Almost to 400! It'll be a treat!

Nashi didn't know what to do.

It had been a long time since she'd been face to face with an angry Demon Lord, and she could feel the fear resurfacing. The sheer power that radiated off of Drakhosz was immense. Just looking at him was making her eyes burn. Her stomach turned so violently she feared she would throw up. Drakhosz laughed.

"I apologise for the effect," he said, "I often cause fear when I arrive." He took a step forward, then another. No one tried to stop him, all still shocked at what happened. Nashi wasn't watching, but she soon heard a roar of defiance. Turning her head, she watched as dozens of Hunters raced towards Drakhosz, hands and magic ready. The Demon Lord scoffed.

"This isn't about you," he said, waving a hand at the crowd. Nashi cringed as every single Hunter fell to the ground screaming. Some held their stomach, other their heads, others tried to squirm away from a specific limb. All were in horrific pain. The screams created a maddening cacophony of noise, but she could still hear Drakhosz's laugh over it.

"Human screams are really just beautiful, huh?" He asked aloud. "Now, come here Dragneel. I'm taking your soul back to where you belong." Being addressed directly broke Nashi out of her terrified state, getting to her feet quickly.

"W-Why are you coming for me?" She asked, "I-I thought all the Demon Lords were coming." Drakhosz clicked his teeth.

"The lot of them are wasting time," he replied as he absentmindedly played with the countless blades strapped to his waist. "Deciding how to punish Zoka and Ruli at such a critical time is taking up much of our day. I've had enough of it! We're wasting time we could use ringing you down to hell before you ruin everything."

"M-Me?" Nashi asked, noticing Michael and Elise creeping up behind the Demon Lord. "How would I ruin anything?"

"I'd tell ya, but it'd make me a hypocrite," Drakhosz said. "The Third Law our Father gave us was we cannot just give out forbidden information. And as we always say, fate qualifies. Just know, you're dooming everyone by being here." Nashi gulped.

"I don't believe you," she said.

"Who asked for you to believe me?" He demanded, "I don't care what you think, the facts remain. Now come, girl, and let us bring you back down for Judgement." It was then Michael and Elise sprung. Elise's arms turned into flails, which she slung down on top of Drakhosz. A second before they struck, Michael raised his hands and fired off a dozen blasts of holy light. Drakhosz looked like he was about to be hit by the flails, but he disappeared in a blur and dodged both attacks.

"I believe I was talking to someone else," he said to them as he looked over his shoulder. "Both of you, wait your turn."

Neither of Nashi friends got a second to retaliated before they started screaming.

Elise gripped and pulled at her chest, her screaming breaking Nashi's heart. Michael collapsed onto his stomach and grabbed at his back, but couldn't reach whatever pain he felt down there.

"Rude," Drakhosz said, smirking. "Now you're causing these two pain as well, Nashi. Tell you what; come with me, and everyone here gets to live. Understand?"

"I-I'm not gonna go with you!" Nashi shouted, "I don't deserve to die!" Drakhosz laughed so hard at this he spat.

"DESERVE to die?!" He shouted in a laugh. "Does anyone, Dragneel?! Ninety-nine percent on living things do not deserve to die, but they do all the same! Do you know what our gracious father said to your kind?"

"W-What?"

"He said that there is no beauty in life without death! All that is, is only beautiful because it is temporary! Tell me, girl, would life be so precious if no one died? No! It would be a cheap commodity that has no value! Your life does not mean more than anyone else's! How dare you speak to a Demon Lord as if you know better. You don't know anything!" Nashi was horrified at how much sense he was making.

"B-But I was murdered!" She shouted over the screaming. "Does that not account for anything?"

"So because your life ended unfairly, the rules should not apply to you?" He demanded, "Again with the arrogance, Dragneel. Allow me to put you in your place, like your parents should have. You are not special. The world does not revolve around you and, hell, almost no one would care if you died. There are millions of people whose lives end unfairly! Should they be given clemency as well? Do the rules of death have exceptions? No! Death is absolute, as it should be!"

Nashi had nothing to say, no point to refute. What the Demon Lord was saying was true. Did it really matter that her death had been unfair? Did it really matter that she was apart of a bigger, worse plan? No of course it didn't. She was dead, and that was the end of it, right? She wasn't so important as to defy life's one and only rule. Drakhosz laughed.

"Ah, the look of resignation," he said, "you've realised I'm right, haven't you? Of course I am. There is no refuting such obvious truths. Now, come to me girl. I'll be sending you back down and-!"

