~*****~

After a bit of arguing, Gajeel helps me wake everyone up. "He's fading. It was bad already, but now..." Juvia trails off as she pats at Laxus' face.

"You crazy idiot! You pushed yourself too far!" Natsu exclaims.

"Yes, but he got us this," I mention as I hold up his cloak soaked with dark blood. "Now we can cure everyone."

"Demon blood..." Lucy murmurs.

"That's right," I nod. "Take it to Porlyusica, Levy, and see what she can do."

Levy nods. "I'm on it. Be back as soon as I can." She takes the cloak and smiles. "Hopefully she's with the others."

Juvia lifts her head. "So, um... have you seen Gray?" She asks.

Gajeel nods. "Yeah, but to be honest, I could barely recognize him."

"Whaddya mean by that?" Natsu asks.

"He's powered up somehow," I shrug. "Like, a lot. You really have to see it. He's... he seems different, but there's something familiar about him, somethin' I can't place my finger on."

"I wonder what happened to him," Lucy hummed.

"No idea, he didn't stick around long enough to say," Gajeel shrugged.

Natsu stands up. "He's hunting."

I hum. "Yes, that's obvious." I retort plainly. I give a grunt as Natsu plops down behind me and tugs me into his embrace, glaring at nothing in particular. "Should we... go after him?" I ask. I peer up at him, but a strange look crests over his face. "Something the matter?"

"He's probably just freakin' out 'cause he knows the next time him and Gray fight, he's gonna get handed a new one." Gajeel retorted.

Something drifts through my ear, causing my entire body to start shaking. My head snaps towards the distance, the hair raising on my neck. My heart begins to pound, blood rushes through my head as a panic begins to roll through me.

"Not him--" I stammer. "Anyone but him--" I grasp onto Natsu's shirt and tighten my grip. "Acnologia--" I whimper.

That dreaded dragon. That horrible, horrible monster soars through the sky, heading straight towards us. Something starts pounding in my chest and I can barely handle it. I tumble out of Natsu's grasp, clutching at my chest. I hunker down, pressing my head against the floor as the feeling overwhelms me. The throbbing in my chest settles down, my gaze peering over at Natsu as his body lights with a bright glow, his hands clutching his chest as he groans in pain.

"I'm sorry, son, but I never did leave you." I peer up as the magic crests, staring at the great big dragon that exploded from Natsu's body. Faded, jumbled memories ring through my head as I stare up at him, like I'd seen him several times before. I stare in bewilderment. "In fact, I've been closer than you ever could've guessed. Please trust that all will be explained in time. Right now, I must wipe the blight of Acnologia from this world!" Igneel snaps as he soars upwards and tackles the great black dragon. "Fight, Natsu! Fight to live!"

My gaze snaps over to Natsu, ignoring the fight in turn for the tears running down his face. "You're back--" He stammers. I didn't know whether to cry for Natsu, or for myself. Because if Igneel was with Natsu this whole time, then would the other dragons have done the same? I palmed at my chest again, lip wobbling in a silent plea for Everest to show up.

"That's him--" Lucy stammered as I stumbled to my feet. "The King of the Dragons..."

I grimace at the strength it takes just to stand up and nearly fall to the ground, my chest still throbbing. I peered up anxiously, wincing at the collisions between the two dragons. "I can't believe it..." Natsu stammered as he stared up at his father.

"Igneel was inside him?" Juvia murmured. "How? Is that possible?"

"Maybe... Do you have one, Gajeel?" Levy asked.

"Don't really know, but the pain's gone," Gajeel murmured.

I rub at my chest delicately. "Still feels like my heart's gonna burst..." I comment lightly, sucking in short breaths in an attempt to calm down.

"We're gonna be okay... aren't we?" Levy asks.

"Honestly, I'm not sure. What's goin' on, Salamander?! I mean, is that really Igneel?" Gajeel snapped. "What was up with all that stuff about being inside you?"

Natsu lowered his head. "I have no idea. He left. I looked for him for so long." Natsu growled.

"Natsu..." I murmured softly.

Natsu wiped at his face before turning his gaze upwards. Fire blasted from his feet, his body propelling to the sky after Igneel. "Dad! We gotta talk! Now!" Natsu roars.

I palmed at my head irritably. "Why did I expect anything different?" I ask myself.

Igneel turned his gaze onto him, an irritable scowl appeared on his face. "Natsu, I told you, we'll talk later."

"Tell me now! Why did you disappear and leave me?! Oh! And if you were with me the whole time, why didn't you say something?! Do Aria, Wendy, and Gajeel have dragons inside them, too?! And what happened that day?! On July Seventh, the day you left me!" Natsu asked in rapid succession. I swallowed the knot in my throat as we all stared up at him. "Come on! You owe me!"

