#Crocus: *gasp* HOW DARE YOU—

[bugwolfsstuff]

I saw a headcanon of Hyacinthus' haunting the Apollo cabin and now i raise you Crocus haunting the Hermes cabin a few cabins down from him.

Are they neighbours? friends? It changes with the seasons

[anamazingangie]

fixation

by AmazingAngie, AO3

Daemon Targaryen x Rhaenyra Targaryen

1k words, complete

TW: Choking

Daemon had never lacked appreciation for the female form.  Even as a boy when the court styles were modest—gowns high necked, bodices loose, and sleeves long. When all that was exposed to him were dainty wrists and pale palms, he still found himself eager to see the flash of skin against heavy dresses. They were like stars in the night sky, all the more beautiful for what was blanketed behind them. 

He watched necklines fall as he grew taller. First, a narrow strip of skin visible beneath rigid collars. Then, a small v exposing a further inch of flesh. Suddenly the top of a woman’s throat was visible, peaking out and showing the promise of more, like a crocus budding after the first frost.

After that, his eyes rarely strayed from this swath, this first look at a woman’s neck. His mother told him it was rude, not to focus on a ladies eyes, and perhaps it was, but…the throat was so enticing, and only became more so, as bodices became more daring. How was he meant to look away, when he could see the muscles tense as a woman swallowed? 

It was as if women taunted him by wearing ribbons and gems, coiled around their necks and drawing his gaze to them, while hiding what he wanted to see most. His fingers ached with the temptation to rip the beads away, to reveal the precious skin hidden beneath. 

It was a relief, when he was finally old enough to see all of a woman. He began to appreciate the curves that court attire had kept from him, the fullness of beasts and the curve of a thigh. He grew familiar with the feel of a woman’s flesh, of every inch of it—and then the taste of it, spending hours drawing his tongue across soft skin until the flavor of femininity was fully known to him. 

Still—even after he had admired every bit of a woman, even after having their cunts, there was something about the neck that drew his gaze. 

…

There was an elegance to the shape of it. 

He wanted to trace it with his fingers. 

A softness, to the often pale skin. 

He wanted to dig his thumbs into it and leave behind dark marks. 

Perhaps what made it most beautiful was the fragility. 

He thought, if he gripped tightly enough, they wouldn’t be able to breathe. 

…

(He was right.) 

…

He learned the technique while training under other knights. He was shown where to press his thumbs—the amount of force it took for a trachea to collapse. The amount of time it took for death to follow when the man could no longer inhale. 

He was told what not to do, too. 

It was far less effective to press against the carotid arteries. Why would you slow the flow of oxygen to the brain, when you could starve the entire body of it? The dangerous oversight could cost a man in battle his life. 

…

There was a thrill to sex, not unlike training, and perhaps that is why he first tried it. 

(It surely wasn’t because his hands naturally gravitated there, following the line his gaze had since he was a young boy.) 

But instead of  holding a sword to someone's neck, he wielded his thumbs. 

(It was no less dangerous.) 

The power roared through him, that first time. He came nearly instantly, for the high of having a woman at his mercy was incomparable to all else. 

(It was addictive. )

…

He practiced with whores, and all who would let him. Until he had mastered it—he knew just where to press, how to leave behind marks and how to prevent them. He knew how hard to grip, and when to let go. 

(when the woman’s face was red, while her eyes remained glassy) 

He wanted his partners to beg for it. For his hands around them. For his cock inside of them. For the ability to come. 

And then he wanted to strip them of their voice, of their air, of their consciousness. 

He wanted the power between his palms, of having them on the precipice between coming and death.

There was a thrill in the act. In the aftermath. In the gasp of broken breaths. 

There was pleasure in it too, which is why the woman allowed it. 

But his niece was different. 

…

When she was younger, Daemon had to make do with jewels – seeing them circle the elegant column of her throat. He liked them on her, how they looked, and the fact they gave him an excuse to look. He could even touch the steel or stone pendants he’d gifted her, feeling the softness of her skin beneath them. 

He treasured this, and any touch he snuck from her. He was tactile with his niece, but the casual drag of his fingertip here and there was all that could be spared without questioning the innocence of their relationship.

The delicate touches and chains were a poor substitution for the collar of bruises that he really wished to see framing her neck.

His thumbs would be gentle against her jaw as his palms captured what allowed her to draw breath. If he was careful, she wouldn't even notice the pressure of them before she lost the ability to inhale. It would be for the best, for he wouldn’t be able to ask her first, she wouldn’t understand. She was simply too innocent. 

He’d have to show her, and ask for forgiveness later. 

He wouldn’t want to hurt her, and so the pressure on her neck would build gently—just for a few seconds at first, and then release. He’d watch her eyes close in pleasure as endorphins flowed, before gripping her throat once more and denying her for even longer. 

It would be a game, ending only when she slipped under.

He’d bring her back with gentle thrusts against her folds, and the bite of bruises into her neck. He wanted her to be adorned with evidence of how he’d had her, how she belonged to him. Valyrian steel didn’t prove the existence of a Valyrian lover the way these marks would. 

Unfortunately, steel lasted longer. 

They’d have to play this game weekly—leaving new marks atop old, so her throat was always heavily decorated in a way only her husband could provide. A princess deserved no less, after all, and what was a greater sign of royalty than the brand of a prince’ on her skin? 

It was this thought on his mind, when his hands captured her neck, when she begged him to make her his wife. 

How could he deny her?

[pseudofaux]

Hey Pseu may I request some slow morning sex and cuddles with Faust?

Awwwww, of course you can! Let’s let the good doctor stay in bed awhile… 💙🖤👓

(Requests are closed, I am completing overdue ones now. Please enjoy! A masterlist will be posted when they are all completed.)

He pushes you onto your back with his body, and when he is over you and there is only the dimness and the blanket sliding down his frame you stare up into his eyes and thank God for the flash of lightning that shows you his perfection. The tension of his shoulders far above you is heaven’s masterpiece in alabaster. His eyes can be eerie, but now they look as vital and verdant as the leaves that accompany the first crocus escaping thawing ground.

There is a touch on you that is softer than sunlight, softer even than the distant rumble of thunder that proves there is no sunlight to be seen if you open your eyes. You open them anyway, eager to know, and always eager to see Johann.

It’s been a long time since a day began as overcast as the thunder and dimness make this morning seem. His eyes stand out, their green warm in the room that is dark and cool outside the blankets you share. Your memory of discovering his hidden preference for sumptuous bedding makes you smile before you quietly say good morning.

“It is,” he murmurs, and he allows his touch on your arm to rest a little heavier, make fuller contact. “I like this weather.”

His touch, his voice, his pleasure in the rainclouds shielding the morning from the sun: these things warm you.

“I like this company,” you dare to say. You pull your hand up from beneath the blankets and he does not stop you from touching his face. He’s not wearing his glasses, so your fingers are able to rub the space they usually block above the handsome swell of his cheek.

He laughs and moves his face toward your touch, and your heart breaks with joy for the hundredth time. You are still recognizing the way happy waves of goosebumps are washing down your limbs when he surges toward your mouth and feasts on your gasp. His touch of your arm becomes a grip, and his other arm curls around you from beneath your body so he can further hold you in place.

He still loves to shock you with changes like that. His kisses slow, possibly so he can luxuriate in the way your stiffness melts back into the peace of the bed you woke up in together. Maybe he’ll let you relax and then do something to make you gasp all over again.

“Could be a better morning,” he declares between slow kisses. His voice is low as the thunder, steady as the rain. His body is firm against yours, and by your hip his arousal is firmest of all. You fell into bed by yourself the night before, too tired even to wait for him. In your wildest dreams things did not turn out so sweetly as they are right now.

“Yes,” you say simply, acknowledging, agreeing, acquiescing. You want him to have you. You want to have him.

He pushes you onto your back with his body, and when he is over you and there is only the dimness and the blanket sliding down his frame you stare up into his eyes and thank God for the flash of lightning that shows you his perfection. The tension of his shoulders far above you is heaven’s masterpiece in alabaster. His eyes can be eerie, but now they look as vital and verdant as the leaves that accompany the first crocus escaping thawing ground.

“What are you looking at?” he asks, grinning.

When you dare to shrug your shoulders as you grin right back, he crashes his naked body down to yours, mouth first. As you put your arms around him, you hope he knows how deeply and surely he has you.

You have each other, really.

His hands cup your face while he kisses you, fierce but slow. Meaningful. All the while he burrows his legs between yours until he can roll his hips against you and you are gasping and trying to break away from his kisses just to breathe better and give yourself a moment to think.

But of course he doesn’t let you. His smile against your mouth is wicked before he takes it away to lick out every trace of the moan he creates when the strength of his arousal nudges directly against the slick lips between your legs.

You hear his whispered shock, but it’s fainter evidence than the way he shudders. His self control is so great at times that his pleasure literally shakes out of his grip on himself. You would never insult him by calling them trembles… but they make you smile against his mouth, whatever they may be.

He doesn’t seem to want to let go of your face, and he takes his time grinding you into the sheets. You feel pinned and you thrill at every place the lines of your bodies touch. He keeps you beneath him and makes unhurried love to your mouth now that he seems to have you where he wants you.

It’s only when you get worked up from how wet and needy he’s made you that you beg with your voice and your hands— one in the soft short hair at the back of his head, one reaching down toward the muscle of his ass (as though you could push him into doing anything at all).

“I will not be rushed,” he declares between kisses. “Accept this for what it is.”

What is it, you wonder. When you manage to ask, he laughs again and takes your bottom lip between his teeth. The press is sharp but without the bright sting of broken flesh. No more than a nip, and a slow one that builds and does not break or relent until he’s ready. He is being so slow and thorough this rainy morning.

“Think about it,” he murmurs as he slips one hand away from your face, down your neck and around the swell of your breast. He doesn’t rush but doesn’t linger as his touch goes between your bodies and he fits himself to your plush, slippery heat.

“Whatever could it be,” he drawls, eyes leaving his work to come back up and stare at you as he pushes inside. You see the ripple of a repressed snarl over his lip as he enters you, and then your eyes close because the way he keeps the slide so slow means you feel every way his body makes its way into yours. It’s not until he squeezes your hand down against the bed that you realize he’s grasped it, his fingers warmly caging yours as he brings your bodies together as fully as he can.

You are breathing noisily, panting slow and shaky from the stretch. There’s no resisting the way your body wants to move underneath his, fucking yourself on his stillness to coax him to pull back, come back into you, you can take it, please…

“Hush,” he says gently. You don’t know if you actually pleaded with him or if your face was just noisy, as he’s described it before. He does pull his hips back then and you immediately go against his command by groaning. The pull is too luscious, the drag of him like a hook that pulls your soul while it ruins your mind with ecstasy. It feels good when he fills you, but it feels amazing when he moves in you.

“Hush,” he says again, but he’s laughing. “I can’t hear myself think, woman.”

You chase his mouth to try to obey and kiss him at the same time, and he gives you another tender nip but allows the kiss. And then he moves with you, with too much intention to be lazy but still slow… it’s rapturous, and you tell him so.

He calls you a blasphemer. His voice makes an endearment of the epithet, and he nuzzles his way down to your throat to give you a nip that is followed by the bright, tingling heat of your flesh breaking as it punctures, two small but significant points of pain as he magics your ecstasy into something beyond description. Your hands can’t be still in his hair as he sucks, and your body can’t keep time with his smooth, controlled thrusts as your pleasure unfolds like a giant map.

Faust doesn’t rush and he doesn’t have to, but he does grunt against you when you clench, barely deliberate in your senseless bliss, and it’s that sound and the hot puff of his breath against his bite that tips you over. You keep your hands behind his head and try to appreciate the softness of his hair while you tremble. You wouldn’t insult him by denying that it is trembling.

He throbs inside you and you make some stupid sound of appreciation as he licks the bite and does it again. He toys with you this way for awhile, nudging you toward another edge to fall off as he fucks you just as slowly and purposefully as he’s be doing all along.

He returns to your mouth and his kiss tastes like new coins dropped into wine. You have plenty of time to enjoy them as he slides his tongue against yours in an intimate caress you never want to end.

You can’t be sure, but just after he tenses and presses you down with his forehead you think he hisses “süße” against your teeth. Then there’s the heavenly warmth, his pleasure coating your insides in a way that gently shoves you off that edge so you can land on a thousand clouds.

For awhile, you simply stay wrapped in your tight embrace of one another. You realize, distantly, that your skin is fusing together at some microscopic level, so well that you know when you finally pull apart your flesh will attempt to stay together. You will cling to one another even when you let go. You have each other so thoroughly it goes beyond intention; it is something more like a force of nature. It cannot be denied, only studied.

Perhaps it can be studied some other morning. For now, you intend to make the best of this one, and you cuddle up close when he settles you on your side and keep your eyes closed when his fingers come to rest on the back of your head. He murmurs a few long words in German. You only understand a few pieces, but they add up to love, in case the idle stroking of his fingers was not adequate proof.

“Go back to sleep,” he demands, voice thick. “I’ve got you.”

(To you, it is proof beyond your need. Proof beyond measure. You put your hand back behind his head and mimic his touch, sleepily curious. You feel the love in his caress and you love him with yours. As you rest, you know again: you have each other, really, and your rainy morning dreams can be nothing but sweet.)

[r-301]

CROCUS UNDER THE SNOW

this is my first Geraskier fanfiction. I hope you like it. English is not my language so let me know if there are mistakes or parts that you do not understand

-----

Geralt had repented of his own words at the very moment when they came out of his mouth. But he realized that he was in serious trouble only three seconds later, when his bard stiffened his shoulders and closed his hands in shaky fists.

"How dare you?!" Jaskier’s usually sweet and cheerful voice was low and taut

"Jask... I, uh..."

He was in serious trouble! Geralt may not have been the most empathetic person (he was far from being one) but it didn’t take a genius to realize that Jaskier was angry. No, Jaskier was furious!

"Shut up!" he roared, raising his head. His eyes shone with a strange golden light.

Geralt stared at him with his mouth open, unable to defend himself. He had taken Jaskier to Kaer Morhen to spend the winter with his whole family: his brothers, his daughter and his boyfriend. Once again he had managed to ruin everything! Once again he had misdirected his emotions. He was frustrated that Ciri would not be with them that winter but with Yennefer (which was communicated to him only a few days after his arrival at the keep). He was angry that his plans had gone up in smoke and for the umpteenth time he had unleashed himself against the closest person: Jaskier. The poor bard had only tried to bring the good mood in the halls of the great castle. He played in the evening and hummed in the day. Everyone seemed to appreciate. Everyone except Geralt.

"I really don’t know why you invited me to spend the winter here when you clearly don’t want me!"

"Jask is not..."

The bard shouted and raised his hands to the sky, "Isn’t that right?" he shouted.

They were in the large common room, and the sound of his voice roared through the empty corridors. Surely everyone in the fortress was already aware of the quarrel. " Since we are here do not smile at me! The only thing you can do is grunt at me and tell me to stop!"

He was in real trouble. Geralt could only watch Jaskier walk back and forth in anger.

"Jaskier not now! Jaskier not playing while I’m reading! Jaskier stop making noise!" suddenly stopped "Jaskier get out...." shit.

" Do you want me to leave Geralt? It would be a blessing if I did, right? " His tone was sarcastic and bitter but did not hide the underlying pain he felt. Geralt gasped helplessly, pierced by his own words.

"You know what? I’m leaving!" Eventually it was Jaskier who grabbed his cloak and walked big steps towards the door to unlock Geralt

"What? Jask, where do you want to go?"

"Far away from here!"

"We’re at the top of a mountain! How do you think you’d make it all the way down to the village?"

To this Jaskier stopped a second. His hand on the big door door of the keep. It was already open, his body half out. The hood pulled over the head. "Exactly as I did last time!"

1/...

[isabellafoster13]

Chapter Fourteen: Sting Eucliffe

Lucy ran toward the crowd of people and pushed through, trying to see what was going on. She broke through the crowd and found two large men standing in front of a damaged building, a large hole settled in the front with rubble surrounding the spot of impact. Lucy crept forward, trying to see what, or rather, who had caused the large hole. She had taken a few quiet steps forward when she spotted a head of blonde hair that belonged to a small figure laying on top of the rubble. The celestial wizard gasped at the sight of two grown men beating up a child. 

Lucy stomped forward, placing herself between the two men and child. She shouted in anger, "what are you doing? You're picking on a child! How could you do such a thing?" 

The two men, who were bald, dressed in black, tan-skinned, and were obviously identical twins, had chuckled. One of them responded callously, "that brat was picking a fight. We just smack some sense into him." 

The other man followed up with his own question, "do you want a fight too?"

Lucy gritted her teeth. She unhooked Cancer's key, only to freeze upon the instant realization that today was Wednesday. She couldn't summon Cancer on Wednesdays. As the two men cracked their knuckles and smiled menacingly at her, she knew that they were going to attack her. She hooked Cancer's key back on her keyring and wrapped her fingers around Aquarius' key. She looked around, searching for water. Any amount of water. 

Her brown eyes soon fell on a puddle, left there by Juvia and her rain. Lucy turned her gaze back to the two men, seeing that they were both engulfed in red fire. Great. They're fire mages. The blonde woman waited for the two men to launch themselves at her, sending a blast of fire toward her. The celestial wizard jumped out of the way, landing with a pained yelp and groan next to the puddle. While laying on her stomach, she unhooked Aquarius' key and placed the blade in the water, calling, "Open! Gate of the Water Bearer: Aquarius!" 

In a burst of water and from the puddle and a flash of golden light, Lucy found Aquarius glaring down at her with disdain. Lucy smiled and gave a nervous chuckle. The mermaid spirit sneered, "you interrupted my date with my boyfriend!" She then drew back her urn.

Lucy scrambled to her feet and raised her hands into a defensive position, quickly saying, "wait! Wait, Aquarius! I know that you're mad, but those two men just beat up a child! I need you to teach them a lesson!" 

Aquarius scoffed and turned to the two mages. Upon seeing them engulf themselves in red fire again, she yelled, "you dare to threaten me with fire?!" She then raised her urn, releasing a stream of many water bubbles that hit the two mages with great force. Though, these bubbles also hit bystanders, sending the crowd of people running away for safety. 

Lucy smiled at the sight of her strongest spirit fighting and not attacking her. She then heard a groan behind her, causing her to turn around and see the child stumbling out of the rubble-filled hole in the building he had been thrown into, quickly collapsing onto his knees. Lucy ran toward him and looked him over quickly, seeing that he was covered in burns, scrapes, and blood. Fortunately, though, he didn't seem to have too bad injuries. He would likely be better with bandaging and about a day of rest. 

Not wanting the boy to get injured further, Lucy stood up and pulled off of her keyring, Horologium's key. She pointed the key at the surprised and pained boy, calling out her spirit, "Open! Gate of the Clock Constellation: Horologium!" With a flash of light, the boy was inside the grandfather clock. Lucy instructed her defensive spirit to keep the boy safe before she turned around to capture the two fire mages. 

Sting walked through the streets of Crocus, scratching his dirty and itchy scalp as he ignored his aching feet and the looks of disgust that were thrown at him by the people around him. He didn't know where he was going. He no longer had his dragon and didn't have anywhere to go. He just wandered Fiore aimlessly, looking for something that he couldn't name. I didn't know what he was going to do. He had heard of guilds, groups that you could join if you were a wizard. He was a wizard. Maybe he could join a guild. He just had to find one. How was he going to do that?

The blonde boy looked around, searching for an opening to snatch some money or food, when he ran into someone. He stumbled back and looked, seeing a pair of what were obviously identical twins. They had tan skin, no hair, and were dressed entirely in black. They glared down at the young mage, one sneered, "watch where you're going, kid." 

Sting didn't want to appear as though they had scared him, so furrowed his brows and responded with a forceful tone, "why don't you watch where you're going?"

The two men chuckle darkly, which sent a chill down Sting's spine, but he steeled himself. They then stared down at him with menacing grins. One asked, "you picking a fight, kid? We're mages, so I wouldn't talk back like that, if I were you."

Sting balled his fists, getting into a fighting stance and preparing himself for a fight. He spoke with a raised voice, "I'm a wizard too!" 

The two men howled with condescending laughter. In a sudden burst of magic, the two men became engulfed in red fire. Sting jumped back to avoid being burned, but he still remained. He refused to be intimidated and run away. He was going to fight if he had to. 

One man jumped at him with a fist raised, but the punch didn't land because Sting had jumped out of the way. He raised a clenched fist, engulfing it in light. He was about to attack the man that had attempted to punch him with White Dragon's Iron Fist when the other man teleported in front of him in a burst of fire. The blonde boy couldn't react fast enough when the second twin delivered a fiery punch to his abdomen, knocking the air out of Sting and launching him into the building that was directly across the street from him. 

He groaned as he lay on the rubble that had been created from the impact. His eyes were screwed shut in pain as he floated in and out of consciousness. He could feel the burns and open wounds on his body, and the blood that poured from those wounds. He heard gasps from the crowd that had gathered and the laughter of the two men. 

He had managed to bring himself back to complete consciousness, but wasn't able to open his eyes or sit up when he heard a woman shout in anger, "what are you doing? You're picking on a child! How could you do such a thing?" He listened to the sounds that followed. Angered talking and the sounds of combat. 

"That brat was picking a fight. We just smack some sense into him." 

"Do you want to fight too?" 

The jingling of what he guessed was some kind of metal or keys followed by the crackling of fire, a fiery attack, and the woman shouting, "Open! Gate of the Water Bearer: Aquarius!"

After a burst of water and the chiming of a large bell, a second woman said with anger, "you interrupted my date with my boyfriend!"

The first woman responded hastily, "wait! Wait, Aquarius! I know that you're mad, but those two men just beat up a child! I need you to teach them a lesson!"

The second woman, Aquarius, scoffed, and after the sound of the men engulfing themselves in fire, she shouted, "you dare to threaten me with fire?!" This was followed by the sound of a watery attack and people screaming as they scrambled away from the attack. 

By this point, Sting was able to pull himself up and out of the hole that he had created, albeit painfully. He collapsed to his knees once accomplished this. He looked up, only able to open his left eye due to his right being forced closed from blood, and saw a beautiful, young woman kneel in front of him and look him over. He simply stared at her face, a look of concern evident. He had never seen someone direct a look of concern toward him. He breathed deeply, smelling her scent of strawberries and vanilla.

The woman then stood up and pointed what appeared to be a silver key at him. She called, "Open! Gate of the Clock Constellation: Horologium!" 

In a sudden burst of sliver light, Sting found himself inside a grandfather clock. He heard Lucy tell the clock, named Horologium apparently, to keep him safe before she turned to join the fight. The boy felt his heart skip a beat. Nobody except for Weisslogia had ever shown genuine concern for him. He had only been met with disdain, disgust, and pity. He watched with interest as the blonde woman fought one man while her blue-haired partner, Aquarius, he assumed, fought the other man. 

Sting pressed his hands to the glass, watching the blonde woman intently. She dodged every fiery attack that was thrown at her and lashed her whip at the man, managing to land good strikes that had the man howling in stinging pain. The young dragon slayer couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was very pretty and great at dodging attacks. If she was having any difficulty, she wasn't showing it.

The blonde boy felt his heartbeat pick up its pace and he held his breath when the woman let out a pained scream when the man she was fighting landed a flaming punch on her side, causing her to get launched several yards away. Sting pressed his face against the glass, trying to see if she was alright. His fists were balled and he felt anger envelop his entire being. For a reason he did not know, he wanted to beat up the fire mage. As the man made his way toward the woman that had pulled herself up to her hands and knees, her bare side burned and bleeding, Sting struggled to wrench open the glass door of the clock he had been trapped in. 

Horologium crossed his arms over his front, preventing the boy from escaping. Nevertheless, Sting still tried, ignoring the increased pain that the action inflicted upon his injured body. He eventually stopped, breathing heavily and shuddering in pain. He looked down at himself with one eye that he could open. He observed that his already tattered clothing was torn and covered in blood. Open wounds and burns were visible through every ripped part of his clothes. They weren't too bad, not life-threatening, but he sure as hell was in pain. 

He turned back to the glass door of the sentient clock, peering through as best he could with the clock's black arms keeping him inside. He watched with anger and panic as the blonde woman was picked up and kicked toward him, landing only a couple of yards in front of him with a pained yelp. 

Sting banged his fists against the walls of the clock, shouting, "let me out! I need to help her!" 

Horologium responded, "I cannot. Miss Lucy had instructed me to keep you safe." 

Lucy? Was that her name? Sting continued to hit the clock's inside walls, hoping that the clock would get annoyed and let him out. The young dragon slayer then heard what sounded like a timer go off. Horologium announced, "I have reached my time limit." With that, he disappeared in a puff of smoke. 

Sting landed on the ground with an 'oof.' Realizing that he was free, he observed the scene before him. Aquarius was no longer around, but the man she had been fighting was laying on the ground, hopefully unconscious. He turned his dark blue eyes to the other blonde, seeing that she had gotten back to her feet and was lashing her whip at the second man. Her opponent was blocking each lash with flaming shields. Sting knew that the woman, who he assumed was named Lucy, was tired and in pain, causing her to be slower than she was when she started fighting. 

The boy stood up, groaning in pain, and managed to rush to the side of the fire mage, balling his fist and engulfing it in light. He shouted, "White Dragon's Iron Fist!" He punched the fire mage in his abdomen, sending him flying a ways away from them. 

Breathing heavily from over-asserting himself, Sting collapsed to his knees. He then felt himself getting picked up. Surprised, he looked up at the blonde woman that had managed to lift him into a bridal-style hold. Seeing that she was in pain from the action, Sting said with a panicked tone, "I can walk on my own! You don't have to carry me!" 

