Chapter 21
Once they were dressed and had shoes on, they met Jellal and Erza walking into the living room as they had just woken up. "Hey everything alright? We heard screaming." Asked Jellal. "That was Layla" answered Natsu immediately. "WHAT?" exclaimed Jellal and Erza. Evelyn called me to try to manipulate us and was torturing to do so." Lucy turned away hating that her daughter was getting punished just because she wanted to prove something. "I'm sorry" apologized Erza. "No need to be, we're going to get her back soon and I know how" Natsu said confidently. Feeling very confused, they asked how. "Evelyn gave it away when I mentioned her hometown. She said we would never find her ..and find him..whatever that means. Anyway, I know we are on the right track because as far as I know, nothing has ever scared this damn woman but when I mentioned it, I heard the fear in her voice. We got her and this time she is not going to get away. Erza and Jellal smiled for they happy Natsu and Lucy finally got a break and had something good happen. "Let's head to the gym and call Gray and Gajeel then we can begin our hunt" said Jellal. "Sounds good to me. I'm all fired up" said Natsu sounding confident and optimistic. "Aye" agreed Lucy happily. After Jellal and Erza got dressed, they were off to the gym. Erza called the other two who met them at the gym. "So, are we finally going to nab this bitch?" asked Gajeel. They all nodded making Gray and Gajeel grin in confidence. "It's about damn time" said Gray. "Enough, let's go, I want to get this done. I want my daughter back" said Natsu as they all followed behind him.
As they were walking , Natsu without turning his head said "Hey Erza..I might take that offer after all" Erza didn't say anything as Natsu caught her smiling as he turned his head forward. "Natsu..being a mafia boss. That will be something" thought Lucy. Once inside, they followed Erza to the gun room where Natsu had a great big toothy grin on his face. Natsu grabbed a couple onehanded guns, sawed- off shotgun He handed Lucy a few of the small handguns. "I don't need you shooting your arm off please so these one handed guns should do you some good" said Natsu. Gajeel grabbed a few of the long range shotguns, grenades. Gray grabbed some gernades along with some handguns. Erza and Jellal grabbed all the ammo they could for the guns and passed it to everyone. "Hey Natsu, you sure you know how to use that thing?" asked Jellal. "Seems simple enough" answered Natsu cocky as he cocked the shot gun and aimed at a mat and shot right in the middle. He turned to see Jellal and Erza surprised. " What? "he said innocently. "I thought you had never shot a gun" said Erza. "When did I ever say that?" said Natsu. Lucy shook her head amused "I never said anything either" "Where did you learn to shoot?" Gray asked. "My dad/his dad" they answered. " we didn't get to much time with him as a couple but he showed us how to shoot and aim a few times when we were with him" said Lucy. "He was training you to be ready Natsu" said Erza wisely. "This was waaaay before now Erza" "It doesn't matter, he was preparing none the less for you to take a place in the mafia" "Psh, just come off it for now, are we all ready?" he asked looking around as they all nodded their heads. "Okay, let's go hunting"
Getting a car for all of them to fit in,they drove and drove for hours until they came onto a border crossing. "This is the border crossing into Alakitasia. Once we do this, there's no turning back. Gray looked around for confirmation. Everyone nodded. "Alright, look alive people cause here we go" he said pressing his foot on the gas. They drove until they came to a town and hopped out. "Might I suggest we save the big guns until we actually get where Evelyn is. Her army of grunts is going to be the challenge, so we need the fire power." Said Gray. "Agreed" replied Jellal and Erza. "Natsu, you lead us for this" urged Erza. "Say what now?" "Whether you like it or not, you are a leader and if your going to be our boss, you need to start somewhere. So do what you were born to do…lead Natsu" she told him proudly. Taking a second to think, he then said "you want me to lead, heh, that's fine. Just don't come crying to me ,any of ya if you don't like something. They all looked at him grinning as they waited for an order. "Erza, you and Jellal take the eastern side, Gajeel , you and Gray take the western side" he ordered. They nodded as they grabbed their handhelds and split off. "Natsuu" He turned to face Lucy who had her hands behind her back. "What about me?, you didn't give me an order" she said flirting. "Oh hoho," he laughed as he grabbed at her waist causing her to squeak. "You ,Lucy Dragneel are ordered to stay with me.. Besides you should already know a dragon doesn't go anywhere without his mate. That goes for being in the mafia..gotta have my right hand by my side" "Natsu..but I'm a singer baby…least I used to be" she said sadly.
