CHAPTER 78 - THE ONE WHO FORGOT HIS NAME
So many memories had vanished from Lucy's mind, but this one, the presence of final twilight, was eternally burned into her being. A mark of death, the ending of all – the World-Eater Alduin was here. He lurked in the darkness, enveloping her in a cloud of pure terror that immobilized her completely.
I can't defeat him. I can't. I can't –
"SLEN – TIID – VO!"
Alduin's roar sent shudders through her body, as if her limbs were tearing into shreds. She grasped tight onto something, she didn't know for sure, she just felt fabric between her fingers and prayed it was Natsu's cloak. Upon the roar, the palace kept collapsing, the ages-old girders falling around them, splinters of wood and stone rumbling in a deafening choir. Men shouted, some for orders, some for their mothers. In the perfect darkness, Lucy glimpsed a brief flash of magic that shielded her like an impenetrable bubble, and then she was violently tugged away.
"Good gods… so, Alduin joined our peace council as well, and he's about to bring his friends," shouted a man with a shivering voice, and then Lucy realized she was being carried on that someone's shoulder, held still by a ghostly arm. "I will get both of you out of here!"
He ran, but to where, Lucy couldn't see. Something warm and wet flowed down her forehead into her eyes, she could smell iron in the air. She reached up to touch the crown of her head, and her fingers got stained in blood. There wasn't any pain. Terrified, she tried to look around for Natsu, but blood and darkness both blinded her. People were dying all around her, she could hear it from their screams.
All the important people of the province are gathered in this death trap, Lucy thought in terror. Alduin must've known it.
"Gildarts!" It was Natsu's voice, coming somewhere close. Quietly, Lucy thanked the gods. "You bloody fool, I thought they'd kill you –"
"This one might. Now shut up. We'll talk more when we're safe!"
Where had once been the floor of the Great Hall was now a great ravine. Deep below, ancient bones rattled as they rose from their sealed grave, and destroyed everything in their way as the great dragon Numinex was being brought into flesh once more by Alduin's Thu'um. The palace quaked as Alduin landed atop the ruins of the porch again.
"Mankind!" the World-Eater spoke, "I am Alduin, the firstborn of Akatosh, zok sahrot do naan ko lein! Nust wo ni qiilaan fen kos duaan! The final war is upon us. Join me to be granted salvation! Those who will not bow to my will, shall be devoured!"
This was the moment they had all feared and waited for, Lucy knew in her heart – the declaration of the second dragon war. Alduin had flown to Atmora to resurrect his fallen kin, and now they were coming, the army of dragons, a battle Lucy could not win. As the air was still rippling below the force of Alduin's Thu'um, she recalled what Paarthurnax once told her;
"Know this – before you have Dragonrend, fight against Alduin and his generals is futile. Krosis. You cannot prevail. The First Eight are protected by Alduin 's immortality – without shattering it, you cannot win. Retreat from battle. Do not risk your laas… your life."
The screams of the dying men stirred up the long-buried memory, turning her insides into a miserable pit of anguish and grief. If Gildarts hadn't picked her up, she would've been frozen in place, it was all too much, too much to bear. In the presence of Alduin, Lucy was just a little girl in Helgen again, witnessing her hometown turning to ashes upon his flame. A Dragonborn I might be, but what can I do? I've killed only three dragons, and none of the First Eight. I threw a spear through Odahviing's lungs, and a moment later he was on his wings again.
"Numinex, alok nol fin dilon! Dahmaan hin vahzan nam ont! Hi los fin sos do dii sos, tiid bo viing ahkrh kren sosaal!"
Gildarts carried them away from all the blasting noise, and soon frigid winter air kissed Lucy's skin like a wild ice wraith. We made it outside, she realized, but the panic within her didn't dissolve. Even if they escaped a crumbling palace, they were still trapped in Whiterun with Alduin. Where could they escape from here? And would she just run, and leave a burning city and all its people to their fates?
Just like I did in Helgen.
At the foot of the stairway, Gildarts lowered both of them to the ground. He wiped the blood from Lucy's face by summoning a splash of warm water, then he healed the wound on her crown. The world finally stopped spinning. Even though Alduin's presence overwhelmed her like the darkest thundercloud, at least she could see again.
"Are you alright, Lucy?" Gildarts asked quietly. The old mage's features were worn by deepest grief, and the spark of mischief in his eyes was eternally gone.
Lucy nodded briefly, then attempted to stand. Gildarts helped her up and her legs carried again, just barely. She raised her gaze towards Dragonsreach, and the high palace that once stood on the hill was now a mere ruin. Alduin danced around the palace while spirals of ancient magic rose skywards from the grave of Numinex. Snowflakes and mist clouded the air, brought upon by Alduin's storm call. She shivered at the sight, then looked at the empty stairs.
