Previously: Natsu was dully aware of Gray caressing his face, which suddenly brought back a terrible flood of horrific memories from the accident. This sudden remembrance was what finally threw the Fire Dragon Slayer into unconscious, scarring, haunting dream-memories.

(FLASHBACK)

Natsu slowed his ragged breathing down, trying to calm himself. Never before had he been afraid of fire. Now? now he was terrified. The heat, the pain, the fear. Was this how his enemies felt when he used his roar attack on them? Several slow breaths and two cough attacks later, Natsu closed his eyes, hoping, praying this would work. A heavy wooden beam creaked above them, crashing towards them. Natsu stopped thinking at that moment, and just followed his raw instinct. Magic faded away as something else, something darker, replaced it. The fire dragon slayer prayed to whatever god would listen to protect them, suddenly laughing with a combination of fear and realisation of how ironic this was. For him, the fire dragon king's son, to die in a fire.

       Natsu was vaguely aware of his actions, but he wasn't really thinking anymore. He wasn't plain old Natsu right now, he was something else, something stronger, darker. The beam crashing towards them stopped suddenly in the air, just above his head, deep scarlet fire holding it there. Was he doing that? He looked about himself, noticing his friend and role model on the floor. The fire Mage reached up, shocked to feel the cruel sting of a burn creep down his arm. Golden flames licked his skin as Natsu pushed the beam away with the inhuman strength only his true form possessed.

The golden flames were seemingly drawn to him now, curling round his body and hurting his skin. The darkness that replaced his magic suddenly flared into terrifying life, huge reddish black leathery wings sprouting from his shoulders. Natsu felt the wings beat powerfully, but he wasn't really there anymore. He was somewhere deep inside the nothingness of his mind, not quite living, not quite dead. He felt the coolness of a weak body in his arms, and he felt the pain fade, but nothing after that. The fire dragon slayer did not feel the rush of cool air against his now scaly skin, nor did he feel anything as he crashed to the gravel, the man he was trying to protect wrapped inside one tough leathery wing, and nor was he aware of the panic he caused, bursting from the flaming ashes of a building, only to crash and erupt into golden flames himself.

It was only when he felt the cool, soothing chill of ice devil magic that he realised he was awake. The dragon slayer couldn't move, he wasn't in any real pain, but he couldn't move. He tried to open his eyes, to speak, anything but be still, but he couldn't. It took several moments, but Natsu finally accepted he wasn't really awake, but he was sure he wasn't dreaming either. Wait.... where was he? Where was Gildarts? The soothing cool of the magic spread through his aching arm, spreading over his whole body until he felt nothing but the comforting chill. He could hear voices, but they were distant. So very distant....

"Gray, you said you could help him! I don't see how sealing him in a ball of ice would help him....." the voice was familiar, but he couldn't place it.... another voice spoke, a voice that sent a weird shiver through him.

       "Wendy and I have been practicing this since I got my devil slayer magic, trust me, the Pyro will be fine." Gray. It was his Gray. He heard whispers around him. The voices were distant. Was it because he really was trapped in ice? Or was it because of.... of.... wait, why was he on the floor again? The last thing he remembered was taking a job request that asked for him and.... and.... wait, who was it? Were they ok?

(FLASHBACK ENDS)

        Lucy, Gray and Wendy carried the unconscious Dragon Slayer to the infirmary, with the help of Erza's telekinesis. No one commented on how Gray was behaving, he was radiating an aura that reminded everyone of the last time Erza lost her temper over strawberry cake.... let's just say it was a miracle only the guildhall got levelled. Lucy stayed one side of Natsu, whilst Gary was on the other, Happy hovering above Natsu's chest, afraid to rest there in case it hurt his friend more.

       Once he was safely in a soft bed, Happy, Erza and Wendy left, leaving Gray and Lucy alone with the unconscious Dragon Slayer. Gray's usually calm face was distorted into one of fear and grief. The Ice Devil Slayer was terrified they were going to lose Natsu, after all, why should anything good happen to him? First deliora took his parents, then it took ur, then urtear died to save his life, now he was in love with the monster he vowed to kill, and was terrified the poor fire Mage would die on him. It felt like he was cursed to be forever miserable sometimes. Lucy remained silent, thinking about the future.

