READ!  THERE IS SOME IMPORTANT INFO IN HERE:

Hello, everyone! :D  I had a lot of fun writing this chapter; the action was great! c: ♡ To let you all know: This is the second to last chapter!  After Chapter 25, we are moving onto the next book!  Make sure you all know that! c:  Thank you~  **Also, I hope to update the last chapter tonight, but I won't be able to in the morning because I have a doctor's appointment..something is very wrong with my stomach, and I need to get it checked out.** :c So root for me! :'(

Now, for the dedication, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to a very great friend of mine; starryflames.  I freaking love you, girlie! c':  You've always been such a good friend to me, and you've always encouraged me and my writings!  That really means a lot to me, and I always have a blast when I talk to you! Don't ever stop writing; you're so amazing!!  Minna-san, go fan her; you must! She deserves way more followers than I have! ^.^;  

Haha, anyways, I hope you all enjoy this chapter. c:  You all are so amazing; thanks so much for reading! ^.^  I hope all of you are looking forward to the next chapter after you're done reading this~!  Feedback is, as always, very much appreciated! ♥ Until next time!

яу-¢нαи,

тнє иαℓυ ωяιтєя ☆

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Lores lunged for Natsu like an out of control beast.  He slammed his palm into Natsu's face, making him fly backwards through the air.  With his hand still on Natsu's face, Lores made the both them fly through the first floor's walls with incredible force.  They emerged on the other side, and Lores pressed Natsu into the ground head-first as they continued to sail forward.

"Don't worry, Lucy!"  Happy exclaimed, flying towards her on the third floor.  "I'll get you out of there!"

Lucy looked relieved, but it quickly turned to shock in the split of a second.

Happy was flying towards her, but as soon as he started to enter the ceiling, a blue barrier rippled and Happy collided with it.  Before Lucy could cry out in worry, a white light surrounded Happy, who looked at his body wildly.

"H-Happy?!"  Lucy exclaimed, confused but also fearful.

"My body is glowing!"  Happy exclaimed.

Lucy recognized this.

The Disappearance Staff.

Lucy tried to jump and grab Happy's paw, but the exceed disappeared right before her fingertips brushed his fur.

Lucy dropped back to the ground, her eyes staring helplessly as the spot Happy once hovered.

Was he sent out too?!  Lucy wondered, her eyes shaking.

Lucy turned to look at Natsu and Lores, who had progressed down the area.

But how?!  Lucy wondered wildly.  Virgo destroyed the Disappearance Staff!  How was it used when it was broken?

If Happy really was transported outside the gate...please let him be with the others!

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"Fire Dragon's Roar!"  Natsu exclaimed, slamming his feet into the ground.

"Ice Dragon's Roar!"  Lores yelled right after, following the same movements as mist formed at his mouth.

When they both fired, Natsu's usual fire exploded from his mouth, while a ring of ice exploded from Lores'.  Natsu grinned childishly, knowing fire would beat ice.

As soon as the two elements collided, something very different than Natsu expected happened.  The ice did melt, but instead of Natsu's fire continuing, the collision created a wide cloud of steam that covered a large area around Natsu and Lores.  Bringing his arms down from his face, Natsu looked around wildly for Lores.  

He appeared out of nowhere, surprising Natsu extremely and slamming his fist into Natsu's stomach, twisting it and then pushing him away.

Natsu exclaimed in pain, but clenched his teeth and endured it.  He regained his footing, sliding backwards across the ground with one hand; he was in an overall crouch when he stopped.  Standing, Natsu's shoulders heaved as he struggled for breath.

Lores smirked, despite his painful injuries as well.  "Did you think I wouldn't be prepared for a Fire Dragon Slayer?  Think again!  Besides, the machine has now begun to charge!"

"What?!"  Natsu barked, turning to look at the machine.

Indeed, there was a little bar telling how much it was filled, and how much it was ready to fire.  If he guessed, Natsu thought it was already at ten percent now.

Natsu growled, clenching his teeth as the feeling of urgency filled him.

Lores smirked.  "You won't make it!  I've traped the girl and I will stall you until it fires!"

This time Lores charged forward, skipping across the ground gracefully and heading right towards Natsu.  Lores then brought his hand back, and icy mist hovered around it as he grew closer.

"Ice Dragon's Iron Fist!"  Lores exclaimed, bringing his fist forward with lighting speed.

Natsu barely made the dodge, ducking quickly and the ice skimming past his forehead.  Natsu planted his hands on the ground, lighting his feet on fire quickly.  Clenching his teeth, Natsu swung his heel upwards, making it slam into Lores' chin.

Lores exclaimed loudly, stumbling back to try and recover.  However, Natsu was ready.  He lit his fists on fire this time, and began to charge with a battle cry.

