Natsu's hands were still clammy while he threw his heavy, black case up on his bed and opened the lock with the fingerprint recognition. He shook his head back and forth as if to rid himself of the cold sweat of the aftermath of a panic attack.
"Okay, so I'll need my wiring… how do you want the wave to be projected?"
"You may have to make a dome wave," Laxus said in that deep voice of his. "Maybe about twenty feet."
Wires and coverings dumped onto his quilt, Natsu began to twist together one he'd already started, threading them into a casing. "The shockwave shouldn't kill them, but it depends on their condition. And we need to make sure they all get in the specific perimeter."
Natsu hadn't made too many electrical bombs before. He liked sticking with chemicals and fire. But Laxus had showed him much about electricity; if he had any chance to make this right first try, it was when Laxus was right beside him.
As he usually did while creating a complex invention, Natsu zoned out completely, calculations and connections wizzing in his head while he inserted the correct materials. He pushed everything else from his mind - how Lucy was out fighting without him, how more enemies just kept swarming even though their key members had been defeated, how at any second the room he was in could crumble and set off the bomb he hadn't finished wiring…
"How do we lure them all into the area?" Laxus grunted, obviously not liking having to ask Natsu for help.
Natsu didn't look up, eyes locked on the masterpiece in front of him while his fingers worked at full speed to arrange the components. "I have a plan for that. Don't worry about it. But we need to make sure one of the Oracion Seis or the Kin wake up first."
"You want one of them to wake up?! Why would-"
"Just trust me."
The fact that Laxus barely hesitated after that he found slightly touching. "Alright, kid. This had better work."
"It will," Natsu said firmly, tugging on the last strand. "Now hand me that piece you wanted me to add…"
"Lucy!"
Lucy turned to the sound of her name and saw Levy jogging up to her, panting with blood sticky on her temple. There was a slight lull in the battle as the members of Fairy Tail and all the guilds that had joined together watched, helplessly, the next line of vans approaching over the pass.
But ignoring both of their injuries, Lucy hugged Levy tightly. "Oh, I'm so glad you're okay!"
"Me too." Levy's smile was weak, but at least it was there. "Where's Natsu? I heard he hand one of his episodes…"
"He's fine," Lucy said shortly. "Laxus this plan and they ran off somewhere."
Moaning, Levy pushed her cracked glasses up on her nose. Lucy wondered how she'd managed to keep them on. "It would be nice to communicate plans for once…"
"It might be a little helpful if the Knights would show up," muttered Lucy. "Does anyone in the country even know what's going on here?"
Her friend only grimaced in response.
Sighing, Lucy stretched her arm across her shoulder, ignoring the cuts that still slowly dripped scarlet. Porlyusica had resorted to bring her supplies out onto the hill to distribute first aid, and had properly treated the stab wound with medication so that Lucy wasn't hurting as badly anymore. Several members had been brought to the newfound shelter of the wine cellar, Naab with a broken leg, Bisca with a nasty shoulder wound. She'd seen Juvia trying to convince Gray to go as well, but he'd refused, considering the cauterization, though the nurse had grumpily treated the burn further.
Biting her lip, she glanced over to Gray and Lyon now, both standing together quietly and avoiding each others' gaze. Lucy didn't know where Ultear's body had been lain, and she didn't really want to. Seeing three people die had been enough for any lifetime. It made her wonder how true warriors managed to stay so strong.
She was starting to get cold. All the fighting had sent her blood pumping in a way which the chill hadn't mattered, but now she could feel the blood on her arms begin to freeze.
But more enemies were on their way. Herself was the last person she had time to think of.
All guild members lined up along the top of the hill, battered, holding each other up, weapons out - waiting.
Just as the vehicles chugged up to the pathway, there was a clattering sound as Natsu and Laxus appeared at the door, climbing over the rubble to run to the rest of them. Looking triumphant, Natsu held up a black box with wires and a timer. "Look upon your savior, guys!"
Gajeel, grimacing as he tightened the bandage on his bicep. "Lemme guess. A nuclear deterrent?"
Natsu shook his head quickly, rushing up to them with the box gripped tightly. "No, it's an electric wave bomb that Laxus came up with. It'll arch up six feet tall by four feet wide and then down to electrocute in a twenty foot radius, in theory… We can take 'em all out at once!"
