Chapter 18: Ut Biberent Quoniam Esse Nollent
They laid their hands together, and again Lucy felt as if his warmth was palpable through the runes. They locked eyes and spoke as one: "Unison Raid."
Fire erupted all around Natsu, filling the rectangular space of his cell and charring the bed to a crisp. Concurrently, a golden corona surged around Lucy's body, growing brighter by the second. Their unique lights converged around the barrier, creeping across the smooth surface before finally meeting at their hands. Something shifted beneath her skin, then she felt Natsu's calloused palm against her own. His long fingers curled through hers and he sent her a grin. The runes suddenly became visible in a flash, then crumbled before their eyes, fading into the ethernano before the barrier melted away. Lucy stumbled forward in surprise and Natsu's other arm went around her waist, holding her flush against his hard torso, and resting his chin on top of her head.
"I missed this," he exhaled softly. True, as her head laid against his chest, she found the steady sound of his heartbeat to be more melodic than any lullaby. But they didn't have time to waste—the runes breaking most likely sent out a signal to the Council.
"Let's hurry." She tugged their linked hands and pulled him forward from the cell and towards the stairwell. He protested at first, then fell silent as his head turned in the direction of the hall. "What do you hear?"
"Lots of people. Twelve—thirteen, yeah. And they're carrying a lot of weight, probably weapons."
"Then there's no time to waste."
"Wait, what?" They ascended the stairs and turned towards the storage rooms of the Council building. Less bodies lurked there, and as Natsu didn't speak up after, she assumed no one was nearby. The corridors were long and cold until they reached their goal: the hall of floor-to-ceiling windows.
"Kidnap me again?" she asked sweetly. Natsu rolled his eyes and puffed a stream of smoke from his nose, but there was a grin he was fighting down. As the footsteps drew nearer, he grasped Lucy tight about her waist, pulling her close to his own body. His heat radiated like a hearth and brought her a sense of security she couldn't explain.
"Keep your head tucked in," he advised before taking a deep breath. She heeded his warning just before he bellowed, "Fire Dragon's Roar!" The sound of shattering glass echoed loudly in her ears but she received no injuries from it as Natsu shielded her body with his. Then suddenly they were moving, and just as suddenly, flying. She raised her head and saw the guards arguing with each other in the rapidly disappearing window. Natsu's chest vibrated with a low growl. "They're debating if it's worth shooting me and probably hitting you, and it's not a heavy-hearted argument."
"Oh…" She knew her people weren't exactly "her" people anymore, and if some of them were still on her side earlier in the day, they wouldn't be when word got out about her sneaking into the dungeons and freeing Natsu. The rune expert—Levy—would surely have been made aware of her presence. Still, the thought stung more than a bit.
"It's okay!" he said quickly as she tore her eyes from the scene, instead staring at the castle as its lights began to fade away. "They'll forgive you when you take in that rat Mystogun, okay?"
She hummed distractedly. The gusts from his wings stirred the light fabric of her cloak and the loose strands of her hair as she turned her head towards the waning moon. A sudden cry in the distance caught her attention once again, then she saw a purple projectile coming from the castle and towards them. "Natsu!"
"What, what?" He turned and his eyes bugged in surprise as he saw the projectile as well. He pulled his wings in and made a sharp dive towards the suburban homes below. The warhead apparently reached its limit and exploded just above them, raining shreds of white and violet magic down. He hissed as the magic made contact with his scales and left large burn welts.
"Natsu—"
"Fine, I'm fine. What kind of knight would I be if I can't take a bit of pain for my princess?" Yet his eyes squinted as he said it and she could see the blood dripping from his injuries. "What's the plan? I have no idea where Mystogun's gone, and I don't suppose you have an idea."
"I was thinking we can ask Grandpa Crux. Another of my Spirits," she quickly explained. "He wouldn't know where Mystogun's gone, but the Book of E.N.D., he can most likely track, whether locating the Dark Magic or knowing what it could be used for. Assuming Mystogun hasn't parted with the Book yet. Perhaps he even needs a dragon to do whatever he plans on doing, the reason for taking your sister."
"Wendy," he growled. "If Mystogun so much as hurt one hair on her head, I'll—"
"Natsu!" Lucy curled into his chest when another projectile struck him right in the back. He roared in pain and his wings folded, sending them into a fast plummet towards the houses below. Lucy quickly drew out a Key and chanted, "Open, Gate of the Ram! Aries!"
A puff of white wool cradled them and prevented all but a slight jolt when they crashed into the paved streets. Aries dispelled the fluff and looked to Lucy with large eyes. "I'm sorry, Princess, but are you alright?"
"Yes, thanks to you." Lucy sat up and looked over Natsu as he lay prone on his stomach. There was a nasty wound between his shoulder blades that looked like a chunk of skin had been bitten out, oozing blood along the edges. His wings immediately pulled in taut to block the injury from her sight.
