Hades

What else could I do? What must I do to save my Love from being erased by the Gods I swore an oath to? Was there even a solution to even save the Savior of the Five Realms?

Natsu and I somehow returned to EarthLand, but we were both broken. The Fifth Realm's color never returned after the fifth shard faded, as it only continued to fall to pieces. Any hour now Magic will die, and so will all living beings perish on the Day of Reckoning. I never told Lucy anything...I wasn't able to until she remembered. Now, it's too late. Nothing could be done. Nothing can save the humans or creatures that live and thrive throughout the Five Realms. Only I, and the Giver, know their doomed cause.

Natsu and I stood in front of the Guild doors like statues. The mage's head was down shadowing his eyes. His posture was one that held utter defeat, fatigue, and didn't hold hope about anything. He wasn't a Half-Soul but already seemed as if he was. For a human like him, Natsu must feel a greater level of dread than I do. I wanted to say something, anything, to alleviate the pain that must be going through his heart, but there wasn't a point. The only hope there was to save him, was to bring his Soulmate back from the dead. But, not even I could do that. I let out a soft sigh before resting my hand on the door. The Guild Hall was rowdy once more until we both entered with heavy hearts. Natsu's teammates were one of the first people to speak out. "Natsu! Hades! Did you both find the final shard?" Happy asked smiling cat-like. Natsu simply ignored his Exceed as he kept his slow stride up the stairs. Everyone watched with a gaping expression until they looked at me for answers. I gazed at all their eyes, some already knowing the answer whereas few still held hope that they were wrong. "I'm sorry..." I spoke for the first time since weeping over the vanishing of Lucy's soul. "We were attacked. Lucy's soul was pierced by the Gods unyielding power...she didn't make it." I closed my eyes feeling the strange sensation of tears building in my grey irises. "We lost the fifth piece..."

"No!" A woman with beautiful white long hair cried out as she dropped a tray of alcohol from her tray to cup her mouth. All of their heads fell, some cried as others could only soak in the actuality. "Does that mean..." A young boy by the name of Romeo said. "Lucy's gone?" I nodded. "The moment her heart ends Lucy shall remain in the Abyss." My throat became parch. As my hands were suddenly clammy my head was becoming dizzy that I was unsteady on my feet. So, this is the feeling of failure. I failed to bring the woman I love back, and worse I failed not only in keeping my promise but I failed all the people she loves so dearly. I failed to be the Guardian Angel I called myself for Lucy. "Excuse me." I announced so I could leave the people with their thoughts and speak to the Giver and Guild Master about my failure. I went up the steps, reached the door, and gently knocked before allowing myself to enter. The Giver and Master sat across from each other until they saw me. "Bringer..." The Giver began with her sown eyes looking up at me. "The quest has failed." She said when I again nodded. "I'm so sorry, dear Giver. I couldn't save her in time."

"Shush." She said before opening her arms. "Shush and come here, child." The tears that were still forming fell from my eyes down my face. I took a long stride until I was wrapped tightly into the Giver's gentle hug. This unsettling feeling only grew even after I was tucked into the Giver's arms. The way my tears fell down my cheeks, the heavyweight on my chest growing that I was sure to pop, and my dizzy head was spiraling down to a never ending storm of rage. Rage at myself, and grief that I lost the woman I love. "This emotion, what is it!? Why won't it stop growing Giver! What am I feeling that hurts so much?"

"You feel love, Hades. This is the darkness that dwells when you feel love for anyone. It hurts, and will continue hurting for as long as you live. There is truly no way to get rid of this feeling, only rather must you learn a way to live with it." I pulled back. Master Makarov had a stream of tears falling down his face. "So it's true. My child, Lucy, isn't coming back..."

