Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.
WARNING: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS! Read at your own risk. There's still original stuff in here, but if you haven't gotten to this point in the anime/manga, then some things may be ruined for you. I advise catching up to the anime/manga if you haven't already (for more reasons than just reading my story)! Thank you and enjoy!
Fairy Tail—The Master and the Dragon
Chapter 98
Kinana stopped in her tracks. She was breathing heavily and a light sweat coated her skin. She looked towards the sky, her eyes shining as they scanned the darkness. "I heard it. I heard his voice." She gasped as a light shot across the sky. It crashed into the distant mountains with a loud bang. "A shooting star…that's it! It must be!" She turned on her heel and ran towards the mountains where the light fell with a beaming smile. "He's come to get me!"
Erza surveyed the area from atop one of the chains. Massive chains were falling down in every direction, as they had been for quite some time. Yet there had been no update as to whether or not Lucy's condition had changed. She paused her own destruction of the chains to put a hand to her head. "Warren, what's Lucy's status?"
"Nothing yet. Half of the chains are still intact," Warren's communication came through. "Keep going, everyone! Hurry!"
"Damn it, there are still half?" Gracie cried. "I thought we would have had more down by now."
Nikolias slashed at a nearby chain, snapping it with his talons easily. "The pace is too slow. There are just too many of these damn things. It might not make too much of a difference, but we should probably split up. Cover more ground."
"Couldn't hurt. Drop me off and I'll head the opposite direction as you."
Nikolias nodded. He angled his body towards the nearest chain. Once he was close, Gracie leapt off. With a cry she swung her flaming sword downward, breaking the chain. She then leapt off of one of the links towards the next closest chain. Nikolias continued in the same direction he had been going in search for more chains to destroy.
With a roar, Natsu leapt at Midnight with flame enveloped fists. Midnight countered by swinging his hand in a horizontal arc. Black, green magic appeared as a thick barrier that resisted the force of Natsu's punch. With his other hand, Midnight swung upward, creating a whip of magic that knocked Natsu back. He cracked a smile as his magic changed direction, branching off into several tendrils of power. Each individual tendril slammed into Natsu's body. "Just a little more. Then my father's will can be carried out."
Natsu flipped in the air and landed roughly on his feet. He straightened up, his body shaking from his new and old injuries. He coughed and fixed his guard. "Damn you."
Meanwhile, Coco was trying desperately to wake Lucy up. However, the situation was only getting worse. Lucy was sinking deeper and deeper into the Infinity Clock. "Princess, please! Wake up!"
"Natsu!" Happy cried, panicked. "At this rate, Lucy will vanish!"
Natsu grit his teeth. Flames erupted all around him, shaking the ground. "I won't let that happen! I won't let you disappear, Lucy!"
Elfman groaned as he slowly pushed himself up. "Damn it. A real man shouldn't have gotten knocked out so easily. You alright, Natsu?"
"I'm fine," Natsu replied.
Elfman turned towards Lucy. "Even though the chains are being broken, the situation hasn't changed much. Guess that only leaves us with one option; defeat the Six Generals! I'll back you up, Natsu!"
"Klodoa," Midnight said as he released the stick from his hand.
Klodoa floated over to block Elfman from joining the fight. "Leave this to me. I won't let anybody get in our way!"
"Don't worry about me, Elfman. You just worry about snapping that stick in half," Natsu said. "I'll work on wiping that smug look off of this guy's face!" Natsu leapt forward, his intense flames swirling around him and lashing out at Midnight.
"Your flames will never burn me." Midnight waved his hands in front of him, using his magic to take control of Natsu's flames. Tendrils of Midnight's magic, coupled with Natsu's flames, shot at Natsu and slammed into his body. "Your magic will run out in the end."
Natsu chuckled. "Is that right?" He landed on the ground. "You say that, but you're totally on the defensive. You're freakin' trembling!"
Midnight huffed. "Taunt all you like. You can even loathe me all you want. But you will also fear and respect me. After all, I received my power by making a huge sacrifice. I'm as powerful as my father now! And such power warrants such hatred, fear, and respect."
"What sacrifice?" Natsu questioned.
