Three Years Later
Eighteen year old Lucy grinned at her four friends who had joined her on this quest. Erza, Gray, Romeo and Levy had let her pick the quest for once and so she picked one that sounded relatively easy. Gray had only recently returned from his training with Ur, so she pretended that she chose an easy one for his sake, to tease him. A village complained that about once a month or so for the last six months a group of young men would come to the town and always ended up causing a ruckus as well as doing damage to many of the town's buildings. They would barely recover from the rowdy men's last visit, when they would show up again like clockwork.
The mayor, who had sent in the request, was waiting for them when they arrived. "Thank goodness you are here, they are due any day now. I don't think they mean to cause such damage, but they seem to be powerful mages and I don't know if they know their own strength." she said "Our village has no strong mages so we have no one to stand up to them." "We'll do our best." Erza promised the mayor. "Where do they usually go when they come into town?"
The mayor half chuckled and half scoffed, "That's probably another part of their problem, they always go to one of the three bars first. Shortly after they start drinking, things get out of hand and well you know the rest." The group of Fairy Tail mages nodded before asking the mayor where the bars were. Then they decided to split up, Romeo would go with Gray to one, Lucy and Levy to another and Erza would handle the last on her own.
Erza wished that Jellal was there to join her, but he had gone to help out King Mystogan, a good friend of all of theirs who looked just like him, by pretending to be him while they tried to flush out an assassin. Edolas had been trying to join Fiore in the war, but something always happened to keep them from doing so, whether it was an inexplicable dry spell that caused a lack of food or assassins who took shots at Mystogan anytime he tried to go to some war meeting. They were hoping to be done with all this once and for all if they could catch this assassin. Erza hoped Jellal would stay safe.
A few hours later, Lucy looked towards the door as it opened, but it was just a drunk townsperson exiting the bar that she and Levy had chosen. "I beginning to wonder if maybe all the townspeople just happen to get drunk and rowdy and blame it on some imaginary strangers." She said as she turned back to Levy. Levy nodded and quietly replied "I know what you mean, all of these people have been middle aged to old, but maybe Gray, Romeo and Erza have been having better luck then we have."
Lucy accepted Levy's explanation of their lack of bad guys, it was quite possible after all and so she started to nod her head in agreement when suddenly a voice from the bar drew her attention. Somehow, during the short conversation she had just had with Levy, a group of four men and a teen girl had entered and sat at the bar. By the looks of the bartenders face, these were the ones they were waiting for. Funny the mayor hadn't mentioned a girl being with them. But then something else drew her eyes to the group, a head of pink hair so like her friend's from long ago.
She stood quickly and was followed closely by Levy, who was wondering if she should use this time to get Gray, Erza and Romeo. She quickly decided she should and, after tugging on Lucy's sleeve to get her attention and muttering out her plan, she left to do just that. Lucy continued her journey to the bar after watching Levy exit the front door, finishing her journey by sitting beside the man with pink hair who was currently saying "No beer for my sister, it may be her birthday, but she is still too young for it."
The hope that Lucy held in her heart was briefly deflated, Natsu had no sister when she had met him and this girl was clearly old enough to have been around at that time. But her hope was renewed when she saw a familiar blue Exceed fly in, though very much older than when she last saw him. She remembered her family receiving his egg when the Exceeds had to send away some of them for fear of them not surviving the food shortage that Edolas had been going through for three years at that point.
Unknown to Lucy, that's how the other dragon kids got their Exceeds. Grandeeney was friends with Queen Shagotte, who told her people of her plan to save the next generation from starving to death when the dry spell killed so many crops. Grandeeney had opened up their home for one for each of the dragon kids, taking in Carla for Shagotte's sake personally, though Carla did not know who her mother was nor her title.
Lucy did know that all Exceed parents knew what families had taken in their children and hoped that the land would soon recover enough for them to come home if they wished, which it was currently on the brink of becoming. Queen Shagotte's rule was limited to her people and their royal city of Extalia, but like his father before him, Mystogan had acknowledge their kind as their own sovereign people and felt that they should have just as much input to the ruling of Edolas as he did.
Shaking herself from her momentary musings, she couldn't stop herself from whispering "Natsu?" The pink haired man beside her stiffened at the faint sound she had made in the loud bar, turning towards her after a moment. Sniffing the air, he was about to ask if he knew her when he recognized the scent, though it wasn't quite the same as it used to be and almost unrecognizable. A wide grin filled his face as he practically shouted "Lucy?! What the heck are you doing here?! It's so good to see you!" He finished by pulling her into an awkward hug, since they were both still sitting on their bar stools.
The group that was with Natsu, heck the whole bar full of people, turned to stare at the two. Tears filled Lucy eyes as she said "It's really you isn't it? I was so worried about what happened to you after the way the war went when the king and queen of Alvarez died." "I was worried for you too, I tried to go to Crocus again, but that was after pretty much everyone had left and they didn't trust me, thought I was a spy for the Alvarez Empire." By now, the only ones really paying attention to the pair was Natsu's group of friends, the rest of the bar having lost interest at the mention of the war, an old and long tired of subject for many.
