CHAPTER 22

No matter how many times Natsu had mentally prepared for this day, he still wasn't ready for it.

He laid in bed, curled under a blanket with the soft, soothing growls of his parents keeping him company. Heart twisting, he burrowed in further to hold onto the seconds, drawing one into the next as he savored them.

Lucy had been preparing for this day all week, collecting herbs, crystals and talismans from Levy and any underground magic shop they could find. It had taken a lot of preparation considering what she was about to do, but he knew she was taking care over his safety.

It was time to say goodbye to his parents.

He had drawn out as much time with them as he could but Lucy had been insistent that his parents needed their rest.

And she was right. As much as he hated to admit it, hated to even think about it— she was right.

He had to lose his parents all over again and it was killing him to say goodbye.

There was still so much he didn't know. Too much to be taught in such a short amount of time. But his parents deserved their rest. They had been Acnologia's prisoners for over four hundred years...

But Natsu still desperately, selfishly clung to them.

He could feel their embrace in his mind, soothing and gentle touches to comfort him in the moments before they disappeared forever.

"Natsu?" Lucy tapped hesitantly on his door and poked her head in. She stared at the lump of blankets on his bed that comprised of her demon, unmoving at her arrival which was very much unlike him.

She crept over to him and sat down at the edge, pulling the blanket down to find him watching her with dark eyes.

"I should be mad at you. I don't want them to go," he said softly to her, his eyes cloudy with grief.

Lucy bit her bottom lip at his admission, reaching out to smooth her fingers through his flyaway pink locks. He didn't flinch away, accepting the touch as easily as he always did. He even pressed more securely into the comfort.

"But their spirits have been hurting for a long time, they have to go, don't they?" Natsu whispered, making enough space for Lucy to join him on the bed.

Lucy took the spot immediately and threw an arm and leg over him. Natsu sighed deeply and scooted in closer, his leg slipping between hers and hand drawing over her waist. Slow breaths were exchanged between them until Natsu lowered his head to hers. Foreheads tapping together, he made a disquieted noise.

"I don't want them to hurt anymore, even though I want them to stay more than anything," Natsu's voice was a little hoarse as his eyes met hers, "How come you've never done it? Summoned your own parents spirits?"

Lucy was quiet as she tried to organize her thoughts.

"I think..." She began slowly, "I think part of it is I'm scared I wouldn't have the strength to let them go again if I did." She rubbed her hand up his arm, "But another part of that is as much as I miss them I don't want to deprive them."

"Deprive them of what?" Natsu asked curiously, "Paradise?"

"My life." Lucy replied with a small smile, startling him, "I know they're watching over us. Mom wouldn't accept a paradise where she couldn't do that. And dad would be right there with her. So I want to do my best to live the best life I can."

She pressed her forehead against his, "I want them to see I'm living a full life and not obsessed with bringing them back. Even though I want to put an end to the cultists that took them both that's as much for my future as their past. More than that, I want to prove that I'm making the most of the life they gave me. And when I join them someday... I want us to have an eternity of things to talk about."

"It's hard." She admitted, her voice thick with emotion, "It still hurts. I miss them so much." Tears stung her eyes, "But isn't it better to move forward despite that? To live as full a life as possible? So they know you cherished their gift?"

Natsu's vision blurred at her words and he buried his face in her shoulder as his own shook with sobs he couldn't contain. She tightened her grip on him and ran a gentle hand along his back as he gave voice to his own tangled emotions.

"She's right." Igneel growled from within, "Don't wallow in your tears son! Your mother and I will always live in your heart. So don't dwell on goodbye. Speak instead of the future!" He roared, "Show us the fire that lives in your belly!"

Natsu breathed through his shaking tears, choking them back and sealing his lips onto a hard line. Grief was pushed back in favor of an inner strength. To stand up, plaster a smile on his face and live each day into the next with his parents watching from above.

One breath turned into two, and two into three. Lucy's scent filled his nose and calmed him in a way little else could. Pulling away, he met her eyes, heart doing an odd flip in his chest.

She really was incredible...

Natsu thumbed his fingers against the curve of her cheek, drawing a nonsensical pattern into her skin.

"Let's do this then, while I still can," Natsu growled thickly.

He hated Acnologia. Hated him with all that he was and he would continue to hate him until the demon drew his last breath, but Lucy gave him the courage to continue on.

And his parents roaring their agreement fueled him to kick away his blanket and sit upright.

He had a fire in his belly and he would feed it until he never had to lose anyone again.

Lucy rolled out of bed with him, Natsu sliding out and reaching out to take her hand.