"Forgive me Master Makarov. I tried to save her, I truly did. Natsu tried more than anyone!" The old Master's eyes widened. "Natsu!" He clutched his chest. "I may as well have lost two of my children. My poor boy, Natsu..." I left the Giver's hug when I bowed to the Master's feet. "He is with her Master Makarov. I don't know if it's wise for him to be there when her heart gives. Before the end of the day, Natsu will be a Half-Soul. I promised Lucy to find a way to prevent that from happening, no matter what I had to save his soul." Makarov stared at me with his old eyes. "I don't know what is right for him. Taking Natsu away before Lucy's final moments is too cruel for the both of them, and yet letting Natsu be there until her heart stops will only make him worse. This isn't like him to just sit and allow the inevitable to happen!"

"He saw one of the Gods appear before him, Master Makarov. It's like having the sun not even a foot away from you. It burns and scars you even without knowing. That's who attacked us; one of my Masters shattered the final soul shard." Master wiped his eyes to stop his tears from falling. "There must be something we can do! If it's a piece of Lucy's Soul that we must mend then how can we give her the final soul shard she needs!"

"It's not that simple, Master Makarov." I explained returning on my feet to look at him. "You must have a Souls Connection with the soul to somehow lend a piece of yours to the second party. We can't just volunteer someone to lend a piece of their soul to Lucy's Soul. Really, it becomes more than a Souls Connection. You must somehow be tied to her soul even without truly being connected. It's like Lucy and Natsu for example. They are Soulmates that are destined together. Lucy and Gwen were destined to bind their souls into one also making Solantir join the mix. There's no one else that holds a connection that deep with Lucy."

No one else but...

My eyes dilated in realization. I glanced back at the Giver when she knew what I was thinking. "Hades, you can't be serious!" She yelled when I stormed out of the office. "I know what must be done!" I yelled back when I barged inside the infirmary to face Natsu holding Lucy's right hand. The heart monitor showed Lucy's heartbeat gradually coming to its end. "It'll be any minute now, Luce. You'll leave, and take a piece of me with you." Natsu rested his cheek on her frail fingers. "Maybe we can try to find each other in the Abyss? If I go there, perhaps I can find you. We can be together...and be erased...together."

I ran to the other side of the infirmary until I kneeled down to Natsu's side. Gently, I took Natsu's hand that was holding Lucy's palm. "Do you trust me, Natsu?" I whispered when his glossed over eyes glimpsed at me. "What?" He asked confusingly. "Natsu, there was a time I placed my faith in you. And when I did you successfully took us to the Fifth Realm. It was my fault the fifth shard shattered. I should have been more alert when you were about to claim the soul shard, but I wasn't and it was my mistake!" Natsu lowered his head. "But now," I said shaking his hand to make him look at me. "I have to ask you, please, put your faith in me and trust me this last time. You must leave this room and make sure nothing tries to deter me from making this decision."

"What are you talking about?" Natsu asked. I shushed him closing my eyes as Lucy's heart was only slowing down even more. "Natsu there isn't enough time to explain. I can only ask, if not then beg, please leave this room and stop anyone from coming in. Trust me!" The pink-haired mage only looked at me in some sort of daze. "But...Lucy-"

"She will still be right here!" I insisted forcing Natsu to keep his eyes on me. "I won't steal her away ever again. She is yours Natsu Dragneel and only yours! Lucy loves you, and I want her to tell you herself but I can't make that happen unless you leave me alone with her!" Natsu managed to snap out of his trance. "Hades-"

"PLEASE, NATSU!" This time I screamed now begging as I only had minutes left before Lucy's heart stops. Natsu peered away when he slowly stood. "I haven't said goodbye." He muttered as he trudged his feet to take him out of the infirmary. "I haven't said...goodbye." Natsu opened, then gently closed the door behind him. I ran before locking it to make sure I wasn't interfered. "Please don't let it be too late." I returned to Lucy's side looking at the heart monitor that showed Lucy's heart rate. It was nearly coming to a stop. I clutched Lucy's hand, caressing her frail knuckles before placing a kiss on one knuckle. "I'm so sorry for everything Love. If it wasn't for my envious heart you wouldn't be here lying on your death bed." I stroked Lucy's cheek with my fingers. "I wanted to give you the world, and all the things you've ever wished for. I only wished to have been by your side the moment you were born with life. I wished to have been the man you love dearly."

