I meant to have this up days ago, but things got in the way. Sorry about that! The good news is I'm at 15K. The bad news is today's goal is 16,666. Lol. A while to go yet. But I'm liking what's going down so far.
CUTE GRUVIA MOMENT HERE WE COMMEEEE.
Gray couldn't believe it. It was impossible, but it was right in front of him. Just like he'd left it. Well, almost.
Magnolia spread out beneath them, Kardia Cathedral bright in the late afternoon light. Juvia gasped in obviously delight. Magnolia was still around. Still kicking, just like the Mage Guild that had once lived in its heart. He looked past the Cathedral, and his heart stuttered in his chest.
The guild. It still stood, a guardian over the peaceful town.
A weight Gray hadn't known sat on his shoulders vanished. Some things never changed. Magnolia was home, and the guild even more so. They would've found a place, built yet another guild, but there was something comforting about something else existing for so long. He'd feared that this world wouldn't be able to accept them. But whether they knew it or not, the fact that Fairy Tail's guild hall still stood told Gray that this world could live with magick again. Could once again flow and rise with magick right alongside it.
He wondered if someone had beaten them there.
Juvia tugged him down the hill, her laugh breathless and joyful. She looked over her shoulder, her eyes alight. Gray grinned back, letting out a laugh of his own. Then they were racing. To the town, past startled tourists and shops men, past markets and citizens. Past familiar streets and along the river that spoke of home. They dodged through crowds, ignoring the curses and shouts that followed them. Sometimes, they went to the roofs, and jumped and climbed, with one goal in mind.
Home.
There had to be someone else there. Had to be someone to prove that Gray and Juvia weren't alone. That Fairy Tail was still kicking. They burst past the curling, detailed metal fence that politely asked people not to enter the building. Some historical society plaque was posted on the gate, but they paid no mind as they raced to the doors. It was obvious people had been there. Some tools and notebooks lay scattered near the door. Chisels, pry bars and other tools meant to convince things to open were jabbed in the seam of the door. Gray grinned. Like the magick that surrounded Fairy Tail would let just anyone enter. He saw some things he didn't recognize, some tools that were burly and had cords coming out of them.
They smiled at each other, and they each touched a hand to the door. It pushed open, easy as you please, without so much as a creak or a groan. The tools clattered to the ground, their tips bent, their handles mangled. Low lights glowed from the ceiling, and dust covered everything.
"Well Mira ain't here." Gray noted.
"Agreed. Mira would be cleaning." Juvia said. There was no way the barmaid would allow the guild to be in such shape. Unless she was waiting for people to come help her. Read: Scare into doing it for her. Gray searched the shadows, waiting for Mira to pop out with a mop, dust rag and bucket.
"Look up!" A voice commanded.
"Look up! Look up! Loooook up!" Higher voices trilled. Gray grinned.
"Bixlow, you bastard."
The Seith mage hung from a long beam. His arms crossed, his legs holding him up with some odd circus trick. His dolls floated around him, and his tongue lolled out. "Wondered if anyone'd show up."
Gray frowned. Eyes scanning for the rest of Bixlow's usual companions. "Where's Laxus? And the rest of Thunder Legion?" Gray expected Bix to joke about how he wasn't good enough for Gray. Instead Bixlow's tongue vanished, and he frowned. In a quick, easy move, he
flipped down from the ceiling, landing just in front of them.
"Don't know." He admitted. Gray could see that it troubled the taller man not to know. Rise or fall together, that seemed to be the Thunder Legion creed.
"Juvia is sure they are alright." She offered Bixlow a soft smile. "Surely Bixlow knows that the Thunder Legion and Laxus are not easily deterred. Juvia suggests Bixlow has patience."
"She's right." Gray shook his head. "Chances are Freed and Evergreen are chasing Laxus's tail, trying to find him, as he makes his way here." Bixlow's grin returned. They would all worry until every member was accounted for, but assuming the worst right away wasn't the Fairy Tail lway. The members were far too stubborn to give up.
And Gray shuddered to think what, exactly, could take down Laxus and the Thunder Legion. It wasn't a pleasant thought.
"Probably." He looked back towards the bar. "You don't suppose there's still booze back there?"
"Don't know." Gray admitted. "But Mira would castrate you if you messed with her system."
Bixlow shuddered. "Still, a thousand years without a belt, man. It might be worth it." Gray grimaced and pressed a hand to his stomach.
"Honestly, I'm just hoping there's food back there." Gray weighed the odds. Death by starvation, or Mira's wrath? Like Bixlow said...a thousand years without food...it just might be worth it. Bixlow and Gray exchanged glances. Juvia didn't seem to be willing to risk it. She wandered off somewhere else. She loved Gray dearly, but messing with Mirajane was her line, apparently.
Gray couldn't blame her.
Like thieves they crept towards the bar. Bixlow's dolls circled, sentries on duty. Still, dread iced down Gray's back. Mira could be back any second. Or she might've already been there….waiting. Neither Gray nor Bixlow seemed to think creeping was going to do anything. So. with a shot of speed, they launched themselves over the bar, and into the pantry. Eyes scanned for something edible.
