Chapter 20- Ultear's Gift
Riku was determined to keep his eyes closed to continue the facade of being asleep. The alternative was to deal with the other dragon slayers in the hospital room with him, and so far Riku did not like the sound of that.
"Natsu sure knows how to snore."
"Now, why would you idolize that?"
"Someone knock Salamander's head off for me, I'm too far."
"Who the hell thought it would be a good idea to put us all in the same room?"
Someone who doesn't know us obviously, Riku thought grumpily. He wish he had a drink, it always made it easier to deal with these idiots. He raised his eyelid ever so slightly to take note of the room. Sure enough, the dragon slayers from the guilds were all present: Rogue, Sting, Laxus, Gajeel, Natsu, and Wendy. All of them wrapped up in bandages and looking varying degrees of impatient and annoyed. They'd been here for three days already and Riku was pretty sure he was fine, though some of the others (like Natsu) obviously had a bit more recovering to do. Riku figured it made sense, he had fought dragons after competing in a tournament.
"Maybe if Wendy asks they'll let us go," Laxus suggested. "She's the nicest of us."
"I'm not sure you're well enough," Wendy confessed, peering over shyly at Laxus. He glared at her, but his heart didn't seem into it. It was only half as deadly as it normally was.
"Just tell them we're healed already," Gajeel snarled. "And wake that idiot up!" He grabbed a book from his bedside table and chucked it at the snoring Natsu. The book hit Natsu in the temple with a loud thunk, knocking his head to the side for a moment. He fell silent and even Riku allowed his eyes to open completely in surprise.
"Nice job, Gajeel," Rogue began, but before Gajeel could shout out in triumph, Natsu let his mouth fall open again and returned to snoring.
"It's even louder than before," observed Wendy with a giggle.
"Just let him rest," Sting said, putting his hands behind his head and crossing his legs. He almost looked like he was on vacation, except for the bandages criss-crossing his torso and neck.
"You're just saying that because he's your iiiidddooolll," Gajeel teased.
Sting shot him a glare, but not before quickly making sure that Natsu was still asleep. "That's not true," he said. "I just figure he deserves to rest considering he's the only one who actually defeated a dragon."
The room became suddenly tense with the topic of discussion that Riku had overheard on and off for the last three days. No one, except Natsu, had been able to defeat a dragon. In fact, all the dragons had simply disappeared, turned to dust and returned to their time period four hundred years ago (if eavesdropping on Levy was a reliable form of information gathering).
"We even had two on one at one point," Laxus recalled. "And we didn't even make a dent."
Riku made a noise of agreement and the dragon slayers all jumped in surprise.
"Salamander took down a dragon," Gajeel agreed. "But, only with another dragon. He didn't slay anything himself. He got a friend to help out."
"How did they become friends, anyway," Sting asked curiously. Gajeel and Laxus shrugged.
"That kid could make friends with a mop," Riku observed.
"It just means we need to get stronger," Wendy said encouragingly. "Next time we'll be able to protect everyone!"
"Next time," Sting said with a smirk. "You planning on bring more dragons for us to practice on?"
Wendy shook her head and began to try to assure him that it wasn't what she meant, but Natsu's voice interrupted her apologies.
"Next time we will defeat Acnologia."
They all turned to Natsu, who looked more serious than Riku had ever seen him. The expression didn't stay long. It melted into a look of surprise as he looked around the room.
"Wait, where are we? This doesn't smell like Lucy's house?"
"You idiot," Gajeel snapped. "We're in the hospital still. We haven't even made it back to Magnolia yet!"
"Why would you be in Lucy's house," Roque asked curiously, but the Fairy Tail mages gave him a significant look. Better not to ask with those two.
Rogue cleared his throat, getting the message loud and clear, before saying, "and how do you know Acnologia will be next?"
"I'm wondering the same thing," Laxus said. "And I bet Riku'd be interested in your thoughts as well."
Natsu glanced over at Riku as if seeing him for the first time. "Oh, hey Riku! They really put us all together, didn't they?"
Gajeel looked like he was about to leap across the beds separating them and strange Natsu. Instead he snarled, "Salamander..."
"Easy," Natsu said crossing his arms. "Future Rogue told me." Rogue shifted uncomfortably, but all eyes were on Natsu as he continued. "He told me that in the future Acnologia is the king of the dragons and he's the reason there is so much death and destruction. He wanted to use the dragons to stand up to Acnologia with his dragon taming magic. He said only a dragon even stood a chance against Acnologia."
"After our sorry performance," Sting said. "I'm thinking that this Future Rogue has a point. Say, Rogue, if you have dragon taming magic, why not just tame Acnologia?"