Lucy's heart was beginning to stop.

"But now, if there's one thing I can give you to keep forever, then let it be my heart and soul." I sat on the bed with both my hands now resting on her face. My thumbs brushed her cheekbones when I placed my forehead on her frontal. Her skin was colder than ice. "There was so much I wished I could have told you, but now you must go on your own as the Savior I know you will come to be. You can save those you love and all that lives. You are my truest beloved. You are the God I would have followed even at the very end."

There was no more time. It had to be done.

"Take all that I am and return to the living. My last gift, Lucy Heartfilia, is my heart and soul. In exchange of my existence you will be reborn." I placed a kiss under Lucy's hairline when tears began to fall once more. This time I didn't feel tears of despair or misery. These were tears of contentment. I smiled, looking at her breathtaking features one last time. "I know you cannot hear me, but, I wish to say thank you. Thank you for all you've done for me and for the people that cherish you. Thank you for being a part of my long life."

Lucy's heart was at its final beat.

"Goodbye." I placed my lips on Lucy's chapped, dry lips. My heart and soul bloomed and grew with power as I relinquished my soul and heart. It wasn't my place to be with her, nor was it in my place to bring her back. The Gods never intended on me ever holding a beating heart because of this very reason. Even at the edge of being erased I will bring the woman I love back. My soul will be the final shard that Master Ankhseram feebly tried to destroy. What the Gods will never understand is I no longer care for my oath. Lucy will live in exchange for my very existence. A new Bringer shall be made for the sake of Balance. All that matters is her. She may never know what happened to me, and someday I may be forgotten...but that's alright. I will watch over her far away even if I can't see. Even if I no longer exist I will still be there for my Love. Lucy, my heart and soul always belonged to you even if it wasn't a part of you at the time. Take everything you need to awaken and be with the man you truly love.

At the end of my life, we will be together, forever.

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~Natsu~

I didn't get to say goodbye. After all I did, sitting and gazing at the body of my soulmate, I didn't even tell her goodbye. What was left of me will be taken and erased along with the woman I loved even without knowing it after all those years together. The worst part of it all is I can't cry. I want to cry, I really wished I could, but I couldn't. I know I'm not a Half-Soul because I can feel the gaping pain grow in my chest, but there was no tears to show. It meant nothing in the end as all things do. Nothing.

My Exceed hugged my chest as he was a blubbering mess with a snotty nose. I sat at the bottom of the staircase looking at nothing. The guild shed countless tears as some held each other for comfort whereas others held themselves for protection. To think it should be me crying the hardest, I couldn't even shed one single tear. I only felt pain. "Nat-su. It's gonna be okay..." Happy sobbed with his puffy eyes that were still rolling with tears. I glanced down, gently placing my hand on top of his head. "It won't be. Nothing will be okay anymore. I didn't even get to say goodbye to her."

"But no one did. None of us had the chance..." Cried Happy. I rubbed his soft, blue fur. "I...didn't get to say goodbye." My head fell with the pain escalating to a higher level than before. "Luce, I should have told you goodbye. I should have-" The burning sensation was starting. "I should have said something! I-I need you to come back just so I can tell you goodbye!" My blood streaked tears had finally come. "Lucy! Lucy please come back!" I begged as Happy shushed me. "Natsu..." Happy sobbed holding me tighter than before.

"Are all of you finish with your sob-fest? Honestly, why do humans have to be so melodramatic?" That voice! I snapped my head to the center of the room. The same dirty blond hair and black ink eyes looked around in tedium. "YOU!" I roared forgetting all else but my fury. "Yes, hello again. I've come to take care of one last objective before I leave. Where are you keeping her now? It seems my Bringer has broken his oath." Daniel sighed with a sad expression. "Now I have to destroy the Deceiver's body before the plan fails. Where is it so I can make this quick?"