"Hey Natsu, are you going to introduce us to your cute friend or not?" asked Sting. Natsu rolled his eyes, though only Lucy could see him do so, before he said "Lucy meet Sting, Rogue, Gajeel and Wendy. Everyone, meet Lucy." "The Lucy from your story?" asked Wendy, to which Natsu nodded and Lucy blushed as she replied "I hope it was a good story." "Course it is, meeting you was one of my best memories." Natsu said with a grin, "Anyways, you never did tell me what brings you here Lucy."
Lucy chuckled nervously, looking down at the ground for a second before raising her eyes to look at him and said "About that. Apparently it's you guys who bring me here." Before Natsu or any of the others could question her, the door flew open with Erza calling out "Lucy, are you okay?!" Levy, Romeo and Gray were right behind her, the former two had their eyes drawn to a couple of Natsu's companions briefly. Lucy smiled at her worried friends before saying "I'm fine. Why don't we all take a walk outside and straighten this all out?"
Natsu looked at his friends who for once were willing to follow his lead, showing so by shrugging. Natsu, curios type that he was, said "Okay, let's go." They left their untouched drinks at the counter, which Lucy paid for for them without them seeing. The bartender smiled his thanks, relief evident on his face as the five unwanted patrons left the bar. Well four really, but since Wendy was with them no one knew if they could trust her not to do the same.
Once outside, Lucy turned to her friends and said "Guys, well everyone but Romeo, you remember Natsu, don't you? He came to Crocus for a day with his dad right before we all moved away." Recognition flickered on their faces and Natsu's as Lucy continued, "Natsu, Sting, Rogue, Gajeel and Wendy, meet Erza, Gray, Levy and Romeo." Greetings of all kinds were exchanged, before the group fell silent for a moment, Gajeel finally breaking the silence by asking "So what did you mean by we were the cause of this little reunion?"
"Well, we took this job because a strong group of mages was causing an awful lot of damage every time they came to town." Lucy replied, eyeing Natsu as she slightly altered the job description. The four boys looked embarrassed as Wendy glared at them, realizing the promise that they were on their best behavior when they went to town was faked. They apologized and said they really hadn't meant to, they were all just a bunch of hot heads, well Rogue was pretty chill comparative to the others but he would back up Sting just because they were closer to each other than the others. They admitted their fights got out of hand sometimes, they just hadn't realized how far.
"We're not the ones you should be apologizing to. Really the mayor and the townspeople are the ones you should do so to." Erza stated. The four men went to do just that, while Wendy waited with Lucy and the others. "You know when I met Natsu and Igneel, they didn't mention you Wendy." Lucy said. Wendy was about to answer, when an uproar could be heard in the direction Natsu and the others went. Erza turned to Lucy and Wendy and said "You two stay here, we'll be back. The townspeople may not be accepting the apology and since Wendy was seen with them their might be trouble so keep her safe Lucy."
Lucy nodded before her friends rushed off after the others, Romeo wishing he had been left to guard Wendy instead. Once they were gone, Wendy picked up the conversation and said "Well I didn't know Natsu then. I'm not really his sister, but we were both taken in by Grandeeney, me when I was very young and Natsu after Igneel disappeared." "Igneel is missing? Wait, Grandeeney? Oh my gosh you're that Wendy?!" Lucy exclaimed.
Wendy looked confused, not really sure which aspect of that outburst she should answer or question first, but she was spared from having to decide on part of it as Lucy said "I read your mom's book. I bought it because it reminded me of Natsu and Igneel." "Wait you know about Igneel's secret?" Wendy asked, her turn at being surprised by this conversation. "Yeah, Natsu told me about him all those years ago. Is Grandeeney like Igneel? I mean can she take a human form?" Lucy questioned. Wendy nodded as her reply.
"That's amazing… wait are the others being raised by her too?" Lucy questioned further and Wendy shook her head no, before telling who was raising the other three dragon kids. Lucy was amazed that not only were two humans being raised by dragons, but five were and that they all lived together. But then her mind went back to Igneel and she asked "So what happened to Igneel?" Wendy told her how he had disappeared on a supply run to Crocus a few years back.
Just as she finished explaining the others were seen heading back in their direction. Lucy turned to Wendy and said "Wendy, years ago Natsu made me promise not to tell about Igneel's other side. I never have, so the others don't know about that. Levy has read your mom's book and I'm not sure if she will put that together or not, so maybe not mention your mom's name if possible. That might lead to places Natsu doesn't want everyone knowing."
