Most of you figured out this was a pretty important chapter. That's putting it lightly. It's long because I reveal a whole lot in this chapter, so PAY ATTENTION. That is all.

Enjoy!

"Natsu," Lucy said, knowing full well he'd ignore her first couple calls. "Natsu."

"Hm?" His response came.

"If you don't know what to do it's okay," she said, walking up behind him. Despite her movement she kept her eyes glued to the book atop the pedestal. "I'm just as clueless."

"Yeah, yeah..." He replied, brushing her off. Lucy frowned at this and looked back up at the book. It seemed so useless from where she was, but she knew better. Opening that book would cause them a whole load of trouble.

"Are we going to use the book?" She asked. Natsu didn't reply to her at first, but soon he sighed.

"Not unless you want to spend another sixteen years here, no." He replied. "It took us a week to disenchant enough of the protection spells to get down here, but getting from here to the book and back, and opening it? Won't happen anytime soon."

"So that's what you did all those years," Lucy said, sitting down on the ground next to him, placing Luke it between her legs. "You made sure that even if the book was found, no one would be able to get too it." Natsu nodded.

"Yeah," he said. "And now I'm back here after barely a year, despite never wanting to come back." He shrugged. "Besides, even if we could get to it I have no idea what to do with it. I don't know how to use it to help Nashi. No use in it." Lucy knew this must've been hard on him. She too didn't want to be here, but it as where Natsu wanted to go. Turning, Lucy watched Nashi's unconscious form silently.

"What do we do when she wakes up?" She asked. "What do we tell her?"

"...The truth," Natsu replied, looking over at her. "That's all we can tell her." Lucy made a face.

"Why did we come here, then?" She asked. Natsu looked back down at the ground.

"I don't know," he said. "I thought maybe I could somehow tie her powers to the book, but I wouldn't know how to do that. And even if I did, who's to say it wouldn't kill her? It's been with her her whole life, taking it away might send her into shock." Lucy could follow this train of thought, it made sense. She looked down at the ground as well and thought about what they were to do.

The truth, Natsu said.

The truth was so grossly convoluted and hard to explain, but it was what they had to do. Nashi had to know, it was just a matter of when she woke up now.

"Should we go find somewhere to eat?" She asked, looking at Natsu. "I saw a fair amount of hotels on the way here." She got no response, and after a few seconds she put her hand on his shoulder. He looked over at her, looking lost.

"Yeah?" He asked.

"Come on," she said. "You need to eat. There's no way you've just subsided that massive appetite of yours."Natsu managed a weak smile at this and looked past Lucy.

"What about Nashi?" He asked. Lucy looked over at her as well.

"Leave her," she replied. "She's out cold, and who knows for how long."

"What if she wakes up?" He asked. Lucy shrugged.

"Then we come back and explain it too her." She replied. "But I'm hungry, Luke is too and there's no way you aren't." Luke cooed in agreement at this. "So please, for at least fifteen minutes, stop focusing on the problem. Please?" Natsu watched her for a moment before he sighed.

"Alright, alright." he said. Together the two stood up and turned for the exit. Natsu walked past Lucy up the stairs, and before she went up she looked over at Nashi's unmoving form.

"We'll be back," she said under her breath. "You'll be okay."

Nashi wasn't sure when exactly she regained cognitive function of herself, but what she did know was that she felt a cold surface beneath her, and a thin blanket on top of her. She stared at the wall near her for what felt like hours before it registered to her it was a stone wall. Why did she feel so slow and sluggish?

Sitting up slowly, Nashi coughed. She felt horrible, and she had no idea why.

As she rubbed her arms to regain feeling in them, her memories flooded back to her. And the last thing they told was that she'd consumed Neptu's flames.

"That's the last thing before...Darkness." She muttered to herself, squinting to get a better look at her surroundings. Where was she? Why was she in a cave?

...Had they lost?

