Chapter 47
Lucy was surprised when she found Natsu up and about the next day, she had completely forgotten about the reason he had come to Ishgar in the first place, she hadn't even gotten around to telling Natsu about Queen Hisui agreeing to sending Erza,Gray and Wendy along with her to Alvarez. "Uhh…what are you doing…Natsu…?" she asked him as it looked like he had worked up a sweat, Lucy was worried if he was having nightmares and that was the reason he was up and about, this early, atleast by Natsu's standards she thought.
Natsu turned around surprised at Lucy's arrival, "Woah…Lucy…it's just you…" he stuttered. "Me being in my house surprised you…?" Lucy asked him raising an eyebrow in question as Natsu scratched his neck nervously, "Are you alright..." Lucy asked him again wiping off the sweat with a cloth and checking his pulse as Natsu smiled "I'm fine Luce…" he mumbled a little embarrassed. Lucy…didn't seem to be convinced as Natsu embraced her, "Trust me…its nothing…" Natsu whispered to her as Lucy groaned "Uggh…Natsu…you're getting sweat all over me…" she remarked as Natsu let go of her, Happy who had woken up in the commotion covered his head with Natsu's pillow and went back to sleep. "Well..are you going to tell me…what's going on…?" Lucy asked him her tone a bit more mellow. "I…I havent been able to sleep properly since I faced God Chronos, and felt Anksheram's power for myself…" he sighed as Lucy sat beside him rubbing his back in a comforting manner.
"I…I don't know how im going to face that power on my own…" Natsu stated as Lucy looked at him confused, "What…do you mean alone, you know we will be with you right…" Lucy remarked as Natsu understood that she meant the guild and not just her and Happy. "I don't think that's possible Lucy…" Natsu replied as Lucy began to retort he continued "He's after me and I cant let you guys get involved in this, especially after I've seen what he's capable of…I…" he struggled "After Zeref and Igneel, I cant lose anyone else Lucy…I just..cant…" he sobbed a little as Lucy embraced him, "Natsu…and you think that anyone of us in the guild would let you face Anksheram alone…?" Lucy demanded as she made Natsu look at her.
"But…Lucy…he's too dangerous" Natsu began as Lucy interrupted him "All the more reason for all of us to face him…" she replied "Together…" she emphasized the last bit. Natsu sighed relenting as he retorted "What if he finds me before you guys can get to me..?" he asked her. "Well…I guess that means I'm never leaving your side…" Lucy replied as Natsu smiled,the two of them shared a sweet Kiss and rested their heads against each other, "Did I tell you that I missed you…" Natsu stated as Lucy smiled "Yeah…but I don't mind you repeating that…" she replied as Natsu smiled "I missed you Lucy, I've missed you so much…" he stated as they began to kiss a bit more passionately, Lucy landing on top of Natsu, when Happy cleared his throat, "Okay…that's as far as I'm willing to ignore…" he stated groggily as Lucy made a "Eep.." sound jumping off of Natsu who was flushed as well and grinned apologetically to Happy.
"I knew I should have gone with Carla and the other's…maybe Cana would have let me stay…" Happy sighed yawning groggily, Lucy glared at Natsu who seemed to be enjoying the situation as he grabbed Lucy, "Well..Happy now that you're up, you're free to go, Luce and I are going to be a bit preoccupied.." Natsu stated as Lucy blushed wriggling out of Natsu's grasp and chiding at him. "I'm sorry we woke you up..Happy…" Lucy replied sweetly consoling the little Exceed, "Would..you like to sleep on the bed…?" Lucy asked him as Happy, obliged rushing and curling up on her matress.
"Well…giving you the bed last night, was all for nothing, now my sleep is ruined and Happy gets the bed…Thank you so much Luce.." he stated as Lucy laughed. To their surprise there was a knock on the door as Lucy asked them to identify themselves, she was surprised to hear Brandish responding as she opened the door. "Brandish…what are you doing here…?" Lucy asked her as Brandish looked addressed Natsu "Your Majesty…I was worried you wouldn't be up and about and that I'd have to wake you up…luckily for me, Mirajane told me you were with Lucy, so I made my way here guess it was a good decision…" she stated, greeting Lucy after her address to Natsu.
