleashed a wave of ice magic, trapping Natsu's super-heated body in a ball of ice.

"This is your chance Lucy!" Gray shouted at her as Natsu let out a roar of fury. It was so loud, so monstrous in volume, Lucy felt it vibrate in her very ribs.

Natsu's limbs thrashed, and the dragons pounced on them. Gajeel's steel claws sank into Natsu's wrists while Sting and Rogue wrenched at his madly flapping wings.

Lucy didn't waste time, running towards the dragons and wedging herself in between their bulky bodies. Her heart trembled in fear and she ran up to Natsu, staring into his red eyes.

"Lucy, you can't save me," Natsu struggled out between his grinding fangs.

Her heart broke at the expression on his face, wild with fear. Fear for her and what he was doing to the guild. He was still there. Still fighting.

"Yes I can!" Lucy shouted back at him and flung his scarf around his neck, twisting the other end around her as well. She moved in close to him, even as he tried to tug his head away from her. He was burning so hot, he was afraid her skin would blister even by touching him.

But she stubbornly pressed her forehead against his.

"I'm not going to let you go." She whispered, ignoring how hot his forehead was. It wasn't burning, and that was all that mattered.

She gripped the scarf tightly as she closed her eyes, and focused on what bound them together so strongly. The one thing that would overwhelm the artificial hate and fury in him now. Overwhelm it so completely there would never be any chance of this happening to him again.

"I love you." She whispered, opening her heart and her magic to the scarf, and through it to him.

The scarf flared a bright, shining white at that declaration. Natsu's eyes widened with shock, and he gasped as for the first time he felt something more from his scarf than soft heat and a gentle warmth of protection.

He couldn't have described it if he'd tried. It was like nothing he'd ever felt before, but it was glorious and it brought tears to his eyes.

"Lucy..." He whispered hoarsely, his markings fading under the strength of his shock and she responded by pressing herself closer.

"I love you." She repeated, her own voice thick with emotion, "And nothing will ever change that! And I'm not going to let Zeref, or anyone else, force you to do anything you don't want ever again!"

Her magic flared in response, a warm gold compared to the scarf's brilliant white, that seemed to wash over him from where they were connected. No one dared to breathe a word as they watched the display. Something was happening here. Something as profound and soul shaking as it was unprecedented.

Lucy neither knew, nor would have cared, about that. All she cared about was the dragon in front of her. She wanted him back. Wanted him whole and happy again. Like he had been before Zeref's influence. She wanted that with all her heart and was willing to throw every scrap of magic she had into making that happen.

Cobra had said she would need something powerful to overwhelm the connection to Zeref. This, the love between them, was the most powerful thing she could think of.

"Please come back to me." She pleaded, "Don't let Zeref win."

Natsu let out a choked sound of his own as he renewed his struggles. Not against her, but against the insanity. He could feel it. He could feel her love. Warm and beautiful and so pure it brought tears to his eyes. He'd never realized just how deeply she felt for him. Hearing the words was one thing, but this... he had to escape the madness holding him! He had to fight it!

He had to show her that she was not alone. That he felt the same way.

And from within his heart an answering warm glow of magic appeared.

And then a tension. One that swelled in his chest and made his body feel like it was burning to ash from within. He wondered if this was how the demons at Galuna island felt before they disappeared, but he struggled on.

He could feel Lucy's hands on his cheeks, her forehead against his. Her magic straining against his and trying to push through the haze in his mind.

He felt pressure building in his head, like a rope beginning to stretch tighter and tighter, a rush of desperate heat and flame boiling in the back of his throat. But he swallowed it back and didn't release it.

He felt her lips against his, trembling and soft, a desperate puff of air breathed against his skin, "Please Natsu..."

And it snapped.

Suddenly an ever present pressure, one he never knew was there, evaporated. Natsu felt dizzy, his eyes going unfocused. All his magic drained out of him and into the earth, a debilitating exhaustion pouring through him.

His knees buckled and he fell forward, ice crumbling away from him as he dropped heavily into Lucy's arms. She staggered under his weight but she held him tightly until Gajeel could lift him up by his arms to relieve some of the pressure on her.

Lucy helped as Natsu was laid down, his limbs boneless even as he stubbornly tried to move, "What- what happened...?"

"It seems as if most of his magic was purged from his body at once, along with whatever bond was with him," Makarov advanced towards the worried looking Lucy, "He'll need a moment to recharge."

"He's gone," Natsu said dazedly, "Zeref's influence, the bond-"

Makarov set a hand on her shoulder, "Tell me child, how did you manage such a thing?"

Lucy shook her head and bit her lip. She looked at Natsu, her hands coming up to cradle his head onto her lap, "All I did was out-stubborn Zeref."

"He wanted Natsu, but I wanted his happiness more," Lucy murmured, and Natsu's lips quirked.

"Ow," The demon complained.