"You gotta be kiddin' me." Bixlow groaned, smacking his helmet against the wall. The dull ringing sound it caused made Gray wince. That couldn't have felt or sounded good. Still, he felt like doing the same thing.
"This place is in perfect condition and there isn't a pickle jar with juice back here."
"Dude, the way I'm feelin' I'd ear the jar, the juice as a bonus." Bonus, bonuss! Bixlow's dolls could be creepy sometimes, the way they repeated their master.
"I guess we gotta go figure out if our money's worth anything." Gray said after a moment.
"You got money in your underwear? That's impressive." Gray just groaned. He'd forgotten his lack of clothing. He hoped there was some spare clothes in the guild. Though with the pantry being empty, he didn't bet on it.
"Gray-Sama!" Juvia called. Gray smiled. That was something he'd missed in his millennium of...sleeping, he guessed.
"Lucky bastard." Bixlow said with affection. He walked off towards Juvia before Gray could answer, giving Gray a rap on the head while he passed. Bixlow had almost sounded jealous.
"Gray-Sama, Juvia found clothes! Some for Bixlow as well."
"All right!" Bixlow's clothes were ripped and thin. Not as bad as Gray's lack of clothing, but he could use the change.
"Juvia you're a lifesaver." He walked over to her, hoping she hadn't picked some odd clothing.
"You're just gonna ditch them in five minutes." Bixlow rolled his eyes. Juvia handed Bixlow his clothes, and the Seith mage vanished into one of the many rooms that dotted the guild. Gray grumbled. So what if they'd be gone in five minutes? At least his underwear would be new. And he was sick of wearing these filthy rags.
"Thanks Juvia." She'd changed too. She wore a lighter garment, all in blue, as was her usual. The skirt hit her ankles, but a slit made sure her Guild Mark could stand out when she walked. Bits of skin were visible where the shirt beared them just above her hips, like something had clawed her. She wore no sleeves, unusual for her. Instead of her wool hat, she wore a beanie, and her hair tumbled around her face. He took the clothes from her, knowing he had to comment on the new outfit, but not knowing what to say. Something hot and not altogether unwelcome twisted in his chest. He chewed on the inside of his cheek, those blue eyes sucking him in. He owed her. Owed her an answer. He'd told her a thousand years ago he'd give her one.
It never seemed like the right time. The words never seemed to be right. Still, he needed to do something.
He bent down-it was times like these when it hit him just how much shorter she was-and tapped his lips against her cheek. A finger brushed against the other. Beautiful color bloomed under her skin, a rose touched by rain.
"To hell with it. Just to hell with it." He dropped the clothes, put his other hand on her cheek and finally, finally tasted her lips. He'd told her that when everything was over, he'd give her his answer. Said he didn't want to be distracted.
Bullshit. What utter bullshit. He'd been running still. He'd known he couldn't keep it up forever. It wasn't fair to her. Wasn't fair to hurt her like he had been. He didn't know what to do with all the feelings that woke within him when she was around. Couldn't pin down when they are first started. He'd been trying so damn hard to tread water. To keep afloat in a sea of emotions he told himself he didn't want. Didn't need.
Now, he drowned oh, so willingly.
He ripped the beanie off, brushed his fingers through her hair. She tasted like fresh dew, sweet but fleeting. She was so warm. A warmth he craved.
If he'd known drowning felt this good, he'd've done it long ago.
He was a thousand and some odd years too slow, but it was better late than never. He pulled away, and wondered just what the hell he was supposed to do now. Kissing, it seemed, was the easy part. He didn't have to think.
"Gray-Sama." Her voice was a whisper. "Is this Gray-Sama's answer?"
"Yeah." He breathed out. "Hell yeah."
"Dude, it's about freaking time."
"Shut up Bixlow."
Natsu hated this new world, if only for the fact that roads were completely different from what he remembered.
Oh, and they'd made new, even more torturous forms of transportation. Boats sucked, but at least he could sort of wiggle himself out and swim instead. Cars and carriages were worse, as there was no easy way out of them, but at least they couldn't go as fast as trains-unless Erza was driving.
Never let Erza drive.
Trains had been the worst. No one he knew was driving, so no one would take sympathy and stop. There was no easy way out, though he could sometimes escape through a window, if Erza didn't knock him unconscious before then. Trains were constantly in motion, save for the stations. The blessed stations.
But this future would had topped even that. They'd made things called planes. They flew, like Happy, but without magick and feathery wings. He didn't know how they did it, it seemed impossible without magick. Shouldn't something that big just drop out of they sky? Not only were they transportation, they were freaking dangerous forms of transportation. And this coming from the dude who lit himself on fire with regularity. It shouldn't be possible, but the option was out there.
All he knew was there wasn't a window big enough to get out of, the doors were locked, and he'd be very, very far up.
And moving.
He'd been trying to find the quickest way to Crocus, and had been directed to the airport, where he'd watched Jellal's little break out on the news. He'd thought, good, at least someone he knew would be in the capital. But then he'd figured out what a plane was. He'd known it'd be some form of transportation. He'd known that kind of torture would be involved. He just hadn't known it'd be so crazy. Seriously, who willingly got on one of those things?
