Gray could do nothing but stare at the violent, black-tinted inferno that spiraled and roared in the building before him. He stared in horror, unable to look away. He knew those flames, had watched them race towards him and Lucy at high speeds as he desperately urged her to open a Portal that would ultimately take them right out of Fiore.
"But what..." he muttered aloud, absolutely frantic at the idea of what could have set Natsu off to this degree, and in Lucy's apartment, nonetheless! "What the hell happened?"
At least he could trust that Lucy was safe, he told himself as he glanced over his shoulder, startled when Juvia's voice rose to an alarmed cry. She'd been working for several minutes now alongside other water-centric mythics, to put out the blaze, but was coming out unsuccessful. Fear was growing as people spilled into the street, frantic. It could spread. And if it was Natsu who was responsible for this…
Well, unless they found him, there was no stopping the fire.
At least, Gray repeated to himself, Lucy would be safe. There was no way in hell that he'd have let Lucy get hurt by such a thing-
Something suddenly slammed into him, nearly knocking Gray off his feet, and he snapped his head around with a scowl decorating his face. He blinked in surprise. "Jellal?" he said, shocked. The Keeper of Visions had been nowhere near Magnolia, last he checked. Jellal had even mentioned avoiding the town, claiming that whenever he came, there was always something troublesome occurring.
Then again, Natsu starting a fire like this, which was entirely unlike the arson he'd committed in Crocus...that could have something to do with Jellal's presence. And Erza's too, he noted as Erza appeared at Jellal's shoulder, looking concerned.
"Where's Lucy?" said Jellal tersely, his hand tucked into his cloak, as if he was holding something. His jaw was clenched, sweat beading at his forehead, as if he was struggling with something. "Have you seen her? I need to speak with her."
Gray shook his head, looking back towards the fire. "No," he said truthfully. "I'm sure she's fine though. Natsu would never leave her alone with something worth a fire like this happening."
Erza frowned, studying the inferno before them. "These flames...they're unlike any other I've encountered."
"Natsu's," Gray told them, and Jellal merely grunted his agreement, tightening his grip on whatever it was he held. Gray studied him, thinking it over, and then spluttered. "Are you having issues with-"
"Yes." Jellal threw him a sharp, warning look, and Gray hastily shut up about the book he knew Jellal was carrying with him. "Now, we need to find Lucy. My visions...I need to speak with her." He turned swiftly on his heel, as if intending to go and look for her, only to stop dead, a startled sound leaving him. Gray looked over, as did Erza, and froze, staring.
Loke glared viciously at them from where he was struggling to remain standing a mere few feet away. His breath came in ragged, agonized gasps, his body slicked with golden blood as he pressed his hand more firmly over the massive wounds that had shredded the left side of his body. "Get her out." When no one moved, confused, he stumbled forward a step, practically radiating rage. "Get Lucy out. She's still in there, and...and Natsu's sure as hell not going to help her."
Gray stared at him blankly for a good moment, horrified, then whirled around. He gaped for a moment as a piece of the building suddenly collapsed, sending ash and dust flying. He threw an arm over his eyes to protect them, and then glanced at Loke again. The spirit was glaring back at him, waiting. Expecting. "No one can withstand that kind of fire," he began, even as fear for his friend curled low in his gut.
Loke bristled, looking and sounding like a furious feline as he spat, "Are you a half-demon or not?"
Gray faltered, glancing back at the fire. He remembered how much even just a brush of that flame had hurt. He wasn't entirely sure he'd go into something like that for his own sake, let alone someone else's. There was something different about Natsu's demonic flames; the way they burned was as if they were skipping right past your flesh and sinking right into your soul.
"Lucy's in there?"
Juvia's horrified cry made the decision for him, and he reminded himself that anyone else would have gone into such flames for him in return. Gray took a deep breath, drawing on the darker sides of the magic he rarely ever used. He felt it creep through him, dark and hungry for the chaos that was erupting around them as another crack split the air, something from the roof caving in.
Without another word, Gray started forward. He forced the fear back, forced back the horror and the confusion and everything else. He needed to focus, pay attention to what he was doing. He ignored a shout of protest from some town official as he ducked inside, peering around with wary caution. The smoke was thick, piling atop itself and shoving its way down his throat until he coughed and pressed a hand over his mouth and nose as if it would help him.