Lucy laughed a little wetly, relieved tears slipping down her cheeks, "I think you'll live." She teased and leaned over to kiss him gently on the forehead while Wendy rushed over to inspect them both for injuries.

"That was pretty impressive though." Gray commented, trying not to let his own relief show, "I've never felt magic like that in my life."

Lucy blinked in surprise as she looked up at him, "Really?"

"It was incredible Lu!" Levy gushed, "The scarf was bright white, and you were glowing gold! And for a second I felt something. It was like the whole world was holding its breath!"

Lucy blushed at the description and looked down at Natsu, "It was your scarf that inspired me." She murmured to him, rubbing her fingers through his hair, "I had this feeling that it could help, since it was already connected to you in a way."

She smiled, "But Cobra gave me the clue I needed. He told me what I had to do to end a possession. Said I needed something strong enough to overwhelm it."

Natsu smiled back at her and managed to tiredly lift his hand to caress her cheek, "You're amazing Luce."

He didn't really care about the particulars now. All he cared about was that he had the most beautiful, amazing, woman love him, and that she had freed him.

"The power of love." Makarov murmured and gave them both a smile, "It's a powerful thing indeed."

Wendy broke the moment by taking that moment to sit back on her heels, "We should probably get Natsu back inside." She told them, and poked her big brother, "You need sleep, and it's cold out here."

"Hmph. Guess that means it's up to us to haul him back into his lair." Gajeel grunted with exaggerated irritation, "Since the runt can't even stand right now."

"Oi!" Natsu protested as Sting stepped forward, and helped pull Natsu upright so Gajeel could throw him over his shoulder, to Natsu's extreme indignation.

Which only caused a round of laughter from his guildmates.

Traitors.

"Put me down!" He growled, trying to flail against the hold, but not really up to more than feeble movements, "I'll be fine! Just gimme a sec! Hey! I didn't say you could go inside!"

"You didn't have to!" Gajeel cackled, his ruby eyes flashing in amusement at Natsu's weak kicks, "Damn Salamander. I could tie you into knots right now if I wanted to!"

Natsu hung upside down, his body swaying from left to right as Gajeel moved him and the rest of the nest all filed inside his hoard.

"Lucy, make them stooooop," Natsu whined as they all began to walk in, past the heaps of gold he had accidentally melted and to the clearing they had worked out.

"No can do," Lucy apologized, but smiled at him. She set a hand on his cheek right before Gajeel tossed Natsu sideways back onto his bed.

The fire dragon let out an undignified shriek and sank back into the pillows. It was still ridiculously warm in there, but it would be good to rejuvenate Natsu. Already the color was beginning to return to his cheeks.

"Besides, they're your nest. Which means you're going to be inviting them in here sooner or later anyway to help clean this place up and make it livable for everyone," Lucy teased.

Natsu groaned at the surprised look on the other dragon's faces and weakly covered his head in a pillow.

"Really?" Rogue asked, hardly daring to believe there was a permanent place they could stay at. For being nomadic dragons, he and his brother had barely even hoped for a territory to safely stay in, much less a genuine nest-home.

"Maybe..." Natsu mumbled and he groped out blindly for the covers, burying himself under the thickest blanket he could grab.

"We'll talk about this later," Gajeel growled, his eyes alit with interest, "Let's let the Salamander rest for now. We're going to have our hands full with other stuff until this whole Zeref thing blows over."

That caused Natsu's head to lift and he growled, trying to force himself upright, "Lucy broke the bond I had with Zeref. The one thing he could use to stay in contact with me."

"In other words, he's gonna be pissed," Sting translated.

Natsu nodded, but he thought it would be a little worse than that. 'Pissed' was too light of a term.

He had no idea how badly his brother had truly wanted him back by his side until he was caught in the throes of his madness. And as frightening as that was, Natsu found - he could relate to that.

Natsu had wanted a family too.

SPECIAL THANKS TO AJDRAKES FOR DRAWING LAST CHAPTER OF NATSU'S MELT DOWN. GUYS IT'S SO AMAZING YOU SHOULD CHECK IT OUUUUUT! I REBLOGGED IT ON MY BLOG (MSLEAD) IF YOU WANNA SEE IT. YOU TOTALLY SHOULD. I had kind of a down day today, UNEMPLOYMENT PENDS. arghhhhh.

So here's a sneak peek. :'D generous generous.

"Magnolia. Fairy Tail," Zeref's eyes narrowed, "This time there will be no mercy. No plans. Just utter destruction. We will bring that guild and town to its knees. Only my brother and Lucy will be spared."

"The girl m'lord?" Mard Geer asked, his eyes wide.

Zeref nodded, his hands locking behind his back, "Yes. We will keep Miss Heartfilia alive just long enough to see Natsu at his rightful place. As my right hand, and the head of Tartaros."

"His intended spot all along?" Mard Geer nodded, "And then we kill her?"

Zeref nodded.

"Only after she's suffered, will she be permitted to die."