The guild members gathered around at this point, interested, and then Natsu smacked his forehead. "Right! I need to get Cobra!"
"What?!"
Lucy watched him ignore them, taking off to the top of the hill where he hastily buried the bomb in the snow. "Don't come within twenty feet of this spot! I'll be right back!"
And with that, he sprinted back to the hall.
Lucy and Levy frowned at each other, and Levy spoke for them both. "How will he get them all around the bomb?"
"He probably didn't think it through that far," Lucy sighed. "But… if it has a six by four feet area that won't be electrocuted… if someone stood right next to it, they'd be fine, right?"
"I'd say so," Levy said. "What're you thinking?"
"And if he's getting Cobra…" Lucy continued, tapping her chin in thought. Her eyes then widened. "I know how to get them in the radius!"
Her roommate seemed concerned. "You have a lure or something?"
"Yeah…" her response, mind running at a million miles an hour. "Okay, here's what I'll do…"
When Natsu ran back, he was being chased. As planned.
"Dammit - get back here, kid! It's time for a rematch!" Cobra was yelling, racing after him with blood trailing down his face.
The vans had opened, battle resumed as Natsu skidded to a stop by where Team Shadowgear and Gajeel had just fended off their latest opponents. But as he turned to look to the hill that he was to run to in accordance to his plan, he saw…
"Lucy!" Natsu said, aghast, seeing her stand right beside where he'd buried the bomb, looking completely calm. He glared at Levy. "What is she doing up there?!"
"Calm down - she has a plan!" Levy assured him as she snatched his arm. "She said she had something to lure them all over and she won't get electrocuted because she's in the dome radius. She wants you to set it off once she holds up whatever she has as bait."
"Dammit, no!" Natsu ran a hand through his hair. "That timer is set to start when a person gets within a certain distance in the radius and I can't reset it and I was going to use a lure and roll out of the way-"
"Stop this!" yelled Lucy's voice from the hill. "You want the keys? They're here! Get them and leave!"
To Natsu's horror, he saw Cobra freeze behind him, eyes locked greedily on the pouch Lucy held up. That's what Natsu had been planning to use, except he'd been going to run before the bomb went off because-
"Get the girl!" Cobra shouted, making the soldiers instantly follow orders and run at her…
"Yeah, the four foot area around the bomb won't get hit with electrocution, but the thing doesn't just release a wave; it's gonna blow up!" snarled Natsu. Levy clapped a hand to her mouth, and Gajeel muttered a curse. "It's a tiny explosion compared to my other stuff, but the shrapnel fired off at that range could easily kill a normal human-"
Natsu paused. He felt his eyes grow wide as he looked down at his hands in realization. "I'm not a normal human…"
He heard Gajeel's breath catch. "Salamander, don't you dare-Natsu!"
But Natsu had already taken off, running faster than he ever had, up, past all of the soldiers swarming to his partner. Had to get to her, had to…
The sound of the timer remote sounded from his pocket.
Ten.
Faster.
Nine.
Have to be faster.
Eight.
They were all in the twenty foot radius by now.
Seven.
His breaths were sharp in the frozen air.
Six.
She stood strong, face set and hand held high.
Five.
The pain in his body faded away. "Lucy!"
Four.
His hands were thrust outward. One under, one over.
Three.
His vision sharpened. Speed increased. Heart raced. Dragon Force.
Two.
He made it to the middle of the circle, leaping with hands outstretched as he tackled Lucy to the ground within the four foot area.
One.
He turned his back to the bomb, holding her tightly in front of him, bowing his head low so that it wouldn't get hit, and shielding her with his body.
Zero.
The bomb blew apart. The cackles of the electric wave burst from the device. Natsu knew his back was probably shredded, but he didn't feel it. Not in Dragon Force.
Arms shaking around Lucy, he looked up, seeing, sure enough, every enemy sprawled out on the ground,
A hush fell over the hill. Slowly, Natsu backed away, feeling himself slip out of Dragon Force, more able to recognize the pain now racking across his body, blood beginning to soak his shirt.
Lucy held him up by the arms, snow covering her body, tears clouding her eyes. "You idiot!"
"Says the girl that stood next to the thing I called a bomb and thought it wouldn't explode," he muttered, eyes fluttering in the agony. "What a weirdo."