"Shadow Dragon's Tendrils!" Drakhosz's shadow lurched from beneath him, vines of darkness sprouting up and wrapping around him. Drakhosz looked indifferent to the shadows, but watched, just like Nashi did, as Keita, Ultear, Neptu and Elizabeth stood between her and him.

"She's not going anywhere," Ultear said. Drakhosz snorted.

"Have you forgotten where your friends are?" He asked, gesturing back to Elise and Michael. "I'll be seeing the rest of you down like that." Drakhosz nodded his head, but nothing happened. He made a face, obviously confused.

"That'd be my doing," Elizabeth said, looking serious as she crossed her arms. "Enchantment Magic. No external magic will hurt those I've cast upon."

"Hm, interesting," Drakhosz said. "Yes, I feel it now. They're protected. Wonderful! This will make crushing you feel even better." He flexed his arms, freeing himself from the shadow. "You lot will die protecting her, then? Ah, the folly of humanity. You cannot defeat me. Countless have tried, countless have failed."

"Let Eastyn go," Neptu said in a growl. Nashi looked over at him warily to see a pained expression on his face. Drakhosz laughed.

"Let him go?" He asked, "what does that mean? I can't let him go, fool. We're bonded, soul to soul. I won't release him and end up like Akirelys." Nashi vaguely recognised that name, but she couldn't place it. Neptu balled his hands into fists, shaking angrily.

"Why are you doing this to him?" Neptu demanded, "why do you put him through so much? What did he do?!"

"Nothing," Drakhosz answered as if it was the easiest answer he'd ever given. "This is just the way things are."

"Just the way things are?" Neptu demanded, a wave of power flowing from him. "Is that all you have to say? Your reason for hurting so many people? You're reason for killing?! For slaughtering my Mom and Dad?!" Drakhosz made a face at this.

"Do you expect me to remember everyone I've killed?" He asked, shrugging. "Don't bother, kid. I won't recall them."

"Oh I bet you will," Neptu replied, "He was a Devil Slayer. Name was Gabros Skylancer. Remember him?" Drakhosz made a face at this, before smirking.

"Oh, here you go surprising me!" Drakhosz shouted, "I do remember him! Oh he was a feisty one. Going on and on about how he'd protect his home and kids, blah blah blah...He was a strong one though! Gave me a nasty scar on my chest. Still hurts sometimes whenever some Demon Hunter tries to get me. Are you really the kid he talked about? Ah! I see it now. You are his kid. He gave me the same look!"

"Did he?" Neptu asked as another wave of power flowed from him. "Well, I'll make this look the last thing you ever see!" Neptu exploded with magic, causing Nashi and the others to stumble backwards. He launched forward and aimed a strike at Drakhosz, who jumped back with a laugh and spread his wings.

"Weren't you talking about saving Eastyn?!" The Demon Lord laughed loudly. "And now you're trying to kill me! My that's ironic!"

"We have time," Elizabeth said, running off. Nashi watched as she ran to Elise and Michael, placing a hand on their arm. They stopped screaming as the others joined them, Elise panting heavily.

"Are you okay?" Nashi asked her as she knelt by her side.

"I..." Elise tried, "I've never felt that horrible in my whole life. I...I really wanted to die. It was indescribable."

"Agreed," Michael coughed, rubbing his back. "It really did feel like every part of my body was on fire." An explosion sounded off nearby, probably from Neptu. Nashi made a face as she looked towards the scores of screaming Hunters.

"What do we do about them?" She asked weakly.

"I'll use up all my magic if I try and help them," Elizabeth said, looking upset. "We have to deal with Drakhosz first."

"...Are we trying to kill him?" Ultear asked, "And that poor guy?" Silence came over the group, punctuated only by the screaming and explosions.

"Let's not act like we have any choice," Elizabeth replied, "we need to do what we need to do. If Drakhosz makes us, well..." Elizabeth said no more on this point. "Anyone seen Zynna? She stormed off and I haven't seen her."

"Nope," Elise said, "but we should go and help Neptu before he gets to have all the fun by himself."

Neptu landed hard and immediately rolled, dodging the slam that came after. He tumbled to his feet and boosted away again, dodging the slash of red magic that came for him. He got to his feet and created a sphere of purple fire that exploded outwards, forcing Drakhosz back. When the Demon Lord landed, his armour was smoking. He smirked at this.

"You've got the same fire as your father as well," he said, "ah, my scar sure is tingling."