"Why…are you here again…?" Natsu asked her as Brandish looked at him confused. "I thought you wanted to continue to train, Your Majesty…?" she enquired still confused as Natsu smacked himself in the head, "Oh…that's what was bothering me all along, i knew i was forgetting something." he stated to himself as the girls and Exceed looked at him sweatdrops forming on their foreheads in disbelief. "Yosh…alright then…let's go…" Natsu cheered catching Lucy and Brandish and running out of the door as Happy followed them while Lucy screamed at Natsu to let go of her.
As the group left the building they found Brandish and Dimaria waiting for them at the entrance. "Took…you long enough Brandish….we were wondering if you were even going to turn up…" Larcade mocked her as Brandish glared at him, "Well I didn't see you volunteering..to go get the Emperor Larcade…?" she retorted. "Well…I had to go check on the ship and prepare for our travels…" Larcade lied as Brandish scoffed at him, Natsu interrupting the both of them as he put his arms around them, holding onto Dimaria and Lucy by his hand, while Happy was resting on his head, Natsu began to Teleport, taking all of them back into the mountains to the place where he had his battle with Gildarts.
A few boulders broke apart falling down upon them at their arrival, Dimaria and Larcade breaking them apart easily as Natsu scratched his neck awkwardly apologizing. Lucy on the other hand was dumbfounded by the sight that she was met with massive impact craters in the ground and on the mountains around them scorch marks everywhere trees uprooted, she felt that it was a miracle that the mountains and the land were still there after that fight with Gildarts.
"Alright now…I want all three of you to come at me with everything you've got Natsu stated, as the three Spriggan looked at him aghast. "Your Majesty…?" they began as Natsu chided them, "It's Natsu….when we do not have any company, that said…you three did say you've improved, show me…" Natsu stated as the Spriggan sighed. All of them began to release their aura preparing for their battle as the ground began to shake and the Mountain dangerously looked like it would crumble under the pressure of all of their aura.
Larcade stopped all of them as he stated the place wouldn't be able to handle all of them at the same time. Natsu sighed as Larcade suggested he could spar with them, one at a time. Natsu grinned as all he wanted was to train.
Dimaria stepped up first as the two of them charged up their aura and Lucy realised that Dimaria had used her Age Seal, she felt herself freeze up, but she could still she Natsu moving around in the Age Seal, something that amazed her. As Natsu and Dimaria clashed she could see Brandish and Larcade struggle a bit in the Age seal, she struggled trying to move as well, which made Brandish grin in her direction.
Natsu was pushing back Dimaria who was hesitating clearly holding herself back, Natsu demanded she give it her all, Dimaria hesitantly used Age scratch on Natsu, he groaned as all the pain from his previous battles fell upon him, all at once. Larcade tried to chide Dimaria and all she could do was stand and watch Natsu who…asked her not to revoke the attack, his flames burst forth scorching everything around him breaking up the Age seal they were sealed in as Lucy and Happy looked on in concern, Larcade holding them back knowing full well, his Uncle wouldn't appreciate their interference.
Natsu struggled some more before he forced himself to stand through the pain, he grunted running appearing right beside Dimaria and smacking her down with such force, that it sent her flying into the trees, the pain disappearing. As Dimaria stood up Natsu followed through using Crimson Lotus- Fire Dragon's Fist as he rapidly punched Dimaria again and again each punch resounding in the mountains around them, Dimaria was knocked out. At the Guild and even in the Castle people could feel the battle taking place, which made them wonder what was going on.
Brandish stepped up as Happy and Lucy tended to Dimaria, Lucy suggesting Happy to get Wendy, who Lucy was sure wouldn't appreciate this and at this stage, Lucy felt that she understood Porlyusica's stand as she had to deal with things like this with Fairy Tail on a daily basis, she only hoped Wendy wasn't heading down that same road.
Brandish and Natsu's fight was a bit less physical as Brandish tried to avoid directly clashing with Natsu tending to attack him from afar. Brandish though to Lucy's surprise was still adept at blocking and dodging Natsu's attacks that almost connected with her making her wonder how well did these two know each other. In the end Natsu used a roar to deal with Brandish when she wasn't expecting it, ending their battle.
