The day of the party had arrived, and just like every other day before Lucy woke to find that she was caged to her bed by a very heavy arm.
"Natsu," the celestial mage whimpered as she felt the fullness of her bladder twinge slightly as the tan arm around her waist curled tighter around her wiggling form against a frim chest.
"Why does my mate hate sleep?" the dragon slayer asked between yawns as he pulled Lucy's naked form against his own so that she could feel his growing need.
"I have to pee," the blonde pleaded as she heard Natsu's grunt of disappointment,
"Well hold it," the pink haired mage grumbled in annoyance.
"No!" Lucy demanded as she struggled against the man keeping her prisoner.
"But I don't want my mate to leave yet," Natsu pouted as he kissed the back of her neck.
"Natsu you let me up or I swear to Mavis, that you won't get laid for a month!" she shouted.
Almost as soon as the threat left her mouth Lucy felt the grip on her side relax as she bolted out of bed and ran towards the bath. As Natsu happily watched her naked ass jiggle on the way.
"I have the meanest mate!" the dragon slayer shouted as he sat up in bed.
Knowing full well that in his eagerness to reach the bed last night, the usually tidy apartment would now be a mess. He looked over at the Livingroom to find that the lamp had been knocked over, its shattered remains still lying on the floor, the armchair had been tipped over and there was a trail of singed and torn clothed that led from the front door to the edge of the bed, his precious scarf was hanging over the open bedroom door.
"You love me anyway," Lucy called through the still closed door.
"Remind me why?" Natsu asked as he stood to retrieve his scarf not caring about his lack of clothing.
Lucy walked out of the bathroom, sans clothes and a mischievous grin ran across his face.
"Right that's why," the dragon slayer growled in excitement as he tossed the scarf behind him and stalked towards his mate caging her against the wall.
"Natsu, Natsu we can get going like we usually do," the celestial wizard groaned as she bit her bottom lip as the dragon slayer ran his hands along her sides. Focus, focus, you can do this, she thought.
It had been a new part of Lucy's morning routine: wake-up, go a few rounds, get dresses and pray the Natsu doesn't drag her back to bed before they get out of the door. Thought usually she appreciated his need for her, this morning in particular she knew that there was no way she could just show up at the guild at noon like she had grown accustomed too since she and the pink haired mage had returned from the isles.
"Why? Lucy we never had a Honeymoon," Natsu muttered as he ran his tongue along his mate's neck.
"We aren't married," Lucy threw her head back groaning as she felt the dragon slayers hands grip her hips pressing slightly on to her bones.
"No but we are mated which is a bond deeper than marriage," the pink haired man growled as he smelt the spike in his mates arousal.
"Natsu what day is it?" the blonde asked as she tried to fight her way through the hazy he was putting her under.
"Saturday," Natsu said softly as he began pressing kisses along her collar bone.
"Saturday the what?" Lucy asked as she bit her bottom lip suppressing the moan that was welling up in her throat.
"The twelfth?" the dragon slayer growled as he came to the spot of her bite mark running his tongue over the perpetually sensitive area.
"And what is happening on the twelfth this month?" Lucy asked as she gave in to the desire and moaned her lover's name.
"We stay in bed all day working on a hatchling?" Natsu growled in to the blonde's ear capturing the lobe with his teeth.
"Nastu!" the celestial wizard shouted as she yanked the back of his head away from her so that her body could cool.
"What?" Natsu groaned in pain as he rubbed the back of his head.
"The Party…. The party Fairy Tail is having with our Allies," Lucy said as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"What about it?" the dragon slayer asked as he looked at his mate.
"It starts in four hours," the blonde said as she moved to leave the confines of her lover's arms.
"See we have plenty of time to work on a hatchling before the party," Natsu argued as he caught Lucy's arm with his hand.
"No Mira, wants me there early to help set up," the celestial wizard said as she freed herself running towards the closet. Damn she's done. Her minds made up, why does she have to ruin the fun? Natsu thought as he backed away from the spot where his mate once was.
"But you're my Mate!" the pink haired mage pouted as he walked over to the bag of clothes on the floor.
"Mate or Not. Mira needs help setting up and I volunteered you to help," Lucy called from the closet.
"No you voluntold me to," Natsu growled as he stepped in to a pair of pants.
"Nastu, I have a question," Lucy spoke as she looked around her closet for a particular item.
"Yeah," the Pink haired mage called as he started smelling his shirts looking for a clean one.
"Have you ever thought about getting a bigger place?" the celestial mage asked as she groan in frustration at her overly packed closet.
The question shocked the dragon slayer enough that he dropped both vests that he was holding back on the pile of clothes that sat at his feet.
