Author's Note: Hello everyone! I am so so sorry for the ridiculously long delay in posting this final chapter. I really hope you forgive me. I have been struggling with my mental health for a long time and that does make it challenging to focus on writing sometimes, especially when I get down on myself about it. I wrote the beginning of this chapter right after I posted the last chapter. I loved this scene so much and I really wanted to give you all a deeper look at Zeref and Natsu's relationship as well as a deeper dive into Natsu's past. After writing that, I struggled to write the final fight scene between the slayers and Zeref. I wanted each character to play a part in the battle and I wanted to do this story justice. I do plan on going through the entire story during this quarantine to make edits, add more detail, and potentially add a few more chapters in the beginning to set the story up better. I really appreciate any and all comments/critiques you all have for me. This is the final chapter, though I do plan on writing an epilogue that I will post next week to wrap everything up. Thank-you for sticking with me and giving my writing a chance. I hope you enjoy this chapter and as always, let me know what you think! (:

-Jess

P.S. I hope you all are staying safe and healthy during this scary time in the world!

June 2nd

Lucy

A giggle escaped Lucy's lips as she let Natsu drag her around the streets of the small town. The pair was guided by the moonlight poking through the swirls of gray that stretched across the nighttime sky. From his buzzing energy, to the heat escaping him in gentle pulses, Lucy couldn't even feel the bitter cold from the gusts of wind that blew through the alleyways. When Natsu woke her from her slumbers in the plush grass of the clearing they settled in, she hadn't even questioned him. He was smiling, his eyes bright and she knew that whatever it was that he wanted to show her, it was urgent, but not because they were in any kind of danger.

"Come on Luce! They might run out of the Chile hot chocolate flavor! Margo said that flavor always goes first and then I'll get stuck with the inferior spiced cinnamon flavor!" Natsu picked up his pace, dragging Lucy behind him. She tried her best to keep up, her feet nearly slipping out from under her.

"Natsu! Are we going to get ice cream? What ice cream shop is even open this late?" Lucy couldn't help but laugh in her bewilderment.

"I tend to wander the streets of local towns at night and you can't hide late night snacks from this nose." He tapped his nose with his pointer finger, grinning over his shoulder.

"Wh-" Lucy couldn't even get the full word out before they halted to a stop. She smacked into his back, his solid frame keeping them upright.

"We're here! Luce, look!" He bounced around, throwing the door open before dragging Lucy inside.

"Natsu! Glad you made it!" A lovely young woman with auburn locks tucked into a braid smiled cheekily at the pair. Lucy poked her head out from behind Natsu and the woman smiled wider. "You must be Lucy! Natsu told me all about you! Come and see the flavors we have! He was debating between two for you." The woman beckoned for Lucy to step forward before handing Natsu a cup of ice cream. He cheered before hopping over to the toppings bar. "We have an unlimited toppings bar from midnight to two. The college kids get a kick out of it, as does your boyfriend apparently." She giggled glancing at Natsu as he dumped a mixture of sprinkles, chocolate chips, and red hots on his ice cream. Lucy couldn't help but laugh with the worker, not even wasting air to correct her.

"I shouldn't be surprised by this, but he gets me every time." She smiled before glancing at the two flavors the worker laid out in front of her.

"So this one is a honey vanilla swirl with graham cracker pieces. This one is strawberry french toast with swirls of maple."

"Which one did he think I would like?" Lucy inquired, leaning to observe both flavors.

"My lips are sealed. We made a bet so I have to honor the agreement." She mused and Lucy bit her lip.

"I'll have the strawberry french toast one, please." Though they were both very tempting, Lucy's mind wandered back to the french toast at the diner Wendy had worked at. It's what she had been craving over the past month. Gajeel's improvised smoked bread with maple syrup just didn't live up to it, though she was grateful for the attempt.

"YES!" Natsu blurted from behind her and Lucy startled, fighting the urge to kick him the moment he approached her. "I knew you'd pick that one." He mused, placing a swift kiss on her cheek before extending a hand to Margo.