Midnight raised his hands. "Become a resident of the World of Nil, Natsu Dragneel." Black and green magic engulfed his hands as he moved his arms in a specific pattern. "GENESIS ZERO!" Once he had completed his pattern, he brought his hands together. The black green magic shone brightly for a moment before it was overtaken by a swarm of darkness. Thousands of screaming faces and grasping hands filled the room. "I CAST OPEN THE GATE OF WRAITHWAIL!" The ghastly figures all raced towards Natsu, their phantom fingers wriggling as they made to grab hold of him. Midnight smirked. "Travelers of nothingness, devour that man's soul, his memories, and his very existence. Cease to exist, Natsu Dragneel, in the name of my father, Zero!"
Natsu tried to burn the figures away with bursts of his flames, but they remained unaffected. They swarmed around him, wrapping around his body, raising him off of the ground, and drowning him in darkness. He fought against it as best he could, but it was no use. He couldn't escape. He was being pulled into a vortex of darkness and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
"Natsu!" Elfman roared, Klodoa being held tightly under his massive arms. "No!"
The vortex began to close.
"Natsu!" Happy cried.
The vortex closed completely. Natsu was gone.
Midnight put a hand on his hip and played with his braid. "What a fitting end for two friends. You, Natsu, are caught in a world of darkness, while the girl you claim to love is trapped in time. There is no exit for either of you."
"Princess!" Coco cried as she banged on the golden orb. All she could do was watch as Lucy's body continued to sink deeper within the Infinity Clock.
Crying. That's what she thought she was doing, however her conscious was fuzzy. Her hands covered her face. Her body trembled.
"Why are you crying?"
A soft, gentle voice called out to Lucy.
"Everyone is going away…," Lucy sobbed. "Mama, Papa, my precious little sister…"
A tender hand rested upon her head. "You remembered."
Lucy nodded. She removed her hands and looked behind her. "Yeah. I'm so sorry, I…"
Michelle shook her head. "Don't apologize. I'm just so happy you remembered."
Lucy wiped her eyes and smiled. "Michelle…"
Michelle smiled at her.
Then she was gone.
And everything went blank.
Lucy felt like she was idly floating yet falling at the same time. Her mind was empty. Her eyes were void of any emotion or life.
"Lucy."
Another voice called out to her, this time a deep man's voice. She recognized it. She looked behind her.
A scene was playing out behind her; a memory. It was a memory she had forgotten for quite some time, but seeing it brought it all back. Life surged through her once more as her eyes widened.
It was the courtyard of the Heartfilia garden. A young Lucy was standing before her parents, a brand new doll with a blue dress and dark blonde hair held in her hands.
"Do you like it, Lucy?" a smiling Layla Heartfilia asked her young daughter.
Young Lucy beamed as she held up the doll. "Yes! It's the best birthday present ever! I'm gonna make her my little sister!"
"I'm glad. Be good friends with her," Layla said.
"What will you name her?" Jude Heartfilia asked.
"What about Gonzales?" young Lucy offered.
"Maybe something cuter," Layla laughed.
"I had so much fun then." Lucy didn't have to turn around to know it was Michelle speaking. She had reappeared and was watching Lucy's memory alongside her. "That big mansion was like a castle. You made all kinds of clothes for me out of paper and flowers. We went everywhere together. We smiled wherever we went.
"But…"
The scene suddenly changed. A new memory was playing.
A large, extravagant, black coffin rested on the ground. A flower bouquet had been placed on top of the wood. Jude Heartfilia stood stone-faced over the coffin. Young Lucy stood sobbing on the other side.
The scene changed once more, this time to young Lucy kneeling by a massive headstone and crying, her small shoulders heaving.
Lucy's eyes saddened. "I was always in front of Mama's grave, crying my eyes out. I vented my sorrow and lashed out at everyone and everything. I think I made everyone really worry about me."
"And all I could do was watch," Michelle said sadly. "It was so painful, not being able to do anything while you suffered."
"Whenever I looked at you, I was reminded of Mama, and it hurt too much."
"That's right. You stopped talking to me altogether."
"Eventually I…" Another memory came to the forefront of her mind. It was of her doll, her precious little sister, sitting on a chair in the courtyard of the garden as torrential rain fell from the sky. "I…I left you behind. But you waited. You waited all that time for me to come back, didn't you?"