      If Natsu survived, he'd probably need a wheelchair for the rest of his life, and there was Gray to think about as well. Right now, only she was able to go on proper jobs, and earn enough money to support them. It helped in a way that she lived with Natsu now, so didn't have to pay rent money, but there was still provisions to buy, and then there were the renovations to their shared home to think about, and she still had to pay for Gray's next lot of medicines as well. Lucy ran a gentle hand through Natsu's hair, whispering a quick I love you to him and Gray before leaving the infirmary and going up to the request board.

       Lucy browsed the job fliers, until she found one she thought would be easy enough and paid a good amount. It was a job requesting a wizards help in protecting a small farming village from a strange monster that attacked at night. She was reluctant to leave Gray and Natsu alone, what with their current conditions, but they were gonna need the money. She handed the flier to Mirajane, who wished her luck. Lucy called out to Levy, beckoning her over. The celestial wizard handed a folded note to the solid script Mage, subtly so no one else saw. levy understood, and pocketed the note without bothering to read it.

    Lucy smiled at her best friend, turning to leave. Lucy calculated she could do the job in two days, three tops, if she worked hard. She was worried for Gray and Natsu, but someone had to earn enough money to get by on. The celestial Mage left the guild hall, summoning plue for company. The little dog spirit was happy enough just prancing along beside his key holder, though the little sprit did feel a certain urgency about his master that worried him. He couldn't really speak her language, but he understood her. The little dog decided to tell ares and Leo about Lucy's change in aura when she let him go back to the celestial world.

   Back in the guild infirmary, Gray sat quietly next to Natsu, leaning across the Dragon slayers chest as he dozed off. The ice make wizard was exhausted. Keeping up the magic he'd learnt to hide his appearance was painfully draining and uncomfortable. And if that wasn't bad enough, the constant cravings were inconvenient and annoying, which just tired him out more. It was no surprise then, really, that the ice devil slayer didn't notice Levy and Wendy come into the room, or hear the excited shriek that followed as Mira snuck a peek in the infirmary to see one half of her OTP cuddled up like a cute couple.

      Levy sat opposite Gray, on Natsu's left, watching over the two slayer's as they rested. Natsu was going to be upset that Lucy had gone on a job without him, but then again, maybe he wouldn't, judging from the contents of the letter Lucy had given her earlier.

      Natsu was awake, or at least, he was aware of his surroundings, he just couldn't move. At all. He could feel a heavy pressure on his chest, and the scent of Gray was so overwhelming, he was certain the snowflake had fallen asleep on him again. He could hear less familiar breathing too, it sounded like Levy. Where was his Luce? Why wasn't she here? A terrible pain shot up his back, but he couldn't move, nor could he speak to cry out. All he could do was remain frozen in place as the pain danced cruelly up and down his back.

    "Natsu?" The voice was so soft, so quiet, that he could hardly hear it. Levy was talking to him! "I... I... know you probably can't hear me, but I'm going to say it anyway. I know. About you and Lu, and about Gray. Lu gave me a letter earlier. She's on a job right now, earning money for you. Don't worry, I destroyed the letter after I read it, so no one else will know. I also know about Gray's....uh... condition. You don't need to worry about him, me and lu will look after him until you're better, ok?" Levy finished speaking, her voice trailing off. The script Mage felt ridiculous for talking to the unconscious fire wizard, but at least now she'd gotten the words off her chest. What she didn't realise was that Natsu had heard every word, and had felt guilty.

    So caught up in his fear and pain, the young man had failed to realise how much his mates needed him too. Lucy was under a lot of pressure to go on jobs to provide for them, Gray had forced himself to learn and use a new magic to conceal his condition from everyone and was putting his body through terrible strain just to appear normal, and he'd been too wrapped up on the accident to care. He felt so ashamed, and it took Levy being kind to make him realise how withdrawn he'd been. Hell, hadn't igneel taught him better than that? Hadn't he taught him to look to the future, because that's what's gonna make him want to live? Well, shows how much he listened. Not once since the accident had he even considered what the future might hold for him. He'd just wanted an end to it all.