The other blonde shook her head as she walked away from the site of the fight, responding breathlessly, "you shouldn't be walking much. Besides, I'm fine. Only one burn." 

Sting felt his cheeks warm greatly and he turned his head away, not wanting to see his reddened face. They eventually reached an apartment. The blonde woman shifted Sting in her arms so that she could open the door. Once pushing the door open, she shifted Sting back to how she was originally holding him, the boy biting back pained groans due to not wanting to make the other blonde mage worry even more about him and feel bad about hurting him. 

The woman carried Sting into a living room and sat him on the couch. The boy watched her walk into an adjacent room and closed the door. He strained his enhanced hearing to listen to what she was doing. He heard running water, the sound of the woman rummaging through a cabinet, and the sound of containers being opened. 

After a few minutes, she returned with her side bandaged. She picked up Sting again and carried him into the room, revealing that she had started a bath for him and laid out items to wash his body and hair and to tend to his wounds and burns. 

The young woman stripped Sting of his clothes and helped him into the warm bath water, receiving a pained hiss from the boy but no verbal objections. Sting allowed the woman to bathe him, washing away the dirt and blood, and tend to his injuries, hearing her mutter to herself, "it's a good thing I learned how to treat wounds." All while this was happening, Sting kept his head turned away, a blush evident on his cheeks. 

Once the other blonde was finished, she dressed Sting in clothes that were slightly too big for him. He was then led back into the living room and sat on the couch that had a surprisingly small amount of blood on it, causing him to feel bad about staining it. The woman stood in front of him, a kind smile on her face. The dragon slayer looked away, his cheeks burning. He balled his fists that rested on his lap, silently cursing himself for his sudden shyness simply because a beautiful young woman was showing genuine concern and care toward him. 

He was brought out of his thoughts when the woman spoke with a soft tone, "I'm Lucy. What's your name?" 

Sting cleared his throat, an unsuccessful attempt to alleviate his suddenly dry throat, before he answered, "Sting Eucliffe." 

Lucy then asked another question, "are you hungry, Sting?" 

The boy felt his heartbeat increase at the sound of her saying his name. It sounded very nice when she said it. Before he could utter a verbal response, his stomach growled loudly. Lucy laughed, a beautiful sound in Sting's opinion, and instructed him to stay on the couch. He nodded and watched her walk out of the room. 

The boy then ran his hands through his clean hair, trying to figure out what was going on with him. He hadn't before felt this way about someone. He wanted to stay with Lucy. She was beautiful, kind, a great fighter, and could cook. Just merely looking at her lovely smile and hearing her melodic voice made his heartbeat become faster, his cheeks heat up and become red, and his gut become filled with a fluttering feeling that he was unfamiliar with. He was also suddenly shy and couldn't look her in the eye. He had never been shy before and could always look people in the eye. He ran a finger over the bandage above his right eye. It covered a fresh cut that Lucy said would most likely leave a visible scar. 

He continued to question why he was having these new feelings when Lucy popped in to tell him that she was done cooking. The blonde boy stood up and slowly made his over to her, careful to not cause himself too much pain. 

As he ate the delicious food that Lucy had made for him, the older mage asked, "what kind of magic do you use? That attack of yours was really cool." 

Sting blushed at the praise, continuing to stuff food into his mouth. He swallowed and answered as he stared down at the half-eaten plate, "I'm a White Dragon Slayer." 

He glanced up at Lucy to see her cross her arms over her chest and leaned back in her chair. She smiled as she responded, "Wow, really? You're what? Twelve? Thirteen? You're strong for someone so young." 

Sting nodded, gaining some confidence back. He shoveled some more food into his mouth before exclaiming, "yeah! I've been a dragon slayer for as long as I can remember!" 

Lucy chuckled. She then said, "I'm a Celestial Spirit Mage."

Sting swallowed a mouthful of food and raised his unbandaged eyebrow, asking, "Celestial Spirit Magic?" 

Lucy nodded, explaining when she unhooked her keyring and raised it for the boy to see, "I use these keys to summon celestial spirits. They can perform all kinds of tasks." 

The dragon slayer across from her questioned, pointing his fork at her, "Is that what the mermaid from earlier was? A celestial spirit?" 

Lucy nodded, setting her keys down on the table. "Yes. That was Aquarius. She's my strongest spirit, though she isn't much of a fan of being summoned." Sting chuckled, remembering that he had heard the spirit yell at Lucy that she had interrupted a date with her boyfriend. 

The blonde woman then asked, "are you a part of a guild?" 

Sting shook his head, looking down at the food he started to pick at. He answered, "I've been on my own for a while. I heard about guilds. It sounds like a great idea, to join one. I don't know about any, though." 

He took a few more bits of the food in front of him before he heard Lucy state, "there's a guild called Sabertooth not too far from here, only a few towns over. How about you join it? It's also new, so you should fit right in." 

Sting looked up at her, an excited smile growing on his face. He asked, "are you in that guild?" 

Lucy shook her head, explaining, "I'm not in any guild at the moment." 

This caused the boy's excitement to deflate a little, but he quickly regained it. He would've loved to be in the same guild as Lucy, but if he joined a guild and become one of the strongest members, then he could impress her as she had impressed him. Not just that, but he could also protect her from anybody that would want to harm her, just as she had protected him earlier. He didn't know why, but he had this urge to stay with and protect Lucy. He knew that he couldn't do that now because he wasn't strong enough, however, if he joined a guild and became stronger, then he could do exactly that. It was settled. He would join Sabertooth. 

With that decided, Sting asked, "you said that Sabertooth is a few towns away? That shouldn't be hard to find." Lucy smiled at him, causing him to look down again, butterflies erupting in his stomach. 

The two mages talked some more until Sting finished the food that had been given to him. With his stomach full, he yawned, suddenly tired. Lucy chuckled and commented, "It's pretty late. You can sleep in my bed with me, but first I need to change your bandages." 

Sting nodded and followed her back into the bathroom. He sat on the rim of the bathtub and watched Lucy discard the bloodied bandages, dress his wounds again, and wrap him in clean bandages. She then led him into the bedroom. The celestial wizard instructed him to stay on her bed before she walked into a connecting room. When she emerged again, she was wearing a tank top and shorts. She helped Sting to lay down comfortably before she turned off the lights and snuggled into the bed next to him, muttering a "goodnight."

Sting responded with a "goodnight" and watched Lucy fall asleep. He breathed deeply, enjoying her sweet scent, and marveled at how beautiful and peaceful she looked when she was sound asleep. He didn't want to leave, but he knew that if he wanted to get to Sabertooth and begin working on getting stronger, then he had to leave. So, when he was sure that Lucy was sound asleep, he crawled out of bed, ignoring the answering searing pain as he did so. He looked through the apartment for a piece of paper and pencil. Once finding what he was looking for, he wrote a thank you note and left it on her desk. 

Taking one more look at the sleeping Lucy, Sting made a silent promise to return to her, stronger than his guildmates, and protect her from any harm. He then turned and walked out of her bedroom, leaving the apartment and setting out on his way to find Sabertooth. 

Lucy yawned as she sat up and stretched, yelping in pain when she stretched her side too much and received a stab of pain. She looked down at the spot next to her to make sure she didn't wake Sting, but found that he wasn't there. 

Thinking that maybe he was already up and was waiting for her in the living room, the celestial wizard got out of bed and began walking over to her bedroom door, but quickly spotted a piece of paper on her desk. She walked over to the desk, picked up the piece of paper, and read what had been written on it. 

She frowned at the piece of paper. Apparently, Sting had decided to leave during the night and travel to Sabertooth. In the note, he said that he wanted to become stronger and be a great mage, like many other mages that are often told about in conversation and newspapers. 

Lucy was sad that Sting hadn't stayed a little longer, and she was a bit worried about his safety, however, she knew that he would be alright and would become a strong mage rather quickly. She could tell that he had a lot of potential and determination. She silently wished him luck and hoped to meet him again as she went on with her day. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you enjoyed Sting developing a crush on Lucy. It was fun for me to write. 

Here is a hint for who is next: First Generation Dragon Slayer.

[classysassy9791]

When a job goes terribly wrong, the Fairy Tail guild is left to pick up the pieces. Mourning the deaths of their guildmates, Lucy can't seem to find the strength to move forward. But she comes to realize one person understands. His madness was her mercy, and she finally began to hope that maybe he could make her heart beat again.

Fandom: Fairy Tail Genre: Adventure/Tragedy Warning: Character Death(s) Ch. 1 l

Chapter 2 Word Count: 4,700 Can also be found here

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Humming her herself, Mirajane swept a cloth over the bar top, cleaning up the remnants of the party that had carried over from the day before. Some of her guildmates still hung around, most passed out drunk in various places, but a few, like Cana, were still lively. 

“Another round!” the card mage called from the end of the bar, where her and a drunk Macao sat.

With an airy laugh, Mirajane moved to grab another drink from the tap. “I think Macao has had enough,” she mused, setting a mug down in front of Cana. “He may already be passed out.” 

An incoherent grumble from the elder mage was her only response. The brunette grinned. “See? He’s not down for the count yet!”

“Oh goodness. Romeo is going to be so upset with me. I promised him I’d watch his father’s drinking,” Mirajane deplored. 

“What are you, his keeper? Come on, it’s a celebration! Let him slide.” 

“The celebration started three days ago back in Crocus.” 

Cana pouted. “Way to kill the party, Mira.” 

Suddenly, the guildhall doors burst open, slamming into the walls behind it, and startling the few patrons who were still somewhat conscious. Mirajane’s blue eyes rose, a smile on her face, expecting to see Team Natsu arriving back from the job they took that morning, but what she saw made her freeze in her tracks, a hand covering her mouth to suppress a gasp. 

Loke stood in the doorway, his normally clean-kept suit tattered and torn, with an unconscious Lucy draped in his arms. Blood covered her face and clothes, soaking into the lion’s white shirt. Beside them stood her other spirit, Virgo, with a barely conscious Gray settled on her back. 

“We need help!” Loke shouted, his wide eyes shifting over what remained of the Fairy Tail mages at such a late hour. 

Mirajane pushed down her fear and took charge. “Bring them to the infirmary!” she commanded, pointing down the hallway. 

“What happened?” her little sister, Lisanna, asked, bustling out from the back room at the sound of Loke’s cry. 

“No time,” Loke urged, already moving down the hallway. “We need Wendy!”

“On it!” Lisanna disappeared out the door toward the girl’s dormitory to fetch the sky dragon slayer. 

“I’ll go grab Master.” The barmaid was gone in a flash. 

Loke heard a shout from Cana before she disappeared out the guildhall doors as he stepped into the infirmary. He laid Lucy down on one of the beds, brushing a few blonde strands of hair out of her face. Adrenaline pulsed through his veins as his mind ran a mile a minute. This wasn’t supposed to happen! This isn’t how it was supposed to be!

“Big Brother?” Virgo called from where she had laid Gray on another bed parallel to Lucy. “What are we going to do?” 

The lion spirit shook his head, hazel eyes looking at his mage forlornly. “It’s going to kill her,” he murmured, his brows knitted tightly together. “It’s going to kill both of them.” 

She folded her hands in front of her, blue eyes peering wistfully at the blonde. “They’re going to ask about them.” 

“Then we don’t tell them,” he affirmed. “At least, not yet. Not until they’ve healed some. Let Wendy work her magic; let Lucy and Gray be oblivious for a while before they have to face what happened.”  

Virgo nodded, giving a small bow. “As you wish.” In that moment she understood her assistance was no longer needed, and the drain she was placing on Lucy’s magic had become an impediment. In a flash of golden light, she was gone. 

“What happened?!” Wendy shouted as she dashed into the room, dressed in her pajamas and blue hair an absolute mess. She stopped in her tracks as she took in the sight of Gray and Lucy - both battered, bloody, and unconscious. Her brown eyes wide, her hands flew to her mouth as she gasped. “Oh, no!”

“My word,” Charle chimed in as she flew in behind Wendy. “What on Earth happened here?”

Lisanna appeared beside them with a deep frown. “Where’s Natsu and Happy? And Erza?” she demanded. 

Loke ignored her. “Wendy, please.” 

She glanced between her charges before finally settling on Gray being the worst of the two. “I-I’ll do my best,” she assured, hands hovering over the wound in his abdomen and igniting a soft glow. 

The youngest Strauss sibling turned fierce eyes on Loke. “They were only gone on a simple mission! How did this happen?!”

Just then, Makarov Dreyer entered the room, followed by an anxious Mirajane. The small man shuffled over to where his adopted children lay, worry lines creasing his brows. “They were on a mission to capture some bandits in the next town over,” he said, his expression grim. He turned accusing eyes on Lucy’s spirit. “Explain.” 

“Let’s allow Wendy to work,” Loke instructed, gesturing toward the hallway. He, Mirajane, and the guild master exited the room, closing the door behind them and leaving the others to anxiously watch over Lucy and Gray. Loke exhaled deeply. “I’m not sure of the whole story,” he admitted quietly. “Lucy didn’t call me to her aide until the battle was already in full swing.” 

“Battle?” Makarov echoed. “What battle?”

Loke leaned against the wall, folding his arms over his chest. “I don’t know what happened, but when she called me out, three demons from the books of Zeref were ravaging the town. There were fires and explosions - complete chaos.” 

“That’s not right,” Mirajane said, shaking her head. “How did a mission to capture bandits turn into fighting demons?”

He pulled his lips into a tight line. “I don’t know. What I do know is that I was no match for whoever they were. Lucy was already low on magic energy by the time I was summoned. It seemed like they were giving it everything they had, but I could tell the fight was wearing them down. I didn’t last long before I had to go back to the celestial realm.” 

“What of Natsu?” the master questioned. “And Erza?”

Loke dipped his gaze, his hands clenched tighter around himself. “They’re dead.”

Makarov stayed quiet for a moment, tears falling down his cheeks as he tried to discern the news. “My-My children…” 

Loke’s voice quivered as he spoke. “Th-There was nothing we could do,” he whispered. “They managed to kill one of the demons off, but lost their own lives in the process.” 

A hand flew to Mirajane’s mouth, tears springing into her eyes. “N-No!” she gasped, her legs giving way as she collapsed to her knees. “They-They can’t be-” She drew in shallow sharp breaths, her body trembling. “H-How can you be sure?”

“When… When I was finally able to return with my own magic to make sure Lucy was okay, I found her kneeling over Natsu and…” He took a deep breath to steady himself and cleared his throat. “Lucy found Erza, too.” 

Makarov choked back a sob, his eyes full of fury. “How could this have happened? I don’t understand! Who dared to hurt my children?!”

Loke adjusted his glasses. “Like I said, I’m not entirely sure. The threat had gone by the time I returned, and I don’t know their whereabouts. I’m sure Lucy and Gray could tell you more, but I don’t think we should tell them anything until Wendy has done what she can. They need their rest. Let them live with ignorance for tonight.” 

Blue eyes swimming with tears gazed up at them. “Wh-What are we supposed to do?” Mirajane whispered, her heart constricting painfully in her chest. 

The master exhaled deeply, swiping tears from his eyes. “We need to bring them home. Let Wendy work her sky magic. I’ll send the Thunder Legion.” 

“What about the rest of the guild?” Loke asked. 

“There’s nothing they can do right now.” He sniffled, gathering his composure. “Allow them one last night of rest. Tomorrow…”

He let his sentence trail, not daring to finish it. He pushed his way back into the infirmary. Mirajane shook her head from where she had crumpled to the floor, her eyes wide and vision blurred. 

“Erza… Natsu…” she whispered, squeezing the cloth of her dress over where her heart beat. Her body felt like lead, her tongue tasted like cough syrup, bitter and unwanted. It felt like deja vu, like the night she had lost Lisanna right before her eyes, leaving the guild broken and destroyed. They had lost one of their youngest mages, and it had rippled through everyone, leaving a scar upon their home. 

But this… Losing two of their most treasured wizards in a single night… How could they survive this? Natsu… Erza… They were the forefront of the guild. They made everyone laugh and feel whole. Now who would pick up the pieces? Who would be there to make them laugh again?

Mirajane peered up at Loke, her body numb with the thoughts threatening to drown her. “Loke,” she mumbled earnestly, needing him to wake her from this nightmare. 

The lion spirit slipped his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “I’m not going to tell you everything’s okay,” he mumbled, averting his eyes. “It’ll be a long time before it is again.”

With that, he disappeared, leaving a glitter of golden light to rain down on what remained of a disheveled and broken fairy. 

...

The battlefield lay quiet, for now it was a graveyard for the unburied. Their corpses lay among the crumbled buildings and forget-me-nots. The sun had only risen and the wind still blew, but somewhere, families waited in vain. It seemed as if the majority of the townsfolk had not survived, leaving the rest to escape into the countryside. 

Wide amber eyes swept over the wreckage. He heard a small gasp beside him, and a murmur of “holy hell”. They had been sent on a rescue mission, but from what they had been told, it was more of a retrieval - to bring their fallen brethren home. 

“Fan out,” Laxus ordered, his voice cool and collected compared to the dread eating away at his stomach. “Search the area. And stay alert. We don’t know where the demons have wandered off to.” 

Although hesitant, the Thunder Legion gave their nods of assent before each taking off in a different direction. Laxus began stepping over the wasteland, recalling the path in which Loke had described, where he was almost sure to find a pink-haired dragon slayer in his eternal slumber. 

The thought made him sick. 

How could that feisty kid, with so much fighting spirit, be bested by some demons? It just didn’t seem plausible. Laxus had called Loke a liar, refused his grandfather’s insistency, until he decided he needed to see it for himself. He could never believe Natsu was dead unless there was a body to prove it. 

“Come on, kid,” he grumbled, his eyes sweeping over the expanse of the battlefield. “Where are you?”

It took almost an hour for Laxus to find Natsu, just passed the town square. He lay in a pool of his own cold blood, his eyes half-lidded and his face ashen. Nausea swirled unrestrained in Laxus’ empty stomach. His head swam with half-formed regrets and his heart felt as if his blood had become tar, struggling to keep a steady beat. 

“Natsu…” Laxus almost choked on his name, falling to his knees beside him. He pushed the concrete off his chest and curled an arm around the dragon slayer’s head, feeling the ice cold of his skin, the stiffness of his limbs. 

The bastard had died with a smile on his face. 

His vision blurred with tears, and he suddenly couldn’t breathe. How… How had this happened? The Salamander, the Fire Dragon Slayer, dead…? He couldn’t wrap his mind around this new reality. 

A piercing scream tore his gaze away from the boy in his arms to the direction Evergreen had wandered off in. He carefully wrapped Natsu in his fur-lined jacket and pulled him to his chest as he stood. The walk to where he heard his comrade scream from seemed like a lifetime, his footsteps heavy and staggered. 

Evergreen knelt in the middle of the rubble, her body trembling from her sobs. Freed and Bickslow arrived just as Laxus did, their wide eyes glancing between the bundle in the thunder mage’s arms and the corpse Evergreen cried over. 

“It-It can’t be,” Freed muttered, taking a step back as if he had been punched in the gut. “It can’t possibly be.” 

Bickslow pulled his helmet free from his face, his mouth dropping open in an expression of stunned surprise. “No way…”

Evergreen turned to look at their leader, dark brown eyes overflowing with tears. “T-Titania is gone,” she cried. “The Qu-Queen of the Fairies is dead!”

Laxus didn’t need to check for himself. Just the image of Erza’s broken body was enough to confirm that she was gone. He clenched his jaw, trying to keep the tears at bay as he gripped Natsu tighter in his arms. 

“Cover her,” he instructed quietly, nodding to the coat Evergreen wore. “Let’s bring our family home.” 

“Wh-What about Happy?” Freed questioned, his voice breathy and uneven, as he remembered the blue exceed was still missing. “Has anyone found him?” 

Everyone shook their heads. “I’ll go look for him,” Laxus offered, placing Natsu gently on the ground. He didn’t need to voice to his comrades that it was doubtful the cat had survived. If he had, he would have been by Natsu’s body, or with Lucy upon her return. 

That morning, there was nothing but black smoke to line the glare of the sun. 

...

“They’re going to be suspicious.” 

Makarov focused his attention on the woman who entered his office. Mirajane looked exhausted, her eyes red and swollen, as if she had been up all night crying. He was sure that she had been. He hadn’t been able to sleep either. 

“I know,” he replied to her comment, clenching the pen tighter in his hand. He had mindlessly been signing off on paperwork half the night, the only thing keeping his buried anger in check. “But Loke said-” 

“To hell with what Loke said,” the take-over mage spat, her eyes fierce. “Erza and Natsu are dead. Happy is missing, meanwhile you leave Gray and Lucy, their teammates, in the dark?!”

The master furrowed his brows and gave her a hard stare. “It’s not only my decision to make. They need time to recover from their wounds.” 

“What about the rest of the guild?” she argued, tears gathering in her eyes. “Are you going to leave them in the dark as well?”

He sighed, dropping his pen and running his hands over his balding head. “What am I going to say to them? I don’t have all the answers. I don’t even know what exactly happened or who was behind this.” 

She took a deep breath to reel in her anger. “We are a family.” Her voice quivered. “We… We have just lost two of our own. There is no avoiding that pain. This will tear the entire guild apart. We need each other!”

Makarov averted his gaze to the window, watching as birds flew by. It was still early, but most of the guild would be arriving in the hall for breakfast. As is, he wouldn’t be able to hide the news of their family for long. There had been other members at the guild last night, albeit drunk, but they would be wondering what exactly had occurred. As far as they knew, something terrible had happened and the Thunder Legion had been sent to help. 

“I hate to see my children suffering.” He felt his throat tighten as he drew in a breath. “It kills me to see it.” 

Mirajane choked back a sob. “We-We need you, Master,” she cried, folding her arms around herself. “We-We can’t get through this without you.” 

The old man stayed quiet for a moment. Regret washed over him, the what-ifs and should’ve-beens running through his mind. How he longed to go back and take a different path, to stop them from taking that mission, tell them he would cover Lucy’s rent so they could rest properly. But now… it was impossible. There was no way to turn back the hands of the clock. There was no way to make it right. And he knew the guilt would eat away at him for the rest of his days. 

“All right,” he finally agreed quietly. He reluctantly stood from his chair and made his way to Mirajane’s side. “We’ll go inform Lucy and Gray first. Then the rest of the guild.” 

She swiped at her tears. “Of course.” 

“I’m just not sure how I’m supposed to break the news.” He sighed deeply, folding his hands behind his back. 

“Do what you always do. Speak from the heart.” 

“What could I say? Something poetic and beautiful?” He shook his head. “I can’t about this. Some situations are too hard to glorify.” 

And a man whose stature was so large in every sense of the word… suddenly looked so small. 

...

The sky was dark and explosive. 

“This isn’t time to falter!”

Terror widened her bloodshot eyes. 

“Please, just hold on a little longer!”

She felt burning in her chest and electricity in her veins. 

“Lucy!”

She stood frozen, lips half open, as ash fell from the sky in flakes of grey. 

“Lucy?!”

...

“Lucy?”

Her eyes rolled open, blinking blearily to clear the fog of sleep, only to be met with a look of concern. Wendy hovered over her bedside with her hands clasped gently around her own. Apparently she had been restless in her sleep, the sheets tangled around her and soaked with a cold sweat. 

“Where…?” she tried to ask, her voice hoarse. She licked her dry, cracked lips. 

“It’s okay. You’re at Fairy Tail,” the dragon slayer explained with a reassuring smile. “You’re safe.” 

Lucy’s chest heaved as she breathed heavily, her nightmares fading as she focused on the stale walls of the infirmary. Her head whirled as she struggled to sit up, leaning against the headboard behind her, trying to remember how she had gotten there in the first place. 

“Ow,” she groaned, wincing and curling an arm around her waist, which had been wrapped in bandages. Her entire body ached, and no matter how she moved, it was impossibly painful. “That really packs a punch.” 

Wendy frowned. “I’m sorry. I’m still recovering from everything that happened in Crocus. I wasn’t able to do much, but Porlyusica has been helping me.” 

“Porlyusica’s here?” the blonde questioned, furrowing her brows. If their medicinal advisor was here, they must be in pretty bad shape. 

“Yeah, Jet brought her back last night.” 

Brown eyes turned to the other bed, taking in the unconscious Gray. He didn’t seem much better off than she did. “Is he all right?” 

“He’ll be okay,” Wendy promised. “He just needs to rest. You were both so depleted of magic energy, it’ll be a while before you regain your strength.” 

She grasped her celestial keys from the nightstand, fiddling with them curiously, and feeling them warm with comfort from her touch. “What happened? I remember going on a job, but…”

Wendy shifted her feet nervously. “I’ll go let Master know you’re awake.” She quickly scampered out of the room, leaving the celestial mage alone. 

Alone. 

Lucy swept her gaze over the infirmary once more. Usually when she was injured, she’d have a pink-haired dragon slayer religiously at her bedside. Not often did he leave until he knew she was okay and out of danger. Where was he, anyways? Or Happy and Erza for that matter?

And then flashes from the night before came back full force, making her gasp for breath - the job, the bandits, the sudden appearance of Zeref’s demons, and the long fight that ensued afterwards. She remembered waking up after the entire town had been destroyed, finding Virgo and Gray, being comforted by Loke…

Because Erza and Natsu…

Hot tears sprang into her eyes as Lucy shook her head in denial. There was no way! Erza and Natsu couldn’t be dead. They were Erza and Natsu! Some of the strongest mages in the guild! No way could some monsters be the end of them. 

“We’ll bring them home, Lucy.” 

Loke’s soothing words replayed, and she felt her heart ease. That’s right. He promised he would bring their friends home, where Wendy could heal them. She smiled. Of course. What had she been thinking? Erza and Natsu were probably already in the hall eating. The two of them bounced back quickly enough. 