Michelle didn't reply. Instead, she waited for the scene to change.
Change to a scene from her memory.
Lucy and Michelle were suddenly in the attic of the Heartfilia mansion. They were watching as Jude Heartfilia placed a filthy Michelle atop a dresser and covered a torn painting with a large white cloth.
Jude gave a small smile to the doll. "I'm sorry. Lucy didn't mean to abandon you. She's very torn up after losing her mother, so she can't really bear to see you or anyone." He turned away. "I don't know how to talk to my own daughter these days." He paused for quite some time before saying one last thing. "Someday, when she comes to terms with her mother's death, will you become her little sister again?"
Lucy couldn't stop the tears from falling. The scene from Michelle's memory was too much.
"I waited for years after that," Michelle said as the scene changed slightly. Jude had disappeared and the attic had accumulated more dust and cobwebs. "The once lively mansion was now deathly quiet. Everyone was gone. I waited and waited for you, Big Sister. But in the end, the person who came for me wasn't you."
Lucy watched as Midnight and Klodoa appeared, taking possession of Michelle. She watched as they poured magic into Michelle, giving her life and newfound power.
"I was given life, as Imitatia, and did as I was told. I pretended to be Michelle Lobster to get close to you and retrieve the Infinity Clock."
Lucy looked to her. "Before, you told me you helped my father with his work."
Michelle nodded. "That is true." The scene changed to Michelle working beside Jude at his business, laughing and smiling as she stayed by his side. "It was difficult to use Uncle in that way, but all I wanted was to go back. I wanted to go back to those days. That's all I felt." She turned to meet Lucy's gaze. "I heard a lot happened between you and Uncle. Families are such a mystery, you know? No matter what happens, no matter what was said, their feelings always keep them connected."
The scene went dark for a moment. Michelle had once again disappeared. A new scene appeared behind Lucy and she turned to watch. It was Michelle, standing above a bed-ridden Jude Heartfilia. His face was pale and he was clearly much thinner than Lucy remembered him to be.
Jude coughed and looked at Michelle. "I'm sure she's alive somewhere."
Lucy's eyes widened. 'This must be while we were trapped on Tenrou Island. When my father…'
Jude was smiling as he spoke. "I know she'll come back, so please find her and give her that piece. Alright?"
"Yes," Michelle replied as she knelt by his bed.
Jude gave a quick, raspy chuckle. He looked towards the ceiling. "Magic is a mysterious and marvelous thing, is it not?" His eyes closed. "I hope you can become her little sister again."
Michelle flinched with surprise. Jude knew. How long had he known? Had he always known? Her eyes filled with tears. She toppled over and broke down crying into the sheets of a dying Jude Heartfilia.
Fresh tears fell from Lucy's eyes as the scene disappeared. She collapsed to her bottom and cried. "I'm sorry, Michelle. It must have been so hard for you."
"You don't have to cry, Big Sister," Michelle's gentle voice echoed all around her. Suddenly, the small doll appeared before her. "It's okay. After all, you can hear them, can't you? The voices of all the people who love you."
Lucy lifted her head. "Everyone?" She closed her eyes. 'Yes. I can see them. I can hear them.'
Through the Infinity Clock, she could sense them all. She could see them scrambling about, trying desperately to defeat the Oración Séis and save her. She could hear their encouraging words, begging her to hold on and pushing each other forward.
But there was one person she couldn't see, couldn't hear, couldn't sense.
'Natsu…where's Natsu?'
'It's no good. I'm losing consciousness again.'
'I have to do something. Anything!'
Her eyes shot open, a tiny flame of determination flaring to life.
'I can't keep crying forever.'
She threw her head back.
"APOLOGIZE TO MICHELLE! GIVE NATSU BACK!"
Her golden eye flared to life.
Deep within a bath of nothingness, Natsu floated aimlessly. However, there was no look of defeat in his eyes. "To hell with this! I will save Lucy! She's still fighting, so I will too!" Clenching his fists, he summoned his flames. They roared to life all around him and continuously grew. "You made Lucy and Michelle cry! This won't stop me from kicking your ass!"