       Gray snored peacefully on Natsu's chest, Natsu well aware that the ice devil slayer was probably drooling. The fire wizard couldn't respond to Levy, but he wanted to. He wanted to tell her not to worry about him, to crack a stupid joke about Gray beating Gajeel in a non magical fight, anything. Natsu could, however, feel the pressure of Gray as the young man slept on him, and hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeats and breathing. He could hear Levy's breathing too, but he wasn't focusing on that. Something else, instinct maybe, told him something was wrong.

      Natsu could feel the dark energy boiling just below the surface, but he didn't want to go Etherious form, not in front of Levy. Could he even change whilst unconscious? That something, instinct? Told him there wasn't time. He had to hurry. It felt like something was slipping away from him, but he didn't know what. The young Dragon Slayer Demon just knew. He had to go to them. Now.

      Natsu's eyes flickered open, a wide, wild look in them. Levy gasped as the pink haired man forced himself to sit upright, using only his arms to support his movements, not his legs. The blue haired woman almost screamed as Gray shot up, suddenly wide awake and yelling at her to get out. An ice shield formed around Natsu protectively, and the Dragon Slayer was thankful that being a full demon meant he could speak non verbally to his mates. Demon and Dragon Mate Telepathy.

     Gray nodded silently, watching with curious eyes to see the transformation taking place. Pink hair was turning darker, longer, a deep blackish red mane with two protruding horns that curled over his head. His sharp canines lengthened to wild animalistic daggers, his skin turning from deep tan to muscular red scales, with softer pink scales around his eyes and hands. Fingernails grew out into dangerous milky claws, a thin wiry tail whipping into existence behind him as the final parts of the transformation took place.

     Natsu could not keep quiet any longer as two huge, impressively muscular, blackish-red wings erupted from his shoulders and rose to neatly adorn his shoulders. The deep emerald green of his eyes changed to ruby red, as the transformation from Natsu Dragneel to END completed. Gray gave a questioning glance to his best friend, rival and mate, nodding to him. They weren't speaking, not even by telepathy, but both new the other so well, speaking had never really been needed.

     "If they notice I'm gone," the demon rumbles softly, his voice grating and hoarse like a winter storm, but soft and kind like falling leaves. (Nothing like the usual Natsu's voice). "Tell them END took me, or you don't remember, but my chair is here." Gray nodded, as Natsu, sorry, END, used his wings and arms to drag himself to the window, before squeezing out and flying at a fast pace towards where his... instinct was telling him to go.

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    "Open, gate of the Loin, Loke!" Lucy's voice rang out clearly, a gentle sunset behind her. The celestial Lion appeared, not even bothering to flirt as a huge.... thing... how else could you describe it? ..... reared up and nearly crushed his wizard with a well aimed stomp. What the hell was Lucy thinking? Taking on such a job alone?! Loke could sense how low Lucy's magic was now, so once he'd gotten her a safe distance from that... creature, he left and returned on his own magic, so she wouldn't have to waste anymore of her precious energy.

    The monster, which resembled a cross between Happy's leftover lunches and that whatever-it-was that Freed claimed to be a chocolate cake, let out a terrifying roar, trees and plants wilting at the terrible stench. Lucy had once considered Free'd cooking to be the nastiest thing she'd ever smelt, but now... she wasn't so sure.

    "Loke." Lucy panted, a bead of sweat trickling down her face as the monster advanced towards them. Or was it going backwards? Where was its head?

   "Yes princess?"

    "Stop calling me that, dumb lion.... go that way..." the blonde wizard ordered sharply, pointing to a wooded area to the east, frowning. "Keep going until a red dragon like monster appears. Guide it back here. We'll need it's help." Lucy explained, smiling crazily as her celestial lion friend gave her the And-I-Though-Natsu-Was-Crazy look.

