Hello, everyone! ♥ Thanks for being patient with my updating; I've been busy. c:  Still, I'm sorry for not updating! ^^;  I hope you all like this chapter, though.  I dedicate this chapter to Celine_Fullbuster!  She's a great writer, and deserves more appreciation. c:  Go follow her if you haven't!  Hopefully this chapter's length is to all of your likings. ;)  Alrighty then!  Feedback is always incredibly appreciated, and until next time, minna!

яу-¢нαи,

❝тнє иαℓυ ωяιтєя❞

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"Using Lores and I as the first obstacle?"  Loren murmured, her face disgusted as she sat looking up at the screen.  

"How ironic..."  Lores muttered, his eyes narrowed.

"Loren?"  Wendy asked hesitantly.

Loren turned to her.  "Yes Wendy?"

"There's something I don't quite understand about Vallen."  Wendy replied, looking into space in thought.

"What do you mean, Wendy?  You've seen what he looks like."  Carla replied.

Wendy shook her head.  "No, that's not what I mean.  Why is Vallen using obstacles against Natsu?"

Loren glanced at her brother.  "Lores can answer that better than I can."

Lores nodded to his sister, and then turned to look at Wendy.  "It's Vallen's way of doing things.  Loren and I should know, since we were tools in his plan."

"What do you mean, like his way of action?"  Gray asked, an elbow resting on one of his upraised knees.

Lores nodded.  "Vallen likes to put his enemies through trials, just like Natsu is doing.  He takes the precaution of learning his rival's weaknesses and his strengths before coming out and facing him head on."

"That's cowardly...!"  Erza grunted.

"So how many will Nat-zu go through?"  Happy asked, still hanging on to Lucy's keys.

Loren then answered.  "If Lores and I had to guess, at least four."

"Four huh?"  Gray murmured.

"Then he has three to go."  Carla replied, standing next to Wendy.

"What do you think each obstacle will be?"  Wendy asked, looking down at the exceed.

"Obviously, evil versions of old foes or friends."  Lores replied, looking at the screen again.  "Vallen could send him to a random place and have him battle a powerful creature, take the mental route, or give him difficult decisions."

"Hold up,"  Gray replied, confused.  "What do you mean by "mental route"?  Does that mean brain-washing, or something?"

"Sort of,"  Loren answered.  "Vallen could make Natsu go through a state of illusions that could suck him into an eternal sleep if he doesn't break out."

"Like a mental wall; a vision of things that weaken his heart."  Erza confirmed, and the siblings nodded.

There was a small silence.

"There's something I want to know,"  Erza muttered, looking at the lacrima vision.  "What...is Lucy doing right now?"

Loren and Lores looked at each other, while everyone else went quiet.  They wanted to know what had become of Lucy; they were eager to know what happened to their comrade and friend.

"There are different gates inside the Black Stars,"  Loren started.  "If you go through one, it could lead you to either a higher point in the Black Stars or just to a seperate part in the realm.  My guess would be that Vallen is keeping Lucy by herself in the highest point of the Black Stars.  Only a portal willingly opened by Vallen will take us to Lucy."

"Lucy's most likely in a deep comatose state."  Lores replied.

"I see..."  Erza murmured.

"What if Vallen won't open a portal like he says when Natsu beats him?"  Happy asked, taking a step forward.

"That's probably the only good thing about Vallen's method's.  He stays true to his word, even if he loses."  Lores replied, looking down at Happy.

He smirked.  "Besides, I'm sure Salamander would get it out of him sooner or later."

"Lores, tell me,"  Erza started, turning to look at him.  "How do you two know so much about Vallen and his methods?"

Lores smiled sadly, and Loren soon followed.  "When you're under his control for so long, you pick up a thing or two."

Erza turned to look back at the screen.  "I see...I did not mean anything by it."

Lores shook his head.  "No, it's quite alright."

"Thanks to you guys, Lores and I are free now."  Loren replied, smiling slightly.