Nashi's heart beat sped up as this occurred to he. That was a very real possibility. What if Neptu and his Hunters had won, and she was a prisoner now? That must have been it.

"Ah shit..." Nashi hissed, looking around. "How the hell do I get out of here, now? There's got to be a way." Standing up slowly, Nashi leaned against the wall as her muscles resisted her. She felt so stiff, she had to have been out for days. Igniting her hand gave Nashi a better view of her surroundings, so he walked across the wall slowly, looking for an exit. She didn't know how long it took her to walk around the entire chamber, but what she did know was she'd made a lap, as she kicked the blanket upon returning to her makeshift bed.

"Is there not a way out?" She asked weakly, heart sinking. "Shit, shit..." Nashi slowly slid down the wall as panic set in. She was trapped in a cave with no exit that she could find, probably jailed by her enemies, friend and family dead or hurt, and who knew what else was happening. Nashi tried not to cry out of frustration and buried her heard in her scarf, trying to calm down.

Making a face, Nashi looked down to find herself wearing clothes from her dorm. She was in a black shirt and jeans, nowhere near the outfit she'd been in last. Why had they changed her clothes before imprisoning her? She didn't understand this.

"This makes no sense!" Nashi shouted. "Where am I?! Neptu?! Neptu! Answer me you bastard! I know you can hear me so tell me what's happening!"

Silence was her answer. Nashi stared up at the roof, waiting for anyone to speak up at her shouts. But no one did.

"Nashi..."

Nashi's spine tingled as a voice called her name. She looked around in confusion, but couldn't located the source.

But slowly, Nashi felt her head get attracted to the center of the room. There, on a pedestal, was what appeared to be a book. It looked innocent enough, but Nashi couldn't remove her gaze from it.

And slowly, she stood up. She walked towards the book slowly, not sure what she was even doing. How was a book going to stop her?

"Nashi...Nashi..."

I know," she replied weakly. "I'm coming." She continued to walk forwards, now positive she wanted to open the book.

"Stop!"

Nashi froze as the chamber around her began to rumble. Stumbling backwards, Nashi fell as the ground beneath right where she'd just been standing opened up with a bright red glow, ears ringing. Gulping, she inched forward and peered over the side, and she was met with the sight of molten lava flowing below her. She didn't know if she was immune to lava, but she wasn't keen on testing it out.

"What the fuck is happening?" She whispered to herself, falling backwards. She stared at the book, but it didn't speak to her anymore. Had a bunch of paper really just tried to kill her? If so, who'd told her to stop? The voice had sounded the same it both instances...

Covering her eyes with her forearm, Nashi tried to process what was happening. But this only confused her more. All she knew for certain was that she was trapped, and a book had tried to kill her.

How was she supposed to make sense of that?

Sitting up, Nashi felt herself still staring at the book. She had a primal urge to open the book, but she had no intention of doing that. For all she knew opening it would make her explode after what had just happened. Before she could move, the chamber began to shake again. Nashi whirled around to find a portion of the stone wall receding into the ground, probably to serve as an entrance.

Which meant someone was coming.

Thinking quickly, Nashi extinguished the flames in her hand, which left the lava as the sole light source. She used flames to catapult herself up to the roof, grabbing on to a stalactite as she reached it. She watched as the rumbling stopped, and the sound of footsteps echoed across the room. She couldn't see who it was, but she followed the sound of their feet.

"Oh no..." She heard a voice say. "Oh no no no..."

"What the fuck?" Another voice whispered. Nashi couldn't tell if she knew the people talking, her ears were ringing from everything that had happened. But she did know that those people probably knew where she was.

"What do we do?" One of the voices asked. "How did she escape?!"

"I don't know...Fuck! Fuck!" Nashi grimaced as one of them punched the wall, making the chamber rumble again. "We leave for a few hours and she's gone! Of course!"

"I'm sorry..."

"...Don't blame yourself. You were trying to help."