She pulled her lips into a tight line, drawing her attention to Gray. His ashen complexion and the sweat beading his brow spoke of pain. She only hoped it would pass sooner rather than later. 

Suddenly, a wave of exhaustion hit her and she sighed deeply. The battle they had been in really did a number on her. She had called on nearly every spirit in her arsenal, including Gemini to perform Urano Metria after she ultimately had to call on Loke. Even the Magic of the Stars hadn’t been enough to destroy the demons. 

But a nagging thought pulled at her, the image of a fire dragon slayer coming to mind - a silly grin, blood dripping down his chin, an apology, and a shuddered breath. She swallowed thickly, remembering a bloody halo framing a queen, a cry of denial from her comrade, and the comforting embrace of a lion. 

Every breath she expelled felt hollow in her chest. Her eyes turned as the door to the infirmary opened, revealing a small, elderly man and a silver-haired barmaid. “Ah, it’s good to see you awake,” he greeted. 

Makarov’s expression spoke volumes, and her heart dropped to her stomach. “Master… Mira…,” Lucy mumbled as tears came to her eyes. Her chest constricted painfully, breathing becoming hard. She didn’t want to ask - didn’t want them to confirm what she already knew. 

Their master stood at her bedside, his usually warm eyes hardened with grief. “Lucy, my dear. How are you feeling?”

She shook her head dismissively, wide eyes staring at her guildmates with building panic. “He’s… He’s gone, isn’t he?” she whispered. “Him and Erza and Happy…” 

Mirajane sat on the edge of the bed, taking her hand gently, She rubbed soothing circles over her skin with the pad of her thumb, but stayed silent, giving Lucy all the confirmation she needed. 

This isn’t real. 

“I should’ve never let you take that mission. The outcome is my burden to bear,” Makarov explained, knowing his words held little weight if he could even begin to suspect what Lucy had witnessed. “I don’t want you to blame yourself for what happened. It wasn’t your fault.” He sighed deeply, wanting to further ask her exactly what had transpired on that battlefield, but seeing the crumbling expression on her face, he knew it wasn’t the time. First, they needed to grieve. 

The emptiness in Lucy’s heart began to consume her. Brown eyes welled up and tears fell down her bandaged face, lips trembling. 

This can’t be real. 

Mirajane folded her hand over Lucy’s tighter, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Natsu, Erza, and Happy,” the takeover mage spoke, her voice hitching. “They didn’t make it. They all died in battle.” 

At first there was silence - a misty haze upon the horizons of Lucy’s mind. That’s where she kept her emotions bottled up. That was… until now. She could feel the hard, painful lump in the back of her throat as the tears fell faster. Slowly, her breathing hollowed itself and a small, but intense pain struck the top nerve in her head. 

Her upper body and shoulders wracked with every sob that forced its way out, chest rising and falling unevenly as she gasped for breath. She squeezed her eyes shut, covering her mouth with her hand as the tears dripped between her fingers. Before she knew it there was shouting, it was hers, and yet it seemed too distant. Time had fast forward. She couldn’t remember the briefest of moments. All she saw was her own fists grasping at her celestial keys for comfort, her tear-stained sheets. She even recognized her own voice repeating, “No, no, no!”

Then there were arms around her and she was being smothered by the scent of cake batter and alcohol. She faintly heard a soothing voice in her ear as her body shook with heartache. 

Please don’t let me believe this is real!

It couldn’t have lasted long though, the screaming. A rushing sound filled her ears and all she knew were her hysterical cries that shook the infirmary walls. Deep down, she had known Natsu had died. He had taken his final breath in her arms with a smile on his face. But she hadn’t wanted to believe it. If she didn’t believe it, it couldn’t be true. 

But here was someone else, someone else outside the realms of her mind that confirmed one of her deepest fears. Natsu… Erza… Happy… Their teammates. Their friends. Their family. They were all gone. 

It took awhile for Lucy to finally calm down, for her to lift her face from Mirajane’s chest, which had been soaked with her tears. She glanced between them, their expressions twisted into one she was sure mirrored her own - filled with grief and despair. 

And then her gaze landed on Gray, who remained blissfully unconscious through it all. “Wh-Where are they?” Lucy croaked, her voice hoarse from crying. 

“The Thunder Legion just brought them home,” Makarov explained. “They will have a proper Fairy Tail send off.” 

“Send off,” she echoed, scoffing bitterly as she pushed the tears from her cheeks. “Sounds like they’re just leaving the guild.” 

Mirajane squeezed her hand affectionately, her own face red and blotchy from crying, as she turned her attention to Makarov. “Everyone from the guild will be arriving soon,” she reminded quietly. “They’ll have questions.” 

He nodded solemnly. “I’ll have to make an announcement. I’ve already started on the arraignments.” 

Lucy hiccupped, feeling a new wave of tears sting her eyes. “I-I can’t…”

The barmaid looked at her with concern. “Lucy, I’m here for you. I can stay with you if you want.” 

She shook her head, blonde hair falling over her shoulders, as she pulled her hand free from Mirajane’s grasp. “No, you need to go with Master,” she reasoned. “I… I want to be alone.” 

There was hesitation, and then she nodded robotically. She opened her mouth to speak, but they both knew there was nothing to say. 

This was when the heroes, armed with the strength and courage of old, dueled against the ancient evil…

And lost. 

[i-write-fanfics-to-procrastinate]

More ships incoming.... How about some Mescana? I'd love to see how you write the moment they confess their feelings! 😍

Girl, this turned out so much longer than i thought it would because i had no idea what i was doing. I hope you enjoy it though! We love Mescana! :D

Mescana: Start Again

          What the hell are you doing, anyways, Mest? He leaned back against the wall outside the guild. It had been a long time since he’d been home and there was peace. After finally defeating Zeref and Acnologia it seemed like things could finally calm down. And here he was, making himself anxious for no reason. Cana. He could hear her just beyond the open doors to the guildhall. She was laughing.

          “Laxus! Come have a drink!”

          “No thanks,” The lightning mage swept through the doors of the guild, coat thrown over his shoulder.

          “On a job already?” Cana said, following after him with Freed, Bickslow, and Evergreen.

          “We’re on our way to Crocus!” Evergreen winked. Laxus let out a sigh, turning towards them. “We’ll be back. They requested some help with repairs, you know?”

          “Well, suit yourself.” She shrugged her shoulders, “And good luck!” She turned back towards the guild, and that’s when her eyes landed on Mest, who was still leaning against the wall like a coward.

          “Uhhh… Cana! I was actually going to try and find you.” What excuse do I have for talking with her? Back in the day, he used to talk to her all the time, but they had drifted apart… he missed those times when they were together, laughing over drinks. He wondered if she missed them too. I can’t just ask her that though! Can I?

          “What’s up, Mest?” She smiled a little, the name sounding so foreign in her voice. But, god he missed it… he missed her. Missed the way she used to pause when she saw him, her cheeks flushed, her eyes bright with warmth. “Hey, you there?” She laughed, waving her hand a little. “You kinda zoned out.”

          “Yeah. Sorry!” He smiled a little, rubbing the back of his neck. “Uh… hey. You want to take a walk?”

          She hesitated, her cheeks turning rosy once more, and she glanced back towards the hall where raucous laughter filtered through the doors, before turning back to him with a bright smile. “Sure. Take me away, memory-boy.” He shook his head and held out his arm. That’s when she paused, glancing between his arm and his eyes.

          “Come on. You want me to take you away?”

          Realization lit up those deep maroon eyes of hers and she reached out and took his arm eagerly. “Where are we going?!”

          Mest smiled, the warmth of her against him so familiar. “Wherever you’d like.”

⁂

          It had been so long since he’d been to the forest here, he had almost forgotten about it. But the moment Cana whispered the location in his ear his heart had skipped a beat. The moment they appeared there Cana laughed, clutching his shoulder to steady herself, “I’ll never get used to it,” she giggled a little. He glanced around at the clearing. The lake in front of them, shimmering blue in the sunlight peeking through the trees. So many memories flooded his mind. He wondered if she remembered too. All the times he almost kissed her… the one time she finally kissed him. They had gone swimming in this lake once or twice. Cana dashed towards the lake, stopping just before the water’s edge.

          “Remember this place?” She gasped, taking in a deep breath. “I remember when you first showed me.”

          He had showed her the first time because he had hoped for a moment alone. He had been falling fast and hard, but he had never said a word. Maybe it’s time, Mest.

          “Do you remember…” He whispered. Cana glanced back at him from where she stood. “The time I knocked you into the lake?” He grinned.

          Cana’s eyes widened, “Mest, don’t you dare… don’t you—” But he was at her side before she could blink, and knocking them both off the short ledge into the chest-deep water. She screamed before they hit the cool lake, and when they surfaced she laughed, legs wrapped around his waist, arms around his shoulders. “You idiot.”

          He grinned, “For old time’s sake.” She paused, still breathless, studying him.

          “Old time’s sake, huh?” She smiled a little, but her eyes were brimmed with sadness. “I miss the old times. I…” she paused. They were so close now, she gently dropped her forehead against his. “I miss us, Mest.”

          “Cana…” He said, “That’s why I wanted to find you… what if there wasn’t an us to miss?” He hesitated, his chest tight with anxiety, “Cana… I love you.” There was no reaction, her dark eyes showed no hint of surprise—nothing. “I… I mean… I know things have changed, I know with everything that has happened it’s been harder… to stay together, to even be friends, but… my feelings haven’t changed at all since all those days we spent here, and—” But before he could continue she closed the distance between them, kissing him hard, fingers tangling in his thick hair. Cana… what did this mean? He missed this… and now it felt so natural. The taste of her on his lips, the way her grip tightened in his hair… the way she kissed him. He had forgotten how right it felt. And when she pulled away breathless and flustered, he could only splutter out: “W…what…?”

          “I love you too, you weirdo,” she huffed. Her expression softened. “I always have, I always will. Nothing can change that.” He surged forward to kiss her again, water splashing up at the sudden movement. Cana laughed against his lips, and when he pulled away he smiled sheepishly.

          “I know we drifted apart… should we started again.”

          “We’re not starting over,” she said firmly, “We’ll start right where we left off, lover boy.”

          He grinned, “Sounds just right to me.”

[a-god-of-calamity]

The Airport (Nalu One-shot AU)

Rated: T  

Hey guys! Hope you enjoy this one shot from Arisa and me! As always let us know what you think! :)

A person's life is made up of an infinite number of moments and clips. More often than not it's the unfortunately the bad ones that stick with you. Sometimes the good memories stay with you, if you're lucky you can hold onto those moments. One thing is for certain...It's not for us to know the meaning of the encounters we experience in our lives...to know where they will led us, what path they will have us take. We don't have the foresight for that kind of thing...to see clearly where we will end up. An encounter can be fleeting but inconsequential. Sometimes thought the most insignificant thing can be life altering, whether you know it or not. Like the moment you make eye contact with someone and your breath catches in your throat. Then the moment when you realize that you will never see him, or her, again.

Natsu experienced such a moment. Never did he think he would have that experience. He didn't believe in soulmates or in love at first sight. But if you asked him that now, he would deny it. The second he spotted her, the second their eyes made contact he had forgotten everything. Everything around him moved in slow motion until it seemed like time itself had stopped. Everything else had faded. The universe melted away leaving only the two of them. Him and her. Nothing but them existed.

They stood frozen as his onyx eyes burned into her big brown eyes as he stared at her intensely. Her long golden hair flowed down over shoulders and down her back. The silky hair seemed to flow perfectly with her every move as if it wasn't allowed to go awry. Her light skin looked as if it was the smoothest thing he'd ever touch. His eyes traced the lines of her of her seemingly fit figure which added to her beauty. Everything about her captured him, from her rosy cheeks and her soft, pink lips to the curves of her body. Her clothes seemed so perfect, so her, which was a funny thought considering he had never laid eyes on her until today.

"Last call for passengers to flight ZR48742." the voice came over the pa ripping him from his thoughts, tearing him away from the world that only the two of them had inhabited. "Please head to gate F7"

The announcement echoed in his mind but still he kept his eyes locked on her. That's when he noticed she looked a bit panicked and she tore her gaze from his, leaving a kind of emptiness in him. He chuckled softly at her flustered reaction, finding it kind of cute. He watched as she rushed toward the gate, turning back once to look behind her, to look at him still standing there in a daze. That was when reality struck him and he realized with growing panic that he would probably never see her again. His eyes widened and his heart began to pound in his chest at the thought. He cursed under his breath as he took off running after his blonde beauty in the direction she had gone. There was no way he was going to lose her. No way he was going to not see her again. Yeah it sounded cheesy and so unlike him, but something deep inside told him to not let her go. He couldn't let her disappear forever.

Natsu searched through the crowd for her, for any sign of where she might be. Finally, he caught a glimpse of her blonde hair and took off running. He tried to rush toward her but was stopped and asked for his ticket. He tried to explain he just needed to find someone but they wouldn't let him pass. He tried to call after to wait for him but to no avail. He growled in frustration as he realized she already disappeared into the tunnel leading to the plane. He looked at the monitor to see where the flight was headed. Crocus. He read in disappointment. Of course it had to be one of the largest cities. And of course it had to be in the opposite direction of where he was going. Natsu balled his fists and cursed to himself. He lived in Magnolia, a smaller, cozier city. Maybe she was on a trip or something. Really, she could live anywhere he had no way of knowing. If only he had gotten a glimpse of her passport or something...or better yet even have talked to her and found out her name at least. Now he had no leads. None except for Crocus anyway. He sighed heavily and trudged back to his gate to wait for his flight back home.

Five Years Later

Natsu, now 24 years old, once again stood in the same airport, waiting for his flight. He had an undoubtedly long road ahead of him but he was determined. For five years his friends did their best to try and talk him out of this crazy venture, to keep him from going to the big metropolis in search for a girl that would most likely be impossible to find. To find one person among millions of people was definitely not going to be easy but he could take care of himself now. It didn't matter how long it was going to take he was going to find her. He couldn't forget about her all those years. He couldn't get her out of his mind, couldn't stop thinking about her. He was willing to risk it all to look for her. Even if she was married now or had a boyfriend he just had to see her at least one more time. He had to know she was okay, that she was happy. Then maybe that void that had been growing for the last five years would disappear. How dare she affect him like that. How dare she completely and utterly steal his heart and claim it as her own with just one look. The sleepless nights, the constant thoughts of her invading his mind and etching them into his brain. How dare she drive him crazy. How dare she...his thoughts stopped reeling in his mind. After five years he finally saw her again. He looked at her wide eyed from across the terminal, swallowing dryly as he stood frozen in place. His body wanting to move but it was as if someone had welded his feet to the ground. His heart pounded in his chest and he felt weak, like his insides had melted and he could no longer stay upright. It was his blonde beauty. The strangers walking by him looked at him oddly as he slapped himself making him hiss. No, he wasn't dreaming. He pinched himself to double check. She was still there. This was happening. This was real. She was really here.

She looked a bit taller and more mature, more curvy, her hair longer now reaching down to her waist and she had that same warm and caring look in her eyes. Her lips were pulled back in a big smile and he was glad that she seemed okay. Natsu wasn't one to believe in God but if someone was up there, in the heavens, then he would prostrate himself before said being and thank him for this one in a million second chance.A grin spread across his face and unlike last time he began to make his way toward her. He couldn't believe he had found her after all these years. It had to have been fate. He walked quickly toward her but then he suddenly stopped. His grin faded and his eyes widened at the sight of the child that was with her. A six or seven year old blonde girl held her hand. Of course this would happen. Someone as beautiful and pure as her. Why would she still be single? But maybe...just maybe...he started to slowly walk towards her again but stopped when he caught sight of a blond haired male with spiky hair walking up to them and picking up the girl in his arms. They looked like the perfect family, all smiling at each other. The fit, muscular blond guy with the beautiful blonde girl and their cute little daughter. The stabbing pain throbbed in his chest as his insides screamed at him. That should've been him. It could've been him. His mind burned with thoughts of what a family with her could've looked like. His heart pounded and his blood felt like fire in his veins that boiled him from the inside. He clenched his fists and grit his teeth. It's been five years you idiot...what did you expect?

He lowered his head, his gaze dropping and he looked like someone had told him his cat had just died. The despair and emptiness showed in his eyes, his shoulders slouched and his body went numb with defeated acceptance. His friends had been right. He had been wasting his time. Years and countless hours spent pining after her, thinking about her and imagining what it would be like to see her again. What it would be like to talk to her. Countless nights he's lay awake in bed for hours making up conversations between them. He'd spent a lifetime with her already yet he had never even said a word to her in real life. That somber reality struck him harder than anything ever had in his life. Who was he kidding? He should've known mere fantasies meant nothing. He should've known that made up conversations and hours spent thinking about someone would go nowhere.

Pink. Not too odd of a color given proper context and placement. A pink bicycle? Normal. A pink notebook or pen? Normal. Pick cell phone? Pink clothes? Sure. Pink hair on a male? Not normal. Yet that's what had caught her attention. A glimpse of pink hair is what she saw that made her turn her head. That's when she spotted the adult male sporting spiky pink hair. Could it be? She thought to herself, releasing a soft gasp. What were the odds that again, in the same airport she would see a guy with pink spiky hair. She remembered that day as if it were yesterday.

A peculiar sight had caught her attention as she waited for her flight to Crocus. A pink haired guy just a few feet away from her had stopped and begun to stare at her. It had confused her and his color was definitely amusing. But when they locked eyes she had gotten lost in the intense stare of his onyx eyes. She was pulled in and mesmerized by the emerald tint they had. She wanted to walk toward him, to go and talk to him. Why? She didn't know but she felt like maybe she needed to. Before she could do that however, the announcement that her flight was boarding came over the pa. Now she had to hurry to get to her flight. She didn't have a choice she had to be on and couldn't forward to risk missing it. She took off toward her gate, looking back once at the pink haired boy who still had his eyes locked on her. Then she turned back and quickened her steps to her gate. Not long after, when she was entering the corridor to board her plane, she thought she had heard something. She sighed sadly. She could've at least given him her number real quick or something. For the next five years he invaded her thoughts, always wondering what became of the pink haired boy. He remembered exactly what he looked like even now. He was wearing green cargo pants with a white shirt, its sleeves coming ¾ of the way down his arms. A gray unbuttoned vest and white scarf completed the ensemble and she had to admit he looked rather handsome. The pink hair, though odd, seemed to suit him almost perfectly in a weird way. The vest and scarf, though not going in hand with just any ensemble, seemed to also look natural on him. The more she thought of him the more attractive she had found him.

"Excuse me for a sec okay?" She smiled up at the blond male who was with her.

Five years she had thought about him and now here he was again. What were the chances? She couldn't let this end like last time. She walked after her pink haired boy, who was very much a man now, his body seemingly even more fit than five years ago. She quickened her pace to try and catch up to him and finally got close enough to reach out.

"Uh excuse me?" Natsu heard the soft feminine voice come from behind him following a light tap on his shoulder.

Natsu turned and his eyes widened as he caught sight of her. The girl who he had fixated on for the last five years. The girl he had vowed to find and and never let go of again. She was standing before him. But why? There was no way she could remember him. So...why did she come up to him? Shouldn't she be…

"Uhm." her sweet voice snapped him back from his thoughts.

He really looked at her this time and her demeanor seemed to mirror that of an embarassed high school girl. Her gaze lowered to the floor between them and her cheeks were a slight pink color as she rubbed her hands nervously together. Natsu realized her nervousness and couldn't help but find it adorable. His soft chuckling grabbed her attention and she looked up at him with her chocolate eyes. Again he was thrown into...no that was wrong...he wasn't thrown, he was grabbed. He was pulled, no sucked into her beauty. He had no chance, no say. He merely was captivated by her angelic beauty, which made him think that there had to be a God if someone as beautiful as her existed. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, perfectly imperfect she was. Every little thing about her mesmerized him. How could she not make him smile? And smile he did, even if there was a trace of sadness behind it.

"Uh...I...Uhm...I…" she stuttered and the cuteness pained him. Natsu saw the blond man walk up with their child in his arms.

"Is something wrong Lucy?" he asked her. "Do you know this guy?" he now looked over at Natsu.

Great, now what? Lucy asked herself in sarcastically. Of course she took off after him without thinking. Her pink haired boy that had been etched into her memory for the last five years. Her first and last crush whom she had seen once five years ago and thought she would never see again. Natsu felt the awkwardness and tension building. Of course it was like this. She probably remembered the freak with the pink hair and absent mindedly went after him. Now she was stuck, not knowing what to say to her family. After all it wasn't like they were even acquaintances in the loosest of terms. The least he could do was save her from this.

"Sorry. " he said, his voice shaking her from her worried state. "You've probably got me confused for someone else." he said with an emotionless smile.

"Wai-n-no." she mumbled, panicking when she saw him take a step back. She couldn't lose him, not again, at least not without saying something this time. No matter what.

"Sorry, I gotta go. My flight is leaving soon." he said trying to be polite despite that fact that his flight was pointless now. The last five years...everything...it was all pointless now. "Have a nice day with your family." he said offering that hollow smile as he turned back around to walk away.

Lucy froze in horror. No. He couldn't be leaving. It couldn't end like this. But how else could it end? She had only been 18 when they first laid eyes on each other and now...It had been five full years. Of course he wouldn't remember her. Quick Lucy...think of something. She needed to stop him. She couldn't let him leave. She needed to-wait, did he say 'her family'?

"I'm not married!" she found herself shouting in annoyance without a second thought.

Natsu froze and dropped his bag. His eyes went wide as the words rang in his mind. What did she just say? Did he hear right? His heart thumped in his chest with urgency, with hope. A dam had been broken open and he felt a stinging in his eyes. He felt as if he were going to collapse right there and break down with tears of joy. What had she done to him? How cruel. To keep a hold over his being for five years, crush it and then offer this hope without even a second thought. He slowly turned back to face her trying to wash away all the emotions that seemed to flood forth at once. Her cheeks were puffed out and red and her stance made it clear that she was annoyed. Yet she seemed to soften slightly upon seeing his confused expression but only slightly.

"Uh, what?" he asked a small blush forming as her words full formed in his mind. "I thought...I mean I can see you're with…I assumed..." he dared to speak through his utter confusion.

"Are you crazy?! Who would marry their cousin?!" Lucy said angrily. "Plus...how the hell how could I have a five year old child? I'm only 23, I'm not that kind of girl!"

"She said a bad word." the young girl said looking at her father to Lucy's horror.

Natsu would've laughed if he hadn't been busy talking in and analyzing every single thing the blonde girl had just said to him. Of course. That made more sense. Hell, he'd take any explanation that involved her being single right now. She was right though. The math didn't add up. She would've had to have been pregnant when he first saw her all those years ago but she wasn't. He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly and mumbled an apology. Upon seeing his reaction her anger left her and was replaced with kind understanding. She found his confusion kind of cute and of course he assumed this was her family. They looked like one, until you really started paying attention to their ages.

"Uh, sorry." she said slightly embarrassed herself now. "This is Sting, my cousin." Natsu looked at him, a smirk on his face. "And this is his daughter. We're on our way to visit his wife Yukino who's been away working." she explained and Natsu nodded to her in understanding, trying to focus.

All he could focus on was the fact that she wasn't married. That Sting wasn't even her boyfriend. It was all he could do to not yell out triumphantly and offer her the biggest smile ever before pulling her into a tight bear hug. He looked at her and couldn't help but allow a small smile to form on his lips. She cleared her throat softly and held out her hand to him.

"And...I am Lucy..Lucy Heartfilia." she said looking up at him with her brown eyes. He walked up to her and took her hand in his.

"I'm Natsu. Natsu Dragneel." he said smiling as they looked into each other's eyes, both of them feeling a small jolt of electricity through them.

They stared into each other's eyes for what seemed like a lifetime. Natsu could swear he saw stars in her eyes the way they glittered. They were interrupted Sting clearing his throat, saying he would go and wait for her at the gate with his daughter. He winked at Lucy and told her not to take too long before leaving them. He left hand in hand with his little girl, a smirk on his lips. Lucy's face reddened and she wanted to protest, mumbling something that sounded like 'shut up'. Natsu chuckled to himself seeing her reaction, still enjoying the feel connection of their hands. He pulled her to him to get her attention and she squeaked in surprise, their chests bumping. He leaned forward, his mouth moving to her ear.

"So...I take it you're single Miss Heartfilia." he asked her lowly, sending shivers down her spine and her face get redder.

"I-I-" she mumbled.

Seeing her like this he had to gather all his will to not burst out laughing or tease her more. He pulled away, a smile on his lips. Lucy took a deep breath and then began to rummage through her purse looking for a pen and paper. She scribbled something on it quickly and then pushes towards his chest.

"Uhm...I have to go now...but...if you want…" she said looking at him, her face still flushed making her even prettier. "I..live in Magnolia...so yeah…"

"Magnolia?" he asked with surprise. The dumb irony not lost on him. "I live in the same town. How come I haven't seen you in the last five years?"

He remembered. She thought to herself with a soft smile. "Well, back when we first...met...I was leaving for college in Crocus. I just came back to Magnolia this year."

"Oh." Natsu nodded. Seeing the clock on the screen she got a bit sad, realizing she had to go. "Anyway...you can call me. You know if you want." she said and he raised the paper in front of his eyes. "You don't have to." she added before turning and heading for her gate as he shoved the paper with her number on it in his pocket. Lucy was stopped by Natsu's hand on her wrist. He pulled her back around to him and brought his free hand to cup her chin. He leaned down and planted a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth.

"Will do." he whispered and Lucy's face was as red as a tomato and he let go of her wrist.