Next It was Larcade who stepped onto the battlefield as Wendy,Carla and Happy arrived, Wendy glared at Natsu and Larcade who didn't even acknowledge her arrival, she got to healing Dimaria first, as Brandish seemed to be in a better condition, which made Lucy wonder if Natsu had gone easy on her.
Natsu and Larcade had not taken their eyes away from each other as Larcade smirked, "I'm not going to go easy Uncle, I still havent forgotten, that I wanted to take down Acnologia, now my sights are set on Anksheram, maybe I can finish him off before you do…" Larcade remarked as Natsu smirked "Bold statement Larcade, but can you back them up…?" he questioned materializing infront of Larcade. Larcade blocked the attack with ease as the ground shook beneath them, shockwaves erupted from their clash.
Dimaria was back to her feet and so was Brandish, they seemed to be unfazed by the clash going on. "You all seem to have grown stronger huh…?" Lucy asked them as Brandish just shook her head, her face stoic, "It's still not enough…" she stated. Lucy looked at her curiously as she continued "Larcade is the strongest among us….and even he still cant manage to give the Emperor a fair fight…" she stated. "The Man…you call Gildarts might have been the only one so far to have troubled the Emperor, even so…they still are nowhere near to the power of the Gods, Anksheram and Chronos. The Emperor has witnessed their power firsthand and from what he's told us…Anksheram is coming after him, we do not know when, but that's the reason he doesn't quit training in the hope that, all of this will pay off in someway to prepare him for that fight" she stated.
Lucy was shocked at what she heard. She turned her attention back to the fight, but she could barely see Natsu and Larcade move around clashing with each other as the already destroyed terrain broke apart even more, with their clash. Natsu wasn't being pushed back much but so far Larcade was fairing much better than the other two Spriggan. Natsu was a bit frustrated as he went into his Dragon Force, forcing Larcade to get defensive as the pace of Natsu's attacks increased.
Natsu was relentless in his attacks, Larcade grimaced, he grudgingly let out his Pleasure magic in a desperate move, flooring Natsu once again as Brandish, Dimaria and Wendy all looked at Lucy who seemed to have turned red with embarrassment. "That's a cheap move…Larcade" Natsu groaned as Larcade was busy thrashing Natsu around. "Didn't see you…saying the same thing when Dimaria did something of this sort…" he retorted as Natsu grimaced landing into a crater groaning.
He struggled to get back to his feet as Larcade charged at him, "You cant move in the state you are Uncle…" he remarked as Natsu grimaced. "I don't have to move to attack you Larcade…" he retorted, teleporting himself, appearing right infront of Larcade, clutching Larcade's face in his hands letting out a huge wave of blast right into his face, it didn't floor Larcade completely but it had the affect that Natsu wanted as the pleasure magic faded away.
The two prepared to resume their battle, when lightning struck the place in a frenzy, as a furious Laxus appeared in between them. "Would the two of you stop this nonsense, the whole city can feel your battle, I've got people rushing to the guild, afraid it was another invasion or something…" Laxus retorted as Natsu and Larcade let their aura fade away, as the two of them calmed down.
Laxus turned around to look at Wendy and Lucy who were trying to cower from his sight, he glared at them, "And what were the two of you doing,not trying to stop them when they were releasing all this aura…?" he demanded as Lucy gulped "Well…what could we do…when Gildarts himself had no chance against Natsu…?" she questioned a bit hesitantly, Laxus sighed as Natsu walked towards him, his arms and stomach all bruised and his face bleeding, "Hey…it isn't their fault…Laxus…" he stated as Laxus glared at him, "You will address me with respect Natsu, you may not be of the guild but I am still it's Master…and don't go underestimating me, just because you could go toe to toe with Gildarts…" he retorted. Natsu sighed holding back the Spriggan as Laxus glared at all of them, "I do not want any more trouble as long as you're here on Ishgar…" he stated before disappearing in a flash of lightning.
