It was the last day. The last day and Natsu could feel the terror radiating in his bones. Every trail was a dead-end, every excursion had come back empty-handed. Natsu couldn't eat, he couldn't sleep, he ran around blindly hoping that somehow he'd stumble upon Lucy and her captors. He was running down a mountainside when he slipped, fell, and hit his head on a rock.

This should have been a comedic moment... except Natsu's unconscious state was anything but lighthearted.

The battlefield seemed far more dangerous, the fires burned high and bright, the blood puddled around Natsu's feet, pieces of broken weapons jutted out of the earth. Natsu fell to his knees, he began to cry, he had hours left, and he was no closer to finding her. And to top it all off, he was here again, here once again, to be tormented by his worst nightmare.

"Do you feel it?" the voice hissed, "Her time, her time running out," he was mocking him. Natsu looked in front of him and saw two strong legs.

"Stop," he whimpered.

"I can save her, you know I can," the voice offered.

"No... I can't-"

"Why?"

"You'll... you'll hurt-"

"I swear, she will come to no harm," the voice said softly... almost... full of empathy.

"Everyone... you'll kill everyone," Natsu choked.

A clawed hand was placed on top of Natsu's hair. Natsu stared into the pool of blood below him looking at his blurry reflection.

"What is she worth to you?"

Natsu gripped his pants as anger gave way to hopelessness, which in turn gave way to sadness and despair.

"She would risk it all for you, you know she would," the voice said.

"I... I-"

"If she is worth everything, which you know she is, then nothing else should matter," the voice barked, "or is she not your starlight?" he ended softly, taunting him, Natsu realized; the demon was toying with him.

"She is," Natsu gritted.

"Then do what it takes," the voice said, a clawed hand reached down and offered, "do we have a deal?"

The debate began in Natsu's head. It was a brief debate that gave in to horror and realization. Natsu couldn't find Lucy, he just couldn't... this was her only chance.

Natsu's hand moved slowly, reluctantly, it found the clawed hand and gripped it, "yes," Natsu answered dryly.

"Good," the voice cackled, ink spread out from the clawed hand wrapping around Natsu immersing him in a dark void, "rest well Natsu Dragneel, when you awake your starlight shall be with you."

E.N.D awoke.

Far away Tyregenium smiled... oh the game had truly begun.

Lucy gritted her teeth as she tried to break the chains again. She had lost track of how long she had been here... a week... two weeks? It didn't matter, it had been long enough for her to understand that she couldn't rely on help. She had attempted to escape three times. None of them successful, still, she was going to try again.

E.N.D stood over the mountain looking around. 

He knew this world. He knew this body. But it was one thing to know something, and another to experience it. He wiggled his fingers and smiled, the mere control of his body made him giddy with excitement.

But the excitement had to wait... he still had a vow to keep.

He breathed in the air enjoying his freedom for one more moment, and then his eyes snapped open and he looked to the east. He was the strongest demon... and he knew the stench of that dragon's mate very well. Natsu was off, of course, far away from where she was, but E.N.D could fix that. The only problem was what to do with the girl when he had her. She was the one who had awoken Natsu when E.N.D's subconscious took control the first time. He couldn't let Natsu come back... not yet.

The mountain Lucy was being held in was formally called Timbley's Summit after a famous climber who first scaled it. To the townspeople, however, it was known as the "Vessel" due to all the goods that traveled over it daily. At the center of the mountain sat the assassin guild "Death's Vessel's", a small guild located in Fiore only sixty miles away from Magnolia. Lucy had been much closer then most any of the guild members had thought.

The explosion on the mountain stunned the townsfolk who immediately panicked, it also roused the attention of many mages in the area.

Lucy was trying to pick the lock on the bars in front of her when she heard a distant scream. She looked towards the closed door. Two guards stood on the other side. They were assassins so they just lounged around watching the door.

"What was that?" one of the assassins asked.

"Boss probably got angry at some poor soul," the other shrugged sharpening his knife.

Then there was a scream full of absolute terror, closer this time.

"I don't think so," the first assassin said straightening and preparing for a fight. The intercom system running threw the mountain came on.

"Hello, we have a breach in the third quadrant on the second level, I repeat we have a-" the voice turned into a scream of absolute agony that ended with a small fearful cry.

"Hello Death's Vessel!" another voice greeted in a hiss.

