Change of Fate

Lady Countryrose

Ch. 7

It didn't take that long for the guild to be built, not with Gajeel's help. He had managed to work day and night until it was finally up. He had taken one day off, to take Grace Heartfilia out on a date. He had to say, it was a nice change from everything that he had ever known.

Gajeel was able to keep her away from Lucy and the rest of Natsu's team. He was able to see the girl being able to relax and enjoy her time away from the guild. He had even found out what she liked. From favorite colors to the season she liked best. Along with one of her few cherished childhood memories. He was not surprised to find that it's one with Lucy in it. He even found out that she loved hearing thunderstorms.

"I don't know what you think but whenever I hear them, I feel more recharge and relax than anything else in the world." She had a faraway look in her eyes. "I also love the sound of the sea, how it crashes onto the land."

Gajeel purred, he loved the sound of her voice as she spoke. "You sound like a woman, who craves for other kinds of crashes in her life." Grace had given him a strange look until he saw something flash in her eyes and brought a blush to her cheeks. He did everything he could, not to laugh at her. "Can I take this as a sign of not being with anyone?" Grace became pale after he had to pinpoint something about herself. "Good to know that I'll have you all to myself."

The rest of the day had passed with them walking through the town. Seeing their fellow guildmates walking through the market. Or in Natsu and company had done, was following the couple around town. Gajeel had heard enough of Lucy hissing towards Natsu, Gray, and Erza. About giving Gajeel and Grace time alone. But he heard something that he would never have thought about before, even from Natsu. "Someone has to chaperone them, we want to keep Grace pure until he asks her to marry him."

Gajeel knew that with dragons, mates mean more than marriage. But he forgot that Grace came from human understanding. Meaning he would have to do things right, even with human standards. Especially if he wanted to keep her in his life, along with any children that they would have in the future. He had to agree with Natsu, he would have to marry his mate.

He gave a sigh, which caused Grace to look at him. "Is something wrong, Gajeel?"

"No," he shook his head. "Sorry, just had too many voices running through my head."

She smiled, "You can say it. You've had enough of my shadows following us." She glanced behind her, seeing a blur of people running into hiding places. "Yeah, I've noticed."

"Does it bother you," he asked with wanting to know what she thought.

She shook her head, "After having a life full of no worries and no one who cares, other than your sister." She looked towards the sky, as it was making its way into darkness. "It's kind of nice knowing that there is someone out there that cares." She chuckled after hearing a couple of the guys falling over each other. "I think a crowd is a bit much though, why couldn't they ask for a double date or something? It would have been a lot easier on everyone."

"Really," called out the voices of her sister's beloved team. Along with a few other guildmates that followed them.

Grace closed her eyes, "I didn't know that many others had followed." She gave a glare towards Natsu, "You're way too loud for me not hearing anyone else!"

Gajeel laughed, he may have hated having people following him like they had done that day. But he had to be proud that his new guild had cared for Grace, it was enough for him to let it go. He wrapped an arm around her. "Well, I knew that they had been following us. Salamander can't even hide them from me." He saw the light squirming from the girl. He was enjoying the sense of predator and prey action that they were having. "But it's good to know that they care for you and Bunny, to know that they will always keep an eye on you."

Grace laughed, "I think its more on, they had seen me tiger out on Laxus and hope that I would do the same to you." This caused many chuckles from the shadows around them. "See, I seemed to know what they had hoped for." She made their way towards the newly built guild, where most of the people were happy to see.

"Can I ask for another date," he asked with a smile that reached his eyes.

"Sure," she glanced around for a moment. "But next time, can you try not telling the whole guild about it," she gave a wink before going into the guild.

She left Gajeel by the door with many of guild members coming towards the doors. When he saw Natsu coming towards him, he reached out and grabbed his scarf, making him stay where he was at. Allowing many others to pass on by, but Lucy stayed and looked at Gajeel.

"Don't worry Bunny, I'm just going to talk to him." Lucy turned to walk into the guild allowing the two Dragon Slayers to talk. "I heard your comment about marriage before mating, am I correct?"

Natsu shrugged, "So?"

Gajeel let the pink haired slayer go when he saw that he wasn't going to go anywhere. "Do you know what I should do, I mean it's something I really don't know about human culture?"

Natsu sighed, "It's new to me too." He glanced into one of the windows of the guild. He saw many people that they could talk to, but none seemed to pop out much. "We could always talk to Lucy, I mean she's close to Grace and sees what her outlook of it is." He sighed when he only got a stare from the dark slayer. "It was just a thought."

"No," Gajeel shook his head and sighed. "You had a point about talking to Lucy about, it's just hard to get her alone without Grace."