No one else was escaping the palace.
There goes our union against the dragons, the peace we made… and the evidence of Gildarts's crime.
Drunk soldiers and citizens were awakening to the rumbling, some thought it had been a distant thunder. Gildarts shouted orders to everyone within hearing distance, telling them to go away from the city as fast as possible, and gather somewhere near the White Tower. "Spread the word, head to the White Tower, to the west from the city gates!" In disbelief, people stared at him until they heard the dragon, and then they ran. There was no way to prevent chaos from erupting – people would get stamped on at the gates, but maybe it was merciful compared to being burned alive in dragonfire.
Lucy lowered her gaze. Beside the demolished shrine of Talos, Natsu stood, his head hanging low. He was trembling, too, in a way he trembled when he was crying, Lucy knew. She walked to him and gently touched his shoulder, but he didn't react. He just stared at the shrine, hollow and torn.
"Gildarts," Natsu muttered under his breath, "What just happened… Gods, I don't even know what to say. I don't blame you for what you did. We wouldn't have… we wouldn't have made it out without your help." Then he glanced over his shoulder and inhaled a shaky breath. "I'm so sorry about Cana. I'm so sorry –"
Gildarts looked down, sighing heavily. From head to toe he was covered in splatters of Thalmor blood, bright crimson maps drawn onto his robes. The frenzy of madness that had brought him to murder was now replaced with an eerie calm, acceptance, and determination.
"I might've lost my daughter, but I couldn't stand to see my son die before my eyes as well," Gildarts said. "The gods gave me a chance. A chance to do something good. Saving you was the least I could do to atone for my sins."
Natsu's teary gaze shot up to the old mage. Gildarts was still shivering as grief shook him from the inside. It was a miracle he had been even able to snap out of the state he had been, Lucy thought, but it made sense to her. She'd been there, too – not wanting anyone else to die. That gave a person unimaginable strength, even when they thought they didn't have any left.
"But I'm not –"
"I know I said it before, but I'll say it again. You're like a son to me. And I can't bear to lose another child," Gildarts said sadly. "So go. Leave the city at once. Find Gray and Erza, and take your belongings in the Bannered Mare before Alduin is done with the resurrection. We have until that much time, then we're done, because it won't be just Alduin we're dealing with, but one of his generals as well."
"But what about you?"
"I will hold them back, to buy you time to escape."
"You will die." Natsu glanced at the old man's missing limbs, focusing on the one he'd lost in Riften. "This time, you will die, Gildarts."
"I know."
He'd die a hero's death, just to earn his place in Sovngarde by his daughter's side, Lucy thought and smiled sadly. He wanted to thank Gildarts for everything he had done for them, but found no words.
"How long will it take?" Lucy asked quietly, glancing towards Dragonsreach. Alduin's Thu'um echoed across the skies, the earth below them quaking at its strength. SLEN – TIID – VO.
"Numinex was a powerful dragon, so it will take a while. I will do my best to disrupt Alduin somehow. You should still hurry while you can," Gildarts said. "Tell all the others to escape as well. This is a battle no man can win. If we can scrape a few survivors, then –"
All of them went silent at the sight of another dragon approaching from the north.
" – Sovngarde awaits."
It flew through the storm clouds, looking so faded and distant at first that Lucy prayed it would've been just an illusion, a shadow of Alduin cast on the mist. But as it came closer and roared, Lucy couldn't deny it. It was another dragon in flesh and blood, one Lucy had known before. The dragon soared above them, so close Lucy could see its bright red scales.
Odahviing.
The Thu'um Paarthurnax had taught her would only hide her from the eyes of Alduin, not from the eyes of his generals. Frozen in place once again, Lucy watched as the dragon circled around, gazing directly at her. Odahviing knew her, and once again, she was his only target. Fear froze the air in her lungs. Natsu caught her in a firm embrace, thinking the same as her. Would the dragon try to take her again?
"It cannot be," Natsu whispered. "It's –"
"Odahviing," Lucy answered quickly. "We should've known –"
"You have to run, now," Gildarts ordered, stern as stone. "You can't fight against Odahviing, Numinex, and Alduin. I can hold it back for a moment, but –"
"No. There's someone," Natsu pointed at the dragon as it landed near Gildergreen. "Look."
Cloaked in the shadow of the night, a slender figure was riding the dragon. An aura of death surrounded him all over, something so sinister Lucy hadn't ever felt before. A pure divine strength, like a god had descended to the battleground. For half a heartbeat Lucy felt the essence of Rahgot simmering in the air, as a memory, but this was altered. All the immense power Rahgot once had was now fused with something equally terrifying. Natsu shivered, his gaze locked on the figure as bright amber eyes stared back at him.
