Natsu didn't think he'd ever been as shocked as he was when he took that small cup of water and looked into it, figuring there would be no other reason Wendy would give him a cup of water. A familiar face resided in the clear surface, and Wendy reluctantly retreated from the attic when she was sure he wouldn't drop it. She looked like she wanted to stay, but had been ordered otherwise.

"Grandeeney," Natsu breathed, unprepared. He'd not seen the gentle sky dragon in a very long time. Seventeen years, to be exact.

"Greetings, Natsu," Grandeeney said. She blinked warmly at him. "It's good to see you doing so well."

Natsu opened his mouth and then clamped it shut, jaw clenched. He wasn't sure what to say to the sky dragon after everything that had happened with Igneel. She'd not exactly backed him up – although Wendy had come with him. He just stared at the small cup of water that had been used as a reflection for scrying, wondering what a dragon would want with him now of all times.

She has news about Lucy, a little voice in the back of his mind whispered and his shoulders tightened.

Lucy was alive; he knew it. He felt her as easily as he breathed.

So either he was about to receive the news that she'd be executed, and it was a warning about the sudden loss he'd undoubtedly feel, or he'd never see Lucy again, because she'd be imprisoned on an island he couldn't go back to. Neither option was very nice. Nor did he like it.

So, Natsu did as he always did. He put on a mask of irritation. "What do you want?" he said sharply, wanting nothing more than to get this over with. He almost demanded to know where his Marked One was, but he didn't dare. He didn't want them knowing just how desperate he was to drag her home. Didn't need Grandeeney commenting with fascination about END's ability to feel when the dragons had mocked him for centuries about it.

Grandeeney didn't get offended – she never did. "Igneel wishes for you to come home. He believes that it's time for him to explain himself."

Natsu's mouth nearly fell open.

All that stress. All of that worry about how the hell he was going to get permission to go back to the nest in order to retrieve Lucy – all while getting out without so much as hearing a rumble from the Fire Dragon King.

Only to hear that Igneel himself wanted Natsu to come to Tenrou.

Fury sparked in his chest. "Igneel wishes for me to go home? Tenrou's not my home. It hasn't been for years. I don't have a home at all because of him." Not entirely true, he supposed; Fairy Tail had become a type of home, one that was now incomplete without Lucy to pester him.

"I understand," she murmured in a gentle tone that only made him angrier, "that the last time you were here, things didn't go well, but it has been said and the Fire Dragon King has given his orders."

"Orders?" Natsu gave a barked laugh. "I'll go back to the nest the day the old man grovels at my feet. In case you've forgotten, I'm not a dragon. He made that clear when I left." Natsu curled a lip at the memory, thinking of all the cruel words that had been spat at him in the fire dragon's rage. He'd never forget the way they'd sunk into him – the betrayal that had accompanied them when the one friend he'd had after Zeref had tore him apart had turned on him. Natsu lifted his chin. "I don't have to follow his orders."

He was a little surprised when irritation suddenly sparked in Grandeeney's eyes. The dragoness was famous for eternal patience and kindness. She so rarely lost her temper. In all of the years he'd spent at the nest, he'd only seen it happen once, when Metalicana had taken Wendy out with Gajeel on a trip to a neighboring island and the young dragon had come home scarred from a fight with a wild mythic.

"The Fire Dragon King has given you the permission you need to retrieve your Marked One," she snapped, "and you will refuse him? You'll abandon someone so precious for petty reasons?"

Natsu's stomach twisted with guilt, but he shoved it back, pain from so many years of anger resurging as he growled, "Igneel played with me for seven hundred years. He played the part of a friend. Tricked me into thinking that I might be something more than a monstrosity pieced together by my brother." Fury grew as something hot burned in the back of his eyes. "I trusted him, and he took that trust and turned it against me, just like Zeref did. All of those centuries, and the best thing I learned from him was that you can trust no one. So screw off. I'm not doing anything for Igneel or his orders."

Lucy was the only one worth trusting – she and Happy. She'd proven it time and time again, defending him against the disgust of Gajeel and Levy, blatantly stating that she didn't care he was END – even as his allies of nearly two decades would have turned on him the second such a fact came to light.

Grandeeney stared him down through the small cup of water, and despite the small size of her image…Natsu thought he could feel the same intensity as if she was towering over him, her teeth bared.

But instead of snarling and cursing him as he expected, Grandeeney sighed. "I cannot force you to do what you do not want to do, Natsu. It is something we all learned long ago." Had she been capable of a human form, a wistful smile likely would have been on her face. "But coming from a nest of dragons in which the last remaining ones have all lost something as precious as a Marked One, I beg of you to retrieve Lucy. She doesn't deserve to suffer for your hatred of Igneel. Consider her, in your anger. That is all I ask."

Natsu's jaw tightened as he studied Grandeeney. "I wanna talk to her."