"I can always see about Gray taking her out of job or something." He saw the light behind the eyes of Gajeel, causing him to gulp. "I mean, like a day or something. Something close by."

"As much I might not like it, but it's a good one. If not Gray, ask Erza. At least I know she wouldn't try anything." He tapped Natsu on the shoulder. "Thanks, Natsu, you've become something I didn't see coming."

"What's that," asked the man in question.

"Someone to lean on," Gajeel shook his head. "Who knew you'd come up with some good advice from time to time."

Natsu smiled, "Can you tell Lucy that, I don't think she notices."

"No, I think she didn't want to build upon the big brain you have."

"Hey," causing him to stop talking and going into his brain. "Make it stop, it hurts."

The two walked in, seeing Lucy and Grace looking towards them. "What hurts," the two asked together, something Gajeel had gotten used to. Causing many within the guild to stop with what they were doing and dropped their jaws.

"Him thinking," he pointed towards Natsu.

The two shook their heads, "Figures," saying as one again.

Gray glared at the two, "If I didn't know about your history and all. One must ask if you're twins?"

The two looked at each other before looking back him, "Why?"

"Doing shit like that!"

The elder man came walking towards the table that the group had found themselves in. "I can explain that." When he had gotten everyone's attention, he gave a sad smile. "The blood adoption that Jude had said, wasn't the kind that was legal." He glanced the two of them with a smile but his eyes were sad. "It's illegal but binding. The adoption requires not the blood of the parents, but the blood of a sibling."

Everyone had given unreadable looks. Even Lucy and Grace had a hard time understanding. Grace spoke up, "Just say what it is, sir?"

"Soul sisters bond, the kind that you'll be forever sisters. No matter the life time you live in, you'll always live as sisters." He shook his head. "It's known to be the most outlawed binding spell in the world and Jude used it to keep the two of you together."

Gajeel glared at the man, "Any other surprises they should know about?"

"If they ever marry. They must keep the Heartfilia name with their husbands. In order to keep whatever children safe." The guild became silent, seeing Heartfilia's seemed to have no choices of their own. Not even hearing many of what they've learned so far. "Heartfilia name isn't from your father but your mother. Who holds the name with power from her long line of her family. Jude used it to build the railroad with the name and power."

Natsu sat down upon the floor with pain in his eyes, "Wow!" He shook his head. "Who knew that a name could hold so much power?"

Grace closed her eyes, she had enough of everything. She had gotten up on her feet and ran out the doors. She heard the voices of Lucy and her friends, but she didn't want to stop. She had enough of an information overload to care to stop. Grace had stopped running, when she found herself in the park, not far from the guild itself. She found a place to sit upon the ground, hoping that the wandering souls would leave her alone.

After some time of being alone, she felt a presence but knew it to be Gajeel. She felt that he was keeping his distance, but close enough in case she needed him. She also felt something else in the area, an electrical charge. Grace glanced up towards her left and saw the massive man, who she had fought before coming towards her.

Laxus raised his hand, bringing in his yellow lightning. She saw it building within his hand. She also saw a deadly look in his stormy eyes. Grace pushed herself onto her feet, channeling her energy for the attack that she saw was coming. A blink of an eye; Gajeel stood before her, just as the lightning bolt had hit his iron rod of his arm.

"Gajeel," Grace gasped. She saw him nearly stumble from the attack, which caused her to launch her own attack on the blonde mass. Her skin turned into the draconic diamond form before raising her own hand. "ICE LIGHTNING BLAST." When her power hit the Fairy Tail master's grandson, he fell to the ground in a screaming pain. It was enough to cause the guild to come out to see what had happened.

"She bested Laxus," gasped some within the ground.

"Who is she ...?"

"GRACE," Lucy cried out while running towards the diamond shaped draconic woman before them. Once she reached her. Lucy grabbed Grace's face, "Come back to me! What caused you to do this, this isn't one of your forms."

"Remember I took out Gajeel, after sinking my nails into him?" When Grace saw her sister nod. "I some how took his Dragon Slayer abilities and made them my own."

"But you been so good about not doing this," she glanced and saw that Gajeel was on the ground with smoke coming off of him. "What happened before you attacked Laxus?"

"Laxus was about the strike me, I was going to just allow it. You know get it out of his system," she shook her head. "But Gajeel got in between us and took it." Grace closed her eyes, allowing her body to change back to her normal self. "It was then that my instincts took over and became my own version of a Dragon Slayer and took out Laxus with one hit."

"ONE HIT," cried out three people, who stood in front of Laxus. Which Grace could smell their fear. Their misplaced fear for the safety of their fallen friend.

Grace pulled her hands towards her eyes, "I guess I'm a bit too powerful for my own good."