Alzack took out his loaded handguns. "Sunlight Shot!" The Gun Mage shot a bullet brighter than the sun as it landed in Daniel's back. The guild shook when smoke covered the surrounding area. Alzack hid Bisca and Asuka behind him when I saw Daniel. He was still standing as if nothing even happened. The Council Member looked at Alzack with a blank expression. "To be absolved, you first must suffer the consequences." Alzack suddenly became rigid when his eyes dilated to the point I couldn't see his pupils. His eyes rolled back when he slammed both his hands over his head.

Alzack screamed out his lungs.

The Gun Mage fell to his knees when his body started to seize as Bisca let out a cry. "Alzack! Alzack what's wrong!?" Bisca wailed trying to clutch for her husband. "Daddy!" Asuka cried out wiping her eyes with both hands. Daniel kept his focus on Alzack until Elfman jumped over his head. "Let me show you how to be a real man!" Elfman shouted transforming his right arm into Iron Bull. Daniel, without looking up, caught Elfman's punch. Elfman became flabbergasted when he tried to pull away from Daniel's grip. "Let go of me!" Daniel still kept his eyes on Alzack when he crushed Elfman's hand with his bare fist. A loud crunch echoed the Guild Hall as Elfman cried out in distress. "Elfman!" Lisanna screamed in distraught. MiraJane transformed into Satan Soul with rage boiling in her eyes. "Release my brother!" She ordered flying as more of my comrades jumped into the fight. I put Happy down. "He will pay..." I hissed under my breath. I ran around until I halted in front of the Council Member. My back faced Alzack who was still suffering from Daniel's gaze. "I know your secret Daniel! You're a traitor to your own kind! Serving for the Gods that hurt humans for their stupid plans and schemes!" Daniel finally released his gaze from Alzack. "Natsu, you still believe I am a human myself?" Daniel inquired evading the attacks that came all around him. I lit my hands on fire with the white flames of Solantir's powers. "If you're not human, then what are you!?" Daniel smiled.

He extended both hands out when an explosion of wind pushed everyone out. I planted my feet cutting the wind in half to avoid me as everyone else was thrown on all sides of the guild. It was only me and Daniel that stood in the center. "My true identity matters not. I only have one goal and that is to destroy the Deceiver's body. If her body is gone then she cannot return. Hades has betrayed all he has ever known in the name of love. It saddens me, I've lost my first child." I hunched lower to the ground with both fists out until I jumped start into a sprint. "What are you saying!?" I yelled out placing a hit into Daniel's abdomen. Daniel absorbed the hit when he placed his hand over where I struck him. "This body has taken a severe beating. It won't be able to hold me much longer." Daniel sighed once more when I kicked him in his back. The Council member was thrown forward until he rolled back up on his feet. "I swear, humans were one of my greatest mistakes."

"You talk too much." Daniel turned back, still observing with a straight face even after that attack. I didn't understand how he wasn't on the floor in pain. Even with my Soul Fire Daniel wasn't rolling around in utter agony. Did this guy even have a soul? "No, I don't have a soul if you're wondering." He replied crossing his arms. I extinguished my flames surprised he answered my question I didn't even ask. Daniel's black eyes furrowed when he perked up. "Interesting," He stated. "Such is hopeless when it comes to a human's devotion. Seems I'll have to eliminate your life to achieve my goal. It saddens me that I must take the life of an innocent soul, but you aren't innocent are you, Natsu Dragneel." Daniel returned his gaze back to me. The Council Member extended his arm out when a bright, powerful ball of energy began to form in his hand. There was no way I could avoid it, or even try to absorb the attack. This wasn't magic that I was facing, but an unknown form of energy I have never encountered before. I could only stand as I changed my skin into the scales of my father before I ran headfirst to somehow take Daniel with me. Perhaps I will be joining Lucy any second now when Daniel releases his attack. "Wait for me, Lucy. I'll be there soon."

I let out a roar when Daniel released the energy coming.

Until the sound of metal clashing rang throughout the Guild Hall which caused me to be hurled back. I hit the staircase suddenly stunned by the mysterious event that somehow saved my life. I blinked a couple of times struggling to look through the dust cloud that formed inside the Hall until it settled down. Daniel's hand was caught by a hand that held his wrist tightly. A person stood in front of him looking up with her hair swaying by the wind she caused. Her clothes, that were at one point a hospital gown, was the Goddess garment that appeared to shine like a bright star. Both arms displayed the blood of the Dark One, and her open back held the wings of a worn battled angel.

