An Awkward Reunion

Despite what happened, Lucy was still decent enough to be gracious to the girls. So after a day had passed, she decided to approach them again, and show them around some more. It was nice thing to do, and to that end, Lucy took them along as she went on various reporting jobs. This time, she brought Iggy along with her, if only because she was finding out it helped defuse the tension considerably.

However, after a rather awkward half-day, she was surprised to learn that Natsu and Happy were coming home early. All to eager to be with her husband again, she ran to the palace to greet him, with Wendy, Carla, and Chelia following her. When she got there, she quickly spotted him and Happy in his battle form.

"Natsu!"

"Lucy!" Natsu said as he saw his wife coming up. Iggy let out a happy squeak as he reached for his dad.

"Hey buddy!" Natsu said, picking Iggy up, "Thanks for taking care of your mom while I was gone." Positioning Iggy in one arm, he wrapped his other arm around Lucy.

"I though you were staying in Margaret Town," he said.

"It wasn't as nice as I thought it would be," Lucy admitted with a somewhat melancholy smile. Natsu then noticed the Sky Sisters coming up behind her.

"Hi, Natsu," Wendy said, waving her hand slightly, smiling.

"Oh, hey," Natsu responded briefly.

"Hi Carla!" Happy said, waving. The Exceed, who was still in her cat form, just averted her eyes from him, confusing Happy slightly.

"I've got to report back to the old man," Natsu said, handing Iggy back to his mother.

"Alright," Lucy said, "I was actually going to have tea with the princess later, so I'll probably see you in the palace." She waved as he and Happy headed into the palace.

"Lucy!" Looking around, the blonde noticed a very familiar red head approaching her.

"Erza?"

"Long time, no see," Erza said, opening her arms. Apparently she was expecting Lucy to hug her; but the blonde didn't, disappointing Scarlet slightly.

"Erza!" Wendy called, waving.

"Wendy!" Era answered with her own wave, before opening her arms. This time, Wendy actually returned the hug, but only after more than a moment of hesitation.

"Is this your son?" Erza asked, coming over to Lucy once she released Wendy.

"Yeah," Lucy answered, picking Iggy out of his carrier, "This is little Iggy." Before she could even react, her son got practically yanked out of her arms, and held up by Erza.

"You are quiet possibly the most adorable thing I've ever seen," she declared, "I can already tell we're going to have a lot of fun together." Despite herself, Lucy couldn't help but chuckle at seeing Erza swoon over Iggy, though Iggy looked more confused than anything else.

"Lu!"

"Levy!" This time, Lucy received a hug instead of being offered one.

"Its been so long!" Levy said, "How are you?"

"Fine, I guess," Lucy answered, looking the blue haired girl up and down briefly, "You joined the Council?"

"Yeah," Levy answered, cocking her head, "Why?"

"Just… never mind," Lucy eventually said, not wanting to make this as sour as it eventually became in Lamia Scale.

"Is this your son?" Levy asked, seeing Iggy in Erza's arms.

"Ye…" Lucy couldn't finish as for the second time in an hour, Iggy got snatched up by a woman he was just meeting.

"You are so cute!" Levy said, cuddling Iggy, "Yes you are! Yes you are! You're the cutest thing in the whole wide world." Once again, Iggy just looked completely bewildered.

(in the castle)

Eventually, everyone made their way to the throne room, where Natsu had deposited Horus. This included not only the soldiers and the Council, but the guilds had made their way in as well, mostly as curiosity. When they got in, Lucy and Hisui briefly waved to each other.

"Is this the bandit leader?" the king asked, gesturing to Horus, who was kneeling on the floor, his hands bound behind his back.

"This is him," Natsu answered, "I still don't know what he was doing here?"

"Foreigners," Horus grumbled, "Don't know why I expected much more."

"Show some respect!" Natsu snapped.

"Its okay, Commander Dragneel," Toma said, holding up his hand, before looking towards Horus, "Who are you?"

"My name is Horus, son of Osiris, the rightful Pharaoh of Aaru," Horus explained, looking towards the monarch.

"Aura?" Wendy asked.

"Its a country on the Southern continent," Erza explained, "I don't much more than that, though."

"So what are you doing in Fiore?" Arcadios asked.

"I am in exile," Horus answered, "I have not been to my homeland in three years now."

"So you think that gives you an excuse to threaten this kingdom with your army of bandits?" Natsu demanded, looming over the prince.

"I would do anything to save my kingdom," Horus answered, glaring at him, "I have nothing to apologize for."

"Save your kingdom?" Horus faced tensed up, as he took a breath.

"Seven years ago, my uncle, Set, overthrew my father," he explained, "I spent five years in hiding in Aaru, before I eventually came here."