Then Lucy realised that Odahviing hadn't come here for her. He had come for Natsu.
"Natsu," said the man in a voice Lucy didn't recognise. "We meet at last."
But Natsu recognised him.
"Zeref."
A sudden memory of his home's hearthfire returned to Natsu's mind as he looked at Zeref. They had been there, together as boys, sitting in front of the fire while Zeref read him stories of magic. Natsu remembered his calming voice, the warmth of his lap, the softness of his hands as he'd ruffled his hair. For so long, Natsu had been looking for Zeref, holding onto that golden childhood memory. Now he hoped he could've remembered him beautifully like that, not like this.
What was left of his beloved big brother was only an empty husk.
Natsu had been so young since he'd last seen his face, years back, and now he barely recognised those fine features. His raven-black hair swayed in the swirls of air, lengthy strands covering his sickly pale skin, so pale no living man could look this chalky white. He had known Zeref was a vampire now, but he'd still held onto that weak hope that he'd be proven wrong. All that hope died as their eyes met, his amber ones gleaming in the dark. Natsu knew then it was all true.
Zeref remained perfectly still in the eerie way only vampires did. He didn't breathe, his heart didn't beat, but what differed him from the others Natsu had met before was the aura of ultimate, overwhelming power. The true-born, pure-blooded vampirism granted directly by Molag Bal, that made him walk as a lion amongst the sheep. In Zeref's presence, his heart began to race, his guts twisted, and his breath grew shallow, in perfect symmetry to the unlife in front of him. It was then that Natsu realized he was terrified. Terrified, of him.
"Zeref," he managed to mutter, to call his brother's name, the only thing about him that was still the same as when he'd last met him.
Without making a sound, Zeref descended from the dragon's back and stepped forward. He moved with an elegant grace, fitting for a lord as he gently stroked the head of Odahviing with his palm. Like an obedient dog, the beast remained still. The very same dragon that had burned Riften to the ground… now his will was bent by Zeref. Natsu could barely believe his eyes. This must be yet another bizarre dream. Zeref could not come here riding a dragon… he just could not.
"My lord Alduin has now declared a war that ends all wars," Zeref said, a tranquil expression on his ashen features. "And I'm offering you a covenant."
Lucy and Gildarts were somewhere near him, but as his eyes were fixated on his long-lost brother, he couldn't even feel their presence. The chaos at Dragonsreach was gone. For now, he was all alone in the world with Zeref, only darkness surrounding them. The longer he looked into Zeref's eyes, the further away he drifted from everything else, and there Natsu knew this was the vampiric charm he was falling under. But he could fight it, for a time being – perhaps his own traces of vampirism made it possible to resist hypnosis, briefly.
Zeref had come here, purposefully, to find him. In an endless night you'll find me, when the time comes. Now the time was due, and Natsu had to hear what Zeref had to offer.
"Y-your lord… Alduin?" Natsu asked, stuttering. Forming words that he wanted to say was so difficult. "What… just what… what has…"
"Come with me," Zeref beckoned with a warm, calm smile. "Come with me, and achieve greatness with me. I know you can. You and me, we are alike. Have always been. Will always be, for only you are my brother, blood of my blood."
Natsu flinched.
"You've said this to me before, in a dream."
"Indeed, I have. But will you refuse all the same?" Zeref asked. "You're the keeper of fire. I can teach you its secrets, Natsu. There are things you're dying to know… and I can share them with you, only if you join me, in the empire I shall now build. Stand beside me before the one true god, and unleash your truest strength."
Natsu stared at him in silence. He had heard these words before, from a different mouth, and never expected to hear them from Zeref's, too. It was Rahgot speaking, but the dragon priest was dead. He had killed him, burned him to ashes with his very own flame, almost losing his life in that battle, yet here he was again in a new, immortal form. Natsu shook his head and closed his eyes, forced to look away from Zeref, or else he'd break.
There were things he was dying to know, and only Zeref held the answers. No one else knew who his real father was. A part of him wanted to run into his brother's arms and embrace him tight, wanted to sit down with him and talk, and talk, and talk, until there were no secrets and no questions unanswered. But if he did, he'd accept Zeref's offer, join him in the darkness, and leave Lucy behind.
And he just couldn't do it.
"After all these years," Natsu started, searching for words again, realizing he was on the verge of tears, "you come to me, undead and riding a dragon, calling Alduin your lord, and expect me to… follow you? Just what happened to you, Zeref? You're radiating the power Rahgot once had, have you messed with the Order, or –"
"I am the Order," Zeref answered. "Alduin bestowed this power to me. This world is longing for its end, begging to be released from this fragile chain. The final judgement is upon us. Come with me, brother. Become my ally… or you will be my enemy."
