Chapter 4: Blood of My Own

Natsu arrived at the guild sometime after his two family members, though still earlier than he would've liked. His anxiety had woken him as soon as Gray left the bed and sleep evaded him after that, so he figured he might as well start getting things done.

Erza and Gray were at the bar when he walked in, with Mira standing at a discreet eavesdropping distance. As soon as a few of the other early-risers called out to him, Gray and Erza both whirled around, the redhead glaring while Gray grimaced significantly. Apparently the get-along-already conversation was not going well.

Before he could reach them, Ikka bounded up asking him to unlock the workshop.

"Gray-tou said you wanted me to do some research on my prize," she said, curiosity lighting her face. "He already took down the protective ice."

"Ah. Yes." The guildmaster scrubbed a hand through his hair. "I was hoping…Lucy and I have some questions about its fire resistance. How it works, what kind of magic does work on it, any other properties."

Ikka frowned. "This has to do with your mission, doesn't it?"

"Mm," he said noncommittally, leading the way to the back. He wasn't awake enough to broach the topic of demons with her right now.

Behind the guild, Romeo was sprawled on the grass waiting for them.

"Why was it all sealed up this morning?" the young man asked, motioning at the workshop. "I couldn't get in."

"There are some sensitive things in there." Natsu noted the grudging look Romeo wore and quirked a smile. "You tried melting Gray's ice, didn't you?"

Romeo crossed his arms. "Maybe."

"Yeah, sorry but that's never going to work. You realize now why he's one of our top mages?"

"Ugh. Yes, I do."

Grinning, the Dragon Slayer walked past him to the door, held out his hand, and began to undo the Fairy Tail seal.

The magic felt different, slippery where it should be hard. Something was definitely off, the magic was in motion, and—

Fire exploded from the workshop doors, walls, every surface that had been magically sealed. Even while he went on high alert, Natsu couldn't help sneering at how pathetic the attack was. Instinctually he did what he did best: swallow the flames.

Only it wasn't just fire. Oh hell, it was so much more than fire. There was other magic in the mix, something he couldn't digest, couldn't even swallow, and it was burning his throat…

Then Ikka screamed.

That sound of pure pain activated every beastly part of him. Whirling in search of her, he had to squint through the unnatural smoke and yellow vapor as the non-flames rained down. Ikka should never scream like that. Ever.

He saw her on the ground and threw himself around her protectively. But she was burning. Her skin bubbled like wax, boiling away, exposing rents of flesh on her arms and neck. Her hands tried to cover her face as the vapor coalesced over her like a malignant force, and this was wrong, so wrong, every smell of her terror and blood, no no no.

Natsu inhaled, drawing the poisonous whatever-it-was away from her face so she could breathe, but more just kept coming, like it was drawn to her. He couldn't hold it in anymore: whatever it was he'd tried to swallow soared up his throat and he vomited magic plasma onto the grass. Fuck, his mouth was blistered and everything inside him was starting to pound with a dull ache. Dark magic was working through his blood. This couldn't happen to him now when Ikka was wounded; he could not be incapacitated now.

When he pulled her against his chest, he could feel the heat emanating off her skin. Or what remained of it. The scent of blood and iron was overwhelming that of singed flesh. She was dying in his arms—fuck no. Natsu crawled forward, keeping his back to the fire, her head tucked under his chin. Out. That was all he could think. He had to get her out of here.

Ikka's racing pulse roaring in his ears kept him from noticing the rain of fire and plasma thinning. Funny how one heartbeat could be louder than everything else. It wasn't until he heard Gray shouting that the outside world broke through.

"Let me see her! Let me see, Natsu!"

Even though it was his beloved, Natsu took a few moments to relinquish her. As soon as she was out of his arms, he felt like he was dying. If he just kept holding her, she'd be alright… Ikka had always been alright in his arms before.

As he lay on his back, panting, he realized he could feel burns on his face and chest. Shit. This had never happened to him before. Was this acid? It certainly felt like his throat was dissolving, esophagus screaming at him with each raw breath.

