The Archives' magic was anything but welcoming when Natsu ducked past the treeline and paused to study the entrance. He wondered if the Archives had been furious since Acnologia's attack, and had exuded such violence since then. In any case, the mounts could sense it, and even Thanatos looked nervous enough that he refused to go any further. So, Natsu left him where he was and lazily strolled over to the doors, sucking in a deep breath.
"Natsu," he heard Lucy beg from somewhere behind him, "please don't-"
"Gajeel!" Natsu bellowed at the top of his lungs. "Levy!" He paused, waiting until he heard the doors starting to open. A smirk flickered over his face. "You gonna let us in?" he taunted as Gajeel's irritable self ducked outside, a snarl on his face.
"Levy didn't invite you, you-"
"Gajeel!" sang Wendy, trotting over to join them with sparkling eyes. Gajeel immediately clamped his mouth shut and greeted her with a playful grin, ruffling her long hair fondly. She beamed up at him and latched onto his wrist with a cheerful look.
Natsu could tell that Lucy had never thought she'd see such a gentle Gajeel as she and Gray came over, too. Her face was twisted into concerned alarm, as if she was worried that the appearance was a false one meant to trick her into a feeling of security. Natsu supposed she had reason to worry; Gajeel had been rather angry with her for some time, having blamed her for the attack on the Archives.
And it wasn't something he'd forgotten, realized Natsu when Gajeel's crimson gaze turned on Lucy. A jagged grin appeared on his face, cold and aggressive in a manner that made Natsu stiffen as discomfort and concern trickled down Lucy's spine. "The only reason you're here," purred Gajeel, and Lucy stiffened nervously. "Is 'cause Levy wants ya here. If Acnologia comes again after this, I don't give a fuck who your dragon is, or who you are to the world around you, lady, I will make sure you don't bring another dragon to my Archives. You hear me?"
Lucy swallowed thickly, nervous, and Natsu bared his teeth. Even Gray frowned slightly as he opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off when a shrill voice said angrily, "Enough, Gajeel, it's not Lucy's fault and you know it!"
"Levy," mumbled Lucy guiltily, and Natsu couldn' help but stare at the proud fairy queen. He'd heard, of course, what had been done to her wings in Acnologia's attack, but to see it…
The once beautiful wings had been shredded until only tatters remained. They hung limply behind her, like a cape, and had lost their lovely translucent glimmer. Whatever remained was scarred and filmy. Natsu felt ill, knowing just what a fairy's wings meant to them. Wings meant the same as Natsu's book in safe hands: freedom, safety, happiness, and everything else under the sun that meant one's life was a good one. It wasn't unusual for a fairy in Levy's position to turn dark and start hunting everything around them. He'd put down a few fairies like that himself.
But Levy, he was relieved to think, wouldn't become that. She was smiling faintly as she stood in the middle of the doorway, a book held tightly to her chest as if she couldn't bring herself to put it down for fear of losing it. Her gaze danced between them all, resting briefly on Natsu before turning to Lucy. "Ignore Gajeel. He's just cranky because I didn't make some iron for him this morning."
Lucy's lips twitched as Gajeel scowled at his Marked One in annoyance, though Natsu thought he could see a hint of relief in Gajeel's face. As if he'd been worried about what would happen during this interaction. "That's not any of their business," growled Gajeel, and Levy clicked her tongue, rolling her eyes.
"You're too dramatic," she snapped, and Natsu lifted a brow in surprise. "Now, Lucy, Natsu, please come in. Wendy, Gray, you're both welcome, too. I can't say you're allowed past the main entrance area, but please come in." She smiled broadly at them both and then disappeared into the Archives. Natsu exchanged a curious look with Lucy before smirking at Gajeel and sauntering right in.
The Archives' magic pressed in on him the second he ducked into the building. A grunt left his throat at the feeling of it. He was startled by the bite of it all. The last time he and Lucy had been there, the Archives had grumbled but not minded too much. Now...it wanted to devour them. The Archives wanted them gone and locked beneath it, so that they suffered forever.