"Who is that?" one of the assassin guards asked.

Lucy froze in her work as she listened because she knew, she knew, that voice.

"I'm going to give you all to the count of three because I'm such a nice guy... and then I'll hunt you down and purge your existence from this world, sound good? Great, better start running! ...One!" the voice hissed in pleasure.

"What the hell is that?" the assassin cringed.

"Two," the voice cackled.

"Whatever it is, it's not good," the other responded drawing his knives and summoning his stealth magic.

"Three," the voice said... except it wasn't over the intercom. The assassin's looked around in terror searching around the room for the source of the voice.

"Awww," the voice pouted, "you didn't run," the two assassins turned back to the doorway to face the figure that now faced them.

The first one managed a scream before the claws ripped through his throat, the second was too stunned and died silently.

Lucy tried to make out what was happening from behind the closed door and worked madly at picking the lock with a piece of scrap metal.

"There he is!" an assassin yelled from the hall, many more assassins readied their weapons to face the beast. E.N.D smiled as he looked up from his last two kills, this was fun.

The fires filled the room disintegrating the assassin's closest and turning the others to charred crisps. The smell of burning flesh filled the room, the demon took a deep breath in relishing every moment he had. He walked down the hallway stepping on the charred remains of the mortals that had dared stand before him. 

A door opened behind him and he turned expecting more assassins... but there was something far more dangerous. He knew her scent, her figure... and her eyes... her damn eyes made him want to smile. She was scared, he realized... good.

Lucy stood at the open door shaking as she looked to the demon before her... She knew him... but... he wasn't the same. He looked at her with the eyes of a stranger even though she knew he was Natsu.

E.N.D felt a pulling in his chest, an urge to reassure the woman that it was alright. He ignored it, he feared that Natsu would sense these weaknesses and begin to fight back. He turned briskly and walked away trying to ignore the woman behind him.

"Natsu!" Lucy cried swallowing her fear, she walked forward, trembling with every step, she reached the first body and found that she couldn't make herself come any closer.

E.N.D smiled... Natsu hadn't even stirred when she had called for him... E.N.D truly was in control. He turned and glanced as Lucy out of the corner of his eye. She stood, small flames burning at her feet, her golden hair was a mess and hung over her wide eyes that held fear. Her hands were chained but she could figure that out... she was safe, and E.N.D was sickened at the fact that he was relieved so instead he focused on her fear. She was afraid of him... it made him smile.

"Natsu... is gone," E.N.D grinned... it was true, and it made the Demon want to roar in triumph. He walked away leaving Lucy to choke on her next words. What could she say to that?

E.N.D walked out of the mountain... the assassins were dead, Lucy was safe. He had kept his word to Natsu... now to keep his word to Tyregenium.

"Right on time," E.N.D smiled looking up. Sting rocketed off the edge of the mountain and lunged for Natsu.

"Come on Natsu, come back to us!" he roared sending a round kick for the demon. E.N.D casually flicked his wrist and sent Sting flying with a vortex of fire. Sting caught himself and flipped himself to his feet before he hit the ground.

"White Dragon..." he began.

"Oh no... we can't have that," E.N.D chuckled raising his other hand. The flames erupted from Sting's feet engulfing him in them. Sting made a choking sound before unleashing his dual elements. The white fire infected the red flames until they died down leaving Sting standing at the center of a circle of scorched earth.

"Nice try bro... but I have your fire too," Sting gritted putting his hands up defensively as the white fire danced around him.

"I applaud your efforts," E.N.D grinned, he lashed out with his hand and grabbed something. Rogue materialized and struggled, the demon held him by the neck. "But distractions and tricks aren't going to save you," E.N.D grinned cruelly tightening his grip on Rogue's neck. Rogue gasped for breath while struggling. Shadows engulfed his hands as he lashed out at E.N.D breaking free of the thing's grip.

"Come at me sons of dragons, let's see what you're made of," E.N.D cackled.

"It's not like before," Rogue hissed backing away until he was beside Sting.

"No... but that means that we just have to knock him around until Natsu comes back," Sting grinned.

"That isn't such a good ide-" Rogue began... but Sting was already running towards the demon. "Never mind," Rogue sighed charging E.N.D as well.

"I know I smell him!" Gajeel growled running as fast as his legs could carry him.