"Lucy, once this is all over and we have Layla back, I swear I will get your career back. Do I break my promises? "No, you never have" "Then listen to me baby, you will do be able to do both, it wouldn't be feel right if I didn't you there with me" "You believe in me that much huh?" she said. "Always have, always will" she hugged him as he said in a serious tone "come on, let's get going" "Yes sir" she said happily. He felt a shock go through hijm as he stuttered "dddont..cccall me that Llucy" "Why?" she asked seeing how flustered he got in an instant. Pulling her down, she let out a small yell as his face turned red as he whispered " It will be turn me on" She turned her face in amazement and disbelief as he nodded his head quickly. She got a mischievous grin on her face as Natsu said "oh no you don't , Luce whatever your thinking, now is not the time" Getting serious he said "we need to get moving, now Lucy" she nodded understanding immediately. They were both focused on getting their daughter back. They walked through the center of town as people walked by them. "What are the chances this place has..ahh" he said happily as they stopped a few feet ahead of what they saw was a huge building with the sign of Alakitasia's hall of records and history.
They felt the happiness welling up right inside them ready to bust as they ran up the stairs. Walking in the building, it was lined with bookshelves, computers and long tables. "Let's go" he said quietly walking them to the front desk where an older lady was sitting there. "How can I help you?" "Evelyn Dragneel" Natsu said bluntly. "I'm sorry, who?" she questioned but Natsu caught the tremble she tried to hide. Breathing in deeply, he bitterly said "I'm her son Natsu Dragneel" "So she did have another child" Natsu's and Lucy's eyes grew big as they heard her. "Other son?" questioned Natsu. "I thought you were her only son and that Igneel didn't have any other kids" said Lucy. "He didn't ..this must be what dad was talking about when he said she was different before I was born" Putting his fist on the glass, he leaned into it "I know your hiding something. "Natsu" ..Lucy urged restraint. "We don't time to be nice..look ma'am, if this helps. I hate her with every fiber of my being…and she has taken my child hostage" he looked hoping she would get what he was saying. "Stay there Mr. Dragneel" she said as she got up and walked all the way around to meet them. "Your mother is a wicked, powerful woman" "Tell us something we don't know" said Lucy with attitude. Natsu gave her a look silencing her. "Continue" Natsu said to the lady. "We don't have much , you would find that in the town of Magenta" " Is that where she was born?" he asked eagerly as the woman nodded. "YES! Exclaimed Natsu and Lucy excited. She gave them a confused look not understanding. "I'm sorry , we have been searching for a month to get our daughter back. This is the first real lead we have to getting her back..thank you" said Lucy humbled. She gave them a nice smile as she said "I'm glad I was able to help." "Come on Luce, we gotta grab the others" said Natsu as he pulled Lucy making her laugh as they ran out the door. "Good luck to the two of you, I hope your able to get her back" the woman thought. "GUYS!" screamed Natsu and Lucy as they ran to the car. Everyone came running as they all panted getting to the car. "What's up and what's with the smiles?" Natsu started laughing freaking the others out. "Uhhh, Natsu?" "Has his head cracked ?" asked Gajeel. "Nope" Lucy said happily.
"Then why is he laughing?" said Gray. "You found something didn't you?" said Erza. "hehe, yup. We got her" he said confidently. "What did you find Natsu?" Jellal asked. "Her hometown. It's called Magenta. The lady said we would find what we needed there" he replied calming down from laughing. Everyone felt confidence seeing Natsu and Lucy look so happy after they had been miserable for weeks. Piling into the car, Gray plugged Magenta into their gps and they were on the way. Natsu and Lucy held hands tightly. "Can this really be happening Natsu" said Lucy chipper. "Yes it can Luce, we've had enough shit to last a lifetime. Let's find out where she is and get it done" "Hey Natsu,..when we find her, what are you planning on doing?" asked Gray but regretted it as soon as he saw Natsu's face. "She'll pay for what she's done" he answered grimly. Lucy rubbed his shoulder while the other gave him an idiotic look at him for having asked Natsu that. "My bad" he muttered.