"Damn it. Alright, alright. Even though this was rigged from the start because you would obviously know your girlfriend better than me, I'll honor my agreement." Margo shook his hand before lifting the tub of chile hot chocolate ice cream out of the freezer. "There's about a quarter left and it's all yours." She dropped it onto the counter and Natsu heaved it into his arms before sprinting to the toppings bar. Lucy's jaw nearly unhinged as she watched with her mouth agape. "The man knows what he wants." Margo grinned and Lucy sputtered a laugh.

"He's unbelievable." She spoke in amusement and Margo shrugged.

"His stomach is quite impressive,"

"It's a bottomless pit. And he's void of any self control." Lucy added and Margo giggled.

"That's a dangerous combination." She mused and Lucy nodded.

"Tell me about it." She huffed as Margo placed a bowl of ice cream in front of her.

"Help yourself to any toppings. Natsu prepaid earlier in the week." Margo insisted before winking and stepping into the back. Lucy wandered over to the counter, surprised by the array of toppings the ice cream shop offered. She added caramel sauce, strawberries, mini butterscotch chips, and whipped cream. She paused for a moment, taking a step back to look at her masterpiece. With a last second decision, she shook on some rainbow sprinkles and followed the smell of chocolate and spice until she found Natsu in the corner furthest from the other patrons. They were mostly drunk young adults, probably close to her own age. They were all laughing and singing off-key to the latest pop song playing over the speakers. They were giggling about the party they had just been at, discussing who kissed who and which of their classmates got the drunkest. That could have been her life, had she chosen it to be. As she looked at Natsu, shoveling ice cream into his mouth with a childish grin on his face, she found herself grateful for the path she chose. As she took the seat across from him, he paused from his conquest.

"Don't stop on my account." She teased.

"Try it." He encouraged her to eat and she smiled before taking a bite. Her eyes widened as the flavors danced on her taste buds. Sweet, savory, warm, and decadent. She moaned around the spoon softly and Natsu's smile widened.

"Natsu, this is amazing! How'd you find this place?"

"I followed my nose. When Cobra takes watch, I tend to wander. I don't sleep much and Gajeel grumbles when I stray, so I wait until it's Cobra's turn. I found this last night when we were by the caverns. Gajeel had us take the long way around town to avoid the crowds from the university, so we didn't travel too far from here. I told Margo we would be here tonight and we made a bet on which flavor you would like best since I narrowed it down to two. She bet me the rest of the chile hot chocolate ice cream."

"What would she have gotten if she won?" Lucy was curious and he smirked.

"I would do all the dishes." He explained and she nodded.

"Seems like a fair trade." She shrugged, pausing to savor the last bit of sweetness. She was almost tempted to get up and ask for another one, but she refrained until Natsu shoved a spoon in her face.

"You gotta try this one." His smile was so bright and innocent that Lucy couldn't deny his request, even though she knew she would regret it. And regret it, she did. The moment the spoon touched her tongue, her mouth was on fire. The heat shot down her throat, settling in her core. She coughed, trying to chew the hodgepodge of candies so she wouldn't choke. The chocolate helped soothe the burn a little, but it was no match for the heat of the extra toppings Natsu had added. Tears ran down Lucy's cheeks as she coughed, her body shaking. Natsu shot up from his seat and returned in a moment with a glass of water in hand. She chugged it and had one last cough before her throat stopped spasming.

"Why did you pick that one?" Her voice was hoarse and he smiled softly, his gaze far away.

"It was mine and Zeref's favorite when we were kids." Lucy froze. It was difficult to imagine the dragon slayer and demon king as children eating ice cream, and her mental images were startling. She only saw Grace's recreation of Zeref and while she trusted the accuracy, she didn't really get a good look to begin with. "Zeref...he wasn't always a monster, yah know? He was my older brother. I looked up to him and wanted to learn from him. I always got us into trouble and every time, he took the blame. He was always fighting for us, scavenging for us, finding shelter for us. He got whatever he could for meals and somehow, we always got some kind of spiced chocolate ice cream on my birthday. He never let me down." Natsu's fists clenched and Lucy gently slipped her fingers into the fist resting on the table. She massaged his fingers until he released the tension enough for her to slide her palm against his. "Then I found Igneel and Zeref wanted nothing to do with the dragons. He lashed out, almost killing Wendy. Grandeeney nearly ate him whole, but Igneel and Cobra stopped her. They banished him and I didn't see him for over three decades until he showed up in Hell to claim the throne. He found me near the gate and cut me down without hesitation. He was fueled by anger, hatred, and abandonment. He never forgave me for staying with the dragons and he gave into our true nature, letting the demon king at the time twist his soul into an entity unrecognizable." He took a shaky breath, squeezing Lucy's hand. "Then, there was Mavis."

