This chapter I got to have some development between Natsu, Lucy, Levy and Gajeel. Enjoy!
Lucy, Levy, Natsu and Gajeel were in the palace gardens. Natsu and Gajeel were sparring, while the girls watched. Presently Gajeel had Natsu pinned under him, but the latter let out a stream of flames. While that caused several trees nearby to catch aflame, Gajeel simply brushed them aside.
"Natsu, I do like the garden. It's the one place I go and don't have to stare at a grey wall. Try not to burn it down,"
"Sorry princess," Natsu said. He kicked Gajeel off him and stood facing the flames. He took a deep breath and inhaled the flames, then letting out a smoky burp. Levy and Lucy's jaws dropped.
"Did…did you just…" Lucy rubbed her eyes to make sure she'd seen right.
"What? You said you didn't want the garden to burn. I wouldn't do that for just anyone. I hate to eat my own flames. They're never refreshing or filling like other fire,"
"Eat fire? Is that what you just said?" Levy asked.
"Yeah, I haven't eaten any flames around you, have i?"
"How can you eat fire?" Levy asked.
"I know right," Gajeel said, "I don't care for flames. Its like eating air,"
"Please, the one time you tried to eat flames you burnt your tongue,"
"I did not!" Gajeel yelled. "And you're one to talk Salamander, when you tried iron you almost threw up."
"Iron!" Lucy and Levy exclaimed at the same time.
"Yeah," Gajeel dug around in his pocket taking out a few arrow and spear heads and tossing it into his mouth.
"So, let me get this straight, you both eat the elements you use for your magic?" Lucy asked. They nodded. "Can all elemental mages do that? Like Gray…does he eat ice,"
"No, only dragon slayers," Natsu said.
"Dragons…so it's true." Lucy looked at Levy.
"What's true?"
"We heard a rumor that Fairy Tail commanded several dragons."
"Command? No one can command me," Gajeel said puffing out his chest.
"Except for Erza and master," Natsu said, earning himself a bash on the head.
"Dragon slayers…have you ever killed a dragon?" Levy asked.
"No, why would we?" Gajeel said, "We were both raised by dragons."
"You were raised…no, actually that explains a lot." Lucy said. Levy laughed at this while Natsu and Gajeel shared a confused look. Then Levy sighed.
"You've both met dragons, and we've never even seen a duck in the wild,"
"You want a duck?" Gajeel asked, "If you want I could catch one–"
"No, I don't want you catch a duck, Gajeel." Levy huffed. "I'm making a point. You've both seen so much and I've been inside a castle most of our lives."
"Why the hell don't you just go outside the bloody gates then?" Gajeel asked.
"Don't you think if we could just go outside the bloody gates we would," Levy said. "If we take so much as a step through the gates guards would have back inside faster than we can blink,"
"But you've been to the village before." Natsu said.
"Did you just hear her, she said they can't leave through the gates!" Gajeel said.
"The first time I met Lucy was in the –!" Natsu was cut off by Lucy's hands clamping over his mouth.
"Don't yell something like that," She whispered to him. His eyes widen. He nodded realizing his mistake.
"We have been to the village, a few times, but never for long," Levy explained to Gajeel, "There are secret passages that go through the castle and under it, that's how we leave,"
"And here I had you notched up to be a goody princess," Gajeel said to Levy. She reddened.
"In case you've forgotten Lucy's the princess, not me,"
"Arugh…princess; lady. All the titles makes my head hurt. I prefer to call it like I see it."
"Call it like you see it? Like what?"
"Well, you're a shrimp," he said matter of factly.
"I am not,"
"Levy, you barely come up mid chest compared to me," He said patting her head. She pushed his hand away.
"I know, what if Gajeel and I take you out right now. We wouldn't go to town. There are some orchards really close to here. We could be there in less than an hour," Natsu said suddenly.
"Salamander, don't just volunteer me for stuff. And how do you know about the orchards?"
"I've seen it when Lucy and I went up the turret,"
"When did you do that?" Levy asked, looking at Lucy. Lucy was too busy blushing to answer so Natsu did.
"We've been up there a couple nights," He said.
"Really?" Levy grinned, "And what do you do?"
"Just talk mostly," Natsu said with a shrug.
"Would you really take us to the orchard?" Levy asked.
"What! We can't just go," Lucy said.