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Natsu tackled Lores first, since he figured it'd be easy since he'd just beaten the other Lores in Earthland.  When he did, Loren jumped out of sight, leaving Lores to himself.  Lighting his fists on fire, Natsu swung his fist through the air and aimed for Lores' face.  However, Lores was quick just like the one from Earthland, and ducked, dodging his attack.  This is when Loren appeared; her hands filled with water, she made it slam into Natsu's hand and back.  Not only did it snuff the fire covering his fist out, but made him cringe from the scalding hot temperatures.

Lores was still in front of him, and used this distraction to land a blow on Natsu.  Spinning in a circle, Lores slammed his shin into Natsu's stomach, which made him propell across the ground and to a stop.

Natsu grinned, pulling himself to his feet.  "Looks like you can't use Gravity Magic, like your Earthland version."

Natsu shook off the feeling of tense muscles and re-lit his fire, about to use the same method he did with the Lores from Earthland.

"Fire Dragon's...."  Natsu started, throwing his head back.

"...Roar!"

Fire exploded from his mouth, surprising the advancing trio and making them stop.  Loren was fast, so she could get out of the way, but Lores took a full-on blow.  Because of that, Lores was sent skidding backwards, using his arms to shield himself from the fire.  Not only did it slightly injure his face, but the burning temperature's caused him to try and use his ice to block it.  But Natsu's fire melted it, and with a hiss of pain, Lores jumped out of the way.

However, using the fire as coverage, Natsu jumed out from inside his flames, and yelled a battle cry as he slammed his fist into Lores' face.  He was sent flying, and Loren tried to come to his aid by aiming for Natsu.  However, Natsu was ready for Loren this time, and ducked as more scalding water shot over his head.  Loren dropped down next to him, and Natsu pushed her away by slamming his elbow into her side.

Re-focusing onto Lores, who was pulling himself to his feet, Natsu advanced, running towards him quickly.  Lores acted fast, making a wall of ice appear before him, which then shot large ice lances out at Natsu.  Natsu jumped into the air to get out of the way, and filled his mouth with fire again.

"Fire Dragon's Roar!"

With a loud swoosh, Natsu's fire shot down underneath him, instantly melting the ice shards that now directed to Natsu, who was in the sky.  It slammed into Lores' ice barrier, which was now directly above him for cover.  It started to make the ice crack from the heat, and slowly started to yeild.  Loren used her hands - which were covered in water - to fly into Natsu's fire, and surprised him by appearing out of it and right in front of him.  Slamming her fist into Natsu's face, he was sent flying back to the ground, and skidded a few feet before stopping on his back.

He let out a surprised cry as Loren was already over him, and rolled out of the way just in the nick of time.  Loren's foot slammed into the ground, where Natsu's head would of been.  Natsu backed off a few feet, trying to regain his composure.  This was really starting to annoy him.  Anger was building in his chest from having to go through that bastard's games.  He wanted to fight Vallen and Vallen only, not all of these stupid obstacles!

Lores tried to surprise him by charging his left, but Natsu's feelings increased his senses, and he turned before Lores could land a blow.  Instead, Natsu propelled his flamed-hand into Lores' face, making Lores fly backwards and across the ground.  Using his hands, he warded Loren off, who suddenly jumed next to Lores.  She helped him up, and they connected hands as they turned to each other.  Natsu was panting heavily, watching the two with fatigue clear in his eyes.  Though, Natsu shook his head, ridding the feeling from his mind and muscles.  He wasn't done yet.  In fact, Loren and Lores were up to something.

They were watching him, though their hands were connected.  Ice and Water magic started to spin around their hands, and their bodies started to glow.

Was it a Unision Raid?  No, they'd have to chant for that; and this version of Loren and Lores didn't seem to be able to speak.  Before Natsu could figure out what they were doing, the two dragon slayers broke apart, and Natsu looked at them in surprise and shock.  They had a mix of ice and water surging around both their hands.