"Well…that was an unsatisfactory end to the fight huh…?" Natsu asked Larcade who grinned. "I was just getting started I'm pretty sure…I would have won…." he retorted as Natsu grinned, "You weren't even close…" Natsu retorted. "I was…I had you with my pleasure magic, one more attack with that…and you were done…" Larcade remarked. "In your Dreams Larcade…" Natsu retorted as the Uncle/Nephew duo began to playfully argue, they two of them were completely oblivious to the wounds that they had received and had completely forgotten the rest of the group walking back towards the guild arguing all the way as Brandish, Dimaria, Lucy and Wendy followed them in a hurry.
Back in the guild, Laxus was a bit more relaxed but Erza and Gray…had just finished a quest and returned, with huge damages done to the village as Laxus had received a statement from the Council, demanding a sort of fine for the damages, even though Erza and Gray had paid for the damages. It was a new rule that was implemented by the Council to dissuade the Mages from leaving huge damages in their path, the fines weren't huge, but the paperwork was a headache to deal with, in such instances Laxus was thankful at the absence of Natsu from the guild, but the rest of the members had apparently taken it upon themselves to make up for the Dragon Slayers absence, Gildarts smirked as he sat beside the Guild Master.
"Look's like you've taken up the position of the Guild Master seriously, Master Laxus…" he stated playfully as Laxus sighed. "How did Gramps get all this done, I mean….in all honesty he should have let me take over these paper duties for a day and I wouldn't even have staged that whole Fairy Tail battle…" Laxus remarked scoffing as Gildarts had a glint in his eye "We never really got to address that did we Master…?" he asked him his voice a bit serious as Laxus face, went a bit pale, Gildarts smirked the next second as he howled roaring with laughter, "You should have seen your face Master…that was hilarious…" he remarked.
"In all honesty I just didn't want people to come running to the guild and find the Master and one of its strongest members battling it out…" Laxus retorted. "Woah…I know youre the Master of the Guild Laxus, but those are mighty big words, I had one lapse with Natsu and suddenly everyone thinks they have a chance against me…?" Gildarts questioned as Laxus looked at him curiously, "It's true then…?" he stated surprised as Gildarts cleared his throat, "Ahem…I mean….to respect Natsu's desire to keep the result ambiguous. "Well maybe you should have told Natsu that…" Laxus stated as Gildarts looked at him trying to decipher if Laxus was being honest. "I guess I'll need to have a talk with Natsu…." he stated still looking at Laxus suspiciously as he combed through the paperwork not making any eye contact with Gildarts.
"So…why arent you asking Mirajane to help you with the paperwork, she used to help Master Makarov you know…" he suggested as Laxus sighed. "Well thanks to Natsu and his sparring contest with his Spriggan the whole of Fiore was afraid that something was wrong and they turned up at the guild, I had a lot on my hand what with the paperwork and the people, so Mira suggested she would help out with the people, but she said she wouldn't help out with the paperwork instead…" Laxus replied. "She's a smart one…" Gildarts retorted laughing as Laxus looked at Gildarts, "Why…don't you…" he began as Gildarts walked away from him, "Oh…look at that time for that meeting at the Council Master…." he stated as he walked away from him, Laxus sighed busying himself with the paperwork again.
Natsu walked in a while later as Gildarts was hanging out with Gray and the others, in an instant Gildarts had moved towards Natsu, as Natsu looked at him bewildered. Gidarts questioned Natsu about the agreement as Natsu looked at him confused, "I thought you told me to tell them you didn't want anyone knowing the result…" Natsu stated as Gildarts looked at him in astonishment, Natsu was calm though as he told him that no one had bought what he said, Gildarts relaxed as he glared at Laxus across the room.
Lucy bee lined her way straight to Erza and the others as Wendy followed her, "Guy's I need to talk to you…" she stated as Gray was rearing to fight Natsu and the others who had somehow started a brawl out of nothing as Larcade and the others sat down at the bar, completely ignoring the fight, while Brandish tended to Larcade, who had already been healed by Wendy as much as she could.
