Chapter Twenty-Four
Lucy was grateful when the second Magi-Hover appeared out of thin air. The panel slid open and Levy jumped out and ran for her as quickly as her legs would go. Gajeel came out slower. Lucy wrapped her arms around her friend and sighed. Gratitude filled her as she felt her friend hug her back. The two held on for several minutes before letting go. They turned and stared at the two Dragis who were forehead to forehead, pushing each other back and forth as they growled.
"Men." Levy sighed in resignation and Lucy made a sound of agreement.
"We ain't men. We're Dragis." Gajeel turned, causing Natsu to fall on his face in the dirt. Lucy snickered and looked away as he scrambled up to his feet. Levy put her fists on her hips.
"You are male. That's all that meant." She rolled her eyes. "And it doesn't matter what species a male is…all males are stubborn and fairly idiotic."
"This is how you thank the Dragis who saved you from your own mess? Shoulda left ya there." He shook his head and Levy puffed up and started yelling at him. Lucy bit her lip to keep from laughing. Natsu's lips quirked as well. He turned away from them and her humor died.
She'd woken up wrapped in his arms, comforted by his soft snores and natural warmth. She'd lain there, breathing evenly and enjoying the moment. When he'd woken up, he'd instantly pulled away and left the room. The tears had nearly fallen but she'd held them back. This was her choice. Asking him to give her space. But the silence hurt. More than she'd expected. And watching him turn away from her, felt like a dagger in her heart.
A high pitched sound went off and she squinted in annoyance as the Dragis clapped their hands over their ears. Natsu motioned and she walked over to where he was. Levy was being pushed forward by Gajeel and she was trying to argue with him.
"Levy, we're going to be transported up. Calm down." Lucy said and the bluenette calmed and glared at Gajeel over her shoulder.
"Would it have been so hard to say that?"
"Shuddup wouldya?" He huffed and her mouth fell open and Lucy looked up at the sky and shook her head. Natsu's warmth covered her back and she stifled her smile.
"Explain it to her Ore Bore." He chided and Gajeel snarled, his red eyes narrowing on his squad mate.
"Shut it Match Stick." He snapped back and crossed his arms over his chest. "In a few seconds there will be a soft light that surrounds us. The light transfers particles that will encapsulate us and allow interstellar travel. It's safer to transport out of the Magi-Hovers because ya can't control the gravity inside and would be tossed around like a handful of ballbearings in a jar."
"Got it." Levy calmed down and waited. Lucy inhaled deeply a few times but felt her nerve starting to wane. She was leaving Earth. It sounded so insane. She bit her lip. Leaving Earth and going into space with a band of aliens she'd just met a few days ago.
"It's going to be okay Luce." Natsu whispered softly and instantly her unease dissolved. She leaned back against him and closed her eyes. His right arm wrapped around her waist and he pulled her closer to his chest. She turned her head and nestled into the crook of his neck, her hands wrapping around the arm at her waist.
Lucy felt the light encircle them and she opened her eyes. She looked up and saw Natsu's green eyes resting on her face. He offered her a comforting smile and she returned it. She felt like she was in a tanning bed at the lowest setting.
"Ready to go to the Guild Lucy?"
"As I can be." She answered calmly and smiled wider, trying to make him believe her. A hum started and then she gasped as her stomach dropped. At her gasp, his arm tightened on her; and after she blinked, her mouth fell open. They were in space, the darkness broken up by far off and nearby stars. She thought she heard giggling but she couldn't ask Natsu because when she blinked a second time; she was in a white room. Natsu gave her a gentle squeeze and she looked up at him.
"You okay to let go?"
"Yeah." She released her hold on his arm and stepped away. Her legs shook and he grabbed her shoulders and she smiled sheepishly over her shoulder at him. He smiled back and as she closed her eyes she felt the mist race up from the floor. The disinfectant. She remembered him warning her about that. At Levy's squeal, she realized Gajeel hadn't warned her friend. His chortle echoed around the room and she giggled.
"You knew about that Lu-Chan?" Levy demanded, sounding offended and Lucy nodded and smiled at her friend. "Stupid Gajeel! From now on I only want to travel with Natsu. At least he explains things!"
Gajeel scowled at Levy's head as she stomped over towards Natsu and Lucy who were chuckling softly. A panel hissed as it popped open and Lucy looked over. The panel slid all the way open and an empty hallway greeted them. Natsu grabbed her left hand and smiled as he led her out into the hallway.