"Gajeel wait up!" Pantherlily called as he and Levy scrambled after him.

"No time!" Gajeel yelled picking up speed, "Damn you Salamander!" he hissed leaving his two exhausted comrades far behind him.

"I know that voice," Erik said straightening up, startling Wendy awake.

"What is it Onii-chan?" Wendy asked groggily.

"It's Natsu," Erik whispered. Wendy's head snapped up and she stood up quickly.

"Let's go," she said firmly. Erik didn't argue.

Laxus saw Erik and Wendy take off down the road and immediately set off after them... he sensed something was terribly wrong.

"What? Is that all you have?" E.N.D laughed as he placed a foot on Sting's back forcing him back to the ground. Sting was breathing heavily and tired. Rogue roared and lunged for E.N.D. The demon dodged the attack, grabbed Rogue's cloak and sent the mage flying into a tree where he lay there stunned. E.N.D reached down and grabbed Sting's head. "And this is where you two end," he grinned.

"Natsu," Sting choked.

"I'm not Natsu," E.N.D grinned. 

"SALAMANDER!" someone roared, E.N.D was then hit in the face by a metal pole. E.N.D was sent flying and Sting collapsed, alive. Gajeel stood there scowling at E.N.D. "You can't give in that easily flame brain!" Gajeel grinned, "You better start fighting back at the demon or I may just have to pummel you."

"Black Steel," E.N.D smiled standing up and wiping his bleeding lip, "You are the first to make me bleed... I don't like it."

"Well get used to it, cause there's going to be a whole lot more blood once I'm done with you!" Gajeel growled sensing the danger he was in. He lunged.

"I think you mean-" E.N.D began, he caught Gajeel's fist and looked at the stunned dragon slayer in glee, "once I'm done with you."

"Do you sense that?" Acnologia asked turning on his heel. He and Serena were across the world, the sun was just rising where they were and they were no closer to finding Natsu.

"What?" Serena asked.

"...Natsu," Acnologia said distantly in horror... "Damn this was his plan all along!" Acnologia took off running down the road.

"Where are you going?" Serena asked.

"Fiore! I never should have left!" Acnologia roared transforming.

"Hold up!" Serena called throwing himself on Acnologia's back, "How bad is it over there, scale 1-10?"

"99," Acnologia growled before rocketing through the air.

"Where there goes my sequins collection," Serena sighed.

Gajeel swore as he pushed himself up, he was being kicked around like a rag doll, Rogue and Sting were no help either. Sting could hardly move and Rogue had a hard enough time trying to stand. Gajeel needed some real firepower... and he wasn't speaking of Natsu.

As he thought it... it arrived.

The lightning came down without warning striking E.N.D head-on. E.N.D roared in pain and jumped away. Suddenly another figure came down and punched the demon; Erik, his fists covered in poison.

"Alright Natsu, I'm gonna count to three and you better be back to your old self again when I'm done," Laxus sighed walking out of the woods.

"After that, we get to pummel you," Erik snarled jumping to Laxus' side.

"Oh my, what am I to do?" E.N.D asked cynically.

"Sting, Rogue," Wendy hissed slipping out of the woods. 

"Wendy?" Rogue asked as he knelt over Sting.

"Is he alright? Where are Lector and Frosch?" Wendy asked kneeling next to Sting and putting a hand over Sting's face.

"We left them on the other side of the mountain... told them to fly to Fairy Tail for help," Rogue answered.

"Well we have to get out of here," Wendy ordered looking to Rogue. She placed a hand on his chest and released a bit of magic energy. Rogue found himself with the strength to stand. He lifted Sting and carried him to the melted mountain where they collapsed behind a rock, Wendy immediately began to heal Sting.

"I don't think he was like this before," Rogue panted peeking over the rock at the battle.

"One!" Laxus shouted.

"This may be bad," Wendy shivered.

"Wendy!" someone cried. Wendy and Rogue turned and looked towards the cave; Lucy, battered and bruised was picking her way through the rubble quickly rushing towards the two. "Where's Natsu!"

"Lucy!" Wendy cried in shock.

"You're here!?" Rogue choked.

"Natsu is-" Lucy began.

"We know," Rogue hissed pulling her down behind the rock, "but he won't respond to anyone... we have to wait for him to be-" Rogue began.

