On the fifth day of Christmas, my very apologetic true love gave to me...

Comments remind me to post. I own nothing.

Zeref was furious. So much so that the rest of the rest of the Shields, with the exception of August, Invel, and Larcade, were making themselves scarce. Even the servants who weren't usually subject to his fits of wrath were walking on eggshells.

While Acnologia was dealing with Emery, Wall Eehto had been with Motherglare as they worked their way through Bellum. Then Motherglare disappeared. At first, Zeref was afraid that Acnologia had killed Emery. He'd seen the bruises that dotted her skin but he saw no reason he should be bothered by it other than to remind Acnologia not to kill her.

His spy within White Sea informed him the moment they left. He'd known in that moment that Acnologia had lost control of Emery. He felt confident that no one else would've called Master Pradesh and informed him where his mate was.

He'd sent Serena after her. Just as he would with any of his Shields, he sensed when Serena died. The only logical explanation was Emery. Only she could've killed him before his magic spike enough that they sensed it. He'd gone to Neinhart to confirm it.

"Where is he?" Zeref said.

"In your study, my lord," August said.

"I want her dead," he said as he stormed into his study. "I want her dead and the lacrima removed from her chest."

"She hasn't been using her magic, so I haven't been able to track her." Acnologia's anger was making his magic bubble just below the surface.

"Then don't track her. Track the angel. I doubt she'll go far from him. Take one of the Shields with you."

"I want Invel."

Zeref arched an eyebrow before understanding why. He knew, of course, that Emery had expressed an attraction to his assistant. That had led an irate dragon to nearly kill him.

"Kill the angel as well."

.~*~.

Zen landed in the clearing with a basket of food. While Mr. Elan didn't prod, he seemed to have guessed that Zen was feeding someone in trouble. It had taken longer than he'd meant for to get out of the kitchen, but Zen was appreciative for the man. Mr. Elan went through each container and listed what foods were perishable and which weren't.

It took a few minutes for her to appear. She looked as if she hadn't had the chance to slow down and he was cursing himself for not thinking to grab some clothes from his sisters' rooms. It didn't help that it was the end of November and the air was starting to get nippier.

She ran to him before skidding to a stop. "Can I hug you?"

"Yeah." He wrapped his arms around her and felt her shiver. Somehow, he knew that it was mostly the contact between their magics. He let go, unbuttoned his shirt, draped it over her shoulders, then pulled her back into his chest. "It's not much but I didn't think to grab something from Xally."

"No. It's fine. I just wanna stay here for a minute." The words were barely out of her mouth when her stomach grumbled, and she felt his chest move as he held back the chuckle.

"I brought food."

"Yup. Definitely an angel," she murmured as she let go and her gaze diverted to the basket he'd dropped.

"It's okay."

She dropped to the basket and started tearing open the containers. He frowned, having seen that behavior in women brought to him when he was in Skys Reach. The women were barely fed and he often shared his food with them, even if he wouldn't risk his seed.

He sat down and gently reached out to her. "It's okay. There's food in there for you to take with you…if you aren't willing to come home with me."

She stopped, her hand lowering. "I can't." In her head, as she looked at her hands, they were covered in blood. Tears appeared in her eyes. "I can't. So many are dead and it's my fault. I don't get it. Why are you here?"

"What-"

She shoved away the food and stood up. "Why are you being so kind? Why do you act like you care?"

"Because I do."

"Why?"

"I-"

"He's killed them all. My entire hometown. He killed them all. And he enjoyed it," she sobbed.

It had been stupid but with no better ideas, she'd gone home. There were coworkers that she could've crashed on their couches or gotten some clothes from. Instead, she found carnage. Most of the buildings were still standing. What Acnologia had wanted was the streets filled with blood. He'd even desecrated her parents' graves.

"You should stay away. I should stay away."

Remembering something that he'd seen Kaleb do, Zen stood up and cupped her cheeks so that she had to look at him. His fingers almost recoiled at how hot her skin was.