He only wants me so that Alduin can restore Agnoslok, that is, Natsu realized. And now that he's become Rahgot, the dragon priest of rage… he's become my enemy.
He is no longer the brother I knew.
"I… I don't want to make this decision," Natsu whispered, reaching for Lucy's hand. She was there, right next to him, and he squeezed her fingers tight. "Please, Zeref. Stop this madness. I need you on my side. We're supposed to destroy Alduin, not this world."
Zeref gazed at him with coldness in his gleaming amber eyes. Silence passed on, until Alduin roared once again, skeletal remains of Numinex now crawling out of his grave. Zeref looked up and shrugged nonchalantly. Beside him, Odahviing was moving restlessly, as if aching to spread his wings. A shiver ran down Natsu's spine as he remembered how Odahviing had captured Lucy into those long talons and carried her away – how easily he could do it again.
"Such a sad state of affairs. You could've been more. So much more." Zeref turned his eyes to Lucy. And suddenly, his expression changed into grief. She's so beautiful, just like Mavis was, that's what Zeref had told him in that dream, and that's what he was thinking now. "Dragonborn. You, too, have a place in Alduin's plan, as you know. They violently tried to make you Konahrik, the warlord to lead mankind towards the glory of our world's utter annihilation, and the new world that awaits as the age of starlight ends. But there's no need for violence with me. Take my hand, and as one, we can fulfill your true destiny. Let the new Kalpa be born."
Zeref reached out his hand towards Lucy. His fingers were long and pale as snow, bony like branches, and upon that gesture, Natsu was ready to set them aflame. "You stay away from her, brother," he warned. None of him wanted to threaten Zeref, but he had no choice, and it brought him to deepest despair. "I don't want any of this to happen, Zeref. Please, don't do this, don't make me hurt you."
"Your time is fading away," Zeref said, glancing up again. "Numinex's resurrection is almost complete. Alduin is one step closer to becoming whole. This is your final chance. Join me, or you'll perish, your souls then free for Alduin to devour. But you both could be salvaged, together, with me."
The way his voice shivered and almost died away at the final word made Natsu's blood run cold. He knew that Zeref, despite the wicked form he had taken, still saw himself in Natsu and Mavis in Lucy. The love they had was seeped too deep into his being to be ever overthrown, and perhaps by that alone, he had mercy for them.
"We won't join you, Zeref," Lucy said quietly. "Not ever."
Zeref nodded. Slowly, he turned towards Natsu, his hand still reaching out. He waited for a moment, just to see if Natsu would still take his hand, after all. But when he didn't, Zeref let out a sad sigh.
"Farewell," he whispered, and closed his eyes, a tear rolling down his cheek. Then, a quick sharp sound filled the night, like an arrow passing by, followed by a splatter of blood. Before he Natsu knew it, he collapsed on his knees to the ground, pain flaring his skin with a slash of frozen, sharp steel.
"Odahviing," Zeref said. "Yol."
The dragon inhaled deep.
"YOL – TOOR – SHUL!"
The beautiful, golden memory of his childhood went down in dragonfire.
Light flashed in the darkness as Gildarts cast a powerful ward to shield them from the dragonfire. As the flames roared around them, Zeref climbed to the dragon's back and urged Odahviing to rise. Lucy crouched by Natsu's side and as the firelight danced on his face, she could see the wound Zeref's dark sorcery had struck on him. A cut ran across his right cheek, from the jaw to the bridge of his nose, bleeding heavily. Had he not dodged, the spell would've pierced his head. Or did Zeref miss on purpose? With shivering hands, Lucy cast a healing spell on him to stop the bleeding.
"Natsu, are you okay?" Gildarts asked as the dragonfire faded and he let his ward expire. "Gods be damned, I can't believe it. Zeref –"
Zeref had paid no attention to his former teacher, Lucy realised. Gildarts had observed the scene occur from the side, Zeref must've noticed him, known he was there, but he simply didn't matter. Zeref had come to them, directly, with an objective. And with their refusal, his objective had now changed. He's going to kill us, Lucy thought. Either Alduin will, or him.
"It's not Zeref," Natsu whispered so quietly that Lucy barely heard, holding his palm on his cheek. Despite Lucy's healing spell, the wound remained raw, so deep it would leave a scar. "Not anymore."
At a loss of words, Gildarts helped him to stand. Natsu's whole body trembled like a leaf. Disoriented, he glanced around after Odahviing's trail, with such despair and grief in his eyes that Lucy had never seen him look so utterly lost. All she could do was to hold him tight.