"Two!" Laxus yelled.

Lucy peeked over at the fight about to occur.

E.N.D wasn't waiting for a three. He lunged forward and began to fight. Poison clouds were thrown up, lightning danced around the three and fire ate everything around them.

"I have to get to him," Lucy gritted.

"Hold on, I can help with those chains," Rogue said grabbing the chains around her hands. He tore them apart as if they were paper.

"Thanks," Lucy smiled, "Now I have to get to Natsu!"

"No!" Wendy hissed pulling Lucy down, "It's too dangerous and you don't look like you're in good shape!"

Lucy looked down at her self and realized what a mess she looked. She was indeed tired and hungry... she was also parched but the adrenaline was running and all she cared about was snapping Natsu out of it.

Sting groggily opened his eyes, "Where's Natsu?" he croaked.

Rogue peered over the rock they were hiding behind to see the fight.

Gajeel had jumped into the battle with a roar hitting E.N.D away with a clubbed arm, he then melted into the shadows.

"Fighting," Rogue answered putting a hand on Sting's shoulder.

"We need to wake him up," Sting wheezed trying to sit up. Wendy forced him back down.

"Not now... we need you to rest for the moment," Wendy ordered, she looked up to Rogue, "You two are idiots for fighting him alone!"

"You got some of Erik's spite in you," Rogue chuckled as he noticed Wendy's aggression.

"Natsu," Sting gritted laying back down, "We gotta get him."

"COME ON NATSU!" Laxus roared punching E.N.D. The hit should have sent the demon flying, but he didn't budge, he smiled at the lightning dragon slayer and then returned the punch.

Erik swore as he held his burned arm, his poison was ineffective against the fire dragon slayer. On top of that he couldn't listen to the demon's thoughts, they were too chaotic, there were too many whispers in them. Gajeel was thrown into the top of the tree and landed on the ground with a muffled "thump".

"Hey, Gajeel," Erik asked gingerly walking up to Gajeel. The dragon slayer didn't respond. "Gajeel!" Erik asked panicked, he reached out and felt for a pulse... it was still there. He sighed in relief, "Hold on, I'm getting you to the others... LAXUS!" he yelled.

Laxus looked back to Erik.

"I gotta get him outta here!" Erik yelled. Laxus gave a firm nod.

"I can hold him off," Laxus grinned.

"I leave it to you!" Erik yelled picking Gajeel up and carrying him the mountain.

"Gajeel!" Wendy cried panicked as Erik ran up to them.

"Lucy?" Erik breathed when he saw the blonde.

"Put him down next to Sting," Wendy ordered, Erik did so.

"Natsu... is he-" Lucy began.

"I can't explain it," Erik sighed shaking his head, "It's like he's a whole other person... his soul isn't anything like Natsu's."

"...He didn't react when he saw me... It isn't anything like last time," Lucy gritted, "Do any of you have my keys?"

They all shook their heads. Lucy gritted her teeth, she was useless, for the moment. Wendy wouldn't let her go anywhere without her keys.

"I have to get him out of this," Erik sighed standing up.

"I can help, Rogue can watch over-" Wendy began.

"No," Erik ordered, he looked to Rogue, "Make sure she stays here, if it gets dangerous, all of you get out of here immediately," He looked to Wendy and set her a warning gaze.

Wendy swallowed the lump in her throat as Erik ran back towards the fight. "Be safe..." She willed.

Laxus collapsed on one knee and threw his flaming coat off, he was covered in burns but E.N.D was barely scratched.

"And you were thought to be one of the strongest of Acnologia's brood... laughable," E.N.D chuckled.

E.N.D was then hit with a metal claw covered in poison. "Shut your face Natsu... I really don't want to get mad."

E.N.D snarled at the surprise attack and Erik landed next to Laxus.

"You alright?" Erik asked.

"Took you long enough, what did you do, stop to take a tea party with Wendy?" Laxus wheezed.

"Shut up," Erik cackled.

"You two, I'll enjoy killing," E.N.D cackled.

"Come on Natsu, snap out of it!" Erik yelled as Laxus got to his feet.

"You humans just can't get it through your damn thick skulls! I am not Natsu! I am E.N.D! Natsu is gone and he is not coming back!" E.N.D laughed.

"Shut your mouth!" Erik snarled.

"You're lying!" Laxus growled as lightning sparked off him.