"Yeah, but..."

"It can't be helped. We just need to find her."

"Did she try too...?"

"Yeah, she did. One of the enchants activated. Don't worry, there's no way she's dead. We need to find her."

"Right, right." Nashi furrowed her brow as she honed in on the sound.

"Oh you'll find me alright," she murmured to herself. After steeling herself, Nashi launched herself from the stalactite and flew down towards the voices, the glow of the lava giving her a better idea as to where she'd been.

"Natsu, lookout!" A voice shouted, and Nashi's eyes widened.

...Natsu?

Veering off target, Nashi landed a distance away from the pair and whirled on them, eyes wide.

Her parents stared back at her, just as shocked as she was.

"...M-Mom?" She asked weakly. "D-Dad?" They didn't reply to her at first, only stared.

And then, like a blur, her mother had rushed her and wrapped in her her arms. Nashi felt soothed slightly by her warm embrace, but she was still confused as hell.

"Thank God you're okay," she said in Nashi's ear. "Don't worry us like that."

"Don't lock me in a cave," Nashi managed weakly. Her mother and her separated, and Nashi met her gaze. "Where are we, what's going on?" Silence. Her mother's smile faded, and her father remained silent.

"Let's go above ground." Her father spoke up after a few seconds. "I'd rather do it away from the book."

"What about it?" Nashi asked.

"Later, honey." her mother said, guiding her towards the exit. Nashi remained silent as she was walked up the stairs, only more confused that she had been a moment ago.

At least she wasn't a prisoner, right?

The sun felt good on Nashi's skin, and it wasn't nearly as hot as the lava. She was forced out of the tunnel, and turned as her father placed a hand on the stone, closing up the passageway.

"Okay so, can you please explain what's going on?" Nashi asked. Her parents simply stared at her. "I just want to know the truth, is that so hard?" After a few more seconds, her father sighed.

"I said we'd talk later when we were fighting Neptu," he said. "I suppose I owe it to you, don't I?"

"How did that go, anyway?" Nashi asked. "Is everyone alright?"

"Their fine," her mother said. "Don't worry." Nashi breathed a sigh of relief at this. At least the others were okay.

"Nashi," her father said. Nashi looked over at him to see that he looked deadly serious. "I don't even know where to begin, so please listen closely." Nashi nodded.

"Okay," she replied. Her father looked down at his feet, seemingly deep in thought.

"This whole thing started way before you were born," he said, looking back at her.

"When?" She asked. "During the Alvarez invasion? Tartarus? The Grand Magic-"

"Four hundred years ago, actually." Her father interrupted.

"Ah right, I forgot about that." Nashi said. "So when you were actually born, or...?"

"Well, kind of." He replied. "It just starts back then. When I died, actually."

"...What?" Nashi asked, certain she'd misheard him. "I could have sworn you just said..."

"When I died, yeah." Her father replied with a nod. "I died four hundred years ago."

"Then how are you here?" Nashi asked, confused. "How're you still alive?"

"...Because of Zeref," He said slowly. "Because of my brother."

"...W-Wait a second," Nashi said, feeling light headed. "You can't just casually drop all of this information on me like it's nothing! Why wasn't I told about that already?!"

"There's the version of history we told you about," her mother said. "And than there's what actually happened."

"Well how much is made up?!" Nashi demanded.

"Not much if it," her father replied. "More like left out these bits as per my request." Nashi leaned up against the tree behind her, thinking about all she'd already been told.

"Okay, so you died and Zeref, your brother, brought you back. How?"

"..." She got no response at first, and looking at her dad made him look uncomfortable. "Dad?"

"Natsu, you've already started." Her mother said. "Just tell her." Her father sighed at this and looked back at her.

"He made me into an Etherious," he said. "Rather, A Demon from the Books of Zeref." Nashi blinked.

"Like...Like Tartarus?"

"Yeah, like that."