She bowed shyly and then turned making a beeline toward her gate. He chuckled at her behavior. Cute. He held up the piece of paper from his pocket with her number and looked at it. He remembered what his father told. Once you find the one, never let her go. He smiled at the memory. Natsu had lost her once before but he wasn't going to let her slip away this time. That was a promise. Well, looks like his trip to Crocus was cancelled. Time to go home and wait for his princess to arrive. After all what kind of dragon would he be if he didn't protect what was precious to him. He saved her number into his phone and sent her a quick text. He slipped his phone back into his pocket and went to go cancel his flight.

Lucy sat down in her seat next to the little girl. She reached into her purse for her phone and pulled it out to switch it onto flight mode. As the screen lit up she saw that she had a text from a new number. She smiled as she slid her finger across the screen, opening the text and reading it, making her smile widen.

"Who was that? Your boyfriend?" Sting smirked.

"N-No." she stuttered, her face getting redder. "But...I have a feeling that soon...he'll probably be someone more than that." she mumbles to herself with a soft smile as she read his message again. "Yeah, we'll be together soon."

The end

[petri808]

Not Again

@random-rave

The Dragneel family decides to have a nice weekend at the waterpark, what could go wrong?​

“You know, Mira mentioned they finally lifted the ban on Fairytail at Ryuzetsu Land, I think that would be a fun trip for the kids.”

“Hell yeah!  A waterpark would be fun, we haven’t gone to something like that in so long.”

“Not since the kids were born,” Lucy smiles and relaxes against her husband’s arm, “and it was still just the two of us.”

He kisses her forehead before tilting his wife’s face towards him, “Akane was a lot of fun,” smirking, “but I think most of our activities centered around the bed that weekend.”

“How could I forget, considering we ended up with two souvenirs from that trip.”

“I know I won’t mind seeing my stunning wife in a bathing suit…”

“Oh please,” she smacks his arm and looks away, “Natsu, you know I’m still a little insecure about the baby weight…”

“Luce,” forcing her gaze back on him, “you are just as beautiful as the day I met you and if anyone says otherwise, they’ll find out what a barbecue chicken feels like.”

“Such the sweet talker,” running her fingers down his chest, “you know Lani’s asleep,” she peaks up from behind her lashes, “and the twins are still at school.”

Gasp!  “Mrs. Dragneel, are you hinting at something naughty?”