"Come on, you need to go right now. You heard what he said. Your brother he might've been, but he's now our enemy," Gildarts said and sighed. Above, Odahviing roared down dragonfire, and Gildarts summoned another ward around them. He'll burn us to death. "Gods, this is bad. Hurry now. Get your things, find your buddies, and then get the fuck out of the city."
"But people will die –" Lucy began, but Gildarts cut her off.
"And even more people will die if you're dead!" the old mage shouted so loud that his ward expired. The dullness in his eyes was now replaced by fear, and anger. "GO, NOW!"
Lucy knew that tone – it was an ultimate command, and if they wouldn't obey, Gildarts would send them flying with a furious blast of sorcery. She took one last look at Gildarts, and as they parted, she knew it would truly be the last. Natsu grabbed Lucy's hand, and then they ran.
Odahviing's yol had caught the wooden houses near Gildergreen, and now the fires were spreading, even the great tree was alight. Terrified screams erupted all around the city as Odahviing flew over and roared down dragonfire, the armies mankind had gathered here now caught in a perfect fiery ambush. The encampments outside the city walls were set aflame with a single breath.
I just can't let this be the end. I am the Dragonborn, and my honour is sworn to keep evil at bay. I must do something, I must!
Natsu held her hand as they ran through the streets, trying to navigate amongst the destruction where nothing looked familiar. Lucy fought against the despair that rose within her – though her body might think this was Helgen all over again, her mind remembered her true power. A faint memory urged her to take on the full aspect of dragons again. She had fought Odahviing before, and she had managed to take the dragon down, at least for a while. Would it be enough to save even a few more lives?
"We can't let this happen!" Lucy shouted to him. "If I could take upon the aspect of dragons once again, I could at least wound Odahviing –"
"Lucy," Natsu interrupted as they jumped over a collapsed pillar. "I know you want to fight, but we can't. That's what Paarthurnax told us. This is a battle we cannot win."
"I know we can't, but if I can at least slow them down, more people could escape the city!"
"It's already too late!"
Lucy tugged his arm, forcing him to stop and look at her. "You don't want me to hurt Odahviing because Zeref is riding him?"
As Natsu turned his head, she flinched. Tears fell from his eyes, rolling over the wound his brother had given. There was anger mixed with the sadness in his gaze, but whether he was angry to her or Zeref, she couldn't tell. "I… I didn't want…" he stuttered, sobbing, "… any of this to happen. Not with him. Lucy, please, try to understand."
She fell silent. Natsu turned away, still holding her hand, and kept running. She didn't have to imagine how deeply this had wounded him, she could see it plain as a day. Even if she'd unleash the power of her dragons and bring Odahviing down, how could she ever forgive herself for hurting Natsu's brother in the process? Even if he was their enemy?
"As a vampire, Zeref cannot stand the sun. It would kill him," Natsu said then, having recollected himself. "He will leave the scene before sunrise. We must hold 'til dawn."
Lucy nodded, hoping he was right. As she looked up, the skies on the eastern horizon were slowly turning from black to blue. The dawn was breaking soon, and that brought her hope.
They were leaving the upper district, and from here, Lucy could see where the Bannered Mare was supposed to be. Her heart fell to the bottom of her body. Bright flames devoured the walls, striking through the windows with smoke and embers, and the eastern wing of the inn just collapsed completely. Gray was there, she thought, and all our belongings. Everything we needed to journey to Blackreach. We didn't even get to take anything with us to Dragonsreach, but –
"Natsu!" Lucy shouted. "Do you still have the sphere and the lexicon Gildarts gave us? Our keys to Blackreach?"
He thought for a moment, then gulped. "… gods be damned, they're in my backpack! I put them there, not knowing they wouldn't fucking allow us to leave Dragonsreach –"
" – then we must find them amongst the fucking ruins of the Bannered Mare!"
"I'm sorry, I couldn't know –"
"Just shut up and let me try something!"
Lucy closed her eyes for a moment and tried to focus amongst the noise, to imagine the sphere and the lexicon in her mind. She shuddered as she remembered the aura they had, something wicked seeped deep into them, but she had to recall them clearly. Then, she cast Clairvoyance to guide her to the keys. A trail of light appeared ahead of her, leading down the stairs and to what used to be the marketplace. Natsu could see the light too, and so they rushed forward.
Near the market plaza, flashes of white magic illuminated the darkness. Panicked townsfolk were running down the streets, and where flames had roared were now clouds of steam. Orders were shouted, the city guards and soldiers guiding the common towards the gates. Amongst them, Lucy could see familiar mage's robes. It was Gray, summoning ice to extinguish the fires – and Clairvoyance led straight to him.
Gray sensed Lucy's spell and turned his head. "Natsu! Lucy! Thank the gods you're alive!" he shouted and rushed forward. He carried three bags on his shoulders, and he swung two to them. Clairvoyance faded as the backpacks were returned, and Lucy sighed in relief. The keys were safe, thank the gods – or Gray, to be precise. "I got your stuff when the dragon attacked, now we must escape somehow!"
