What Lyon saw when he was led to their destination wasn't what he expected, considering it had distracted Zeref from his plans. A stranger, likely Natsu in Loke's body based on what little information he had on the body swap, was bent over and curled up on the ground.

"I swear, it wasn't this far along—" Lucy began.

"No, but Natsu isn't the sort to take advice seriously, now is he?" Zeref sighed, his brow furrowed as he reached out towards Natsu. Yet, even he hesitated, his hand hovering in the air before actually touching him. "Saving him now…it wouldn't work. Damn it…"

"If it helps, even as yourself you wouldn't be capable of anything," Loke said.

"Don't you understand what this will do, Loke?" Zeref turned towards the man. Erza, in Lucy's body now, was watching in silence along with the rest of the Fairy Tail wizards. Juvia seemed to recognize her but remained silent, respectfully observing the debate between others like the rest of them were. It just didn't seem like the sort of thing to interrupt. "Changeling…if one is to perish while under its influence, both will die. There are subtle intricacies that ensures that result. For me, it matters little. I've attempted it in the past, as a possible method, but as you can obviously see, avoiding matters is not so simple."

"I accepted my fate long ago. It is what I deserve."

"You deserve it?" Zeref blinked at him, his eyes wide. "I never thought I'd hear you claim such a thing. Before, you were so—"

"Arrogant? Yeah, I definitely was. Life certainly didn't give me a whole lot of humility until I started actually making mistakes for a change."

"Um, guys?" Lucy's focused on the two wizards, finally being the first that was brave enough to interrupt. "I know this is important, but Natsu needs us to focus. I don't know what's going on, but it's almost like he's just disappearing."

"And from the sounds of things, if that happens, Loke will perish as well." Lyon saw Zeref nod, closing his hands into fists.

"There is one option, but there's no time." His gaze flickered off towards the side, staring between the trees. "They are nearby. My only solution would be the permanent shift and as it stands, I have no capability of contacting the necessary party to enact such a thing. Nor, do I think, do I have the capability to persuade him in this state."

"Then why don't you just undo your body-swap spell?" Lyon crossed his arms over his chest. "It seems as if that would be the simplest solution, if you actually are so intent on ensuring Natsu survives. For the life of me, I cannot fathom why that idiot, of all people, could sway you however—"

"Do not make light of this." Zeref spun towards him, his eyes narrowing. "And do not assume I can do whatever spell I wish. Have you not noticed me utilizing little beyond ice-make magic in our battles? Perhaps it is not identical to your friend's fighting style, but it is still the same magic. We all possess each other's skills with Changeling active. As such, regardless of what knowledge I possess, I simply do not possess the skill needed to reverse this spell."

"Well, what about using it again?" Lucy looked over at him, and Zeref frowned. "I mean, Natsu activated it just by reading a piece of paper, so I'd assume Gray could do the same. It wouldn't really fix anything, but it'd get you back to yourself, right?"

"Even then, I'd fail. Because then…" He trailed off, touching his head. "There must be another answer. Another solution…" He glanced around, frowning. "Ah, perhaps there is. Lucy, would you be willing to temporarily sever one of your contracts for me? If I form a contract, with a spirit I've gotten to know, perhaps—"

"You aren't stealing her spirits." Loke interrupted, surprising them all. "Lucy doesn't deserve to be cornered like that and I doubt you'd be able to do anything with them as Gray."

"Celestial keys are a holder-type magic. In theory, anyone is capable of utilizing them. All one needs to do is amplify their ability to contain magical energy and utilize the proper tools to access spells." He paused. "More intricate matters beyond summoning would likely be beyond him, but opening a gate is something Gray should be able to manage. Or, in this case, myself."

"It doesn't change the fact that you are asking her to—" Loke inhaled, running a hand through his hair. "I don't even know why I'm bothering to complain about this. I shouldn't care at all. She's just another wizard, like Karen, likely."

"There is the reward from our last job." Erza spoke, looking towards him. "It was a celestial gate key. I had nearly forgotten the chief insisted I take it before we leave. My intention had been to gift it to Lucy, but it seemed inappropriate to grant her a reward when a punishment was awaiting her."

"Which key?" Erza's expression was blank, and Zeref sighed. "What color? Silver or gold?"

"Gold, I believe." She looked over at Lucy, nodding. "It should be hooked into my belt loops. It seemed likely to get lost within my requip space, given its size relative to most of my armors."

Touching her waist, Lucy gradually lifted a key. "This is…this is Sagittarius' key!"

Wordlessly, Zeref reached out and yanked it from her grip. Natsu groaned, collapsing entirely and lying down on his back. He seemed to almost fade out of existence for a moment, looking like a silhouette of light on the ground. "Erza, this may be difficult to manage, but I will need you to attempt to ground him. Lucy's magic is the only thing that might be able to sustain such an action at the moment." The woman frowned, kneeling down near Natsu as Zeref rose to his feet.

"What do I do?"