"attaboy hatchling," Igneel's voice purred as he got moving, no longer trying to force each moment out longer and longer.

"Your mother and I have a gift for you," Igneel spoke into his mind, whispering a soft farewell as Natsu moved into the common room.

"A little bit of extra protection for you to use when you are in trouble. I would recommend using it for a rainy day as it collects magic the longer you go without using it," Igneel spoke soft, a flicker of magic causing Natsu to startle.

He blinked as he felt something warm snake around the forearm he was using to hold Lucy's hand. Natsu jerked his hand away from hers, afraid a fire had possibly started without him realizing it, only to freeze in surprise of what greeted him.

A black tattoo was forming on his arm, it's magic spiraling deep within his core and feeding Little tredrils of magic from his gut into this tattoo.

They tattoo was vivid and dark, with spiraling black ink framing a wicked looking dragon. Natsu marveled at it, something in his gut clenching at the sight as... something different warmed in his gut and a little lower.

He liked the tattoo.

He couldn't say why, but even just looking at the tattoo filled him with an odd sense of pride.

"Your first of many adult markings." Igneel chuckled, "But this one's special. Let me show you..."

Natsu's breath caught as the knowledge and memories unfolded in his mind. Something of his father's creation. A magical tattoo carrying a spark of his fire. Not like the ones that came in naturally to the males of their kind. His own creation. And what it would do... could hardly be believed.

"Thanks dad." He choked, trying to keep the grief at bay again despite his resolve. He looked at Lucy, who simply smiled all understandingly at him.

"A gift from your dad huh?" She smiled, gently trailing her fingers over the new markings, "That's good."

He nodded, but was grateful she didn't ask any of the questions he could see on her face. Instead she laced her fingers with his and led him out of his room. She kept a gentle, but firm, grip on him as she led him outside and into the forest around Magnolia where the ritual circle had been painstakingly set up.

The others were already there. Levy and Erza were decked out in white ritual clothes and had soft expressions he couldn't quite interpret on their faces. The rest of their nest, and oh how that word resonated in him, were settled off to one side in support.

He couldn't quite muster a smile as Levy reached out to him, "C'mon..." She murmured, "Let's get you ready."

He nodded numbly as she led him off behind an impromptu curtained off area and began helping him get ready for his part of the ritual while Lucy ducked behind another area to do the same. Twenty minutes later he ducked back out, clad only in a soft white tunic and leggings of his own, and felt fresh tears sting his eyes at the sight of Lucy standing there resplendent in her own ritual garb.

She looked very like a high priestess or queen and to his eyes both beautiful and terrifying. He clutched his chest as his parents sent a surge of wordless love to him, and allowed himself to be led to the central circle.

"We'll move forward from here Natsu." Lucy breathed softly, "I promise. We'll make them all proud."

He managed a weak smile as she and the other two took their on positions in a triangle around him and Lucy slammed the butt of her staff into the ground, surging her power through the circle and signaling the start.

"Elemental spirits of life I beseech you. Hear our plea." She intoned as Levy and Erza added their own power, "In the name of balance in all things grant us your protection and blessings as we open the pathway beyond to allow the two elder souls residing in this young dragon to rest."

Natsu shivered a little as a wild breeze twirled around him, the scent of water and smoke filled the air, and the earth rattled slightly under him. He looked around and his eyes widened at the sight of dozens of sprites from the forest solemnly gathering around their circle. They were all different shapes and sizes, and he knew instinctively that more had answered than Lucy had asked for, but they showed none of their usual mischief as they took positions until there was an additional protective circle around him and the women.

Lucy smiled and knelt as she picked up a bowl and drew a symbol on his forehead made of the ash of his own fire mixed with ochre, identifying him as the owner of his body and anchoring his own spirit in place. She straightened up as Levy slammed her own staff into the ground.

"In the name of life." The part-fae intoned, "I call upon the hands of my ancestors and the spirits of the heavens to part the veil between this world and the next. Show us the way to guide the spirits in need here. Let them not haunt the earth eternally, homeless and unable to find peace."

Natsu gasped as a surge of magic rushed through him and behind Lucy a pair of pillars and a gate appeared. It was a thing of celestial beauty and reminded him a lot of the sparkles Lucy's spirits always had when they appeared, but unlike them it was ethereal and nearly transparent in places. Nevertheless it glowed with power, and though his first instinct was to shy away from it, he could feel nothing but peace, welcome, and comfort from it.

To his right, he heard Erza draw her sword and point it at the gate.