"Mavis?" The name rolled off Lucy's tongue and yet, it was heavy. A warmth settled in her core as if she was old friends with this Mavis.

"She was Fairy Tail's first guild master and Zeref's soulmate." Natsu huffed and Lucy couldn't fight the soft gasp that escaped her. "She had such a strong spirit. It was difficult to believe the rumors of Fairy Tail and the forbidden love between their first master and the Black Wizard, which was how Zeref was known across the land. They were true though, they were all true. He destroyed everything in his path, everything except Mavis. She was the only thing that could stop him from putting an end to everything and everyone. She came sprinting through the trees and slammed into him. She had thrown her arms around him without a care in the world. He was a ticking time bomb though and he killed her, his power too strong. She took the hit so I didn't have to. The Black Wizard had killed his beloved and if he was broken before? He was completely shattered at that moment. He forgot all about me and slaughtered demons in Hell. He took down the demon king and claimed his throne. His conquest was successful, but he forgot one key detail. He hadn't finished me off. Igneel had found me and the dragons gave up their physical forms to seal him away in the depths of Hell. After that, Wendy found me. We trained together and she helped put me back together. Cobra and I banded together and sought out Gajeel. Then we found Sting, Rogue, and Laxus. With Laxus, came Acnologia and God Serena. They were furious that the dragons were gone and they were hellbent on bringing them back. That's what our mission became until Acnologia went off the deep end. He wanted to become a dragon and he got his wish, but it was short lived. He miscalculated and didn't expect us all to turn on him. It wasn't even a choice at that point. It was more of a responsibility." He sucked down more air, his body vibrating with energy and frustration.

"Natsu…"

"I want you to know. I want you to know where I came from and that my brother...he was once a decent being who cared for me." He shut his eyes, his shoulders hunching forward.

"I can't even imagine how hard this is for you…" Lucy had more to say, but he cut her off.

"How hard it is for me? That's the kicker. It's not hard at all. That thing down there, it's not Zeref. It's not my brother. It's the shell of a great and powerful demon that once used their powers for good. He protected me and protected Mavis. He supported us in everything we did and his own selfishness took everything away from him. I feel no guilt in bringing him down. It's what he deserves and it's my responsibility. I'm sure I'll get what's for me some day, but I can't worry about that now." He finished his last bite of ice cream, a sigh escaping his lips.

"You take all these responsibilities on your shoulder, never expecting anything in return. Every choice you make is to protect someone else. When this is all over and we restore balance to this world, can you promise me something?" She pushed their bowls to the side, reaching across the table to hold his hands in her own. His eyes fluttered open, meeting her gaze. "Promise me you will do one thing for yourself. Just one." She smiled softly and he entwined their fingers, a gentle smile taking shape on his lips. He pulled her to her feet, keeping one hand entangled with her's while he cleaned the table and returned the bowls to Margo. He thanked her and bid her a goodnight. She watched the pair leave with a smile on her face. Lucy let Natsu pull her through the winding streets and alleyways until they stopped in the town center. It was quiet, only the moon watching them as Natsu gently caressed Lucy's cheek.

"I already did something for myself." His voice was a soft whisper, carried to her ears by the breeze.

"Natsu?" She gasped softly as he pressed his forehead to her own. His warmth enveloped her and her eyes were wide as he shut his own. Their noses brushed and he took a deep breath.

