So here is another chap! Of course I am some sad with the lack of response. I would really like to know how you feel about this fanfic, ofc I won't stop because lack of reviews(not done it before - I think o.o - so I am not starting now ). I've checked the views and I am satisfied with the result there. But of course it would be nice to know how more feel about this story so far. I just hope that the ones that does, enjoy reading it ; )

Question: I am wondering if I should eventually add gruvia (Gray x Juvia), or if I should let it stay more or less one-sided through the story? I would love an answer to that, if not I will just take it as it comes.

R&R

Enjoy!

Chapter 10: Mystery

3rd person POV

Returning to Magnolia had never felt so great before. And Natsumi, Silver and Anja enjoyed the shocked expressions from Makarov and the rest of the guild as they saw it. It was so worth it! Then it was the funny part explaining that they wouldn't have had to win the GMG to get their guild back. It was after all paid for.

Natsumi strolled into the guild stretching her arms above her head as she took in the appearances. Wow, first of all, it was a lot different than it had used to be and much bigger. Igneel followed close behind as he took in the appearances.

"You never mentioned that the guild was this big," Igneel whispered as they went straight to a table and sat down.

"It wasn't this big," Natsumi simply answered.

"It sure has changed," Anja said, as she with a sigh plumped down on the bench beside Natsumi.

"I'm not sure I entered the right place," Silver joked.

"Ahh, it's good to be back!" Lucy exclaimed as she entered the guild excitedly.

"It sure is," Gray said, as he was right behind her.

"At least the missions should stream in with no time," Erza said calm.

"Luuuucy…." Happy dragged out her name as he came flying towards her and ended up with his head between her breasts.

"Happy," Lucy said shocked. "What's wrong?"

"N-Natsu won't give me fish," he complained with tears falling.

"Now, it might be because you just ate one before we arrived," Lucy answered.

"B-but I wanted to give it to Carla."

"Why don't you pick some flowers to her instead, Happy? She is a girl after all," Lucy suggested.

"Aye! I'll do that! Thanks Luuucy…" Happy disappeared through the doors again as the guild members started to fill the guildhall.

Lucy sighed as she went to sit by the bar and within minutes Mira was standing behind, serving as usual. She ordered her usual strawberry milkshake and waited patiently as she quietly observed the guild.

Natsu and Gray was already at each other with their mothers on each side, taking their son's side. Igneel and Silver was laughing at the whole scenario, in the end it was Natsumi and Anja who started to fight first, then Natsu and Gray joined in. It was not far after that Erza's cake got smashed and almost everyone in the guild had joined in.

"It's good to see that everything is back to normal," Mira said happily.

"I just wish they wouldn't destroy the guildhall at once when we came back," Lucy commented as she started to sip her milkshake.

"How is it?" Mira asked looking at the celestial mage with soft eyes.

"Perfect. As always," Lucy complimented.

"Good good," Mira said happily, as she went to serve Cana a barrel of booze.

Strange woman, Lucy thought shaking her head.

"What are you doing here, sitting all alone Lucy?" Anja asked as she popped up by her left.

"Why not join in on the fun?" Natsumi asked from her right.

Startled Lucy almost spilled her milkshake. Frantically she shook her head. "I rather stay out of it," she muttered and glared at the straw.

"Then we'll keep you company right here," Natsumi said and made herself comfortable.

It made Lucy remember something as she turned towards the Water God Slayer. "Why do you not like being called a mermaid?" she asked.

Natsumi's expression turned dark for a moment and then the shadow disappeared. "Lucy. You see, when I was young I was trained by my mother who was a Water God. However, I was supposed to be one too, had it not been for my father that was a full human… Anyway, in my early teens there came a girl to the village with the ability to change into a mermaid and use water magic. At first, I thought it was cool, but then the villagers started to die, and in the end my mother was the last to suffer. I tried to protect myself but in the end it was a red dragon that saved me when he killed her with his roar. I fled. Swore to never become like that girl. Then later I learnt that the red dragon had been Igneel, so in a way there you got our first meeting as well."

"I-I'm sorry," Lucy stuttered.