"In the name of righteousness and justice I command the gates to open!" She declared boldly, "Igneel and Grandine come forth and claim what has been denied you for so long! I command you as Queen of the Amazons and friend to your son!"

Natsu felt another surge of magic rush through him and the ghostly silhouettes of his parents appeared on either side of him in their human forms. He climbed shakily to his feet and looked at them, his throat closing despite his resolve.

"As.." He choked a little and took a breath, "As your son... I release you from the ties that bind you to this earth." He met their eyes, "Go with my blessing and love mom... dad... and know that I will always love you." He took another breath, "And I swear I will always keep the fire in my belly burning hot!"

Igneel grinned broadly at him while Grandine smiled happily and curled close to her mate, "Thank you all." She breathed, "We look forward to your adventures!"

Igneel nodded, "We're already proud of you son. Take good care of that mistress of yours."

The pair nodded at Lucy and stepped through the gates, pausing once they were on the other side to transform and roar their final farewells before the gateway vanished.

Natsu took a breath as he felt silence reign in his mind for the first time in what felt like ages. He felt truly and terrifyingly alone with just his own company and thoughts echoing back at him. Understanding filled him over why it was so dangerous to have spirits occupy a living body flowed through him.

Sure there were no doubt physical strains, but at the moment Natsu felt that mental strain and the lack of that connection as if he had a limb severed.

It would take time, he knew this. Lucy had warned him of the possibility in the weeks leading up to the ritual, and so he was prepared for the sudden, yawning emptiness that was left behind.

So he steeled himself, took a breath and set his jaw. He met Lucy's worried gaze with clear eyes and fought for a smile to reassure her that he was okay.

His parents would rest now, and like Lucy said, he would live his life as fiercely and full as he could, "one step in front of the next right Luce?"

The smile she flashed him soothed some of the raw edges within his psyche and eased the bleeding he could feel left behind.

Her hand reached out for his and he took it without hesitation. Surprising even himself, his hand didn't quake under the force of his emotions. It was steady as Lucy curled her fingers into his, still looking as fiercely powerful and ethereal as she had when she opened the gates to allow his parents to rest.

He looked at her, truly and deeply into the bright burn of her soul, so beautiful and deep and colored with sadness for what he was going through. An indescribable feeling passed through him, one he couldn't recognize. Still he clung to her hand all the same as his heart tightened with emotion that was seemingly just as powerful as his own grief.

Gratitude.

"Thank you for ending their suffering Lucy," he choked out finally, and Lucy's eyes shone with tears. Her own relief that he didn't hate her shining through, as well as her own conflicted feelings for what she had to do.

Uncaring of their audience, Lucy pressed into his hold, wrapping him so tight in a hug he thought his own spirit might be crushed out of him.

He held her back just as tightly, breathing in her soothing scent. That nameless feeling came pushing back, both painful and wonderful, and he basked in it.

-::-

Gray sat perched on one of the kitchen counter stools with a plate of food and a drink as he watched the gathering. He couldn't think of what else to call it really. Wake wasn't quite right even though that was what it was supposed to be, and party didn't do the emotion in the room justice.

It had been Erza's idea to put together a feast to honor Igneel and Grandine after the ritual and surprise Natsu with it. She'd even managed to produce a portrait of the two dragons curled protectively around Natsu courtesy a quick trip to Galuna's artisans while Lucy had prepared for the ritual.

The gesture had given the demon sappy watery eyes, but he hadn't had the heart to call the jerk out on them. Not after what he'd witnessed.

A light laugh drew his attention and he smiled a little involuntarily as he saw Lucy chattering happily with Levy and Lisanna.

The necromancer was... something else.

She'd already proved herself not like the rest of her kind, but that ritual had blown him away. It was his first time witnessing necromantic magic do something positive like that, and he couldn't help contrast it to the bastard who had destroyed his and his sister's lives all those years ago.

In a way it made it even more remarkable and unbelievable.

"You look like you're thinkin' real hard."

He looked up to find Gajeel smirking wryly at him, "And I noticed you haven't had your eyes off Lucy since the ritual started."

Gray felt himself flush at that, "It's not like that."

"Isn't it?" Gajeel asked lowly, "Blondie's a real beauty, it's a Heartfilia trait, and you're about the same age."

Gray shot him a glower, "That's got nothing to do with anything."

"Then what're you over here bustin' a gut over?" Gajeel asked, "Because seriously, you think any harder and Salamander'll be able to eat the fire comin' off your head."

Gray huffed a little, "I've just never seen necromancy practiced like that." He replied slowly, "It wasn't dark or evil or any of that. It was... beautiful. Like a weight was being lifted."

