I swear, this story is ten times easier for us to write than anything. Ever. Well, that just means we'll update more. Enjoy!
A girl cursed. The wound in her stomach hurt, but her pride hurt worse. She gritted her teeth in defiance and swallowed the lump in her throat. She was better than this.
Natsu woke to a bloodcurdling scream, high-pitched and terrifying. He shot up off the couch, spinning around a couple times to wake himself up. Figuring that the scream came from his guest upstairs, he took the steps two at a time. Throwing the door to the room open, he almost gagged at the sight that greeted him. Luca was standing with his shirt pulled up to reveal a nasty, obviously-infected stab wound that had to be excruciatingly painful. His face was twisted in agony, hands shaking.
"Luca! You need to go to a hospital!"
Grabbing the boy gently by the shoulders, Natsu shook him until his glassy blue eyes finally rose to meet his own.
"No. I need you to take me to Fairy Tail. They have a magic healer there that can fix me better than any hospital. I assure you, this does not count as your decision. Please. I don't want to use my magic right now for fear of becoming sicker."
"Tell me where to go."
"Take me back to the railroad tracks. The symbol is the gate to Fairy Tail."
Natsu felt like face-palming over the simplicity, but just carried the panting Luca down the fire escape. He kept a motor bike locked up in a shed behind his apartment building, so he carefully propped Luca up in front of him and drove like the devil. He didn't give a shit about the cars honking when he tore off the main road and tore through a field. Thanks to his insanity, they arrived at the railroad tracks in under five minutes.
"Natsu, you drive like a maniac. You're supposed to have motion sickness, though."
"I only get it when I'm not operating the vehicle. No more questions. How do you open this gate of yours?"
Luca dug through his pocket, yanking out a really strange keychain. There were large golden keys hanging from it, all with strange symbols he vaguely recognized as the zodiac engraved on them.
"Touch one of them to the insignia and wish really hard to find Fairy Tail."
Natsu did as he asked, feeling slightly foolish. A key to open a gate made sense, but to wish for Fairy Tail? It sounded like a something from a dorky novel. Nevertheless, he followed Luca's instructions. The fairy-or at least that's what he assumed it to be-glowed brightly, spinning obnoxiously before transforming into a square set of double doors. Luca lurched forward and pressed his hands against the doors. They flew open at the light touch, and Natsu's jaw hit the ground.
In front of his was the most fabulous place on Earth. It had a bar atmosphere, but clearner and bigger. People milled about levitating things, fighting, and laughing together. The people all looked a little odd, but Natsu supposed that had to be the magic. He was so entranced by his eyes he almost missed Luca falling forward in a dead faint. Natsu caught him by the back of the hoodie, pulling him back up to slump in his arms.
"This boy needs help!"
A dozen heads turned and one little girl with bright blue hair darted forward, waving her hands over the unconscious boy. People began to gather around.
"Natsu, please lay Lu on the ground. It's easier for me to heal that way. Where is the wound?"
"Stomach. It looks like a stab."
The girl pushed up the now-flat Luca's hoodie to place her hands on his abdomen. Natsu had to actually reign in his shock when the wound closed up and just disappeared. Luca breathed easier, still unconscious, but clearly better. The little girl wiped her sweaty brow, proffering her hand to shake.
"I'm Wendy Marvel. Thanks for bringing Lu back. Who are you?"
"Natsu Dragneel."
Natsu freaked out internally when whispers started going around, people asking people to go find others. Natsu stood back up, trying to find someone who would look him in the eye. None would save one. A red-haired woman about his age stepped forward, eyes like daggers and face like stone.
"If you are lying, I will gladly dismember you. Prove your identity."
Prove his identity? Natsu scrambled. How could he prove who he was? A hand in his startled him. Luca was using his hand to pull himself up off the ground. Natsu actually made an effort to help, and Luca quickly found his feet.
"Use your magic, Natsu. Show them the power of a fire dragonslayer."
A grin finally stretched across his face. A chance to use his power for fun? Absolutely. He lit a finger, allowing the fire to creep down his arm until it consumed his entire body. It had been so long since he used his magic to this extent. The guild around him erupted in mixed emotions. Some people cried, others laughed, some shied away. Luca smiled his crinkly-eyed smile, not releasing Natsu's left hand. Natsu made sure that hand didn't catch on fire. Stifling the flame, he continued to grin at the crowd around him. The red-head had tears in one eye.
"You ARE Natsu. Welcome home."
The crowd rushed him, gathering into a giant group hug. Over the sea of bodies, Natsu managed to catch sight of Luca talking with a short old man. Pushing through the hug, he stumbled to Luca.
"You're not leaving my side, kid. You're the only one I know here."
"Do you know me, Natsu? I will only tell you who I really am if you choose to stay here."
"Are you kidding me? Why the hell would I leave a place that thinks it's awesome to light yourself on fire? I'm staying!"
The guild roared and the old man shouted "Drinks on the house!" The red-head came over, placing her hands on Luca's shoulders.
"I assume you will tell him your true identity now?"
"Yes, Erza. A normal outfit, not the bunny one."
Natsu had no idea what they were talking about, but when the two figures began to glow, he automatically took a step back. After a second of not being able to make them out, Natsu gaped at the sight in front of him. Erza looked the same, but in Luca's place was a gorgeous blonde girl wearing a tiny vest tube top and a mini skirt. She was about his age with a mischievous grin dancing all across her face. Natsu fell over in shock, scooting back on the floor.
"Where did Luca go? Who is this girl?! What the hell?!"
The girl laughed gently, kneeling down in front of him so she could look him in the eye. The voice that issued forth was remarkably similar to Luca's, except more natural and higher.
"I am that Luca, Natsu. My real name is Lucy Heartphilia, and I am a twenty-year-old Celestial Spirit Mage of Fairy Tail. It is a pleasure to properly make your acquaintance."
She extended her hand, small and delicate now that he got to examine it. He hesitantly shook the hand, still not quite believing what was going on. So that means a girl had slept in his bed? His face promptly reddened. Lucy seemed to know exactly what he was thinking because she laughed that same musical laugh.
"Please don't make this more awkward than it has to be. Do you think I am one hundred percent comfortable with the idea of sleeping in a man's house, injured and vulnerable?"
Natsu got the feeling she was just trying to ease his mind, but he still laughed. He and Lucy laughed so hard, the guild joined in, not understanding the entire situation, but willing to roll with it. Lucy helped him to his feet, and he decided that this change in his life just might work.
The girl cried. She cried tears of pain from her stomach and cheeks that burned from laughing so hard. That was him; he could always make her feel warm somehow. The girl cried some more, and then she smiled.
Well, how many of you saw that coming? We tried not to make it too obvious, but someone had already picked it up. Congrats! So Luca is Lucy, and Natsu is now a member of Fairy Tail. Onward!