"Why?" Natsu asked as he turned towards the closet.
"Well, both of us live in really tiny places, and we can't get any privacy unless Happy stays with Wendy," she began still in the other room.
"I thought you liked your apartment?" the dragon slayer asked as he walked closer to the opened door of his mate's closet.
"I do, but…" Lucy began but was soon cut off by her mate.
"Any you said that my house was 'a place where mold goes to die'" Natsu said quoting the celestial wizard.
"Have you seen your fridge?" Lucy asked as a creepy crawly sensation climbed up her spine at the image the overstuffed shack Natsu called a house.
"So why move?" the slayer asked as he flopped down on the bed.
"Natsu, do you really want a baby?" Lucy asked as Natsu's ears perked up at the gentle tone she used.
Usually whenever he brought up the idea of starting a family Lucy just shut it down saying that they should just take some time to be just the two of them. But every instinct in his body was telling him that a little Hatchling with its mother eyes and his hair would make everything perfect. And if there is one thing Igneel taught me it was to always trust my instincts.
"Of course I want a hatchling; Happy has been waiting for forever to have a little brother. And now that we are mated what's stopping us," Natsu asked as he looked over at the doorway.
"Natsu if you really want to have a baby then maybe we need to find a place where we can give the baby yard to play in, its own space. Natsu we need to find a place where we can actually live together," Lucy said as her voice started getting closer.
Looking around her cramped apartment Natsu understood. There was absolutely no space for anything else in this bedroom; furniture was cramped close together and his large pile of clothes that had nowhere else to go, due to his's mate fascination with clothes and accessories, took up a great deal of floor space. The living room was much worse, since the whole of team Natsu used Lucy's apartment as a meeting hall she had gone out and bought a second couch for the living room. Now there was barely any room to move or open the front door anymore. And if there was anything that Laxus's hatchling taught Natsu is that a hatchling required a lot of stuff and suddenly Lucy's concern made a lot of sense to him.
"What are you wearing?" Natsu asked looking up at his mate as she walked out of her closet wearing the Kimono he had had made for her.
"I told Levy about this kimono and she was begging me to wear it to the party tonight, I just wanted to make sure the belt fit like it did before… What?" Lucy began as she looked up to find Natsu standing right in front of her face.
"I just remember what it was like seeing it fall off of you," the dragon slayer growled a she gently pushed the silk fabric off of the blonde's shoulder.
"Nastu…." Lucy groaned as she felt the hot air hit her now exposed back as the second shoulder fell matching its mate.
"Not now Luce I am remembering," Natsu said with a wicked grin as he stalked towards his mate.
"Natsu, come on were late!" Lucy cried as she drug the dragon slayer behind her as she ran toward the guild hall.
The loud cheers could be heard halfway around the city letting all its residence know that their guild was having a celebration tonight. The Christina was parked next to the guild hall along with several magic mobiles that has Mermaid Heel's guild mark on them. If I have to wager a guess they are all already in there and Natsu and I are the last to arrive. The celestial mage thought as she felt a pull on her shoulder as Natsu stopped in the middle of the road.
"As I recall it was you that kept begging for more, and if I remember right you said. "Fuck me Natsu fuck me till I can't walk," I was only following your command it's not my fault it took an hour and a half to get feeling back in your legs," the dragon slayer grinned as his mate stopped and turned to glare at the dragon.
"If you repeat that when we get to the guild I swear to Mavis that you won't get laid for three months," Lucy hissed as a dark cloud began to hover over her head.
"Why do you have to be so mean Luce?" the pink haired mage asked as he pouted.
"Why do you broadcast stuff like that?" the celestial mage screeched as she adjusted the bag on her shoulder.
"What does it matter over half the people in there already know and the other half most likely saw the cover we were on and are already think it," the dragon slayer asked as he cocked his head to the right.
"Have you ever heard of decorum?" Lucy asked furiously.
"Sounds wicked boring," Natsu said as he grinned wolfishly over at his mate, neither noticing the sound of someone running up the path towards them.
"There you two are, come on. Sting and Rouge don't believe me when I say that you both are already mated!" Mira's shout filled the otherwise silent street.
"Were coming, aren't we Luce?" Natsu asked as he turned towards his partner holding his hand out for her.
"I guess," Lucy mumbled as the dragon slayer pulled her the rest of the way to the guild hall.
"Natsu!" Happy's shout filled their ears a he flew over to the newly arrived couple landing on top of a pink head of hair.
"Hey Happy how ya been?" Natsu greeted cheerfully patting the top of the Exceed's head.