"'s like a papercut," Natsu said with a smirk. Then his eyes widened and he shoved Lucy away with all his strength. She went flying backwards before her fall was broken by Aries, however Natsu had been encased in a large sphere of rolling seawater. He gasped and the air left his lungs in a flurry of bubbles.
"Natsu!" Lucy cried, jumping to her feet. A figure stepped out from behind the bubble of water, easily stepping over the dispersed chunks of gravel. Her curled blue hair sat atop her double-breasted coat and her eyes had not an ounce of pity in them.
"Juvia thinks the Council was correct," she said, looking at Natsu fighting his watery restraints. "The princess has turned her back on the kingdom. How said."
A light rain began to fall, pasting Lucy's fringe to her forehead as she gritted her teeth. Thanking Aries, she closed the gate and pulled out another key. "Has the Council sent you?" she said, trying to inch closer to Natsu's prison.
"The Council suspected the princess has turned traitor when the alarms went off. Juvia and the Element 4 were promised a pardon if they capture both you and the dragon. With any necessary means." Juvia raised her hands and summoned two massive plumes of water at her sides. "Water Nebula!"
"Aquarius!" Lucy thrust out her Key and Aquarius appeared in a burst of light, diverting the water with her urn and a fierce look in Juvia's direction.
"I'm the only one who can wash away this brat!" she growled. Lucy didn't know whether to be flattered or appalled as she sent a massive torrent of water in Juvia's direction, obscuring the woman from view under its force. Lucy then felt the ground give under her feet, sending her flying into the air as a barrage of boulders shot up towards her. "Lucy!" Aquarius shouted.
"I'm fine!" A burst of magic from her sword deflected the largest of the rocks, yet a few smaller ones cut into her arms and legs, causing her to wince at the sting. Aquarius tried to come to her aid before Juvia appeared amidst the water returning to her urn, the pale face materializing beneath the waves.
"Juvia thinks you should pay more attention to your own opponent," she said before sending a sharp blade of water right at Aquarius. She dropped the urn and bent into a dive to avoid it, although several locks of her hair were sheared from the narrow miss. Meanwhile Natsu gave one last gasp before falling limp in his captivity. Lucy could feel it in her soul, his life was waning. Then her attention was drawn by a massive stone fist rushing towards her.
"Lucy, take this!" Aquarius quickly tossed a ball of blue light towards her. Lucy caught it without really thinking and felt a warm rush of magic wash over her, a magic as familiar as Mama's own. A power filled her in sharp contrast to Natsu's blazing heat or the Key's warm glow; this was fiercer, an untamed force that could be guided and never controlled. She moved like a woman possessed and took some of the water left from Juvia's attack, driving it into the oncoming fist like a drill. It exploded from the inside out and Lucy fell hard to the ground, though the water softened her fall somewhat. Her clothes had changed, but she was more focused on the second figure that was literally forming from the exposed earth.
"Hello, ma chérie," he greeted with a manic smile. "Je suis Sol of the Element 4."
"Nice to know," Lucy said dryly before sending a crashing wave in his direction. He disappeared down into the ground to avoid impact and she was hit with a wave of his own, a crushing hand of sand that drove her headfirst into the dirt. She leapt to her feet before the pain could set in and drew upon her anger, seizing the liquid prison which held Natsu and forcing the water to bend to her will. It was different than the static droves on the road or the increasing force from the sky; this water was more like stone, an immobile force that fought her spirit to spirit. Juvia stilled, allowing Aquarius to knock her off her feet with a gout of water, then her Water Lock began to tremble.
"You understand me, don't you? You…ah…you speak this language, this language between hearts—I don't know what to call it, but it made me feel special for a second, like someone other than Gajeel and Wendy knows what it's like to feel this way. This dragon's heart hasn't beat for anyone but his own for a hundred years, yet for Lucy Heartfilia, it goes crazy. And I love it."
With a roar of determination, Lucy pulled the water away, freeing Natsu, and let it arc through the air before crashing into the ground as Sol made another retreat. The water returned seconds later, bursting into the air and forming spiraling waves that yanked him forth and tossed him to and fro before slamming into the ground. "Aqua Metria!"
Sol didn't rise again and Lucy took the opportunity to rush to Natsu's side. He was limp on the ground, wings covering his head, and when she peeked at his face, her blood chilled at how pale and blue it was. She leaned closer and realized he wasn't breathing. She rested a hand on his chest, feeling the water sloshing in there, and carefully drew it out through his mouth, tossing it aside, yet he didn't wake. Hot tears pricked at her eyes and she rested her hand on his cheek.
"You can't break our promise so easily," she whispered, leaning forward. Their mouths connected and she breathed the life back into him, forcing his lungs to move for him. She continued until she went dizzy from the deep breaths and wavered—then Natsu's hand caught her wrist. She was kept from falling by his unrelenting grip and vibrant green eyes stared into hers.
"You," he said hoarsely, breathlessly, although that most likely had something to do with the fact he was just revived, and not with the heart-racing look that filled his face, "are really something, Princess."