"I found you. That's all I need." His eyes opened, the deep onyx staring into her soul. Lucy pushed up onto her tiptoes, hoping to close the distance and press her lips to his. He had other plans though, his lips brushing her forehead before he took a step back and entwined their hands once again. "Come on. Cobra's watch is almost over and we don't want Gajeel to find us awake." He smiled at her before leading her back through the town and into the forest. Lucy's eyes stayed trained on Natsu's back, a rose petal smile on her lips. Natsu was all she needed too and she would never look back to what could've been had she chosen to go to college or settle in a different town. This was her life now and Natsu was her future.

Lucy jolted awake, her body sprawled out in a crater. Her pulse echoed in her ears as she came to. The memory had left her a bit disoriented, but her brain tried to piece together the events that had transpired prior to her ending up alone in a crater. The last thing she remembered was opening Taurus's gate and running with Natsu, fire quickening their speed. They had cut through many Buracktors together, fighting the now humanoid creatures until they were out of breath. It seemed like it would never end, but it did. It ended with them pushing through a forest and climbing into a cavern, to find the demon king's throne, Zeref clapping beside it with a smirk on his lips. He looked entirely human, a carbon copy of the man Grace had manifested. Natsu had faltered, stepping back as he took a deep breath. The momentum had dissipated from the group, all eyes on Zeref. Lucy had stolen a glance at Natsu and then her body was sent flying. That's right. Zeref had said he would get rid of the distractions. She had no idea how long she had been unconscious, but she needed to get moving. Natsu needed her and the others.

Lucy shoved herself to her feet, scanning her surroundings. There were craters similar to her own scattered about.

"Grace!" Lucy sprinted to the closest one, noticing the tennis shoe sticking up above the rock. A low groan was her response and she knelt down to look closer. Grace was wrapped in Cobra's arms, his talons locked to shelter her body.

"Lucy! I'm kind of stuck." She fidgeted, pushing against the talons, but there was no use. Grace was stuck until Cobra regained consciousness. "Don't worry about us. Go find Natsu. He needs you. We will catch up." Grace insisted, wiggling in the dragon slayer's grasp until she was able to see Cobra's face.

"I'll come back for you!" Lucy assured her before sprinting off.

"Bunny girl! We're coming with you." Gajeel and Wendy shoved themselves up while Erza dropped from a tree. Jellal was on Erza's back and she used a sword to hold herself up. Lucy nodded, hoping the pull she felt was towards Natsu and not to anything else. When it came to Natsu, she trusted her instincts. Lucy opened Capricorn's gate and felt his magic flow through her. She needed the speed boost and she kicked up her pace.

"Dark blast inferno." Had she been less focused on Natsu's bloody and battered body, she would have seen the attack was directed right at her. Alas, she couldn't pull her eyes from her dragonslayer who was hardly holding himself up.

"LUCY!" Natsu roared, his body enveloped by golden flames. He wouldn't make it to her on time and Lucy didn't have time to dwell on her decision. When she had left the others behind, she had sought out the beads of water Gray and Juvia had gifted her. They would save her life today.

"Aquarius!" She shouted, the magical energy pulsing from her fingers and melding with the water soaking her hand. The gate shot open, Aquarius taking shape behind her as her clothing shifted. "Water barrier!" She growled, a glowing orb surrounding her body as a last ditch effort to protect herself from whatever Zeref threw her way.

"Bubble shot!" Aquarius retaliated, her magic forming orbs of water that rocketed from her urn. Lucy had no idea if they hit their target because the force of the impact of Zeref's power with her own sent her flying backwards. Her orb of protection shattered as her body smacked against the harsh rock. "You better stand back up and fight girlie." Aquarius snapped over her shoulder, positioning herself between Lucy and any attack that might come their way. Lucy shook her head, trying to focus her eyes before using the rocks behind her to push herself to her feet. Just over Aquarius's shoulder, Lucy could see Zeref shoving himself to his feet, his robes clinging to his skin. Though he didn't appear harmed in any way, Aquarius's magic had caught him off guard enough for the others to catch up. Natsu wasn't alone anymore.

"Iron God Sword!" Gajeel's voice echoed off the cavern walls. His talons clasped tightly over his head, forming a glistening sword. The impact of the blade shattered the ground, creating a chasm as the force of it sent Zeref's body flying backwards. A more alert Cobra suddenly took shape in front of him, his palm smacking the demon king directly in the face.