Letting out something that sounded like a mix between a sob and a laugh, he felt her fingers slide around into his face to his hair as she held him to her shoulder. Natsu was grateful for this; he was pretty sure he would've fallen over otherwise. His hands weakly gripped her waist to stay upright, and they stayed silent for a moment. Everything was. Finally.
Then-
"Natsu Dragneel."
Slowly, they both looked up, with the other guild members, to a man that had just stepped out of the van.
His skin was pale, hair black, eyes gentle with tears flowing freely from them. In simple garments, just a black button down shirt, matching pants, and a mantle, he stood perfectly still, eyes locked on Natsu.
The gaze sent a chilling shiver down Natsu's spine as he returned it achingly rising to his feet. The slices in his back nearly made him pass out, but he set his jaw. "Whaddya you want?"
That's when nine figures stepped out from the van as well, all hooded so that their features were indistinguishable. But all carried weapons, and Natsu knew this fight wasn't over.
The man said nothing.
"I said," Natsu growled, friends making their way to stand beside him. "What. Do. You. Want? How do you know my name?"
This time, the mysterious guy opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a loud humming. With gasps and exclamations, Natsu saw the others point upwards. Helicopters.
Lucy groaned at his side. "More of them? When will this end?"
"No, it's the Knights!" Levy cried out in glee. "Look at the emblems on the sides!"
Sure enough, the King's seal with the Black Knights addition was painted proudly across the three black aircrafts. Guild members whooped and cheered, thrusting their fists into the sky.
They hovered low, occupants rolling out and standing with weapons at the ready. They were all in full gear, faces covered and patches of their rankings stitched on their shoulders. There were about thirty of them, and all turned their eyes to the crying man.
"Stand down! Any movement will provoke our attack!" the supposed leader of the Knights shouted out.
While most people would have panicked at the sight easily, the crybaby looked around rather calmly, once more looking to Natsu. "I hope to see you again."
"That feeling is not mutual."
Before Natsu could even see what happened, something shot out from the sky, and their vision was clouded by what Natsu knew to be a steam grenade, made purely for cover. There was coughing on the water vapor, the sound of clattering footsteps, the light buzz of an engine, and Lucy's hand clutching his arm before a dark object rose up from the fog. Squinting, Natsu could make out the shape of some sort of plane before it took off through the morning sky, faster than anything he'd ever seen in his life and breaking the sound barrier in mere seconds.
And when the steam cleared, the man and the nine figures were gone.
In Lucy's opinion, the clean up in the aftermath was even more messy than the battle.
The King's Black Knights arrested every dark guild member they found scattered on the ground and took them off to a prison, leaving behind several Knights to question Fairy Tail members. The infirmary, now safe, was filled to the brim. Natsu was lying on his stomach, having nearly squeezing the life out of Lucy's hand, biting down hard on his scarf, as Porlyusica pulled shards from his back.
The townspeople had slowly trickled back once they'd been assured that it was safe, in tears about their precious homes and everything that had happened. Yet, construction crews were in the area by the next day, digging up the rubble of the town and Fairy Tail's guild hall and dojo. The members of the other guilds, though rather having had enough of Fairy Tail for one year, remained. Lucy knew it was to honor Ultear at her funeral, but she didn't want to think about it. Not yet.
Since Lucy was one of the few able to stand well enough, she found herself in a bombardment of the Knights' questioning along with several others. While she tiredly sat it out, wishing only to see her bed, Gajeel wasn't as accommodating.
"Maybe if you bastards had been here sooner, you could have seen it for yourself!" he snapped, losing his cool after only ten questions. "My guild was just destroyed - maybe you should be interrigatin' the ones who attacked us and murdered one of our members!"
They excused him for the day.
Finally, Lucy was let free, and found herself at Natsu's bedside. It was the night after the battle already. He was sleeping soundly, back stitched together under the bandages.
She brushed some hair away from his face, breathing out deeply. Seeing his eye twitch at the contact, she quickly drew her hand away, but it was too late; Natsu cracked one eye open, looking up at her and managing a small smile. "Heya, partner. You should be asleep…"
"Yeah," Lucy sighed, sitting back in her chair and leaning her head against the wall. When her gaze drifted to the window, she saw the stars clearly. "I took a nap earlier and a shower and changed, but… I dunno, I figured I'd check on you before I go back. How are you feeling?"
To her alarm, he shifted onto his side, but he waved her off when she started forward. "I'll be fine. I've had worse."