"Okay, so...You're a zombie?" Her father made a face.

"I guess?" He asked. "Sure, if it helps you understand." He replied. "Can I continue?" Nashi nodded weakly.

"Be my guest," she said.

"Being an Etherious gave me incredible powers," he said, looking at the ground. "But Zeref also only created them for one reason; to kill him."

"I know that, yeah." Nashi replied, trying to keep up. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Because that book down in the chamber contains the true extent of my powers." He said. "I left, I was gone for sixteen years making sure that that book never got opened again."

"T-That's why you were gone all those years?" Nashi asked weakly, heart pounding. He nodded.

"Yes. I had to make certain that what Zeref had created was never unleashed ever again..." He met Nashi's gaze at this, and his gaze softened. "And then I came home, and I had a daughter." Nashi vividly remembered when he'd come home.

"O-Okay, so..." Nashi started. "You left for all that time to seal that book away, which contains your Etherious powers, which Zeref gave you when he brought you back to life?"

"That's the size of it so far, yeah." Her father agreed.

"So what does this have to do with me?" Nashi asked. At this her father grimaced.

"Like I said, I came home and found out I had a daughter." He paused. "You're so much like me Nashi...Too much like me." He said this slowly, and Nashi's eyes widened as she realized what he was trying to get across to her.

"W-wait," she said. "A-Are you trying to say that I'm...That the power you locked away...?"

"Now resides inside of you, as it has since you were born." He completed. "Nashi, you're part Etherious." Nashi slowly stared down at her feet, head spinning. She was part Etherious, part demon, part monster.

"S-So, I'm not even fully human?" She asked weakly.

"No..." Her mother replied.

"It wasn't even a problem until Silverridge," she heard her father say. "That was when you woke it up."

Nashi stared down at her hands, which were shaking. Soon, they flashed into talons, coated in flames. Another flash returned them to normal.

"Woke up?" She asked weakly.

"Your powers weren't a problem until then." Her mother said. "But around then, you woke it up. You killed Apocalypse with it, and eating Neptu's flames woke it up again."

"So I'm a monster," Nashi concluded. "A fucking half human half monster born from a zombie demon and a human woman."

"Nashi..." her mother started.

"Why was this hid from me?!" Nashi shouted. "Why wouldn't you tell me about this?!"

"I had no way to know for sure until Silverridge!" Her mother shouted back, eyes teary. "It never became a problem! What did you do at Silverridge?!" Nashi made a face, and did her best to recall Silverridge. When she was there, she'd chased Apocalypse down into the secret weapon bunker and ran from him until she...

She threw herself into a vat of Etherion.

"...I ate Etherion," she said, making her parents eyes widen. "Pure magic power, I ate it. After that, everything goes blank."

"That's it, then." Her father said. "The Etherion woke it up, and it defended you." So the Etherious within had killed Apocalypse, and had tried to kill others only recently.

"So is that why we're out here?" Nashi demanded. "To tell me that? Show me the book?"

"Partially," Her father said. "Also because we need to find a way to keep your Etherious in check."

"Kill me?" Nashi asked weakly. "That'd stop it."

"Young lady do not speak like that," her mother scorned. "We're not killing you."

"How else do we stop it?" Nashi demanded. Neither responded. "Huh, convenient. No ideas."

"We just need to come up with an idea, Nashi." her mother said. "That's all." Nashi laughed weakly and began to back away.

"Alright, well when you two figure that out, come find me," she said, turning away. "I need to take a walk and think about this."

"Nashi-"

"I need to take a walk!" she shouted, silencing them both. "I'll be back, don't worry. I've learned running from your problems doesn't solve them."

"...She took it well," Natsu said as Nashi walked away through the trees.

"You think?" Lucy asked. "We just dropped a lot on her."

"Had to happen sooner or later," Natsu replied. "Give her time, she's bound to be confused." Lucy nodded, but still turned to watch the brush where Nashi had disappeared. She hoped her daughter would be okay, but that was a lot to drop on doubt she was confused.