She giggles and shrugs her shoulders with a grin, “Why don’t you find out Mr. Dragneel?”

~~~~

As the Dragneel family checks into their inn, Lucy couldn’t help but feel the anxiety creeping over her.  It’s true that in the last 10 years since they’d visited Ryuzetsu Land, Natsu had settled down from the crazy fire ball he was in his youth to a bit more of a family man, but the memories of what he had done still worried her and she hoped the employees won’t remember them.  Lucy leans against the counter as the front desk finishes up the paperwork, watching her husband wrangling their three children.  

Lani, their 2-year-old daughter who sat perched atop her father’s shoulders was the vision of a sweet, little angel compared to her siblings, smiling and holding onto his hair while he struggled to keep a grip on the other two.  Lucy sighed, ‘Nashi and Ryuu…’  Rambunctious was an understatement when trying to describe her fraternal twins, demolition duo was more apt, or the guilds nickname for them, the pyro pair.  Her friends had mentioned Natsu was very much like them at 7 but of course there had only been one of him, there’s two of them, and two meant double the possibility of trouble.  ‘Oh Mavis, please not this weekend…’

‘Okay, towels, changes of clothes, floaties…’  “Does everyone have their bathing suits on?” she calls out to Natsu, who responds with a yeah.  ‘…book to read, diaper bag, keys…’ “Luce, you’re still in your Pj’s.”

“I’ll change in a minute.”  ‘Did I forget anything?’ sifting through her oversized bag, ‘I think I’ve got everything…  Money,’ chuckling to herself, ‘can’t forget that.’  With all their supplies packed, Lucy changes into a swimsuit, then throws one of her husbands oversized shirts on.

A pair of arms wraps around her waist, “Are ya ready now, cause the kids are gonna tear up this room if we take any longer.”

She leans into Natsu’s embrace, “Yeah…” sigh, “I’m ready.”  He kisses the back of her head before releasing her.  Lucy turns now to her two kids as Natsu scoops Lani up from the bed and places her on his shoulders.  “Alright you two,” pointing at the twins, “when we get to the park, you stay by us at all times, no running off on your own, no using your magic what-so-ever.  Got it?”  Nashi and Ryuu look at each other for a couple seconds then back to their mother before nodding like they understood.  Lucy hates it when they do that, like they’re communicating through some telepathic means, she narrows her eyes, “don’t make me call aunty Virgo to come punish you.”

“We promise mom,” Nashi grins

“Yeah, mom,” Ryuu grins as well, “we’ll behave.”

Natsu chuckles and shakes his head, his son sports the same grin as he used to whenever he was up to something Lucy wasn’t going to like.  “You two better listen to your mother, do you wanna get kicked out of the park?  We won’t be able to go back if that happens.”  Even Lucy looks at her husband in shock, where was this restraint 10 years ago when it would have come in handy?  The twins flush and start to fidget making their dad smirk, “That’s right, if you think I don’t know what’s going through your heads think again,” he points at them with his pointer and middle fingers, then back to his own eyes, “I was once your age and I’ve already been there, done that, ask your mom.” They look to see her nodding then turn back at their dad.  “So, think twice before you do anything you’re not supposed to.”

Strolling through the streets of Crocus, Natsu shoulders their belongings while holding his wife’s hand, Lani still riding high while the twins walk in front of them, stopping every so often to look at a vendor or shop window.  So far, so good, just a typical young family on vacation and even Lucy is starting to relax a little.  

“Wow, they really made it like new again!” The wide-eyed blonde scans across the span of attractions.  “You can’t even tell it was destroyed once.”

Nashi looks up at her mom, “Why, who destroyed it the last time?” But she follows the direction of her mother’s eyes and lets out a giggle, “it was daddy huh?”

The slayer just laughs nervously, “It was an accident, and technically it was aunty Erza’s fault for kicking me into the sign, but don’t you dare tell her that!”

The twins grin at their dad, already plotting…  “Alright, alright you two,” Lucy grabs their hands and pulls them along further into the park, “so what do you guys wanna do first, look at the aquarium, try the rides, the pool?”  

“Count me outta the rides,” points out Natsu, “I think I’ll go check out the aquarium with this little one,” squeezing Lani’s chubby legs, “then hang by the pool after.”

Lucy smiles at her baby, whose giggling and already pointing at the fish signs, “I think Lani will love all the fishes.  Well,” she looks down at her two eldest kids, “what’ll it be for you two?”

“Rides!” they both shout at the same time.  

“Hun,” giving Natsu a kiss, “we’ll find you by lunch time okay.”  He kisses his wife back, nods and heads off with Lani towards the aquarium entrance.  Keeping them by the hand, Lucy leads Nashi and Ryuu towards the kids rides, setting the ground rules that she’ll be watching them from one of the nearby lounge chairs and to not leave her sight.  Of course, they nod, agreeing to it all, but she knows better.  “I mean it!  Stay off the adult rides, no trying to sneak on cause you could get hurt and I’d rather enjoy this trip not end up sitting in a hospital.”

“Okay mom…”

“We get it…”

Lucy just sighs, “Then go, I’ll be right there,” she lets go of their hands and points to the chairs.  They waste no time in booking it towards the first ride they see, a medium sized slide while she plops down to watch, pulls off her shirt, adjusting her sunglasses and taking out her book.  

Meanwhile, Natsu and his toddler have made it into the aquarium.  Lani’s eyes grow ever wider as they pass by the glass enclosures filled with colorful marine life.  She pulls on her father’s hair in the direction she wants to go, this way and that, unable to make up her mind each time a new attraction catches her attention, part babbling, part using real words in her excitement.  He just laughs at how wound up she is getting but he knows he needs to watch her carefully.  Lani’s too young to understand how to control her magic and while it’s still not that strong yet, it sometimes comes out by accident and he’d rather not play fire-man in this confined space.  

They stop to watch the dolphins, “aunty Aqua?” Lani points at the glass

“They’re like aunty Aquarius?” he chuckles at his daughters mystified sounding question, “I guess it’s like her, they have similar tails.”  She beams and turns back to the glass, trying to reach out for them.  “Sorry baby, you can’t touch these ones.”  Lani pouts and flattens her palms against the glass, watching the dolphins swim and frolic, a couple even swim up, treading for a moment in front of the child before swimming away again.  That’s when he notices the child has gone a bit quiet.  “Lani?”  But she stares forwards as if concentrating and then he feels the heat rising.  “Lani, don’t…”  Flames burst from her hands, she’s trying to melt the glass!  Natsu quickly pulls her away, “Lani, no!”  She screams in frustration and her whole body erupts in fire.  “Stop that!” he scolds her and sucks up the flames before they can do any damage.  “That’s it, no more dolphins, I think it’s time for the pool little girl.”

Lucy hears a panicked scream and looks up worried her kids had done something, she scans the thongs of children looking for the pink and blonde heads but finds them simply waiting in line for another slide.  Figuring it was a false alarm she goes back to reading her book, every so often checking to see what they are up to.  But after about an hour she starts to relax, maybe they actually listened to her this time, praise Mavis.  

For an indoor facility, they really did a great job making it seem like a beautiful sunny day, ‘maybe too good a job’, Lucy laments as she fan’s herself a bit to cool off.  She adjusts her position on the lounge chair, lowering it just a tad to recline before resuming her reading.        

“Is mom still watching us?” Ryuu whispers to his sister.

“She’s back to her book, but…” Nashi takes a peak and grins, “looks like she’s nodding off.”

Her brother grins too, “wanna try turning the kiddie pool into a jacuzzi?”

“Boring, and dad might be there with Lani.”

“Flaming surfing in the Wave Rider?”

Punching his shoulder, “You’re on!”

About 10 minutes later, sure enough they see their mom’s book propped against her stomach and she’s out cold.  “Let’s go Ryuu, before she wakes back up,” Nashi grabs her brothers hand as the two race-off to the next ride.

Lani is still fussing wanting to go back to the dolphins, trying to squirm out of his grip as he walks over to the kiddie pool.  Natsu breathes a small sigh of relief to see it’s devoid of other kids, not that he wouldn’t want his daughter to find some playmates, it’s just that if she’s grumpy, who knows what she might throw at one of the them.  He affixes water wings to her arms before wading in, and happily once her feet hit the cool liquid she settles a bit.  She squeals, splashing him in the pool as he splashes her back, holding her at the waterline so she can kick and pretend to swim.  “You having fun again baby girl?”

Her giddy squeaks and little burbles having him laughing along with her.  “Want Aunty Aqua play with me too.”

“Lani, he sits down in the chest high water and holds her on his lap, “Aunty Aquarius is not here, and mom is watching your sister and brother.  Maybe after lunch mom can summon her…”

“Aunty Aqua!” the girl cries out and out of nowhere a blast of light temporarily blinds Natsu.

Shielding his eyes and trying to hold the fidgeting child, “What the?”

“Why the hell are you calling me?” Aquarius shouts before realizing something is wrong, “Wait, where is Lucy and how the hell did you summon me without her?”

“It wasn’t me,” he looks down at Lani who is reaching out for celestial spirit, “I think it was her.”

“The child summoned me without a key?”

He nods, “she was asking for you, called out your name and the next thing I know, you’re here.”

“Aunty Aqua!” Lani continues reaching out, wiggling her little digits, “Aunty Aqua!”

“Tch!” the feisty spirit grouses but reaches down and picks up the child who relaxes the second she’s in her aunts’ arms.  “Damn kid,” Aquarius can’t help but smirk a little, “you are gonna be stronger than your mother kid.”

“What makes you say that?”

She levels a glare at Natsu who cringes back, “Tch, cause I ain’t never seen a mage summon one of us without a key before!”

At the Wave Rider, Ryuu and Nashi are sporting boogie boards and using flames to propel them over and through the waves.  “It would be so cool if we could surf just with our feet!” Ryuu calls out to his sister.

“Yeah, but I don’t know if it’ll keep you upright,” laughing, “you might just fly out!”

“What’ll ya give me if I can?”

“How ‘bout nothin’!”  

“Tch, bet you couldn’t do it!”

“Oh yeah!”

“Yeah!  I’ll kick your ass at it!”

“No way a girl’s gonna beat me!”

“This one will!” Nashi pushes her upper body out of the water and flames up her legs, propelling herself up over the water.  “See!”

But Ryuu just cracks up, pointing at her, “The challenge is to surf not float!”

“Shut up!” she lobs a ball of fire at her brother who whacks it away.  “You try it then!”

“I will!” he copies his sister and uses the board as a prop, lighting up his feet, hovering over the water too.  “S-see!” his arms flail a bit trying to maintain an upright position, “I told you…” but he pushes his flames too hard and starts to lift way out of the water.  

“You idiot, control it…”

“Oh crap!” Ryuu is picking up speed…  “I-I can’t focus….”

“Ryuu…” but it’s too late, losing control, Nashi watches as her brother turns into a rocket and shoots towards the big Love Love Slider.  “Oh no, he’s gonna crash into the slide!” Not thinking straight either, Nashi pitches a fire ball at her brother, hoping to knock him off course, but Ryuu sees it coming and panics, flailing his arms to avoid it.  It sails past him and hits the rides large heart shaped entrance while the flames around his legs sputter and sends him crashing into the chute.  Nashi takes off running towards the ride to find her brother, loud cracking sounds begin to reverberate through the park.

Lucy bolts out of her sleep at the loud noises and immediately scans around for her kids.  “Nashi, Ryuu?!”  She turns her head towards the sounds only to see her pink-haired daughter running towards…  Her eyes widen, “Ryuu!” as she sees her blonde-headed son bobbing through the twists and turns of the slides chute.  Lucy takes off in their direction.

“What the hell was that explosion?” Natsu stands up and sees a cloud of gray smoke rising from the big slide.  “Oh shit!”  Something tells him, it’s the kids.

“Go,” Aquarius tells him, “I’ll watch this one,” bouncing Lani in her mini made water spouts.

“Are you…”

“Don’t make me say it twice!”

“Yikes!” he cringes and takes off at a sprint.

“Nashi!” Lucy screams the closer she gets to the ride, searching the now panicking crowds for her daughter, all the while keeping track of where on the ride her son is.  She see’s her husband.  “Natsu!”

“Lucy!” he heads for her first, “What the hell happened?”

“I-I fell asleep and, I don’t know those kids must’a snuck off!  Where’s Lani?”

He sniffs the air and tracks Nashi, “She’s with Aquarius,” he fills his wife in as they run towards their daughter.

“She summoned my spirit, without my key!” running towards the commotion, “of all the times for her to start this up…”

“Tch, can we deal with the mores pressing issue at hand?!” They both grab Nashi whose standing at the base of the slide watching the whole scene in shock.

The young girl, panics when she’s grabbed from behind but as soon as she sees it’s her parents the tears burst free.  “M-mom, I-I’m so-sorry!  We-we were just playing and…”

“Save it kid,” her father cuts her off, “we’ll talk about it after I go save your idiot brother!”  Lucy tightens her hold on Nashi’s arm, “Just stay with your mother!”

The little girl nods, wiping her face of the tears that keep falling.  “Young lady, you two are definitely in big trouble!”

With Natsu racing along the track trying to figure out the best way to reach Ryuu, the frazzled blonde hears deep cracking sounds above them and looks up, eyes bulging when she realizes the giant heart has broken loose and is falling in their direction!  ‘Shit!  Not again!’  Lucy pulls her daughter into her arms, turns to run but it’s too late and the bottom of the heart swings, hits, launching them into the air.  Nashi is screaming, clutching to her mom as the poor woman can only hold tight and pray.  “Close your eyes baby!”

The dragon slayer hears his wife and daughter scream and sees them flying through the air, his heart drops and all the blood rushes from his face, “Lucy!  Nashi!” he turns back towards his son, desperately trying to figure out what to do, who does he save?  “Fuck!”  Realizing his son will simply land in the pool, Natsu turns towards his wife and daughter but sees they have luckily landed on another part of the slide.  He almost stumbles in his stride, uttering a thanks to Mavis that his family will be fine, and books it to the end of the ride.

Lucy braces herself for a bone breaking impact, shielding her daughter with her body, but seconds later a cushioned fall, albeit a wet cushion, followed by the feeling of rushing water breaks her out of panic mode.  She opens her eyes to see they’ve landed in another part of the same slide; it’s like de ja vu without the psycho shouting love rival!  Exhale, “Nashi, we’re gonna be okay.”  Looking down she sees Natsu running towards the pool.  “We just need to ride this out till the end.”  Her daughter clings on nodding, but with a worried and tearful expression and Lucy can’t help but smile that her kid still need’s her for comfort.  They are growing up so quickly…

“Well brat,” Aquarius puts the child back down in the shallow water, “what do you wanna do while we wait for your parents?”

“Bubbles!” the child squeals and slaps the water a few times, “Aunty Aqua make bubbles!”

“Bubbles, huh?” she waves her hand over the water and soon the kiddie pool is filled with them, frothy white like the ending surge of a wave.  

Lani squeals in giddy repartee as she tries to batt and pop as many as she can, splashing and kicking.  Aquarius tries to hide her amusement at the babbling little girl who looks so much like her mother, minus the pink hair.  Lucy used to be like this when she was younger, her mind taking her back to those days when that lonely child would summon her to play.  ‘Tch, why do kids always do this to me?’  But Lani was such a happy, bubbly child compared that lonely Lucy, Aquarius is secretly pleased that her old friend had found a new group of friends and now has a family of her own, and no matter that she won’t show it, this celestial spirit will always be there for them.  ‘I love these brats like a mother, tch, am I getting softer with age?’      

With all of Lani’s excitement, the bubbles eventually thin away and her babbling turns to frustration again.  But just as Aquarius is about make more the child’s body heats up, the spirits eyes widen in surprise to see the water around the little girl start to simmer.  ‘Is this kid a fire mage too?!’  The heat of the water doesn’t bother the spirit and she just floats there, watching as the simmer turns to a boil and Lani is happily screaming about bubbles again.    

“Oh, ho, so you wanted bigger bubbles?”   A loud boom somewhere in the park makes Aquarius turn briefly, she senses her owner is somewhere in the midst of it, oh well, she was sure she’d be fine, so she looks back to her ward.  “Do you want something bigger?”  When the little girl claps her hands and nods with a beaming smile, Aquarius scoops her up.  “Let’s make a new ride for this park!”

By the time Lucy and Nashi splash down into the pool, she could see her husband and son in an intense conversation with park officials.  Not surprising.  Lucy quickly swims over along with her daughter to keep Natsu from escalating it.  

“What’s going on here?” she asks, still trying to catch her breath.  

Natsu turns to her, “They want to send a bill for all the damage and they said we have to leave.”

“I’m sorry ma’am, but your kids did destroy part of the ride, we’ll need to shut it down for repairs and that costs money.  We don’t want to risk them getting into any more trouble either.”

“But…”

“No Natsu,” she grabs his hand, “don’t, they’re right,” turning to the workers, “but please don’t ban Fairytail again, we’ll make sure you…”  A massive group of screaming has everyone turning their heads to the other side of the park, and immediately Lucy knows, it’s her.    

“What the hell is that?” One of the park employees screams as they watch a tsunami sized wave crest out of the Wave Rider.

“Oh Mavis, is Aquarius crazy!”  Lucy grabs her husband, and thrusts her daughters hand into his, “Here you hold onto them, go get our stuff and I’ll meet you at the exit,” then takes off in the direction of the ride.

When Lucy arrives at the Wave Rider, she climbs to the top of the staging area and sees her spirit holding her daughter and they are surfing the massive waves!  Lani is excitedly screaming and Aquarius is smiling, ‘she’s fucking laughing!’  It’s so rare for Lucy to see Aquarius not just smiling but really, ‘happy…’ that is almost hurt to stop this.  Tears well up at the scene of her daughter and spirit having such a good time, but it can’t go on before any more damage occurs.  “Aquarius!!!”

“Eh?” the spirit turns her head and sees her owner screaming from the, “What!”

“You gotta stop!  You’re gonna break this ride!”

“Tch, Like I care, this brat is having fun and so am I!”

“Please,” Lucy resorts to begging, “Fairytail is gonna kill us for causing another bill,” and tears, maybe tears will work, “Please Aquarius!”

“Ugh!” she rides a final wave towards her owner, inundating her at the same time.  Lucy shrieks and braces for the large wave making her spirit cackle in delight, grinning as her owner wipes at her face and shakes off all the water.  Once composed, she hands Lani over.  “Next time don’t make me babysit!”

“T-Thank you Aquarius,” Lucy takes her child who’s unaware of the havoc they had just created.  “I’m sorry Lani summoned you…”

“Keh!  I had fun with the brat,” grin, “but you’re gonna have your hands full with her.  Damn kid can summon without a key, I’m guessing she’s a dragon slayer like her old man too.”

Lucy blinks, “You had fun,” her eyes moist over again, “you know when we take them to the beach, i-if you want to play with Lani…”

“Tch, maybe…  If I’m not on a date,” she smiles and messes up Lani’s hair, “behave for your mom you little brat,” before disappearing.

Lani starts to cry when Aquarius leaves, “Aunty Aqua…”

“Oh baby,” Lucy cradles her daughter, “you’ll see her again, but you can’t just summon aunty whenever you feel like it...”

Of course, the moment the hotel room door closed behind the Dragneel family, both parents laid into their twins about all the destruction and chaos they had caused.  The kids cried, nothing new, promised not to do it again, Lucy wasn’t holding her breath as she sighed and couldn’t help but remind herself she should have seen this coming when she decided to have kids with of all people, Natsu.  It really was no surprise to the couple that the park was going to send a bill to Fairytail and threatened to ban the guild once again but hopefully they won’t punish everyone for one family’s crazy kids.  As for Lani, whether the two-year-old really understood what they were trying to explain would remain to be seen.

After punishments we’re dished out, everyone had bathed, and kids were out cold, the weary couple sits on their own bed ready to pass out.  Lucy leans against her husband, eyes closing, while his arms hold her tight and rests his head against hers.  “Luce,” he chuckles, “I guess now I know how you all must have felt when I destroyed the park.”

She snorts, “you mean every time you destroy something.”

“Am I really that bad?”

“You were, but you’ve mellowed with age,” cuddling closer, “but you did always make things more exciting and I love you for that.”

He kisses the top of her head then shifts them on their sides under the blankets, “of all the missions and bad guys we’ve dealt with over the years, I think our kids top them all.”

Lucy yawns through a laugh, “very true.”

“But do you regret having these kids… with me?”

She turns around and grabs his face, “idiot, don’t you ever think that!  Yes, it drives me a little crazy, but I married you fully aware of what I was getting into, and I’ll never regret any of it.”

Moisture pools in Natsu’s green hues.  He never thought that the love he felt for this woman could grow any deeper but the conviction behind her eyes…  Mavis it makes him burns hotter than any fire he’s ever dared to consume.  Well he did dare, didn’t he…  

“Dear God woman, what did I ever do to deserve you?” pulling her in for a round of kisses, “gah… I wish… we had a separate room!”

[saikostories]

FT - A Moment with You pt10

The waterfall was beautiful.. and it looked so familiar.. he couldn't put a finger on it. He took his communication lacrima out of his backpack. Lily was on his shoulder.

The lacrima lit up.

"I think I found her. West of Crocus.. there is a waterfall." He said. A boom of lightning was heard and the lacrima turned off. He put the lacrima back in his backpack. Without a moment to lose, he ran in towards the pool and dove in.

"Draco… is dead?" Natsu said with unbelief. "Yes.. but…" The four looked at Metallicana with wide eyes. The dragon let out his tongue and gave a wide toothy grin. "I have.. what you seek…"

"Please let us have it!" Gray begged. "Only if you do a favor for me…" Metallicana crawled closer to them.. "Dad stop playing around.. I need it where is it!" Gajeel yelled as he knelt. "Abnoxious brat! I want a trade.. I can't just give Draco's lacrima for free! Even for you my idiot of a son." Metallicana growled. "What is the favor?" Laxus said sternly.

Metallicana grinned.. "Destroy these cursed restraints on me.. and I'll give it to you right now." "What restraints?" Laxus said with a serious frowning face.

The dragon turned his head to show a lightning chain around his neck.

"What.. is that?" a voice said behind them.

The four were startled.. the voice.. they turned around to see a wet wide-eyed younger Gajeel with a mouth gaping pantherlily standing next to him.

"Dad…. What…. IS THAT AROUND YOUR NECK!" Gajeel yelled as he ran up towards them. Laxus turned his body protectively to shield the Lucy from the younger Gajeel. Gray went and stood in front of Laxus. The younger gajeel glared at Laxus and Gray.. and looked at Lucy's legs that were the only part of her body that was visible. He looked back up at Metallicana.. Lily flew over in front of Gray and Laxus.. "Lucy…?" he said softly.. no answer.

"So… you've finally found me… took you long enough you ungrateful brat." Metallicana seethed. "WHAT?! YOU LEFT ME! I SEARCHED FOR YOU EVERWHERE! WTH ARE YOU HIDING IN A STUPID HOLE AND WITH THAT THING AROUND YOUR NECK!" "YOU DARE RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME" Metallicana roared back at Gajeel.. He brought his head down towards the younger Gajeel and the younger ran up and headbutted the dragon back..

"YEA! AND WHAT YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT!?"

"You were really stupid when you were younger." Natsu said sweatdropping. "At least I wasn't as stupid as you." "What did you say ironhead?" Natsu seethed. "You heard me.. or are you having trouble understanding something so simple as that?" Gajeel smirked back. "HEY SHUT UP!" the younger Gajeel yelled back at the older Gajeel and Natsu. He glared at the two. Gajeel and Natsu stood up.. and glared back..

"You're the one who interrupted us.. I suggest you shut up before I smash your face." Natsu said in a low voice. "I know you're glad to find dad again… but now is not the time.. and Natsu.. don't you fureikn dare.. " Gajeel said in a deep dangerous voice.

"Your restraint… it's made by Zeref's demons.. yes?" Laxus said interrupting. "Ah…. We've got a smart one here.." Metallicana said "If I remove it… you'll hand the lacrima over?" Laxus said "Yes…." The dragon's eyes were gleaming.

Laxus gave Lucy over to Gray.. Lily could see Lucy now and he gasped. Gajeel looked over at Lily… his eyes widened as well after seeing Lucy. She was in her undergarments.. and was having trouble breathing normally.. her face had a slight frown from her discomfort..

"She's… getting worse.." Gray said softly.. to no person specifically. He could feel her body temperature increasing against his own cold skin. He couldn’t ignore the small twitching frown of pain etched onto her face either. Laxus walked up past the two Gajeels and Natsu.. he walked up towards Metallicana's neck… he took a hold of the chain.. it began to emit a powerful electrical current and Metallicana roared.. Gray and Lily cringed.. while the other dragon slayers remained still. Quickly biting the chain… he began sucking the magic… the current became weaker.. and weaker… and when the light from the chain became dull, Laxus pulled the chain apart and the entire restraints on Metallicana shattered.

"YEEEEESSSSS! AT LASTT!" Metallicana roared.. he stretched his neck and claws. Laxus walked back away from the dragon to not get hit. Metallicana grinned. He spread his left wing up and a bright small light was seen from behind of the scales. The older Gajeel's eyes widened. Walking up to the light he gently lifted up his father's scale. Underneath… was a beautiful crystal sphere. Inside the sphere, he could see thousands of slowly rotating stars. He gently took the lacrima and held it in his hand. It was so small... but he could feel the immense concentrated power emitting from it..

Turning around.. he faced a wide-eyed Natsu.. Laxus... Lily.. Gray.. and his younger self. Walking slowly over to Gray… he looked at Lucy.. she was sweating slightly now.. and still frowning. Slowly he brought his hand up to her cheek and almost retracted his hand at how hot it was. “She’s burning up”.

"She shouldn't have used her magic… it worse this time.." Gray said softly. "What.. do you mean worse?" Lily asked worried. "You see… every time she uses her magic.. her body tries to compensate the magic lost by trying to make more.. but her body is already losing its capacity to make magic… causing more strain on her body… meaning.."

"She's killing herself faster…" the older Gajeel explained. "What!?" Lily said in a whisper..

Gajeel put his hand on Lucy's arm.. and shook. "Why isn't she waking up…" Gajeel said alarmed. He shook again a little harder. “Come one bunny girl... Don’t do this to us... wake up!” Natsu scrunched his fists tightly beside him.

“I can’t...” Everyone turned to look at him. “I can’t watch her die again”

“What do you mean die again? What happened!?” Lily exclaimed in shock. The younger Gajeel however kept his eyes fixed on his older self, one hand on the lacrima, the other on Lucy’s shoulder, worry carved onto his face.

BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!

Everyone looked towards the direction of the waterfall…

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

"What's going on out there?" Gray said worried. "Did you tell anyone that we were here?!" Natsu said walking up to Gajeel and grabbing his shirt in a bunch in his fist. "Get you're hands OFF OF ME.." Gajeel seethed and tried to pry of Natu's hands.. but found it extremely hard.. Natsu's older face.. and glare.. his strength… was surprising.. startling… scary… "DID YOU TELL ANYONE?!" the older Gajeel yelled at the younger. The younger was now lost for words.. and felt like something was going terribly wrong. "I… told Laxus.." "How! How did you tell me!?" Laxus was panicking now too. He walked up to the younger full of anger. "The communication lacrima…" Gajeel said.

And at that moment.. the communication lacrima in Gajeel's backpack lit up..

"Gajeel!.. Gajeel!" a familiar voice was heard. Natsu let go of Gajeel and the latter quickly ruffled through the backpack for the lacrima..

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!

"They… smell.. of darkness…." Metallicana growled… "There are a few of them out there…"

Gajeel finally found the lacrima and took it out.. his eyes widened when he saw a scared looking Levy… "Shrimp?! What's going on?" "GAJEEL FAIRY TAIL IS UNDER ATTACK!"

Everyone froze…

"WE'RE BEING ATTACKED.. BY AAHHH!" A table flew by her head. "WHO ARE WE BEING ATTACKED BY?" Gajeel asked. Explosions were heard through the lacrima.. screaming.

Levy looked at Gajeel…"Raven Tail"

Laxus looked like he was going to murder spree. The rage emitting from his body through high magical pressure… It crushed the communication lacrima instantly, and the younger Gajeel gaped at Laxus' magical pressure. The lightning mage walked towards the loud explosions heard at the other side of the tunnel.. but Natsu stopped him by walking in front of him.

"She needs you here…" Natsu said gritting his teeth. Laxus glared down at him.. "Move…" "You're the only one who knows how it feels.. you need to be here for her." he said with his bangs covering his eyes.. "as much as it pains me to say this.. but Lucy needs you more right now.. than anyone else." Laxus relaxed and watched amazed at Natsu. Natsu turned around.. "Cmon Gajeel.. Gray.. Let's give them a FairyTail welcome… Fairy Four style…"

Gray went over to Laxus and gave him Lucy… "Try not to leave a scar.."

"Wait… wait…" Laxus said trying to stop them. Gajeel walked up to Laxus, who took a step away.

"No... NO!" Laxus said. "Laxus…" Lucy whimpered… "Lucy… " he said..

Laxus just stared at Lucy in horror.. this.. was not supposed to happen.. Gajeel walked up to Laxus and forced the lacrima in his hand.

Gajeel turned around and walked away..

"No please…. don't make me do this.." Laxus said looking back and forth from Lucy and the other men.. "It had to be you.. only you can do this for her.." Gray said guiltily.. looking away.. "You know what it feels like…" Natsu said.. "THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I CAN'T AND WON'T DO IT!" Laxus yelled at them. "YOU DON’T HAVE A CHOICE! YOU WILL DO IT! OR SHE WILL DIE!" the older Gajeel yelled at Laxus. “We all hate this.... We all came back to save her. Nobody should have to go through what we went through. That’s why we all agreed to get the lacrima in the first place. But you’re the only dragon slayer with a lacrima so it has to be you okay? It has to be if you do’t want to stand next to her grave again.”

BOOOOM!

Natsu, Gray, Gajeel turned to the sound. “It’s time to go.” Gray called.

Gajeel lowered his eyes to lucy and pushed back a few strands of hair sticking to her forehead. “Look after her okay?” He smiled before running out of the tunnel to fight. Gray followed him a little before turning to look at Natsu.

“Natsu....” Natsu walked foward and pressed a kiss to her forehead whilst ignoring the tenseness of Laxus.

“You can’t leave me okay? Not for a third time. Please...” He raised his eyes to look at laxus, a tear rolling down his cheek. After a few moments, he turned and ran towards the other end of the tunnel... leaving a horrified Laxus with Lucy, lacrima in his hand.. Metallicana watching silently behind them all..Because Natsu had been the source of light.. it was became darker and darker as Natsu ran away.

The younger Gajeel standing in shock… lily as well.. watching Laxus.. watching Lucy… Laxus was letting some sparks loose to light the tunnel. Laxus sank to his knees.. "Lucy…" his eyes watered.. tears dropped onto her face..

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…."

.

.

.

He took a deep breath... and kissed her forehead, followed by her eyes and then her cheek, before finally resting his own on her lips. Gajeel narrowed his eyes at the scene.. it didn't go by unnoticed by the silent dragon watching it all... the dragon's eyes narrowed and glinted from Laxus' sparks.

"Gajeel… will you make me a knife?" Laxus said in a whisper.

Gajeel walked over towards Laxus… and knelt in front of him. He morphed his hand into a sharp knife… Lily flew over to them and watched wide-eyed…

"Will…. She live if she has the lacrima?" Lily asked.

Gajeel brought the knife to her stomach.. he gulped and cringed… he remembered the time he beat her up…

Laxus remained silent…

"Laxus?" Lily asked softly..

"She has to live." Laxus said closing his eyes…”She just has to.” He pressed Gajeel's arm into Lucy's stomach.

-

Boom! Booom! A flash of lightning.

He looked around.. his eyes widened at the scene.. there were Raven Tail mages… and a halfnaked Natsu… Gray.. Gajeel… fighting them off. He was amazed at how different they looked… they looked older.. stronger.. taller.. and they looked as if they were angry enough to kill.. their magical pressure was extraordinary. He wondered if he could even beat them with his current level. The older three mages saw Laxus arrive.. but they didn't look over at him. They were too pissed off at the Raven Tail mages in front of them.. the ones that dared to attack their guild.. the ones that dared to take Lucy away from them..

"JUST HAND OVER THE GIRL AND LACRIMA!" one of the raven tail mages yelled as he attacked Gray. Gray let out his hand and caught the mages hand, causing the man's eyes to widen. Gray smirked…then death glared at the man… he let loose a surge of magic through his hand.

“Over my dead body.” Gray sad quietly, though Laxus heard it as loud as ever.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!" the man screamed.. his arm froze.. and the entire half of his body was covered in ice.

Natsu bashed the mages faces with his fire-lit fists.. Gajeel punched them with his iron fists.. both were swift and fast. Laxus stared in shock at the fight.. his eyes roamed between Gray.. Natsu.. Gajeel.. then to the waterfall behind them.. and despite the fight ensuing in front of him.. he felt it.. he felt a spark of his own magic coming from behind the waterfall. Then it clicked. He ran to the pool and dove in.. and to his intuition.. he saw a black tunnel.. he swam inside.

"Cmon! Come back!" Gajeel yelled at Lucy.. he was pumping her chest… he paused. He dipped down and took her lips. He blew in air.. and released. He looked towards the dull eyed Laxus.. he was trembling…

"HEY! FOCUS!" Gajeel snapped at Laxus.. Laxus came back to reality.. he put his bloody hand over her heart and gave her a shock. Her body jerked. Again Gajeel took over Lucy's chest with his own bloody hands and began pumping.

"Cmon.. you're stronger than this.. come back.. BREATHE LUCY BREATHE!"

Laxus stared at his hands… his left hand drenched in her blood.. all the way past his wrist.. he had to reach the area between her lungs... the lacrima was safely placed there..

He heard running.. and smelled the approaching figure.. his eyes widened…

"No…"

Lily looked over towards the approaching figure.. his body was sparking with lightning.. bringing in much needed light into the cave. The figure froze a few feet from them. Horror…

"What…." The younger Laxus saw himself.. hands bloody.. with Lucy's blood.. it was such a strong smell... and Lucy herself.. her stomach bloody.. and stapled together.. Gajeel pumping at her chest.. not for one second taking his eyes away from her.. Lily watching him stare at them.. with tears running down his face.. and behind them all… was Metallicana with his dragon eyes staring him down.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" Laxus stepped back and fell.. he tried to crawl back from the nightmare he had found himself in.. "WHAT… HAVE I DONE!"

The horror he found himself in.. made him think back to the time when he had found Lucy back in Magnolia. "you should be the one running from me.." He knew Lucy had meant something behind it.. but how was he to know that it would lead to this...

"I… had no choice…." The older Laxus said… "I… had to put it in her.. IT WAS THE ONLY WAY!"

"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO US! HOW!? HOW ARE WE ANY BETTER… BETTER THAN HIM! AND ONLY WAY?! SHE'LL DIE BECAUSE OF YOU… BECAUSE OF ME!" the younger Laxus yelled in despair… tears running down his face.. the older crying as well.. his bloody fists clenched.

"What are you talking about… the future me… said you'll be able to save her if you put it in her.. why… is Laxus saying she'll die?!" Gajeel said as he pumped away. The older Laxus put his hand over Lucy's chest and Gajeel stopped pumping. He gave another shock and her body jerked. Gajeel resumed his pumping. "ANSWER ME!" Gajeel roared.

"Just because you put the lacrima in her.. doesn't mean her body will accept it." the dragon spoke. Gajeel froze… "What?" he said in disbelief. "KEEP PUMPING GAJEEL!" Lily said in panic. Gajeel resumed his pumping.. and kissed Lucy once again to breathe air into her lungs. The younger Laxus watched Gajeel.. his emotions haywire.. his worst nightmare..

"If that girl wakes up.. she'll experience pain like never before.. this is only the beginning of what she has to overcome." Metallicana said grimly.

"Her body.. will feel like it is being ripped to shreds.." the younger Laxus spoke.. his head lowered, hiding his eyes.. "She'll feel like her insides are burning inside out.. her eyes won't see.. her ears will ring and feel like bursting from the tiniest of sounds… "

Gajeel was frowning in horror.. Lucy was still unresponsive.. her eyes closed.. bloody handprints on her face and in her beautiful blonde hair..

"She will survive.." the older Laxus said clenching his jaw.

The younger looked towards the older.. the older back at the younger now.

"And you will do whatever it takes so that she does..." the older Laxus spoke in a commanding voice. "You don't want to live in a future where she doesn't exist.." he said softly..

He put his hand over Lucy's chest once more.. He looked towards her face. Gajeel stopped pumping and removed his.

"No more playing around princess.. it's time for you to get up… Wake up Lucy!" he yelled at her face and gave her a shock.

GASPP!

Lucy's chest rose and her eyes shuttered open..

"Lucy!" Lily shouted.

Gajeel watched her shocked and relieved..

The older Laxus smiled warmly, tears falling down his face... "I knew you'd come back.."

Lucy was gasping and clenching her fists.. she shut her eyes and put her head as far back as she could.. tears ran down the side of her face.. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Metallicana roared at the loud screaming.. and drew back further into the tunnel.. his tail covering his head to block his ears. Shivers went down their spine.. the younger Laxus ran over next to the older.. the older put Lucy's clenched hand in the youngers.. Lucy gripped on and Laxus back. Gajeel grabbed Lucy's other hand and she gripped onto Gajeel's.

"AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Lucy continued to scream and sob. Her body was trembling so hard. The younger Laxus looked up towards the older.. the older smiled gently towards the younger.

"Give her a chance.. and she'll give you one too…" the older said softly. "she's got Natsu and Gray beside her... And sooner or later, gajeel will be coming after her too...” The younger gajeel’s head snapped up with wide eyes in disbelief. ”But I've given you something no one else can take from us." The older said… and all of a sudden.. his body began to light up.. light particles began to fly into the air from his body.

"What.. do you mean?" the younger said. Gajeel clenched his fists.. somehow… what the older Laxus had said really dug into him in a bad way. The older laxus put his hand to lucy’s cheek and stroked it with his thumb. Te younger could only watch and widen his eyes at the loving gesture.

Running footsteps were heard… Gajeel looked over and found his older self.. the older Gajeel's body was lit up as well.

"Tch… And so have I" the older Gajeel walking over and sitting next to the younger.