Shaking his head to clear it, Gray hurried up to the apartment he'd visited time and time again, and when the door didn't open right away, he didn't bother trying to push it. He pressed his palm to it, freezing every inch of wood until it cracked and shattered like he'd smashed a mirror. Gray carefully stepped over the sharp shards of frozen wood and paused in the entryway to the apartment, seeking.
He was grateful to realize that Lucy wasn't too hidden, even in plain view. And she was unharmed and awake, if the loud, mournful cries and wails she was uttering were anything to go by. He faltered, wondering just what had ripped her soul in such a way to make her cry as he had when he'd realized just what he actually was.
What shocked him the most, however, was Happy.
Natsu's familiar was snarling at him like a little lion, fur spiked and charred from the flames that roared around them. He crouched protectively over Lucy's head, eyes glowing a brilliant, beautiful star-like gold as he drew on her magic to create a shield that protected her from the heat and flames.
Despite the situation, Gray was impressed. He had just once asked Wendy about the familiars the dragons treasured so dearly, and she'd explained just what they did, how important they were to dragons - particularly young dragons, who couldn't control their magic and abilities well. Familiars were picky about whose magic they worked with, and treasured the bonds their species held with the dragons. It had been centuries - maybe longer - since a familiar had bonded with someone outside of a dragon.
Even so, Wendy had told him, if Charle had wanted to let Gray channel his magic through her, it was possible.
Happy hissed softly, growling low in his throat as Gray edged over, eyeing the corner of the apartment, where the black flames were thickest. Distantly, Gray thought he could detect something knelt within it, thought he could hear something laughing.
Shaking it off and deciding he was imagining things, Gray hastily knelt beside Lucy, and Happy uttered a shaky purr when Lucy sobbed. He touched her shoulder, wincing at the sight of painful burns decorating her skin already. "Lucy," he rasped, coughing. "Lucy, we have to go."
She didn't respond, and Happy whimpered, flattening his ears as something showered down from above. Deciding that he'd not really care for being crushed or something similar, Gray grimly grabbed her and hauled her upright, sweeping her up with ease. "C'mon, Happy," he called over the roar. Happy swiftly clawed his way onto Gray's shoulder, curling his tail around Gray's throat and touching his nose to Lucy's head gingerly. Gray was startled further when he felt his magic shift. The temperature chilled, and Happy grumbled unhappily as he settled in, helping to manipulate Gray's magic to better fit what they needed.
Gray didn't bother to look back as he scrambled to get them all out, muttering his gratitude to the feline on his shoulder. When he stepped free of the building, he hoisted Lucy up a little, ignoring the shouts of alarm that came when people realized who he held. He searched the crowd that had gathered and didn't hesitate to make his way over to where Loke still stood, clearly fighting the urge to return to his realm until Lucy was safe.
"Is she hurt?" demanded Loke, heaving for air as he approached. Loke stumbled a step forward, nearly collapsing. Silently, Jellal stepped forward and offered his shoulder for the spirit to lean on.
Gray shook his head, flashing Happy a grateful look. "Happy helped her. He shielded her with her own magic." He glanced down as Lucy shuddered, crying silently against his shoulder. "What the hell happened?" he finally demanded, glaring at Loke. "Where's Natsu?"
Loke clenched his jaw angrily. "I told them that no one had ever passed my trial, that it was what ultimately killed Layla." Without another word, he stepped back, vanishing into a weaker Portal than he normally would have managed to create.
Gray swore under his breath, frustrated, and then glanced down again when Lucy suddenly spoke, her voice no more than a whisper. "I told him."
Jellal stepped closer, brow furrowed. "What is it that you told him, Lucy?" he asked gently, ignoring the goblin that suddenly began desperately tugging at his cloak.
Lucy's fingers curled until they clutched a fistful of Gray's shirt. "We had...we had to tell one another what we wanted to say the least," she breathed, her voice cracking. "And I told him who destroys Crocus."
Erza blinked, puzzled, and exchanged a quick look with Jellal, even as Gray stared down at her in horror. "I thought you weren't aware," began Erza, but Gray silenced her with a sharp, piercing look.
"Come on," was all he said, wincing when there was a massive commotion behind them as the entire building finally collapsed in on itself, sending embers and painful sparks flying. He instinctively bent to protect Lucy from them as best as he could, and Erza hissed in pain when one or two struck her. "Let's go to the guildhall. Makarov'll know what to do."