"You're feverish."

"Yup," she said softly, pressing her face into his comparatively cool palms. "Burning from the inside out. Dalviama gives me a day or two. Tops."

"There's gotta be-"

"Well, I guess Zeref really is a genius," Acnologia taunted as he and Invel popped into the clearing.

"You doubted him?"

"Meh. Just wish he was wrong more often."

.~*~.

Rhiannon and Vander were doing outdoor parkour in the woods. Surrounded by her element, she was more agile, and Vander wished he'd thought of that before inflicting Laxus and Emzadi's training regimen on her. He could see the pride in the fact that she was out-pacing him as they played a version of tag that was slowly decreasing the amount of clothing they were each wearing.

She had just launched herself off a tree to avoid him only to freeze mid-push. He'd barely gotten there in time to stop her from splitting her head open.

"What is it?"

"Acnologia."

Immediately the link was established with Kaleb and then connected with the rest of their siblings.

He's got Zen and Emery in their clearing. There's a Shield with them.

Back at White Sea, Lucy walked into Kaleb's office and plopped down on the couch.

Any ideas on which Shield? Lucy asked.

Nae. The Earth is cold though.

Okay. Emi, Cris, head there now. Laxus, grab Natsu. I have feeling we're going to need heat. Rhia, I need you be my eyes and ears.

"What are you doing?" Kaleb asked as she laid back with her eyes closed.

"Visualizing. Now, hush."

.~*~.

Zen grabbed Emery and launched them into sky. They didn't get far before his wings froze and they fell back to the ground. He held her to his chest to ensure that she didn't get hurt.

"Sorry, Icarus," Invel said as Acnologia yanked Emery to him. Invel pulled Zen into an upright position and incased him in ice.

Emzadi, Cristoff, and Meredy appeared. They jerked away as Acnologia roared at them. The roar was followed by Invel throwing up an ice wall.

"Make a globe," Acnologia ordered. "I want to enjoy this."

Invel nodded and made an ice casing around them with little holes for air. Through them, they could hear the now two fire dragon slayers trying to melt Invel's un-meltable ice as well as roars from Cristoff and Laxus.

"Will the globe hold long enough to freeze the archangel to death?"

"Yes," Invel said, not hiding the sneer.

"Stop! Don't do this!" Emery yelled, thrashing against Acnologia's arms. She wasn't sure which man she was yelling at.

There was a hint of fear in Zen's eyes as Invel completely incased him. It took a lot to kill an archangel, but he also knew that he had frostbite on his back where his sprouted from. Invel's ice was cold enough that he was already struggling to feel his fingertips.

Acnologia released her. She crumpled to the ground and crawled over Zen.

"Please, stop," she begged Invel. She saw the flicker of remorse, but he didn't move. "You don't have to do this."

"Lord Zeref has called for both of your deaths."

"And you're about to burn out, aren't you?" Acnologia had a sneer on his face as she turned to him. There were paths in the dirt on her cheeks from the tears as she shakily stood up and walked to him.

"You knew, didn't you? That the lacrima would kill me."

"Yes. It's why Zeref stopped God Serena from implanting it in himself. We're gonna-"

Emery kissed him. She poured the pain of every bruise, every cut, the scars that never healed into the anger that was pulling out his soul.

"Goodbye, my love," she said against his lips before continuing the kiss.

Taking all of him now will kill you, Dalviama warned.

I know.

She held onto him as she followed his body down. There would be nothing left of him, she decided. They couldn't risk some part of his soul remaining.

The dagger from Joya was still in her boot. She pulled it out and plunged it into his heart. Then, staring at the blood pooling around the blade, she started sobbing. Quiet, body-shaking sobs as she placed her head on his stomach.

Invel resisted the urge to go to her. He was her mate. He'd known it since she first woke up and her eyes flashed red when she touched him. With his emperor's determination to win back his brother, he'd done the research into dragon slayers. It was why, of all the Shields, she'd liked him best. And not just because he could ice her numerous injuries, as Dimaria and Ajeel liked to say.