"Brat!" A loud voice echoed around the large room as they entered, silencing all the chatter. Natsu turned his head and smiled as Gramps, the General of the Guild Station waved at him from his seat on the bar on the opposite side of the great hall. Lucy's hand twitched in his and he squeezed it comfortingly.
"Hey Gramps!" He smiled and pulled Lucy down the rows of tables filled with various races that made up the the Guild Station's inhabitants. She smiled at everyone and waved at the brave ones who waved at her. She was pulled up beside him and she looked at the leader of the Guild Station. And her mouth nearly fell open. He was so small! He barely came up to her hip; and he looked like a gnome with his white hair and white mustache glistening. He looked fairly human except for the gray tones of his skin. It was like he was made of stone.
"And who is this beautiful creature?"
"I'm Lucy. Lucy Heartfilia. Thank you, for allowing us to come into the Guild Station." Lucy said and the sounds that had started up silenced again. She froze and looked over at Natsu.
"They aren't used to your people talking, remember?" He reassured her and she nodded and looked back at the General. He was smiling at her, his eyes shining brightly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Lucy Heartfilia." He held out his hand and she shook it without hesitation. His smile broadened, if that was actually possible. "I take it the transportation was manageable?"
"Yes sir." She nodded and smiled. "Two blinks and we were here. Never thought I'd fly through the stars like that."
"It can be interesting." He nodded and looked over her shoulder. "And who is this?"
"I'm Levy. Levy McGarden!" Levy said and stepped forward and shook his hand as he smiled at her. "And like Lucy said, we're thankful and grateful for you and your Guild for taking all the human survivors on board."
"It is our obligation to protect and provide for those less fortunate." He demurred and picked up a metallic looking stein and threw it back. Lucy and Levy's eyes widened. When he set it down he had a blue foam clinging to his mustache and they couldn't stop themselves. They started to giggle and looked away.
"What is so funny?"
"You have a bubble-stache old man." Gajeel shook his head and grinned wearily. The General wiped his mustache with the back of his hand and then jumped down off of the bar. He held his hands out and the girls slipped theirs into his and he led them away from the great hall.
"I want to let the two of you know, that as long as you promise to follow the rules of the Guild Station, you will have freedom to roam as you please. We don't want to have anyone think that this is a jail, when it's truly a home for the rest of us onboard. However, we have to protect ourselves."
"We understand." Lucy said and followed behind him, taking in the markings on the walls as they walked. "And we're grateful for all the help and kindness. We'll be glad to try and talk to the other humans and explain that you all are our allies and protectors. But it may take time; as they don't know or trust us either."
"Any help is appreciated." He said and they stopped by a large window looking out into space. The station was huge, Lucy realized as they looked out. It was like being in a floating castle in space. He let them take in the view before he dropped their hands. "Gajeel!"
"Yeah Old Man?" The Dragis asked as he appeared from around a corner they'd previously rounded. The General glowered and the Dragis grinned in response.
"Take Miss McGarden to the lower decks. I'm sure their friends are waiting impatiently."
"All right. Come on Growmp."
"I'm not a Shrimp! Stupid Gajeel!" Levy shrieked and punched him, causing him to double over. She stormed off down the hall and he gasped and started after her.
"Where are ya goin'? Ya don't even know where yer goin'."
"Unlike you, Natsu taught Lucy and I the International Guild written text. I can find my wall below deck. You can just crawl into some hole and die!"
"She's very….feisty." The General remarked with a chuckle as the two disappeared out of sight. Lucy nodded in agreement. She felt a little bad for Gajeel; but knew he created his own issues. Like she did. Right now she felt uneasy. She knew Natsu was close, but as nervous as she was, he wasn't close enough.
"I take it you wanted to talk about…the Scalut and being Natsu's possible Growlkin?"
"Indeed." He nodded and put his hands behind his back and they started to walk again. As they passed a stretch of hallway with metallic walls, polished to a reflective shine, she could make out Natsu's silhouette following at a distance. After some time he stopped and motioned for her to take a seat in front of a large curved window. She sank into a squishy but comfortable sofa-like piece of furniture.
"Feel free to ask anything. I'll try to answer the best I can." She said and he nodded slowly as he leapt up onto the seat across from her.
"You've been informed what the suit is and what a growlkin is?"