Gajeel nodded, "That's how it's supposed to be." He replied, "And Lucy's got a real gift for it. Wouldn't surprise me if she surpassed even Anna in power one day."

Gajeel hummed a bit and he watched the ice mage curl closer in on himself, looking down at his plate as he tried to understand what he just witnessed with what he thought he knew.

"Don't get me wrong, I trust Lucy. After the tower— especially after I treated her like a real ass," Gray frowned, "I never expected I'd be here though, sitting with a vampire, sad over demons being pulled apart from their families, and admiring a necromancer."

Understanding flickered through Gajeel, knowing that it was still an odd and difficult thing for him to feel.

He clapped Gray heavily on the shoulder, encouraging the human to look up at him in surprise, "Sometimes the people who come into our lives are here to teach us a lesson."

"What that is, only you know," Gajeel pushed Gray off his chair, sliding the teenager forward so his feet came under him. Gray looked at him, baffled.

"I believe the people closest to us come into our lives for a reason," Gajeel said sagely, pushing Gray between the shoulders, "you gotta meet that reason head on... and ask her to dance."

"W-what?" Gray squawked, his eyes going wide on Gajeel as if he thought he had suggested he stick his hand in a garbage disposal.

"You like her brat, you can't fool these old eyes of mine," Gajeel said pointedly, "But you can't be hung up on what people are. You'll miss some of the most loyal and devoted people there are. Lucy is your friend, you like her. So go dance with her."

Eyes narrowing sharply on the human, his grip became more tight on Gray's shoulder than was strictly comfortable.

"But if you even think to hurt her in any way, you will not see another morning," Gajeel growled softly to the teenager, "she hasn't had the best of luck with men toying with her heart..."

Gray gulped, But before he could do anything he found himself being shoved hard enough that he was halfway to Lucy before he got his bearings.

Natsu was sitting down next to Lucy and Erza with Bisca and Alzack's cub nestled in his arms. He pulled his attention away from her just long enough to see Gray approaching Lucy with a nervous smile on his face.

Natsu felt something within him surge up, angry and hot at the way his friend held his hand out to Lucy, or the shy smile Lucy gave him back as she accepted it.

Heart pounding cold on his chest, Natsu snapped his gaze away, feeling slightly panicked by the sudden violent emotions surging through him. It was a dark, ugly feeling and he didn't know where it was coming from.

He couldn't look away completely though, watching from the corner of his eye as a smiling Gray took Lucy out on the dance floor. Natsu felt suddenly sick and he didn't know why.

Oblivious to her demon's sudden distress, Lucy smiled up at Gray in amusement as he spun her around the dance floor, "Not that I'm complaining, but what brought this on all of a sudden?"

"Can't a guy just want to ask a girl to dance?" Gray grinned back, "You were... beautiful out there today." He said awkwardly, "I was really impressed. I've never seen magic like that."

Lucy felt her cheeks heat but she couldn't have stopped the pleased smile that curled her lips if she'd wanted to, "I'm glad you liked it." She murmured and nudged him playfully, "Seriously though, were you just looking for a dance because Gajeel asked you to?"

Gray blinked a little and Gajeel's words filtered back to him. Unlucky with men toying with her huh? It must've been really bad luck if she was trying to make light of him asking her. He looked down at her and let some of his feelings show through.

"I asked because I wanted to." He replied softly, "Maybe Gajeel gave me a nudge, but I wouldn't have listened if I wasn't interested in dancing."

Lucy cocked her head thoughtfully at that, "And are you interested in more than just a dance?" She asked softly, a hint of vulnerability in her voice.

Gray watched the uncertainty dance across her face and silently vowed to beat the tar out of whoever had hurt her enough to put it there. It just wasn't right. Not on her face. Not after the way she'd shone with confidence during the ritual.

"I think that depends on if you are." He replied carefully, feeling his way, "I certainly would enjoy more if you're interested."

The smile she flashed him, full of warmth and light, made his caution worth it and she pressed just a little closer to him.

"I know you're invited to the wedding." She murmured, "But there's no rule that says two invitees can't go together. Would you...?"

"I'd love to." He agreed instantly, his heart thumping with excitement, "And maybe in the meantime, once you're not grounded anymore, we could do a regular date? See how it goes? I think I remember there's a summer fair setting up next week?"

Lucy beamed at him and nodded, "Yeah, that sounds like a lot of fun!"

Gray smiled at the acceptance, neither he nor Lucy noticing the way Natsu passed the cub in his arms over to Erza and slipped out of the room.