Gray was coating Ikka in ice. Covering her, throat to toe, and more across her bleeding cheeks. Natsu was aware of so many things at once: the sharp tang of Gray's fear, Ikka's now erratic pulse, and the fact that the cast of ice couldn't mask the constantly-fresh scent of her blood.

And she wasn't screaming anymore.

"Ikka…"

Rolling onto his side felt impossible as the poisonous magic worked deeper into his body, but Natsu managed it anyway. Ikka's face was a breath away, her eyes closed.

"Ikka-chan," he whispered, breath ragged, "it's okay now. Wake up. Ikka? You have to stay awake…"

"She's unconscious," Erza said above him, her voice breaking.

Natsu's thoughts were furious. Nobody will break today. Not while I am Master. He was having trouble seeing, objects not coming into focus, which made it hard to glare fiercely at people like he wanted to.

"Where's Happy?" Gray demanded. "Or Carla, Lily, someone with wings."

"None of them are in yet."

"Fuck!"

A shadow moved against the light above Natsu. Ikka was lifted away from the Dragon Slayer and he let out a pitiful snarl.

"I'm taking her to Chelia and Wendy," Gray said in a rush, and Natsu stopped trying to grab her arm.

"Run," he muttered. "Run, Gray."

"Someone bring Natsu too!" Gray shouted.

Then Gray's breathing, pulse, smell, footsteps—the collection of senses that made up Gray Fullbuster—faded from Natsu's awareness, along with Ikka, leaving only her blood behind. No. No, bring me with you.

Someone grabbed his arm. He couldn't see anymore: the world was a blurry brown.

"Can you walk?" they asked as everything tilted around him.

Pulling himself up by whatever warm body was under his arm, he took a quivering half-step. He couldn't speak well enough to answer, but by the gods, he was going to move.

"Dammit, you're heavy," his helper muttered. He knew this voice—Lucy. "You used to tease me…"

Familiar magic lit the inside of his eyelids and seconds later Loke was hefting his other arm. They started walking, Natsu getting his feet to work by sheer will, when he remembered the cause of this disaster.

"Lucy, tell Erza…" His voice hardly worked now, throat bleeding. "Guard workshop. Erza."

The message was relayed and they continued their agonizing journey. When they reached the road, he remembered Romeo, but he was in no state to do anything. Others were there at the guild: if the young man were injured, they'd take care of him. Natsu had to trust Fairy Tail.

Even though Natsu shouldn't have favorites, part of his soul was tied to Ikka, and right now all he could do was head in her direction and try to stay conscious.

Happy saw the smoke as soon as he left the house. It was reddish purple and hung over the guildhall like some morality-obsessed parent staring disapprovingly over their child's shoulder.

His max speed had him at Fairy Tail in minutes. As he soared up, he saw familiar figures hobbling away from the guild.

"Natsu! Lucy!"

The blonde's head shot up and Loke waved as Happy landed in front of them, but Natsu squinted vaguely through swollen eyes. Blood dripped from wounds all over his chest, arms, and face—even from the corners of his eyes. Happy put his paws over his mouth.

"Natsu…"

"Happy, can you take him—" Lucy began.

"—to Wendy," Happy finished. "Of course."

As Lucy and Loke tried to extricate their arms, Natsu made a horrible rasping sound and spat red on the street. Happy felt like his heart was going to stop. Natsu hadn't looked this bad in years.

"No," the Salamander coughed. "Ikka. Prepare Wendy."

Lucy caught on.

"Ikka is—" she choked and stopped. "Gray's running her to Chelia and Wendy. It's bad. But you know how Wendy is… I think Natsu wants you to warn Chelia people are coming. So Wendy will be ready."

Happy swallowed and looked between the three wizards. Wendy needed careful handling, sure, but Natsu… Carrying an injured Natsu would slow Happy down, but it would get Natsu to the two healers a lot faster than being dragged down the street.

But Natsu finally focused on him, the slits of his eyes pinned on his oldest friend.

"Please, Happy…"

"Aye," the blue cat said solemnly. It should better be the right decision.

The flight to the two women's house took him back across Magnolia into the eastern woods. They weren't deep in the forest—not like Porlyusica had been years ago—but just far enough that you couldn't hear or see the town from the little house. Knocking on the door, Happy wasn't surprised when a pink-haired woman answered.