And then he heard it. He heard a soft voice. A voice he knew well. A voice he loved.
His flames intensified significantly and he smiled wide. "That's my girl!"
The orb of the Infinity Clock shone brightly as if the sun had suddenly appeared in the chamber. The entire airship gave off a bright light as well.
Coco fell back from the orb and shielded her eyes. "What's happening?"
"It's so bright!" Happy wailed.
Elfman's jaw dropped. "Was that…Lucy's voice? I swear I heard Lucy's voice!"
Midnight gripped his head. Painful, realistic memories of his traumatizing past flashed through his mind. "Real…Nightmare…" He shot a glare towards the Infinity Clock. "The girl…with only one engraved seal left, it must be impossible to have complete control over the Infinity Castle! I got careless…"
Suddenly, bright cracks in space began appearing. A powerful roar echoed out from the space, filling the room. The cracks rapidly expanded before shattering. Powerful flames burst forth like a caged beast. And flying through the flames, fist drawn back, was Natsu.
"I HEARD YOU, LUCY! I HEARD YOUR VOICE!"
Natsu roared while throwing a destructive punch that connected squarely with Midnight's head. The very ground splintered from the force of the blow as Midnight went flying backwards and into the rocky wall.
Coco scratched her head as she watched the events. "I don't get it. What's going on?"
"It's Lucy! She used the Infinity Clock to affect Midnight with Real Nightmare! Then Natsu heard her voice and broke free from the void!" Happy exclaimed.
Natsu clenched his fists. "I don't care what you sacrificed. Nothing is worth Lucy's life!"
Midnight got up shakily. He summoned a magic orb in his hand. "They say magic is in the heart. The more feelings you throw away, the more power you can attain."
Klodoa gulped before turning and running. "I never thought the girl would be able to take over the Infinity Castle! I'm out of here!"
Midnight charged forward, unleashing a barrage of punches packed with his magic power. "When you think you'll be able to meet someone one day, you can't stop thinking about them! There's nothing more painful than the sacrifice of cutting out that feeling, that possibility for yourself!"
Natsu was able to dodge or block each of Midnight's blows before leaping back and unleashing a jet stream of flames at Midnight. Midnight was able to sweep his arms, using his magic to dissipate the flames.
Natsu wiped his mouth. "Nah, I don't get it. What are you saying you sacrificed?"
Midnight narrowed his eyes. "The future." A thin veil of magic power coated Midnight's body. "The future where I'm reunited with my father."
"So in exchange for your power, you took something that could possibly happen and turned it into something impossible?" Natsu asked. He stretched his arms and neck. "What the hell is that all about? You've totally lost me with that logic. If you wanna see your dad, just go and see him already!"
Midnight's glare darkened. "It was you people who caused a rift between my father and me. Don't tell me you've forgotten about that?"
"I don't care what you're going on about. No matter what it is, it's no reason to make Lucy cry! You sacrificed the future? You sure are talking big about things that haven't happened yet. That really pisses me off!" Flames engulfed his fists as he leapt forward.
Midnight leapt forward with his own magic-packed punch.
The two attacks collided with incredible force. Neither side gave any ground.
"Warren! Can you hear me?" Levy called out.
Everyone in the Fairy Tail guild hall was still busy trying to figure out some new information to save Lucy. Levy happened across something useful and immediately picked up a communication card to relay it to Warren.
"I can hear you. What's up?" Warren replied.
"We've been looking through the books and we found something we have to tell you right away!" she exclaimed.
"I'm listening!"
"Alright. Here's what we found."
Natsu and Midnight pushed with all of their might. However, it was Natsu's magic that began to win out. Cracks began appearing up Midnight's outstretched arm. His eyes widened in shock and fear. "Impossible! How can you be overpowering me?"
"I get how you're thinking about your dad," Natsu growled, "but you're nuts if you think you gain anything from throwing away your feelings. Your feelings are engraved inside you and you gain power from that!"
"Shut up! Because you throw them away, because you lose them, their importance shines ever brighter!"
"That's warped every way you look at it! The way you see things, the way you feel, it's all twisted!" Natsu spat as his flames intensified even further. "The past, the future, even your own heart…that's why you can't face any of it head on!" He broke through the stalemate of their magic, landing a strong punch to Midnight's stomach. Once Midnight was hunched over in pain, Natsu spun and landed a kick to the side of his head.
