Chapter 32

Flashback to Mira explaining the deal

"Umm Mira, did Natsu clasp your forearm after making this deal?" Wendy whispered.

"No he gave me a nod of acknowledgment though?" I tilt my head wondering where she was going with this. When she didn't answer right away I turned to actually look at her. "Wendy?"

She startled at my soft words, "oh sorry its just in dragon culture an agreement is solidified by an interlocking. It's like a pinky promise but more serious, it means they are solemnly swearing their oath of honor to whatever they are agreeing to. And um, without it well..." She looked at her feet biting her lip.

"Well spit it out child! You've agreed to help there's no use stalling about it now." Carla huffed chiding the poor girl.

"I'm sorry its not that I don't want to help its just.." Wendy frowned again returning her gaze to her feet.

"That this is one of a dragon's best kept secrets, their agreements are legendary and were very sought after." Anna smiled patting Wendy's head.

Wendy's posture relaxed, "Grandine always said it was a dragon's trick up their sleeve. That way whenever the other being they made the deal with came out being dishonest or deceitful they could use this option as a scapegoat. The way Wendy explained an Interlocking is just the tip of the iceberg. Dragons would interlock horns, tails, arms, swap scales, and more. Depending on what the Dragons in question had. But in short Mira if he didn't interlock with you, and in this case it would have been a forearm shake, your deal means nothing."

I see everyone around me shiver at the dark look on my face. "However some of your conditions have to be met anyway in order for the Hunt to begin. No dragon or slayer can ever trick their intended mate into saying yes. They also have to physically say the words to obtain permission. Think of this entire thing as a ritual or spell because without the right words or actions it does not work." Anna smiled, "but although your 24 hour head start idea is great. It is not part of the ceremony, so they could grab you right then and there to claim you, which without a doubt they will try to do. They may behave and look more like themselves but they aren't."

"Well then we'll just have to let them believe we have no idea about this little cultural tidbit and plan accordingly," Porylusica smirks.

Flashforward to all our ladies

Their shouts fill the night, "I RESCIND YOUR INVITATION TO THIS HOME!"

The entire building shone with a blinding light as every unwelcome Dragon was thrown from Fairy Hills. Their roars and snarls of anger were enough to shake the earth and scare the ever loving daylights out of any you heard it. They girls all danced their victory as phase one was completed and the Hunt was officially on.

Lucy's Pov

Natsu snarled in absolute rage and transformed right before our eyes as he was being forced out. Except this transformation was different then the one that chased Levy and I from Crocus. He had a tail... Happy and I gawked at the appendage slithering across the floor behind him. We were so distracted his claw snagged the bottom of my night gown. I screech as he tried tugging my forward but Happy was pulled me with all his might in the opposite direction.

"Sorry about this Lucy! Water Slicer!," Juvia came out of the room across the hall and sliced my night gown out of Natsu's grasp. But also completely sliced it off my body and I don't know who was more shocked me or Natsu.

"Juvia!" I gasp covering myself while Natsu flew down the hallway and out of sight.

"Bahahahaha! Did you see his face! He looooooves you!" I fall to the ground as Happy drops down, rolling around beside me laughing his tail off.

"Ow! Watch it you stupid cat, you don't need to be dropping me! And I swear you make one crack about my weight and Max will have a new stuff Happy doll to sell at the gift shop!" I hiss as he opens his mouth to, no doubt, make some kind of wise crack.

"Awe come on Lushi! You were to busy covering yourself to even notice. Natsu had smoke coming out of his ears! Never knew Natsu had a thing for heavy girls." Happy snickered dodging my flailing arms.

I chased him down the hall and almost had his tail until I crashed into Levy and end up in a pile of limbs. We both groan, and before we even attempt to get back on our feet Panterlily lifts us up and sets us to rights.

"Well I see you two are in good spirits which means I'm guessing everything went to plan?" Lily asks while popping back into his smaller form.

"Yea it did but there were a few surprises there that I definitely wasn't expecting. In fact it almost made us or well me get caught." I hum.

Happy lands on my head, "Aye! Lucy looked like her veins were filled with lava! And Natsu had a tail!"

"Yea! Um wait what was that about lava?" I pull Happy down to meet his gaze. "I mean it certainly felt like lava was running through my body but you could actually see it Happy?"

"Aye Sir! It was so bright I could see it under your clothes! I think it started from your tummy, are you sure you didn't swallow any of Natsu's fire? And if you did what did it taste like!? Was it yummy?" Happy was salivating just at the thought.

"I was glowing ... I.. I didn't ...I felt the heat rushing all over my body but I..." I stutter looking at my arms and hands like it would still be there.

"Lu, look at these!?" Levy shouts holding out her wrists shocked.

A shimmer reflects from her wrist, I furrow my brow and walk over to take a closer look. Lily stood by her with a slight proud smile to his face. Happy and I both peer down and gasp, "is that metal?"

Little words etched in silver embedded in Levy's skin wrapped around her wrists, "Levy is that draconian?"

I run my fingers over the words, pausing as I felt Levy shiver. "Its sensitive," She whispers. "I don't know much Draconian but it ...it looks like.

With This Kiss I Bind You To Me Body, Mind, and Soul

"Levy, your ankles." Lily muttered.

"Levy, your ankles." Lily muttered.

We all look down and there are the same markings wrapped delicately around each ankle. "Happy you said the fire started from Lucy's abdomen?" Levy whispers still staring at her feet.

"Aye!"

"Lu, the heat you felt did ...did it start from there too?" I nod and what she said next made me nervous to look under my shirt. "I didn't feel any heat, my whole body became heavy like heavier than iron and it started with my wrists and ankles."