Chelia looked delighted, opening her mouth to speak, but Happy motioned her outside.

Once the door was closed against Dragon Slayer hearing, he whispered, "People are injured and they're going to need Wendy."

Chelia's smile slid into something between sadness and determination.

"Today's a better day," she whispered. "Not the best, but…I'll see what I can do. Come."

"We have to make it fast," Happy told her.

"There's no hurrying with Wendy."

Inside, the women's home was both comfortable and practical. The various tools of Chelia's trade sat on shelves along one wall beside a raised bed for the injured. The other side of the room had two comfortable chairs squashed together in front of a window, and it was here that Wendy sat.

Hands limp in her lap, she stared up at pieces of blue glass hanging in decoration before the window. Chelia had explained to him the color blue seemed to calm Wendy down, and so there were snippets of it everywhere: a blanket, the lamp, the bottles on Chelia's shelves, the half-full teacup abandoned on the table. Happy was secretly proud of this color choice.

"We have a visitor," Chelia said, gliding over the thick, quiet rugs to stand beside Wendy's chair. "Happy is here."

Wendy looked over slowly and made eye contact with him. That was a good sign.

"Hello."

"Hi, Wendy." The Exceed approached and stared up at the window. "I like your blue glass."

"Chelia broke a bottle," Wendy said, her voice distant and breathy, like wind. "The pieces looked so sad, so I hung them up."

After a moment, she added quietly, "Isn't it pretty?"

"It is." Chelia smiled, her words genuine and not forced.

"I've always liked blue," Happy said.

Wendy turned on him and gave him a brilliant smile.

"You should. Otherwise you can't look in mirrors."

Her tinkling laugh fell over them like a spell.

Had Wendy just told…a joke? Happy giggled, then put his paws over his mouth. Loud noises were forbidden in the Blendy-Marvel house. But Wendy just grinned.

Her laughter was a beautiful sound. Maybe today she was okay.

"Darling," Chelia said, when their chuckles subsided, "Happy wants to know if we can have one or two more people over. Just for a little while. Is that okay?"

Wendy stilled, but her smile remained.

"Who?"

"Ikka and Natsu," Happy said. "And maybe Gray."

"Gray ought to come," Wendy muttered, "or they're all incomplete." Reaching up, she took Chelia's hand. "Alright."

"Really?"

"Really." Wendy beamed. Chelia looked elated at the ease of this agreement.

"They might need a little help," Happy admitted. "They got kinda banged up."

"Oh. That's alright. Chelia can help them. She's marvelous. Have you ever gotten to see her work before? She makes everything right and beautiful."

Chelia leaned in and kissed the top of Wendy's head.

Happy prayed to every god he knew that Wendy would be okay by the time the others arrived. Because if Natsu's condition was any indication, Chelia wouldn't be enough. They needed sky magic, and Wendy was the only one who could do it.

Gray tried to be soft when he knocked, but with Ikka was in his arms barely breathing, self-control was not in his repertoire. He heard a scream when he hit the door with his knee, followed by silence. A minute later, Chelia opened it a crack and her eyes flew wide.

"Oh gods."

"Yes," Gray said desperately. "Please, Chelia. Tell me she can fix this."

"I don't know if she can, but I'll try my hand."

She glanced back in the house before letting him pass. In the corner, the blue-haired woman sat in a blue chair with a matching Exceed perched on the arm, distracted for the moment by conversation. Probably a good thing.

Gray zeroed in on the bed by Chelia's collection of tools and potions. When he lay Ikka down, trying not to jostle her, he started to remove the ice, but Chelia gripped his hand.

"Don't take that off until I can stop the bleeding. Tell me what happened first."

"Oh." Gray put his shaking hands over his eyes. "There was some kind of explosion at the guild. Natsu was there, but I don't think it was fire, or he would've contained it. He's pretty awful, too. Should be on his way."

Chelia nodded, always efficient. "Ikka's wounds?"

"Some kind of burns from…whatever it was. Nothing internal, I'm pretty sure—"

He was stopped by a cool, light touch on his arm.

Wendy.