"I don't have dragon taming magic," Rogue said.
"Even if you did," Riku said darkly, "It wouldn't work on Acnologia."
"It's like Wendy said then," Natsu said beaming at them all. "We'll just have to get stronger!"
"Let's start by hearing some more about Acnologia," Gajeel said. "We saw him on Tenrou Island and didn't stand a chance. What else should we know Riku?"
Riku blinked for a moment as all eyes turned to him. No one had really ever asked him about Acnologia in that way, nor had he really considered what would be needed to kill his father. After all, he'd originally gone looking for him to get assistance in controlling his magic. It was only recently that he'd been discovering the chaos that Acnologia had been getting into, including trying to kill his guild-mates. How would you kill Acnologia, unless you were a dragon? he peered at his hands, remembering his vision on the battlefield.
"Even together, I don't know if anyone can take down the The Black Dragon in the Book of Apocalypse," Riku said aloud.
"Oh, we'll be able to do it," Natsu assured them. "We're dragon slayers! You just think about everything you remember about him and we'll make sure to study up."
Despite Natsu's sudden confidence, Riku wasn't as convinced. He wasn't able to say so,though, because at that moment a stern looking nurse arrived with a basket in her hands. She glared around the room at them with such ferocity that not even Gajeel demanded he be released from the hospital.
"Got some mail here," she said coldly. Walking around she stopped at each bed, handing them an invitation and other trinkets. She seemed very over the whole affair, if Riku was being honest. By the time she got to him, she just left the basket and walked away, sighing as if she couldn't think of a bigger waste of time than checking up on their vitals. Riku looked into the basket finding letters and notes from the mages of Fairy Tail, a get well card and candy from Erza (she was probably in the hospital somewhere as well), and.. what was this? Riku pushed a few notes to the side to see a familiar, almost glass-like pink rose, a note attached to it.
"Another book, Gajeel," Laxus observed, a smirk pulling his lips. "Now who could that be from?"
"Mind your business," Gajeel snarled, rolling up his sleeve. "Just cause you've got a reputation, don't mean I won't take you down right here."
Sting sat up excitedly, "Boy, it was getting boring, I'll jump in on that!"
"Mind your own business, Blondie," Gajeel snapped back.
"Yeah," Laxus agreed. "Gajeel is very sensitive about his admirer."
That was enough to do it. Gajeel transformed his hand into an iron rod and slammed it against Laxus' cheek. Laxus managed to look bored by the hit, but his eyes flashed as he slammed his own hand down across Gajeel's head.
"Hey, don't leave us out," Sting & Natsu called in unison, jumping into the fight.
The nurse, who had been smiling at Wendy (clearly her favorite, Riku thought) turned to see a full on brawl that was quickly getting out of hand, knocking beds and medical equipment over. As she stormed over, ready to give them a piece of her mind, Riku saw the perfect opportunity. He stood and separated himself from the medical machines checking his heartbeat and blood pressure.
"You're leaving," Wendy asked curiously.
Riku tucked the basket around his arm and stretched, glancing over at the brawl, (which now included Rogue, somehow). Lightning and fire were shooting out of the fight every so often and a curtain nearby caught fire.
"I figure it's a good time to make my exit," Riku said. "Let's keep it between us, eh?"
Wendy nodded and waved as Riku hurried from the room as quietly and quickly as he could, grabbing his coat from the wall on his way out.
Outside the sun was warm and the sounds of the city were as loud and busy as they had been the first day Riku arrived. He pulled on his coat and found that his left arm went right through the side. That wouldn't do. He couldn't wear this cloak anymore, but then again he couldn't continue walking around shirtless in the streets like some kind of pervert. He wasn't Gray.
He looked at the clock tower. He supposed he had enough time to quickly hop into a store and grab something. He spotted a small shop at the end of the street, right on his way. Perfect, he thought, moving towards it as he unwrapped his excess bandages.
...
He glanced at the clock as he exited the shop, now fully clothed again. He was late. He hurried to the coffee shop one street over and looked around. To the left, rubble still lay about. To the right, it looked like any dragon-free city in Fiore. Riku scanned the tables at the coffee shop. There wasn't anyone familiar there. He looked back at the note. But this is where he was suppose to be.
Where is she, Riku thought annoyed. Don't tell me she already left. No... wait. A breeze blew past and he could smell her scent. He moved through the patio tables, following the scent until he came to a table occupied by a small elderly woman, her gray hair pulled into a bun. A cane leaned against one of the free chairs and in the center of the table was an almost glass-like pink rose. That had to be her.