"Nah, don't be. Like I said, I would maybe not had met Igneel if it wasn't for that so…"

"Nevertheless, she hates being called a mermaid, which is why I use it to annoy her," Anja said and smirked.

"Which is why I call her stripper," Natsumi shot back and glared at Anja.

Natsu stopped fighting as he kept listening to his mother telling Lucy a part of her story. Carefully he looked to Igneel. He was looking at her with worried eyes.

Natsu understood that it was something more behind, but as Gray managed to deliver a punch to his face, he broke his focus and joined in on the fight again.

Lucy tiptoed around the many members that were passed out on the floor in the guildhall as she was on her way to her apartment. Summoning Plue to keep her company she waved to Mira and made her way towards her home. Not noticing the presence that was following her. Slipping in to her apartment felt great as she threw her things to the side and made her way to the bathroom.

After a long soaking bath with Plue keeping her company, she let him leave and brought a towel around herself. Quietly she made her way to her dressed and found a cute pink nightdress that would be light on her body. Grabbing it as well as pink lingerie she made her way back to the bathroom.

Movement noticed by the corner of her eyes made her swiftly turn around.

"Who's there?" she asked harshly.

"Oi, Lucy. Calm down."

"Gray!" Lucy exclaimed in shock, followed by a Lucy-kick. "Sorry, reflex," she said after the kick and went to help him up. "Now, what are you doing here?" she then asked with hands on her hips.

Gray sighed as he went to sit on Lucy's couch. He made himself comfortable and met her eyes. "I want to talk to you," he started.

Lucy frowned. "About?"

"Natsu," was his simple answer.

"Why do you want to talk about him?" Lucy wondered as she pulled a blanket over the towel so she was covered up some extra.

"I did not want to do this, but Lucy; I can see what you feel for Natsu-"

"Wait a minute! What the hell are you talking about?"

Gray rolled his eyes. "You make it so obvious, and in some ways Natsu does as well. Right now though, he is too dense to see it even if he knows what a relationships is."

"Eh?"

"Hmm..?" Gray thought over what he had said. "Oh, Natsu came asking one day about sex when he had heard some guild mates talk about it."

Lucy flushed. What the…

"And I had to be the poor bastard to talk to him about it." Gray sighed and Lucy started to giggle.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot imagine that!" She kept giggling.

"It doesn't matter. What matters though is that I see you as a sister Lucy, and I don't like to see you hurt." Gray's voice was soft as he arose from the couch and kept looking at her.

"I-I'm f-fine," Lucy stuttered in reply.

"Meh, keep telling yourself that. Meanwhile I have some business to solve with that flame-brain." Gray closed the door behind himself and Lucy hurried after to lock it.

Safe and alone in her apartment she could finally change. Then as she laid down in bed, she kept thinking of what Gray had said.

Natsumi awoke with a pounding headache. She did not remember drinking. Neither did she remember that someone had managed to hit her head. Confused as to the reason for her headache she looked around and noticed Mira and Lisanna who were cleaning up.

She found her mate where he had fallen asleep the previous day. Mugs beside their heads, still half-full. She shook her head in defeat. Only her husband would pass out from that little booze.

She poked him, but to no use. Then she kissed his cheek and the response was immediate. He captured her lips with his and deepened the kiss ever so fast.

"Oh, ew…Not what I wanted to see when I woke up," Anja complained as she went to pull the two mates away from each other. "Knock it off. We have some important things to talk about to today, and also ask Lucy where her mother is."

Natsumi groaned in protest. "Fiiine…"

"You are right," Igneel said as he started to shake Silver. "Come on, wake up."

"Ugh, I am never drinking again," Silver complained.

"You say that all the time," Anja commented.

Lucy entered the guild to see four awake and two cleaning. The rest of the guild mates were still passed out on the floor, and several with things that covered them.

She went over to Gray and Natsu's parents, as they were the only ones awake and talking.

"Hello!" she said happily as she made her way over to them.

"Good morning Lucy!"

"Lucy!

"Morning."

"Good morning."

"Yeah, it is," she said as she gestured towards the sun, which was shining brightly outside on the sky.

"Lucy, we need to ask you something," Anja said with a serious expression.

