Throughout Time Chapter 10: Earthquake, a fairy tail fanfic

Hey readers, it's been a while. I know you've all been very sad that I temporarily discontinued this story, but I finally wrote a chapter for it, and hope you like it and it was worth the wait. So per your request, please read this new chapter and review what you think ;)

Throughout Time
Chapter 10: Earthquake

"The future?" Layla's lips moved so slowly that Natsu could see her pronounce every syllable. The china tea cup clinked barely audibly against the saucer as she lowered down to the table. Only Natsu was able to hear, and that was only because of his good hearing. The dragon slayer's mind had noticed the little things that he would usually ignore unconsciously. Maybe it was just his mind still reeling in shock. A heavy sickness weighed down in the pit of his stomach. He could feel his guts twist in surprise. His heart forgetting to beat. All of which weren't good signs.

Layla Heartfilia had a skill much like her own daughters. They shared the ability to make their faces completely unreadable. It was like a mask, she could see you but not her. It was still slightly unnerving, even more so than when Lucy did it. At least Natsu was always able to know what she was thinking, just because he knew her the best. Looking at her mother, Natsu was surprised at how different they were, on a level the dragon slayer couldn't explain. It felt very, very weird.

A laugh rippled through the air, making Natsu flinch. It was gentle and light to anyone else, except he could sense the cold iron in her voice. "What a strange thing to-" Apparently Lucy noticed too because she leapt like a gun to cut her short as quickly as possible.

"I am the hand of time." Lucy jumped. A sharp gasp of surprise made Layla's mask shatter. All her plastered emotion was crumbling away into pure shock. Brown eyes dilated, glaring at her daughter. Those words had taken in the form of a dagger, that pushed itself deep into Layla's chest.

"But-" Layla tried to speak again but found her breath caught in her throat.

"I need to see Hiro Nisaki." Lucy added, her tone softening just a little. Looking at her mother so shocked must have upset her. But, Lucy was strong enough not to let it show. The one showing all the emotion was Layla. An emotion passed over her flawless face that made Natsu's heart pound. It was realisation. Then, for a split second after, it was love. Had she caught on? Before Natsu could try to read her any further, she replaced her iron mask.

Layla rose from her seat, and began to hurry down the garden path with inhuman gracefulness. Halfway down the path, she stopped. "You must follow me." She demanded, and continued to walk. By the time Natsu had rose from his chair, Lucy had easily caught up with her mother. Natsu had to make an effort to catch up to the pair.

They went back through the door, down several winding corridors into the east wing and up a pair of stairs. At the top of the stairs there was a single door. "The library?" Lucy breathed so quietly, he wouldn't have heard it without his dragon slayer senses. A hand naturally moved forward to rest it on her shoulder. But, Lucy and her mother both slipped trough the door before Natsu could land it. How fast were they? A sigh escaped his lips as he jogged to catch up with them.

When Lucy had said library, he'd expected a room with shelves and a few hundred books, maybe a table. But the library he was stood in, wasn't what he was expecting at all. Towering high book cases lifting to three stories high. Thousands and thousands book stacked against their wooden shelves. Grand ladders latched onto wheels. A long wooden table reaching the edges of the impossibly wide room. Natsu's jaw had dropped so low it touched his toes.

Lucy and Layla moved through it familiarly, barely noticing its grand size. Dark eyes couldn't help catch the slight tweek of a smile on the edges of Lucy's lips. Maybe she really did miss her home.

As Lucy and Layla disappeared behind the book shelves, Natsu took a seat in one of the elegant oak chairs along the side of a table. Books weren't his expertise, so he'd stay there and wait. It was an easy place for them to find him. There was also a small part of him that was scared of getting lost in the enormous library. So, he stayed, contemplated how the word 'library' really didn't suit the room he was in.

Layla moved with swift and precise turns. That wasn't any different, Lucy thought, whenever Lucy came in the past she had to confide in the mental map she made of the hopelessly big library before turning a corner. They moved deeper and deeper through the room. Natsu had waited back at the beginning of the library, which was a surprisingly smart move. Lucy had never really gone so far into the library before. All the books she ever wanted to read were closer to the front

However, her mother easily found her way, even as they headed to the rather untouched end.

