Song: Vengence
       By: HDsounDI

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Natsu

"You BASTARD!" Rogue again dodged my hit. His passive face made me want to break every bone in his body as he would just move aside. He wanted me to tire myself, but I was far from being exhausted. He hurt my Lucy, now this bastard is going to pay with his blood. "Fight me you asshole!" Fire consumed the hallways, the walls and ceilings were plummeting around us. No doubt the castle was going to be in the ground soon enough. "I don't understand you Natsu Dragneel. You quarrel against me even after I told you of what happens!? That monster is going to kill us all!"

"Lucy is nothing like a monster! If anyone is a monster, it's YOU!" I used my claw attack and landed a hit on Rogue's side. However it didn't even seem to faze him. "No matter, if I can't kill Heartfilia, then the Dragons will do it for me." Rogue moved and evolved into a shdow and started to dart to get away from the fire. "I don't think so!" I sprinted after him as we left the burning hallway behind us. "You're not going to hurt her again!" My fists ignited when I brought it up. "FIRE DRAGON...IRON FIST!" I hit the shadow which caused Rogue to fall out of his shadow form. "You will not stop me from sealing her fate! It was decided the moment she was born!" Rogue pulled his foot up and landed on my cheek. I spat blood out of my mouth and used my hand to wipe it off. "You hit like a girl."

"I intend to save my magic to possess all the Dragons that enter this Realm. Then, we'll see who swings like a girl." I clamped my teeth and jumped forward to Rogue. "FIRE DRAGON'S CLAW!" Rogue took my blow and used his arm to soften the damage. "The Natsu from the future would have agreed with me. He didn't see the destruction of what Lucy did! She is the reason you and I lost everything!" Rogue extended his arm out. "You left me no choice! SHADOW DRAGON'S SLASH!" His arm extended, like a shadow, and knocked me through a wall. I fell below the second floor to the garden. 'How...how did he do that?' I heard Rogue land on the grass after lunging from the hole I made. "No matter how resistant you are, how hard you wish to fight me, I will slay Lucy Heartfilia. I will not take my last breath until I succeed in doing so."

My eyes closed when I kneeled to the ground. He doesn't understand. This Rogue will never realize the torment he put both me and Lucy through. I tried to stop the deadly blow, but I was too late. I couldn't...I couldn't watch Lucy die again. Seeing her die once almost made me lose myself, but I was going to go insane if I failed her again. I couldn't lose her...but when the other Natsu gave his life up, I discovered that Lucy overpassed her breaking point.

"As she held his body," I started raising myself to stand. "I could only watch in horror of Lucy losing someone she loves. It may have not been me, but that means nothing. Lucy lost Natsu, and I could only watch as she started to lose herself while she held his body." I brought my eyes up and glared into Rogue's soul. "If you think I'm going to allow Lucy to suffer that way again, you're wrong." Rogue expressed a malicious smirk. "We'll see..." I ignited my fists, and once again started to sprint at him. "I fight for her! For Lucy!" Our fists connected, sending a shocking blow around us.

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~Lucy~

"Evacuate the site! Everyone must run for their lives!" Two Dragons have passed through the Gate, and chaos has taken control. Soldiers screamed and fled for their lives as others begged their Princess for orders. Arcadios picked up Hisui and pointed to the opposite direction of the Gate. "FLEE! FLEE WITH YOUR LIVES!" I used my wings to help me up. My thigh was still bleeding, but now wasn't the time to rest. "Arcadios!" I yelled flying my way to him. "You must signal a warning! If more Dragons pass through then there will be no time for the citizens to escape!" Arcadios seemed dazed to even notice what I was saying. I screamed this time. "ARCADIOS!"

The man looked down at me. With both of my Light Goddess and Dark One voice, I spoke. "Get as many citizens out of here! Protect your Princess and King. I will delay the Dragons as long as I can." Arcadios nodded and ran off with the Princess still being held. I turned around. Two more dragons have escaped. I flew above to where I was facing three more Dragons marching to leave the Gate. I had to make sure Crocus gained time. I extended my arms out and closed my eyes. "Barricade the Gate."  I whispered as my powers were flowing through me. The Darkness and Light were disputing against each other, both of the powers trying to overpower one another. "I said barricade the Gate!" I ordered when I caught sight of the three Dragons closer to the exit. "BARRICADE!"

My magic surged out and shot to the Gate. The power of the Darkness and Light melded together to create a powerful barrier that I hoped would give Yukino and the others enough time to make it. The barrier completed itself and stopped the three Dragons from moving through. Then, a furious roar shook my bones. I kept my concentration on the Balance. As long as I stayed in control then the Darkness and Light won't go out of restraint. "Please," I begged glancing back to my comrades that were still a long way from reaching here. "hurry!"  A loud booming sound almost made me slip the barrier. I snapped my attention to the Gate.

The Dragons were bashing their heads into my barrier. "NO!" I concentrated even harder, the Dragons continued roaring and made an effort to use their heads to shatter the barricade. Pain seared into my chest, and I could only continue on maintaining the Balance from tipping over. I screamed, but pushed forward and put more of my energy onto the Gate. Tears of blood ran down my face, and I knew I was falling into my Balanced Form. "NO! I can't! I can't fall into the Balance!"  The whispers were starting to settle into my thoughts. The whispers that make me want to fall deeper into the pit of being a prisoner to the Balance. I can't fall into it! I can't be deceived!

If only you were stronger.

'No no NO!'

If only you could actually control the Balance. If only you could control Us...

"I can! I can be the Balance!" I shouted at the whispers when my attention was beginning to slip. I tried to pull away from the grasps of the voices, but I was losing myself more and more.

Just. Let. Go.