She just hoped Nashi remembered she wasn't alone.

Nashi threw another rock into the small pool of water and watched the ripples, deep in thought.

None of this made any fucking sense.

What she'd gathered was that due to her father being an Etherious, she too had this power. She'd given it enough power to wake up by consuming Etherion, and now it came out whenever she was in danger.

"Weak, he's weak. We're strong. Finish him!"

The voice that spoke to her when fighting Luke in the future came back to her. Had that been her Etherious? Egging her on, trying to make her kill Luke? It must have been, there was no other answer.

"So it can talk to me..." Nashi muttered, thinking. She was so lost. She didn't know what to do. If this thing could take control of her and kill whenever it wanted, how was she supposed to stop it? What if it didn't need to? What if it egged her on to the point where she killed for it? She didn't know what to do. Was their even a way to stop it?

"Wait..." Nashi said to herself at this thought. "If it can talk to me...Does that mean I can talk to it?" She thought about this for a moment, before she decided she had nothing to lose. Crossing her legs, Nashi took a deep breath and concentrated, closing her eyes. She didn't know what exactly to say, but if her father was right than she had to try. Maybe she could talk it down.

"So, you came. Finally." Nashi opened her eyes. She was still by the pool of water, but it was misty now. She stood up and slowly turned.

Standing by the tree line was her. She recognized her own features underneath the flames and claws. It was like looking into an angry demonic mirror.

"You're...Me," Nashi said, approaching slowly. The being shook it's head.

"No, you are you." It said. "I am not."

"I think I recognize my own face," Nashi said weakly, reaching her. The two of them stared at each for a moment, and Nashi raised her hand. The other her did as well, and at the same time their hands made contact. It's hand was the same size, same feel, same everything. Save the claws and skin tone it was identical.

"...What are you?" Nashi asked. The being tilted it's head.

"I am you're protector," it said. "I only wish to protect you from those who wish to cause you harm."

"That a fact?" Nashi asked. "That why you attacked Gin too?"

"He tried to do you harm," It said. "That meant he had to go." Nashi made a face at this.

"So...Are you a part of me?" Nashi asked. The being nodded.

"I've been with you since the beginning," she said. "I've watched you all your life, and I gained my purpose by doing so."

"How so?" Nashi demanded. "Explain yourself." The being didn't say anything at first, but soon the area around Nashi began to blur. Making a face, Nashi looked around as the area around her changed from a forest to a rainy city she very well recognized.

"Are we...?"

"Magnolia," The being confirmed. "Our home."

"What are we doing here?" Nashi asked.

"You asked me to explain myself," she said. "I am doing so." Nashi had so many questions, but she was silenced as a high pitched cry pierced the area. Turning, Nashi's eyes widened.

She watched as another version of her, this one only a child, sat on her hands and knees.

Rocky stood over her.

"What the hell is happening?" Nashi asked.

"Have you forgotten?" The being asked, also watching the scene. "I don't blame you, it was so long ago. Around nine or so years, actually." Nashi remained silent as Rocky approached her younger self, and stomped his foot on the ground. This caused bonds of earth to wrap around Nashi's wrists and feet.

"W-Why do you do this?" Nashi's younger self asked.

"Oh shut it, will you?" Rocky asked. "You're annoying."

"I-I just asked a question..."

"And?" No response to this. "I told you, I don't like you. Fairy Tail's little princess. Given so much love and attention, and for what? Nothing. Ridiculous." Rocky looked up at the sky. "Looks like the rain is getting worse. Let's see if you get a cold, huh?" With this, Nashi watched as Rocky turned on his heel and left, leaving her trapped.

"Of course I haven't forgotten," she muttered, watching her younger self pull at her hands uselessly. "Rocky always bullied me. Why does it matter?"