Lucy merely closed her eyes, as if she wanted nothing more than to sleep and never wake up.
Distantly, she could hear the voices that rang in her head as Makarov and his council discussed what had happened. Excluding, of course, Natsu, though Jellal and Erza had deigned the matter worth their time. Lucy let her gaze numbly roam those present. She wondered why Erza and Jellal were even there. It wasn't as if anything had changed. History was still history, and the Fates had made their choice.
She slid her gaze down to the table. She studied the demonic writing that had been burned into the wooden surface, stroking Happy with shaking hands. Her eyes burned with tears that wouldn't come. She'd spent them all, she couldn't help but think, as the fire had crackled around her, representing everything that the piece of soul she held and still loved fiercely was feeling. She could feel him even now, though she didn't dare do more than brush the surface. Mostly, it was betrayal. Pain, rage, and betrayal.
Her fingers tightened just briefly in Happy's fur when a stab of hatred flickered along her spine, threatening to choke her. But it was gone just as quickly, and was immediately followed by frustration as something else throbbed in the base of her skull.
It was exhausting, trying to keep up with it all.
A foot nudged hers, and Lucy's gaze snapped up to find everyone looking at her. Gray, sitting closer than he normally would have, had been the one to alert her to their curious attentions. She blinked, bewildered. What had they been talking about?
Gray leaned in and muttered, "Makarov asked you what it is that set Natsu off like that."
Lucy stiffened, not at all happy with the question. She looked down to Happy again, and he purred comfortingly to her. She felt even guiltier as she stared at him. He was Natsu's familiar. Not hers. He should be comforting Natsu, not her. After a moment, she croaked, "Loke's trial. We failed it obviously. So…" She swallowed thickly, not wanting to say much more than that. Not when another flicker of fury raced through her - and pride when her own misery echoed it.
He was happy she was miserable. Truly happy, and it only made everything a dozen times worse.
Makarov studied her quietly, taking in her appearance quietly for a few moments. Gently, he finally asked, "Do you think his actions will be repeated? He's...well, he's Natsu, but…"
"He's not some...some rabid dog who got bored and started a fire in my apartment," Lucy spat suddenly, anger ripping through her. She scowled at the guildmaster, and Happy bristled right alongside her. No one said a word when she shot to her feet, dumping him on the table. She was fully aware of the extent of her appearance; how she needed to trim some of her hair off to rid it of the burned, dead parts, how she held a number of burns where Natsu had touched her. Her hands throbbed with agony at the reminder. "He's upset. He's hurting."
And she couldn't help him. She was the last person who could.
She thought that might have been the worst of it: Natsu was hurting, and she could do nothing but sit back and watch.
Mirajane clicked her tongue in sympathy and said softly, "We never said he was doing it for fun, Lucy, but when people are hurt in such a way...well, it never ends well, and people could get hurt."
Lucy fixed her with a freezing glare. "Not one person was hurt in that fire, Mirajane," she hissed. Excluding herself, but Lucy didn't care about that. She'd deserved it - deserved worse. "Not one." She met each and every person's gaze, letting her own shift from Mirajane, to Laxus, to Gildarts, and finally to Makarov, skipping past the patient Erza and Jellal, and Gray, who was clearly on her side, knowing precisely what had set Natsu off. "And if you think for one second that he will hurt someone-"
"No one's saying that, Lucy," Makarov sighed, "we're merely thinking of everything we can."
Laxus rapped his fingers impatiently on the table, and exchanged a rather sharp glare with Lucy, who didn't hesitate to glower at him, knowing precisely what he was thinking. Demon, through and through.
Gildarts cleared his throat, leaning back. "The question still remains: what set him off? I've known the kid since before he met Igneel. I've never seen him react like that. Except for…" He stiffened suddenly, eyes flashing to Lucy suspiciously, and Lucy averted her gaze.
"Zeref told me the same thing right before he turned me into the monster you apparently want me to be."
Lucy pinched the bridge of her nose, suddenly more exhausted than before. "Look," she mumbled, "I don't know what you need me here for. I'm not a member of your council, I'm not even...I shouldn't even be a member of the guild." She became bitter, her eyes still burning as she glared at the words inscribed on the table. She could remember all the times she'd come to this room and had watched Natsu sear them there in boredom. Could remember precisely how whenever she'd expressed interest, he'd perk up and-
"I'm not even from this time," she hastily finished, pressing her lips together, and she didn't miss how Gray straightened a little, shooting her a look of disapproval. In fact, most of them did.