"Okay… but I don't think Carla wants be back at Wendy's place tonight," the blue furred cat said with a pout.
"Don't worry buddy. You can come home with us tonight," the dragon slayer reassured as Lucy gave him a pointed look.
"Man, I know I call you bunny girl but you and salamander don't need to hump like rabbits cause of that," a gruff voice called over the blonde's shoulder as she moved her glare from her mate to the Iron Dragon slayer.
"Gajeel!" Levy cried as a bright blush formed on her cheeks.
"What Shirmp it's not my fault they both come in here reekin' of each other," Gajeel defended as he looked down at the solid script mage as she walked towards he best friend.
"Sorry Lu… oh my god is this it?" Levy squealed as she reached out and toughed the soft silk.
"Yeah what do you think?" Lucy asked as she backed away slightly and turned around so that the blue haired mage could get a good look at the dress.
As the blonde turned the light that filled the guild hall caught the small strips of gold that had been weaved in to the flames causing the entire ensemble to flicker with light just like the tips of flames.
"It's gorgeous, are you sure Natsu got this?" Levy asked as she pulled Lucy down to examine the jeweled accents in her hair.
"Yep before we got back we had to make a stopover at the shop of the woman who made it," Lucy said proudly as she carefully caressed the now repaired belt.
"Mira, Lis did you guys see this," Levy called as she pulled the celestial mage away from her mate as the girl gushed over the expensive silk.
Natsu stood next to Gajeel as they both watched their woman walk away.
"Gihi," the iron dragon laughed.
"You wanna go bolt brain?" Nastu shouted.
Soon Lucy found herself in the middle of a group of her guild mates as they all studied the soft silk she wore.
"Lucy, Oh my Mavis! You look spectacular," Lisanna said.
"Yeah girl that thing shows off you tits really well," Cana said as she reached out to grab a hand full for herself as Lucy swatted away the wayward appendage.
"I wonder if all the slayers have such good fashion sense," Mira asked as she giggled with her sister.
"Let me through, let me through," Stings voice called through the crowd of girls that surrounded the celestial mage as he pushed his way to the front.
"Oh hi Sting," Lucy said awkwardly as the white dragon slayer leaned forward inhaling deeply.
"I don't believe it…." The guild master muttered as he took a step closer and sniffed in to Lucy's hair. "I really don't believe it, Rogue you have to get over here and smell Lucy!" Sting called over his shoulder at his guild mate who was in the process of talking to the tri man group.
"Um Guys," Lucy said hesitantly as she heard a familiar possessive growl fill the loud guild hall followed by an intense heat wave that cause everyone except the blonde to begin to sweat.
"Stay away from my mate!" Natsu growled as he placed himself between Lucy and the twin dragons of Sabertooth.
"You wanna go Salamander," Sting called as Rouge sniffed slightly in Lucy's direction and upon realizing what had happened walked away uninterested in getting in to a pissing match about Sting getting to close to Natsu's mate.
"Bring it on you useless pile of shit," Natsu growled as he jumped Sting both of them falling on the ground with a loud thump as the brawl commenced.
"Oh that's it," the blonde haired dragon slayer called from the dog pile.
"Lu aren't you going to stop them?" Levy asked as the blonde turned and walked towards the bar.
"Why it's going to happen anyway, why not get it out of the way now while they are still sober," Lucy said firmly as she ordered her drink.
"Lucy!" a light voice filled her ears as the blonde's ears as she turned around to greet the girl coming up behind her.
"Yukino hi," Lucy called cheerfully as she pulled her fellow celestial mage in to a hug.
"I was so worried," Yukino cried as she let go of the girl looking over her neck slightly she could see the slightest traces of new ink on the back of the girl's neck.
"Well I am okay, so how are things with you and Sting?" Lucy asked impishly as she pulled the blushing girl toward the bar.
Over near the stair case the strongest mage in Mermaid Heel approached her longtime friend.
"Erza, I didn't know you had a baby?" Kagura said as she approached the re quip mage as she was gently rocking the infant as Lexie looked out over the packed guild hall.
"I didn't. This is Laxus's little girl I heard her wake up so I thought I would bring her down to the party," Erza said as she looked down at the smiling girl in her arms as placed a lacrima enhanced pacifier in the girls mouth.
"Well she certainly takes after her father," Kagura said as she tickled the little girl's cheek slightly surprised to receive a slight shock from Lexie.
"Kitties!" the happy sound of the girl's mutual friend wafted over to the two as the sight caused both of them to shake their head.
"Um should we save the Exceeds form Millianna?" Kagura asked as she watched the cat enthused mage cuddling close to Lector and Frosh as her tail held a kiwi just out of Patherlilliy's reach.