Igneel gave a roar of irritation. "Enough!"

"Hey, watch out!" I bellow, eye's snapping to the Black Dragon soaring towards Igneel.

He dodges at the last moment and catches Natsu in his grasp when he flails off of his wing. "That was close!" Lucy gasped.

"Quit distracting him!" Gajeel roared.

Igneel reared his head back and unleashed a powerful fire blast at the great dragon. My entire body alights with steam, nearly toppling me backwards. "It burns!" Levy whined.

"Stay behind me!" Gajeel barked.

"I'm... boiling..." Juvia whined.

"Feels like I'm gonna melt--" I exclaim.

"So, you killed him?!" I hear Natsu gasp as Acnologia is forced to a mountain side by the blast.

"Not at all. Just wait and see," Igneel hummed.

I cover my ears as the great black dragon lets out a furious bellow. "Wait! That fireball did nothing?!" Lucy cried.

"Seriously?" Gajeel murmured.

"How could he have survived those flames?" Levy asked.

"He doesn't even have a scratch." Juvia stammered. "That attack should've destroyed him."

My chest throbs again, but I ignore it for the meantime. "It's like... he's immortal..."

Steam hisses from Igneel's mouth. "I'm fired up now." Igneel hums. "Son. You're a pest."

"What do you mean by that?!" Natsu shouted indignantly. "You sure have a weird way of showin' that you missed me!"

"I've already told you, we'll talk about everything later." Igneel explained as he held Natsu up to eye level. "I've got a job I need you to do."

"What kinda job?" Natsu asks.

"You are in one of those guilds, aren't you? Well, I'd like to officially hire you." Igneel hums as he angles Natsu towards something in the ruins of Tartaros. "Over there. Make sure you get a good look at that guy. See that book? That's the book of E.N.D."

"So, what do I do?" Natsu asks.

"I want you to steal that book." Igneel snorts.

"Why do I have to be the one to do it?" Natsu asks.

"Because you're the only one who can, Natsu. Plus, he's the one responsible for all of this. I assume you wouldn't need a better reason than that to want to fight him." Igneel retorted.

"He did this?" Natsu wondered.

"Now listen, you are not to open or destroy that book under any circumstances. Just take it, you understand?" Igneel asked.

"How much does it pay?" Natsu asks.

"What?!" Igneel barked.

"Aria got a treasure horde from Everest!" Natsu complained. "I didn't get jack squat! 'Side's I work for a guild now! I don't do these kinda things for free!"

Igneel groaned irritably. "Overachieving show-off." Igneel clicked his tongue. There's another pulse in my chest that I rub at irritably. "Very well. For payment, I will tell you everything you wish to know."

Natsu just chuckles. "Sounds like a deal to me!"

Igneel snorted and reared his arm back. "Now get that book!" He literally throws Natsu towards the ruins.

"You better keep your promise! Don't even think about going anywhere!" Natsu bellows.

"I won't," Igneel hummed.

"You know, I'm gonna hold you to that!" Natsu shouts. "Now I'm all fired up!" There's an explosion where he hits.

I peer back at the others. "I'm gonna go--" I mention. "He might need back-up."

Gajeel stepped forward. "In what condition? You've got one good eye and you're walking with a limp."

"I hate to say it, Aria, but you need to see Porlyusica more." Lucy mentioned softly.

Levy grasps my arm softly. "You've been pushing yourself too hard, even with all your injuries." Levy hummed. "Please don't push yourself any further."

"I can't just sit here--" I try to plead. Gajeel grasps my shoulder again and I nearly bark out in pain. I stifle it and glare up at him.

"You're not goin' anywhere. Don't make me kick the crap outta ya, Ice Princess." Gajeel snaps.

"Blow it out your ass, metal face." I snap back as I swat at his hand.

~*****~

The dragons continue to rage on, decimating the landscape, forcing us into hiding. "Thought things were getting crazy before," Gajeel hums as I continue to sulk. "Look, you're not going, so quit with the sulking!" Gajeel snaps at me as he turns to ask me something. "D'you even know where he went?"

I turn my gaze upwards. "No clue. Igneel just sent him flyin' towards someone." I explain. "But I know he's gonna be fine..."

"I actually believe that, comin' from you," Gajeel retorts. "So, look, for the time being, we need to focus on gettin' Laxus a cure and you some medical aid."

I snort irritably. "I'm--"

"If you say you're fine one more time, I'm gonna kick the crap outta ya!" Gajeel warned. I stuck my tongue out at him.