"Thank you," she replied, spellbound by his gaze. They might have stayed like that forever if Aquarius hadn't cried out in pain, and Lucy spun to see her gripping her midsection, blood leaking out from her fingers.
"Don't worry, Lucy, this little whelp couldn't touch me," she said with a smirk, though her countenance was wan. "Just—I suppose I haven't fully healed since the fight…"
Lucy gasped when she recalled that time in the Spirit World was much different than on earth. For that one month that has passed, it was merely hours for them; even with their accelerated healing, Sabertooth had caused a lot of damage. Lucy made to close the gate before Aquarius sent a sharp look in her direction.
"Don't you dare."
"Aquar—"
"I promised your mother I'd protect you no matter what!" She punctuated the statement with a blade made from the rain that crashed down on Juvia like thunder. "And that contract still stands."
"Your Spirit's pretty scary," Natsu remarked. "And that's coming from a dragon."
"I know," Lucy said with a nostalgic smile. Aquarius had always had the least patience for Lucy's shortcomings—whether it be learning the proper way to walk, speaking with the correct honorifics, tableside manners—and would berate her and make her repeat until she was perfect. She was greatly responsible for the woman Lucy had become, and that included teaching Lucy to stand up to every opponent, never mind the difference in size, strength, or species.
"You'll certainly be getting a talking to about running from the guards with a prisoner like this," Aquarius warned with a sharp look in Lucy's direction, then caught Juvia in a watery sphere not unlike her own, "but for now—"
Aquarius's voice choked into a breathless gasp and Lucy realized a shadow had snuck up behind her. The rain had thickened so much Lucy could not see their face, but she could hear an uttered spell: "Metsu." Bursts of golden light surrounded her and turned to wisps dissipating into the dark sky. Lucy could see the figure, a man in a red cloak and white blindfold, right before Aquarius fell to the ground, fading to the Spirit World without a word.
"No!" Lucy cried, rushing to her feet, and the man turned to her with raised hands.
"Such sorrow, losing a close friend… Now, you shall know her pain. Zetsu."
He didn't shoot anything she could see, but suddenly the very air around Lucy exploded with heat and pressure, jerking her body around like a marionette before she was roughly tossed to the ground. Though she was disoriented from the pain, Natsu had assumed a defensive crouch ahead of her, the heat radiating from his body turning the rain into steam.
"Not one step closer," he growled, "or else I'll rip you to shreds."
"The dragon protecting his princess. How sad." He moved forward and Natsu created a massive fireball that lit up the space between them. It vanished into nothingness several feet from the enemy and Natsu ground his teeth. "I am Aria, the Pinnacle of the Element 4. And a dragon without wings is naught but a lizard crawling the earth." He put his hands out and chanted, "Metsu."
The same light which caught Aquarius surrounded them as well and Natsu quickly took hold of Lucy and soared into the air, high above Aria's reach. "We should get away while we can," she said, wincing at the pain in her limbs. He frowned at the sight.
"I hate to run from a fight, but—" An explosion happened directly overhead and Natsu shouted in pain, releasing Lucy as both spiraled to the ground. Aria caught Lucy however Natsu crashed to the pavement in a heap. His wings and scales vanished and he made a visible effort to rise to his knees. "You bastard, I'll—" He raised his fists and made to leap forward before yellow fire struck at his feet. The flames stretched like gum and dropped him face first, hands still extended.
"You have no hope against my Airspace Magic, and not while I have the princess in my hand." Aria bowed his head. "Give in, dragon."
Natsu pushed himself up to his elbows and glared at Aria with all the venom he could muster. "I made Lucy a promise. You're a fool if you think I'll break it now. The princess and I will walk away to fight another day," he continued, getting to his feet. He was bruised and bloody, a deep wound from the explosion on his head to match the one on his back, and he was swaying between his feet, but nothing kept the determination from his eyes. "You think your magic is enough to put me down? You have yet to see a dragon's rage, Mr. Pinnacle."
Aria's head inclined. "I do not understand your words, hatchling, but it matters not." Light surrounded Natsu and with his feet bound, he could not move to avoid Aria's attack, which Lucy realized drained the victim's magic to near negligible levels. She could feel their connection turning to tissue and tears rolled down her cheeks, quickly washed away by the rain. Natsu collapsed in a boneless heap but he never broke eye contact. Footsteps pounded on the wet gravel and they were surrounded by Era's soldiers, who clamped anti-magic shackles on Natsu and, after a moment's hesitation, Lucy as well.
"Lucy," Natsu whispered, looking over at her. She couldn't bear to meet his eyes, not after this.
"I know." How quickly had her confident words been reduced to something as meaningless as the splashes of rain on the earth. They had failed. "I'm sorry."
"I didn't protect you," he said, and she laughed bitterly. How could he be blaming himself? She was the one who broke him out of prison with nothing more than a flutter of an idea. Idealism, however, had gotten them only so far—what appeared to be half a mile away from the Council building, so it seemed.
Freedom for the both of us may only ever be a dream now…