She found she didn't care. Not without Natsu wanting her to think otherwise. Maybe she could just...go back, she thought for a moment. All it took, after all, was a drop of blood from a fallen star, and all of the keys. She already had most of them, all it would take was convincing Yukino-
No, she told herself.
That wasn't an option.
She'd sworn to Natsu that she'd not go back if she could avoid it. She'd betrayed him enough as it was. Besides, there was still a year before the world ended. She still had ten spirits she held contracts with. She was still being hunted by Acnologia, still had a guild who was intent on saving the Eclipse Gate - even if the Dullahan had pretty much told her it was impossible.
Lucy took a deep, pained breath, wincing. Her throat was sore from smoke, she realized blearily in the back of her head.
Nothing had changed. Nothing. Only that Natsu was no longer there to help her.
She could still fight to change the future, regardless of what the Dullahan and Fates thought.
She would prove to Natsu that while she'd kept such a thing from him, she had no intention of letting it come to happen.
But where to start? She had nothing. Everything had burned, and Natsu was the one who knew the world around her far better than she could ever hope to understand. After a few moments of consideration, she said, "Forget him. Forget Natsu. He won't...just trust him. He won't do anything drastic."
He could pretend to be the big, bad Demon King all he wanted, he would not hurt anyone other than her at the moment.
"Gray," she said, and he leaned forward a fraction, patiently waiting. She faltered at the kind look he wore. "Would...would you be willing to go with me to the southwestern mountains? Jellal, Erza, you, too," she added as an afterthought when Gray's face went white.
Erza looked concerned, too, about the idea of doing such a thing, but Jellal only nodded as his Guardian demanded, "What business do you have down there, Lucy?"
"Algieba," she said firmly. "My great-times-who-knows-how-many grandfather. If he's truly Anna's son, then there could be some information we could attain from him about the Eclipse Gate. He was alive when it was built, perhaps even old enough to remember. And there's likely more we don't know. Like why Acnologia agreed to an alliance with the Alvarez Empire during the Demonic Wars. We need to understand Acnologia in order to figure out what he hopes to change - besides Anna's death." If the others had not yet found out what Acnologia was up to, they certainly knew now.
Gildarts groaned. "You still didn't answer the question properly."
"And it's really not your business," Lucy told him, earning a laugh of surprise from the god. She faltered a little when she saw Makarov studying her intently, looking troubled. "Natsu...I don't know what he'll do," she said quietly, "but he won't hurt anyone. Still, could you try and keep an eye on him?"
He could hate her all he wanted, think she cared nothing for him, but the opposite was true. She loved him fiercely, far more than she'd ever thought she'd love someone, and she wasn't about to let history make him into a monster simply because he was furious with her for lying to him about the matter.
"Of course. We never wouldn't watch out for our family," Makarov said quietly. "I suppose you'll want to Portal at least part of the way?"
"I'm not sure yet, but more than likely yes," said Lucy. She studied those in the room with her, determined. "Natsu's...he's hurting," she repeated, "but I won't let what's recorded in the history books hurt him more." She lifted her chin, confident once more in what she was doing, and could have sworn her keys seared at her in pride. "Natsu may have failed to become a Guardian, but I can call myself a Keeper. I passed my part of Loke's trial. I don't know what that means...but I'll sure as hell fight like a Keeper to protect the future."
The reviews from last chapter made my week! And now time for some more fun. Can't wait for you all to see what's coming. ;)
Thanks to reviewers (XxCelestialAssassinxX, Sydneste, ckc14, rao hyunga 18, TigerArrowgirl, 19vanelkc, Guest #1, Uchida Akira, stranger1999, Guest #2, AthmeinFairytail, Glassygirl, wetpussycat, FairyTailxFanGirl, Bookwork129, Akari-Iwahashi, zizi08, Bugseey, itsxoi, Maikoa, BeautifulSamurai, lcr0718, valerioux, Roll24k, uwu, halobeast-117, Guest #3, Meow Orbit, Kisa7221, madaraswife, helloimsandy, BetaDreamer, shortymcnugget, SummeryNights, Sela de la Luna, Lissuin, Surfy, Lodemai04, Alera33, Kyasemi, winterGuest, LavenderMoonRose, CodenameMise, ms annelily, Kaisha, and Guest #4!) as well as those who favorited and followed!