The person that stood, and stopped Daniel's powerful attack, was Lucy Heartfilia.

"You've failed." Lucy said with a strong, decreeing voice. "And if you ever, ever try to harm anyone I hold dear to me again," She warned raising herself with her wings. "Then the day you ever so wish to bring will be taken forth to your domain by none other than myself. I no longer fear you or any other God that wishes to erase me. Never, step foot in this Guild Hall. Or else, consider your very existence finished." Daniel, who just stared at her with a composed face, nodded. Lucy threw his hand away. "Leave my presence, and never return."

"Very well. Remember, the Day shall still come and devour every last thing that still lives. You may have awakened your true potential, but can you alone stand against the might of the Gods?" Daniel asked when his body began to grow...old? Lucy returned to the ground when she made her wings vanished. "Even against all you plan to bring to kill me, I will be ready to fight. Just as I promised: I will prevent the end of the Five Realms!" I let out a short gasp. Lucy's aura showed immense power as well as magic energy that continued to grow. She was a beacon of magic in a radius who knows how big. What she said somehow made her even stronger than before. Daniel's old face grinned. "We shall see...little sister." The body of Daniel StormCloud turned to dust, but there was still a presence that resided where he stood. Lucy glared at the spot for another moment, until the presence eventually disappeared.

Lucy sighed, wavering for a moment when she held her head. "I'm alright. You guys did a good job keeping each other Balanced. No collateral damage on my side." Lucy whispered smiling to herself when she changed back to her normal form. I stood up, confused whether I was somehow dreaming that she was standing before me; alive and breathing. The rest of the guild seemed to be doing the same when they looked up in disbelief. Lucy looked down with both of her fists clenched at her sides. "I'm so sorry, minna." Lucy whispered with shame. "I caused you all so much trouble and made you all worry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen." The blonde brought her head up, suddenly looking at me with blood-shed tears in her eyes.

'Do you think you can ever forgive me, Natsu?'

I heard her asked within my thoughts. The Souls Connection was stronger than ever. I felt all her emotions from guilt to grief and even despair. Lucy lost someone...someone that was very important to her.

Hades.

"Luce." My voice broke saying her name. I believed I would never be able to say that name again or even hear her soft angelic voice say my name. Her fog-filled eyes gazed at me when I took closer steps to her. I only wanted to touch her and see for myself if she was even real. I had to see evidence that I somehow didn't die by Daniel's attack and was somehow in Heaven. I had to see for myself if any of this was even true; though I was too terrified to find the truth. "You can't be real..." I said with a sob coming out of my throat. "Because, your heart was about to stop. I didn't even get to tell you goodbye." Lucy took one step when I nearly jerked away. She noticed my small steps and cautious movements when she gently put her hands up. "Natsu, I'm here. I don't know how, but I woke up. I'm alive..."

"I wish you were, Lucy. I want to believe it so much that it kills me." Lucy took another step. "To actually see you moving, breathing and calling my name! It makes me so happy that it provokes the pain in my heart to grow even more!" I must be dead. It's too good to be true to see Lucy alive. "Natsu, please, just grab my hand and see for yourself. This is real. I'm back..." Lucy extended her hand out. "I was lost in the Abyss for so long, a forgotten soul with no hopes of remembering who she was. In reality, I was looking for you." Her pink lips showed a gorgeous smile. "I was waiting for you all this time, Natsu Dragneel. I knew even there at the end, I knew you could bring me back. Don't keep me waiting anymore."

'Take my hand, Natsu. Please, take it and show yourself that this is all real.'

I slowly brought my hand up, shaking as if it was a cold, winter day when I searched into her eyes one last time. Lucy's smile never wavered. "I love you, Natsu." I took her hand.

She was real.

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:)

As always, love you all.❤️