"So, why did you come to Fiore?" Toma asked.

"You were trying to build an army?" Gajeel, this time, asked

"That wasn't my initial plan, actually," Horus admitted, "I originally came here looking for my great-grandfather."

"Your great-grandfather?"

"Ra, the first Pharaoh and founder of the Kingdom Aaru; I thought if anyone could stop Set, it was him. I searched of him for the the past three years with no luck, until I gave up, and decided to build an army so I could go back to Aaru and challenge my uncle myself. I spent over a year finding mercenaries, and I almost had enough; then you guys came along."

"You could have simply come to me," Toma said plainly, "I may have been willing to assist you." Horus just clenched his teeth, and looked at the floor, before looking back up.

"If you can," he said, "Then I would readily accept your help. What happens in Aaru affects more than just the people there."

"I have to beg the question though," Arcadios said, "Why should we be concerned about the affairs of a country that's far away? What do we have to gain from helping you?"

"Set is one of the most belligerent individuals there is," Horus answered, "He savors war and conquest, and thinks its his destiny to turn our kingdom into an empire. For the sake of your country, Set cannot remain on the throne." There was a silence, as the kingdom officials considered what they had heard.

"Commander Dragneel," Toma spoke up, "You were the one who captured this prince in the first place. What is your opinion on the matter?"

"I dunno," Natsu answered with a shrug, "But I'll do whatever is best for the kingdom I guess." It was rather strange for all the former Fairy Tail members except Lucy to hear that. Erza in particular found it hard to believe that those sort of words were coming out of Natsu's mouth.

"If that is the case," Toma said, "Then we might yet have a stake in this. What would you have us do?"

"Help me find Ra. At this point, he is the only remaining chance."

"Do you have any idea where he might be?" Erza asked.

"No," Horus answered, "Before I left, my grandmother, Nut, told me he was Fiore, and that was all."

"Then how are we supposed to find him?" Natsu asked.

"That's what I'd like to know," Horus responded, "Before I left, all my grandmother gave me was this." He reached into his shirt pocket, and pulled out a disc-shaped amulet, which seemed to be meant to be the sun.

"This belonged to Ra, and Nut said I could use it to find him. But I don't know what exactly to do with it."

"So you believe Ra is your best chance to prevent all out war?"

"Without a doubt," Horus answered.

"In that case, Commander Dragneel, you have a new assignment," Toma said, "You are to aid Prince Horus in his search."

"You got it!" Natsu said, with a thumbs. Most soldiers would get in trouble for that, but Natsu definitely wasn't most soldiers.

"I would also like to issue a formal request to the guilds present," Toma said to the guild mages, "We could use as much aide in this matter as possible. Any assistance Lamia Scale and Mermaid Heel can offer would be greatly appreciated."

"We would be ready and willing, your Majesty," Erza said, with Kagura nodding in agreement.

"Same here," Chelia said, raising her hand.

"Though we should call the guild and get more people to join us," Wendy said, "I don't think the three of us would be enough."

"The Council Custody Unit will join too," Gajeel said, "The Council has got a stake in this too."

"Very well," the king agreed with a nod, "With that…."

"I'm coming too!" Lucy suddenly declared, stepping forward, surprising everyone.

"Lucy, you shouldn't," Natsu said, "You got your job."

"I'm not gong to let my husband walk away for gods know how long," Lucy answered, "We're sticking together."

"What about Iggy?" Natsu said.

"Oh yeah," Lucy remembering he was right. It wasn't like they could bring their son with them on this mission.

"I can keep an eye on him," Hisui volunteered, coming down to them.

"Oh I can't ask you for that."

"Its not problem at all, I am his godmother after all." Upon hearing that, both Erza and Levy looked like they'd just been slapped in the face.

"Wait, she's Iggy's godmother?" Erza asked, pointing.

"Well, yes," Lucy answered simply, "She was the one here when he was born."

"But… I thought," Levy said slowly. Lucy couldn't help but feel annoyed by their attitudes; was being godmother to her baby boy like some kind of achievement they thought to achieve? Igneel was her son, not a prize for them to win.

"We'll leave in two days," Natsu said.

"And which way do we go?" Horus said, "Haven't you been listening to me up until this point? I have no idea where Ra is."

"Things always seem to work out," Natsu said with a shrug, "We'll just wing it." Horus just stared, not sure he had heard that al right.

Note: A recurring joke I see in stories where Natsu and Lucy have a child, is the girls arguing over who gets to be the godmother. I decided to try and take that idea in a more serious direction.

In the actual Egyptian divine lineage (which is really complicated, and changed a lot depending on who you asked), Ra wasn't the great-grandfather of Horus, but for the sake of simplicity, he is in this version.

Be sure to review.