"No they can handle themselves," Erza reassured as both girls went back to looking down at the infant.
Standing on the balcony looking over the entire party were Bob and Makarov as they reminisced about times gone by as a loud slam coming from behind them startled the two men.
"Okay that's it, who has my daughter?!" Laxus screamed as he reached the edge looking over.
He had put Lexie down for her afternoon nap and was about to go and wake her up but when he got to his office he found his daughter's bassinet empty.
"Laxus calm yourself Erza has Lexie," Makarov gestured to the red headed mage as she showed Millianna the newest member of Fairy Tail.
The cat obsessed girl was wiggling a cat shaped rattle just out of reach of the infant with her tail.
"But Natsu and Sting are in the middle of a brawl what if she accidently gets hurt," Laxus growled as he looked over to see the two knucklehead getting close to his daughter.
"Don't let Erza hear you say that, besides Freed put runes around the entire guild hall for the night, if anyone in the middle of a fight gets within three feet of her they will be promptly shocked," Makarov said just as the dueling dragons reached the barrier and were both struck down with an intense charge matching that of one the lighting slayer used often on the fire dragon whenever he was out of control.
"What the hell?" Sting shouted as he was temporally dazed.
"We got too close to the Hatchling that's what," Natsu said as he got up to look for the hatchling, for whatever reason no one would let him hold her.
"Natsu were you and Sting fighting?" Erza asked somehow even with a baby in her arms she still looked overly intimidating.
"Us, what us fighting, No Erza whatever would make you think that?" Natsu sputter off as he watched the re quip mage walk over to a table that held Lucy, Levy, and Yukino.
"Lucy, here you need the practice," the red headed mage said as she shoved the baby in to the blonde's arms, "and I need to teach these boys a lesson on time and place," Erza said as she turned back around to glare at both dragon slayers.
"Um okay," Lucy said as she looked down at the baby in her arms.
"Aww, look at the baby!" one of the girls shouted as Lucy was swarmed with nearly every girl in the building so they could coo and fuss over the little girl.
"Alright alright, that enough you vultures leave my daughter alone!" Laxus shouted as he teleported down next to the overwhelmed celestial mage plucking his daughter out of her arms.
"Aww but Laxus I didn't get to hold her," Levy called as she got up to follow the lighting dragon slayer up to the top floor.
"She's mine!" Laxus growled as he stopped back up to his office with his daughter.
"Man, I swear!" Levy called as she lifted her leg up kicking in the direction that Laxus had gone in.
"So Lucy you mentioned in your letter about a book and a key that you found," Yukino said as the group of girls thinned out leaving the two celestial wizards alone.
"Book?" the solid script mage's voice perked up at the mention of a book.
"Right here it is," Lucy said as she pulled the large book out of the bag she had brought with her figuring that a change of clothes would be needed at some point in the night in order to save the kimono.
"Wow!" Levy and Yukino said together as they looked at the book in excitement.
The solid script mage tried opening the book pouting slightly as once again the lock refused to budge.
"And here is the key," Lucy said as she held up the ring from her key ring at her hip.
Over the last few weeks she had taken the time to clean the key properly. After the first rinse Lucy had learned that the key was not iron as she had originally thought. But instead was a clear crystal key that had swirls of purple dotted throughout. The crystal had reminded the wizard of the same stone that she and Natsu had used in their vows, afterwards they had gone back to bring a few of the stones home with them and had found that the once clear crystal was now dotted with golden and purple flecks.
"Where did you get this?" Yukino asked as she held the key gently feeling a strange rush from her two zodiac keys that rest on her hip as she did so.
"Well the book was given to me by a shop owner in Diovan but when I went back the shop had been closed down," Lucy said still worried for the sweet girl who had helped her.
"What about the key?" Levy asked as she looked at the key.
"You're not going to believe me if I told you," Lucy said as she turned toward Yukino.
"Try me," the white haired wizard said.
"I found the Great Well," Lucy said as she tried not to squeal.
"The Great Well? But… but… that place is supposed to be a myth," Yukino said quietly as Levy looked between the two with curious eyes.
"That's what I thought but Natsu and I found it," Lucy said excitedly as Levy handed back her key ring.
"What is the Great Well?" Levy asked, in all her research in to celestial magic she had never heard of any such place.
"It is said that the Great Well houses all the celestial spirit keys in existence, even ones that we could never think to be. There are so many different tales about it but there are a few constants; there is always many keys, a trial of some kind, and a guardian," Lucy said quickly hoping to satisfy Levy's boundless curiosity for the moment.