"This fire is all I have to remember him by," Neptu hissed, "because of you! Fire Devil's Rage!"His breath attack barrelled towards Drakhosz, who flapped his wings and dodged to the left.

"Don't get heated now, boy!" Drakhosz shouted as he raised his short sword. "Lest I cut the rest of this family down!" He sliced his blade through the air, and space distorted. Another slash of red came flying for him, but Neptu dodged it and brought his fists together.

"Fire Devil's Storm!" He shouted. Fire erupted around Drakhosz and swirled like a tornado. Neptu waited, and soon he could hear the laughter.

"Ahaha!" Drakhosz said, "it really is the best! It hurts! It really does hurt me! Haha!" The fire dissipated with a wave of the Demon's hand, making Neptu snarl. "You're good, boy! Oddly enough, your flames hurt more than your Dad's do! Why is that? Are you stronger?"

"Of course I am!" Neptu shouted as flames enveloped him, "I'm the latest in a long line of Devil Slayers! And I'll make my mark by killing one of the Twelve!" Drakhosz laughed again, manically this time.

"I love the pain in your eyes!" He shouted, "Yes, I can feel it! Losing your family really was the worst thing that happened to you! I love it! It hurts so bad, you'll forego your moral qualms with killing Eastyn! This is excellent!" Neptu growled at this. He didn't want to kill Eastyn, that much was true. But what could he really do? Drakhosz was in control now, and Eastyn had no will to live anyway, so what would he gain by trying to wrestle back control?

"You've realised it, I see," Drakhosz said. "That Eastyn will not fight me. He wants to die, and I won't give it to him. As fair as he's concerned, this is a bonus! I'll make you kill us, if you can!"

"Why are you doing this?!" Neptu shouted, "Why do this to your host?!"

"Because I can," Drakhosz replied. "There is no other reason!" Neptu snarled.

"Then I guess I have no choice," he said. "I have to kill you."

"Indeed! And I have to take that girls soul back to the Circles! So we both must fight! And I can show you how've you've disappointing your parents!" Neptu gave pause at this, his stomach dropping.

"What did you say?" He demanded, Drakhosz laughing.

"That causes you so much pain, doesn't it?" The demon asked. "The idea that you've failed your parents, am I right? It hurts you to think they would be disappointed in you."

"Shut up!" Neptu shouted, "my parents loved me!"

"As do all parents!" Drakhosz replied, "but do you think the mothers of serial killers are proud of them? That rapists Fathers would clap them on the shoulder? No! Your parents may love you, Skylancer, but they'd sure as shit be disappointed in you!" Neptu growled as his heart throbbed painfully.

"Shut your mouth!" He shouted, fire exploding out his fist towards the demon, who dodged it.

"You know it, don't you?" Drakhosz asked. "That your parents raised you better than to go around the country slaughtering people!"

"Stop it!"

"What would dear Mommy Skylancer think if she saw you? Hm?"

"I'll kill you!" Neptu shouted.

"If only Daddy could see you now!"

"Gaaaah!" Neptu launched himself at Drakhosz, seeing red. The Demon Lord just smirked at him. Raising his fist, Neptu coated in fire.

"Devil Slayer Secret Art!" He shouted, "Divine Punishment!"The fire in his fist became a cross across his knuckles, and he aimed it square at Drakhosz's face. Neptu wanted nothing more than to exterminate him. To wipe him off the face of the earth.

Drakhosz caught the attack with his bare hand. Neptu stared in shock as the demon smirked at him.

"You're magic is off balance," the demon said as they struggled against one another, "your pain is obscuring your mind! I win!" Neptu watched, shocked, as Drakhosz reared his sword back,ready to run him through.

"Ice Devil's Zeroth Destruction Halberd!" A flash of light sounded from behind Drakhosz, and the demon roared in pain and released Neptu, who skittered backwards quickly. He looked to his left and his saviour joined him.

"Ultear?" He asked. The woman looked over at him, Devil Slayer tattoos running down her eyes.

"Figured you needed the save," she said, weapon in hand. "You alright?"

"Yeah..." Neptu said as he got to his feet, "since when are you a Devil Slayer?"

"My Dad taught me," she replied, "guess we're alike, you and I."

"Hm," he said. "Are you aware of the downside?"

"Of course I am," she said, "but I needed this power to fight Demons. I'll worry about the downsides later."