"Am I?" E.N.D asked.

"Of course, Natsu would never go down so easily," Erik growled.

"Oh, he fought... for two weeks." E.N.D sighed remembering, "He is such a stubborn human. It took so many attempts... and he didn't go down until the last possible moment... an admirable trait of my previous body's owner."

"Stop talking about him like he's gone," Laxus growled raising his fists, "There ain't no way Natsu would let someone like you make him kick the bucket."

"Natsu is coming back," Erik growled poison radiating off him, "And I don't care if I have to beat you into a pulp to make that happen!"

"Oh... there's only one way to stop me," E.N.D teased, "And you, Poison Killer, know it. Natsu made you promise to do it... now the question is... can you?"

Erik's eyes widened as he thought back to that night... the night Natsu made him promise to kill him.

"You're wrong," Erik growled pushing away that idea.

"No," E.N.D grinned, "Not even Lucy could bring him back, trust me, she tried... he isn't coming back."

"Alright..." Laxus growled, he turned on his lightning body and punched E.N.D, "I'm tired of you flapping your gums!"

The fight continued but Erik now had fear in his heart.

"We have to do something!" Wendy choked looking over the rock. Her previous reservations had been cast aside.

"Yes," Lucy agreed.

"No, Erik told us to stay here," Rogue growled.

"You see them! They can't win like that!" Wendy cried desperately.

"We have to have faith in them," Rogue reassured her.

Wendy looked back to the battlefield.

Sting opened his eyes, "She's right," he growled weakly, "we can't just wait here."

"You can't move so shut up," Rogue growled.

"Flashlight is right, we have to do something," Gajeel wheezed, thanks to Wendy he had regained consciousness.

"I'm gonna ignore that nickname," Sting muttered.

"You couldn't even breath properly three seconds ago, no way," Rogue scoffed.

"Rogue," Lucy stated, "We can't stand here and do nothing."

Rogue sighed, "Alright, but what-"

"Where'd squirt go!?" Gajeel cried sitting up and looking around.

"Wendy?" Rogue asked looking back to where Wendy had been standing.

"Where's she go!?" Lucy asked.

"Erik is going to murder me," Rogue stated darkly.

"Well, looks like the decision is made... let's go save Natsu," Sting grinned standing up shakily.

"I'm sorry Natsu" Erik chocked as he feebly fought against E.N.D's grip. The demon had pinned him down and the poison dragon slayer was useless.

"Sorry for what?" E.N.D cackled squeezing harder.

"I can't do it," Erik choked.

"Do what?" E.N.D sneered.

Erik gripped E.N.D's wrist trying to pry him off his neck... and then he began to cry.

"I can't kill you," Erik choked, his grip loosened and he looked up to E.N.D and smiled, "I can't kill you, little brother."

E.N.D's eyes widened and his arm began to shake, "I. Am. E.N.D." He squeezed harder making Erik choke.

"ERIK!" Laxus cried trying to stand up, E.N.D's claws had ripped open his leg. Erik gasped for breath like a fish but was smiling and crying.

"Please Natsu," he wheezed, "Please fight him off... because I'm not strong enough... I can't kill you," Erik breathed as the world darkened.

"Erik..." a voice breathed... E.N.D's grip loosened and the demon backed off. Erik coughed as he began to breathe.

"You are foolish, but I respect your strength," E.N.D sighed walking away. Laxus limped up to Erik.

"Erik..." Laxus breathed.

"I'm fine," Erik wheezed pushing him away, "But you have to act now... Natsu's still in there!"

"What?" Laxus asked. E.N.D visibly tensed.

"You didn't spare me," Erik grinned getting shakily to his feet, "I heard Natsu before you let me go... I know you're in there Natsu... come on... you fought him off once, you can do it again!"

"See, this is why I can't show mercy," E.N.D sighed. He lunged, and then someone ran in between him and the other two; Wendy. E.N.D froze.

"Please," Wendy whimpered spreading her arms separating E.N.D from Erik and Laxus, she was shaking.

"Wendy what are you doing!" Erik cried.

"Please Natsu," Wendy choked tears streaming down her face, "Please don't do this."

"You are an ignorant child," E.N.D sighed raising his hand. Wendy didn't move but braced herself.

"NO WENDY!" Laxus cried running forward, Erik moved faster but neither was fast enough.