"Is it as beautiful as the legend says?" Yukino asked excitedly as she clasped her hands together.
She had heard of the Great Well from her first teacher, it had been one of the girl's favorite bedtime stories.
"And more," Lucy sighed as she thought back to the glistening walls filled to the brim with keys.
"And the guardian let you take a key?" Yukino asked in amazement.
In all the stories she had heard never once had the guardian allowed someone to take a key. Her own master had thought that no one would ever be able to.
"I had to pass this test but yeah, although Natsu tried to get me more keys it didn't work," Lucy said with a laugh as she remembered the pissed off look on Natsu's face a he dug around in his bag for the keys he had apparently tried to take.
"What spirit is this key to?" Levy asked, making a mental note to research the Great Well later.
"I don't know I haven't made a contract with it yet," Lucy said softly as she looked down at the strange key.
"Well there is no time like the present," Yukino said excitedly as she looked over towards Lucy.
"Your right! Alright everyone stand back!" The blonde called as she walked in to the center of the room calling for everyone to make room.
"What's going on?" Bob asked as he leaned down to talk in to Makarov's ear.
"Looks like Lucy has a new key and is about to make a contract," Makarov said as he took a sip of his drink.
"Ohh, I haven't seen this done, Karen, rest her soul, never made contracts in the guild," Master Bob said excitedly as he leaned against the railing in anticipation.
Lucy took a firm stance as she pulled the key free from the ring and held it out in front of her.
"I…." the celestial wizard began but as soon a she began speaking she felt an intense drain on her powers causing her to feel dizzy all of a sudden.
"Lucy," Levy looked over at her friend in confusion as the girl swayed slightly.
"I am fine," Lucy said as she shook her head trying to clear the mental fog her mind seemed to be under. "I am linked…" she began again but as soon a she uttered the words her head began spinning again as the celestial wizard lost the ability to remain conscious as she fell to the floor.
"Lucy?!" every member of Fairy Tail yelled as Wendy rushed forward with Sherria right behind her. Both girls worked fervently to find out what had gone wrong soon the little Blue haired girl turned and cried out.
"Someone get..." the Sky dragon began but was soon cut off by a loud shout by the man she was about to call for.
"Luce!" Natsu shouted in panic as he rushed forward through the gap that the people made wishing not to be in the fire dragon's way as he ran to pick up his mate.
"Natsu bring her up here to the infirmary," Makarov called from his place on the balcony.
The Dragon slayer picked up his mate as he ran his nose along her neck, thanking whatever gods there were that he scent was still strong.
"Do we need Porlyusica?" Mira asked as she opened the door for the distressed Natsu as he quickly made his way to the only bed with fire proof linins.
"No there is nothing wrong with her, just for whatever reason her magic containers are extremely low, even the fire that I can usually feel ever since she and Natsu mated is nearly out," Wendy said calmly as she walked in behind Natsu.
"Shit," Natsu cured as he crawled in to bed with his mate, quickly lighting himself on fire as he clutched his mate.
"I don't think…" Sherria began as the pink haired girl stepped forward to get Lucy away from the dragon slayer.
"No he's the only one who can help her right now," Wendy said as she held back the Sky god slayer "Besides he is not going to let anyone near Lucy until she at least wakes up," the sky dragon slayer said as she felt the temperature spike suddenly as Natsu's whine filled her ears.
Looking over she saw Natsu hold the blonde wizard tightly to his chest as he raked his talons through her hair. He is starting to lose control, his instincts are running wild. The little blue haired girl thought at he hear a deep predatory warning growl fill the hall as Grey began to walk in to the room, as quickly as she could Wendy pushed everyone out of the infirmary slamming the door shut and standing in front of it.
"I know everyone is worried about Lucy, but there is nothing that I, Porlyusica, or Sherria can do to help her. Natsu is the only one who can help her, but right now they need to be left alone," Wendy spoke as her hair kept flashing between pink and blue. Looking over the railing she nodded to Gajeel who nodded back in understanding as he stood and made his way to the closed door. "In fact if anyone feels like they need to see Lucy they will have to go through both Gajeel and I,"
"My dear is that necessary?" Master Bob asked.
"Yeah, that Flametard is currently at the mercy of his instincts and right now everyone will be considered a threat," Gajeel spoke as he pulled a chair in front of the door turning it so he sat in the backwards chair facing out.
"Makarov, what do you say to this?" the Blue Pegasus guild master asked turning towards his old friend.
"We will give Natsu until the morning, if Lucy is not better by then. Then we will call Porlyusica," Makarov spoke as he turned back to look over the worried faces of his children. "I just hope it doesn't come to that for Natsu's sake,"