Wendy nodded her understanding, but that plan was short lived as when the group was drawing near, Rogue shouted "Well we got that all sorted out." "Yeah, we should head home before Grandeeney starts to worry about us Wendy." Natsu added. Lucy could have face palmed if it wasn't for the slight hope that Levy's brain wouldn't connect the dots. A hope that was as short lived as her plan, she knew it the moment she looked at her friend's face. "Wait a second…" Levy practically exploded.
XXX
Soon everyone knew what Lucy had worked so hard to keep a secret the past few years, well everyone in her little team. They were all walking through the woods, Natsu having offered for them to come visit the moment he realized where this was going, which was right after he saw the look on Lucy's face. It pleased him to know that Lucy had kept the promise he had asked of her so long ago and it also pleased him that the others were so accepting after their initial surprise that Igneel was a dragon.
The Exceeds had flown on ahead to let Grandeeney and the others know that they would be having guest so that they could be in human form when they arrived. That helped to ease the shock everyone was feeling when they finally arrived in the part of the woods Natsu and the others called home. It was a good size clearing, enough to house the adults when they were in dragon form with room to spare.
Lucy upon spying Grandeeney, who like the others was in human form, walked up to her and said "I read your book that you wrote when I was a kid. It's kind of my fault that your other form has been exposed, I had let Levy read it as well as I mentioned that you were raising a human daughter named Wendy. I'm sorry." Grandeeney smiled a gentle smile, much like Lucy's own mother and said "It can't be helped. It's my own fault for using my own name as well as Wendy's, my dragon pride couldn't help it." Lucy smiled in relief as she continued "And in honor of Natsu's old friends coming back into his life, tonight we feast. We hope you will spend the night and be our guests."
Lucy and the others accepted Grandeeney's offer and soon a meal was prepared. The Exceeds flying about, Happy finally getting a chance to hang out with Lucy and thanking her for asking him if he wanted to go with Natsu all those years ago. He was happy he had been able to provide companionship to Natsu in those lonely days after Igneel disappeared and before they met up with Grandeeney. He worried what Natsu would have done if alone during that time.
Laughter and music filled the night sky for many hours, by the end of the night all feeling like they had known each other forever. Lucy noticed Natsu wander off at one point and she followed, not sure if she should or not but unable to help herself. She knew Natsu knew she was following him, that he could tell her if he didn't want her company and since he didn't she rushed to catch up. "What's up Natsu?" she asked as they continued to walk. "It's just… Now that you are back in my life I don't want to think about you leaving it any time soon. But I know you have to go home to your family."
Lucy was quiet for a minute, letting him lead her carefully over a stream while she collected her thoughts. Finally she asked "Why don't you come with us?" Natsu looked surprised as he asked "To Magnolia?" The Fairy Tail members had told everyone what had happened to them shortly after Natsu and Igneel's visit to Crocus, but she was surprised that Natsu remember the town she had named. "Yes and maybe even to Fairy Tail, your dragon magic could be passed off as regular magic and we wouldn't have to be apart."
Natsu looked hopeful for a minute before he sighed and said "I don't know, what about the others?" "They could come too, if Grandeeney is okay with Wendy coming that is." Lucy provided an answer. "And what about Igneel? I haven't been able to take a dragon form no matter how much I practice and I just know that if I could have back then I could have kept whatever happened to him from happening." Lucy could hear the guilt in her old friend's voice and it broke her heart.
She thought once more before grinning and asking "Why not make it an official Fairy Tail request? You can ask my guild to help you look for your missing father, Igneel, and that's all they need to know. Then you and whoever else wants to can join me in the search for your dad." Natsu looked at her with wide eyes as he asked "Do you think that is possible!?" "Sure, Master would be willing. Come on, what do you say? Should we ask Grandeeney for her permission tomorrow?" "Oh yeah, I'm fired up now!" Natsu declared.
Natsu calmed down and grinned at his friend and said "Thanks Lucy, for keeping both of your promises. The one to keep my dad's other form a secret and that we would see each other again someday." Lucy giggled and said "I wasn't sure then that we would, but I hoped saying it would make it possible. I'm glad it worked." Natsu's smile faded and he said "You know, just before he left that last time, Igneel told me something important, but I can't remember what it was." Lucy hugged him as she said "Don't worry Natsu, I'm sure someday you will remember or maybe you find him and he can tell you himself."
His grin returned as he said "Thanks Lucy." The two friends walked back to where they would be staying that night, both bidding the other a reluctant goodbye as they would rather have spent the whole night talking. But they had a busy day ahead of them and, Natsu thought, the first steps would be taken for finding Igneel!
Answers to Reviews!
I Live FairyTail: I'm glad you loved the last chapter :D I'll try to look at it soon, but you might need to remind me after the holidays, things are pretty crazy here right now XD
FireShifter: It makes me really happy to hear you say that :D Thanks!
FTAnt: lol isn't Zeref usually a little unhinged? XD but yeah reasons will be explained ;D
Ushindeshi: lol yep he is XD