He'd run out of the airport screaming like a madman, wishing to Mavis he had Happy with him. But his little buddy was AWOL. He could only hope Happy was with Lucy. It'd make it easier. So now he was walking to Crocus, something that would have been tedious but not impossible in his own day. But now, now it seemed impossible. The roads didn't go where he thought they should. It didn't make sense.
The left fork was supposed to circle back toward Magnolia, the fork behind him? Hargeon by way of a few other small towns. The one to his right? That was supposed to go towards Crocus. Instead, it lead to a town he'd never heard of. He could probably still get to Crocus that way, but it'd probably take longer. Deciding that the road signs were useless, Natsu walked off the path, and made his own way. The landscape may have changed, but a few key places were in the same place. Magnolia, for one and Crocus for the other. Knowing that, Natsu didn't need no damn lying signs. He could find his own way. He'd once known Fiore like the back of his own hand. It was frustrating that he didn't anymore. It was like getting lost in his own house.
Speaking of, he wondered if his house still stood. It was once thing for big towns like Crocus and Magnolia to still be around, but for his little house in the woods, time and weather would've taken their toll. Especially since he doubted someone would've thought to maintain it.
Oh, well, if it was gone, he and Happy would build a new one. Bigger this time.
Still grumbling under his breath, he almost didn't notice the figure trailing behind him. The wind was at his face, so he couldn't smell whoever it was. Whoever it was, was loud and clumsy. If he hadn't known any better, he'd've thought it was Lucy.
But Lucy, even at her most exhausted, didn't huff like that.
Oh, no. He knew that sound. Grinning, teeth exposed, Natsu whirled around. He nearly laughed when he saw he was right. It was a vulcan, one that thought it could sneak up on Natsu Dragneel.
Yeah, right.
He didn't have time to play. It was a pity, but it was true. He needed to find Lucy, and together they'd find the rest of Fairy Tail. Fire boiled in his veins, scorched the air. It never failed to feel like an adrenaline rush. Fire in the palm of his hand. What could beat that?
Well. He could think of a couple things…
The vulcan charged, too stupid to realize how outmatched it was. Now Natsu did laugh, before sucking up a lungful of air. A vulcan didn't require a roar to defeat, infact, it was probably overkill, but Natsu was feeling amped up. He let it rip, joy echoing through him as the fire erupted. It was times like these that he felt as close to his dead father as he could be without being dead himself. The vulcan, as suspected, didn't stand a chance. It was blasted away, along with a good bit of trees.
Oh, well.
With the danger-as minimal as it had been-gone, Natsu continued on his way. He wished he had someone with him, just so he had someone to talk too. He also wanted a good fight, but he didn't have time for that. He stepped up his pace, trying to figure out how far Lucy had been from the capital when the world had erupted.
All Gray's fault, now that he thought about.
She'd been to the...south? of the capital, he thought. He wasn't sure anymore. With all the assignments that'd been given out, they'd blurred into locations and names, neither matching up correctly. Plus, it'd been given out via telepathy, which meant overlapping voices and thoughts. All he'd known was the plan was to disperse Zeref's army. Separate the Spriggan, and take them to battlefields of Fairy Tail's choosing.
And the other guilds that had helped too. Lamia Scale and Blue Pegasus had set up traps to take out mass amounts of the weaker members that swarmed in droves. Sabretooth, not to be outdone, had rained down hell with Sting and Ogra combining their respective powers. It wasn't a Unison Raid, but dodging both Ogra's black lightning and Sting's rays of light had proved difficult, if not impossible for Alvarez's foot soldiers. Of course, Natsu had only heard this commentary with telepathy, having been far too busy fighting Zeref to pay much attention or be there himself.
Thinking of that particular battle, Natsu rubbed his stomach, where an ache lay still. That'd been a freaky battle. With Zeref alternately crying or declaring that Natsu was to die. He'd also spoken like Natsu should know who END was. Like Natsu knew who the frick Zeref's 'greatest demon' was. If he did he'd've beaten the bastard already. That was common sense.
Shaking off his thoughts, Natsu focused on finding Lucy. He didn't know what became of Zeref. Didn't know if he was still alive, or if any of the Spriggan were.
All he knew was that if they were, Fairy Tail would face them once more. Even if it meant the end of the world.
Again.
I love how Gray and Natsu blame each other, and later on Gajeel blames BOTH of them lol. Ahhh. This freakin' guild.
As always, suggestions are welcome, and reviews are appreciated!
Anyway, enjoy you guys! I got writing to do!
GUEST REVIEWS:
AnimalLover: Join the club. I'm still figuring out what's going on lol. Haha! I'm glad you're feeling such things. I hope the coming chapters answer some questions. HAHA. It was such fun to write! Fear'll do that to you. Yeahhhhh. She might be right. XD. Yeah...I'm sure its a factor. Natsu's pretty intense haha. Hehe. I think you'll like what happens in THIS chapter betterrr! Hehe, I...don't know yet. It'll be explained. I think. I hope. ahhhh. DOESN'T HE? I hope he makes an entrance in the Manga lol. And she might have her whip, Happy wasn't actually there, and things are GOING DOWN.