But Grandeeney shook her head. "It was forbidden. Igneel will not allow it, therefore the island will not allow it. I'm uncertain of what else was forbidden and allowed, but should you wish, I'm sure you can leave the island without so much as a glance in Igneel's direction. If it is truly your desire, then I will ensure it. But do not leave her here to hurt more than she is."

"She's hurt?" Natsu growled, immediately furious with the sky dragon.

A soft chuckle left her lips. "I cured her injuries, but there is more than physical pain to contend with, Natsu. She is lonely. She hides it, but it is something even Metalicana can witness."

Natsu said nothing. He knew that. Alongside the relief that had radiated from her for days – maybe even from him, too – was the loneliness that had lingered. It had started long before she'd appeared on Tenrou Island. He'd felt it from the moment he'd opened his eyes.

It reminded him of his own loneliness – the loneliness that accompanied the thought of Igneel and Zeref. It twisted low in his gut and hurt like hell, even when he smiled. He felt it even when Lucy was around sometimes.

It was for that reason that Natsu swallowed thickly and said hoarsely, "You'll make sure I don't have to see Igneel?"

"I believe you should, but if you truly don't want to…then yes. I will ensure it. I will make Weissologia help me."

The dragon who had fathered Sting had always been one of the dragons who was most loyal to Grandeeney. He'd do whatever she asked, trusting her opinion with no questions asked.

Natsu glanced back at the window he'd crawled through. "I don't know when I'll get there. Weeks, maybe. There's a storm, and we'll cross by ship. And I'll have to have people with me. I can't fly and I certainly can't row myself that far out into the ocean."

Grandeeney chuckled, and the sound smoothed any ruffled feelings he'd had, reminding him of the kindness she alone had showed him in the aftermath of Zeref – when even Igneel had grown frustrated with his confusion and stormed off. "So long as they don't step on the island, then it'll be fine. Igneel can't deny that much."

Natsu took a shaken breath and then said, "Can you tell Luce? That I'm coming?" He was startled when a stab of pain flashed through his chest. He wanted so badly to see her face, to make sure she was okay, even if he knew perfectly well that she was okay. Feeling it was completely different than seeing it with his own two eyes. He wanted her back, where he could see her.

Briefly, Natsu wondered when Lucy had become more than just a simple partner. More than a friend. He had no words to describe the importance she'd earned in his life, nor could he remember precisely when he'd become so worried and frantic to get her back. Frustrated initially that someone had taken what he considered his, Natsu found now that he merely wanted her back just because it was where she thought she belonged.

He missed her.

Natsu curled a lip in frustration, wishing he could take the thought back as soon as it escaped. He wanted to go back to the days where he'd not felt things like that – where all he'd cared about was laughing and enjoying what he could with little regard for those around him.

Something soft and simply kind brushed against his mind, and Natsu locked onto it almost immediately, recognizing it within seconds. Lucy was confused, questioning his sudden rage and desperate confusion.

It only swelled when he curled himself as best as he could around that kindness and latched his talons into it, terrified that it would disappear into the darkness he worried would be dragged out.

Wendy was the first to hear Natsu thudding down the stairs and when he emerged, still damp from his excusion outside, she perked up. Happy meowed in greeting and she stroked his back as he flicked his tail, eyeing the water still dripping from Natsu's hair. Natsu ignored his familiar's distaste as he looked at Wendy through squinted eyes.

And then he said, "Could you contact Makarov? I need Juvia back here. And you and Chelia. And Lyon, I guess, since the bastard's apparently the one in charge of all the boats." Natsu scowled.

Wendy perked up, her dark eyes stretching wide. "You got permission?"

"Only me," warned Natsu. "Not you. Or anyone else. I'm the only one allowed on the island, but I can't get there by myself." Even if it clearly annoyed him to admit it.

Fighting her disappointment, but still hopeful that she'd at least get to see her mother, Wendy darted away to go and do just as he'd asked.

Happy deigned Natsu dry enough to approach, sniffing, but shrank back in disgust when Natsu reached out to pat his head. Natsu ignored the refusal, but dropped his hand, not wanting to push it. Happy had some sharp claws when he wanted to scratch, and he was looking inclined to do so.

Grumbling, Happy scratched his chin with a hind foot and the flash of the amulet at his throat made Natsu frown. He touched his own, fumbling with it. It was slick with water that had beaded along the surface, and he curled it safely in his chest. Happy mewed, watching with intelligent eyes, and bent his head to lick his chest, gingerly brushing his tongue over his own.

Natsu found himself smiling crookedly at his familiar. Clearly Happy felt the same as he did about their missing friend. Happy blinked up at him, reveling in the magic that he absorbed regularly, and purred loudly, as if wondering if Natsu could feel the change, too.

"Are you sure? He hissed into the pool. He stared at the water through eyes that were slit, suspicious of what he was hearing. A chill ran down his spine. "You're not lying to me?"