"What is it Lucy…did Natsu do something again…?" she questioned as Lucy shook her head, "This is about Alvarez guys, Queen Hisui told us what went down in the Council right?, I was thinking it would do well for Team Natsu to go as the Ambassador's from Ishgar…?" she suggested. As Erza seemed to be looking at her wih a knowing look on her face while Wendy shrieked excited at the prospect of visiting the country as guests. Gray mumbled as Erza looked at him "Huh…what was that Grey…?" she asked him. "I….i would like to bring Juvia along with us…" he suggested. "Gray, honestly this isnt a date, that we are planning on going, you know that right…?" Erza asked him. "Erza I get that, I do….but if this were just another quest we were going on you know I wouldn't bother, but this is Alvarez, we are talking about, we have no idea how long we'll be gone for…" he stated.
"Uhh…speaking of which, Natsu…says he's sure..they've found the location for Aquarius' key…" Lucy stated. Gray looked at her "Next time….why don't you start with that…Lucy…" he replied turning to address Erza, "Well…you know how much Juvia wanted to find Aquarius' key for Lucy…you've got to let her come with us now…" he stated happily. "Fine….but I'm not coming along to babysit couples, you better get that…" Erza remarked, she turned to look at Wendy who flushed "Why are you looking at me…?" she asked. "I was just wondering if you were going to barge in demanding to bring someone along as well…" she replied as Wendy shook her head in embarrassment. "Fine…I'll go and inform the Master then…" she replied as Gray wandered of to inform Juvia as well.
The next day….the Spriggan members onboard their ship were surprised to find a group of Fairy Tail members joining them as they looked at Natsu surprised. "Are all of them coming along…?" Brandish asked astonished. "Oh…no just drop half of us off, halfway to the country…" Gray retorted as Brandish sneered, "If..that's what you want…" she retorted as Larcade pulled her back, "Calm down…they're coming along as Ambassador's, that makes them the Emperor's guests, he stated. "Well….we do know how to treat our guests…" Brandish stated "But…the problem isnt us Larcade, what about the Council of Alvarez, that's what I am worried about…" she replied.
Natsu's aura seemed to be rising as they turned to look at him, "I think it's time I remind the Council who the hell I am…" he stated. "Uncle…?" Larcade asked him confused. "It looks like Alvarez has forgotten what END is capable of….it's time to remind them whose in charge…" he stated. Looking at the worried faces of the Spriggan he continued "Don't worry guy's I'm not going to kill them or atleast I'll try…" he replied grinning excitedly as Larcade sighed, while Dimaria smirked, Brandish was unfazed. "You'd only be reiterating the idea of the rebellion that someone from Ishgar shouldn't sit on the throne if you do that…" she replied. "Uggh….what do you guys want me to do then…?" Natsu asked them grabbing his hair in frustration trying to figure something out.
"Nothing…." Brandish replied as Natsu looked at her confused. "The peace between our countries is on the line here Brandish…" he retorted. "Exactly…." She replied. "Let them have their say…then you can say what you want to…" she replied. "What about the Spriggan…?" he asked them. "We are obliged to you Uncle, they wont stand in the way…" Larcade replied. "Even Invel and the others…?" Natsu asked him, as Larcade seemed to be hesitating. "They wont be a problem for us, we can handle them, it's important we get as much of the Council on our side as we can…" Dimaria stated.
Lucy walked towards Natsu an apologetic expression on her face as Natsu comforted her, "Natsu..this is all my doing, you were just going to bring me in get Aquarius' key and get me out and now…" she stated. "Hey…if anything it's thanks to you and Aquarius that there's even a slight chance that Alvarez and Ishgar has a chance to reconcile with each other" Natsu stated hugging her as the others stood silently not interrupting the couple. "We can still turn back, if that's what you want…" Lucy suggested. "Luce…I'll fight the whole country if it means that there could be peace between both our nations, where none of us would need to fear going to the other place, for a visit or for trade and I promised that I would get you to Aquarius, so this ship isnt going to turn back…" Natsu stated firmly as Lucy smiled at him in return.
As the ship began to gain speed, both Natsu and Wendy began to get motion sick. To the Fairy Tail members surprise, the crew onboard were used to the phenomenon. They prepared to take the Dragon Slayers inside as Juvia and Gray and Erza tried to help out as much as they could along with Dimaria, Brandish and Larcade.
A/N: Sorry for the long wait everyone, well here's to hoping i can update this story faster. Anyway thank you for all the favorites and follows and please leave a review, if you'd like to :D