Midnight crashed roughly into the wall. He gripped his head as more cracks began appearing all over his body. Black smoke hissed out from the gaps in his skin. "You…you say I'm not facing my father?"
"Lucy did it to her father. Michelle did it to Lucy. But you know what? They tackled each other head on! They didn't run away and throw away how they felt! So you've got no right to laugh at their pain!" He burst forward like a rocket, a flaming orb compressed in his hand. "That's why from the very start—" He struck forward with his attack, pressing the orb into Midnight's face and discharging it. "—you lost to the power of feelings!"
Midnight's body slammed into the rock wall yet again. Large boulders splintered off from the ceiling and the wall and rained down on the battlefield. His body broke through the wall of the room and into the outer halls. His unconscious body descended down into the depths of the Infinity Castle.
Elfman pumped his fists. "That's the last one!" He quickly spun around. "So what about Lucy? Did we save her?"
Coco and Happy turned around, hopeful to see Lucy being released. However, they were met with a horrible sight. Lucy's body was nowhere to be seen. Tears stung their eyes. Coco covered her mouth to keep from crying.
"No way," Happy sobbed. "We were too late…Lucy's gone."
Natsu felt like his heart had broken in two. "How? How is that possible? We made all of the engraved seals disappear! So why…?" He fell to his knees and slammed his fists into the ground, shattering the stone and creating two small craters. "GIVE LUCY BACK! SOMEONE ANSWER ME, DAMN IT! GIVE HER BACK TO ME!"
"Gone? What do you mean I'm gone? Natsu, I'm right here!"
Everyone looked around confused.
"Lucy?" Natsu's head shot up, eyes scanning frantically. "I heard her voice! Lucy! Where are you?"
"I don't see her!" Elfman shouted as he looked everywhere for Lucy.
"Lucy, talk to me! Why can't I see you?" Natsu roared. He sniffed the air. "I can smell you, but it's like you're everywhere!"
"How can't you see me? I can see you. Unless…oh no." Lucy's voice went from confusion to panic. "I have a bad feeling about this."
Gray looked behind him. "Lucy's voice…that wasn't telepathy. So how in the world…?"
"Lucy, where are you?" Erza cried.
Nikolias sniffed the air. "Oh great. Her smell is everywhere on this damn ship. That can only mean one thing."
Wendy gasped. "Lucy totally merged with the Infinity Clock?"
"It certainly looks that way," Carla agreed.
"So this huge fish-shaped castle is Lucy's body?" Happy asked. His small body shivered uncomfortably.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"Lucy wailed. Faint sobbing sounds echoed throughout the Infinity Castle. "This is just too cruel. Natsu, help me!"
"Calm down, Lucy!" Warren's voice came through. "It's okay. By using Real Nightmare to save Natsu, you only sped up the merging process."
"This is my fault?" Natsu cried.
"Never mind fault. I'm just glad I can reach you both again. Now listen to this message from the guild. Levy and everyone found another way to save Lucy!"
"Well then spit it out! Hurry!" Natsu barked.
"Hello there everyone." Jean-Luc's voice took Warren's place in everyone's minds. "Actually, if the engraved seals aren't erased in time and the merging process occurs, then Lucy Heartfilia must focus on remaining conscious and controlling Real Nightmare."
"We found out the one thing that can stop the Infinity Clock is the magic siphoned from the Celestial Spirit Wizard bio-links!" Levy added.
"Got that everyone?" Warren asked. "Here's what we have to do. First, we need to break the spells that have all of the Celestial Spirit Wizards in a chrysalis-like state. Then the Infinity Clock will break apart into the individual pieces again and scatter all over."
Natsu clenched his fists. "Then what happens to Lucy?"
Jean-Luc sighed. "We know what to do from the merging to release, but…"
Natsu shook his head. "There has to be a better way! There's too much risk!"
"I'll do it!" Everyone was shocked by Lucy's determined answer, none more surprised than Natsu. "If I do this, a lot of people will be able to wake up from 100-year sleeps. I may fly off somewhere, sure. But if that's the only risk, that's nothing. I'm a Fairy Tail wizard! I'm the daughter of Jude and Layla! I'm Michelle's big sister! I'll do it!"