"I'm positive. The entire northern part of the country was demolished. There were very few survivors, none of which being the royal family. I thought the queen should know first and foremost. Or, I suppose, since she's unavailable, her Guardian." The fairy in the water curled her lips back from her teeth.

Irritated, Gajeel bared his own sharp teeth at her. She bristled. He hated Levy's people. Well, some were okay, he supposed. But most of them though that he was the scum of the world for laying his hands on their queen – even as much as a gentle caress was enough to spark fury in many of the fae kind. Especially after what'd he'd initially done to her.

"Will you pass on the information to our queen and the other figureheads in Fiore that need to know?"

"'Course. This is something we need to watch for."

A suspicious jolt in the back of his mind made him clench his jaw as he plunged a hand into the water, not wanting to speak with a fairy anymore. He'd seen the carnage that had been described before. Only once in the entirety of his life, but he had seen it, and the fairy had been right to inform him of this mess that was occurring only a few countries over. He'd need to send word to the dragons – to Metalicana, who'd been there when he'd pulled the little body out of the wreckage.

Gajeel strode swiftly from the depths of the cavern that held the scrying pool and made his way into the true Archives, where he knew Levy was working. His mouth was dry as he swept into the ancient library. He paused, studying it. The Archives had been a pain in the ass to move here, but Gajeel doubted they'd ever leave. Not with the way the magic had absorbed into the mountain. The Archives were tired of being moved with each new Keeper. It was part of the reason a Fairy Queen had been chosen as the latest Keeper – why the magic had easily accepted a long-living dragon as their Guardian.

When he spotted her, Gajeel paused to watch Levy. She was content, curled in a comfortable series of cushions they'd recently acquired. Parchment, ink, quills, books, and scrolls were scattered around her, but the young woman wasn't looking at them. She was looking up, as if searching the air for answers.

She didn't even look at him when she said, "What's wrong?" She didn't need to look at him, he supposed; she knew he was wary about something, simply because of the iron scales that decorated her arm.

Sometimes, Gajeel wondered if it had been smart, giving a fraction of himself to anyone. It was worth it. He would do it again if given the chance – give her more of the mess he was. But sometimes he worried that it was dangerous. He didn't want to turn into the rampaging creature Igneel had been eighteen years ago.

Gajeel thought over how to answer as he went to join her, sinking into the cushions with her. She sensed his concern, and put her work aside, looking to him with such trust that he felt a twist in his gut. He didn't deserve it, not after what he'd done to her so long ago.

"A fairy contacted us," he said slowly, and Levy furrowed her brow. "The entire northern portion of Enca was wiped out a few months ago."

"Months?" said Levy, confused. She turned to him entirely. "What took them so long to get the information out?"

"Levy," Gajeel said, "you don't get it. Northern Enca was erased. As in the island lost almost half of its mass when it turned into dust. The southern part of the country didn't realize it for a while, and then there was chaos. The majority of the ports were in the north. They had to wait until someone came from Sin to finally ask for help."

Levy's lips were parted in shock, her hazel eyes filled with horror. So many people – dead, never to be heard from again. Some of them likely her people. She leaped to her feet, wings fluttering at her back in her distress. "What could have done that?"

Gajeel clamped his jaws shut, fisting his hands. He had a good idea of what could have eliminated so much. Legends had been passed on for generations. He cleared his throat, and said quietly, "I have an idea, but I need to talk with Metalicana or Igneel first to confirm it."

Her gaze turned sharp as she glanced at him. "You'll be killed – by the Archives, if not the dragons, for leaving here."

"We have a scrying pool," he pointed out with a roll of his eyes. "And if I can't get through to them, I'll send word to Makarov. He'll figure out how to get the information out. Jellal might be able to convince them to listen." Who knew if the dragons would actually listen to him.

Silently, Gajeel got the feeling that the name that danced on the tip of his tongue would be the only thing he needed to stay Igneel's rage.

Levy debated for a few moments and then said, "What is it? The idea you have of what did it?"

Rather than answering, because even Gajeel hated the stories that had accompanied the name, Gajeel rose to his feet again and muttered, "I'll let you know if I get into contact with the dragons."

"Gajeel," Levy protested, but her dragon was already gone, sweeping out of the Archives in a matter of seconds.

Natsu's heading back to Tenrou and stuff is happening elsewhere! Exciting stuff.

I'll try and update next week, but it turns out I'm traveling so there may be a skip in updates! Sorry, everyone! Happy holidays! :)

Thanks to reviewers (AnimusLunari777, itsxoi, FairyTailxFanGirl, LePengwen, nkukurichan, Forbidden-Hanyou, Meow Orbit, stranger1999, Samm, Lissuin, Eyriegirl, Lodemai04, Uchida Akira, and WhatAnimeHasTaughtMe!) as well as those who favorited and followed!