She suddenly came to an abrupt stop. Lucy froze behind her in sunrise. A soft pale hand reached forward, brushing to spine of an aged, wrinkled book. Gold traced and curled around its edges. Layla pulled it gently from the book shelf, setting it carefully in her hands.

There was no name, label or drawing on the front of the book. Its dark mahogany colour set deep with in the cover with more spiraling gold lining. "Is this...?" Lucy uttered, looking memorably at the book. It felt so familiar.

"It's the original "The Hand Of Time"." Layla explained, brushing a thin layer of dust from the front. "It's the first time I've handled it since it was given to me by my great-grandmother." A soft smile brushed her lips with a nostalgic gaze.

"Great-grandmother?" Lucy muttered. She hadn't known much about her mother's side of the family. It was the first time in a long time she had heard any reference to it.

"Here." Layla smiled, holding the book out at arms length. Lucy looked at it with a dumbfounded expression. A small chuckle escaped Layla's lips as she gestured it at Lucy again. "If you really are my- no, the Hand Of Time, you'll need this book."

Lucy wondered what Layla was about to say before she corrected herself, but decided to let it go. Carefully, Lucy reached out her pale hands. She could feel the heat of her palms and the shake of her nervousness. Her heart thudded in her chest like a jackhammer.

As her fingers reached to touch the dust bound book, she hesitated. If she took the book, she wouldn't see her mother again. In her time, her mother was gone. But right then, she stood in front of her, she spoke to her, she could touch her.

However, this wasn't the place nor time she really belonged. Her friends, her guild, those she thought of as her family, were waiting for her back home. It was time for both her, and Natsu, to go home.

Lucy reached forward again, clasping her fingers around the crisp cover of the book.

Suddenly, the room began to shake. Layla and Lucy collapsed against the ground in surprise. The red book slipped from Lucy's hands, skating across the floor. "The book!" Lucy exclaimed, lurching forwards. Her hands went to clasp firmly around the book, but couldn't. They slipped right through. Lucy gasped in surprise, looking at her hands. They were translucent. Every second it grew worst. The red carpet under her feet became visible. And it wasn't just her hands; all of her was fading away.

"Lucy!" She heard a voice shout. Brown eyes darted up, catching the sight of pink hair. Natsu staggered forward, trying to stabilize himself under all the shaking.

"Natsu!" Lucy shouted back as Natsu fell forwards, crashing into her. He knocked her back onto the vibrating floor. Books falling from the shelves toppled over the dragon slayer's back. His body was as clear as day. When she touched him he felt solid and safe, but the world around them was beginning to glow. Lucy's being was beginning to fade, but Natsu was still the same.

"Lucy! What's going on?" Natsu yelled over the sounds of crashing books and falling bookcases.

"I don't know. But whatever you do don't let go of me!" Lucy commanded back.

"What? Why?" Natsu asked, but wrapping his arms around her tighter, pinning them back against a bookcase.

"It's just a hunch!" Lucy replied, staring at the world fading into white. Natsu's body braced itself, curling around her in a protective ball. Lucy clung back wrapping herself in his warmth.

"LUCY!" A voice screamed. Brown eyes snapped to behind her. Layla crouched on all fours stared after her with wide open eyes. Shock and fear covered her face. Tears fell from her cheeks. Lucy wanted to run to her, to hug her. But it was too late, the world was erupting into a sea of ashen white.

"MO-" Lucy cried just as her voice burned out.

