yo
it's been a little while ya
actually probably not that long compared to other authors but it's long to me
this one is a ride. get yo notebooks to write down the important shit.
i'm kidding lol
BY THE WAY
this story is set in between gmg/eclipse arc and tartaros arc. it's kind of a mini-arc on its own after all those filler episodes. so it's right before tartaros arc, and this story will overlap with it. i'm probably not going to do the entire tartaros arc but who knows
have a nice fucking day
Natsu saw Porlyusica leave the room and he bit his lip, trying to fight his emotions. Every muscle in his body wanted to sneak back there and check on Gray one more time, even though he knew he was fine.
His ears picked up on some conversation between a deep, growly voice and two high, young ones. He looked behind him to see Gajeel, Wendy, and Artemis gathered and talking cheerfully.
Honestly, though he still had a scowl on his face, Natsu noticed that Gajeel seemed happier than he usually was.
"Whatcha all doin'?" he asked, approaching them. Gajeel instantly turned his glower onto him.
"Leave us alone, Salamander. We're departin' for a job."
Natsu grinned. "Sound fun. Mind if I tag along?"
Wendy and Artemis immediately started to say, "We don't mind," but Gajeel was too fast (and loud, for that matter).
"This ain't some kinda Dragon Slayer meetup. I wanted to get to know Artemis-kun through a job, but ey insisted on having Wendy come along as well."
Natsu was a bit disappointed, but not very much. "Oh, okay. I'll leave you three to your job, then. Have a good time, I guess?"
The Iron dragon slayer scoffed. "Yeah. Guess we'd better get goin', otherwise we'll get back so late that Laxus-san will be after my head."
"Oh, I already informed him, don't worry!" Artemis piped up, smiling.
The burly man blinked and his voice seemed to grow softer. "Well then, guess I don't gotta worry about that now. We really should get going, though."
The three departed. Natsu heard a stifled laugh next to him.
"Gajeel-kun looks so awkward with two kids," Lucy giggled.
"Yeah…" he murmured.
"Eh? Is something wrong, Natsu-san?"
"It's nothing, Lucy-san. Don't worry about it." He grinned.
She gave him a skeptical look. "Okay, but if you need anything, come to me."
"Mhm!"
Lucy left to go somewhere (back home, maybe). Natsu hadn't seen anyone go back into the hospital wing, so he headed quietly to the hospital wing, trying to make sure nobody saw him. As soon as he got in, he closed the door and looked up at Gray's hospital bed.
One could imagine the look of shock on his face when he realized Gray was awake.
"Eh? You're awake, Gray?"
The bedridden wizard just blinked a few times and mumbled, "Have been for a little while, Natsu."
"Oh, um, sorry to interrupt. I was just curious as to why nobody was in here."
Gray shrugged. "I dunno. I guess it's gettin' a bit late. Porlyusica-san has to walk a long way to get back home."
Natsu took that explanation. "Mind if I visit for a little while? It sounds a bit odd, but I kinda missed you today since you were sick."
"Be my guest."
Natsu sat down on the edge of the hospital bed. Both boys sat in complete silence for a while.
"So… I heard from Porlyusica-san that you already visited, but I wasn't awake yet," Gray whispered.
Natsu tensed. "She told you that?"
"Yeah, she did. Why're you visiting again?"
"I-I just wanted to check on you. Ah… I don't know, I'm worried about you!"
This made Gray smile. "Thanks for worrying. There haven't… been many people who have worried about me like this."
"Oh," Natsu murmured softly. "You mean…"
"Ul-sensei, yeah. Of course, everyone in Fairy Tail is constantly looking out for each other, but that's always some kind of mutual respect for each other since we're all a family. But the way you're worrying right now seems different. More similar to Ul-sensei."
"So you think of me as a mentor?" Natsu joked, making them both laugh.
"No, you're not cut out to be a mentor, Natsu. I guess it's a best-friend-rivalry type of thing."
"Oh."
Natsu's spirits fell. If Gray only thought of him as a best friend and a rival, he definitely had no chance at ever revealing his feelings.
"Y-yeah. It's definitely different from any other kind of bond that I've had before," he muttered.
The room went quiet. Both sat there in total silence, hardly even moving. The late sun began to lazily sink down towards the horizon, casting a soft golden glow over what seemed like the whole world. It gave the entire town a gentle, comfortable, warm feeling.
Gray felt something slump onto his shoulder. Looking over, he noticed that Natsu had fallen asleep there. He smiled.
"You're always sleeping, eating, or destroying something."
Carefully, he took Natsu's head off of his shoulder and lay down, gently resting Natsu on top of him. He soon fell asleep to Natsu's soft snores and rhythmic breathing.
It was now the middle of the night. The moon was a perfect circle, with a soft silvery cast over Magnolia.
Lucy was still awake, seemingly restless. She wasn't tired and she couldn't figure out why. She was reading a book by the light of the moon from her window. It was very peaceful and remedial.
"Lucy-sama?"
"EEH?!" she yelped, jumping.
There, Loke was standing with his signature charming smile. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
"Why are you here?! It's the middle of the night!"
His smile dropped, face now serious. "I have to show you something. It's urgent. We were discussing it in the Celestial World and decided that to inform you and Yukino-sama by way of gate was the most effective option. Hurry and get dressed. I'd advise you to also bring your whip and keys just in case."
Lucy nodded, but was very confused. She quickly got dressed (in the bathroom, since Loke wouldn't leave her bedroom) and grabbed her whip and keys.