"Sound palm." He whispered, Zeref's body slamming back into the wall, the rock caving in around him. He destroyed layers upon layers of stone and Cobra immediately distanced himself from the splintering rock. Zeref slid down, his body impaled by shards of rock, black ooze tendriling down his limbs. He was cackling, amused by the dragon slayers' attacks. He shoved himself to his feet, stepping forward. Bright lightning shot past Lucy, wrapping around Natsu before shooting straight for Zeref.

"Roaring thunder." Laxus hissed, his fist slamming into Zeref's jaw. Lightning engulfed his body, causing it to convulse as it shot backwards once again. They were trying to keep him pinned to the wall, always on the defense rather than being able to attack them. It was clever and Lucy was eager to assist. She would have to wait her turn, though.

"Sky Dragon Wave Wind!" A roaring tornado took shape below Zeref, sweeping him off his feet, courtesy of Wendy. The sky dragon slayer bolted forward. "First sky arrow!" A whirlwind engulfed her leg before she slammed it down on Zeref's core, slamming his body into the ground. She gracefully flipped backwards, her body swaying from the depletion of magic. Erza shot forward, pink armor shielding her body as she sprinted through the dragon slayers.

"Fairy Burst!" She swung her swords down and the energy collided with a dark orb of energy forming between Zeref's palms. The impact was catastrophic, sending Erza and Zeref flying. The walls of the cavern were caving in around them. The dragon slayers shot back, Lucy unmoving because of the dragon slayer standing between her and the impact. Natsu. With the initial force gone, Natsu spun and scooped Lucy into his arms, shooting out of the cavern to where Happy and Grace were begrudgingly waiting. Natsu dropped Lucy down next to Grace, meeting her gaze in one swift movement.

"Stay here." He growled, a demand rather than a request. Lucy couldn't even attempt to argue before a dark blast sent them all scattering through the lively forest. The trees seemed to scream around them, the shrill sound cutting through Lucy's thoughts. Grace dragged her out from under the trees and Lucy was just able to process Jellal flinging himself at Zeref who had emerged from the rubble that was once the lair of the demon king. Lucy couldn't even comprehend the power flowing from Jellal as he manipulated different elements, wielding their power to slam into Zeref. The demon king smirked, his hand shooting out to clutch Jellal around his throat. He slammed him into the rock wall, staring into his eyes.

"Jellal. How pitiful. You were supposed to be my successor. We had so much fun together. You built my tower. You manipulated all those people and collected so many decadent souls for me to indulge in. Such a waste. I had such high hopes for you and now, you're just the shell of the wizard you once were. You rivaled my magic back then, before that miserable Fairy Queen found you. Erza Scarlet, you're next to die after this traitor. You'll pay for unraveling my plans." His voice was calm and steady, his words soaked in hatred. A dark aura surrounded both of them and the last thing Lucy saw was Jellal's smile. Erza shot past everyone, her body enveloped by the purgatory armor. Her blade cut through the dark aura surrounding the pair, her sword digging directly into Zeref's shoulder.

"Your biggest mistake in all of this is underestimating Fairy Tail and the dragon slayers. You will fall." She shouted before throwing herself backwards to avoid a collision with the dark orb in Zeref's free hands. Jellal had dropped to the ground, free from Zeref's grasp. He launched himself backwards, his arms on top of one another.

"Grand Chariot!" The light from his attack was blinding, the impact sending Zeref's body flying, wiping the smirk clean off his face. Jellal was breathing heavily, his arms still in position for the spell. "I am slowly becoming the powerful wizard I once was and I am doing it without your desires and trickery clouding my thoughts and judgement. This is only the beginning. It's too bad that you won't be alive to see my full power return." Jellal shouted, his volume lowering with each word and each harsh breath. He slumped forward, Erza moving to stand at his side to hold him up. Zeref could hardly stand, his limbs shaking violently from the impact. He raised his hand to wipe the blood from his lips and he chuckled darkly. That attack seemed to do the most damage and Lucy had an idea. Light was the demon king's weakness. She could work with that. She swiftly closed Aquarius's gate, thanking her oldest and most trusted spirit before opening Loke and Virgo's gates. She had only done this once before and it was an accident. She could only hope that it would work once again. She felt their magic meld together within her, her eyes shutting as her star dress shifted. When her eyes opened, they fell on the crossed keys drawn on the back of her left hand.