"Gajeel…." The older glared. "Where's Natsu and Gray?"

"What.. am I their babysitter? Salamander is dealing with himself… Stripper is somewhere.. oiy!" Gajeel said to his younger self. "You better not give up either. Lucy is a lot stronger than you think. And just admit that you do like her. Get over it and do something about it. You better not just sit there and let lightning stick, flametard, and stripper get her."

"What?!" the younger Gajeel looked at his older self like he was insane.

Lily just gaped at the older Gajeel. Both Laxus' were wide-eyed and frowning..

"GAJEEL!" the older Laxus' entire body lit up and he vanished.

"Gihi…" the older Gajeel looked down at Lucy.. who had stopped screaming now and was just cringing.. and gasping… he brought his face down and kissed her forehead.

"Bye Lucy… you'll always be my bunnygirl." His body lit up and he vanished as well.

Gajeel, Laxus, and Lily were frozen.. Lily looked between Gajeel and Laxus.. their faces showing utter shock that shifted to confusion.. their eyes met.. and after a painstaking awkward silence… Lily saw a slight glint in both their eyes..

Meanwhile.. Lucy was having the battle for her life. Her gasping.. her whimpering.. her screaming.. her sobbing.. was the only noise heard throughout the cave. And Metallicana was watching her intently.

Natsu's body was beginning to light up.. he looked at his hands and saw the light particles rise into the air.

Rustle rustle rustle..

He looked towards the direction of the sound and smiled… bangs covering his eyes.. And as he expected.. someone jumped out through the trees like a fireball and landed right in front of him.

The fire subsided.. and who remained.. was his younger self.

"Where's Luce.." the younger said. "She's inside.." "Why… didn't you tell me? Why didn't she tell me? Why!" the younger said clenching his fists.

"I couldn't… Time paradox or something like that… and for Luce… It wasn't because she didn't trust you.. it's because she loved you." The older said brushing his fingers through his pink hair.

The younger Natsu's eyes widened.

"Yea.. Luce loves us.. actually.. she's loved us for a while.. but.. I think she's given up on us." The older said in a soft voice..

The younger looked up at the older with a frown.. his eyes wide with shock. Love?!

"We were just.. too busy to notice…" "We… I…" Natsu was lost for words.

The younger Natsu's eyes widened..

"Do you love Lucy? Or do you love Lisanna?"

The younger Natsu flinched..

"I was engaged to Lisanna.. we could have had a wonderful family together.. I'm sure she would have been a great mother.. she did help us raise Happy and all.. but I didn't realize that Luce was sick… until it was too late.."

The younger Natsu gulped.. he dreaded what he was about to hear..

"I saw Lucy die a second and final time in front of me."

The younger Natsu stared at the ground in shock.. he was engaged to Lisanna in the future? Well that… I guess he was fulfilling his promise.. but Lucy… he looked back up at the older Natsu and was shocked to find himself crying..

"I.. buried her with my own hands… and Igneel.. you know she was the one who led me to him.. I didn't even know it was her who planted the clues until after she died.." Natsu's tears were falling down his chin. The younger Natsu was crying now too.

"She's our Luce... And I let her slip through my fingers." the older Natsu said smiling gently.. “But You need to change that. If you want her to stay with her forever... You have to make it happen... before Gajeel, Laxus and Gray do...” His body lit up brighter and he vanished.

Natsu stood frozen for a few minutes.. trying to access all the information he had gotten from his future self.. all this time.. all that time he had spent with her.. and he had not seen… suddenly he dashed into the pool and swam behind the waterfall to see if there was an opening.. nothing.. he dove in the water and found the tunnel.. he swam inside.

-

In a different portion of the forest…

Gray was sitting up against a tree.. he had calculated that his younger self would arrive soon.. and hopefully as soon as possible.. he was watching the light particles rise from his arms…

Rustle Rustle..

"HURRY JUVIA!" Gray yelled. "YES GRAY-SAMA!" Juvia yelled.

The two ran through the trees and were shocked to find another Gray.

"Yo~" the older Gray said. "TWO GRAY-SAMAS!" Juvia said with hearts in her eyes.. and she fainted. "Ha… I remember those days.." the older Gray said rubbing his head. "Where is Lucy?" Gray said seriously.

"She's at the waterfall straight from here. She has the lacrima now.. I'm assuming Laxus already put it in her." the older Gray said getting up. "I don't have a lot of time so I'll make it short"

The younger Gray watched himself carefully.. it was good to see himself look more mature and taller.

"Lucy is fair game." "What?" the younger Gray said with wide-eyes.

"She isn't Natsu's and from what I know so far.. at least in this version of time.. her feelings for Natsu are not as strong now.. all this time.. we were staying away from her because we thought she was Natsu's.. but he gets engaged to Lisanna anways.. "

"WHAT?!" the younger Gray was shocked.

"Just let me talk. I'm only telling you this because I've given us a chance. In this version of time.. everything has been changed.. not only do you have Natsu to worry about.. but you have Gajeel and Laxus.. I've seen the way my Gajeel and Laxus are with her.. and I know.. they have feelings for her. Meaning, so do yours."

The younger Gray was completely shocked. "WHAT?! No way.. Gajeel and Laxus haven't even given her a glance."

"Either way… if you believe me or not.. just keep it in mind.. and Lucy isn't as immune to us as we thought.. I mean.. I did take her on her first date. The next move is yours.." The older Gray said winking at the younger. "Good luck" and with a bright flash.. he disappeared.

The younger Gray.. stood in utter shock… Lucy…. He had taken her on her first date?! WHAT?!

He really needed to find her now…. Was she okay?.. he was about to run off when he realized the unconscious Juvia was on the ground.. He looked towards Lucy's direction.. and back at Juvia…

"Juvia.. Lucy…" Gray thought to himself.. he picked up Juvia and began to ran towards Lucy…

These girls were going to kill him.

-

Everything hurt.. She was cold and hot at the same time.. she couldn't hear herself screaming.. she couldn't feel the large hands gripping onto hers. She tried to open her eyes to see. She saw Gajeel and Laxus stare at each other, Metallicana above her. The dragon was looking at something ahead of him..

"Luce…!" she heard before her vision turned pitch black.

-

"Call them.." he commanded Mira. She shook her head in anger.. tears falling down her face.. she was in her satan soul mode. But despite all that power.. she couldn't do anything.. no one could.. Elfman reverted back to his normal self.. Wendy was panting and trembling with Carla.. Happy stood in front of them fists clenched and gritting his teeth. Cana stood horrified.. Everyone else was either captured and bound.. or knocked out all over Magnolia. "Or else… she dies." He said smiling in victory while patting Asuka's head gently.

"Momma… Pappa…" Asuka cried.. her body was covered in his paper dolls.

"ASUKA!" Azlack and Bisca cried out.. they were chained together.. and in the hands of Raven Tail members. Two of the members punched Azlack and Bisca to silence them.

"STOP PLEASE!" Levy cried out towards them. She was bound and lying on the floor now. "LET THEM GO!" Lisanna cried out as she was bound as well.

"IIIIVAANNNNNNNN!" Master Makarov yelled. Makarov was chained as well. Obra stood right by him snickering.. using his magic to cancel and nullify any magic Master Makarov tried.

"All I ask for is one small thing. I just want that celestial mage.. and we'll be on our way. Out of your hair.. It's that simple." Master Ivan said with a hand out smiling with his eyebrows raised. Wendy's eyes widened as she smelled something near..

BBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!

Lightning was heard outside the guild. Master Ivan smiled widely and turned around. He started laughing..

"AHAHA! SO… HE'S FINALLY DECIDED TO ARRIVE!"

The guild doors shattered and in zapped in Laxus. He flew towards Ivan and punched him into the bar. Obra got ready and put a knife up against Master Makarov's neck.

"LAXUS! STOP!" Mira cried

Laxus had crouched a little to jump at Master Ivan when he stopped to Mira's cry. Natsu and Gray were standing next to him. In, Natsu's arms.. was Lucy…. Her head and limbs dangling.. blood dripping from her stomach. Her hair was waving with the wind. Mira covered her mouth with her hands, tears streamed down harder. Everone that was awake, as well as the RavenTail members looked towards the lifeless Lucy in Natsu's arms.

"Laxus-nii…..Gray-nii…. Natshu-ni…." a small scared timid voice called out.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!" Master Ivan looked at his son. He spread out his arms. "Welcome back Laxus…"

Laxus death glared his father.. and he shifted it towards the owner of the small voice. His eyes met Asuka's… she looked so fragile and terrified… covered in his father's paper puppets..

"I wouldn't move another inch if I were you." Master Ivan said laughing. "Well Laxus… here's the deal.. I'll give you back this little girl.. for that girl you have there next to you" Master Ivan pointed at Lucy. Laxus clenched his fists and sparks began to fly from it. Gray got battle stance ready. Natsu held on tighter to Lucy and death glared at Ivan. "Though I am surprised Laxus… it is as my spies said.. you're the one who put the lacrima in her." Master Ivan said smirking and having a dark glare in his eyes.

Master Makarov and everyone froze and laxus could only grit his teeth harder as he remembered the earth shattering screams that Lucy had released earlier.

"I guess… the saying is really true in our case. Like father like son AHAHAHAHA! Now.. be a good boy.. and hand her over" he grinned maniacally.

The RavenTail members snickered at Laxus.. while all of FairyTail remained deathly silent.. Master Makarov was lost for words.. his eyes wide with shock and concern.. for his children.. for his family.. for Laxus….

Laxus didn't take his eyes off of Asuka.. "Asuka…." He said "Laxus-nii…. I'm scared…" Asuka said crying. "Don't you worry.. I'll get you safe and sound.. just close your eyes.. cover your ears.. and count to 10. Can you do that for me? Just pretend we're playing hide and seek." Laxus said calmly.

"O..okay.." She closed her eyes. She slowly brought her hands up to her ears and covered them.

Laxus's eyes narrowed.. glared at his father. Ivan still smiled evily at Laxus…

"Come.. Laxus.. your blood and my blood are one alike… you cannot run from the ties of blood.. IT RUNS IN YOUR VEINS! NOW OBEY ME AND GIVE ME LUCY HEARTFILIA! And I will forgive your insolence and all your failures… I will accept you.. as my son" he extended his arms out towards Laxus.

"1" Asuka said. Obra was swallowed into a dark shadow.

"2" Master Ivan looked over at Master Makarov's direction and found him unguarded by Obra anymore. Master Makarov broke out of his chains and began to go into Titan mode… enraged with overwhelming fury. He began stomping on the Raven Tail members attacked the ones near him.

"3" Gray and Laxus began punching the lights out of the Raven Tail members. Mira joined into the fight.. so did Wendy.. and anyone else who could fight.

"4" Juvia ran from the back of the guild and went into battle stance. "WATER LOCK!" to Kurohebi standing next to Lisanna and Levy. And the instant she put the water lock up, Gray lunged over and punched the ball of water. It froze over and Kurohebi froze inside.

"5" Nallpudding was about to attack Natsu and Lucy standing in the doorway when a shadow swished in front of him. Up from it came a dark shadowy Gajeel.. glaring with red eyes… and with a swift punch, Gajeel knocked him out at the other end of the guild.

"6" Master Ivan having enough of their stubbornness… put his hand out and was looking towards Asuka. His eyes widened when he saw that Romeo was crouching next to Asuka.. trying to burn his puppets off of her. He clenched his fists..

"7" The paper puppets began to glow.. and Romeo's eyes widened.. he was too late..

"8" Laxus lightning flashed towards Master Ivan and smashed his lightning fist into Ivan's face. Ivan was crushed into the ground and the ground itself cracked and a crater was formed. Master Ivan was knocked out cold.

"9" Asuka's whole body began to glow brighter and brighter.. "ASSSSUUKKKKAAAA!" Azlack and Bisca yelled tears streaming down their faces. Romeo frantically tried tearing the paper puppets from her body.. finding it impossible.. he hugged her to his chest.. and closed his eyes shut.

All the FairyTail members looked towards Asuka.. in total despair.

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Her parents screamed. "AASSUKKKAA!" Master Makarov cried out..

It was dusty and smoky from the explosion…. It was quiet now..

"No…." Bisca said softly.. "NOOOOOOO!" She screamed. Azlack slumped.. his eyes dull… tears unending…

Wendy… collapsed onto her knees… Asuka… Romeo.. was he really gone?... No.. NO.

In the doorway to the guild… stood Natsu staring wide-eyed at Lucy.. she was panting and trembling.. her right arm stretched out.. in her hand.. was a key… pointed towards the spot Asuka and Romeo were at… her eyes were struggling to stay open..

.

.

.

.

.

"10 she says" a voice was heard from above.

Everyone's wide-eyed gazes shot upwards.. even Natsu's.. Lucy's eyes were fluttering.. Up against the ceiling.. was Horologium.

"HOROLOGIUM!" Wendy and Carla said out loud in surprise.

Horologium let go of the ceiling and dropped down onto ground floor. He landed and bowed. Inside the glass door, was Asuka opening her eyes and letting go of her ears. Romeo was inside hugging her to his chest and closing his eyes shut. He let one eye open.. and was surprised to find himself inside a box. He opened both his eyes and looked around confused.

Azlack and Bisca's faces melted and wide smiles grew.. they started laughing and crying in relief. They could see their little Asuka talking nonstop inside horologium. She was standing up inside and had her hands pressed up against the glass.. she was looking straight at her parents.

"This is so cool. Where am I. This is such a great hiding spot. Oh—Romeo-nii— How did you get in here— Jiijii— Everyone—Look at me— This is soo fun— Laxus-nii—Can we play this again– she says excitedly" Horologium said in his monotone voice.

Everyone laughed and cried in relief.. they looked towards Lucy.. the owner of Horologium's key.. and saw her hand falter.. the grip in her hand loosened.. and the key fell out and dropped to the ground.

"Lucy-sama…" Horologium said suddenly in a shocked voice.… and with a flash he disappeared. Asuka and Romeo were dropped onto the ground and looked around confused.

"Awww.. where did the funny box go?" Asuka said looking around. Romeo let go of Asuka and stood up.. his eyes never left Natsu and Lucy.

"LUSHY!" Happy flew towards Natsu and Lucy.. he had been trapped under some rubble and had finally gotten out. He flew next to Natsu. "Luce.. no Lucee.. cmon.." Natsu knelt on the ground and let Lucy down onto the floor. "WENDY!"

Wendy ran over.. and knelt next to Lucy…

"Omg.. Lucy-san!.. " "Just heal her please.. quickly.." "Okay." Wendy put her hand out and began healing Lucy's stomach.

Lucy was really pale..

Laxus appeared next to Azlack and Bisca and let them free. The two parents ran to Asuka and hugged her crying.. the Cornell family was reunited again. he looked over at his father lying the crater.. knocked out by his own punch.. and his grandfather.. who was watching him from afar. They met gazes and Laxus just looked away.. he turned around and left the guild. Master Makarov watched with worried eyes his grandson leave alone.

Gajeel appeared next to Levy.. he let her free and helped her get up. "Thanks Gajeel.." Levy said softly. "No problem." Gajeel said back as he was going to walk away. "Thank you… for bringing her back." She said as she put a hand on his arm… Gajeel turned his head towards the side briefly.. before he turned his head away again and walked away. Lily flew behind him and left Levy standing there alone.

Mira and Elfman helped release Lisanna and helped her get up. They hugged each other in relief. Lisanna looked over at Natsu.. his eyes never leaving Lucy's… and a deathly pale Lucy on the ground.. she couldn't help but be amazed.. be amazed that it was Lucy who brought Natsu back to FairyTail.. and it was Lucy who had saved Asuka from death.

"C'mon Lisanna… let's get you cleaned up." Mira said pushing her towards the kitchen. "I'll help.. I'm not letting you two out of my sight" Elf-man said. "I think you should go help Evergreen.. she needs you right now." Mira said smiling gently.. "Nee-san…" Elf-man said softly. "Go.. help her. We'll be fine." Lisanna said as she and Mira went into the back. Smiling warmly and thanking God for giving him such angels as sisters, Elfman turned around and went searching for Evergreen..

Gray and Juvia went around helping the guild members up and getting them patched up. Master Makarov called for the Magic Council to pick up and jail the Raven Tail members they had captured. He walked up to Lucy and Natsu. He stood watching in pain as he saw the state Lucy was in. Wendy was taking the stapes out of Lucy's body.. it looked absolutely painful. Natsu looked up the master.

"Jii-chan…" "You did good Natsu… all of you did.. thank you for bringing her back home." Master Makarov said smiling gently… "Okay.. Natsu-san.. let's move Lucy-san to infirmary now. She's stable enough to be moved."

Natsu got up and lifted Lucy into his arms. Wendy and Master Makarov led the way.. and Natsu and happy followed behind them. As they passed.. everyone smiled.. warmly and cheered..

Azlack and Bisca smiled at Natsu and Lucy…

"Thank you Lucy…" Azlack said softly as he held Asuka in his arms.

He passed by Levy.. and Levy watched them go by crying.. happy that she was back. Jet and Droy were standing beside her now for support.

Soon.. he had to pass by Gray and Juvia. Gray followed behind Natsu and left Juvia standing at the bottom of the stairs. The two men ascended the stairs together and disappeared around the corner to the infirmary.

“Juvia!” Levy called as she ran up to the othe bluenette.

“Levy-san...” Juvia replied calmly.

“What exactly happened out there? Gajeel.. he’s acting different...” Juvia shook her head solemnley.

“Juvia doesn’t know. But Love-rival was really bad... Laxus-san and Gajeel-san were there when the big stuff happened... Even Gray-sama was different. None of them even spoke a word on the way back home...” Juvia looked up to where the other men had dissapeared. Something was bothering her... What you knew for sure was that those four had changed... and possibly not for the better.

-

The warm water dripped from his face.. down his bare back.. his chest.. it felt nice.. soothing.. he watched the water drip down his right arm… from his right hand… he quickly took the soap bar and began rubbing it all over his right hand… he scrubbed as hard as he could… but even after the soap had washed away… it wasn't enough..

he clenched his right fist tightly and punched the wall hard without his iron dragon slayer magic… he kept punching the wall.. over and over again… until the skin of his knuckles cracked and began to bleed…

No matter what.. he knew… it would never wash away..

-

He was punching away at his punching bag… nonstop.. not thinking.. just hitting… and when the bag broke.. he got another new bag and put it up.. and punched away again…

It hurt.. it hurt all over again.. he gripped the punching bag and headbutted it.. with his head leaning on the bag..

"When is it ever going to stop… when…" he gritted his teeth.. tears rolled down his cheeks…

Out of frustration again.. he let go of the bag and began punching away…

[spacklefritz]

Shifting Tides - Chapt Three

A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the delay, but here’s chapter 3. Also, I know I said there would be three chapters but it looks like there’s going to be one more. Rating: T Previous: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, ff.net

Summary: No matter what she did, she always felt the pull of the land. Somewhere free from her father’s domain. It was an impossible dream, until it wasn’t. Mermaid AU

 The world came back to her in muted voices, sounds blocked by a thick wall. The next, was something dry and scratchy against her skin. Fine lines of some strange material pressed against her skin, and... air. Light and whimsical, it fluttered against her skin. All around her was so impossibly lighter, and yet, she found her body was heavy, sinking down on whatever she laid upon. The buoyancy that was the natural state of the world around her disappeared and all she could feel was this dry, air.

Her eyes shot open. Blurry images was all she could see. Then, a moment later everything sharpened into focus.

A soft gasp escaped her as she looked around. She was most definitely not underwater. How?  She sat up, tail rubbing against the structure she was on… only – she looked down, quickly brushing aside the material that was draped over her.

A moment passed.

And then another.

How was this possible? Her hands hovered over the area where her tail used to be. She almost dared not to touch them. Maybe she was hallucinating. Maybe she'd spent the last of her life energy trying to warn the villagers and she was trapped in perpetual loop inside her mind. A fragment of hope before she faded away. But no, this felt too real.

A sense of reverence filled her as her fingers darted over the smooth skin of her newly formed legs. How?

'Our heritage was rich, little one. Once, long ago we weren’t trapped by the restrictions we put on ourselves. We were free to roam the land as we did the sea for we were one of Gaia's first children.’

Her mother’s words echoed in her ears as a tight ball formed in her throat.

'Don't spout gibberish in the child's ear Layla! It’s because of you that she has these fanciful thoughts.’

And she believed him, not then. But after her mother died, it was hard to believe the stories Layla once told her were anything more than that. She took in a shaky breath, her hand smoothed along the iridescent patterns on the side of her calves. A seafoam blue mixed and blended until it turned to a light amethyst. The colours and patterns reminiscent to that of her scales. She ran her fingers back and forth over them, acquainting herself to this new skin she now wore.

"It’s strange right?" A soft voice sounded, and brought the call of the sea with it. "I had that same reaction when I first came to the land."

The woman, Siren, -for no other held the voice of the tides- handed her a container with water. Suddenly, Lucy's throat felt very parched.

"You're going to need it, especially if this is your first turning." The Siren continued as she handed Lucy another glass of water. "Your body is readjusting to being on land and not having instant access to water."

After Lucy downed her second container of water, the Siren spoke again. "It mustn't have been easy for you. To travel the distance to warn us."

Lucy shifted, slightly uncomfortable with the Siren's gaze. Blue eyes scrutinized her face, for something Lucy couldn't decipher. She remembered the stories about the Sirens, distant cousins to the merpeople. They were two-tailed and it was said that they didn't have enough life-energy to sustain them. Because of this, they sang to the unsuspecting humans, feeding on their energy as they drew them to their watery kingdom. But this Siren was on land, and contrary to the stories, her skin did not hold the sickly pallor that spoke of death.

So many things were different from what she once thought.

"I had to." There wasn't any doubt in Lucy's mind that she would warn her village. She didn't, couldn't, see them fall under Crocus' clutches. Not the village that spoke of life and reminded her so much of the times with her mother.

The Siren smiled in return. "I'm Ju-"

"Juvia!" A voice shouted from the background. "We're going to need your help out here!"

The Siren's body sprang into alert and it was then Lucy caught the sounds of shouting and – Was that just a canon be shot? She swung her head to the sound. Had Crocus reached the village already? "Ah, Porlyuscia, should be here shortly." She said while making her way to the exit. "There's a pitcher of water, over there," She pointed to her left where more beds lay. Next to them was a shelf with various items. "If you're thirsty, please take some. Your body will tell you how much water it needs to adjust. Porlyusica or Wendy will be here to help you with anything."

She was almost near the exit, when she said. "You gave us a much-needed head start to prepare for Crocus." She then turned around fully, facing Lucy's direction, she gave a deep bow. "Thank you."

And just like that she was out the door.

Lucy blinked twice. Then attempted to move off the bed, only to crumple to the ground. Damnit! She tried to stand, but she could barely support herself, the muscles in her legs straining. She tried again, gripping the top of the bed for support, all the weight seemed to be focused on her upper body, while her legs trembled to do such a simple motion.

"What are you doing?" Firm hands helped from behind to pull herself up and back onto the bed. "You shouldn't be on your feet."

"I need to -" She looked up and into a weathered face with dark eyes, eyes that seemed to want to hear no excuses. This must've been the head healer here.

"Tch, I suppose you were going to say something foolhardy like, you need to go out there and help them." She gave Lucy a side glance while preparing some concoction of the sort. "Magnolia seems to attract that type."

She shot another glance a Lucy, this time, it was one that froze her in her tracks. She felt like she was a guppy again, who had her face stung by a pufferfish. "You shouldn't even be thinking of getting up."

"But-"

"I don't care. You're in no position to be on your feet. If Juvia, is anyone to go by, your body needs time to adapt. Yes, it has changed form," She continued, "but all the internal workings haven't been sorted out as yet. You need time."

She could still hear the sounds of the villagers protecting their land and people against Crocus. She didn't want them to be harmed.  

"That means no pushing your body further than it can go, you can cause permanent damage if you do so." She heard screaming in the background. Did it belong to the villagers or was it from Crocus' people? "Drink this." The Healer either didn't notice Lucy's distraction or didn't care. The mermaid was apt to believe in the latter.

Seeing no other choice, she took the foul-smelling drink that was shoved in front of her face, and paused to examine the viscous liquid. Absently, she wondered if the healer had planned to poison her. But no, they wouldn't have saved her, only to kill her in the end. At least, she didn't think so.

She downed the glass in one go, hoping to bypass the horrid taste. Gods, what was it with healers and their bitter mixes.

"Everything, in the glass child."

Lucy shot her an incredulous look. "Well don't just sit there, drink."

Sighing scraped out the last of the mix. Her face almost certainly looked pinched. The urge to scrape her tongue and wipe away the taste was fierce in its demand. She was debating the prospect when her arms started feeling heavy.

The world around her became foggy and in the next moment, there was nothing.

[riverofmemoriesft]

. Between the Lines . 199

"It feels like years since we were last here," Wendy said excitedly as she looked around at their hometown. Magnolia was like a breath of fresh air compared to Crocus. Lucy hummed her agreement, stretching happily at the thought of going home and sleeping in a bed for the first time in ages.

It had been a week since the party and all of the non-local guilds had been given the okay to go home. A few select mages had stayed back to help, but they were mostly mages under employment by the Council, ordered to stay and help.

In that time, Lucy felt like she'd been interviewed countless times. Magic had been shown in a beautiful light and the entire country seemed to have come to terms with it. There was still the occasional protest, or even a terrorist that went and hurt people, but for the most part…

Lucy screamed in surprise when they stepped out of the train station and were greeted by what had to be thousands of air horns. Natsu burst into flames on instinct and then forced them back as he gaped.

Hundreds of people had gathered around the station. Everyone was holding signs and cheering and screaming for them, all looking delighted and proud. Natsu's jaw dropped as Lucy slumped against him in shock.

The mayor of their town stepped forward with a huge grin on his face. "Welcome back, Fairy Tail," was all he said and the crowds around them cheered again.

Makarov grinned as he ducked out, Mirajane and Laxus at his side. Mavis had disappeared, not to be found by anyone. "This is ridiculously different," Gray muttered as he threw an arm playfully around Lucy's shoulders. She let him, winding her arm around so she could rest her elbow on his in return.

Juvia gave her a sharp look, but didn't respond in any way.

Erza smiled warmly and was the person to say honestly, "Thank you for the warm welcome. It is nice to see our return is appreciated."

"Kitty!" a girl gasped, giggling when Lily came to see what was going on, abandoning Gajeel. He squealed when she scooped him up without prompting and rubbed her cheek against his.

And no one panicked, The mother only laughed and apologized, freeing the ruffled cat before scooping her daughter up.

The majority of them gawked before excitement fluttered across Natsu's face. And then the mayor turned to Makarov, stepping closer so he could lower his voice. People began to mingle with the mages, eagerly chattering with them. "Makarov, would you perhaps be interested in hosting the Fantasia Parade on the first? I thought a parade displaying magic would be a good idea - and much more exciting."

"I'd be honored," Makarov agreed. "However, I think I'll put Mirajane here in charge of it." Mirajane, still hosting a bandage on her cheek, smiled and waved. "She's much more organized than I am."

"Thank you," the mayor said with a pleased look. "We'll have an announcement made in the next week. Now if you'll excuse me…"

Mirajane beamed. "This'll be good for the guild," she said to Laxus, who looked around with disinterest as his friends and team dealt with being surrounded by people. He grunted in response and she giggled before smiling at the flustered Natsu, who found himself the subject of a woman's flirting.

Lucy smoothly cut in much to Mirajane's amusement. She slyly sidled over and, relieved for a polite way out of the situation, Natsu tackled her in a tight hug, shouting, "Luce!" as if no one knew who Lucy was.

The woman pouted and stalked off.

Lucy giggled as Natsu pressed his face into her hair, Happy dropping onto his head in the process, and Mirajane silently mused that she couldn't remember a time when it was just Natsu and Happy.

The only thing she could see whenever she looked at any of them was Natsu, Lucy, and Happy.

Lucy couldn't breathe, and Gray and Natsu were laughing right alongside her, all three of them earning nasty looks from Cobra.

The entire town of Magnolia had thrown a festival of sorts in the town square to celebrate their victory, and they'd all been ordered to mingle with the civilians. Why not? It made a nice impression on the public in Magnolia - and elsewhere.

Kinana had asked them to keep an eye on Cobra, who'd looked ill from all of the noise, and Lucy had promised she'd watch him despite the venom mage declaring he didn't need to be watched like a child.

Apparently, many of the people had declared crushes on the various mages, because he had a couple of women trying to flirt their way into his graces despite the fact that he'd quite bluntly stated he only had an interest in Kinana. Lucy had pouted that Kinana herself hadn't heard it. Gray had been subject to a couple of attempts that had earned nasty comments from a crabby Juvia, and Lucy had been hasty to stop Natsu from incinerating a man who had attempted to grope her.

Cobra shifted uncomfortably and skittered away from one of the girls in front of him when she dared to touch him.

"Cobra!" Gray called, taking pity on him. "Could you come help us with something?" He slammed a foot on Natsu's foot and he shouted in pain, hopping up and down. "Lucy wants us to help Natsu to Wendy!"

"You stripping bastard," Cobra growled as he scampered over. "I've never been more grateful to be in a guild with any of you idiots."

Lucy giggled as Natsu began to shout at Gray angrily, earning a snappy retort. "Kinana should be coming back to save you from further attempts soon," she said sympathetically. "Everyone's dealing with the flirting today, don't worry. I thought the guy trying to talk it up with Laxus was going to get ripped apart by Mira."

They all shuddered.

"I just want to go home," Gray groaned, scrubbing at his eyes. "I don't think any one could sleep after that whole thing took place, and I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted."

"Me, too," Lucy admitted, thinking longingly of her bed.

Natsu looked at her expectantly. "You'll make me food, right?"

"One," Gray began. "There's food everywhere, Natsu. And two...when the hell did you move in with Lucy? I don't think you've been near your house in months. You and Happy."

"He hasn't," Cobra confirmed.

"Don't read my mind, you jerk," Natsu muttered, glaring at him. "I like Lucy's place better. She's there."

"...I don't know whether to say you disgust me or congratulations, you somehow managed to get to a point where you can probably move in with your first and only girlfriend," Cobra told him. Cobra rocked back on his heels, crossing his arms. "Did ya freaks see? That over-powered guy came back from a job. The one that was hanging all over Cana."

"Gildarts?!" Natsu darted off without hesitation, and Lucy sputtered. Gray sighed and reassured Lucy that he'd keep an eye on him before jogging off, leaving Lucy alone with Cobra.

Gruffly, Cobra told her, "Demons, Blondie?"

Lucy stiffened. "Don't. Stop reading my mind, Cobra, it's rude and I don't appreciate it."

"Yeah, well, something that big is something that we need to know." Cobra's gaze darted to her. "What happens if he gets out and starts wreaking havoc, huh? Or if that Zeref dude makes another appearance to do whatever to you? Salamander would flip out and we wouldn't be able to calm him down."

Lucy was quiet for a few moments, thinking over this. "I know you're right," she murmured. "But...those of us who saw Zeref on Tenrou - particularly Natsu...he's a black mage of legends, Cobra. I remember all of the darkness, and I remember what he created from my mother's diary. I don't want Natsu to know that the man who created demons like Deliora saw something that made him decide he'll be back. He'll lose it."

Cobra inclined his head a fraction. "Good point. I won't tell anyone, but you can't hide that kinda thing forever, Blondie." His eyes locked on Kinana, and he waved a farewell as he went to greet her.

Alone suddenly, Lucy closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. Her freehand drifted to grip the keys at her hip for comfort, but none responded and she shifted her grip to the pendant in the shape of a dragon.

She gasped in pain when it seared at her, and she ripped it off, letting it tumble from her fingers to the ground. She stared at the blistering burn on her palm.

And for some reason, while everyone was at peace, chatting, she felt something was very wrong.

Lucy picked up the choker and wrapped it gently around her wrist. She made sure it wasn't scuffed, and then hugged herself, spinning on her heel and heading home, asking Natsu via text that he go to his own home that night because she wanted to be alone.

"Meredy?" a voice called, startling her out of her thoughts. She looked over her shoulder to see a concerned Lyon standing behind her, hands pushed into the pockets of his jeans. Behind him stood Chelia and Jura, both waiting patiently. They'd arrived home two days before and were intending to take the woman on a job shared among the four of them.

"Sorry," she said, her voice hoarse. She'd cried long into the night, remembering how Ultear had drifted to ash and wondering what she'd meant about legends. Wondering what had changed her mind so drastically. She forced a smile to her face. "I'm ready to go."

Lyon offered her a hand. She slid hers into his and flushed when he kissed her fingers. He'd been flirting with her a lot lately, and it was both entertaining and flattering, even if she didn't feel up to accepting a date from him quite yet. Playfully, he tugged her towards their friends.

"Don't apologize for being sad," Chelia told her. "We know your friend died in the attack...Lyon said so. And we wouldn't expect you to be not sad. If you want, we can wait to go on our job until you're feeling up for it."

But Merely shook her head and gave her a true smile. "No," she said firmly. "Thank you, but...I think a job is a good idea. To get my mind off of it, you know?"

"Then let's go," Jura chuckled, watching all of the younger mages with amusement.

Meredy nodded and pushed thoughts of her deceased friend from her mind.

There would be time to consider Ultear's words later.

They had people to help now.

"You've been distracted, Emperor."

Red eyes darted to the calm woman who had come to stand slightly behind him. She planted her hands on her hips as she watched him. "Is there something you haven't told us quite yet? I've come to understand that something happened. Larcade told me."

His lips twitched. "Has he now." Amused now, he turned to face the woman. Her dark eyes studied him curiously, holding no maliciousness like he'd come to expect from the only other two women in his series of Shields. She instead wore a look of blatant lack of interest. "And when did you last see Larcade, Brandish?"

She sighed, studying her nails. "On my way here. What did you need me to do, Emperor?"

Zeref ran a hand thoughtfully over a locket he wore at his throat. "Change is coming. Were you aware that Acnologia was freed from his restraints? Zancrow of the Grimoire Heart guild freed him. I would have thought Irene would have told you."

Brandish froze. "She didn't," she said tersely. "We don't talk often, though I'm sure she and Serena are delighted by this information." Brandish looked at him from under her eyelashes. "What do you need me to do?" she repeated.

He was quiet for a moment.

And then a slightly manic grin was carved into his face and his eyes lit with delight. "I found something I want, something that may help me in my work. It's time that Tartaros be sent to work, but I don't want them aware of the truth of who is commanding them. Simply suggest that their master has been located. Send them to Ishgar. Give them free rein to do as they wish."

He thought of Natsu as he had for centuries and grinned again.

"Tell them to wait a month, however. I want them to feel secure again."

Brandish gave a curt nod. "I'll simply tell that leader of theirs that it'll not only guide them to their master, but guide them to you."

"If they can get what I want," Zeref said, turning away with a smirk.

"It will."

[an-upset-librarian]

Stardust and Fire

It’s done! I’ve posted the first chapter of this new modern nalu au! I’ll post the links at the bottom, but I’m also going to put the chapter under the read more.

Please pretty please let me know what you think of this story! Tell me how I can improve, etc. I’m super excited for story and I hope y’all enjoy!

Summary: 

Lucy Heartfilia believed she was just an ordinary college student, until one fateful night when she was attacked by demonic monsters. Luckily, Natsu Dragneel saved her and brought her to Fairy Tail- a magical guild for magical creatures. There, she learns the world is not what it seems and that she is not human. She never was.

Lucy journeys with Natsu and other mages to find out what she is and why Zeref is hunting her down, and to discover the truth behind her mother’s death.

Rated T for violence and language

CHAPTER ONE

             Lucy always believed in magic. Ever since she was a little girl, she knew that she was special, that she was different from normal kids. Her mother told her she was a Starchild, born from fairie dust. Lucy, who was only but a child then, believed her mother. She could see things other kids couldn’t, and sometimes she would have conversations with the stars at night. The lights twinkling up in the night sky were a comfort for the child, even when she grew into an adult.

             It was when she was six that she discovered magic wasn’t always nice; it wasn’t just talking to the constellations, or talking to the small creatures that lived in the manor grounds. When Lucy first went to school, she soon learned not to talk about her friends in the sky, or the little creatures in the forests. The other kids would tease her, and when one boy pulled her long blonde hair and pushed her around, Lucy felt the shining golden ichor that was the magic burning in her blood burst open and explode out of her body with her screams.

             Luckily, her family paid for the boy’s medical bills, and then Lucy was kept within the manor and taught by private tutors. Her mother helped her understand the power flowing in her veins. Before Lucy even turned ten, her mother fell ill and died. It was that fateful day that Lucy stopped listening to her friends, the stars, and started to ignore the beings living in her gardens. Soon they disappeared, and the starts stopped trying to speak to her. Soon, Lucy forgot that she was made of stardust and light.