No, Natsu realized as Lucy frowned at him in concern, letting Gray bustle her through the doors with Wendy and Gajeel a step behind. It wasn't both of them. It was him - only him, he realized as the others seemed unaffected by the Archives' angry magic.
But Levy had faltered to study him curiously, as if she could read the magic. She only confirmed it when she said, "Natsu...have you done something recently to upset the Archives?"
"I burned down a Councilman's house a few days ago," said Natsu quite bluntly, not caring what they thought. Lucy was the only one that mattered, and she'd accepted it without a second thought, only telling him to not do it in such a way if he felt the need again. Gajeel gawked at him, and Natsu shrugged. "He hired mercenaries to kill us. So I ruined him."
"He's alive," Gray added quickly. "Natsu left him alive, and the three of us didn't know until afterwards."
Gajeel swore under his breath. "You're crazy," he told Natsu, who shrugged and accepted the idea without hesitation. He didn't care if Gajeel thought he was crazy. Gajeel was just as crazy as he was. Slightly even more so, in Natsu's opinion…
"Are you planning something?" Levy demanded, narrowing her eyes. Natsu cocked a brow, shrugging. Not that he knew of, he told her silently, and Levy's gaze flickered uncertainly. "Hm…" She glanced at the ceiling of the Archives. "Perhaps it's a decision you've not made...the Archives judges you as guilty of something rather nasty. It only wants to imprison those who have done something akin to Acnologia's actions."
Silence fell, and Natsu lost the smug smirk he'd worn since entering. "I...I didn't do anything like that, nor am I planning on it," he rasped, horrified by the mere idea. Lucy slid her hand into his, winding their fingers together and squeezing them tightly. Guilt flickered through him - Lucy's guilt, and slowly, he found himself turning his head to stare sharply at her.
Lucy.
Lucy was hiding something from him.
Something that made the Archives want to imprison and kill him.
A low growl began to spill from between his lips and Lucy tightened her grip further to silence him when Gajeel bared his teeth in response, bristling. The Archives responded to it all, too, rearing its nasty head.
"Natsu," breathed Lucy, and scowled at her. She held his gaze immediately, her own uncertain and nervous. "Don't," she murmured, and for some reason, even as annoyed as he was with whatever secret she was keeping...he relaxed. He kept a solid grip on her hand, trusting it to keep him grounded - even if she was hiding something that was apparently rather big from him.
"Oh, shut up," he snapped at the growling Gajeel, and then shoved past them all, dragging Lucy with him. Lucy threw an apologetic look over her shoulder, murmuring something to him. But Natsu ignored her - ignored them all - as he ducked into the Archives. He felt sick.
Just what the hell did the Archives think he was going to do?
"Here," declared Levy, pointing to the text she'd summoned them there for. Well, only Lucy. Levy had politely asked the cranky Natsu to stay with Gray and Wendy in the foyer of the Archives, explaining that having even a human in the Archives was pushing it. Lucy could tell that Natsu was getting more irritable the longer they were there, likely because of Gajeel.
Lucy carefully peered over at the book and felt something in her gut churn with surprise. "This is a storybook," she murmured, "and an ancient one at that." She caressed her fingers over the worn, yellowed pages that looked as if they'd crumble beneath her touch.
"I found it while I was picking up after what happened, though I haven't really read it completely." said Levy. She shifted, hoisting her book higher in her arms. "I skimmed through it. It's in an old language I've not seen in a long time, but I could pick up the basics. It's about...Lucy, it's about Acnologia. He's famous in history, but I've never found anything on him before he showed up here. I don't know how I haven't read more about him. It's as if his magic annihilated everything but work that mentioned him or his Marked One."
"Anna. Her name was Anna." Lucy flipped a page, wincing alongside Levy when the book revealed an illustration of a massive creature decorated in black scales and blue marks.
Levy tapped a mark on the illustration. "His tattoos, or whatever they are? Those are an ancient language, too. He and Anna, if she truly died during the Demonic Wars, must have been alive for countless millennia beforehand."
"What about Algieba then?" murmured Lucy aloud, frowning. When Levy cocked a brow, Lucy quickly told her about Algieba. "I mean, I know that half-mythics live longer than humans, but...even Gray's mentioned here or there that he doesn't know if he'll live half as long as most mythics do. I know Juvia's been worried about it."