     "A dragon like red monster? Wait.. do you mean...." Loke trailed off, certain now that Lucy really must be crazy to talk about the worlds nastiest demon like that.

     "Yes, I mean END. Go get him. Trust me, he's harmless. JUST GO, BEFORE I TELL AQUARIUS WHO TURNED SCORPIO INTO SUCH A FLIRT!"

   "Aye ma'am." Loke mewled nervously, remembering the last time he'd annoyed Aquarius. She was the real reason the Celestial Lion hated water, seriously. If he wasn't immortal, he'd have drowned. Crazy fishy woman. Loke did as he was told, no flirting, no snide comments, he just obeyed. Why?

..    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....    ....   ....    ....    ..

      Natsu felt the searing pain in his lower back as he beat his aching wings stubbornly. He couldn't land, his legs were still useless, but he was tiring fast. This was his first actual flight after all. But somehow, he didn't know how or why, somehow Natsu knew Lucy needed him. Now. So onward he went, until he felt the deep pull of his mate, and descended to land in a wooded area, in a clearing on the western side. Unable to stand, he crumpled into a heap on landing, just in time to stumble into Loke, who looked confused, frightened even, of coming face to face with such an infamous demon.

      "Where is she?" Natsu rumbled, startling Loke further.

    "You... can talk? Never mind, she's this way." Loke replied, still in shock, walking in the direction of Lucy. END chuckled at the Lions reaction as he used his wings, tail and arms to move forward, the legs dragging uselessly behind him. Loke couldn't help but stare as a memory flashed through his mind. Natsu was wheelchair bound, paralysed below the waist. Was it coincidence that a fire demon who looked nothing like him had the same problem? How was END even still alive anyway? Gray, Natsu and Erza killed him. Right?

       Natsu could feel the searing pain screaming through him, but he ignored it. One of his mates was in trouble, she needed him. He didn't know how or why he knew this - it wasn't like him to question it anyway - he just knew. He also knew Loke didn't know him like this, though the Celestial Lion was more that capable of figuring it out. They were almost to Lucy, who'd managed to summon ares, who'd put up a strong wool wall around her key holder. Loke turned to him, an almost frightened look on his face.

    "You're... not going to hurt her, right?" Loke asked the demon, afraid despite Lucy's near conviction that END was harmless. The demon shook its head, wincing as if it were in pain.

    "No, she called me here." END Rumbled, wincing in pain again. He needed to get airborne, fast. Dragging his damaged legs behind him was seriously starting to hurt his lower back. Lucy suddenly screamed, causing Loke to rush to her side. END was left to beat his tired wings, struggling to get airborne. With a laboured grunt, the demon managed to rise into the air, seeing the monster from above.

       It was kinda like that thing he and Happy came across on their year long training trip back before he knew he was a demon. It was a lot bigger though, and this one was a different colour. If it was the same type of monster, then a Fire Dragon's roar aimed at the centre of it's back should defeat it, but he couldn't risk being connected to Fairy Tail whilst in his Etherious form, so he would have to try a Fire Demon's Rage, a curse power he'd never used before. Gray made using a demons rage look easy, but he knew it wouldn't be.

     Lucy saw Loke rushing towards her, a frightened expression on his face. Ares had just been hit by whatever that monster was, and was vanishing in golden light, whilst Lucy just sat there on the floor. To most people, it looked like she couldn't be bothered to use her magic, when it was clear she had several Celestial Keys. To Loke, and END, it was clear the Celestial Mage had used up almost all of her magic, and was unable to fight back.

       "Lucy!" Loke cried, scooping his Master into his arms, dodging a crashing blow from a sludge like limb that vanished almost as soon as it hit the ground. Lucy felt faint, the drain on her magic finally getting to her. She whispered a brief thanks to Loke, before passing out with exhaustion.

      "Fire Demon's Rage!" The terrible roar rang out, making Loke jump. He glanced over his shoulder to see the Demon blasting the creature with a crushingly strong fire attack, leaving the creature somehow intact, but retreating at a strangely fast pace. END gave a roar of triumph and defiance, before his wings suddenly just crumpled, sending the Fire demon crashing to the ground. He landed with a sickening thud that roused Lucy from her exhaustion.