There's a loud boom across the landscape. "Igneel and Acnologia disappeared... But where did they go?" Lucy asked.

A rough vibration shoots up my feet, causing me to skip to the side, staring down at the ground. "What's the matter, Aria?" Levy asked.

"Somethin's under our feet," I murmur.

"Not the dragons," She whimpered.

"I think it is. They must'a taken the fight below," Gajeel hummed.

"What?!" Lucy gasped.

"Ground's about to get real unstable!" Gajeel warned us.

It's only a matter of moments before Igneel and Acnologia burst up from the ground again, taking their fight back to the skies. I'm forced to sit and rest with Juvia and Laxus. "Hang in there, Juvia..." Lucy murmurs.

"She is seriously in need of major medical attention." Levy hums. "So is Laxus and Aria."

"Well, the good news is we have what Porlyusica needs to make that antidote. We just have to get that demon blood to her, and quickly." Lucy mentions. "Gajeel. We need you to take that blood and get Laxus, Juvia, and Aria out of here asap."

"Are you crazy? I'm not gonna go anywhere." Gajeel and I retort immediately. "You shut your trap, one-eye!" I grimace and stick my tongue out again. "I'm a Dragon Slayer, and it's my job to protect you guys, so that's what I'm gonna do!"

"Yeah, but these three need you more now," Lucy retorted calmly. "Besides, I think Natsu and the others can handle Acnologia until you get back."

"I can do it," Levy chirped as she stood up. "Gajeel should stay here. Don't worry, I can carry Laxus! And then you can take Juvia and Aria, okay, Lu?"

"You sure about that, tiny-tot?" I ask as I gesture to Laxus. "Dude's got at least a hundred and fifty pounds on ya."

Levy hauls Laxus on her back and stumbles. "This is nothing... I can do this all day!"

I sigh and palm at my face. I grasp at Laxus' arm and steady her. "Don't hurt your back carrying him."

"I'm good--" Levy groans. "He isn't heavy at all!" She stumbles again. "I swear--" I give a startled yelp as the brunt of Laxus' body topples onto me. I want to shrink at the incoming pain, but Laxus' body stops falling.

I peer up at Gajeel irritably. "Okay, you made your point," Gajeel clicks his tongue.

"But, Gajeel," Levy murmured.

Gajeel hauls Laxus up and shoulders him easily. "I'll take Laxus. Why don't you just worry about Juvia? Now we've got to hurry up if we're gonna get 'em to Porlyusica so she can make that antidote." Gajeel peers down at me. "Since you're dead set on sneakin' off, give Salamander a message for me."

I perk up and tilt my head. "First off, how did you-- never mind, what is it?" I ask, tucking a stray hair behind my ear.

"Tell him to get started on that song. He'll know what you mean." Gajeel retorted.

I snorted and covered my mouth. "You bet!" I chirp. "Cause I'm lookin' forward to it, too!"

~*****~

When I do find Natsu, he's with Sting and Rogue righting what I can only assume is Mard Geer. And I feel like I've stumbled upon a monologue. The ground shakes violently as he raises his hand, and decimates the land with strange thorn like vines. I cower under some rubble, wincing at the stones raining down on me. I peer out again, staring incredulously at the power his guy possesses. Every hit the three send at him doesn't even put a scratch on him.

"This guy's a monster--" I murmur to myself, daring to peek out further. I duck down immediately as I'm showered with more rubble, my body pulsing with the pain still radiating through it.

"He's just sittin' there!" Sting complains.

"Even against three of us, he seems bored," Rogue mentions.

"Hey, Natsu. You all right?" Sting asks.

"Course I am! This is nothin' compared to gettin' kicked in the gut by Aria." Natsu mentioned. My claws sink into the stone in front of me and I vaguely wonder whether or not to kick his butt for saying that. "Don't tell her I said that though."

"Sounds like you're good to keep fighting," Rogue hums.

"Damn straight. No slowin' me down." Natsu grins. "'Specially not when I got a contest to win!"

"Is that really why you're so fired up!?" Sting and Rogue barked. I palmed at my face.

"It'll be a cold day in hell when I lose to you guys." Natsu teases.

The hairs on my neck stand up as Mard Geer sighs. "Well, so it goes. Kyoka's become so preoccupied with slaughtering your comrades that she's forgotten my voice. But I suppose she's earned this last bit of fun."

"So tell me, why do you wanna erase all magic, anyway?" Sting asks. "What do you stand to gain from that?"

"Don't you know?" Mard Geer hums. "I think you could've put it together. That tome your friend wants to steal contains E.N.D." My gaze snaps onto the book on a pedestal. "And it's magic that seals him."