"Lion Maiden!" She let both Loke and Virgo's magic escape her body, pillars of light rising from the depths below Zeref to shoot through his body. He screamed, the light piercing through him before he shot upwards. The magic once pouring from Lucy's body shot backwards, the ricochet of power snapping the gates shut. The star dress vanished as Lucy fell forward onto her knees. She could just hold herself up from face planting. "Focus on Zeref." She snapped at Natsu, sounding harsher than she intended. Her consciousness was fading and she put all her trust in her friends and her beloved. He could end this, but he had to give the battle his entire focus. Natsu nodded, smiling softly at her before using flames to catapult himself at his brother. He raised a flaming fist, smashing it across Zeref's face. Zeref's body collapsed against the wall and his eyes darkened.

"I'm done playing your game. You and your pathetic friends will regret ever returning to hell. The dragons' magic can't protect you from me. Nothing can." Darkness swirled around Zeref as he clenched his fists, shoving himself to his feet. "Deat-"

"Natsu!" Laxus cut Zeref off, a bolt of lightning arcing across the battlefield. Lucy hadn't even realized that the others were busy fighting Buracktors that had formed from the rock walls. Grace and Cobra had been protecting her. Happy was working with Grace, lifting her body to dodge the jaws of the creatures. She turned her focus back on Natsu who swallowed the bolt of lighting before licking his lips and slamming his fist into Zeref's face before he could finish his next spell.

"Lightning Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" He growled, the heat and lightning exploding around Zeref from the impact. Despite the power rolling off Natsu, Zeref was still standing and he smirked at his brother.

"Repent." Darkness exploded under Natsu as Wendy moved to stand between the brothers and the rest of the group. A wall of wind collided with the dark energy, but it was swallowed by Zeref's power, sending the smallest dragon slayer flying. Her body collapsed on the ground and Jellal sprinted forward to shield her from the impact. Erza bolted, her body covered in Adamantine armor. The metal on her arms formed a shield and she braced herself against the impact. The darkness had been slowed down by Wendy's power and she was able to hold her ground until the spell subsided. Her body collapsed forward, her armor vanishing. Jellal had left Wendy in Gajeel's arms before rushing forward to Erza. Lucy pulled her gaze from her friends to see Zeref sitting over Natsu's battered and now human body. Dark energy formed in his hand and he smiled down at his younger brother.

"This is how it has to be Natsu. This is how it ends for you. Once you are dead, a new era begins. We could have ruled Hell and the pitiful human realm together if you had just agreed to it. I'm so sorry brother, but you made your choice." He whispered harshly, tears forming in his eyes before slipping down his cheeks.

"I'm so sorry Luce." Natsu's whisper brushed her ears and she shoved herself to her feet.

"NATSU!" It couldn't end like this. Not now, not here.

"Zeref." A soft, gentle voice called out from behind the brothers. Zeref froze, the dark energy vanishing as he pulled his eyes away from Natsu. A young girl stood behind them, a gentle smile on her face. She was barefoot, wearing only a soft pink dress. Her long blonde hair nearly reached her heels and she clasped her hands in front of her.

"Mavis." Zeref pushed himself to his feet, stepping towards the girl with his hand raised. The girl nodded, raising her arms delicately. Small rabbits formed around her, deer prancing around her as birds took shape on her arms. Their song echoed through hell, the trees repeating the melody back to them. Lucy shoved herself to her feet, noting Grace's stare locked on Mavis. This was the woman Zeref loved, the creator of Fairy Tail, the one Zeref killed. Despite her existence being created from memory, her peaceful magic pulsed from her form. Lucy could feel it. Zeref was in awe, his fingertips stretching out to brush Mavis's hand. Lucy had to do something, anything to help Natsu. She needed to keep Zeref stationary long enough for Natsu to regroup and she needed to get him fire.