"You say that every time."
"Because I have!" he protested, and she laughed.
"Sure, dragon boy."
There was a silence. Lucy looked back out the window to the moonlight rippling on the water. Here, she could almost pretend it had all never happened…
Feeling his eyes on her, she looked back down, causing him to clear his throat and say hesitantly, "Hey, Lucy?"
She frowned at his tone. "Yeah?"
Raising his arm up to rub the back of his neck, he went on, "I… have another Christmas present for you. I just didn't get the chance…"
"I don't need another Christmas present!" Lucy said, aghast. "You already gave me the best-"
"Here," he said, ignoring her. After a few moments of fingering his wrist, he drew off a pink bracelet, snatching her hand to clasp it on. Lucy watched, confused, as he took off her old black one and put it back on his wrist. Then he just murmured, "I just thought it would match your mark better."
Smiling, Lucy decided to take his word for it; it's not like she would probably ever know if they meant anything different than one another anyway. "Thank you."
With his signature grin across his face triumphantly, he flopped back down onto his stomach, beginning to snore in mere minutes.
Gray was quiet.
Of course, that wasn't a strange occurrence - he'd been known as the strong, silent type before. But even when Lyon, Gramps (once he'd woken and been able to get up), Jellal, or Meredy asked him the occasional, hesitant question about the funeral, about his opinion on the burial, he could only manage a shrug and grunt of, "Fine."
Speaking seemed pointless. A lot of it did. The details went through one ear and out the other, mostly. He managed to hear "set funeral for Tuesday", "ordered a casket", "can speak at the wake" and something about "burial at Cardia Cathedral". Pointless.
None of it changed the fact that Ultear was gone.
He escaped from the master's office as soon as possible, wandering away from the others and up to the solace of his room. There had been crying, choked up speech, and many other things that Gray couldn't even manage himself. He was just tired. Wanted his mind to rest and forget everything that had happened.
He lowered himself down to his bed, staring at the opposite wall. So maybe he and his sister hadn't been the closest. Maybe, after she'd seen her mother murdered right before her eyes along with them, she'd hated and disowned him. Maybe he'd held a boiling hatred in return for years.
With tingling fingers, he reached down to his pocket. From it he pulled the piece of paper that bore the image of Ur, smiling with her daughter held on her hip. It was a commissioned drawing that Gray had asked Natsu to do based off of an old picture. It had been the peace treaty.
It was funny to think it was only about a day since he'd given the picture to Ultear for Christmas, having pulled her off to the side and muttered, "We're both children of Ur - she wouldn't want us to hate each other. Merry Christmas."
She'd pulled him into a hug, tears brimming at the sight of the drawing as she tucked it into her pocket for safekeeping.
And now he held it back in his hands, having found it out on the cobblestone, edge stained with her blood.
Lost in his thoughts, Gray jolted up when he heard a quiet knock on the door. Swallowing dryly, he managed, "Who is it?"
"I-it is only Juvia," came her gentle voice from behind the door. "She was only wondering if she could do anything for Gray-sama."
Tucking the picture away under some papers on his desk, he rose to his feet, numbly treading to his door and cracking it open. He looked down at her, in her blue pajamas and her hair flowing onto her shoulders. Concern was written into every inch of her face. "No."
He shut the door, sliding down with his back against it. Gray let his face fall into his hands, pushing his hair up and grasping it. He knew he should feel bad for shutting her out, but…
Hearing a light sliding, he realized that Juvia had taken the same position on the other side if the door. He could feel her warmth. Hear her hum softly a song that he remembered. He closed his eyes, letting the memory of the words wash over him.
I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again…
Gray listened to her for a long time, letting himself breathe out, feel the calmness wash over him. Then he stood. He opened the door. And he let her in.
Good day, darling clementines,
Well, this was some explosion/Nalu/what/yay/depressing/Nalu/depressing/Gruvia for ya… Well, I can assure you that Gray's reactions were realistic, at least. I've recently been through the same thing so I feel his mojo right now… I know what you're gonna say. "Lucy just revealed the keys to everyone! What will they say?" Loves, I think if I were in the situation, I wouldn't even ask about the weird lure Lucy held up. I'd be focused on many other things after that battle, so I assume the characters would more or less let it go, what with the grieving and injuries and guild needing to be rebuilt. More shipping status stuff next chapter!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPEEDY! Folks, Speedy60704's birthday is today, he's amazing, and this is the very least I could do for him. THANKS FOR BEING MY BUDDY, BUDDY, AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT BIRTHDAY!