The black wizard did not answer. Instead, he lifted the key, pointing it into the air. "Zeref, I don't think Sagittarius can do anything! Just stop and let this go for a change. This is exactly what caused—"

"Do not tell me to let him go, Loke." Zeref locked eyes with the man, challenging him. "This will work." He inhaled again, focused once more. "Open, Gate of the Archer: Sagittarius!" With a slashing motion, he dragged the key across the air. Golden light illuminated the air and the man proved his words accurate. A man in a horse costume appeared, saluting him immediately.

"Greetings! Who wishes to form a new contract with me?"

"Sagittarius. I had forgotten how formal you were." Zeref smiled faintly, before shaking his head. "I have little time to debate formalities however. You know me from the past, when we worked on the Eclipse plan together. A spell has forced me to swap places with another wizard and has swapped someone you know even better than me as well." Sagittarius started to glance around, his eyes widening at the sight on the ground.

"No. But I haven't seen you in—"

"I need a contract immediately. With a spirit who I consider myself to have a close bond with." Sagittarius blinked, looking up towards the dark wizard. "Do you think we have such a bond, despite the time it's been away? For me…this is as close of a bond as I manage to form with anyone."

"Zeref." Sagittarius spoke openly, his expression grim. "I know not if it will work. However, for whatever it is worth, for my companion and for all that you have tried to do to help, I will do as you ask. Consider the contract made; I am yours to command, for however brief our contract shall remain."

Bowing his head, Zeref nodded. Yet, that was when the horse spun around, his bow at the ready. He shot immediately, before Zeref could react. A wizard was hit, pinned to a nearby tree while Sagittarius grimaced. "We appear to be in the midst of a large conflict. I see multiple enemies approaching. Shall I take care of them for you?"

"Wait, just how do you know Sagittarius as well?" Lucy was shrieking, glancing between them. "I thought it was only random Fairy Tail wizards, but then you were muttering about some Gajeel in Phantom Lord, and now him? I just don't understand."

"I've been alive for a few centuries. One tends to know those that also have an extended life when such a thing comes to pass." Zeref sighed, before focusing on Sagittarius. "I'd prefer not to kill them, if possible. Technically, it is impossible for us to perish here, hence our choice of battleground…though it would be distracting." He focused back on at Natsu. "I need time. Stall them, enough that I can close your gate and begin the next stage." The spirit nodded, taking aim and launching arrows into the sky.

"Juvia, we should help. If we don't, people will die and it will be our fault for doing nothing," Lyon suggested.

The water wizard was pale, staring around with shaky hands. "Juvia didn't mean for this. It was supposed to be a good job, reuniting a family together as one. But, Juvia sees Lucy and Lucy seems upset over this." She frowned, glancing over at the blond. "Does Lucy not wish to see her family again? To be with her father?"

"Wait, my father is the reason you're here?" Lucy spoke up, making Juvia turn towards her instead. "Oh, right. Uh, we've sorta switched bodies for a bit, but that's not the point! Since when does my father care at all about what I do?"

"Since he began to overcome his anger over what your mother did, I imagine," Zeref said, sighing. "Can we please put aside these petty arguments for a few seconds?"

Lucy stared at him, her eyes wide. "My mother?" She was quiet. "What do you know about my mother?"

Zeref didn't answer. Instead, he nodded towards Sagittarius and the horse faded away from existence. "I will apologize, if my estimations are wrong about Gray's magical ability." He held the key in both hands, a strange grip for such a small object. More Phantom Lord wizards were gradually beginning to surround them. Lyon prepared himself, getting ready to defend Zeref, strangely enough. After all, it wasn't Zeref he was trying to defend, but rather the body he currently possessed. Juvia stood by his side after a moment, taking a deep breath and giving him a gradual nod. "Attempting this may very well kill him. Not even the island's wards can defend against a rapid onset of magic deficiency…at the very least, it will push him to the brink of death. However, it is my only option." He looked up. "If I do kill him, feel free to do your best to avenge him and take my life in return. I'd be rather pleased if you could manage to succeed with such a goal, after all."

What sort of man gave an apology like that? Lyon wanted to tell him there'd be no chance they'd follow through, but Zeref was already moving. Even Loke looked startled, his eyes widening as he seemed to realize what Zeref was doing. "Wait…you can't possibly think you can—"

The key snapped in two, breaking in Zeref's hands. For a moment, the area was still. The air was filled with the war cries of wizards starting to launch spells their way. Juvia created a water barrier in front of them, while Lyon created a squadron of eagles to attack and lessen their numbers. A few stray Fairy Tail wizards were dispersed amongst them, still locked in battle, but chaos still reigned. Yet, the chaos was halted for a moment by a brilliant blast of golden light, stemming from where Zeref knelt.

A groan came from him and Loke was instantly crouched on the ground by his side. The light remained as a pillar, billowing into the sky for what felt like minutes, just in the sheer intensity of the moment. Yet, it faded gradually and as it left, a new form appeared. He was massive, a blue man with a long cape and a large mustache. "It has been a long time since I've been summoned to this world. Who dares call upon me?"