"We'll all have to do what," another voice said. Before Neptu knew it, he was side-by-side with his allies. He looked to his left and saw Natsu, and to his right was Elizabeth.

"You guys..." he started.

"Don't try and cut us out," Elizabeth warned from his right. "This is our fight to."

"Yep," Natsu said, "we've got your back, man."

"We can take him together!" Michael shouted, glowing with light. "Let's show him we're not pushovers!" The mist from Ultear's attack began to fade, revealing Drakhosz again. He snickered as he rubbed his side where Ultear had struck him, which was hissing and giving off mist. Neptu noticed the ice creeping up the side of the demons armour.

"Ice, huh?" He asked, "Pain's natural enemy; numbness. I'll give you credit, girl, I didn't think you had this power."

"I'm full of surprises," Ultear replied as she swung the halberd around herself. As it did, it melted into fluid ice and circled around her, ready for a command. "Last chance to back off."

"I'll be doing no such thing," Drakhosz replied. "So I advise you do that."

"Not happening," Elise replied, "now I need payback for what you did to me." The Demon Lord rolled his eyes.

"Humans have always been hard to break," he said as he crossed his arms. "I suppose I have to deal with all of you now." He was silent for a moment, before he smiled. "Yes, I feel it now. What causes you all the most pain. I can work with this." Neptu made a face, what did that mean? He tensed as Drakhosz raised his hands, aiming both palms at this.

"Give rise," he said, voice humming with strength, "Domain of Suffering!" Without time to react, a sphere of dark red magic exploded out from his palms and engulfed Neptu and the rest. He shielded his eyes, but he still felt blinded. Blinking and opening his eyes, he saw that he was alone now. Where did everyone go? What had happened?

"What happened?" He asked aloud, "Guys? Elizabeth? Natsu?! Where are you?!"

"Hello?" Nashi asked, looking around, "Guys?! Where are you guys?!" All she could see around her was red. Nothing else. This was bad, he already separated them.

"What?" A voice asked. Nashi turned, and her eyes widened as she saw her friends, even Drake, staring at her.

"Drake?!" She asked in shock, "How did you get here?! You guys as well!" She rushed towards her friends, even those who should not have been there, but she gave pause.

They all looked disgusted.

"What do you mean you're not Nashi?" Simon demanded. Nashi's eyes widened.

"Huh?" She asked weakly.

"You're Luna?" Drake demanded, scrunching up his face, "What the fuck is wrong with you? We don't want you, we wanted Nashi."

"And she's dead because of you," Damien said, "how could you betray us like this?"

"After all we did for you!" Steph shouted, "you try and take her place?!"

"W-Wait a second," Luna tried, feeling her head begin to spin as her heart sank, "guys, I still have her memories and stuff...I-I am Nashi, I swear!"

"You're disgusting," Drake hissed, "pretending to be someone we love? Just so we don't abandon you? I'm going to be sick. I don't even want to look at you." Drake turned away from her, and Luna felt like crying. Why were they saying this? What did she do wrong?

"You're not Nashi?" Another voice asked. Luna turned and saw her parents before her, regarding her in disgust as well.

"Why would you do this?" Lucy asked, mortified. "We treated you like our daughter, but that doesn't mean you'll ever replace her."

"Exactly," Natsu snarled, "let's get one thing straight, Luna; you are not my daughter, and never will be. Nashi was. I don't love you. No one does. It'd be best if you left us alone."

"B-But wait," Luna tried as she collapsed to her knees. "I have no one else...I-I don't know what I can do to fix this..."

"Nothing," Lucy said. "Absolutely nothing."

"You should just die," Natsu said, turning from her, "we already lost our daughter, we don't need to see you." Nashi stared, shell-shocked, as her own parents disowned her. Her own friends hated her. She knew this was a bad idea. She should've just came out with it!

Looking down, she watched as Luke stumbled out from between her parents legs. He stared at her with his big, curious eyes.

"L-Luke," she said weakly, "I-I-"

"Not Nashi!" The boy shouted, pointing at her. "Not Nashi!"

"You're right Luke," Natsu said. "Not Nashi."

"Not Nashi," Lucy agreed.

"Not Nashi," her friends said. Luna watched, stunned, as they repeated the words over and over again.

"Not Nashi."

"Not Nashi."

Not Nashi.

She was not Nashi. And never would be.

This was hell. It had to be.

I really enjoy torturing my characters, huh? Don't worry, I'm not a psycho or anything.

I think...

I hope you all enjoyed, leave a review! Let's try and get five!