Hello, people! Nightlingbolt here! Welcome back to more - wait a minute, this isn't ABCs. This is a little side project I like to call Meddling.
So the thing is, I'm getting my bottom wisdom teeth out in the morning, I wanted to write something quickly to tide you guys over while I feel too much like shit to want to write, but I didn't want to write something I didn't have to think too hard about, which eliminated ABCs and Lucky Star, so I ended up writing this. I predict this will end up being three or four chapters, depending on how much effort I put into this. It's just a lighthearted get Natsu and Erza together kind of deal, so... yeah, enjoy it.
I do not own Fairy Tail, Hiro Mashima does.
CRASH!
That was the sound of Gray throwing Natsu into a table.
"Like hell that'll stop me, Snow Cone!" yelled Natsu as he charged towards the Ice mage.
"Ice-Make, Lance!" Gray yelled, creating one of his trademark attacks.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" shouted Natsu, igniting his fists with flame. The boys charged each other, and...
In a flash of light, Capricorn appeared between the two rivals, much to Lucy's surprise. More impressive, he had blocked both their attacks with a hand each. And he did not have a smile on his face.
"Natsu-sama... Gray-sama," he muttered lowly. "While I approve of your enthusiasm, Lucy-sama is suffering from a headache, and the last thing I want is for my owner to feel uncomfortable because of her idiot friends, no offense to you two personally. Therefore, I must ask you to either refrain from your fighting for the day or take it elsewhere. If you boys want to fight someone, you fight me. Do I make myself clear?" As he spoke, his voice took on a more threatening tone, and its effect was clear.
"Aye!" Natsu and Gray said with a nervous salute.
"Good," said Capricorn approvingly. "Now leave us." Both boys scurried off before the Goat spirit got any angrier.
Lisanna, Mirajane, and of course Lucy, stared in awe of how easily he intimidated two of Fairy Tail's strongest mages. "Capricorn... that was incredible!" said Lisanna.
"I've never seen those two defer to someone other than Erza or Lucy!" added Mirajane.
Capricorn smiled. "Seventeen years as one of Grimoire Heart's top mages will do something for your presence of being," he said.
"That was all you?" asked Lucy. "I thought Zoldeo was controlling you all those years."
"Yes and no," said Capricorn. "Zoldeo's possession enabled me to remain in the Human World, and admittedly, he influenced my thought patterns to an extent. However, for the most part, I was in control of my own body. We coexisted in a sort of... parasitic symbiosis, if you will."
"Fascinating," said Lisanna.
"Will you need anything else, Lucy-sama?" asked Capricorn.
"Not right away," said Lucy. "You can go back now." Without another word, Capricorn vanished back into the Celestial Spirit World.
"Those two must be a handful at times," said Mirajane. "Especially Natsu," she added with a wink.
"Eh? What does that mean?" asked Lucy.
"Well, it's kind of obvious that you like him!" said Lisanna brightly.
"What? No I don't!" said Lucy with a blush. Mirajane gave her the "Demon Eyes," and she found she couldn't lie to her.
"Okay, I do like Natsu," she said. "BUT! He's also my first real friend, and dare I say it, my best friend. If we were to get... you know, serious... and something happened... well, I don't want us resenting each other for any reason in the world, so I'm perfectly comfortable with the way things are."
"I see," said Mirajane. "That's an interesting take on the subject." Lisanna, however, had one more question.
"But let's just say Natsu tells you he likes you. Would you be willing to give it a shot?"
"I dunno. Probably," said Lucy. "But that's never going to happen."
"Don't say that, Lucy!" gasped Mirajane. "You never know what could happen!"
"I do know, Mira!" said Lucy. "I know because Natsu told me he likes Erza!"
The sisters shared a gasp at this. Brash, loud Natsu has feelings for strong, abrasive Erza? That was indeed a big piece of news. And Lucy knew it, judging by the way she clasped her hand over her mouth.
"Natsu... and Erza?" asked Mirajane.
"Please don't tell anyone!" begged Lucy. "I promised Natsu I wouldn't say anything! He'll kill me if he finds out I blabbed!"
Lucy did look distraught at her betrayal, so Mirajane decided to cut her a break. "All right," she agreed. "We won't say anything, will we, Lisanna?"
"My lips are sealed," said Lisanna. Lucy sighed in relief upon hearing this. "But are you really okay with Natsu liking Erza?"
"Of course, as long as that's what Natsu wants," said Lucy. "I'll find someone someday, as long as I stay positive." Lisanna gave a nod of approval in reply.
"Actually, now that I think about it, I can see it perfectly!" said Mirajane. "The dragon, abandoned by his only family for reasons unknown, and the knight, betrayed by the person she once trusted. Two wounded hearts, reluctant to trust another, teaching each other to love again!" The barmaid's eyes sparkled. "Oh, it's so perfect, I can't believe I never thought of it before!"
Cautiously, Lucy moved her stool a little bit away from the bar. Really, the eldest Strauss could be a bit overbearing when it came to matchmaking.
"I've decided!" Mirajane exclaimed. "I'm not going to rest until Natsu and Erza are a couple! Lucy, give me something to work with!"
Lucy was taken aback. What did Mirajane expect from her? Wait, she had something! "Well, we ran into Jellal and his guild just before the Games," she said.
"Jellal! That'll work!" exclaimed Mirajane. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a flash of scarlet hair. "Quick, Erza's coming! We can't let her know anything's up!" she said glancing at Lisanna. On her sister's cue, the Animal mage led Lucy away from the bar just as Erza sat down.
"Sorry I'm late," said the Titania. "Master needed my help moving in his new couch. Where are Lucy and Lisanna off to?"
Thinking quickly, Mirajane said, "Oh, Lucy's giving Lisanna advice about how to talk to Bixlow. You know, considering that she fought him, she would have a better idea of his personality."
Erza seemed unconvinced. "And that doesn't bother you?" she asked. "After all, Lisanna is Lisanna, and Bixlow is..." she made a face. "Bixlow."
"Oh, don't be like that!" scolded Mirajane. "Bixlow may come off as a creep, but in reality, he's harmless!"
Mirajane wasn't giving Erza any bull. She had gotten to know Bixlow through interactions with Fried, and everything she had said about the Seith mage was true.
It was then that Mirajane decided to pull out the big guns. "Speaking of romance, how are things with you and Jellal?"
If Erza had had a drink. She would be choking on it right now.
Damn, Mira plays hardball, doesn't she? Also, it doesn't take much to get her into full matchmaking mode, so don't give her a reason to meddle in your love life.
I promise as soon as I feel better, I'll start to work on U. The problem is, I don't want to use anything with a common prefix, like un-, under-, or up- or anything like that, so that makes it a little difficult. *sigh* I guess that's why I haven't found a job yet.
Anyway, I'd better stop before I get myself too depressed. So until, I'd estimate Monday, peace and love from Nightlingbolt, especially to anyone getting their wisdom teeth out.