He asked her about it once. Asked her if she listened to her dragon. Emery had said that the dragon didn't like Acnologia, so she usually didn't listen to it. He'd known the dragon's history with Acnologia so that didn't surprise him. However, he also knew the narrative Zeref and Acnologia spun, so he didn't say anything else.

Between attacks, he dropped the globe.

"She'll die in the next couple of hours if the lacrima isn't extracted," he said coldly. "It's between the fourth and fifth ribs on her right side."

"Why are you helping?" Laxus said.

"I'm not." With that, he disappeared.

"I think that was the Winter General," Rhiannon said.

Cristoff immediately moved to Emery while Emzadi pulled Natsu over to work on freeing Zen. Laxus, realizing more healers would be needed, left to retrieve Wendy and Chelia. Without Invel maintaining the ice, the fire slayers made quick work of the block of ice holding Zen.

Cristoff had Kaleb call ahead to the Citadel. The healers there were better trained for removing the lacrima. He and Lucy would meet them there. She was going to give the lacrima to Draco in the hopes that the dragon would have a better idea on freeing Dalviama.

They decided to take Zen there as well. The Immaculate Light, the source of the archangels, would do him some good as well.

Zen healed up easily enough and insisted on waiting with Lucy, Kaleb, and Draco for the doctor. The surgeon came out with a small dish that she passed on to Draco who disappeared back to the celestial realm with the lacrima.

"Getting the lacrima out proved tricky because her ribs had been broken since it was implanted. Between its incompatibility with the human body and simply overtaxing the magic… the damage it did to her body is permanent. If she survives the night, I'll be surprised."

Lucy grabbed ahold of Zen's forearm before he could force his way into the room. "Can we see her?" she asked.

"Yes, but I don't think she'll respond to much."

Zen burst into the room but stopped as soon as he saw her in the bed. Then, he walked slower and touched her cheek. Her temperature had gone down. Other than a slight furrowing over her brow, there were no signs that she'd recognized their presence.

He closed his eyes and tried to push his magic into her. It took a minute for him to feel like he was doing anything.

"Zen?" Emery said softly.

He opened his eyes and stroked her cheek. "Hey."

"How long?"

Zen swallowed thickly and turned to look helplessly at Lucy. She stepped over to Emery's other side.

"They don't think you'll make it through the night."

"Hm… Hi, cuz."

"Hi." Lucy glanced at Zen whose gaze was back on Emery. "I'll leave you two alone."

Zen took her hand and rubbed the top of her hand with his thumb.

"Don't cry for me," she said softly. "I'm not worth it."

"Yes, you are. Lucy said we're kind of alike. That we still found our way back to the light."

"Did I?" Her eyes fluttered close. "That's good. Maybe I'll make it to my parents after all."

Behind him, there was the chime of Andromeda summoning herself. She was back in her preferred preteen form.

"You can still save her," Andromeda murmured.

"How?"

"Wake her. Then, mate."

"You've been trying to stop me from doing exactly that."

"No. I've been trying to stop you from doing that against your will. Her spirits are fond of her and hope she'll make new contracts. You could do worse." She sighed. "The Immaculate Light here will give you the strength to sustain her during the first phase. If you decide to do it, I've taken off my binding on the chain. Take it off if you decide to mate. Good luck."

Love is many things. None of them logical.

He pushed as much magic as he could into her. As he did, he could feel the Immaculate Light filling him. It was as if he was conduit for it.

"What are you doing?"

"Claim me. Be my mate."

"No."

"You'll die if you don't."

"I know. I won't take your choice from you."

"You're not. I'm volunteering."

"No. I'm not-"

Zen pulled the necklace off and dropped it. He was sure he heard it fall but as soon as it was off him, he felt the full pull of their two magics. It was also stronger without her dragon muffling it in Emery.

"See? I made the decision because I want you. Please."

When he kissed her, he felt her sigh before her hands were all over him. It took everything in him to remember that she was weak and to take things as slow as he could.

