Hello, everyone! Here is the next chapter; I hope you all enjoy~! I will dedicate this chapter to CalioEmber! c: Thanks so much for the fan and complements on my stories; it truely means a lot to me!!  Feedback is very much appreciated, and until next time, minna!<3

{я у - ¢ н α и}♡

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Natsu slammed into the concrete wall across the corridor with a raspy gurgle of pain. Sliding down to his feet slowly and heavily in fatigue, Coven appeared a few feet in front of him.

Natsu smirked, rubbing the blood and sweat from his chin. "You're really tough!"

"Of course I am!" Coven snarled, easily annoyed by Natsu's presence. "When are you going to give up?"

Natsu shook his head to rid of the fatigue. "Lucy's my friend. Why would I give up? She needs our help!"

Natsu rushed forward with a swoosh of air, lighting is fists on fire as he launched forward. Swinging his fists left and right, Natsu's flames scimmed across Coven's skin - just barely - and made him flinch.

Erza and Gray appeared on the scene then.

Erza had a few bumps and bruises, but they didn't faze her. Gray was, as usual, half naked from the torso-up. He also had a few dirt stains, cuts, and other injuries but nothing that seemed too severe.

"How does Coven keep shaking us?" Gray asked, frustrated as he prepared to charge again.

"He's swift." Erza simply stated.

She narrowed her eyes. "We need to catch him off guard somehow."

Another boom was heard as Natsu was pushed back, trying to regain his balance as the brawly Coven charged after him.

"We should go help him," Erza started, preparing herself.

Gray nodded, ice vapor filling his palms. "Right!"

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Lucy and Wendy came to an abrupt stop, putting their hands on their knees as they gasped for air.

"We..made it.." Wendy rasped, wiping the sweat from her forehead as Carla panted above her with her arms slumped.

Lucy nodded, straightening her posture slowly.

The Daronyt scripture was right in front of them, coaxing Lucy on over. She looked at it with wonder, anticipation on her face as she slowly walked over to it.

"Good luck, Lucy!" Wendy exclaimed, smiling with happy determination.

Lucy turned back towards Wendy, grateful tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Wendy."

She placed her hand on the heart of the picture.

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A flash of light exploded from the tunnel behind Coven, air blasting into everyone.

"What?!" Coven exclaimed with fury as he shielded his eyes.

The others followed suit. Natsu had been able to get in a few good blows on Coven's body; something that showed with the injuries on him.

"What's going on, Natsu?" Happy yelped, his tail thrashing in the wind.

Another sudden pulse of air slammed into everyone, and they were forced back.

"This can't be!" Coven exclaimed, rage poisoning his eyes. "How did she-?!" He scowled. "Dark Lucy failed me."

Natsu smirked, bringing his crossed arms down from shielding his face. "I knew you could do it, Luce!"

"What?" Coven hissed, disbelief on his face.

Gray smirked as Erza walked to his side. "Looks like Lucy and Wendy were able to get to the artifact." Erza replied, smiling with victory and also relief.

Everyone's spirits were lifted, and they felt a new strength grow back inside their tired limbs and souls.

"Even so," Coven started, "I can still stop her."

"Wh--"

Coven made darkness explode from the crevices in the ground, causing everyone to go blind. It resided for a few minutes, which, Natsu tried to chase after Coven during that time. However, the darkened film disappeared as quickly as it had come, and everyone could see again.

Natsu looked around, seeing no sign of Coven.

"He's gone!" Happy exclaimed with disbelief.

"He disappeared." Gray stated, frustrated.

"Damn!" Natsu exclaimed and he clenched his fists.

"Let's go after him!" Erza replied, and they nodded.

"Let's go!" Happy exclaimed, flying over the three.

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Lucy felt a wave of nasuea wash over her that struck her senseless, but it disappeared as quickly as it had come. Before she knew it, Lucy was thrust out of consciousness and into the strange space realm where Rater resided in front of her.

"Rater!" Lucy replied, surprised.

Rater smirked. "Looks like you got here just in time. Are you ready?"

Lucy nodded, smiling. "Time to stop Coven!"

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Wendy was watching as Lucy was surrounded by a thin film of light that outlined her body, making her glow. The blinding light that had shot through the tunnel had died down, allowing Wendy to see again.

Suddenly, Wendy was thrust foward, crying out as she skidded on the ground stomach-first in Lucy's direction.

"Wendy!" Carla called out, fearful surprise making her eyes become reflectionless.

Wendy lifted her head, turning to look behind her with one eye shut in pain.

Coven stood there, his face impassive.

"It's Coven..!" Wendy whimpered, worry for her friends shining in her eyes.

"Where are Natsu and the others?" Carla replied, floating down to Wendy's side protectively.

"Right here!"

Wendy turned her head and saw - with delight - Natsu, Erza, Gray, and also Happy emerging from the shadows of the tunnel.

Natsu started to walk forward, his arms lifting as he filled them with flames. "Ready to finish what we--"

A black whip erupted from the shadows, slamming into Natsu and making him fly into the wall across from him.

"Natsu!" Everyone exclaimed, and turned to see their new attacker.

It was Dark Lucy.

"Oh no!" Wendy gasped. "She was able to get free..!"

Coven eyed Dark Lucy, who approached him.

"I'm sorry I'm late, Sir."

"You let her get to the artifact."

Dark Lucy bowed her head. "Forgive me. She surprised me in battle."

Coven looked at Lucy with an impassive expression. "No matter." He suddenly broke out into a large grin. "I've got a way to still get what I want."

"Not if I can help it!" Natsu exclaimed, surging forward.

But before either of them could move, Lucy erupted with light and everyone had to block their eyes once more.

When it cleared, Lucy had let go of the picture, which had strangely disappeared. Her arms were loose by her sides, and her eyes covered in shadows. Then, the same steel ribbons flowed out of white balls made of light from before.

"Stop her!" Coven exclaimed, thrusting his hand outwards.

Dark Lucy took off like a bullet, flying past Natsu and the others in a blur. Natsu was about to race after her, when their Lucy reacted on her own. Her hair flowed in whisps like last time, and she lifted her head smoothly to open light-filled eyes.

Lucy suddenly surged forward, seeming to be dazed. She didn't say anything; she moved like a puppet. Before Dark Lucy knew it, Lucy had advanced on her and appeared right below her.

"Repent." Lucy replied like last time, and thrust her palm into Dark Lucy's stomach.

Dark Lucy gasped, light covering her body and then...

She disappeared. Just as Zeke had.

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"Way to go, Lucy!" Happy was cheering, punching the air.

A wave of air flew by Natsu and the others, and he widened his eyes as he realized Coven was racing forward.

"Lucy!" Natsu called, racing after him.

But he abruptly stopped, his eyes widening as things seemed to go into slow motion.

Coven reached out with his hand, strange black light eminating from his palm as he brought his arm up and his hand toward Lucy's chest. Before even Star-Mist-Lucy could react, Coven slammed his palm into her heart, making darkness mix with her light.

"Lucy!!" Natsu exclaimed, seeing her fall to the ground.

A flash of black light erupted from the pair, and everyone fell into darkness.