"Alright, I'm ready. Let's go," she hissed.
The wizard and spirit quickly departed Lucy's little home. Loke led her through Magnolia and to the edge of the East Forest.
"Libra-san?" he called.
No response was heard.
"I guess they aren't here yet. We'll just have to wait."
The Lion, like all other Celestial Spirits, had an aura that made him brighter, and it was especially apparent in the darkness of the midnight-grasped forest. Lucy felt safe knowing that he was here.
"Leo-san," a voice said behind them.
"Ah, Libra-san," Loke replied, smiling. "Yukino-sama is here as well?"
"Yes, I am here," Yukino hissed.
"Wonderful. Let's go."
The four advanced into the forest until they reached a small cave.
"There's nothing here," Lucy observed.
"Well… not exactly," Leo replied, grimacing.
She raised one eyebrow.
"Yukino-sama, Leo-sama, come," Libra hissed as she led them into the save. Loke used his magic for light.
The cave was shallow and cramped, only stretching about three meters back. Libra walked to the very back of the cave and put one hand on a giant slab of rock that had been slightly moved forward.
The slab was slowly pushed backwards until it toppled over, leaving a large gap in the cave wall. The four walked through the hole. The path was a steep walk down with only a few dim, reddish torches chained to the walls for light. Every so often, there would be a few doors in a forked pattern.
Eventually, the path led to a fairy sized, but not huge, cavern. Blue and brown lights came from an unidentifiable source. A low buzz resonated around the cavern.
"It's over here," Loke said. He led the group to a large door that was hardly visible due to the bright light.
The door was heavy, made of dense wood and iron. It was bolted loosely shut and there was a small stone slab engraved with ancient lettering.
Loke opened the door to another cavern, this one so large it could probably fit the entire Fairy Tail guild hall in it. There were more floating lights and red torches chained to the walls.
Looming high at one end of the hall was a huge statue of a dragon. Standing tall and majestically but menacing as well, it was very intricate and had two dark rubies for its glaring eyes. It had six spikes on its neck connected by a stretch of flesh like a frill and sharp, graceful membranes on its elbows. Its long tail was tipped with a giant spade that somewhat resembled a shovel. Its claws were impossibly sharp and its hands unusually large and powerful.
At the other end, another statue, this one somewhat humanoid, was posed in a battle stance. It looked more demon than human. Its eyes were made of amber circles and it had long hair. It had odd flowerlike objects on either side of its face. It had two horns on its head and long, large ears. Its chest was wrapped in bandage (it was of a female demon) and it wore a strange skirt with complete splits on both sides of it. Around its neck was a collar and chain, much like what a prisoner would wear
"There are plaques on those statues," Libra informed. "We haven't looked at them yet since we needed to get back to the Spirit World."
While Yukino and Libra went to the dragon, Loke and Lucy to the demon. The plaque on the statue read: "Steadily and carefully I shall walk, but only one dragon amongst thousands will I allow to fly me across the unsteady bridge that lies ahead of me." -AZRULIA, DEMON OF AILMENT.
"A-Azrulia..." Lucy whispered.
"Eh? Who is this 'Azrulia?' Is it the statue of the demon?" Loke asked.
"Artemis-san told us about Azrulia. She was eir guardian and raised em to be much like a Dragon Slayer. After she was murdered by the Council, she follows Artemis-san around and attacks people she finds either "worthy" or a threat to em."
"Artemis-san...?"
Lucy looked up and smiled at the Lion. "That's right, you haven't met em yet! Artemis-san is a new member of Fairy Tail!"
"Em?"
"It's a pronouns thing, and I expect you to respect that," she (fake) scolded.
"A-ah, sorry! So, Artemis-san is a... Demon... Slayer? Raised by the Demon of Ailment, Azrulia?"
"That's right. Ey was arrested for wrongly murdering six people and for eir magic. Laxus-san and Freed-san broke em out, and ey came to Magnolia soon after. Azrulia ended up attacking someone in the guild and Artemis-san felt, and still feels, awful about it."
"Azrulia attacked someone in Fairy Tail? Who?!" Loke demanded.
The wizard sighed, looking forlorn. "Gray-san. He's been sick since this morning."
He let out a choked growl and clenched his fists. "Doesn't Artemis know how to heal him?! What about Wendy-san?!"
"Please, calm down, Loke!" Lucy exclaimed. "I'm sorry that Gray-san is sick, but Artemis-san can't do anything! Wendy's healing doesn't seem to work very well either! Please calm down!"
"Artemis should know how to heal him!"
"Ey don't! Azrulia died before she could teach em!"
The Lion paused. "Now that I think of it, I've heard of a legend of a human child, raised by demons, who wishes nothing but peace, yet infects those unlucky enough to come near with a deadly, incurable illness. Even the strongest die within only three days."
Lucy shuddered, horrified. "That sounds like a twisted version of Artemis-san."
"Lucy-chan! Loke-san!"
The two looked behind them to see Yukino and Libra running towards them.
"Come quick! We found something!"
"Yukino-san?"
"Come on!" Yukino grabbed Lucy's hand and brought her to the dragon statue.
"First of all, the demon and dragon knew each other."
"Yeah, we discovered that as well. Not only that, but they also had at least a mutual bond."
"And the dragon is the Earth Dragon, Adhiloa. Both raised a child!"
"So... that means..."
"The two Slayers possibly know each other."
Suddenly, footsteps echoed around the room, making it hard to pinpoint their location.
"How dare you intrude, humans?" a voice boomed.
aight end.