Zeref was in no shape to reply. His head was lolled to the side, his eyes closed. Loke was supporting him, holding the man by his shoulders as he appeared to be unconscious. "Your summoner is on the brink of death, your majesty." Loke bowed his head, closing his eyes. "I never thought I'd see you again, though, so for this much, I am grateful."

The spirit's gaze flickered around, frowning. No one seemed to be willing to approach such a massive creature that had been summoned and Lyon couldn't blame them. Even the Fairy Tail wizards seemed wary, while Natsu and his team just stared at the man in confusion. "Yet, he still managed to call for my presence." He paused, frowning. "Odd. He does not appear to be a celestial mage, either."

"That's an unusual situation." Loke paused, looking up and meeting the man's gaze. "He's under the effects of Changeling, as am I. As it stands, Changeling is going to result in the death of a wizard, alongside of myself, if you do not do something to stop it. That is why he summoned you, despite the risks." Loke inhaled deeply. "I am not deserving of it…but Natsu doesn't deserve to pay the price for my mistakes either."

"Natsu. Now, that is a name I truly have not heard in ages. In fact, I do not think I've heard it since the twelve of you began rambling on about—" He broke off, staring at the man. "Is that him? Is that the black mage?"

"It is."

The king was quiet, staring at the group. "My laws remain absolute. I'm sorry, but I cannot change the punishment for such a grave crime."

"I understand."

Yet, the rest of them didn't. "What crime could possibly be so terrible to allow an innocent to die by his side?" Lucy glared at the spirit. "I don't know who you are, to think you can make such an order, but I won't stand for it. I know you're a spirit of some kind and I might not know what he did to bring you here, but I do know that spirits are kind and that they protect the wizards that they hold contracts with. They form partnerships with us and under no circumstances do they abandon them and refuse to follow orders." She looked up at him, narrowing her eyes. "Zeref is the one who summoned you. As one who was here before he did so, I heard his wish to pass along to you when you arrived. He wants you to save Natsu, no matter the cost."

"And I assume you are also not who you appear to be…" The man glanced over, locking eyes with Erza instead. "But rather her. She has the aura of a celestial wizard, at the very least." He paused again. "My summoner is not awake to give me commands and your word is not enough to convince me that it must be done. My decision stands, child. Leo is not to return home, for he has committed the gravest possible crime, the crime of killing his keyholder."

"Leo? Wait, the lion spirit?" Lucy blinked, before focusing on Loke. "That doesn't make sense! Loke's a member of our guild, not just some spirit." She frowned, while the other man avoided her gaze.

"Sorry, Lucy." He sighed, pressing a hand to the back of his head. "It's true."

"And…she's right." Lyon blinked, seeing Zeref gradually get up. "I…summoned you…to save him." Zeref's gaze flickered towards the man, locking his eyes with him. "Whatever price there is to pay…grant it to me instead. My true self, that is…"

"You will be forced to ensure Leo pays for his crimes, by making me remove the punishment I've set forth." The celestial spirit paused, narrowing his eyes at Zeref. "Are you sure you will be capable of such a thing?"

Something looked almost hollow in his gaze as Zeref man nodded. "I am." He glanced over at Loke, an unsettling blankness in those eyes that belonged to Gray. That dead expression, it was even darker than when Gray first came to Ur, desperate after his family had perished. It was darker than when he told Lyon that Ur was dead. "Whatever the cost, I will make it happen. I will become the cruel master and bend him to my will as the slave he's fearful of becoming, if that is what you desire…so long as Natsu can return, and survive."

"How you choose to punish him is up to you, Zeref. I will not lay out such terms to you. So long as the crime is never repeated again, I will uphold our arrangement." Zeref nodded and the spirit almost smiled. Yet, Zeref did not. He held that same blank expression, waiting until Natsu vanished from sight in a flash of light. The spirit standing before them held out his hand and opened it towards Zeref. In a flash of light, it vanished from the air, teleporting away. "The key you will require. I suggest you do not lose it. For now, it resides with your true body." He paused. "And, as an added gift, I suppose it is time you stopped making others suffer in your place. That curse is meant for black wizards only, Zeref. Pushing it onto others is even more unforgivable and reprehensible than I can begin to describe."

The man only nodded, staying silent. Yet, the spirit spoke words in a foreign language, and another flash of light swallowed their group whole. Gray swayed and fell backwards onto the ground, while the massive spirit vanished from sight. "Alright! I'm me again!" Natsu cheered, yet his cheer went silent when he spotted Gray. The other ice mage was unconscious and was not moving an inch after returning to his former self. Phantom Lord had retreated during the commotion with the spirit and while the others were waking up with ease from their body swap, Gray was clearly not going to recover quite so easily.

I've got a busy day tomorrow so I'm getting this week's update out a day early. We'll be back to the normal schedule for next week. Thank you all for reading!