Soft ringing in her ears numbed his head. A vague awareness alerted him to the cold pebbles of water falling onto his skin. He felt heavy and weak, his eyes tender and sensitive, his head aching and noisy. Slowly, the dragon slayer lifted himself up to sit, pulling in his knees. Dark eyes opened carefully. At first, everything was a blinding white, which drowned out into a sea of dark green. Wet grass spread out around him, covered in puddles and thick mud. Flowers bent and shook under the force of the veil of rain. A grand mansion he recognized stood tall and unwavered by the water clouds.
"Where am I?" Natsu croaked allowed, his voice feeling soar. Suddenly he remembered; the library, Lucy, the world of white. Natsu leapt to his feet, his mind flipping. Where was Lucy? Once again she wasn't with him. His body ached and pain zapped across the muscles that weren't ready to move so fast. "LU-

"NATSU!" A familiar voice cut him off. Lucy dripping in rain appeared from behind a tree in the distance. She leaned against it weakly, her knees shaking to keep her standing. Her voice was weak and hoarse, but Natsu was able to here her. Through the filter of rain, her body looked almost translucent. Despite the pain, Natsu darted towards her.

Mud splashed up his ankles, rain pelted against his face, winds cut across skin. It was only a few seconds before he rounded up besides the girl. "LUCY!" He wailed in relief, tackling her to the ground.

"WAH! NATSU GET OFF ME!" Lucy screamed, pushing against his chest. Normally, she would have kicked him to the heavens, but something was up. Strong arms pulled back, and dark eyes fell forwards. Through the coat of rain, Natsu had thought Lucy's body seemed tranclucent. thinking it was the rain, was logical, but the truth wasn't hidden in the rain. Faint, blurred images of grass bled through her skin. Rain trickled through the treetops, and as it fell onto her skin, she rippled like a pond.

Pale arms and legs had stopped struggling now, and brown eyes looked up at the dragon slayer with sympathy. It ached to see his face so shocked, so confused and teetering on distraught. She knew what he had noticed; that she was fading. For some reason, her skin was still the translucent colour it was before, but it had stopped. Her body felt light like a feather, or a cloud. Lucy let out a small sigh, and gently pushed against the dragon slayer's chest. He quietly sat back, letting her sit, his eyes contanstantly staring at her. If it was any other time, he might of laughed and made a joke, but he knew it was serious.

"Lucy...your..." Natsu uttered, his face pale in the smothered daylight.

"I know." Lucy admitted.

"But-" Natsu kept trying to find words to string together what he was seeing, but found it nearly impossible to.

"Natsu, calm down." Lucy whispered, reaching a hand towards him.

"CALM DOWN!" Natsu burst, shooting up to stand. He looked angry, but sad, with confllicting emotions that was driving his mind in circles. "HOW CAN I BE CALM?" His fists tightened together, his head boiling with rage.

"NATSU!" Lucy snapped, thrusting her body to stand. She staggared and her knees shook beneath her. Natsu reached out to steady her, but she slapped away his hand. His hand recoiled in surprise. "I know, okay." Lucy growled. "You think I'm okay with this? Slowly turning invisible?" Lucy shouted.

Natsu's eyes fell to his feet. His heart ached and guilt rode up in his stomach; he felt like a child being scolded. Lucy sighed, steadied his legs and stood. At first, she was a little shaky, but managed to get her feet.

"Sorry, Luce. I just-" Natsu muttered, his eyes slowly pulling to her face.

"I know Natsu, It's alright." Lucy smiled, resting a hand reassuringly on her shoulder.

"So where are we?" Natsu asked, glancing around.

"I assume, we're still at the estate," Lucy replied, narrowing her eyes on the house in the distance, distorted by falling rain drops.

"But we were in the library?" Natsu exclaimed. "Why are we here?"

"Just because we're still at the estate, doesn't mean were in the same time." Lucy replied, letting the disjointed thoughts connect together in her mind.

"What do you mean?" Natsu asked, his eye brows furring together, looking cute and confused.

"We've time skipped again," Lucy notioned, her eyes assessing her hands. "The question is; How far?"

"So, you're Lucy, and Natsu?" A rusted, smooth voice spoke from behind them.

Both of them spun on their heels. Natsu's arm flew out beside him making a barrier between the figure and Lucy.

A black umbrella cut through the curtain of rain. Underneath it stood a figure in a long black trench coat that touched his black shoes that gleemed despite the puddle of mud leaking under his feet. Slowly, the umbrella lifted up to reveal a sharp face. A small stumble ran along his dark stubbled features, with a short mustache bristling his upper lip. "You called for me?" He asked, his mustache twitching under his pulling smile.