Lores scowled, slamming his hands into the ground and making the ground freeze.  Because of that, Natsu tripped, slamming onto the ice with a loud crunch.  Lores used his gravity magic, and made Natsu sink deeper into the ground, making the ice crack uncomfortably.  Because of that, not only did Natsu cry out loudly, but the ground caved, making a dented-circle underneath his body.

Lores formed a sharp pole of ice in his hand, lifting it above his head for the finishing blow.

Bringing it down, Natsu had barely seconds to react, which he did so by rolling over so that the pole slammed into the ground where his head once was.  Needing a distraction, Natsu blew fire at Lores' face, making the Ice Dragon Slayer go temporarily blind.  Moving quickly, Natsu jumped up and lit his fists on fire, yelling in exclamation as he brought his fist to Lores' cheek with incredible momentum.

Lores was sent flying across the ground, this time it being him who skipped like a stone across the wide expanse of earth.  Lores stopped on his side, blood on the side of his forehead; a new additional injury.  Natsu's arm was getting worse, and he realized he had to end this fast.

Lores, however, looked nowhere near giving up.  He shakily brought himself to his feet, in a mess as much as Natsu was.  Scolwing, Lores' eyes were glaring at Natsu with increased intensity.

Natsu smirked.  "You'll be thanking me for sure, just wait!"

"Why would I thank someone as inane as you?"  Lores huffed, growling slightly.

Natsu slammed his fist into his palm, walking forward and chuckling childishly.  "You'll see!"

Lores' eyes widened in anger, not understanding the Salamander at all; it frustrated him.  Loosing his patience, Lores charged forward.  Natsu followed, lighting his fists on fire as Lores' iced his.  They met in the middle, dodging and exchanging blows as fast as they could.

"I won't let you ruin my plans!"  Lores snarled.

"They aren't your plans!"  Natsu roared.  "And it's not like I'm going to let you hurt my friends, either!"

Lores exclaimed in anger, his eyes truly possessed not just by fury, but magic.  Not thinking, Lores tried swinging his hand, but was too slow.  Natsu dodged it easily, and collided his hand into Lores' stomach, upper-cutting it.  Lores was sent into the air - diagonally - and Natsu jumped back a few paces to prepare to charge again.

Lighting his entire body on fire, Natsu clenched his teeth, thrusting his legs forward in a powerful charge.

"Time to wake up, Lores!"  Natsu exclaimed, running towards Lores who's eyes were completely white.

"Fire Dragon's..."  Natsu started, pushing off the ground one final time before soaring into the air.

"Sword Horn!"  He finished, plowing into Lores, who exclaimed loudly in pain.

They sailed into the rocky mounds nearby, causing a firey explosion to rise into the air.

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Lucy saw the explosion, and thrust her head to the side to look at it with wide eyes.  The wind blew her hair wildly, and she had earned a few cuts and bruises from trying to escape.  Turns out the "barrier"  Lucy had been in had surpressed her magic, keeping her from asking her spirits for help.

Lucy heard a splitting noise, and saw the ice melting which blocked the door.  It turned into a small puddle on the ground, but then evaporated into steam and disappeared.

Giving a cry of joy, Lucy turned back to the area the explosion occured, realizing Natsu had done it.  Though she couldn't see that far away, Lucy knew Natsu was in that direction.

"Natsu..!"  Lucy exclaimed in relief and gratitude, staring out over the landing with happiness.

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Natsu coughed, pulling himself out of the rock debris.  Forcing himself to his feet by pushing on one of the rocks underneath him for support, Natsu wobbled as he stood.  His eyes were small and reflectionless; showing his tiredness and relieved victory.  His shoulders heaved, and his arms shook.  The wound on his shoulder was serious, but not too serious to the point he needed immediate attention.

Coughing again, Natsu knew he wasn't done.  If he wanted to free Loren and Lores, he had to stop the machine.  He was certain now; the machine was what was controlling the two sibling dragon slayers.  The same weird smell was on the machine as it was on Lores' body; a smell that didn't belong.

Of course, the machine didn't belong no matter the smell.

Natsu looked at the defeated Lores, who's eyes were closed as if he was sleeping; though he was severly injured, he looked almost serene.

Slowly, Natsu turned back to the building that was in the distance, remembering Lucy.

"Lu..cy..."  Natsy murmured, his breath heaving as he clutched the wound on his left shoulder.  "I'm..coming..."

He knew he had to hurry, because if he didn't, they wouldn't be able to stop the machine in time.

After all, it was already thirty percent charged.

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Minna, I hope you all liked it! :'D  Stay tuned for the next chapter, Chapter 25: Undenying Sorrow!