     "N....Na....END!" She yelled, struggling out of Loke's arms and hurrying to the fallen Demon's side. The red eyes were hazy but focused, watching the Blonde young lady sharply. His breathing was raspy, wings lay crumpled beneath him, the long wiry tail lashing from side to side in a vaguely familiar way. Lucy ignored Loke's warning as she scooped the demon into her arms as she knelt down, earning a friendly smile from the so called monster. Much to Loke's surprise, she talked to him like she knew him well.

    "That was a stupid thing to do now, wasn't it?" She scolded teasingly, not really mad at all. She knew Natsu meant well.

    "You were in trouble, I... could feel it...." END rumbled softly, using one hand to support his weight a bit.

     "How do you think your brother would feel if you got yourself killed?" She scolded gently, smiling as his free hand brushed against her face.

    "Zeref would resurrect me again just to say I told you so." The demon laughed, his voice sounding like a mix between a purr and a growl. Lucy's eyes flickered over to Loke, them back to END. Natsu got the hint, and used the Dragon-Demon telepathy to talk.

     *i overdid it again, huh?* Natsu thought, wincing as Lucy blasted his thoughts with an angry thought screech.

      *don't try that again Natsu, you could've died! Then who would be there to take care of Gray? I'm hard pressed trying to earn for all three of us, you know that! And why do you insist on sitting in your chair moping all the time? Dear Mavis, grow up already! If you weren't my mate, I'd have left you already, you stubborn, stupid, selfish pyro!* END smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair out of Lucy's face. He knew she wasn't really angry at him. He could hear it in her thoughts. His soft voice rumbled loud enough for Loke to hear.

     "Leave me here. Go back home to your two Mates, they're probably worried about you." Lucy was about to protest, when Loke butt in.

      "But what about you? I know you're a wanted monster and everything, but I noticed you seem to be injured, surely you need a bit of help right now?" Loke asked, almost afraid as the demon's hand suddenly set ablaze. Lucy didn't flinch, not even when the flames touched her skin.

     "I'll be fine." END rumbled confidently. "My curses still don't burn you, huh? Go home. Both of you." Natsu Rumbled more firmly, silently telling Lucy to leave him long enough to recover his energy a bit. Lucy smiled sadly, taking a final glance at the Demon and nodding. She forcibly grabbed Loke's arm, and dragged him away.

       Once back at the village, Lucy turned to Loke sharply, a pained look on her face. Loke recognised that look, the pain and fear clear on the blonde girl's features.

     "What did you two mean?" Loke asked curiously, flinching as Lucy glared at him.

    "About what?" She asked, walking along the paved street towards the client's house. They owed her reward money for sorting out their monster problem.

      "Is END really Zeref's brother? I mean, wouldn't that make Zeref a demon too?" Loke asked, almost afraid of the answer. Lucy turned to him briefly, smiling a soft sad smile, before entering the clients house. The conversation had to end there for the time being, as Lucy collected the reward money, warning the villagers to stay away from the northwest field until the morning, as one of her spirits was repairing the land, and it was dangerous.

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     Meanwhile, back at Fairy tail.....

       "What do you mean, you don't know?" Erza bellowed furiously at the younger Mage, Gray cowering beneath the terrifying woman. He felt vulnerable without Natsu and Lucy there to protect him. "Now, you must know something, so spill, before it beat it out of you..." the mighty Titania threatened, summoning one of her swords to prove her point.

      "I...I'm sorry Erza, I'm telling the truth. He woke up in a panic, I sent Levy out so I could calm him down, and then something hit me and I don't remember anything, until you come in here screeching like Elfman that time Natsu accidentally set his underwear on fire." Gray explained for the fifth time, hoping Erza would leave him alone. Happy hovered nervously behind the ice Mage, waiting for the conflict to be over so he and Gray could go and get some yummy fishes. The Exceed was well aware what really happened; he'd seen Natsu fly out of the window; but the promise of yummy fishes for dinner every day for a week kept him silent.