400 years

58

I waited a few moments, making sure that Dimaria wasn't going to pop back in. Her Vassal stood leaning against the wall across from me. I decided to try my luck and get some answers.

"Can I ask you a question?"

The vassal looked back at me from the small window he would glance out of from time to time. "I thought you were going to be quiet. Are you that hungry for Dimaria's blade?"

"No thanks, I had a good breakfast." I wasn't going to let him intimidate me. "I won't yell or scream, I just want to talk."

"Heh, I see. Your quite bold." He looked at me with a sharp, curious eye.

"You both have called me Anna, which I have a problem with. I'm not her."

"I know."

'Huh!?' "Then why-?"

"Hmm, I guess I'll go ahead and tell you, since you won't be living much longer anyways.. Dimaria and I operate under Emperor Spriggan. Acnologia and his Anna obsession is all a deploy. Our Emperor wants Acnologia dead and to awaken E.N.D. So what's better than killing two birds with one stone?"

"E.N.D, What does that have to do with Natsu?"

The vassals eyes darkened, as a terrifying grin spread across his lips. "Your Lord Natsu is that of the Etherious. A demon forged from Ethernano. In which the price of bringing back the dead, is to pay with a curse."

'Wait!? Dead!? D-Did Natsu die when he was younger.. "Emperor Spriggan used dark magic!?" The Curse of Ankhseram!?'

"Precisely."

At this point I was extremely thankful for Capricorn's teachings during my training. "So why does he want to awaken this side of Natsu?"

"Simple, he is destruction."

'No.. no it can't be! Natsu is and will only ever be Natsu! Right?' "How do you know that your Emperor isn't planning to deceive you as well?"

"What your mouth! He would never betray his most loyal! Besides, we'll see how valuable you really are soon enough. I've already sent out a message. "If you value Lucy's life, face me, alone."

I felt sick to my stomach, 'These cowards using me to get to Natsu, all to try and awaken some demon within him.. for the destruction of what!?'

Then it dawned on me.. I came from a future where Natsu had died, Zeref ruled, and there was a huge lack of magic.. 'Could Zeref done something in the past to rid my time of the magic? That would have resolved his curse..'

In my realization, Dimaria walked in and added. "Who cares, I'll be showing him how battles are best won, soon enough."

I glared quietly, but the two only laughed it off, turning their backs to discuss strategy. I twisted my wrists in the rope until they burned, desperate to free them, but the rope was to tight. 'Pathetic, I was caught to lure Natsu into a trap, plus I lost my keys!!' "Natsu I'm so sorry.." I whispered under my breath, as I continued twisting the rope, until-

"Dimaria! Natsu's here!"

"Ugh, finally!"

"Prefect." Dimaria slowly turned towards me, a sickening sadistic smile creeped across her lips. "Bring her."

With Dimaria's command, the vassal pulled me up by my hair, where I sat on my knees. Between squinting through the pain, I barely seen his fist coming straight towards my face-

....

Dimaria's vassal picked up the body of the now limp Lucy, and slung her over his shoulder. Her lifeless body bobbed as he walked outside.

Natsu stood alone in the plain, the sun setting behind him. But something was off, Natsu was slightly hunched over, his hands more in the shape of claws, and eyes glowed an eerie yellow. He was breathing heavily, and every inch of his body seem to be imitating a hazed heat so hot that the once tall grass surrounding the abandoned tower now was engulfed in flames.

"T-this must be-."

"E.N.D."

All of troops took a step back, the vassal holding Lucy cringed. The smell of burning flesh wafted in the wind.

"Even in this form, you've come for this woman? Well than, will see if you are the superior creation or not."