Wendy shook as the clawed hand came down but at the last moment she dispelled her fear and looked up meeting the gaze of E.N.D. She wouldn't be scared, she wouldn't fight her brother, but she wouldn't let him kill her other brothers.

The claw met her face and she was thrown aside.

"Poor child," E.N.D chuckled.

"BASTARD!" Erik roared colliding with E.N.D.

"WE'RE GONNA KILL YOU!" Laxus growled.

"No!" Wendy cried making the battlefield freeze. Shakily the young dragon slayer got to her feet, she was bleeding from a break in the skin on her head and the crimson liquid streamed down her face. Her eyes were watery but they sparked with fight.  "We can't keep fighting!" she cried standing strong, "We aren't enemies... we're family!" she wasn't crying as much now but instead took purposeful steps forward. 

"Wendy," Laxus breathed.

"Get away," Erik ordered of her before being knocked aside by E.N.D. The demon smiled and walked up to Wendy grinned until he was towering over her.

"Tell me little one," E.N.D grinned, "Am I really your brother? Would your brother have made you bleed?"

Wendy looked up and gritted her teeth, there was no fear in her eyes, "You're always my brother Natsu-san."

"Poor child," E.N.D smiled.

"NATSU!" someone yelled. Sting was running as fast as he could towards them; Rogue was desperately running after him, and behind him ran Lucy.

"STING YOU IDIOT YOU'RE STILL INJURED!" Rogue yelled.

"Sting please!" Lucy cried.

"You are all so annoying," E.N.D sighed, he turned back to Wendy... and was then sent flying by Laxus in his lightning body. Sting jumped in and grabbed E.N.D, he then slammed him against a tree.

"Come on Natsu! Don't do this to yourself!" Sting roared.

"Get off me!" E.N.D roared sending Sting flying with a fire attack. Rogue leaped up and caught him.

"You are such an idiot!" Rogue snapped at Sting.

"Yeah... maybe," Sting agreed.

E.N.D froze... he sensed it... the coming of the dragon king... Acnologia was coming. Panic set in and E.N.D realized that he had to end this.

Gajeel emerged from a shadow behind E.N.D. The demon turned and lashed out with his claws ripping Gajeel's side open. Gajeel choked and collapsed holding his side.

"NATSU!" Laxus yelled charging him.

"DIE!" E.N.D roared sending a vortex of fire towards Laxus. Laxus dodged, but the flames now hurtled towards Wendy who was frozen in fear.

"WENDY!" Erik cried. He ran and grabbed her shielding her from the blast, the fires engulfed him and Wendy and when they clear Erik lay limply.

"Onii-chan?" Wendy asked her voice full of fear. She wiggled out from under him and shook as she turned him over, "Onii-chan? Onii-chan! Erik! ERIK!" She cried shaking him fruitlessly, she went to heal him but found that she was nearly out of magic power and the battle was far from over.

"Wendy!" Lucy cried running up and kneeling next to Erik.

"He won't get up!" Wendy cried.

"BASTARD!" Sting roared running towards E.N.D.

"This is the end of you, E.N.D!" Rogue yelled charging E.N.D from the opposite direction. E.N.D had his back turned to Rogue.

E.N.D felt trapped and so he redoubled his efforts, he turned quickly, dodging Rogue's attack, he reached out and dug his claws into Rogue's back and ripped him back tearing into his flesh. Rogue cried out in pain and was thrown back. He rolled onto his stomach and trembled in pain. Sting arrived moments after Rogue's defeat and tried to take advantage of E.N.D's lack of focus. Sting readied a punch but E.N.D whipped around and jerked his claw up clawing into Sting's chest. Sting froze in shock and allowed himself to be thrown away like a rag doll.

"Sting, I got you!" Laxus yelled catching Sting who lay there gasping and holding his wounds.

E.N.D looked back to the sky where he knew Acnologia would soon arrive... and then something within him stirred. Slowly he looked back and his eyes widened.

"Sting, listen to me you're going to be fine!" Laxus reassured Sting in a shaking voice kneeling to give Sting better support. Sting was gasping and shaking.

E.N.D watched Sting and Laxus for a moment and he felt something in him break.

Did he do that to Sting? Of course, he did! But why? Because... because...