Eh, I know this chapter was shorter, but it's because some big stuff happens next… HEHEHE NALU GOODNESS… and I know this arc seemed shorter than usual, but guys, you'll notice that my chapters were a lot shorter back in the Phantom arc than they are now, so I've been putting more in each chapter…
*ANYWAY Manga spoilers ahead…*
HOLY HELL WEASEL 419 CAME OUT EARLY!
As if 418 didn't give me enough feels - don't NATSU AND LUCY LOOK AMAZING?! (I like his hair either way *shrug*) It's so perfect that Lucy's keeping track of all of her friends - a slightly obsessive behavior, but it's something she would do; she holds the group together. And that's also what Natsu asked her to do.
Then Natsu just shows up and wins the entire Grand Magic Games by himself. Of course. (that cape tho)
BUT THEN WHEN THEY HUNG OUT IN LUCY'S HOUSE JUST LIKE OLD TIMES AND HE SAW THE MAP AND LOOKED AT HER ALL CONCERNED AND THEN WROTE FAIRY TAIL GRAFFITI AND THEY WENT OFF EXACTLY LIKE IN CHAPTER ONE AHHHH IT'S ALL TOO PERFECT OKAY!?
Oh, I'm so excited to see the other members find the Fairy Tail flame message that Natsu left on the palace in a newspaper or something, and just think, "Dammit, Natsu…"
Questions and concerns from some of my favorite people in the universe - How could I explain how much I love you? 1,309 REVIEWS WHAT THE HECK HOW DID THIS HAPPEN THIS IS AMAZING AND YOU ALL MAKE ME FEEL SO GREAT AND MOTIVATED TO GET THE NEXT CHAPTER OUT FOR YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Sorry that I update when you guys are about to sleep. Hehe.
Please don't cry, lovelies. I love you. I promise.
Oh my gosh, haha, you guys come up with weirder key theories every time. :3 Keep 'em coming. Some get close, and some make me laugh… no offense. :P
Lucy shall find out about more parts of Natsu's screwed up past later…
*still hyperventilating about how people talk about it outside the internet because what*
Juvia is fantastic and I shall surely bring her out more. :)
I sure hope I don't look like Mashima. *Eyes widen as I run to the bathroom to see if I still look like a 17 year old girl rather than an adult male from Japan*
Adding Tartarus arc… I guess you'll just have to see… HEHEHEHE
Hmm, your Natsu prison theories are interesting.
Oh, please know I mean no offense when I talk of the disorders. I have a family that's deep into psychology and I only call Natsu ADHD because in this story, he legitly has ADHD. And he also does have PTSD. I would only use it as an adjective to describe a behavior if a person actually has it. I haven't ever had either, but I assure you that I've tried to research them in depth and know several people with disorders so that I know just how difficult and painful they can be, and that's how intend for them to appear in this story - I truly mean no disrespect and hope it did not offend you. :(
Haha yeah, I know Natsu's age isn't decided in the anime/manga, but I kinda just tell myself that he was 17 to better wrap my head around it…
Are you gonna see peaceful Dragon Force? Hmm, can't tell you. :)
As far as pairing Rogue with anyone… I didn't have anything planned out for him, no.
Yay! So NightLocker, any suggestions as to some moves I can add in here? Thank you!
What I meant when I said 'my boy'? Um… I just mean the guy I have a strange relationship with, aka feelings for each other but not dating. So he's not my boyfriend or just my friend. I just call him my boy. I just meant that we've been fighting a little lately so it's been distracting haha.
CeeCeeTheAlaskanDragonSlayer, we are now best friends.
Yesh, indeed, the Grand Ninjitsu Games are the next arc!
As to when Nalu will happen HAHAHA I'm not telling you. I love you.
Haha no, no disbanding! They're a school, dojo, and homeless child institution here, so it's technically not even their choice to disband.
DANG YOU GOT ME BEAT WITH THE PERCY JACKSON, Under Celestial Stars. BUT HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU READ HARRY POTTER?
I'm just going to end by saying I love you to infinity and beyond.
Mizpah,
~LoneStorm