~~~~~~~~

             With an exasperated sigh, Lucy closed her oversized textbook closed with a loud enough smack for the night librarian to glare over at the tired blonde. She couldn’t even muster the energy to feel sorry for disturbing the silence of the library. Lucy slowly grabbed her belongings and piled them into her bag, then crept out of the library and out into the blessedly cool night air. Once the night sky touched her skin, she felt a sliver of energy pulse through her. The girl took a deep breath, then began her trek back to her apartment. She pulled out her phone and lamented at the late hour. It was already past midnight, and she hadn’t left the campus since early that morning. Another tired sigh fell from her lips. College would be fun, she had said, she could make it as a full-time student and work in her free time, she’d said. What a foolish idea. Lucy didn’t regret leaving her old life behind in Crocus, but dammit it was hard to work and be a responsible student. At least she had a day off tomorrow, she told herself. A nice Saturday to spend in the bath relaxing after catching up on some much-needed sleep.

Lucy straightened the straps on her shoulder. In her tired state, she didn’t notice that her feet led her astray, away from her usual path home on the well-lit streets, and onto the dark side-streets and alleyways. Subconsciously she knew that the safer path with the street lights was quite a bit longer, but her tired brain figured one time down the shorter and darker path wouldn’t hurt and would be worth it when she finally got to lay down on her soft bed and sleep away her troubles.

A quiet, yet familiar voice, whispered in her ear that danger was near, and Lucy tensed when she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps echoing behind her. Not daring to turn around and face the stranger on her tail, the blonde reached down into pocket for the handy pepper spray she kept on her person always. Her fist clenched around the cylinder, and Lucy quickened her pace. Her exhaustion was forgotten as hot adrenaline started to thrum through her bloodstream. Her heart fluttered in panic when she heard her follower speed up to match her. Lucy whispered a curse, and considered bolting through the shadowed alley and towards the safety of civilization when another cloaked figure dropped down in front of her, as though fallen from the sky.

             Lucy froze, and heard her follower stop too. She pulled the pepper spray canister out of her pocket, and flipped the lid open in preparation to attack. Her heart hammered in her chest, and she swore it was loud enough for them to hear. The two figures encircled the scared blonde, their faces concealed in the shadows of their dark hoods.

             “What do you want?” She finally stuttered out. Lucy tried to conceal the fear she felt dripping down her spine, but her shaky voice gave her emotions away. One of the figures let out a grating chuckle that sounded too guttural to be human, “We are quite lucky tonight, yes, yes. Oh, how The Dark Lord is smiling down at us.”

             Lucy felt a cold shiver drip down her spine, and her heart fluttered in her chest. Dark Lord, like the Harry Potter villain? The voice from before whispered again in her mind, but was too quiet and far away for Lucy to understand. The second person growled out something in a language Lucy couldn’t understand. It was a series of grunts and clicks that did not even sound human. The voice became a soft buzz echoing in the back of her mind, and Lucy felt a fervid warmth dance across her skin.

             The one that spoke English slowly crept closer and closer to the blonde, muttering something about stardust and blood. When he was a few feet away, he spoke again, “Your trinket may hide your aura, but I can smell you through its magic.”

             Confusion mixed with the fear in the melting pot of emotions rolling through Lucy’s gut. These two must be deranged to think that magic was real. Unconsciously, Lucy’s free hand grasped at the golden locked between her breasts, thumbing the warm metal. Not wanting to wait around and see what the two fiendish stalkers would try next, Lucy lifted the pepper spray and sprayed it at the man in front of her, then darted past him when he recoiled in shock with a throaty scream. She pushed to a sprint, hoping that she could outrun the monstrous figures. Sadly, she was no match for their supernatural speed. The second man, who spoke the strange tongue, appeared in her path and Lucy skidded to a stop, eyes wide. How he moved so fast, she did not know. All she knew was that she was in danger, and she had to get out. Before she could turn and run in the opposite direction, a hand wrapped around her throat and flung her into the nearest wall. Lucy flew like a ragdoll, and when she collided with the unforgiving brick her vision went white. A choked scream crawled up her throat, and her body screamed in agony. She swore she heard something inside her crack when her body slammed into the grimy street.

             Sputtering, she willed her broken body to move. All she could feel was unending pain. She rolled onto her back and saw, through tear filled eyes, the glittering stars above. Her locket started to heat up with supernatural intensity, and Lucy felt a strangely familiar profound inferno of light pour out of her chest and saturate every fiber of her being. She looked down at her arms and saw that her skin was fluorescing a soft golden glow. Before the shock could hit, the man was on top of her and his hand was once again wrapped around her throat. It was then that Lucy realized with abject horror that her attacker was no man at all. He purred, and stroked her shining skin with a clawed talon. A scream built in her throat when she saw what the man truly was beneath his cloak. Demonic red eyes gazed down at her, and his deep red skin felt like thick leather. The creature laughed on top of her, and she heard his companion echo a similar sound.

             Gasping, the blonde tried to free herself from his grasp, but to no avail. She kicked her legs and tried to pry his claw from her throat. She did not want to die here in some dirty alleyway. The monster just smiled devilishly down at her, restraining her movements with practiced ease. The brighter her skin became, the hotter she felt. Lucy winced when she felt the metal of her locket burn through her shirt and brand itself onto her skin. Black spots appeared in her vision as the need for air became unbearable. Lucy tried to fight against the demon sitting atop her chest, clawing at the hand constricting her airway. As her need to breathe intensified, her glowing skin started to fade back to normal. Lucy flickered like a dying lightbulb as the life was slowly choked out of her.

             “Shhhh, don’t worry, it’ll be over soon. Zeref will reward me greatly for this sacrifice,” The monster growled. Lucy felt her arms go weak and collapse at her side as her vision slowly turned to black. Right before she fell unconscious, she felt a flash of hot air and heard a wild war cry. The monster’s grip on her neck loosened enough for Lucy to take a gasping breath, and then he leapt up off her torso with a wild roar.  She felt another rush of hot air, and the smell of smoke wafted up her nose. Coughing and choking, Lucy rolled onto her side as she tried to catch her breath. She heard screams, and then a maniacal laugh. There was a loud crunching, then silence. Lucy finally gathered the strength to look up, and the sight was enough to fuel her nightmares for the foreseeable future. A strange man stood a few feet away with the charred corpses of her attackers at his feet. Crimson flames licked up his arms and smoke wafted from his lips. The air around him smoldered with fire. Somehow, the stranger looked even more demonic than her attackers, as though he had just stepped out of hell itself. He wore a white scarf, and a strange tunic that left one arm bare. The strangest thing was the disheveled mop of pink hair atop his head. Lucy panted, and tried to sit up, drawing the attention of the strange man.

             “Oh hey, are you okay?” He asked, rushing over to help her sit against the wall. His skin felt alarmingly hot. With wild eyes, Lucy clutched at the scalding locket around her neck, finally tossing it away and rubbing the burn below her collarbone. The shock about what had just happened finally started to sink in and replaced the adrenaline that slowly evaporated away. Her head throbbed, and she could feel the bruises starting to form around her neck. The man gave her a sheepish smile and started to say something, but all Lucy could hear was the ringing in her ears. She blinked up at him with a gaping mouth, then darkness clouded her vision and she finally fainted.

~~~~~~

             “What should we do now? She almost died!” A man exclaimed. She heard a few voices mutter in agreement with the man, and a few calls of outrage.

             “She’s the last Heartfilia, she needs to know,” Another voice said. Lucy felt like she was floating weightlessly on air, and all she could see was various shining orbs of light. Stars? They reminded her of stars.

             “Don’t worry, she’s headed to Fairy Tail now, it won’t be long now,” A woman growled. Lucy reached out to touch one of the stars, but before her hand could reach the glowing surface she felt a tug in her gut pull her down and away from the shining lights and familiar voices.

             “She’ll find the keys soon, we just have to be patient,” the woman spoke again, her voice getting softer as Lucy was pulled farther away from the stars. She vaguely heard the man that spoke first grunt out a response, but she was being pulled away too fast to understand. Soon the lights faded, and all she could see was darkness.

               Lucy woke with stabbing pain pulsing through her whole body. She opened her eyes and sat up, wincing at the sharp pain ringing in her head. She was in a room that looked like a school nurse’s office with rows of beds, like the one she was currently sitting on, and cabinets of glass bottles filled with strange liquids and objects. Lucy rose, ignoring the throbbing pain, and walked up to the nearest cabinet with wide eyes. Some of the liquids moved on their own, or flashed with light and others contained bones and teeth. It was in the glass panes that she saw her own reflection and recoiled in shock. A large hand-shaped bruise encircled her neck and various other bruises coated what skin she could see. Lucy cautiously approached her bed when she felt her knees start to shake. The memories of her attack returned when her fingers touched the scratchy blanket resting on the cot, and Lucy’s knees finally gave out. She fell with a soft gasp, her hand reaching up to touch her sore neck. Her skin burned to the touch, and Lucy’s hand recoiled. The blonde darted over to the door and slowly opened it up enough to peek out and see where she was. The last thing she remembered before passing out was a strange pink-haired man coming to her rescue, but that did not explain where she was or how she got there.

             The moment she moved the door barely an inch, it was slammed open from the other side, sending Lucy tumbling to the ground. Cursing, she glared up at the person who opened the door so suddenly. Her glare turned to a look of surprise when she recognized the pink-haired man from her attack. The man that had rescued her and turned the creatures attacking her to smoldering ashes.

             “Oh good! You’re awake. It’s been hours, and I’ve been waiting for what felt like forever,” The young man said, outstretching a hand for Lucy to grab. She hesitantly grasped his hand, noting the roughness if the callouses on his palm. He pulled her to her feet and then out through the door and into a larger room. It resembled a tavern, with many large tables spread across the room in rows and a large bar spanning most the long wall to her right. The sounds of laughter and glasses clinking together filled the dining room. Lucy felt her mouth drop open in awe when she noticed that the patrons of the bar were not all human. There was a large white-haired man who seemed to tower above everything yelling about manliness sitting at a table with an older man wearing an impish grin with skin tinted blue, and a woman was floating in the air with an entire wooden barrel in her hands screaming about a drinking contest while being chased by a furious looking red-head wearing what appeared to be medieval battle armor.

             Before Lucy could take in the strange sight before her, the man pulled her over to the bar and gestured for her to sit. Not knowing what else to do, she listened and climbed up onto a barstool. She must be dreaming. She hit her head or passed out at the library and what she was seeing now was a part of a sleep-deprived hallucination her wild imagination concocted.

             “I’m dreaming, that’s it, this is all a terrible dream,” She muttered, holding her head in her hands. The man next to her laughed, and leaned down to meet her gaze. “This isn’t a dream, you’re in Fairy Tail!”

             “Fairy Tail?” She whispered. The name seemed familiar, almost as if she heard it in a dream. The man nodded, and waved over at someone behind the bar.

             “Yup! We’re the best magical guild there is. My name’s Natsu, by the way,” He said with a wide, bright smile. Lucy stared blankly at him, her mind whirring. Magical guild. Giants. Strange colored people. Fairies flying in the air. It was too much for Lucy to handle. She jumped down from the barstool and let out a frustrated scream, pulling at her golden hair.

             “What does this even mean? None of this is possible! What happened to me? Where was I? What happened in the alley? How did I glow? What is this place? I have to be dreaming, there’s no other logical explanation! I must’ve fallen asleep in the library and I’m still in the middle of my dream. None of this makes any sense!” She ranted. Her outburst drew the attention of everyone in the guild, but Lucy was still in the middle of her freak-out and didn’t notice. “How did I get here? What the fuck are all these people? And last of all, why did you choose to dye your hair pink?”

             Natsu, who had been watching her ramble with an amused smile, jumped up with a distasteful noise.

             “Whaddya mean, why’s my hair pink? It’s natural!” He exclaimed. Lucy gaped at him and screamed, “Of all my questions, that’s the one you take issue with!”

             Before Natsu could respond, an impossibly small man appeared on top of the counter next to Lucy and clapped his hands together, sending a deafening boom crashing through the room.

             “Enough!” He shouted, his voice amplified by some kind of magic. When the rest of the guild settled back down enough for the background noise of voices to return, the man turned and smiled at Lucy.

             “My dear, my name is Makarov and I can answer all of your questions and more, just have a seat and tell me what happened to you.” The tiny man stated and then sat cross-legged on the counter with the same gentle smile on his face. Lucy cautiously returned to her seat, turning to glare over at Natsu, before recounting the horror she experienced what felt like days ago, but in reality, had only been hours.

             “Hmm, looks like you were attacked by members of a dark guild. Demons, based on your description,” The man, Makarov, said after she finished, stroking his large white mustache. Natsu grumbled incoherently from the stool next to Lucy.

             “Natsu, did you happen to grab the pendant Lucy spoke of?” Makarov asked. When Natsu didn’t respond, the older man glared down at the younger man and then karate-chopped the top of his head. Natsu screamed in pain, and glared at Makarov, before fishing out the golden locket from his vest pocket and handing it to Makarov.

             “How interesting,” The old man muttered to himself. Curious, Lucy reached out for her locket, but Makarov swatted her hand away.

             “I’m sorry, my dear, but it appears as though this locket is some kind of cursed object,” He explained. Lucy opened her mouth to ask what he meant, when Natsu said, “That’s why the damn thing hurt ya so bad.”

             Lucy reached up and touched the scorched skin where the pendant had burned her.

             “It only started to burn when my skin started to, um, glow,” Lucy stuttered. She was still extremely confused about what on earth was going on, but she couldn’t deny that something happened to her. Something otherworldly. As insane as this place, Fairy Tail, seemed, it was giving her some answers.

             “I believe that this necklace has been forcing you to remain in human form, and glamouring your aura. It’s quite complex magic,” Makarov stated, “This means that you are not human, Lucy. I believe that when we destroy this locket, it will reveal your true self. Then, we can answer more of your questions.”

             Lucy inhaled sharply. Not human? What did Makarov mean? His explanation brought up more questions, but Lucy forced herself to remain silent. The memory of when she received that locket came to the forefront of her mind, filling her with sadness. Her father had given her the locket after her mother died and ordered her to never take it off. He said it would protect her, and Lucy - a scared little girl at the time - believed him. She’d never taken it off since that day. She reached out and touched the hot metal, her curiosity piqued. Right before she could grab the warm golden locket, another hand reached out and snatched it from her grasp. Lucy gasped, looking up at Natsu, who now held the locket within his fingers. He narrowed his eyes at the necklace, and Lucy cautiously extended her hand towards his to grab the necklace and return it to its rightful place around her neck. No matter what Makarov said, she could not destroy the locket. It was all she had left of her family and her old life. Before she could reach Natsu’s hand, the man smiled over at Lucy and then his hand and the locket burst into flame. Lucy screamed and thrust her fingers towards the blaze, only to recoil when her skin met the hot inferno. Natsu stared down at his hand in concentration, and Lucy cried out as he slowly crushed the metal within his fingers.

             A crack resounded in her soul when the locket finally gave in.

Lucy felt a sharp pain in her chest when the pendant finally gave in to the heat and pressure and broke, and she clutched at her heart. She heard Makarov telling her to breath, but he sounded like he was talking to her through a thick wall. Lucy’s skin burned, and she saw the golden glow return. It was brighter than it had been before, and more intense. She shone almost as bright as one of the stars she used to love so much as a child. Lucy winced as the light faded back into her skin.

             Her skin prickled with power and all her senses were heightened. She stood, and frantically looked around her. She was now hyper-aware of her surroundings. The sound of her bar stool scraping against the wooden floor sounded as loud as a crashing waterfall, and she could see the individual dust-mites floating through the air. The sounds of the restaurant were overwhelming. She clutched at her head, trying to block out the screaming and the banging she once thought was mere background noise. She shut her eyes and tried to take calm steady breaths. Instead, she panted heavily. She heard Makarov’s voice telling her to calm down and focus, but there was too much sensory stimulation. She could feel everything, even the air on her skin. Lucy recoiled when she felt hot arms wrap around her, but then a soothing voice whispered in her ear.

             “…’s okay, just breathe, I’ve gotcha,” Lucy focused on the sound of Natsu’s breathing and his heartbeat. It was strong and steady. Natsu gave her something to focus on and allowed Lucy to ground herself once more. She felt her senses focus and adjust to their new strength. Lucy peered up through her lashes at Natsu’s shining green eyes. Natsu’s smile melted from his lips as Lucy’s icy cold glare hit him. She ripped herself from his grasp, reeled her arm back, then slapped him across the face. Natsu stumbled and slid across the wooden flooring. He rubbed his red cheek and gave Lucy a sheepish smile.

             “I suppose I deserved that,” He said with a nervous laugh, “But damn, you can really hit now.”

             “Oh, that was fantastic! I’ve never seen magic like that before,” Makarov exclaimed excitedly. His eyes glittered with fascination and Lucy suddenly felt self-conscious. The sounds and smells of the bar were still slightly overwhelming, but she tried to focus on Makarov.

             “What just happened to me?” She asked quietly. Her eyes widened in shock when she heard the bell-like chime that had become her voice. She clapped her hands over her mouth. Panic seeped into her once again, but then she felt Natsu’s warm presence behind her once again. As furious as she was at him for destroying her locket, his aura seemed to be the only thing that helped her calm down.

             “Look for yourself, my dear,” Makarov chuckled, gesturing for her to walk over to a mirror behind the bar. Lucy hesitantly walked around to the mirror, her heart filled with trepidation. Her breath left when she was met with her own reflection.

             Lucy squinted, not believing that the gorgeous, ephemeral being in the reflection was actually her. Her hair, that she once considered to be quite lustrous and beautiful before, seemed to radiate with celestial light. The golden locks framed her face and fell gracefully across her shoulders. Her skin seemed to be giving of a slight golden glow, that was not noticeable unless she squinted very hard. Her eyes were the same rich brown, but the biggest change were Lucy’s ears. They were now pointed, like an elf’s. She reached up and pinched the tips of her ears, letting out a surprised squeak. They were real all right.

             The bruises she was sure once wrapped around her throat were faded, and grew lighter with every passing moment. Every blemish and scar or bruise was slowly fading from her skin. Lucy turned back towards Makarov, her confusion clearly written on her face. A few hours ago, she was just a normal English major trying to survive University alone, now she looked like a character from Lord of the Rings.

             “Come sit, and I’ll explain,” Makarov said with a wide smile. Dazed, Lucy returned to her barstool.

             “I believe that you are one of the Fae’s children. It would explain the ears and possibly the glowing, but that I’m not sure about. You must be a mix of some sort,” He explained. Lucy just blinked blankly, completely speechless.

             “The heightened senses are a part of being Fae-born, and I believe you’ll find that you’re a lot stronger than you used to be. Levy could explain this all to you,” He continued.

             “Fae?” Lucy finally asked. Makarov sighed and rubbed his temple.

             “Natsu, go and get Levy, will ya?” He ordered. Natsu grumbled, but wandered off to do as his master asked.

             “I know this is all must be so confusing, but you are welcome to stay here at Fairy Tail while we get this all sorted out. What I want you to know, Lucy, is that you are not human. In fact, nobody in this whole building is human. There’s more to the world than you know. Magic and magical creatures exist. We live in tandem with humanity, but in the shadows. Most of the stories from your childhood are based on fact.” Makarov said. Lucy felt panic flutter wildly in her chest at his words. Part of her argued there was no way magic was real, and she was hallucinating everything, the other part of her remembered the fear and the warm ichor spreading through her body. The latter won her inner argument, and Lucy decided to believe Makarov. How else could she explain the crazy night she’d had?

             “Master, Natsu said you wanted me?” A soft feminine voice called. Lucy turned and faced a blue-haired girl who appeared to be around her age, but slightly shorter than her. Pointed ears peeked out from behind the blue locks, like her own.

             “Levy! I want you to meet Lucy. I believe she is demi-fae, like you, and could you do me a favor and show her around? She has lots of questions I’m sure,” Makarov said, winking at Levy. The girl smiled and extended her hand.

             “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Levy,” she introduced. Lucy hesitantly shook the girl’s hand. Levy’s eyes widened when their skin touched, and she gasped. The blonde drew back her hand as though she’d been burned, looking between Makarov and Levy in confusion. Makarov only raised a brow at Levy’s reaction, the corner of his lips turning upwards.

             “You felt it too?” He asked. Levy just nodded and giggled.

             “Wow, Lucy. It’s like sticking my hand into an electrical socket. You’re very powerful,” Levy explained. Lucy’s brow furrowed, and she looked down at her skin, which did seem to hum with a strange current.

             “Get Cana to do a reading, will ya? Then show her around,” Makarov said with a wave of his hand. He turned and hopped off the bar, then waddled over to the white-haired bartender with a sly smile.

             “Come on, Lucy,” Levy said, drawing the blonde’s attention from the older man. Lucy followed Levy over to the brunette that had been flying around with a giant barrel earlier. Luckily, she was now seated, but the barrel of what Lucy could now smell as alcohol remained. Lucy felt the ringing in her ears return when the noise in the bar increased as a fight broke out across the room. She winced and took a few deep breaths to calm her senses.            

             “Still gettin’ used to it, ay?” The brunette asked with a knowing gaze. Lucy sat down across from her and nodded, giving her a wary smile.

             “I’m Cana, the resident witch,” The woman said, nodding at Lucy, who introduced herself in turn. Cana just smiled over at her, giving her a curiously excited look.

             “Ooh, I can feel you all the way from over here. It’s intoxicating,” She laughed, leaning over the table and taking a deep breath of the air right in front of Lucy.

             “Cana! Behave.” Levy scolded, swatting the witch lovingly on the nose. Cana laughed, and waved away Levy’s hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll be nice.”

             Lucy bit her bottom lip, still unsure of what she was supposed to be doing. Levy gave her a reassuring smile, filling her with relief. Levy seemed like a nice enough person, and if she was the same type of creature as Lucy, then the blonde hoped she could answer all of her questions.

             “Alright, let’s get started,” Cana exclaimed, cracking her knuckles. The air surrounding the table stilled and Cana adopted an eerie aura. The sounds of the fight and the bar faded away, and the air crackled with magic. Lucy felt the electricity of Cana’s magic dance across her skin and her lips formed an elated smile. When Cana opened her eyes, gone was the sparking personality from before. It had been replaced by some supernatural entity. A voice echoed in Lucy’s head, beckoning her towards the magic Cana exuded. The witch held out her hands for Lucy to grab. She glanced nervously at Levy, who just nodded towards Cana’s outstretched palms. Lucy slowly reached out and placed her hands on top of Cana’s.

             The moment their skin touched, Cana stiffened and the golden light returned to Lucy’s skin. Lucy felt magic pulse through her entire body, sending each of her nerves alight with a pleasant hum.

             “The Light of the Heavens fills you. You are the last star. The golden giants call to you from above. Soon you will find the answers you seek. Find the keys, find the truth,” A rasping voice groaned out of Cana. The voice filled Lucy with a dark sense of dread. Just as suddenly as it came, the haunting aura left Cana and the world returned to its normal pace. The witch released Lucy’s hands and took heaving breaths. Lucy’s hands shook, and the golden light slowly dimmed and faded.

             “Holy shit. I’ve never felt that kind of power before,” Cana panted, “Kid, you need to learn how to reel in that crazy aura of yours before it brings you more trouble.”

             Lucy just stared down at her shaking fingers unsure of how to respond. She had no clue what Cana was talking about, nor what the strange unearthly voice meant either.

             “Come on, I’ll show you upstairs,” Levy said, reaching down to grab Lucy by the arm and lead her away from Cana and the fight. Lucy swore she saw a flash of pink in the mess of bodies that was only growing as time went on, but she turned and followed Levy up to the second level. Her mind was reeling with all the new information she’d learned in the past hour, and she gladly followed Levy, her mind swarmed with questions.

~~~~~~~

             Once Lucy was upstairs, the red-haired woman’s voice boomed through the building, commanding the fighters to calm down. Natsu disentangled himself from the fray, glancing up to the staircase.

             “Alright, brats! I’m sure you’ve noticed our newcomer. She’s been tricked into believing she was human, and we are going to help her transition. What she chooses from there is her own decision. I want you all to treat her with respect! Cana, tell us what you saw,” Makarov boomed, swelling in size until he loomed over his children.

             “She’s different, but I can’t see what she is very well. I know she has Fae in her, but that shouldn’t make her glow like a firefly,” Cana drawled. Makarov pursed his lips, then announced, “We are Fairy Tail! We will not forsake this poor child, but we will not tolerate any threat.”

             Once Makarov had shrunk down to his normal size, the activity returned to normal. There was, however, an excited atmosphere as the guild members discussed the shining new girl and what she could mean for the guild.

             Natsu stared up at the staircase, deep in thought. When he hugged Lucy close to him, his skin thrummed with exquisite power, power he was sure everyone in the guild had felt pulsing through the air. Her aura was wildly out of control. His fingers touched the red spot still on his face, and he pursed his lips. She was a conundrum, that golden girl.  Since he was the one that broke her locket and thrust her into his world, Natsu decided that he would help her out. Who knows, maybe she would decide to join Fairy Tail someday.

