Chapter One: Natsu's Heart
Alvarez War, X792 ~ After Alvarez's army is defeated and the guild master of Fairy Tail, Makarov, dies in battle.
"Gray and Juvia are going to be alright, despite their several external injuries," Porlyusica told everyone around her as she gathered her medicinal supplies. "In Juvia's case, we have Wendy to thank."
Charles nodded with pride, but then her eyes filled with worry as she looked down at Natsu. "But the real problem here is Natsu, isn't it?"
"Aye," Happy agreed. His head hung low.
Brandish stood up from her position near Natsu. "That mass inside his body has now become impossible for me to alter with my magic. In other words, it has transcended my magic power." Happy's face grew pale.
"Its ability to move even while time was suspended," Porlyusica trailed off, her mouth slightly agape. "That pure, unbridled aggression with its killing intent laid bare, that appears to be its drive. It is beyond my abilities as well. There's nothing I can do to help." The old woman looked at Lucy as if there was something hidden between the two of them.
Damaria's head rose a little, shifting her legs as she spoke. "That thing is a demon. There's no other way to describe it." Happy's eyes widened, remembering about the book of E.N.D.
"You're wrong!" Lucy suddenly shouted. "Natsu is..." she stopped.
Dimaria scoffed. "And what exactly do you know about him?"
"I sure know a lot more about him than the likes of you ever could!" Lucy pressed her lips together tightly.
"No, people don't know much about those around them as they think. Even the ones you considered to be precious friends and comrades have a hidden side to them. Isn't that right, Randi?" Dimaria turned to look at Brandish, who remained silent.
Lucy shook her head. "It may be true that Natsu is violent, rough around the edges and generally uncooperative, but he's as straight forward and honest as they come. Natsu has no hidden sides, I know that in my heart." She placed her hand over her chest.
Evergreen snickered. "She's totally head over heels for him," she whispered loudly to Brandish, who didn't look the least bit surprised, but rather disappointed.
"Ah, that explains it," Brandish responded with a monotone voice.
"That's not what I was getting at!" Lucy defended herself. She took a deep breath, then looking back at Natsu's face as she smiled. "Natsu was the impetus who brought about my joining Fairy Tail, you know, and that's why-"
"You talk as if you truly care for him, yet here you are, letting him die," Porlyusica suddenly snapped at Lucy. "He trusts you, but everyday you have deceived not only him, but all of Fairy Tail, who you so easily call your family. If you really feel that way, you should be able to see just as clearly as I do that now would be the right time to tell the truth, and stop running away for once."
Everyone was frozen, Lucy included.
"What?" Happy blurted, not being able to hold himself back anymore.
Lucy stood up, inhaling deeply. "I told you never to speak of this to anyone, Grandeeney." Lucy stared down at Porlyusica.
"Yet you know that I speak the truth," Porlyusica also got up onto her feet.
"I guess it's too late too try and hide it anymore," Lucy looked around at the silent faces. "But you should know that I want to help Natsu just as much as you do!"
Poryusica looked at Natsu, who's body temperature was dropping at an alarming rate. "He has done so much for you in the past, and now this is how you repay him? Igneel asked you to protect Natsu from E.N.D., and now when your moment of truth comes you decide to back away." Lucy swallowed down a bitter remark.
"E.N.D.!" Happy exclaimed in horror. "Igneel!"
"What are you talking about?" Evergreen and Brandish both said in unison.
"Are you happy now with all the drama you've caused?" Lucy gestured at the rest of them as she glared at Porlyusica. "You know very well how dangerous End is! This dilemma that Natsu has is more than likely just a trap End made for me to somehow free himself! If I try to help Natsu, I'm betting the safety of the whole world on just my willpower to hold End back. It's not just about Natsu anymore, it's about everyone here! My first priority is to keep the world safe from End, and I'm sure Igneel would understand that I put the world first over Natsu, even if you don't!"
Porlyusica sighed. "Please, Lucy-"
"What do you think the others would say if you stood in front of them and told them how you chickened out of saving Natsu because you were afraid for their lives? I'm not sure what the hell is going on with you, but I am sure that they would all jump at the opportunity to save Natsu, even if it meant their deaths," Gray blurted, staring at Lucy as he sat up. "Earlier I... was so filled with anger towards Natsu, or End, or E.N.D. or whatever the fuck this dumbass is now. But I know that even with what's happening to him the Natsu I grew up with has to be in there still, somewhere. He cares about you a lot, Lucy, and never hesitated to help you when you were in trouble. You should at least return the favor this once."
Lucy was silent for about a minute. Her hands shook as she remembered the things that had happened with End in her past. Shaking her head, she sat down next to Natsu, who was breathing heavily and mumbling something about Zeref.