Levy nodded slowly and drummed her fingers on the table the book resided on, reluctantly setting aside the book she'd been keeping a close eye on. Her hand never left it, and when she caught Lucy looking, she said softly, "It's my history of Fiore. I wrote it, from front to end, and I will continue to add to it until my time as the Keeper of Archives comes to an end, so the next Keeper isn't as lonely as I initially was."
"May I?" Levy nodded, and Lucy scooped it lightly into her arms, flipping through the pages with a faint smile. "This is the book that Mavis gave me in my time, Levy. She handed it to me, and I read it from cover to cover. I know how it ends." Her gaze lifted as Levy's face paled. "And I can tell you confidently that it doesn't end with your death."
No, it ended with Natsu's.
Lucy gently gave it back and decided to focus on Acnologia again. "Could you tell me the basis of the story?" she asked, gesturing to the ancient book.
Levy picked the book up and shifted it, flipping to the beginning. She smiled faintly and began to read aloud.
"'Once upon a time,'" she said softly, and Levy thought the Archives roiled in the presence of its Keepers words, crooning to her. The magic softened and curled fondly around them. Lucy felt Natsu's fascination and knew he was trying to understand it. "'There was a traveler. Born in a village on an island long lost, the traveler made his way to Fiore, where he walked for many, many months.
"'Eventually, the traveler made his way to Death's Jaws, where a small village held an equally as small population of humans. There, he found what can be considered a miracle among mortals: a fallen star. He met her by accident one night, as he wandered the empty fields surrounding the village.
"'The star warned him of the rot within the village. She explained that she'd fallen to his world from the sky high above a mere few years prior and had been captured by the humans that called the village their home. She told him of how she'd been forced to marry and have the child of one of such villagers - and she begged him to help her escape, for she'd come to this world to travel as he did.
"'The traveler promised to help her, and told her that he would return within the year, regardless of his success, for though he didn't tell her, he'd fallen in love with the star. The star thanked him and told him to seek a creature older than she: the Dullahan. When he found the Dullahan, the Dullahan told the traveler that to continue on the path he walked was to invite death. The traveler told the Dullahan that he accepted what the Fates had rested on his shoulders; he had vowed to help the lovely star, and would continue to do so, regardless of the consequences.
"'So, the Dullahan told him what he wished to know. He instructed him to find a dragon and to carve…'" Levy faltered then, her hazel eyes flickering uncertainly. Finally, she forced herself to finish. "'To carve the creature apart. The traveler did as he was told: he carved the beast's heart from its chest and ate it; he carved the beast's flesh from its bones and wore it. When he had finished, the traveler was no longer human, but a dragon.
"'The traveler returned to the Dullahan and asked him what he should do now, to free the fallen star from the bindings that imprisoned her in the village. The Dullahan told him what to do, and the traveler returned to the village within the year, as he'd promised the star.
"'She wept when she realized what he'd done for her. When he Marked her as he'd been told, she wept again, for she felt the love he felt for her, and since the magic of Marks is older than the dragons themselves, the star was freed from her bindings. The star thanked her dragon for his actions and together, they left to travel the world.'"
Lucy was quiet as she contemplated what she'd just heard. "There's more," she realized, noting how Levy had stopped to stare at the open book, her mouth gaping open. "What else is there?" She felt a little sick, having heard what Acnologia had done to become a dragon as he was. She wondered if Gajeel, the notorious storyteller, knew that the rumors of Acnologia being mortal at some point were true.
Levy's voice shook violently as she whispered, "It's an author's note, Lucy. It...it says...it says that the author heard other rumors of the dragon and the star. 'And so the story goes that the star and the dragon were offered the gratitude of the celestial night sky, Anna's beloved friends and family. They became the first Keeper and Guardian to exist, and to signify their gratitude to the skies above, they built a stone gate of immense power in the hopes that should they fail their charges, history could be rewritten with a drop of blood from a fallen star and the keys they protected together. What became of them afterwards is unknown, but it is the hope of many like myself that they lived happily.'"