Evelyn threw Layla onto the basement floor as she curled herself into a ball. "You are far too wild still but you are my grandchild, I will keep you down here for as long as it takes until you finally come to your senses." She said coldly as she walked away leaving Layla alone. She reached a single finger to her back and had to hold her tongue from crying out in pain. He back was bloodied up with slash marks from whippings while her butt was bruised. Her legs were covered in bruises along with her cheeks. "pppleeeease daddy, " she begged as she felt her eyes stinging as tears came down. Having left the plate of cold food, she dragged herself over and started scarfing it down. Not caring if it was hot or not, her stomach screamed at her as she ate. Once she was done, she laid back on her side closing her eyes trying to ignore the pain she was in.
Barely able to park the car before everyone jumped out, Gray turned the car off as he got out. "Jeeze, you couldn't have waited until I parked" "Nope" answered Natsu. "Alright Natsu, where do you want to go?" said Erza. "I swear I should be an expert with how many times I feel like I've been in one now. Let's go to wherever they keep records" ordered Natsu. "we should also check the hospital on birth records for her other son" suggested Lucy. "Other son?" said the others in surprise. "Psh Lucy, I could give a shit about him." "Natsu, you said so yourself he could be the reason your mom changed and it.." She stopped as she saw the glare Natsu gave her. "Sorry, you know I didn't mean it" " I know" he said softening his eyes. "Let's get going ,oh fearless leader" said Gray with sarcasm. "Shut it Gray" Natsu said sharply. "come on, I'm gonna bet it's right in the middle of town" he said as they all followed him. He was right as they walked to the center and found what they were looking for.
Entering the building, they all walked to the front where Erza said "hi, we need whatever information you have on Evelyn Dragneel" "Excuse me?, who are you?" the man demanded. Stepping in front of everyone, Natsu with a serious face grabbed the man's shirt and lifted him out of the chair he was sitting in. "Listen, I don't have the patience or the time. The bitch is my mother, she has taken my child captive and I'm going to do anything to get her back so unless you want to get fucked up, start talking" Nobody said a word for he was their leader and they all knew not to say a word in a situation like this. "Okay, okay I'll give you the information you want to know, please put me down" the man begged as Natsu let go letting him drop back into the chair. "Now" said Natsu intimidating. He instantly got up and walked to a back room and came back with a file with his hands a few minutes later. Natsu snatched it and opened it up. "Holy shit. There's quite a bit in here" said Lucy. "Natsu..who is that?" asked Jellal as Natsu looked at the two men in the pictures. "I recognize her anywhere but the other two, that must be her son and his father. Hey,who are these guys?" he asked the man. "That's her son Zeref and lover Rafiel" "Zeref looks just like her" The man shivered "What?" said Gajeel. "Something spooked you" "Ms. Evelyn was kinder then most but only if you met her standards."
Natsu and Lucy gave each other a knowing look. "Hher son Zeref, he was the same way.." "Why did you stop?" asked Erza suspiciously. "It says it all right there" he said pointing to the papers. Natsu looked down and read until he found what he was looking for. "Holy fuck…if I'm my father's son , he is definitely his mothers child. It says he beat women who weren't up to his standards, held authority. Hmph sounds like the perfect child" "It won't say it there but a government force thought Zeref was getting too powerful too fast. They took him away, haven't seen him since. Nobody knows if he is alive or not. She changed after they took him away. She became cold to everyone, didn't matter who and moved away. "Hmph" said Natsu clenching his teeth. "Natsu.." Lucy said warily. "That fucking woman, I could care less about her son, but because of that, she came to Magnolia and manipulated my father." "Natsu, your father was not one easily manipulated, I'm sure he had his reasons" assured Erza. "and her?!, she tried to make me a replacement son for her long lost baby boy..and when she figured out that she couldn't , she treated me like shit instead. Damn it, If I didn't have enough reasons to hate her, well here's another" "Natsu" Lucy said pitying him. "It doesn't matter, she's nobody. Would you tell us where to find this house?" he asked calmly but serious. The man wrote the address and handed it to them. "Thanks" said Natsu and Lucy as they turned to walk out the door.