"You wanna bust him out--" Natsu growls.

"Now you see," Mard Geer smiles. "Despite how it may appear, I'm not our leader. That title belongs to E.N.D. There are none among us who can rival his strength. Once E.N.D. has finally been released, we can fulfill our true purpose, and return to Zeref."

"Makes zero sense to me," Sting snorts.

"Why would you wait?" Rogue asks. "If you want to see Zeref so badly, why wouldn't you just do it on your own?"

"Though raised by dragons, sadly, you're still only human." Mard Geer explains. "This is likely beyond your comprehension."

"Get to the point!" Natsu bellows.

"Have you ever stopped to consider Zeref's reason for creating my kind?" Mard Geer asks. "Perhaps you merely thought of us as his playthings. You've doubtless heard my cohorts describe the call of Zeref. The urge to return to him. But none among them ever questioned it. When we find Zeref, what would he have us do? Why were we endowed with this instinct? It's an absolute command, etched into our genes. We must see Zeref. We must return to Zeref. We must do all for Zeref. I alone have come to realize that in truth he made us to give him the one thing of which he's been deprived. Over the centuries, Zeref grew to revile his immortality. He yearned for death. But death would not come on its own. So Zeref strove to make a being strong enough to slay him. It took him many years to refine his work Dozens of creations. Before he maed one worthy of the task. That being: his masterpiece is E.N.D. But E.N.D. was prevented from fulfilling his purpose. Locked back inside his book. He is held there by a magic seal. One too powerful for any curse or spell in this world to break. Or so I thought. That was before I learned about the Faces. A magic seal can't exist in a world without magic. Very soon, he will be free. Then, side by side, we'll slay Zeref." Mard Geer grins widely, approaching the trio with such a powerful aura surrounding him. "This is the mission we were created to fulfill. It shall be an exquisite pleasure to carry it out."

"All this time, you've been wanting to kill Zeref?" Natsu gasps.

"The hell does that have to do with the rest of us humans?" Sting snaps. "Couldn't you just leave us out of it?"

"When one is on his way to an important destination, he doesn't timidly avoid the weeds in his path: he tramples them."

"Oh yeah--" Sting snaps. I wince and duck as everyone gets thrown back by those vines.

"Sting, Rogue!" Natsu bellows as he gets cracked against the wall by one of the vines. "What the heck is that thing?!" Natsu snaps.

I peer up at the giant plant, sweat dripping down my temple from the sheer magnitude of it. "This is a prison flower. Fresh from the underworld." Mard Geer beams. For some reason, everything inside of me told me to duck. I cupped my mouth quickly and listened for anything to figure out if I'd been spotted. "I see we have some company," I get my answer when something snags at my ankle and hauls me up. I give a startled shout as I dangle in the air.

"Hey! Let her go!" Natsu bellows as he struggles against the vines containing him.

Ice creeps along my legs, shattering the vine holding me hostage. I drop to the ground and cup at my head for a split second before slamming my palms on the ground. "Freeze!" I shout. Ice cracks up on the ground, encasing the plant quickly. I grunt as something plops onto my head.

"Aren't you a little banged up to fight?" Gray's voice rings out as I stand up to peer at the scrap of cloth in my hands. "You're welcome, by the way."

I tilt my head and peer at the ice. There's a subtle change in color between the ice surrounding the area. No way I'd be able to destroy that giant plant on my own as injured as I am. "Thanks, Gray." I murmur as I hold out Natsu's scarf.

"Oh, man, I thought I lost this for good," Natsu sighs as he grasps it.

"If it means so much to you, then take better care of it." Gray retorted.

"Will do," Natsu hums.

"Thanks for the save." Sting grins.

"He has such power," Rogue says tiredly.

"When did you freeze his arm?!" Natsu barks as Mard Geer lifts his arm in shock.

"This magic... who are you?" Mard Geer snaps.

"This face is the last thing you're ever gonna see," Gray retorts coldly. Dark, black markings appear over Gray's arm. "Because you're the thing I slay."

"You're a demon slayer?" Mard Geer asks.

"He's a what?" Sting barks.

"If the title's as simple as ours, then he's exactly what we need right now," Rogue mentions. "Mard Geer's scared."

"I've come here on behalf of the fallen." Gray states firmly before surging forward. He slams his hand down, encasing Mard Geer in a giant ice spire.

"This magic-- it's Silver's!" Mard Geer gasps. There's a moment of silence before it shatters, and Mard Geer is just dusting off his shirt. "I never had a doubt that he would betray us eventually, but I couldn't have suspected it would happen like this. What poetic circumstances! Fate can be quite amusing, can't it?" Natsu hauled me backwards almost violently as another round of thorns burst from the ground, sailing straight towards us.