"Sagittarius." Lucy whispered, feeling the archer's power flow through her with the last ounce of magic she possessed. She fought against her aching limbs and aimed an arrow at Zeref. "Happy, I need that torch." The bewildered cat blinked furiously, raising the torch closer to Lucy. "Please work." She whispered, letting the arrow fly. It arched over Natsu's now crouched form and pierced Zeref in the stomach. It pinned him to the wall and he gasped, blood pooling in his mouth. Fire erupted around him and Natsu launched forward, sucking in the roaring embers around him.

"Igneel, please." He whispered and golden flames enveloped him as his body shifted, scales and spikes emerging to cover his skin. His eyes were golden and blazing. Igneel took shape behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Natsu's eyes shut and he pressed his fists together in front of him. Lucy fell back on her butt, the last swirl of magic escaping her. "Goodbye, brother." He growled, though Zeref's eyes were still trained on Mavis. Golden flames enveloped Natsu, expanding outwards as he shouted. "Fire Dragon King's Purgatory!"

Heat and energy exploded outwards, though the majority was directed at the demon king. Lucy gathered Happy in her arms, throwing them into the trees. Their screams were almost too much for Lucy as they burned, but it couldn't be helped. The others had also retreated to the forest. Grace had collapsed and Cobra had grabbed her before joining Lucy. Gajeel held Wendy closely to him while Jellal had carried Erza into the forest. Laxus had tried to counteract the flames with his own magic, but it was too much for him and shot backwards, caving in one of the trees as bark shattered around him. Fire licked the forest, though the initial force had subsided. Lucy shoved herself from the trees, frantically searching for her beloved.

"Natsu!" She shouted, stumbling through the shattered rock and bodies of Buracktors littering the ground. She spotted spikes of pink and sprinted towards them. She fell to her knees, turning Natsu's body over and pulling him to rest on her lap. She held him tightly to her, her frame shaking from the emotion wracking through her body. Her tears soaked his hair as she held onto him for dear life.

"You don't happen to have any food tucked away in that outfit, do yah?" A soft grumble brushed her chest and she lessened her grip on him. He slowly pushed himself up, a grin on his lips.

"Natsu!" Lucy threw herself against him, tackling him to the ground. He grunted from the impact, though a chuckle escaped him. "I'm so happy that you're okay. Never scare me like that again." Lucy sniffled, clutching onto him. His fingers tangled in her hair and held her close to him as she let the tears flow freely. Any one of them could have lost their lives today.

"I promise, Luce. Zeref is gone. It's over. We can go home." Lucy leaned back to look into his eyes and he gave her a reassuring grin. Lucy leaned forward, cupping his cheek with her bruised hand. She yanked his face forward, slamming her lips to his. They melded together, warmth spreading through their connection.

"Based off of your, uh, celebration… I take it Zeref is dead?" Gajeel cackled, causing the pair to separate. Natsu brushed his nose against Lucy's before looking up. Together, they stood with their hands entwined. Gajeel stepped out of the trees with Wendy on his back. She was conscious and smiling at her friends. Jellal stepped out next, supporting Erza. Cobra was next with Grace on his back. She smiled at Lucy when their eyes met. Happy was passed out on her shoulder and Lucy couldn't help but laugh.

"Well?" Laxus shouted from behind them and Natsu turned to meet his gaze.

"He's with Mavis now. Igneel's power incinerated him. He won't walk through Hell ever again. We made sure of it." Natsu clutched his chest, hand positioned right above his heart.

"Good riddance. Now let's get out of this forsaken place." Laxus spat, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Ready Luce?" Natsu looked down to meet Lucy's gaze and she smiled softly at her dragon slayer. She reached up and gently wiped the tears from his cheeks with her thumb.

"Let's go home." Her smile widened, the pair leading the way to Fairy Tail. Though the group members went their separate ways, they still kept in contact. Everything they had been through connected them, entwining their lives together. One thing they all agreed on about their time in Hell, was that they would never look back.