Riku sat down, stunned at the woman before him. "Ultear?"
The old woman turned to him, tilting her head so a few stray strands of gray hair framed her face and smiled at him.
"What happened? Where are Jellal and Meredy? Is this a trick?"
Ultear held up a shaking hand. "No more questions. I didn't call you here for an interrogation."
A waitress brought another cup of tea and placed it in front of Riku, filling it with hot water before leaving.
"Don't worry about Jellal and Meldy, I'll write them a letter explaining it all. They're both fine, I checked," she looked at him over her raised tea cup, sipping lightly, before placing it down with a sigh. "Clearly we can't get to the issue at hand until I explain my appearance."
Riku nodded.
"I performed a very powerful spell called Last Ages. It allows me to turn back time, but at the cost of my own time," Ultear explained.
"Your own time? You mean," Riku's voice broke for a moment and he cleared his throat.
Ultear nodded, "yes, Riku. I don't have much time left. Whether it is five years or one, I'm not sure, but certainly my time is now limited."
"So, those visions that we all saw," Riku said. "Gray, Erza, Jellal, all those people dying, my losing control and turning into a dragon... it all really happened?"
"You could look at it that way," Ultear agreed. "It happened but I turned back time. I didn't know your memories would remain, but I am glad to have helped, even just a little."
"A little, Ultear," Riku began, but Ultear waved her hand for him to quiet down. He lowered his voice to continue, "You saved at least ten people's lives, probably more." He blinked, leaning back stunned. "You save my life."
"I'm happy," Ultear said, beaming again. "And even more happy that we've now come to the point of this meeting."
"You have to tell someone," Riku said. "You're the reason we won at all."
"I chose to meet you because you are good at keeping secrets. Don't make me wish I gave you a letter instead," Ultear said, scowling at him. "Now, about your vision, where you turned into a dragon."
"Yeah?"
"I did some research these last few days and I think I have a solution."
"Isn't turning back time the solution?"
"Riku, dragon slayer magic has a side effect. It can turn the mage into a dragon forever."
"Forever," Riku blinked. "Every dragon slayer? Wendy, Laxus, Natsu, Gajeel, all of them?"
"I'm not sure about lacrima dragon slayers, but those who learn from dragons, yes," Ultear said. "But it's you I'm most worried about. You're the only one who has shown any sign of the transformation happening. You lost control and turned into a dragon."
"So, it's only a matter of time," Riku said.
"Well, there is good news, with conditions."
"Alright," Riku said. "I'm open to good news."
"I have enough power to freeze your dragon-side. If I can freeze it in time then you won't turn into a dragon. You should still be able to use almost all of your slayer magic, but without risk of transforming."
"What's the conditions?"
"You need to learn control to prevent yourself from undoing my work. Once it is unfrozen you won't be able to freeze it again. Then, it will be inevitable."
Riku ran his hand across his face in exasperation. "I know I need to learn control, that's why I tried to find Acnologia."
"Acnologia can't teach you control," Ultear said, sipping her tea again. "Even if he could he wouldn't want to. He's the dragon of chaos and destruction and you said he trained you to be like him. He wants you to destroy, not control."
"So, what do I do," Riku huffed.
Ultear beamed again and Riku was taken aback for a moment by how truly happy she seemed, happier than he had ever seen her."I know a man who can help, if you're willing to train with him," she said.
...
A few days later found Riku standing on a balcony, looking down at the shenanigan filled ballroom below. He'd been flattered (like everyone was) by the King's invitation to all the mages as a thank you for their work. Still, he was pretty sure the king had no idea what he was opening his palace up to. Dragons might not have made this place crumble, but having this many wild mages in one place might do the trick.
Below him, Riku could see Sting and Gajeel sharing a drink. Lucy, Mirajane, Lisanna, and Yukino arrived and Riku watched the exchange between Sting and Yukino.
"Will you join us again," Sting called loudly. Too loudly, Riku figured. Sure enough, instead of Yukino's response, a drunk Kagura replied instead. Yukino would join Mermaid Heel! A fight started almost at once between the two. And where there was a fight... Sure enough, Fairy Tail and the other guilds leaped into the brawl demanding the overwhelmed girl join their guild, inciting an inter-guild brawl. Riku watched as table of champagne glasses got overturned. Cana's not gonna like that, he thought with a chuckle, sipping from his own glass.
As quickly as it had started, the brawl ended as the king was announced. Everyone fell silent, but found themselves looking not at the king, but Natsu in a crown.
"I am the new king," he called out to the room and Riku nearly sprayed his drink out of his nose.