Gajeel growled, his red eyes flashed in a way that Grace couldn't read. "Stop feeling sorry for yourself, he deserved it! After what he said that he wanted from you and Bunny. It was the matter of time before someone was able to put a hit on him." His eyes wandered towards the small master. "I think it's time you tell your grandson, everything."

"Tell him what," exclaimed the tall male in armor. Grace knew he was and what he used for magic, he could be a borderline of darkness if he went that direction that was. "Tell us, Master. It may be easier if he heard if from of us, then hear it from you," he then pointed his finger towards Grace, "Or even her."

Grace laughed darkly, "Spirit finder like you can do no harm towards me." Causing many to have their jaws dropped at her statement. "I see more color of spirits than you do. If you did, you would know the true color of your friend's spirit."

The green haired male glared at her, "Now see here ..."

Gajeel stood up at that point, "Whatever you're about to say, save it." He glanced towards the gathering guild members. "Just know this, if anyone tries to strike her again. No matter if she strikes you, I'll strike you as well." He then turned away, Grace could see that he had enough.

The brown haired girl in green glared towards the master. "What's going on, master?"

Makarov sighed, "His father was almost their father, too." This caused those who hadn't know; which were many, to have shock looking faces. Even Laxus' group of friends were near to the sick side since they knew his obsession with the girls. "And also if he keeps up with anger that he has, he can find himself kicked out. For life."

The armored man asked, "Isn't that a bit much, master?"

"I'm up to the rafters with his mood swings, Bickslow." The small man glared towards his grandson. "All this stress can only be tolerated for so long." When Laxus came too, at least to most around them believed that he had just woke up, but Grace knew better. He had been listening, since the moment Gajeel had left.

Grace sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. "I've too long with the deep feeling of not wanting to care." She glanced towards Lucy, who was tearing up from her words. "Sorry, sis. I'm afraid that I may be too powerful to even be around you or your friends."

A golden flash came between the two sisters, bringing forth Loke. He smirked towards the sisters and glanced around. "Wow, all that power came from you, Grace?"

"Not in the mood for this, brother."

Loke opened his suit jacket and dug out a pair of keys and threw them to Grace. "Since I have a house, just outside of town." He gave her a heartwarming smile. "You can have it, you'll don't have to worry about paying rent or anything." He then turned to Natsu. "Show her where it is since you'll be neighbors."

Lucy gaped at her new spirit, "What? You're giving your place to my sister?"

Loke chuckled, "Chill Lucy." He shook his head. "Don't you like your place too much to even want to move?"

"You have a point," she stated.

"We were almost sibling," asked the deep voice of the blonde on the ground.

Grace turned her focus back to him, her eyes dulled from not wanting to experience any more emotions for the day. "Yeah, your father cursed our mother because she wouldn't accept his marriage proposal." She turned her eyes towards the flowers nearby. "She saved my life knowing that she was cursed, causing her death."

Laxus grumbled, "I didn't know."

"Bickslow," Grace called, becking him over with her finger. The man seemed interested in what she wanted. Once he was in front of her, she placed her fingers on his cheekbones and near his eyes. "FOCUS SIGHT."

"SHIT," he cried out before fallen onto the ground. Lucky for him the sky had darkened a lot. To where not much of the lights would hurt his eyes, but the magic to make his eyes focus was a bit much.

"Look at Laxus and tell those around, what you see."

Bickslow did as he was told and said, "His soul is fucking red. Red as blood and anger that is seeping through his soul. The kind that has been there for years, not just a fester small amounts but years of build up." His body shook. "Why haven't I seen this? This is fucking messed up man!"

Grace came to him and waved her hand over him, "END FOCUS SIGHT." She turned away from him, only to see the guild at large had mixed feeling about many things. She didn't know if it was because of her or because of what they've learned about the lightning blonde. She let a breathe out of her lips before grabbing Natsu, "Take me home."

He saw the pain in her eyes and voice, he knew not to argue with her, so he took her to her new home. Natsu could still feel her hand on his sleeve and knew that she was lost within her own mind. He leads her to a cottage that was just a bit further down the road from his own. It was bigger than his own, which was near a stream that he likes to fish from time to time.

"Grace," Natsu called out to her, seeing that her eyes focused back to him. "Why did you want Bicks to see what he saw?"

She shook her head, "I don't know but I was getting tired of his friends thinking that he was a god." She smiled when she saw the smirk on his lips. "I know you've seen it too." Grace then moved her sight towards the road ahead of them. "I guess after seeing Gajeel harmed because he wanted to protect me. I guess I snapped a bit too much."

"I think it was awesome," he gave his cheeky grin. He then glanced towards the road too. "I hate how he treats Gramps, thinking he can get away with things because he's the master's grandson."