"Oh, what is it?" Lucy asked warily.

"Can we see your mother?"

Lucy stilled. They had known her, and yet did not know that she had died. "Er…that might be difficult," Lucy started as she tried to put herself together.

"Why is that?" Natsumi asked softly as she noticed the change in the air.

"Ah, she died in X777."

"What?" Anja exclaimed as tears started to gather in her eyes. "H-how?"

"She was sick-"

"No, Lucy. She was killed," Igneel interrupted. Everyone turned to look at him.

"And how do you know that?" Natsumi asked with a grim expression.

"It was the same day we had to return. Layla was supposed to be the one to connect the Celestial world with the Dragon realm. However, someone were after her. And her aunt – which is the dragon Queen – ordered us back to guard over our own realm. Telling us that we had to wait for the next strong celestial mage. Which in other words are you," Igneel explained.

Lucy as well as the other three slayers stared at Igneel in shock.

"Well, I told you I had something important to tell when we were back." He grinned. "Now it's out in the open."

"Idiot," Natsumi hissed as she face-palmed.

"A-a-and m-my fa-father?" Lucy stuttered.

Igneel sighed. "He is the reason Layla never replied to our letters." He met Natsumi's eyes. "She wanted to, but he did not want to have of it." His eyes met Lucy's again. "Being the good wife that she was, she listened to him and played the role of the loving and perfect wife, while in secret she practiced on developing her magic so she could fulfill her task."

Lucy's breath was ragged. She had not known. And still her mother had truly loved her father, even if she had to practice magic in secret. "Where do I come in?" she then asked, her voice strong and firm.

"Well, you need to receive an ancient spell from the Spirit King. After that you need to build up enough magic energy to be able to connect the two worlds. It would be most helpful if you had a dragon or a slayer as a mate that could give you the extra boost…but details…pff…"

Natsumi hit Igneel on the arm as he was acting as childish as Natsu.

"Will you help me train?" Lucy wondered aloud.

"Of course we will, honey." Natsumi went to hug the blonde celestial mage.

"You are practically family now," Silver spoke up as Anja also went to hug Lucy.

"Aye," Igneel added as he noticed the other members slowly waking up. "Come on, it is time for us to eat. Then we will have to look for a place to live."

The trio groaned.

"Don't mention it," Anja complained.

"You don't have a place to stay?" Lucy asked shocked.

"Well, we did sort of, before we moved to the north," Natsumi explained.

"But it is most likely not standing anymore," Anja added.

"Where is it?" Lucy wondered.

"We'll show you," Silver said and got up. The others followed his example.

Lucy followed the two couples as they went. The path was familiar, and she started to wonder why. When Silver pointed out the house, it was painfully obvious why it felt familiar. It was where Happy and Natsu now lived.

"Oh look. It says that Happy and Natsu lives here," Natsumi pointed out and started to laugh.

"Well, at least he has a place," Igneel grumbled.

"Come on you big goof. We'll eat soon," Natsumi teased and patted his stomach.

"I hope so," was his response.

Lucy did suggest on the way back to the guild that they could stay with her; however, they were determined to find their own places. With no idea that looking could be that hard.

She returned to the guild and was greeted by Gray who had recently returned. Natsu was stuffing food down his throat while Happy was eating a fish beside him. Erza had cake-time at the bar while chatting quietly with Mira. The guild was back to its rowdy self, and the quest board had already been filled up with missions.

"It is strange though," Natsumi started as she was walking beside Igneel towards the guild.

"What is?" he wondered.

"Layla's aunt. She called you back the same time as she died. I have a feeling she knew…"

"What you suggest is highly dangerous," Igneel warned his mate.

"But you love me anyway. And if we can help Lucy, I'll gladly do it."

"You have connected to the girl," Igneel stated.

"Well, she is supposed to be Natsu's mate. I can't help my feelings towards her. I just want to help," Natsumi defended.

"I know. I know."

Natsumi and Igneel entered the guild and briefly greeted Lucy again. Then they both took turns to squish Natsu in a hug, and then they went to talk to Makarov.

Something strange was truly going on.

Hope you liked it : )

Love