"Because you said something in particular today," the being responded. Nashi paused and watched as her younger self started to whimper.

"C'mon," she heard her whisper. "If someone could just stand up to him, He'd never hurt me again. No one ever would."

"...Someone," Nashi said, turning to the Etherious next to her. "You're that someone, aren't you?" The Etherious nodded.

"You needed someone," she said. "And so, you got someone. But for years all I could do was watch." Nashi looked down at her feet and tried to comprehend what she was being told.

"So, all those times you've taken over my body, you were protecting me?" The Etherious nodded.

"Of course," The area became blurry once again, and this time Nashi took a moment to recognize the area.

"Where are we?" She asked.

"I don't expect you to remember any of this," she said. "I was in control then." At this, an explosion made Nashi whirl around. She watched as a different version of herself, as an Etherious, approached Apocalypse.

"What are you?!" He shouted. "WHAT ARE YOU?!" Nashi watched as he attempted to use Rupture on her, but she barely even flinched. She opened her palm and an explosion threw Apocalypse away, and the scene changed again.

This time, she recognized the outside of Magnolia. Before she could ask what was happening, an explosion sounded. She watched as Gin stumbled out of it, and and a dark red meteor slammed down near him, which she could only assume was her.

"Why're you showing me this?"

"To show you all I want is to protect you," The Etherious responded. "Neptu tried to kill you, I was forced to retaliate. Gin tried to stop me through force, I had to stop him."

"So you're just going to attack anyone who hurts me?" Nashi demanded. "Does it matter who the hell it is?"

"Not at all," she replied. "They hurt you, and I manage to get out, I'll find them."

"So you'd even kill my friends?!" Nashi yelled, turning to her fully. "My family?! Why would you do that?!"

"Should I not do that?" The Etherious asked. Nashi shook her head.

"No!" She said. "They'd never hurt me!" The Etherious tilted her head.

"As far as I can tell only one person has ever not intended to hurt you," she said. Nashi raised an eyebrow.

"Who?" She asked. The scene around them blurred once more, but the location didn't change.

"Hey Nashi," Nashi's eyes widened.

Whirling, she watched as Drake approached her Etherious, who eyed him carefully.

"Drake?" She asked weakly.

"What are you doing? Come on, the battle's over." He approached her slowly, and the Etherious didn't attack. Soon, the flames and claws began to disappear. She watched as she fell into Drake's arms, and the scene froze.

"Drake has never intended to hurt you," The Etherious said. "I would never hurt him."

"...M-My friends would never hurt me," she replied, turning back to her. "Or my family. Can you not attack them either?" The Etherious didn't reply. "Trust me, the only reason they'd ever attack me is if they're trying to calm you down."

"...If they ever try too, I will not promise that again." She said after an extended silence. "But yes, I promise not to hurt your friends or family."

"..Thank you," Nashi replied, feeling relieved. "Thank you so much."

"I don't need thanks," The Etherious replied. "All I need is to know you're safe." Nashi nodded. "Well, I think we've spoken long enough. I assume you have a lot too think about."

"Well, that much is true," Nashi replied. "But, what should I call you?"

"I don't have a name," Nashi nodded at this.

"I know, you told me. But I feel like you should."

"Give me one, then." Nashi made a face and looked at the ground, thinking. After a second or two, she got one. It was rather unoriginal and not at all unused, but she doubted that the Etherious would mind all that much.

"END," she said, looking up at her Etherious. "Call I call you END?" The Etherious nodded.

"If you wish," She replied. Nashi smiled weakly.

"END," she said. "Nice too meet you," THE Etherious, despite the bestial look to her, also managed a smile.

"And I you, Nashi." With this, the mist and the Etherious faded. Nashi opened her eyes to see she was still sitting with her legs crossed as she had been before her conversation.

Falling backwards, Nashi stared up at the sky and took in all she had learned.

She'd had a long fucking day.