"What the--?!"  Natsu exclaimed, confused.

Loren and Lores rushed forward, both of their speeds increased.  Before Natsu could prepare himself, it seemed like they shifted.  The minute Natsu layed his eyes on Lores, his magic switched with Loren's and he now could control water.  With ice in one hand and water in the other, Lores and Loren charged forward, giving Natsu barely any time to get out of the way to dodge.

"Damn it..!"  Natsu grunted, sliding backwards.  "The Loren and Lores from Earthland didn't know how to do this!"

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"Lores!"  Erza exclaimed, turning from the screen to look at him.  "Do you and Loren know how to do this?!"

Lores and Loren looked in awe.  

"W-We had been practicing, but never mastered it before Vallen took us over."  Loren replied.

Everyone watched as Natsu jumped back from the pair, who were stronger than before.

"He's going to have to use stronger attacks,"  Gray replied, looking stressed.

"But..."  Wendy started, her voice quiet.  "If he does use some heavy duty attacks, then he won't have much magic left to battle all his other obstacles!"

Happy was looking at the screen.  "Natsu..."

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Having no other choice, Natsu let fire and electricity race up his body, covering him from head to toe.  If he wanted to save Lucy, he had to finish this quickly.  He wasn't going to fail; he was going to save Lucy, and get her back for his friends.

"Let's go!"  Natsu exclaimed, fire and electricity sparking around him.

Charging together, Loren and Lores raced towards him, ice and water flowing around their bodies.

Natsu smirked.  If Loren and Lores from the Black Stars had the memories from the Loren and Lores from Earthland, then he could use his strongest attack on the two without them knowing.  Because, Natsu didn't go into this mode while fighting Lores, and Loren hadn't been an opponent so she wouldn't know what he was doing either.

Natsu waited as they were airborn, which would make it hard to dodge an attack.  They were going to attack together, sensing Natsu was going to deliver the final blow.

"Dragon Slayer's Secret Art Revision...."  He started, engulfing one hand in lightning and the other in flames.

Loren and Lores charge obliviously, not know the attack from their given memories.  Because of that, they didn't know what was coming.  They were basically like dolls; Vallen must not've put much effort into these, thinking Natsu would be an easy opponent to take down.

Anger built in Natsu's chest at the thought; he'd take down Vallen right after this!

"...Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade!"  He exclaimed, launching forward.

Sensing danger, Loren and Lores tried to get away, but were engulfed in Natsu's attack before they could dodge.

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From the screen, everyone watched in excitement as light exploded from the area Natsu and Loren and Lores were fighting, which only meant Natsu had used one of his precise attacks.

"Alright!"  Happy exclaimed, jumping up and down.

"I'm not surprised..."  Erza mumbled, smiling with amusement.

Loren and Lores were looking at the screen with dumbfoundness.

"O-One attack?"  Loren replied, shocked.  "How strong is he?"

Lores watched with amusement.  "He didn't even go into that mode while fighting me, yet he still has these tricks?  Natsu Dragneel truly is a force to be reconed with."

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Natsu dropped to his knees, breathing heavily.  Loren and Lores had disappeared; they had evaporated into the air after Natsu had defeated them.

"Maybe...I shouldn't have used that..."  Natsu muttured, feeling drained.

Though he felt tired, Natsu had a high endurance, and he pulled himself to his feet, looking around for Vallen or any sign of the next obstacle.

"Alright, Vallen!  I defeated them, so what's next?!"  He exclaimed into the air, still panting between words.

The floor suddenly lost gravitation underneath him, and Natsu exclaimed in surprise as he fell through the starry sky.

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What is Natsu's next obstacle, and just how many will Vallen put him through?!

And what about Lucy?  Though everyone wonders what she is doing right now, could she be awake?  Does she know what's happening?  What has happened to Lucy Heartfilia?

Find out what happens in the next chapter, Chapter 7: Under the Sky!

I hope you all enjoyed~!