"Okay Natsu," she whispered, smiling. "I'll try not to run away this time."
Porlyusica brought the others outside of the ruined building, helping out Gray and the unconscious Juvia, even carrying out their prisoner, Dimaria.
"What the hell is going on with Lucy and Natsu?" Gray asked as soon as everyone had settled down on the ground.
Porlyusica sighed, rubbing her face. "It's hard to explain, but I'll tell you what I know.
"Before Zeref came through the Eclipse Gate with the dragons and their children, he realized that the book could not hold E.N.D. For much longer. He talked with E.N.D. And they made a deal concerning Lucy."
"A deal?" Evergreen questioned.
"Yes," Porlyusica said. "I don't know much about demons. I only know what the Grandeeney from this world was told by Igneel, and what Lucy told Makarov, Mavis, and I about her and E.N.D.
But apparently demons make special deals. If a person offers something the demon wants in exchange for a favor, the demon cannot refuse. But once the deal is made, the person must go through with it, because a deal with a demon cannot be broken, even if something happens to the person or the demon.
Zeref promised E.N.D. That he would find E.N.D.'s belonging and give it to him, if E.N.D. Stayed in his book in the mean time and also left Igneel, Natsu and Zeref alone once he had his belonging."
Happy raised his hand as if he were in a classroom. "What do you mean by belonging?"
Porlyusica held her chin, trying to remember. "Every demon has something called a 'belonging.' Whether it be a rock or an animal, it always has something to do with how they were created. Supposedly when demons are united with their belonging, they become at peace, and stop causing trouble for the worlds above their underworld."
"I see," Brandish nodded. "What was E.N.D.'s belonging?"
Porlyusica eyes narrowed. "His belonging was Lucy. You see, Zeref didn't know what the belonging was when he made the deal, and neither did E.N.D.. And even if Zeref did know that it was a human girl, I'm sure he still would have made the deal."
Charles gasped. "Poor girl."
"Once Zeref found out that the belonging was Lucy, he decided to travel through the Eclipse Gate to the time when Lucy was very little. The time period ended up working out perfectly, because it was also a time where a great amount of Ethernano was in the air, and when Layla was at her prime in magic skill and could open the Gate.
"Igneel was completely against the deal, but it was far too late when he figured it out."
"Where the fuck did Zeref go?" Natsu spun around, staring out into the white, blank space that seemed to go on forever.
"I made that guide of your's leave. Before you delve deeper into your forgotten memories, I want to explain what is happening to your body, and how you can get rid of it." A figure appeared in front of him that looked so much like Lucy he almost jumped for joy. But he noticed the slightly more aged face, the different look of her eyes, her less attractive smell, and her clothing, which was a big pink gown you might see someone where in a ball room.
"Who are you?" Natsu snapped, stepping back. "Why do you look like Lucy?"
The woman chuckled, holding her gloved hand over her mouth. "Isn't it obvious? I'm her mother, Layla."
Suddenly Sting, Rogue, Gajeel, and Wendy appeared behind Layla, "Natsu, follow us and we'll show you what you've forgotten," Sting said.
Natsu looked over at them, and then back at Layla. "What the hell is going on?"
"So many questions, so little time. If you go with them, you'll learn about your memories and then more than likely you'll die because you wasted your time thinking instead of fighting. But you stay here with me, I can too not only reveal to you your lost memories, but I can save you," she grinned. "And tell you the truth about Lucy."
Natsu stiffened, and as he had already unconsciously chose to stay with Layla, the others disappeared. "What about Lucy?"
Layla waved her hand and suddenly they were in a beautiful garden, looking towards a big mansion. "This is where my story begins and ends." She reached over and touched Natsu's forehead but the immediate explosion of old but unfamiliar memories in his head overwhelmed him to the point he fell onto his knees, breathing heavily. He stared blankly into space, finally remembering everything about his past. He mumbled something about Zeref.
In a few minutes Natsu recovered and stood up, a new wave of confidence coming over him. "We're here because of E.N.D. and Lucy, right?" he spat, looking up at the mansion.
"Yes, and I'm going to tell you everything Lucy did not," Layla began walking with Natsu by her side. "I can give you your memories back and show you these things because I have access to an infinite space called 'Star Memory.' It shows anything that has occurred within a certain proximity of celestial keys, and it shows only the truth. I have access because the Celestial Spirit King in all his mercy made me a constellation among the stars when I was killed."
"Killed?" Natsu asked, and looked in surprise as they were suddenly behind another Layla, the one within the memory. She stood with only eleven keys around her, and the slowly opening Eclipse Gate in front of her.
Layla nodded. "E.N.D. and Lucy killed me."