Natsu could hear it in her voice. He could tell that she was smiling. He sighed, defeated, and smiled. "Alright then. Do what you think you have to do. I support you all the way, Lucy!"
"Natsu…Right!"
The orb of the Infinity Clock began shining brightly. A pale blue light filled every room and leaked out of the Infinity Castle. The light continued to grow until the Infinity Castle had disappeared. The light rose high into the sky, growing in size continuously.
And then it burst, releasing a halo of pale blue light that spread across the sky. Orbs of light fell like stars in arcing streaks towards the ground.
As the light poured across the sky, all of the Celestial Spirit Wizards who had been attacked by the Oración Séis and become petrified began to have their skin return to normal. They slowly began to wake from their 100-year slumber.
As the streaks of light spread across the sky, Cobra stared at them and grumbled. "Damn you, Titania. Why didn't you finish me off?"
Cobra's body was badly beaten as he lay in a large crater created from his own impact in the mountain. However, none of his injuries were life-threatening. Erza Scarlet had spared him.
Suddenly his ears twitched. "I can hear you. Who's there?" He slowly turned his head in spite of the pain. His vision was slightly blurry, but he could see a figure standing on the outskirts of the crater. He squinted his eyes, trying to bring the figure into focus. It took some time, but eventually he could see the figure clearly. It didn't matter all that much. He didn't recognize the woman.
Panting, Kinana looked down into the crater. She could see Cobra lying there, badly beaten. Before she even knew what she was doing, she was running down the slick, steep sides of the hole towards Cobra. She slowed as she approached him. Concern in her eyes, she knelt down beside him. She carefully lifted his head and rested it on her lap.
"You're terribly wounded," Kinana said softly. "Please tell me if there is something I can do."
Cobra looked away and clicked his tongue. "Don't touch me."
Kinana ignored his request. Instead, she leaned in close. "Are you the one that called me?"
Cobra's eyes widened. "I can hear it." He turned back to look at Kinana's face. Forgetting about the pain he felt, he sprang up, knocking down Kinana onto her back. He knelt over her, staring at her face, saying nothing.
At first, Kinana was slightly afraid, but she quickly composed herself. She gently placed her hand on Cobra's face. "Your eye…"
Cobra lowered his gaze. "I surrendered my sight so that I could gain power. But it's fine." He took a deep breath and slowly sat back. His heart and mind were racing. He had to bring himself under control.
Kinana sat up. "Can I ask your name?"
"Erik."
"Erik…"
Suddenly, Cobra's ears twitched again. He could hear people approaching. He whipped his head around just as Doranbolt and Lahar appeared on the crater's edge.
"Cobra of the new Oración Séis, I presume?" Lahar asked.
Doranbolt removed his hand from Lahar's shoulder. "We've already taken most of your comrades into custody, so why don't you come quietly?"
"The Council," Cobra hissed.
"Wait!" Kinana begged. "This man…this man is…!" Kinana's fingers began to become coated in a deep purple miasma. It hissed as it melted the rocky mountain face.
"What the hell?" Doranbolt gasped, noticing Kinana's reaction and sudden use of magic. "So you're going to resist?"
Cobra's eyes widened as the thoughts of Lahar and Doranbolt poured into his head.
'That girl doesn't seem to be a wizard.'
'It can't be helped. Wizard or not, anyone who conspires with the Six Generals of the Oración Séis has to be arrested.'
Cobra reacted quickly. He sighed exasperatedly and closed his one good eye. "Alright, alright." He stood up and softly spoke to Kinana. "Get out of here. Go on." He walked towards Lahar and Doranbolt.
"No, wait!" Kinana cried after him. "It was you, wasn't it? You are the one who called out to me, right? Hey!"
Cobra stopped. His heart ached. His jaw was clenched tight. "I have no idea what you're talking about." He kept on walking.
Kinana was speechless as she watched him walk away.
"Who's that girl?" Lahar asked.
"Is she another one of your comrades?" Doranbolt added.
"Nope. Never saw her before. It sounded to me like she was wandering around looking for her friend."