"Thank you, Gray, you saved us," Natsu said as he secured the bag to his back. "We must find Erza as well!"
"She must be in Jorrvaskr," Gray shouted over the racket, and gazed up the hill. "I've tried to keep things under control in here, but it's impossible to stop the fires. And that black dragon, is that Alduin?"
"Yes, it's him. We don't have much time, so let's run!"
Gray looked distraught to leave behind the plaza he had tried to protect, but he too knew their objective was more important than saving the citizens. As a last resort, Gray summoned a massive cloud above the street that kept raining down snow and ice, hoping it could offer at least some protection against the fires. Then, the three of them headed towards Jorrvaskr, shouting Erza's name along the way.
There was no answer to the call.
Jorrvaskr wasn't that far away, but the route back was even more difficult to thread than it had been a moment ago. Gleaming embers floated in the wind as houses collapsed. Lucy joined in Gray's effort to summon ice where they went. She enveloped her hands in clouds of freezing mist and cast it above them, letting ice rain down without stopping running even for a moment. Meanwhile, unable to do anything to help extinguish the fires, as those weren't his own to command, Natsu summoned a ward around them three. Falling, half-burnt debris was bounced back from the unbreakable shield of magic, and so they managed to push forward without further injuries.
Even against the hopeless odds, mankind didn't give up the fight. Last night, people had heard the new orders, and those who weren't too drunk to pick up their arms did as ordered, even though their commanders were still inside Dragonsreach, possibly dead. Archers launched a rain of arrows towards the dragon, and even when they bounced back from the scales, they tried again.
Somewhere in the city, Lucy sensed tremendous amounts of magic being released. Those were Gildarts's spells, meant to confuse the flying dragon. An illusory giant was cast atop the city wall, swinging its club at Odahviing – but Zeref must've known all his teacher's tricks, and those did nothing than annoy the dragon. The distractions were brief, but in the chaos, they must make everything count.
The dawn was mere moments away.
Above the fires, Odahviing soared once more towards Dragonsreach. Through the veils of smoke, Lucy could only see the silhouettes of the dragons as Odahviing said something to Alduin, and then he disappeared. They all sighed in relief. Lucy still remembered the hellbent determination Rahgot had about turning her into Konahrik. He had been ready to do anything to keep her alive and bear through the transformation, but now, Zeref had left her to die. What's different now? Lucy wondered. If Zeref wanted to, he would've captured me, or even killed me in an instant… but he didn't.
Something about the man wasn't as it seemed.
As Lucy watched the skies where Odahviing had fled. Somehow, she had a feeling they would meet again. Like a sinister shade, the offer Zeref had made lingered in the back of her mind – it had been so difficult to tell him no. Whatever was Zeref's true goal, he would go to any lengths to fulfil it. Even though the dawn was breaking, the battle was far from over.
They pushed forward still, Natsu holding the wards while Gray and Lucy summoned ice along their path. Lucy called for Krosulhah's strength, and whispered the word iiz to bring out clouds of snow along her breath. By the side of the street, a woman and her three children rejoiced as the fires were put out and the dragon was gone, but Gray still urged them to head to the gates and leave the city at once. The worst was yet to come.
"Look!" Gray shouted suddenly and pointed towards the ruin of Dragonsreach. "Is that…"
And from the spiral of magic, Numinex unfolded his wings.
They all halted under burning Gildergreen, staggered by the sight. The white scales of Numinex glimmered with an amber glow, reflecting the burning ruin of his age-old prison. Even greater than Odahviing had been, he rose to the skies, almost matching Alduin in his colossal size. For the first time after thousands of years, he filled his lungs with air and roared, its echo running across the world to evoke fear in mankind, that humiliated him for so long, and kept him as a pet until he forgot his own name.
And he was furious.
"ZU'U LOS NUMINEX!" the dragon bellowed, "FAAS DII NAM! ZU'U FEN NI KOS VODAHMIN ANUM!"
"What did he say?" Natsu asked, shivering.
Lucy gulped. "I am Numinex. Fear my name, I will not be forgotten again." She glanced around, still not seeing Erza anywhere. Numinex soared over them and sang, as if relishing in the sense of flight before he'd kill everyone, and everything. The air his wings pushed downwards forced them to crouch. "If we can't find Erza, then I think –"
"There she is," Gray said and pointed forward, towards Draongsreach.