"You should probably take it easy, Gray." Mira said, making Gray glare at her. "You've had a lot to drink already."

"Okay, and?" Gray asked. He really didn't know what Mira's point was.

"I'm just saying, maybe slow down." Gray shrugged. He'd had a long day, and wanted to unwind. No big deal with that, right?

"Nashi, you're back!" Gray's eyes widened, and he swiveled the chair around. He watched as Nashi, Natsu, Lucy and Luke entered the guild hall, and her friends swarmed them.

"Uh, hey guys." Nashi said. Despite the smile on her face, Gray sensed she wasn't very happy. What had happened?

"How did the hunt for the herb go?" Ultear asked. "Does Bella feel okay?"

"What?" Nashi asked, raising an eyebrow. It only took her a second or two too clue in. "Or, great. She should heal up a lot faster now."

"That's great!"Steph added. Gray watched Natsu and Lucy push past the kids and make their way to the bar. Gray didn't take his eyes off of Natsu the whole way.

"So how'd it go?" He asked. Natsu closed his eyes.

"She knows," he replied. "All of it." Gray nodded.

"Good, it's about time." He said. "Did you come up with a way to stop it?" The two remained silent at this, and Gray frowned. "I take that as a no, then."

"Well, no." Lucy said. "Nashi found a way, or so she claims."

"What is it?" He asked. Natsu took a deep breath.

"She said she...spoke with it." He said. "Asked it not to hurt us. And apparently it agreed." Gray slowly raised an eyebrow at this.

"Did she now?" He asked. "And you're willing to trust her on that?" Natsu nodded.

"I believe so," he said. "From what Nashi told us, I think my previous theory was correct." Lucy made a face at this.

"What previous theory?" She asked. Natsu crossed his arms.

"When She was out on the battlefield, the Etherious always and only spoke of protecting Nashi. Now normally Etherious were created to kill, but Nashi's wasn't, and it's purpose is the opposite."

"And?" Gray asked.

"Nashi said that it was a memory of Rocky bullying her that the Etherious showed her as a reason for her existence." He explained. "When Nashi said she wanted someone to protect her."

"Which means what?" Mira asked. Natsu looked back towards Nashi.

"I think Nashi's Etherious powers manifested into a split personality." He said. "Someone strong enough to protect her from anyone who wants to hurt her. That's why, when she's in danger, it forces it's way out. It wants to protect her."

"Like a knight protecting the princess," Mira said. Natsu nodded.

"Just like that," he replied. Gray made a face.

"So what do we do if it doesn't honor that deal?" He asked. "What if it does hurt some of us?" Natsu frowned.

"Nashi!" He called. Gray watched as Nashi broke away from her friends and walked over, her smile fading into a serious look.

"Yeah?" She asked. Natsu looked over at her.

"Tell Gray what you want to happen if the Etherious doesn't honor her promise." He said. Nashi nodded, and turned to Gray.

"I've decided that if the Etherious doesn't honor it's promise...I want you to kill me before it hurts anyone."

"Zeus?" Zeus looked up as Athena entered the room. "I have news I think you'll be interested in."

"What is it?" Zeus asked. Athena played with her screens for a moment.

"After her magic signature reappeared, I ran my tests. It appears she's still seventy percent behind what we need for our plan to work." Zeus pressed his lips together.

"So we'll be using Hades' plan after all, then?" He asked. Athena nodded.

"Unless you wish to wait, sir." She said. Zeus thought about this for a moment. He didn't like Hades plan at all, but if they were to accomplish their goal...

"Fine," he said. "Contact Hermes, have him contact them It's time." Athena nodded.

"As you wish, Zeus." With this, she exited the room and left Zeus alone. Turning to look out the window, Zeus contemplated what was to come next.

"So it seems the time has come. She's going to have to come right to us."

Seems to be a good place to leave it off. I hope you guys enjoyed, leave a review! Let's try to get five!

Chapter 269: First Contact