"Sure we can. We'll only be gone for a few hours," Natsu said jumping to his feet.
"I have to agree with the bunny girl," Gajeel said.
"Bunny girl?" Lucy said.
"Oh, but we haven't been outside the walls since the day you got here. That was so long ago. Oh please. Even if it's only for a little while,"
Gajeel looked away from her, but said, "Fine, if you want to."
"Okay, Lucy and I have to change first though," Levy jumped to her feet hurrying into the castle. Gajeel chuckled and followed her.
"This isn't a good idea to just pick up and go. Normally Levy and I carefully plan…"
"It will be fine," Natsu said holding out his hand for her, "Don't you trust me?" Lucy looked at this hand, then up to his face. A smile slowly appeared on her lips and she took his hand, allowing him to pull her up.
The girls quickly changed into their streets clothes. When they stepped out of the room Natsu's and Gajeel's jaws dropped.
"Wow," Natsu said.
"What is it?" Lucy asked.
"Those clothes," he said gesturing to her outfit.
"What's wrong with it?"
"Nothing. Just the opposite," He said with a grin.
"They suit, you." Gajeel agreed. Lucy and Levy shared a quick smile.
"Let's go before someone sees us," Levy said grabbing Gajeel's hands. Lucy did the same with Natsu leading them to the entrance of the passage. They lead the way through the tunnels but once they made their way outside the boys took over. Natsu was right. The orchard wasn't too far. In less than half an hour they were among the trees. Natsu found a small pond and quartet sat down near the edge. Levy lay back in the grass with a sigh.
"How is it that just being outside the castle can feel this free?" She asked. Lucy nodded.
"I know what you mean. It's a weight been lifted." She leaned against Natsu, much to his surprise.
"You understand any of this?" Gajeel whispered to Natsu. Natsu shook his head with an amused look on his face. The boys figured it'd been better to be quite and let the girls enjoy themselves. Levy's serenity was suddenly broken by Gajeel tapping on her forehead. She opened her mouth to express her protest. But Gajeel held a finger to his lips. She gave him a questioning look. He indicated to the pond. She propped herself up on her elbows to see two birds fly down, landing on the water. Not just any birds, ducks. She almost laughed at the irony.
"That's one thing you can say you've done," He whispered to her. She nodded and looked at him.
"Thank you," She whispered. He shrugged.
"It's not like I got the ducks to come, you're lucky I guess."
Lucy's serenity was broken when she heard a rumbling sound. She looked at Natsu.
"Don't tell me that was your stomach?" She said, struggling to contain her laughter. He really did laugh.
"I guess we should have brought something to eat,"
"Not that you mention it I won't mind some food,"
Lucy looked at Levy and raised an eyebrow. Levy cleared her throat.
"Well, I can't help with food, but…" She moved her hand in the air as if she were writing and a bit of iron appeared. Right after that fire appeared falling into the grass. Natsu and Gajeel stared at the iron and flames, then at Levy then back to the items.
"You're a script mage," Gajeel said. Levy nodded.
"Why didn't you tell us before?"
"We don't make it public knowledge that we know magic. Most would frown upon it.
"Can you use magic too?" Natsu asked Lucy.
"Yes,"
"Can I see?"
"No, I can't."
"Aww, please." He punted. She smiled apologetically.
"No, I mean I really can't. I'm a celestial spirit mage. I need my keys to use my magic."
"Where are your keys?"
"Hidden in my room,"
"Shrimp, this iron is really good," While Natsu and Lucy had been taking Gajeel had eaten the iron Levy made. Natsu took the flames in his palm and swallowed it.
"Your fire's really good to," He said.
"You sure are full of surprises." Gajeel said.
"Yeah." Natsu nodded, then looked in the direction of the son. "It's getting late. We should head back before,"
"And you two must be getting hungry too," Gajeel said to the girls.
They made their back the passage quickly. Once they were back inside the castle Natsu grinned at Lucy.
"And you were worried about someone finding out," He said.
"Okay, you were right," She smirked.
"You bet I was." Natsu laughed, "We won't even gone that long. I'm sure even missed…" He trailed off when they saw someone standing outside Lucy and Levy's room. Gajeel and Natsu both hide behind Lucy and Levy.
Erza marched towards them, "Where the hell have you been!"
Oh...they're in trouble now.
Nardragon~ until the next page.