She looked like a fairy: thin and willowy and not fully there. Staring intently at Ikka, she pressed something into his palm.

"Eat that," Wendy said, squeezing his hand and looking up at him. Her expression was so sad and understanding that Gray didn't realize at first he was crying.

Fuck. His daughter was dying.

He looked at the thing Wendy had given him: a small black square the size of a candy. He sniffed it: it wasn't always good to do what Wendy said, but she seemed lucid this time, so he popped it in his mouth.

The flavor was bitter but not overwhelming. As soon as he swallowed, his shoulders relaxed and breathing evened. Even though fear still charged through every nerve, his thoughts could order themselves into something other than a desperate litany of no, please, no…

Moving out of Chelia's way, he slumped in the nearby chair. He had to trust Ikka would be okay. He had to trust they would take care of her. It was out of his expertise now.

He was full of a hundred questions of how and why and, most of all, who. He needed a name so he could go beat his dark anger into someone else.

"I'm ready for you to take the ice off," Chelia said.

Gray stretched out his hand, only to be stopped again by a tapping on the door.

"Chelia," a woman called, trying to be both quiet and urgent. "Please let us in."

Lucy dragged Natsu inside and Gray was suddenly very thankful Wendy had given him that soothing concoction. His husband looked worse than when Gray had seen him fifteen minutes ago: bleeding, swollen, and unable to stand.

"Fuck," he muttered, grabbing the fire mage before Lucy dropped him. It was probably good she didn't bring anyone else into the house, but the celestial mage couldn't hold him much longer. "This one's mine now. Thank you, Lucy."

With the bed already bearing one patient, Gray draped Natsu in the chair. The Dragon Slayer's head tipped back, breath whooshing out of him, but he was still conscious because he suddenly latched onto Gray's wrist.

"Iii?" he muttered.

"She's going to be okay," Gray choked, unable to make the lie believable. "Love, what happened?"

"He can't talk," Lucy panted, still standing by the door. "He was coughing blood on the way here."

"Dammit," Gray whispered. He was barely aware of Lucy collecting Happy and going outside again. Please, Wendy. We need you.

Chelia was busy with tinctures and utensils and lacrima-powered objects that didn't require a mage to use them. Fairy Tail considered the loss of her magic a huge blow, and she wasn't even a member of the guild.

Wendy's sanity was up there, too.

One healing wizard without her mind, another without her magic.

"Gray, defrost her face and chest," Chelia said. "Let me make sure she's breathing and vitals are okay before we deal with the rest."

Hand out, he drew the magic from around Ikka's body, worry filling his gut. Natsu lurched in the chair and Gray put a hand on his chest to hold him upright.

So much for being calm.

As Chelia probed and the smell of blood filled the air, Gray closed his eyes. He listed everything he'd done and all the things he could or couldn't do, trying to find anything he'd forgotten that might help. There were no other healing wizards even close to Magnolia. Whatever had burned Natsu and Ikka had dissipated immediately, so there was no sample to gather.

Fuck, and all this while there were demons appearing in the north. That catastrophe seemed so distant right now.

"No," Natsu gasped, making Gray jump. Across from them, Chelia swore. Her arms were covered in dark red—gods, there was so much—while she did something with a lacrima.

"Her heart is slowing down," Chelia grunted, while Natsu growled low in his throat. "Too much blood. Too much fucking blood loss."

Don't you dare give up, Gray wanted to scream. That was his daughter. She was alive. They would not stop until she would stay that way. He wouldn't let them stop. She was blood of his blood, no matter where she came from, and she was not going to die. Gray refused for her to die.

"Stop."

Everyone in the room froze at the icy command. Wendy walked over to Ikka with an authoritative expression.

"My turn, Chelia," she said calmly.

Gray's mouth fell open and he felt Natsu go limp. As light poured from her palms, Wendy stared into the unconscious girl's face.

"You're strong, Ikka." Wendy caressed her cheek. "You don't belong hanging in a window. I am going to put you back together."

A/N: Finally an update! Everyone wants to know what's up between Erza and Lucy. Next chapter they finally have a confrontation… (Which is proof that, yes, I am working on the next chapter! Hopefully it won't be four weeks this time.)