There are three ancient magics that are lost to the world.
The first is our magic – the casting powers of the dragon slayers is too adept to be performed by just any being.
The second is cursing magic – the magic of runes and circles that can be layered upon each other.
The third is celestial magic – a magic so powerful it can summon any power known to man. If you have the right object, of course.
His father's words ran through his mind as Natsu stared at the mysterious girl refusing to answer his questions. She was proving to be more than he bargained for; stubborn, fierce, and able to get under his skin. There was only one other person he knew that could have such an effect on people, though he never personally had an issue with them. Because it was himself.
Nibbling on her bottom lip, her eyes found a corner in the room. From the last few hours they spent together, he knew her to be thinking – something she seemed to do a lot. Though his question, straightforward enough, only demanded a simple answer, she contemplated the answer – or answering at all – for a long while.
"Something I need."
Silent and soft, he barely heard the meek answer she whispered under her breath. He nearly missed it entirely because her eyes remained trained past him to the walls. Looking closer, he saw her eyes glassed and gazed out farther than the small hole-in-the-wall of a room could contain. The expression her mouth curved into confined more of a grave look than Death himself could manage.
Natsu decided to let the vague description slide, if for nothing more than to remove the grim appearance from her face. "What does that have to do with us?"
Eyes lightening like they've awoken from a dream, she quickly composed herself. "Take me along with you on your journeys."
"Absolutely not." That wasn't an answer.
As if reading his mind, she elaborated. "Hear me out – if I join your guild, I will be able to help give insight on ancient matters all the while I can search for my own effects on the way. Everybody wins."
Not my guild. Not my image. Not my conscious.
"Why do you need Fairy Tail's help anyway?"
"Not your help, your resources. You pillage and blunder as thieves not only giving you free reign across the kingdoms, but doing so in a timely fashion."
Natsu resisted the urge to rub his temples at the migraine forming at her senseless logic. Maybe it did have some sense – and maybe that was why it made his head hurt so much. A strange girl waltzed in and demanded joining his guild for no other reason than she needed his resources.
"Who are you, anyway?" he mumbled to himself.
"Lucy." He turned, surprised she heard it. Not that he was disappointed; he grew tired of calling her 'girl' before their conversation began. "Lucy Heartfilia."
Heartfilia – uncommon, likely he heard it in passing, but not one with significant attachments.
"And where are you from, Lucy?" Natsu asked, mostly to buy time to consider how he could get her out of his tavern.
A pause. "The Earth Kingdom."
Pupils too round and took up most of her irises, a twitch that controlled her right lip, and the hesitation that lasted a second too long to be anything but searching for an answer.
She lied.
She lied to him.
Keeping things from him, being careful of her answers – those he could forgive. He didn't care if she didn't trust him, no one lied to him. No one that kept their tongues afterward anyway. Which did he want to do more – figure out the truth to why she lied? Or make her regret ever doing it in the first place?
Either way, his hand outstretched between them with a dark expression hiding behind a dry smile. "We have a deal."
"But there are some rules," he continued strictly, wiping the victorious smirk off her face. "You are on probation. You do anything that makes me feel as if our deal isn't worth it and you're done. And, do anything to endanger any member of my guild and I'll kill you."
The venom he slipped into his voice didn't make her waver. "Deal. But you can't get in the way of my searching, understand?"
"Who would want to?" he muttered as she stood, this time missing his sarcastic comment. Feeling he should get the last word in he said, "And don't expect to be treated like a member."
"Wouldn't dream of it . . ."
"Natsu Dragneel," he replied, realizing her trailing off was awaiting a name. She gave a small smile in thanks.
"As I said before, Natsu, I don't need your help. I can take care of myself." She patted her pouch as if to remind him of her earlier defense, unseen objects clanging together inside. Holding back the urge to explain their enemies would be a lot tougher than a magic wielding hooligan, he watched her go with narrowed eyes. Though her knowledge of ancient magic likely surpassed his, a vital trait once they deepened their search, he still felt as if he was the one getting swindled.
However, if she could shed some light onto what he was searching for, anything would be worth it.
Just before opening the door leading back out into the tavern of more than likely annoyed patrons, she stopped. Turning back to face him, he saw it again; that innocence and optimism that lit her eyes with a mask of beauty. A question lingered on her tongue until the look of beauty was gone, replaced by one of interrogation.
"What makes you think they'll go along with it?"
Blinking at her for a moment, he felt the urge to chuckle rise in his throat but settled for a wicked grin. He wasn't sure which expression of hers he would enjoy more; the bewildered one she stared at him with or the shocked one she would have when he let out his next words.
"Because I'm the head of Fairy Tail."
Definitely the second one.
I know it's late . . . but here's an update . . .
Thank you for all your lovely Wendy couples! I'm still not 100% if I will couple her or not, but if I do it'll likely be with Romeo.
Gravity-Chan: I thought about them, but I wasn't sure if he'd fit into the story. We'll see, and thanks!
PalominoGirl: I like them too :)
SheRa-ver: Really?! I really struggle with dialog so BIG thanks! I love your reviews!
Melody233: Thank you so much! You are awesome! And I agree, they go well together
Pink-Wand-Witch: I'll start off with apologizing, since you asked for a quick update . . . but thanks a lot!
Yui Moonlight: Aw, thanks for reviewing both chapters! Juvia is certainly going to go through a lot of changes after meeting Gray (All good things, all good things) Lucy's strange power is going to be the major plot for the whole story, so it'll stay a mystery for awhile. And I needed Natsu to be a little more level headed, when he's calm at least, but he's still going to be the fired-up boy we love. As for Wendy, she's going to be young in this story. What I'm leaning towards on the coupling side was more of a friendship that might grow into love? I'm still deciding. And thanks, again, for giving me another fantastic review to look forward to! You're the best!
bluerainst0rm: Really? You mean it? Thank you so much, I'm honored!
Arouria: Thanks! Sorry to make you wait, though . . .
Hopefully the next update will be sooner! Thanks again to everyone who reads and reviews!