Gray's utterly cool and composed as he retaliates, stopping the vines in their path. "He froze every thorn." Rogue gasped. "Almost effortlessly!"

"Incredible," Sting murmurs.

Mard Geer tries to attack again, but it seems as if he's no match for Gray with his new Demon Slayer magic. Gray destroys the vines again without hesitating. "I don't see how fates to blame for any of the crap you've been pullin'." Gray mentioned coolly. "And there ain't a damn thing about it I find amusing! My old man sends his regards!"

"Old man?" Natsu echoes.

"Whoa--" I murmur, staring at Gray in awe.

"I've come to finish what he started!" Gray shouted, slamming a powerful attack against Mard Geer's side, sending him flying to the side. Gray leapt into the air, cupping his hands together tightly. "You screwed with the wrong family! Ice Demon: Zero Long Sword!"

My breath catches in my throat as a familiar figure appears, cracking his elbow down onto Gray's head just before the attack. There's a bright light from the new being that sends Gray flying backwards.

"Gray, no!" Natsu shouts.

"Well, that was timely," Mard Geer commented.

"He came from that flower," Natsu growled. "Wait a sec--"

"There's no way--" Sting growled.

"The man who once stood at the helm of the strongest guild in this world," Mard Geer hums. "But now, he's shed his humanity, and become something more powerful."

"Jiemma," I murmur.

"Our master," Rogue stammers.

"It's really him!" Natsu gasped. "Those monsters... They turned him into a demon!"

"Just like they did to Minerva." Gray hums. "Though, it does seem to suit him better."

"Of course it does," Jiemma hums. "Powers always suited me. That's why I demanded to be transformed. And look at me now. The mightiest demon that's ever existed!"

"Was it worth it?" Rogue asks irritably. "Abandoning your humanity just for power?"

"The man's lost his friggin' mind." Sting comments angrily.

"My newest servant is more powerful than any of the Nine Demon Gates. But I suppose that you and he are already familiar." Mard Geer hums.

"My power stuns the heavens! I have no master, for I have no equal! No one calls me servant!" Jiemma snapped. "Do you hear me?! I'll demolish these insects first. But after that, I'll come for you!"

"YOU CAN'T SCARE ME!" Natsu suddenly bellows. He surges forward, fist alight with flames. "Don't let this jerkwad freakshow get under your skin! Keep fighting!" He bellows, slamming his fist against Jiemma's.

"I've no business with you," Jiemma snorted as he began pushing him backwards. With a powerful shove, Natsu sails into the wall behind us.

"Natsu!" I yelp.

"There, you understand now?!" Jiemma exclaims. "Stay down like a good bug!"

Sting and Rogue charge forward. "You're gonna pay for that!" Sting warns.

Jiemma raises his hand, and they go flying at his attack. "You're pathetic! Feeble! Unworthy to oppose me! You claim to be raised by dragons. Are you sure they weren't just lizards?"

"I hate this guy," Sting comments angrily.

"Sting." Jiemma growls lowly. "Rogue. I've been waiting for this moment for quite a long time now. For the chance to end your lives." Explosions liter the area, causing a shudder to wrack through me. I wince and grasp at my head in response. 

"Aw, crap!" Natsu exclaims. "Are they okay?!"

"Sting! Rogue!" I exclaim loudly.

When I hear their voice, relief floods through me. "We aren't scared," Sting snaps.

"And we won't stop!" Rogue barks.

If there were a perfect team out there, it would be Sting and Rogue. Their synchronization was flawless. "Leave this guy to us, Natsu!" Sting exclaimed as he and Rogue fought hard against Jiemma's brute strength.

"You focus on Mard Geer!" Rogue added.

"There's a difference between bravery and arrogance, lizard boys! Come on! I'll show you!" Jiemma taunted angrily.

"He called us out. Are you ready?" Rogue questioned.

"Sure am," Sting nods. "Let's make this quick and get home! I wanna show M'lady what we've done with the place."

I pinch at my arm tenderly. "Suddenly I feel very inadequate..." I mention.

"That's 'cause you're supposed to be away from the fight," Natsu retorted irritably as he and Gray stepped forward.

"Seriously, Aria. My old man told me about the injuries you sustained in Tartaros, you shouldn't even be up." Gray commented. "Go find a place to hide, we'll call you out when we win."

"How amusing," Mard Geer hums. "Once you win? I suppose the little rat will be waiting for an eternity." I don't look back as I limp off to the outskirts of the area, casting a wary glance over my shoulder.

I slip to the ground, hiding behind a boulder as the battle picks up on both sides.