Some dancing began as the princess talked with Lucy. Riku let his eyes wander to Juvia who confronted a fully clothed (thank Mavis) Gray. The confrontation was short lived and ended with her snuggling up to him as usual. Across the ballroom, Freed seemed to be losing his mind at the number of women hanging off Laxus. Riku scanned the dance floor, but didn't see Erza with her wild spins and footwork.
"This seems familiar."
Riku felt a smile pull across his face as he turned to see Erza standing before him, dressed in a low cut dress with a black top, a silver waist and a maroon skirt. Her hair was pulled back into an elegant up-do, crowned with a golden hair piece. She moved next to him and they turned in unison to look back at the ballroom below. Riku was very aware that their elbows were just centimeters apart, almost touching. He wondered if she could feel the static electricity that leaped from his elbow to hers.
"This reminds me of that covert operation we did," Erza said with a smile, glancing at Riku. "Remember?"
"With the bandits who were targeting rich travelers Malba City? Yeah I remember, I got blood everywhere after you punched me in the nose during our dance," Riku grinned.
"I told you," Erza said embarrassed. "I felt someone try to snatch my purse."
"I know," Riku agreed. "I don't know what hurt more: your uppercut or Mystogan's laughter for a whole week straight."
"Well, it was fun before that," Erza said with a sigh. "To think that some people spend all their time on balls and parties."
"It's hard to believe," agreed Riku. He glanced over to see her head piece slipping. "Here," he offered, taking her elbow so that Erza was facing him. He carefully re-positioned the golden head piece, narrowed his eyes at his work, then moved it slightly again. He nodded satisfied. "Perfect!"
Riku realized Erza was blushing as red as her hair, which made a flush cross Riku's face as well. They both quickly turned back to the floor below. Riku wasn't sure what to do. He could practically hear Mystogan's teasing in the back of his mind.
"You know this reminds me of the night you left to go find Acnologia," Erza said softly. Riku risked a quick glance at her. Her scarlet hair was blocking the details of her face as she moved her champagne glass in circles.
"I didn't think I'd be gone so long," Riku admitted. He had something he needed to tell her, but he wasn't sure how to say it. Was now the time? Was there ever a time?
"I know. I didn't think we'd be gone for seven years either. I'm glad that we were able to make it up to everyone. Now they can hold their heads high again."
"I'm sure they're grateful," Riku said. "Just look at them!"
"I'm grateful for you too, Riku."
Riku froze like a deer in headlights. He had not been expecting that. He took a gulp of his champagne and put the empty glass on the table. He didn't need to accidentally break glassware off of a balcony onto unsuspecting people below.
"You never mention it, but you're always there to protect me when I need it," Erza said.
"You don't need protecting, Erza," Riku said with a smile. "You're one of the strongest, most fearless people I know."
"I know, but you are there when I do need help," Erza said, she turned, a smile lighting up her face. "You pulled me out of the Tower of Heaven and you saved me in the dragon battle. No matter where we go, I know you'll always be there to catch me. That is what makes me fearless."
"Erza," Riku began, he had to tell her good-bye this time. He couldn't let another seven years go by without her knowing that he was coming back, but words were so hard! How do you tell someone that without sounding like your running away and never planning to return?
"I figured you were probably up here because you are planning your escape," Erza admitted. "And I know you're bad at good-byes."
"You knew?"
"Jellal told me that a while ago Ultear mentioned that she found someone who could help you control your powers," Erza admitted. "I figured he'd tell you soon and when I saw you up here alone, I thought he already had."
They fell into a comfortable silence, watching as Cana and Bacchus drank. Nearby, Lucy attempted to pull Natsu away from the food table while Gray danced with Wendy. Juvia watched from behind a column.
"We still have tonight," Riku muttered, more to himself than Erza.
Ezra looked at him with a puzzled look.
"Let's see if we can get through this dance without a broken nose," Riku suggested, holding out his hand. She beamed back at him, taking it shyly as he led her off the balcony and towards the dance floor. "And I'll do the spinning tonight," Riku added. "Don't want to ruin your dress with nay motion sickness."
Erza let out a laugh in response as they reached the dance floor. Riku put one hand on her waist and used the other to take her hand. So far so good, now if he could just manage not to step on her toes, he'd consider tonight an overwhelming success.
Thanks for reading & reviewing (if you like). This ends Book II (with some fluff), but I think I'll continue with Book III, which I think will be the final installment. Now that Riku has a way to train to get some control, he has to find this mysterious man. Maybe he'll be able to give Riku some tips so that they can actually defeat Acnologia before the future becomes horrible. We'll see!