Every thought Lucy might have had emptied from her head.
Acnologia and Anna had built the Eclipse Gate themselves, hoping to rewrite history if necessary. A Gate that had only been opened once in history, to fire Lucy and Spetto into the future. A Gate that required the keys of the celestial spirits Acnologia had protected.
"Levy," whispered Lucy, and Levy shook as she placed the book on the table, gathering her favored book back into her arms for comfort. The iron scales on her arm rose and fell as Gajeel registered Levy's fear. As it was, Lucy could feel Natsu nearly shredding her soul in his eagerness to comprehend her own emotions. Talons raked and tore through her, digging in and trapping the warmth that always lingered, latching onto it as if she'd vanish into thin air. "I know what Acnologia wants with me."
Levy's face was white with fear. "Is it...but why would he kill Layla if he needed Heartfilia blood?"
"I don't think it's necessarily just the Heartfilia blood he needs." Lucy sucked in a deep breath. "All twelve keys, yes, but I'm...the Dullahan told me the other day that I'm a fallen star, Levy. I bet the Gate requires the blood of a fallen star to work. A fallen star related to Anna."
Levy raked a hand through her blue hair and let out a huge sigh. "Why would the celestial spirits not tell you anything about this? You've contracted several of them-"
Lucy touched the ring of keys at her hip. They seared at her hand, but she barely noticed, feeling a flicker of hurt as the idea bubbled from her lips. "Maybe...maybe they wanted that. Maybe they were just using me to let Acnologia rewrite history." Anna was a beloved member of their family, after all.
Several of the keys sparked with anger at her suggestion, but Lucy ignored them, feeling even more hurt by the idea. "Loke...Loke said no one had ever passed his test. That includes Anna." She frowned. "I wonder what happened with his test to make it so that not even she passed it."
"I don't know, but I'm sure you'll find out soon enough. And when you'd do, let me know, 'cause I want to know, too. And I'll send a word of warning to the Keeper and Guardians of the Eclipse Gate," added Levy firmly. "The last thing we need is Acnologia finding out that the last two keys he needs are with Yukino instead of you."
Lucy nodded her agreement in silence.
Lucy's head was still reeling when she slid from the ruined Archives to rejoin her friends in the foyer. Gajeel was squinting at her, as if trying to judge whether or not he needed to chase her out of the Archives. Gray and Wendy were pretending not to be overly interested, and Lucy could tell that Wendy was also simultaneously trying to keep a stern eye on Natsu. Lucy couldn't blame her.
Over the last two years, Lucy had learned there was a certain look that meant trouble regarding her partner. He was wearing that look, with a particularly sharp, acidic smile that made her concerned. His eyes were like flint when he immediately demanded, "What did you find?"
Lucy cleared her throat. "Levy found a storybook."
"Yeah?" said Natsu before she could continue. "So?"
"So," Levy said with a heavy sigh as she, too, swept from the library with her book tucked to her chest. "We found out what Acnologia's up to." She frowned at Natsu, who turned that razor sharp smile on her and earned a snarl from Gajeel.
Lucy looked at Gray for an explanation; Gray shrugged and said, "He's been like this since you two went in there."
Guessing it had to do with the Archives' feelings towards Natsu and the magic that suddenly pressed in on them all, Lucy sighed again and decided she'd deal with his attitude later. Or, at least, figure out just why he was so aggravated. She just hoped wasn't too related to her own guilt, which she knew he'd latched onto and noticed.
She'd have to explain that after they left, she knew, which did not bode well for her.
"So," repeated Natsu, stressing the word with a click of his teeth, "what's he planning?"
"To open the Eclipse Gate." Lucy spoke bluntly, exchanging a grim look with Levy. "To rewrite history. I'm guessing he intends to rewrite one part in particular, which involves Igneel unintentionally killing Anna."
"He intends to rewrite the Demonic Wars?" spluttered Wendy, horrified. "But if anything is changed, it could alter the entire course of the Wars!" Her wide hazel eyes darted among them all. "If he succeeded, he could...he could make it so that the demons won!"