Let me know what you think! Here’s the ao3 and ffnet links

http://archiveofourown.org/works/10346910

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12409199/1/Stardust-and-Fire

[riverofmemoriesft]

. Obsessive Impulsive . 4

Full Summary: “‘I’ve been trying to find you alone for weeks, but you’ve been avoiding me.’  He clicked his tongue, as if scolding her.  'I tried approaching, but you always had someone with you to give me nasty words and looks.  They turned you against me, Miss Levy.’"

Pairings: Gajeel x Levy

Warnings: I strode for a darker fic again.  This is not for sensitive readers.  Violence, stalking, etc.  

Author’s Note: This is a very, very twisted gift for Bubbles, who has not been allowed to so much as read a single chapter.  This will update every other day. 

The next few days were fairly peaceful. Levy spent much of her time with Gajeel, learning his language. He was a damn good teacher, much to her surprise, patient and repeating anything she needed. He told her that he wanted her speaking fluently before they even started on writing and reading. Apparently the writing was mostly in symbols and he said it would be near impossible for her to learn all of them.

The rest of the guild gave up on teasing them after the first two days and went back to normal life, Levy was relieved to notice. Lucy still came around to playfully make small comments, but that was it. Jet and Droy came home from their job and Levy eagerly listened to every word of the stories they gave her as they ate lunch after coming in. While she'd begun to hang out with them less, she still loved them fiercely and she was glad to see that they were doing well on their missions without her to keep them focused.

When they were done with their story, Levy smiled kindly and gave them the proper praise before making a face and saying, "I'm almost done with my translations, which means I'll have to go to him."

They knew who she meant instantly.

"Him" was a very well-known librarian and archaeologist that worked closely with the Council. She was to submit her work to him, which meant she'd lose most of her credibility. Luckily, the amused members of the Council - mainly one older man in particularly - recognized her work and sent nice pay.

"Don't worry, Levy," Jet reassured, biting into a piece of chicken. "At least they promised this would be the last job they had for you for the next month or so."

Levy glared at him and he grinned as Droy chuckled. "Not helpful," she grumbled. Yawning, she stretched and then sighed. "I better get home. I need to pack a bag and then head out for the train first thing in the morning." She checked the guildhall with a frown. "I was hoping I could tell Gajeel I won't be here tomorrow for our little language sessions, but…"

"I heard about that." Droy blinked. "You've been taking lessons from him, right?"

"Gajeel?" Jet rolled his eyes. "Seriously?"

Levy shot him a sharp look. "Yes. Gajeel. He's been teaching me the language of the dragons. Don't you dare get rude, Jet."

She loved him. She really did. But Jet had never really moved on from what Gajeel had done, not like she and Droy. It drove her crazy sometimes, even if she understood where he was coming from. She only got onto him when he was particularly rude.

He waved her off without concern. "I'm not saying anything, Levy. Just be careful on your travels, okay?"

Levy was surprised. "You don't want to come?" Usually they begged.

"Nah," Droy told her. "We're tired. The job we took was really tiring. If we'd known what it took, we'd have passed it off and taken a different one."

Levy gave him a sympathetic look. "Sorry, then. I guess I'll be back tomorrow evening or so. Will you let Gajeel know that I'm leaving?"

"I guess," Jet sighed. When she scowled, he winked. "Just kidding. Yeah, we'll let him know."

"Thanks, Jet," Levy said gratefully. She playfully wiggled her fingers at Droy and gathered up the last of her translations and shoved them into her bag. Making sure she had everything, she called a goodbye to Lucy and headed out.

The librarian-archaeologist wasn't as annoying as he usually was, much to Levy's relief, and even shortened the trip by letting her help him organize and explain to the Council what she'd translated. Levy was delighted to receive her pay and praise from one of the Wizard Saints, a tree-looking man with a kind look in his eyes.

When she was done, she headed home from Crocus.

Just as she'd told her friends, she was back in Magnolia by evening. Levy eyed her bag thoughtfully and shrugged, shouldering it. She'd take it with her so she could stop by the guildhall that evening. It wasn't that heavy outside of a book or two that she probably hadn't needed. One can't be too careful with books, after all!

Levy stepped out of the train station just as the clock struck six, her hazel eyes sparkling.

The sparkle went away when she ran into someone. She cursed under her breath, agitated. She just wanted to go home-

"Oh!" the person gasped. "Miss Levy! I didn't know you were here!"

For some reason, Levy's blood ran cold. Yet she forced a smile to her face. "Hello, Elroy," she said with barely concealed irritation. Her smile was icey. "What are you doing in Magnolia?"

He looked flustered, excited that she'd remembered him though Levy couldn't for the life of her figure out why. She was clearly and blatantly not interested in him! "Passing through," he said nonchalantly, hastily waving his reasons off. "What about you?"

She arched a brow. "My guild's here. I live in Magnolia."

He laughed. "I forgot that Fairy Tail was based here," he admitted and then gave her a beaming smile. Before, it would have made her smile back. After his comment about Gajeel...who she kind of wished was around. Or Laxus. Laxus would be good and intimidating. Even Lucy would be nice to have around. Even Happy. Or Asuka.

Forcing herself to be pleasant, Levy cleared her throat. "Excuse me, Elroy, but I need to head back to my guildhall. I have friends waiting on me." And safety from the nuisance presented before her.

Shyly, he rubbed the back of his head. "Right, sorry," Elroy murmured. "It was nice seeing you again, Miss Levy!"

"Likewise," she offered. She gave him one final forced smile before starting past him. She stopped when he called "Miss Levy!" again. She glanced back, waiting impatiently for him to speak.

"Can I walk you to your guildhall?" he asked.

"No," she said gently, "I like to have time to myself to think. Excuse me, Elroy." She started forward again, huffing softly under her breath as she went.

When she arrived at the guild, she was greeted warmly by first and foremost Lily. The Exceed looked pleased to see her and informed her, "Gajeel's been in a temper since you left. Maybe he'll stop now."

Levy laughed. "I doubt it," she sighed. She smiled at the Exceed. "It's good to see you again, though."

He purred in response. "And you as well," he rumbled. His tail flicked. "How was your work? Droy said that you'd gone to visit some Councilman?"

"A librarian," she corrected. "And an archaeologist. He's the one who takes care of my translations when I'm done with them. I got done a lot sooner than normal because he wasn't as big of a pain in my side as he usually was." She slipped onto a bench, dropping her bag onto the bench beside her. Giving a huge yawn, Levy leaned forward happily on the table. "It went well though."

"Good." Lily climbed onto the table to sit near her, his tail flicking once. "You'll be pleased to know that Gildarts is home. He arrived early this afternoon and said he'd be hanging around for a couple days."

"That's good," Levy said cheerfully. "Cana will be pleased." She caught sight of Wendy waving at her and waved back. "So where's Gajeel? Is he here?"

Lily gave her an amused look. "You really ought to take the man on a date. He's too chicken to ask you himself, I hope you know."

Levy turned a scarlet color. "Lily!" she hissed. "Not you, too! I'm not just going to randomly ask Gajeel out on a date!"

"Why not?" Lily smirked. "He likes you. If you asked him, he'd accept, no questions asked." She sputtered speechlessly and then threw her hands up, glaring. Lily laughed and then rumbled, "He's gone to retrieve silverware. When he figures out you're back, he'll come out of hiding. Mirajane nearly caught him and he's waiting for a better time."

"I've told him thousands of times to not steal silverware," she said in exasperation, smacking a hand to her forehead. She huffed. "I needed to tell him something…" Her cheerful expression suddenly faded and she ran a hand through her hair. "I ran into Elroy."

The cat blanched. "What?" he sputtered. "Where?!"

"Here," she said, lowering her voice. Levy's hazel eyes flashed. "Outside the train station on my way in. He wanted to walk me here. I told him no." She rested her chin on an open palm. "He says he was passing through. I'm not going to say I'm happy he's here, but I mean...Magnolia is a popular spot to pass through. We've got the church and us here. It doesn't surprise me."

"Levy," Lily warned, "please. Be careful. He's far too attached for someone who just met you."

Levy waved him off. "I'll handle it," she told him. "He's just annoying. Not aggressive or anything. I'm going to let you tell Gajeel now that you know-"

"Tell me what?"

"Gajeel!" Levy said cheerfully, turning slightly to look over her shoulder at the iron mage who had appeared behind her, arms crossed. He gave her a long suspicious look from piercing crimson eyes, distrustful. Grimacing, she admitted, "On my way out of the train station to head to the guildhall, I ran into Elroy."

His eyes flashed and a low sound rumbled in his throat. Levy remembered him saying that low sounds like that were usually meant in affection or sheer anger. She guessed it was the latter rather than the former in this case.

"Fucker," Gajeel spat much to her chagrin.

"Gajeel," she protested. "Watch your language! Asuka's here!"

He grunted and looked over his shoulder, shoving a fork into his mouth as if it was a cookie. Levy caught sight of Mirajane giving him a death glare - for the swear and for the fork. He looked her in the eye and chomped down before glaring and dropping onto the bench far closer than he normally would have.

Levy stifled laughter when Mirajane's anger disappeared, replaced by sparkling eyes. "Trickster," she mused, tapping her fingers on the table.

"I ain't in the mood for the she-devil," he grunted and then looked back at her. "He pester you?"

"Elroy?" she questioned. He nodded and Lily watched him carefully. "Nah. Just asked if he could walk me here. I told him no and came straight to the guildhall."

"Good." Gajeel nodded his head sharply. "Have Scarlet walk you back to Fairy Hills."

She huffed. "Why? I can handle the situation, Gajeel."

As if quoting his cat, he replied, "He's too attached. Ain't safe."

"He's not too attached," she sighed, "he's just interested, Gajeel. I'll be fine. Trust me."

Snorting, Gajeel shoved another piece of silverware into his mouth. "It ain't' you I don't trust, shorty."

Levy forwent asking anyone to go with her when it came time to go home. She shouldered her bag and slid out while Gajeel was distracted with a brawl that had broken out - one last one before everyone left for the night. Chuckling under her breath, Levy made her way through the familiar streets of Magnolia.

She had just reached Fairy Hills when a shiver went down her spine. She looked back, gaze searching the darkness, but she found nothing. Shrugging to herself, Levy stepped inside. Erza had left earlier in the evening with Wendy, and it somewhat comforted her to have them in the same building.

Levy easily found her apartment and unlocked the door. While all of the women that lived within the big building trusted one another, it didn't mean someone wouldn't break in, after all.

She ducked inside and then kicked the door shut behind her. She first flicked a light on and then headed into the bathroom after grabbing some clean clothes.

Sinking into the tub, Levy smiled to herself.

It was good to be home.

[riverofmemoriesft]

. Between the Lines . 190

The screaming that rang through the ruined streets of Crocus brought Mirajane to a halt. She'd been separated from her siblings, who she hoped were with one another. She saw a broken fountain, once beautiful and built with golden saber toothed tigers springing from its depths in honor of the guild that protected the city, a gift for the guild after everything that had happened with the reveal of magic.

Silently, Mirajane listened to the screams. Tears rose to her eyes; she heard the agony, the longing and the mourning and the utter pain that the owners possessed, and she couldn't help but hope that the owners were of another guild.

Her heart twisted. Lisanna! Elfman!

A scream filled her ears. Mirajane spun around to see someone shoot around a corner, chased by the monstrous creatures roaming the streets, and she pushed herself to run towards them rather than away.

Kinana! she recognized, hearing the roar of a dragon over their head. The booming of thunder and the snapping of lightning as it crashed down on the dragon brought her a little comfort. Laxus was nearby.

"Mira-" Kinana cried as she raced past her, spinning in her place to watch in horror as Mirajane used her magic, bringing forth a powerful form that would give her strength. Within seconds she was surrounded, and she screamed at Kinana to go.

Kinana gave a sob and fled.

Laxus hadn't intended to stumble across the terrified Kinana, but when he did, she clung to him. He was stunned, shocked that she was even running around instead of helping the other non-magic members of Fairy Tail and various other guilds. They were supposed to be protecting those in hiding.

"The hell are you doin' out here?" he demanded, catching her by the shoulders as the dragon he'd been fighting shook its head, trying to clear its eyes of pain.

She only shook her head. "It's Mira," she sobbed, pointing behind them. "It's - help her, please, there were so many-"

"Get out of here, I'll find her," he rumbled, an odd feeling in his chest. Laxus sent Kinana away and she sprinted down the empty road with a hand covering her mouth. Taking advantage of the dragon's blindness, Laxus jogged down the street, knowing it would follow him.

When he found Mirajane, he was horrified. Laxus Dreyar, who had never flinched at gore and the agony of others, merely pushed along and helped them, wanted to retch and run the other way. Because not even he had imagined that he'd see Mirajane as she was now.

She was very clearly dead. Her blue eyes stared blankly at him, blood trickling from her nose and mouth as the creatures tore into her body.

Rage like no other flooded into him and he gave a shout, turning on the dragon as lightning exploded in a massive and psychotic blast around him, slamming into the dragon with enough force to drive it to the ground.

"Juvia!" Meredy cried, dragging the water mage out of the way just in time. A blast struck the place she'd been standing in and Gray whipped around, eyes worried. When he saw that she was all right, he relaxed just a little and then looked to the creatures creeping towards them.

Ice gathered around his hands as he settled into a battle-ready stance. Lyon narrowed his dark eyes and copied him, birds appearing around them and fluttering their icy wings. Nervous, Meredy readied herself - and then gasped. "Ultear!" she screamed, darting off.

Juvia's head snapped around and caught sight of the very woman Meredy had named running down a street. Before Juvia could follow Meredy, they were cut off and she stared at the metallic monster before her with horror as it clicked its bloodied jaws. The dragon in the sky roared and dropped more of them.

"Natsu!" Juvia gasped suddenly, pointing into the sky as a blaze of light streaked from the sky and into Crocus. Gray swore under his breath as the dragon laughed and descended upon them, shedding neve rending scales that only added to the chaos.

"Juvia, look out," Gray suddenly cried, diving forward.

Time seemed to slow down for her.

One moment, she was looking at where the dragon stood, the next, he was there, tossing her aside as he stared in shock at a beam that had gone through his chest. Her eyes widened, filling with shock as another slammed into his shoulder and then a third into his leg, sending him to the ground.

It wasn't until one shot through his head and he hit the ground dead that Juvia screamed, Lyon's shriek cutting into her like a knife.

Throughout Crocus, various people cried and shrieked and screamed and wailed. Blood spilled and people lay still, their eyes still full of pain as they lay dead.

Sting and Rogue went right back to fighting their dragons, trying their best to protect Yukino's body as Laxus did the same for Mirajane, joined by her grieving siblings, who fended off the creatures that had killed her. Lyon screamed for someone to help them while Juvia cried hysterically over Gray, her fingers tangled in his blood-matted black hair, pleading with him to open his eyes. Jellal stumbled as a blow caught his throat, smacking a hand over the wound with a gasp, and Erza crumpled as excruciating pain raced down her body.

In an isolated place, Romeo sobbed, shouting for Macao to wake up as he was hauled away by Wakaba and a fierce Makarov. Bisca, who had returned to defend their home with Alzack, stared numbly at the rubble that had crushed her husband.

The future Levy stumbled through the destruction, an arm thrown over her shoulder as she helped her past self search for Gajeel, and the future Gajeel strode beside them, snarling whenever something came too close. Chelia stumbled speechlessly along behind them, nervous.

Natsu hit the ground, a sharp crack ringing out. He shouted in pain and then stared in shock at the wounds on his chest, delivered by the future Rogue's attack. Weakly, Natsu grappled at his chest, wheezing for Lucy as blood pooled beneath him. He remembered the agony the future Lucy had described coming with his death, and he wondered helplessly if they, too were destined to die.

Darkness bled in, and he tried to staunch the wounds. He could hear the future Rogue laughing above, triumph ringing out, and he closed his eyes, chest heaving.

Lucy, was his last thought before his chest moved no more.

The future Natsu suddenly gasped beside Lucy, clawing at his chest with a white face. "Natsu?" she demanded, her heart racing at the sight of the man who shared the same face as her Natsu in pain.

She had sent Loke back moments before and Hisui and Arcadios had run inside to gather various things that might help them in destroying the Gate, something they had deemed necessary for a reason they wouldn't share. Happy had been sent to help where he was needed and he'd promised her he'd go find Wendy and help her with the emerald-colored dragon.

"Dead," he gasped. "My past self is-"

"Dead?" a new voice mused. "I am surprised. Natsu did not seem to be the sort to die so easily. I thought him better than that."

Lucy's blood turned to ice, because she'd know that voice anywhere. They spun around, staring in shock at the man that had appeared out of seemingly nowhere. Power came off of him in waves and his hand rested lightly against one of the doors of the Gate, his red eyes glowing.

"Zeref?" she choked out. "What the hell are you-"

"Mm, time travel. It is always an interesting thought, don't you agree?" Zeref caressed the doors. "I was wondering...if just maybe... it would allow me to see someone again. Someone I haven't seen in quite some time. Someone I haven't seen since before the dragons were gone…"

"Don't," the future Natsu suddenly said, horror in his voice. "Don't you dare-"

"You know then?" He let his gaze slide towards the terrified man. "You know the truth of who I'm speaking of? Interesting. I'd like to know how you found out, but I doubt it will happen. My brother is an interesting person, Miss Heartfilia, is he not? Certainly you've read of him in Layla's diary. Would you like to meet him?"

He pushed the Gate open.

[an-upset-librarian]

So I’ve started a Fairy Tail au! It’s nalu centric, but will have other pairings. It’s set in the modern age, but magic is real. I’m thinking of calling it Stardust And Fairies, but that’s subject to change. Please tell me what you think of this story!

Magical creatures live in tandem with humanity, but hide their true selves in the shadows. Lucy discovers her Fae heritage one fateful night, the same night she meets the fiery Natsu Dragneel of Fairy Tail. Will Lucy learn to control her new powers? Will she figure out what really happened to her mother? And how is she supposed to finish college with this new life she’s been thrust into?

               Lucy always believed in magic. Ever since she was a little girl, she knew that she was special, that she was different from normal kids. Her mother told her she was a Starchild, born from fairie dust. Lucy, who was only but a child then, believed her mother. She could see things other kids couldn’t, and sometimes she would have conversations with the stars at night. The lights twinkling up in the night sky were a comfort for the child, even when she grew into an adult.

             It was when she was six that she discovered magic wasn’t always nice. It wasn’t just talking to the constellations, or talking to the small creatures that lived in the manor grounds. When Lucy first went to school, she soon learned not to talk about her friends in the sky, or the little creatures in the forests. The other kids would tease her, and when one boy pulled her long blonde hair and pushed her around, Lucy felt the shining golden ichor that was the magic burning in her blood burst open and explode out of her body with her screams.

             Luckily, her family paid for the boy’s medical bills, and then Lucy was kept within the manor and taught by private tutors. Her mother helped her understand the power flowing in her veins. Before Lucy even turned ten, her mother fell ill and died. It was that fateful day that Lucy stopped listening to her friends, the stars, and started to ignore the beings living in her gardens. Soon they disappeared, and the starts stopped trying to speak to her. Soon, Lucy forgot that she was made of stardust and light.

 ~~~~~~~~

             With an exasperated sigh, Lucy closed her oversized textbook closed with a loud enough smack for the librarian to glare over at the tired blonde. She couldn’t even muster the energy to feel sorry for disturbing the silence of the library. Lucy slowly grabbed her belongings and piled them into her bag, then crept out of the library and out into the cool night air. Once the night sky touched her skin, she felt a sliver of energy pulse through her. The girl took a deep breath, then began her trek back to her apartment. She pulled out her phone and lamented at the late hour. It was already past midnight, and she hadn’t left the campus since that morning. Another tired sigh fell from her lips. College would be fun, she had told herself. She could make it as a full-time student and work in her free time, she told herself. What a foolish idea. Lucy didn’t regret leaving her old life behind in Crocus, but dammit it was hard to work and be a responsible student. At least she had a day off tomorrow, she told herself. A nice Saturday to spend in the bath relaxing after catching up on some much-needed sleep.

Lucy straightened the straps on her shoulder. In her tired state, she didn’t notice that her feet led her astray, away from her usual path home on the well-lit streets, and onto the dark side-streets and alleyways. Subconsciously she knew that the safer path with the street lights was quite a bit longer, but her tired brain figured one time down the shorter and darker path wouldn’t hurt.

A quiet, yet familiar voice, whispered in her ear that danger was near, and Lucy tensed when she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps echoing behind her. Not daring to turn around and face the stranger on her tail, the blonde reached down into pocket for the handy pepper spray she kept on her person always. Her fist clenched around the cylinder, and Lucy quickened her pace. Her exhaustion was forgotten as adrenaline started to pulse through her bloodstream. Her heart fluttered in her chest when she heard her follower speed up to match her. Lucy whispered a curse, and considered bolting through the alley and towards the safety of civilization when another dark figure dropped down in front of her.

             Lucy froze, and heard her follower stop too. She pulled the pepper spray canister out of her pocket, and flipped the lid open in preparation to attack. Her heart hammered in her chest, and she swore it was loud enough for them to hear. The two figures encircled the scared blonde, their faces concealed in the shadows of their dark hoods.

             “What do you want?” She finally stuttered out. Although her voice was shaky, Lucy tried to conceal the terror she was feeling. One of the figures let out a grating chuckle that sounded too guttural to be human, “We are quite lucky tonight, yes, yes. Oh how The Dark Lord is smiling down at us,”

             Lucy felt a cold shiver drip down her spine, and her heart fluttered in her chest. Dark Lord, like the Harry Potter villain? The voice from before whispered again in her mind, but was too quiet and far away for Lucy to understand. The second person growled out something in a language Lucy couldn’t understand. It was a series of grunts and clicks that did not even sound human. The voice became a soft buzz echoing in the back of her mind, and Lucy felt a fervid warmth spread across her body.

             The one that spoke English slowly crept closer and closer to the blonde, muttering something about stardust and blood. When he was a few feet away, he spoke again, “Your trinket may hide your aura, but I can smell you through its magic.”

             Confusion mixed with the fear in the melting pot of emotions rolling through Lucy’s gut. These two must be deranged, to think that magic was real. Unconsciously, Lucy’s free hand grasped at the golden locked between her breasts, thumbing the warm metal. Not wanting to wait around and see what the two stalkers would try next, Lucy lifted the pepper spray and sprayed it at the man in front of her, then darted past him when he recoiled in shock. She pushed to a sprint, hoping that she could outrun them. Sadly, she was no match for their supernatural speed. The second man, who spoke the strange tongue, appeared in her path and Lucy skidded to a stop, eyes wide. How he moved so fast, she did not know. All she knew was that she was in danger, and she had to get out. Before she could turn and run in the opposite direction, a hand wrapped around her throat and flung her into the nearest wall. Lucy flew like a ragdoll, and when she collided with the brick her vision went white. A choked scream crawled up her throat, and her body screamed in agony.

             Sputtering, she willed her broken body to move. All she could feel was pain. She rolled onto her back and saw the glittering stars above. Her locket started to heat up, and Lucy felt a strangely familiar heat spread through her body from within her chest. She looked down at her arms and saw that her skin was fluorescing a soft golden glow. Before the shock could hit, the man was on top of her and his hand was once again wrapped around her throat. He purred, and stroked her shining skin with a clawed hand. A scream built in her throat when she saw what the man truly was beneath his cloak. Demonic red eyes gazed down at her, and his deep red skin felt like thick leather. He was not human.

             Gasping, the blonde tried to free herself from his grasp, but to no avail. She kicked her legs and tried to pry his claw from her throat. She did not want to die here in some dirty alleyway. The monster just smiled devilishly down at her, restraining her movements with practiced ease. The brighter her skin became, the hotter she felt. Lucy winced when she felt the metal of her locket burn through her shirt and brand itself onto her skin. Black spots appeared in her vision. Lucy tried to fight against the demon sitting atop her chest, clawing at his hand constricting her airway. As the need for air increased, her glowing skin started to fade back to normal. She flickered like a dying lightbulb as the life was slowly choked out of her.

             “Shhhh, don’t worry, it’ll be over soon. Zeref will reward me for this sacrifice,” The monster growled. Lucy felt her arms go weak and collapse at her side as her vision slowly turned to black. Right before she fell unconscious, she felt a flash of hot air and then a wild war cry echoed. The monster’s grip on her neck loosened enough for Lucy to take a gasping breath, and then he leapt up off her torso with a wild cry.  She felt another rush of hot air, and the smell of smoke wafted up her nose. Coughing and choking, Lucy rolled onto her side as she tried to catch her breath. She heard screams, and then a maniacal laugh. There was a loud crunching, then silence. Lucy finally gathered the strength to look up, and the sight was enough to fuel her nightmares. A strange man stood a few feet away with the charred corpses of her attackers at his feet. Flames licked up his skin, and smoke wafted from his lips. He wore a white scarf, and a strange tunic that left one arm bare. The strangest thing was the mop of pink hair atop his head. Lucy panted, and tried to sit up, drawing the attention of the strange man.

             “Oh hey, are you okay?” He asked, rushing over to help her sit against the wall. His skin was abnormally hot. With wild eyes, Lucy clutched at the scalding locket around her neck, finally tossing it away and rubbing the burn below her collarbone. The shock about what had just happened finally started to sink in and replaced the adrenaline that slowly evaporated away. Her head throbbed, and she could feel the bruises starting to form around her neck. The man gave her a sheepish smile and started to say something, but all Lucy could hear was the ringing in her ears. She blinked up at him with a gaping mouth, then darkness clouded her vision and she finally fainted.

Once again, please tell me what you think of this au! I’m pretty excited for what I’ve got planned, and it has been a while since I’ve written anything for Fairy Tail