"Damn," E.N.D swore, closing his eyes. He needed to get away and calm down.

As soon as he closed his eyes he was back in the burning battlefield. Sting was panting lying in a puddle of his own blood claw marks etched into his chest.

'You did this' he head Sting's voice wheeze.

Guilt settled in and the demon quickly dispelled it. He had dreamed on this day, it wouldn't be stolen from him. He opened his eyes and turned away.

"ERIK!" Wendy screamed. E.N.D turned his head just enough to see the sky maiden out of the corner of his eye. She was sitting next to Erik who lay still. Both were covered in burns.

Did... did we attack Wendy... is she bleeding? Of course, now shut up! But... but aren't I you? Yes-but-no-DAMN IT!

E.N.D held his head... the voices... his voice... no... NO!

He closed his eyes trying to focus. Instead, he saw Wendy, lying dead in Erik's arms, both were burned and bleeding.

'Wendy watch out!'

'Onii-chan!'

"No, no," E.N.D muttered.

Rogue gritted his teeth as he looked up. E.N.D looked back at him and Rogue realized he was looking into Natsu's eyes.

E.N.D saw Rogue lying in that burning battlefield, broken spine and covered in blood.

"Natsu," Rogue breathed seeing the fear in E.N.D's eyes.

His name is what did it.

Natsu had felt like he was underwater, he couldn't move, could hardly think. He could sense what was happening around him but it was distant and he couldn't quite understand that it was him doing that. He felt like he was drowning but he couldn't do anything about it... was this how E.N.D had felt stuck inside of him? Was this the hell the demon had suffered through all his life?

"Natsu!"

Someone was calling for him. We wanted to answer, to call out for help but he couldn't move, he couldn't even look to see who it was.

"COME ON NATSU!"

Who was that? The voice was so familiar.

"Please Natsu... Please don't do this."

He knew them... he knew them all... He wanted help. He wanted to cry for help, he wanted to struggle and break free.

And then suddenly he found he had a voice. He could look around and question, although his questions didn't make much sense.

"Natsu," Rogue breathed.

Then, Natsu moved. It was a small movement, but it was huge.

Ba-thump

His heart began to beat, and it wasn't the heart of a demon.

Ba-thump

It beat for his siblings, it beat for his friends...

Ba-thump

Then he opened his eyes. He looked around one last time. Rogue was looking at him... he was hurt... and he had done that to him. The hope in Rogue's eyes was canceled out by the fear etched under it. Natsu looked to them all. He glanced over their wounds and saw their fear. His eyes froze when he saw Lucy. She was kneeling next to Erik reassuring Wendy even though she was shaking with doubt and fear. She looked up and her eyes met with Natsu's.

She was afraid Natsu realized... He turned around and went to reach out and reassure them... and then he saw his hands... no, his claws. They were covered in blood, his own family's blood. He glanced at his shadow thrown up by the fires burning around him. He had horns...and black tattoos covered his body. They all had reason to be afraid.

He took a shaky step back.

Laxus looked up and his eyes widened.

"Natsu," Rogue breathed, "come back to us."

Natsu looked down at his brother who lay bleeding out.

'We're dangerous.'  a voice hissed

'What did you do...' Natsu thought back.

'Not I... what did we do?'

He was right. Natsu looked around and began to shake. This was all his doing. E.N.D may have been pushed down again, but the demon was fighting back harder than ever and refused to stay down. As long as he remained in Natsu, Natsu remained a threat to everyone around him.

Lucy's eyes widened when she recognized that look.

"Natsu!" She cried standing up.

The decision was already made. Natsu took a steady step back his head clouded with doubt and guilt with E.N.D still whispering in his ear, he turned and then he ran.

"No Natsu!" Rogue cried, he gasped in pain as he tried to move.

"Go after him!" Sting choked.

"I am not leaving you like this," Laxus growled. He ripped Sting's jacket off him and then wrapped his wound with it.

"But Natsu-" Sting croaked.

"Sting... Sting stay with me," Laxus breathed as Sting began to close his eyes.

"Natsu come back!" Lucy cried running after him. Natsu was already past the tree line, hidden from their sights. Lucy ran after him but then she never found him.

Acnologia and Serena arrived a mere ten minutes after the battle ended. Acnologia cursed himself for being too late.

Natsu was gone...

Again.

And it was so much worse this time.