At the steps to the palace stood a man in a deep blue cloak, holding a staff with both hands. Jellal. Behind him, Lucy could see strands of scarlet hair flying in the wind. He was running upwards while Erza tugged his arm, as if begging him to stay. What they were shouting to each other, Lucy couldn't hear. Even Jellal wouldn't be such a fool to retrieve his belongings amongst the ruins of Dragonsreach, would he?
"Erza! Gray cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted. "Come on, we need to go!"
Erza halted as she heard his voice, and turned his head towards them. Jellal raised his staff to the sky and aimed for Numinex, as he was returning from his flight of glory. Magic gathered in the staff for a moment and then he launched a great projectile through the air. I see, he took the high ground to fight off Numinex… or die trying, of arrogance. Lucy watched as the bolt of magic missed Numinex's chest, and now the dragon's eyes were on the assassin.
Faster than lightning, Numinex closed the distance between them, and as he soared over, he caught Jellal between his jaws. His fangs fractured the staff, wood and blood falling to the steps, then Numinex flew off.
It was only when Numinex turned his head and threw Jellal's body away that Erza realised what had happened. She screamed, watching Jellal fly like a lifeless ragdoll. He landed somewhere near the Temple of Kynareth, but before Erza could run after him, Gray sprinted up the stairs, caught Erza's hand, and began to pull her away.
Slowly, struggling to comprehend it all, Lucy turned her eyes to Natsu. He remained still, staring at the spot where Numinex had thrown Jellal. Heavy smoke rose from the ruins, flames striking high to the skies, and Lucy knew Natsu was imagining him burn. A faint smug grin rested on his lips, but he fought it back, not wanting to show that to Erza as Gray dragged the sobbing warrior to them.
Lucy caught Erza's hand between her own, and attempted to gain contact with her eyes. "I'm sorry, Erza," was all she could say, then Numinex roared fire from above. Her voice was cut, and Gray summoned a ward around them. "You told me you'd accompany us to Blackreach. Do you still –"
"Yes," Erza answered quickly, forcing herself to stay together. "The… the Companions have a way out of the city. A secret way. Some… some have already escaped. I'll show you. Come. Come quickly."
Then, she began leading them towards Jorrvaskr. Her steps were wobbly, but as a true warrior she was, she pushed through her grief. Jellal was gone, but the battle raged on – she'd weep later. They ran up the steps, and arrived at the courtyard, the great hull of Jorrvaskr bright aflame. What had survived the sack of the Stormcloaks would be burned down tonight, Lucy knew. The entire city would be burned to the ground by the time the sun would fully rise.
While Numinex soared on the skies, roaring flames where he found fitting, Lucy couldn't see Alduin anywhere. His presence still lingered in Whiterun, but weaker now. She glanced at Dragonsreach, and there Alduin was, resting amongst the ruin.
Then, Lucy realized something.
"Do you remember how in Kynesgrove, Alduin fled the scene after raising Sahloknir from the dead?" Lucy said to Natsu as they ran. "He's going to leave again, look at him. He's gathering strength, I can feel him sapping it from the atmosphere around."
"Does that mean that he's –"
" – vulnerable," they said in unision.
That had to be it. Upon resurrecting one of the first eight, Alduin had to sacrifice his own lifeforce to bring a dead dragon back to life, and be forced to experience mortality, briefly. It might've been a flaw in his very being, but right now, they could kill Alduin, or at least wound him. The wounds Paarthurnax received while under Dragonrend never fully healed, his wings still torn and tattered despite the passing of millennia.
This was the opening they had prayed for.
And then, they both knew what they had to do. There was no need for words when they looked into each other's eyes, and all was clear. The lessons they received in High Hrothgar during the past three weeks, now they'd put them all into use. For a brief moment, Numinex was away, facing the spells Gildarts was still casting, somewhere in the city.
Without saying anything to Erza or Gray, they ran the steps to the Skyforge, where Eorlund Gray-Mane had been smithing dragon-slaying weapons from the sacred steel. Ballista bolts, great swords, and spears rested in lines along the rocky hillside, all forged after the notes of the ancient Akaviri, specially designed to spear through a dragon's hide. Lucy grabbed a spear into both hands and nodded at Natsu, who then stepped close to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, resting his hands on her elbows.
They didn't have much time. Only this fleeting moment, and then their chance would be gone. So, Lucy opened the seals in her soul and allowed the aspect of dragons to flood over her, just as Miraak had once taught. In the form of a raging blizzard, the Thu'um surrounded them, swirling ice and wind as scales began to form on her skin. She sapped from the magicka of all of her slain dragons, and poured it all into this one shot, imbuing the spear with divine sorcery.
And Natsu joined the spell with his yol.
She could barely hear him whisper the word, but she felt it, his dragonfire flowing in full control as it became conjoined with her magic. Finally, he managed to summon fire with its true name, as in the heat of the moment he could give it his fullest, perfect focus. Fire and ice danced like two primordial serpents entwined around each other, enlightening the darkness as they prepared a spell that could kill a god.