"I see. That's good then," Lahar sighed in relief. He didn't want to have to arrest an innocent girl.
"You sure are giving up awfully easy," Doranbolt said, slightly suspicious that someone with Cobra's reputation would go without a fight.
"Whatever," Cobra grumbled as he stopped by the two men. He turned slightly to shoot Kinana a small smile. "But you know…friends are a good thing to have. Just knowing you have one can have a calming effect on you."
Doranbolt and Lahar guided Cobra off. As the three men walked, Kinana never took her eyes off of Cobra's back. "Erik. I know it was you. It was you who called me." Tears filled her eyes as she smiled. "I wonder…did you hear my voice?"
Cobra smiled as he walked. He could hear Kinana. 'I finally heard your voice…Cubelios.'
"Now all that's left is to find the last member of the new Oración Séis," Doranbolt sighed while scratching his head. "Except we have no idea where to start looking."
"Tell me, Cobra," Lahar began. "Do you have any idea where we may find Angel?"
Cobra kept his eyes focused straight ahead. "Nope. Not a damn clue."
With a soft groan, Angel slowly opened her eyes. The last thing she remembered, the entire Infinity Castle had become illuminated in a pale blue light. She couldn't see anything, but she felt a strange warmth spread all over her body. The warm light started to lull her fatigued body to sleep, but right before she lost consciousness, she remembered hearing a loud crash and seeing a large shadow begin to wrap around her.
Slowly she sat up and rubbed her eyes. She could feel wind blowing against her skin and whipping her hair around violently. "Where am I?"
"Good. You're finally awake."
Angel jumped slightly at hearing the voice. It was then that she saw exactly where she was. She was riding upon the back of a large black dragon as it glided high above the clouds. "Wh…What's going on?"
"So you don't recognize me? Not even my voice?" Nikolias chuckled, his large body vibrating.
Angel got onto her hands and knees and slowly crawled towards the dragon's head, stopping between its shoulder blades. "You're not…Nikolias, are you?"
"You guessed it."
"You came back for me?"
"I told you I would. Though I certainly cut it a little close. My bad."
Angel smiled and blushed. "It's alright. I'll forgive you this time. Of course you'll probably get in trouble for harboring a criminal. The Council won't be happy with you."
Nikolias huffed, shaking his whole body. "Let them be upset. It's not like I'm on great terms with the Council anyway. It can't make my reputation any worse in their eyes."
"So then you aren't going to turn me in?"
Nikolias shook his large head. "No."
"You really are full of surprises. Truly something else," Angel giggled as she lied back down, resting her head upon Nikolias's scaly back. The comforting warmth of his large body relaxed her. Her eyes fluttered closed and soon she was back asleep.
Nikolias could hear her breathing even out. "I guess she does have to rest more. Now, where did Lucy end up?"
Natsu's eyes snapped open. He pulled himself up into a sitting position and rubbed his head. "What happened?"
"I'm glad you're alright. Men!"
Natsu looked up to see Ichiya posing before him. "Ichiya? You're okay!"
Ichiya nodded. "Of course! Men!"
Natsu looked around. "Where are we?" He saw everyone standing around him; Erza, Gracie, Gray, Gajeel, Mira, Elfman, Coco, Happy, Carla, and Panther Lily. Almost everyone who had gone onto the Infinity Castle was there. And then he noticed what they were all standing on.
They were riding upon Kanaloa's head.
Natsu felt his stomach begin to twist and turn in knots. He put a hand to his mouth to keep the vomit down. "We're on the octopus?!"
"Keep calm. We've teamed up with Kanaloa using the parfum of friendship."
Natsu shakily tried to stand in spite of his discomfort. "I see. We're on the same side now, huh?"
"Yeah. We are," Gracie said. She was oddly down, her bubbly personality nowhere to be seen.
Natsu looked around. "Where's Lucy? Where is she?" He could feel himself starting to panic.
"Stay calm, Natsu," Erza said.
"Warren and the others are looking for her now," Gray said. "They'll find her."
"Plus I'm sure Nikolias is helping out with the search as well. Otherwise he'd be back here by now," Mira added.