He could feel their magic twisting around each other. It wasn't as strong as he'd like. She was physically weak and hadn't had her contracts in a year. As her body recovered, it would strengthen. He hoped.

"You knew that would happen," Kaleb whispered as they wandered away from the room as the sounds became more sexual. He figured now was as good a time as any to show her around the Citadel since the only other time they'd been there was for Kurino's execution.

"There was never a chance he was going to let her die."

"I'm proud of you. For not insisting on fighting."

"I'll complain about that later." Lucy intertwined her fingers with his. "Though, Levy estimates that dragon slayer gestation is only six months. I talked to Arman and he said that he and Ganier had been concerned when she'd given birth so early so archangels are probably close or the same."

"Were you hoping to be able to guess by how quickly the pregnancy progressed?"

"A little bit. Though, it's probably a good thing your family is already buying stuff for them."

"Wait until it becomes a contest on who can buy the loudest most obnoxious gifts."

Lucy giggled, and Kaleb bent down to kiss her.

"Careful. I'm not sure there are privacy booths here."

"There are in the east wing where the Knights stay."

"I forgot that you'd know that." She glanced back in the direction of the infirmary. "You know, maybe we should just let Arman wait for them."

"That's a good idea. Emery will go home with Zen anyways."

She waited while Kaleb called his father before jumping them home.

.~*~.

"Acnologia's dead?" Zeref said.

"Yes. Emery killed him." Invel's voice was carefully apathetic.

"Is she dead?" Zeref's tone had barely concealed anger.

"As bad shape as she was in, not even the lunar slayer could have saved her. Your brother was there and you ordered that no one engage him in battle."

"And the archangel?"

"I left him in ice but there were two fire mages."

"Go before I do something that I regret."

Invel bowed his head as he left. Zeref walked over to the map where he adjusted his plans before calling for his right hand.

"Emperor?" August asked when he was summoned.

"Get the second wave ready."

"Yes, Emperor."

Zeref called Irene who was in Ishgar with Ajeel, Brandish, and half-million troops.

"Is it time?" Irene asked.

"Yes. Prepare the first wave."

.~*~.

Lucy woke up in the woods, pressed against a familiar body that wasn't Kaleb's.

"Cris?" she asked, blinking owlishly in the early sunlight.

Cristoff jumped up and looked around. "Where are we? Where's Meredy?"

Lucy! Kaleb yelled.

Ow. Calm down. I'm with Cris.

Where?

That is a very good question.

Lucy began to hear the interference from the rest of Kaleb's family. At the same time, she felt a faint tugging that was trying to pull her multiple directions.

"What are you doing?" Cris asked as she moved into a sitting position.

"Hush," she said, echoing the word to Kaleb.

It was as if there were multiple strings pulling at her. She closed her eyes imagined opening the connection. Suddenly, there was a cacophony of voices in her head. It took a moment for her to realize that she was hearing her dragons.

"Stop." The voices all stopped and Lucy could see Cristoff giving her a surprised look as he heard it both through his dragon and verbally. She could also feel Kaleb's presence and was letting him eavesdrop.

"That's new," Rhiannon said.

"No kidding. Is anyone with their mates?" Lucy asked.

"I'm wit' Vander, but we didn' wake up together." That was soon echoed by the other slayers.

"All right. Rhia, which slayer who can teleport is closest to Levy?"

There was a moment of silence before she said, "Emi. Levy is about thirty miles northeast of your location."

"Okay. Gajeel, stay where you are. Emi, Laxus, I know you are trying to get to one another but Levy is pregnant."

"Understood," Emzadi said.

"There's a bigger problem," Rhiannon said.

"What?"

"I'm standin' between a tree that belongs in Shirosume Forest and a Boscan cypress."

"And the Iridaceae Mountains are wrong," Rogue added.

"What are you saying?" Lucy finally asked.

"I dinnae think that it's jus' us that's been moved. I think it's everything."

"Well fuck."