We don't need you. An abomination like yourself can't stop Us from the eternal war We will forever fight. We are meant to battle. That is Our only purpose. For the Balance to truly remain harmonious, We must fight. Your body, your mind, and your poorly fixed soul only gives Us a moment to rest. The Gods will ultimately find and slaughter you. When that happens, We will return back to the eternal war against Each Other. Just let Us take over. It will not only be easier for Us but for you as well. You will finally rest. You will finally disappear...

"NO!" I bit my tongue to try and bring myself back to reality. The moment my soul returned to a whole, their whispers haunt my mind. But I only hear them when I slip into the Balanced Form! They only work together just to get rid of me. They've almost successfully gotten rid of me. But Gwen, she was there to pull me back. Now Natsu can do the same. I need them. I need one of them to pull me back before it's too late! The tears of blood kept on pouring down my face, but I still focused on the barrier. That is until I heard an unsettling crack. I opened my eyes.

There was a crack in my barricade.

If We took control, We can destroy the Gate without even trying. Just let go of your will, Lucy. You can't be the Balance. You are already tarnished. You were already broken to be Our Balan-

"Cub!"

Gwen...

I glanced behind me, and there she was with Yukino. Gwen's eyes dilated in fear. "Cub, release the barrier! It's too much for you to handle in your state!" But, can I let go of my barricade? There were more Dragons, and the three Dragons were close to destroying it. Do the Light and Darkness want to destroy me? Am I really strong enough to be the Balance? Maybe the Darkness and Light are right. Maybe it would be best if I just let go...

"Lucy." Gwen communicated in my thoughts, and the whispers were gradually beginning to cease away. "Listen to me. Just focus on my voice." I began to put my arms down. "It's okay. There is no need to build the burden on yourself. We want to help you Lucy, but for us to aid you, you must let go of the barrier. You're not ready for the Balanced Form, you are not ready for that responsibility. Please, I'm begging you, let go of the barricade. Don't allow yourself to go to the Balance. Come back to us. Come back and help us shut this Gate. Stay with us, Lucy..."

"Gwen..." My voice was soft, and I released the barrier from my grasps. My powers were pulled back and soon I fell back in control. I almost lost myself, again. My wings faded and I felt gravity pulling me back down, but arms wrapped around me and stopped me from hitting the cobbled street. Gwen knelt down and looked at me with her familiar foggy blue eyes. "Are you okay?" She whispered still speaking to me in my thoughts. I nodded and closed my eyes. Gwen saved me from becoming a prisoner to the Balance again. I felt my heartbeat returning back to normal when I sighed deeply. "Guys," Yukino announced as she pointed at the Gate. "three more Dragons have escaped!"

Three Dragons took flight and left the Gate. Seven Dragons have broken out now. I pulled myself to stand back up even with the injury in my thigh made it agonizing. "Yukino!" I yelled. "Take your Golden Celestial Keys out!" I went to my hip by instinct, but couldn't find my keys. My heart plummeted, as I just remembered they aren't with me. "My keys..." I said filled with shock. Gwen whistled compelling me to turn to her. "I think you'll need these Lucy." She threw my familiar pouch that held my keys. I quickly counted finding all of them still in place. "Thank you." I shifted myself back to Yukino when we both fell to our knees.

"Concentrate on your magic Yukino. We must call for all the Twelve Celestial Spirits in order for them to close the Gate." Yukino and I put our hands together and embarked to generate a powerful spell. I focused on my Celestial magic, feeling it surge to life as it grew stronger inside me. I watched my Keys fly into the air as all Twelve Golden Keys soon formed a circle above us. Our surroundings began to glow with a golden hue, and I could feel the Spirits readying themselves to enter our Realm. Gwen watched the Gate and warned us of the Dragons. "They're gaining closer ladies! I would hurry the pace if I were you!"

I closed my eyes and answered my Spirits. "Come to us." Yukino and I declared at the same time. A loud bell in the distance echoed. I felt my Spirits crossing over, and all of them stood together as one. The Dragons were not far away. They were close to infiltrating our timeline. In unison, Yukino and I pointed at the Gate. "Close the Gate!" The Spirits sprang into action. Six Spirits jumped into both sides of the doors and pushed with all their might. The Celestials were creating a beautiful light as they all worked as one. I noticed the Gate's doors beginning to close. I concentrated even harder on my magic to help my friends. I believed in them. They were to shut the Gate.

The doors were halfway sealed when I heard the sound of ten thousand Dragons roaring in rage. I peeked my eyes open, and not so far where a vast group of Dragons trying to beat the Gate from closing in on them. They were filled with anger, and I could only watch in fear. "Hurry!" I pleaded while the Celestials could only push harder for the Gate to lock. The doors were almost there, but the Dragons were now very close to interrupting them. I didn't think, but I could only do what I thought would help my friends. I released my hold with Yukino and summoned my wings to stand beside my Spirits. I flew until I was next to Loke and pushed alongside him as we all were now working together.

One last time I heard the roars of the Dragons, and then the Gate became secured. I heaved in exhaustion when I glanced at Loke. I watched him look at me with consideration, and a moment later smile at me with warm eyes. "Get some rest." It was all he said until he vanished back into the Celestial Realm. All the Spirits were back home, and what was left of them were their keys. I flew back to Gwen and Yukino and again heaved for air. Gwen put her hand on my shoulder. "Well," She began while looking up at the sky. "the good news is you guys stopped ten thousand Dragons from leaving the Gate." Yukino handed my ten Keys back and returned her other two into her pouch. "And the bad news?" I asked while standing upright to put my keys back into my pouch. Gwen pointed at the sky. "We have seven Dragons to deal with."

Above us were seven Dragons raining fire on the city, and all I could hear were the screams and cries of the citizens in the Arena.

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As always Lovelies...love you all!❤️