She looked distressed enough that Natsu lost the flinty look and ruffled her hair with a smug expression that feigned confidence, even as she felt uncertainty suddenly coil in his gut. "Nah. Acnologia's interference didn't make that much of a difference, Wendy." His gaze slid to Lucy's over her head, sharp and wary. His expression said otherwise; if Acnologia rewrote the Demonic Wars, it would be devastating.
Even Gajeel looked worried, his gaze sliding from Lucy to his Marked One. "Think he could do it?"
"Yes," Levy said quietly. "Were he to get what he needed, he could. The book I found was a storybook, telling the tale of Acnologia's birth as a dragon. He became one by eating the heart of a dragon, by cloaking himself in its skin." Wendy shrank back, looking ill, and Natsu rumbled his anger. Gajeel merely scowled. "And then he freed Anna by Marking her. But...that wasn't what we were looking at," she added, looking among them. "The note by the author...Natsu, how old are you?"
"Well, that's just a personal question," grumbled Natsu with a grouchy look. She merely glared at him until he muttered, "Fine. I don't know. Don't have an exact number 'cause I don't remember half of the Demonic Wars, but...maybe fifteen hundred years or so? I was around before they started."
"Shit, you're old." Gajeel gawked at Natsu, who ignored him. Wendy was staring with wide eyes, too. Gray was the only one who didn't seem to care or notice the fact that Natsu was so old. Even Lucy was a little startled. She'd known he was alive before the Demonic Wars, but...if her math was right...that meant the Demonic Wars had lasted for close to seven hundred years. Lucy wondered if that was known in her time, for she'd certainly known it lasted for a while but not that long.
Natsu ignored them all and stared at Levy. "What does my old age have to do with Acnologia, Levy?" he requested warily, and Levy smiled faintly in comfort and reassurance.
She ignored his question and fired back, "Were you alive when the Eclipse Gate was built?"
"No, it was around way before I was," Natsu snapped in return, bristling. "What does this have to do with me, Levy?"
"Not with you, Natsu," Lucy said quietly, and his attention jerked to her. "With me." His nostrils flared, smoke curling furiously around his face at the mere idea. She bit her lip. "The book claimed that Acnologia and Anna built the Eclipse Gate, and that in order for it to work, you need twelve keys and a drop of blood. Seeing as I am apparently what I am…" She extended her hands in a sweeping gesture, frustrated. "I'm going to guess that it's because I'm very close to what Anna was."
Gajeel wrinkled his nose, piercings glinting in the dim light of the Archives' foyer. After a few seconds of thinking it over, a grin slashed across his face. "Not human at all, eh?" Lucy flushed and Wendy threw her hands in the air.
"Is there anything else I don't know?" she huffed, frustrated, and scowled when everyone there winced, knowing that there was one simple detail. Natsu schooled his expression to a blank one before she could stare at him, waiting for information. He said nothing, however, and Wendy huffed, running her fingers over Charle's soft white fur.
"Anyways, don't worry about it." Natsu puffed more smoke from his nose, rocking back on his heels. "Acnologia can think about it all he wants; it's not gonna happen."
The Fates have decided, child. What has been woven will come to be, regardless of what you do.
Lucy met Natsu's gaze tiredly. She knew that he could sense her exhaustion - her dawning realization that they could dream all they wanted.
The Dullahan had told her that their fate was sealed.
And with the hungry way Natsu was watching her and waiting for a chance to demand answers as to why she'd been feeling rather guilty, Lucy got the feeling that no matter what she wanted, there would be no changing it.
Sorry for being late (again)! Here's the chapter for the week. :) Some fun little discoveries regarding Acnologia, and some fun stuff is closing in! Fun stuff indeed. You guys are in for a fun time here soon. ALSO 100 chapters officially! Like, actual chapters this time, not including part announcements. ;)
Thanks to reviewers (PersephoneQOTU, XxCelestialAssassinxX, stranger1999, itsxoi, Sele de la Luna, Sydneste, Bookwork129, Guest #1, valerioux, Uchida Akira, madaraswife, helloimsandy, Lissuin, moonluver92, and LavenderMoonRose!) as well as those who favorited and followed!