There was nothing else in the world but them. As all of their magic joined as one, Lucy felt closer to him than she had ever been, like he was her, and she was him – a soul-deep embrace of utter trust and unconditional love. Only together we can do this, she thought, only together we can slay Alduin. The dragon had nested in the ruins of Dragonsreach, but now, he rose, his wings shielding the sunrise.
The spell was complete. Lucy aimed and launched the spear directly at the World-Eater.
Followed by the entwining trails of sorcery, the spear flew through the smoky air. Lucy held her breath as time seemed to slow down – Alduin couldn't sense them, but for a fracturing moment he turned his head towards the rapidly-arriving light. It came too fast, too strong to dodge, and pierced right through Alduin's left shoulder. The black dragon let out a shrill of agony, then he spiralled back to the ruins of Dragonsreach, blood raining down in his wake.
Then, Lucy collapsed from exhaustion, all her magicka spent in that single blast. Natsu caught her in his arms, but his legs caved in as well. Together they watched as Alduin's gaze found them, full of ancient fury. They had injured a god, they had damaged his pride, and now he'd reign his vengeance.
"STRUN – GOLZ – MAH!"
Alduin's Thu'um tore through Lucy's being, and this shout she hadn't heard before. Black clouds shrouded the breaking of dawn, but the rain did not come. The last thing Lucy could see was the heavens rupturing, the falling stars, and then it was quiet.
Erza must've caught them both, that's all Lucy could realise as they were carried through the darkness. The warrior had said that she knew a way out of the city, and now it seemed there was a secret tunnel underneath Skyforge. Lucy kept falling in and out of consciousness as the sounds of destruction faded behind her. The pride of wounding Alduin had already turned sour in her mind – they had given their all, and it wasn't enough, and would not be enough, not until she'd learn Dragonrend.
Soon, they arrived in the light. The tunnels ended, but Erza didn't stop carrying them. Instead, she fixed her posture, held them tighter, and began to run. Lucy heard her shouting something, and Gray's voice answered, but she couldn't make sense of the words they spoke. Her world was shrouded in mist.
Lucy didn't know how much time passed between their escape and when Erza finally laid her down in the snow. She opened her eyes, almost blinded by the brightness of the sun. But as her vision cleared, she saw the burning ruins of Whiterun on the horizon, the city walls brought down by Alduin's storm. Meteors – yes, they had been stones instead of stars – were still falling from the sky as Alduin and Numinex circled above the city, searching for them. By consuming Lucy's corpse, Alduin could take upon the essence of the Dragonborn, and perhaps create the Konahrik on his own. But she was alive, and far out of his reach, at least for now.
"… it's almost a week's journey from here to Ralbthdar, but first, we need to find shelter." Lucy heard Erza's whisper near her. Slow and weary, she turned her head towards the voice. "There's a cave called Graywinter Watch nearby. We've used that on our hunting trips. We could camp there, and wait for them to heal."
"Then we should head there. If the river hasn't frozen over yet, then I can build a bridge of ice for us."
"Thank you, Gray. Then we could cross Valtheim towers, and then take the mountain route towards Ralbthdar," Erza said. "Look, they're beginning to stir awake. Are you alright, Lucy?"
Lucy's gaze focused on Erza's face. The grief in her eyes was like a cloudy veil, partially severing her from the rest of the world. She had just watched her lover, no matter how evil and wicked, get mauled by a dragon, and Lucy could tell she was broken on the inside. Despite all that, Erza had saved her and Natsu's life, and she would be eternally grateful for that.
"We… we all have to hide from Alduin. Come on. Lay your hands upon me, for a moment."
"What do you mean? You're still –"
"Just do it."
Lucy reached out her hand, and one by one, Erza, Gray, and finally Natsu, too, laid their hands upon hers. He was barely awake, and closed his eyes again the instant their hands touched.
"Vonun miin Alduin," she whispered in Thu'um.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Gray asked and pulled his hand back.
"These words hide us from the eyes of Alduin," Lucy said. She looked into the horizon again. "We… we don't have much time left. We should go straight to Valtheim towers, tonight."
Gray looked at her suspiciously. Blood and dust covered his face, and he was carrying all their bags again. "Are you sure you don't need to rest?"
"There's no rest while the world around us burns," Lucy answered. "We should hurry."
And behind the smouldering ruins of Whiterun, from the north, the dragons came. An endless choir of roars and bellows, dozens of them, the ancient dragons appeared amongst the clouds and joined the dance of doom Alduin had conjured. This day, on the 25th of Evening Star, year 201 of the Fourth Era, the prophecies of the end times became true.