Natsu's entire body stiffened. His fists were clenched so tight that he almost drew blood from his palms. "You guys expect me to be calm? How the hell can I be calm?! I won't be calm until I see Lucy again!"
"I get it, Natsu, but getting worked up won't solve anything," Gracie said.
Natsu sniffed the air frantically. "I will find her. I know she's alright, so I'll find her!" Suddenly, a scent caught his nose. It was her scent. It was Lucy. "There! I'm sure of it!" He pointed in the direction of Lucy's scent. "Go over that way! Please, octopus, go quickly!"
Kanaloa squatted down slightly before pushing off of the ground and sailing high into the air and into the mountains. Once he landed, Natsu sprang off like a rocket and began to run.
Natsu pumped his fists harder and harder, willing his body to move faster than it ever had before. He could see a small, twinkling light high above his head. It was beginning to descend towards the rocky, jagged mountains. He sniffed the air and assured himself he was right.
That light was Lucy.
He ran and ran, his heavy breaths and heartbeat pounding in his ears. His eyes weren't fixed on the route ahead of him. All he was looking at was the small light, tracking it with his keen sight to figure out where it would land. No matter what it took, he would get there before she hit the ground. He had to save her. He increased the length of each stride.
Suddenly, his balance faltered and he fell forward. He rolled along the rocks, his skin tearing and bruising. He pushed himself up to his hands and knees, spitting dirt out of his mouth as his eyes returned to the sky. She was getting closer to the ground. Would he make it? No, he absolutely would make it to her in time.
He got to his feet and continued to run. Each footfall kicked up clouds of dirt as he pushed himself ever harder.
She was getting closer to the ground.
'Harder! Faster!'
Her spinning body was plummeting towards the ground.
'I gotta make it to her!'
Any moment now, her body would collide with the mountains. The thought of what would happen to her if he didn't reach her in time made him sick.
"LUCYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"
With every last bit of strength he had in his tired legs, he pushed off the ground and lunged forward. He desperately leapt towards Lucy, arms outstretched, fingers trying to extend his reach.
Just moments before Lucy's body could hit the mountains, Natsu's strong arms wrapped around her. He pulled her close to his body and spun in the air so as to shield her. As they fell to the ground, it was Natsu who took the brunt of the collision, his back slamming into the ground hard enough to leave behind a crater. He hissed in pain, but quickly pushed the thought out of his head. His eyes went to Lucy.
She was looking up at him and smiling, her brown eyes shining with tears. "I knew you would save me."
Natsu returned the smile with his signature toothy grin. "I'll always save you, Lucy. I'll always be there for you."
Lucy pulled herself up, pressed a gentle hand on Natsu's face, and planted a soft kiss on his lips. She felt Natsu's arms tighten slightly around her as he returned the kiss.
"LUUUUUUUCYYYYYYY!"
Natsu and Lucy broke their embrace upon hearing the loud cry. They turned to see Kanaloa coming to a stop before them. Gracie was hopping off and running towards them crying like a child. She leapt at the two, tackling them to the ground. She rubbed her face against Lucy's as she sobbed.
"You're okay! Thank goodness you're okay!" Gracie wailed.
"I'm okay, Gracie. I promise," Lucy laughed. "Do you mind getting off of me?"
"I CAAAAAAAAN'T!" Gracie whined as her crying intensified. "I was so afraid we would never see you again!"
Gray sighed. He leapt down and walked over to the group. "C'mon, Gracie. Give them a break already." He grabbed Gracie by the back of her shirt and pulled her off. "They don't need to risk drowning."
"PUT ME BAAAACK!" Gracie sniffed. Her arms were flailing in front of her as she tried to grab hold of Lucy. "I WANT TO HUG HER SOME MOOOOOORE!"
Gray slapped his forehead. "You're exhausting. Where's Nikolias? We need him to take care of you."
Lucy giggled at Gracie's scene. She then looked back at Natsu. His eyes had never left her. She smiled warmly at him as tears started trickling down her cheeks. "I'm home, Natsu."
Natsu pulled her head closer to gently rest his forehead against hers. "Yeah. Welcome back, Lucy."
Hey everyone! So with this chapter, the Starry Sky arc is pretty much over. Next chapter will be the official wrap up, but will have more of a filler feel. Thanks for reading!