"That's how I felt," a couple of tears leaked out of her eyes. "But now I'm afraid that I might find myself kicked out of Fairy Tail after what I had just done."

"No," growled Natsu, his eyes turned towards her with heat that even caused his hands to light up. "I won't allow that to happen!"

"Natsu," she gasped. "I don't think people will allow me to be around them." She shrugged her shoulders, "Other than you and my sister, but no one else would want to be around me."

When they found themselves where they needed to be. They saw a sign that Natsu had known to say, 'The Lion's Den,' changed to, 'Grace's Haven.' It caused the two to smile.

"Who know," stated Natsu with wander in his voice. "Who knew that Loke was changing things around for you." He glanced around, "The white picket fence wasn't here before."

Grace made her way into the yard with Natsu behind her. She found her keys and opened the door to an overwhelming sense of home for the young woman. All the furniture looked handmade, rustic with a little modern flair. It was enough to make Grace to feel at ease with it all.

Natsu smiled, "I helped him make all of this." He chuckled, "Loke said it was one of the things that he enjoyed doing." He then glanced around the walls with a few pictures of many guild members that were painted. "He enjoyed life and now I know why."

The two found a few new paintings with Grace, Lucy, Natsu and even Gajeel in a few places. Grace smiled, "They don't look that old."

Natsu yawned while stretching his arms. "Time for me to head home." He turned to her with a soft smile. "If you need anything, I'm next door."

"Thanks, Natsu."

"No worries." He walked to the door and then looked back, "I'll be by in the morning. We'll walk to the guild in the morning." Then the pink haired Dragon Slayer was gone.

Grace smiled before going to the door and locked it. Before going into the house and found a reasonable size kitchen. Master bedroom with its own master bath, two other bedrooms. Along with another bathroom, also a library/study. It was not a small place, far from it and it was enough room for Grace to enjoy. She wrapped her fingers around the necklace around her neck. Glancing down to see the stars of the Lion in the crescent moon.

"Thanks, brother."

She made her way to the bedroom. She was still full from an early dinner she had with Gajeel that evening. She turned on the lights and made her way to the closet, where she found that it was sock full of clothes in her size. After seeing her closet, she went into the kitchen and found that it was stock full of food.

'He took care of everything . . . I don't know if I should feel happy or worried? Then again, he wouldn't need money where he's living.' She remembered some talk that she had heard Lucy and Layla talking about the Celestial World. Where money wasn't needed. 'Time for bed.'

Gajeel had followed Natsu and Grace to Loke's old house. He had wondered what was going on, but he was able to hear what was going on. He was seeing Grace's new home, something that he had seen her eyes of her wanting. A place to call her own.

Once Natsu had made his way back down the road towards Gajeel. He stopped when he saw the dark Dragon Slayer in the shadows. He knew that there would not be fights with one another, but knew that he had sensed that Gajeel wanting to talk.

"What happened after I left?"

Natsu smirked, "She put a spell on Bickslow for him to see the true Laxus that I've known for a while." He glanced towards the cottage. "Grace's afraid that she might be kicked out of the guild for doing what she thought was right."

"Do you think that it might happen?"

Natsu frowned, "If it does, I'll quit and allow her and Lucy to tell me where to go next." He saw the shock look from Gajeel. "I go where Lucy goes and that also means Grace being there too." He chuckled, "If I know master enough, he wouldn't want to lose a Dragon Slayer. Knowing that he may need one in the future."

"Good point," stated Gajeel darkly. He sighed, "I know I'll go wherever Grace goes." He glanced towards the house before him, he hadn't been able to find a place of his own, yet. He almost wondered if he could just walk up there, just to see if she was alright.

"Go for it, Gajeel." He had a surprise look in his eyes. "Just go to her, I know you want to. There are other rooms in the cottage for you sleep in."

"You trust me," asked Gajeel.

"No," stated Natsu. "But you need a place to live too." He glanced towards the cottage, "Plus I smelled enchantments in the house. You won't be able to sleep in the same room with her because of them being there."

"What the hell," gasped Gajeel. "Who the hell did that?"

"I think it was Loke or someone who he brought to the house recently."

The dark Slayer grumbled but made his way to the cottage. He was about to knock on the door when it opened by a maid looking woman. She gave a smile, "Big brother said you might be by." She let him in and lead him to one of other bedrooms. "This will be your room. I'll let Grace know that you're here."

"No," Gajeel stated with warmth in his eyes. "Please allow her to sleep. I can see that she hasn't had that much sleep."

The maid nodded, "I understand." Then the woman fazed out in pink sparkling magic.

Gajeel shook his head, "She much is one of Bunny's," before turning in for bed.