"Yes. Natsu told me some, Laxus more so. Gray a bit as well." She nodded and ran her hands over her thighs. The suit had started to turn a soft gray color and she realized when she was closer to Natsu it was pink, but the further he was from her physically the less color it had. Like her, she thought sullenly.
"How do you feel about it?"
"I've told Natsu that it's too much too soon. That I, and most humans don't believe in Growlkins." She ran her hands over her face. "He had a mental stasis episode. I was able to get him out of it…but…"
"But it will come back if you don't accept him as his Growlkin." The elder male hummed and looked down at his clasped hands. "How did you break him out of it?"
"I had the Magi-Hover fill the sleeping chamber with fire, to mimic a forgette." She shrugged. "The suit protected me from the heat, so I was able to wrap around him and I just waited."
"That was extremely foolish."
"Maybe." Lucy looked at him and shrugged her shoulders. "But Natsu saved me. More than once. He saved my friends…my family of the last two years. And it was my fault that he was like that. I had to try and save him."
"I doubt he keeps a tally."
"It isn't that." Lucy denied. "I just…I couldn't do nothing."
"I see." The man smiled kindly at her. "What do you want to do from here?"
"I…" Lucy shook her head. "I don't know. I wish I did. But right now…I think I need to wait and see. I don't want to hurt him…even though I know waiting right now is hurting him."
"I understand." He said after some time. Then he gave her a kind smile. "And I appreciate that you are concerned about Natsu and are wanting to do the best for him, and not just yourself."
"Despite him being annoying and at times an idiot, he isn't so bad." Lucy giggled when she heard a snort and caught a whiff of smoke from down the hall. The leader in front of her chuckled and stroked his mustache.
"Well, I feel a bit better about your presence." She smiled kindly. "I also wanted to ask you if you need anything?"
"I only need food, shelter and the people I care about safe. Everything else is frivolous and unimportant." She said and he tilted his head. "But I appreciate you asking."
"I see." He nodded finally and got off of his seat. "Let me show you to the lower deck. I'm sure your friends miss you and are questioning Miss McGarden to the point of exhaustion."
"She can handle her own, against our friends." She joked. She stood up and rolled her shoulders. As they popped, the General jerked back and she tried not to giggle. "Sorry. I explained to Natsu, but I guess it didn't get shared to the Guild. Humans can get air pockets in our joints and if we move them in the right way, they pop. Its usually painless or mildly annoying."
"As long as you are fine." She nodded softly. "And, I realize that I have failed to introduce myself properly, and I hope you will forgive me for that. I am Makarov Dryer, the leader of the Guild Station Fairy Tail."
"Fairytale? Like the stories told to children?"
"Fairy Tail. As in, do Fairies have tails?" He restated slowly and she nodded.
"Well, General Dryer, thank you again, for bringing us all to a safe place." She said and as they headed down the hallway.
"It is my pleasure and my honor." He stopped and tapped on the wall and the panel slid open and she stepped into the small place. As the panel started to slide shut she threw her hand out and it froze. He looked at her questioningly.
"Natsu….quit sulking and get in here." She sighed in resignation.
Natsu stiffened and peered around the corner and stared at Lucy's hand holding the panel to the floor lift open. He heard her shift and huff out a breath.
"Natsu Dragneel….get your fire breathing ass in here before I have to drag you in here. I'm tired and want to see my friends!" She ordered and he jumped into action and ran towards the lift and panted as he got to the entrance. He grabbed the panel and she stepped back, her arms crossing under her chest and she leaned against the wall as he stepped in. He saw the mirth in Gramps' expression and he felt himself start to blush.
He'd tried to be covert as he listened to their conversation, but apparently not covert enough. He leaned against the wall catty-corner to her and stared at their feet. Gramps cleared his throat and he looked into his mirthful eyes.
"Your report on the past few days activities had errors. I expect you to review, correct and resubmit by the end of the lunar cycle tomorrow."
"Understood." He nodded and frowned. Reports were the worst. But they were necessary. Even if he hated them with a passion. The lift stopped and the panel slid open. They headed out and he followed behind as Gramps explained the different spaces on the way to the lower deck's central hall—where most of the humans stayed in silence day and night. Lucy asked questions, unconcerned about the differences in their races and focusing on what she deemed important; knowing where the bathing chambers were, the sleeping chambers and emergency exits and protocols. As usual, he was left in awe of her.
"When we open these doors, don't be surprised if those on the other side are hostile towards us. We are used to it." Gramps warned and she nodded, her expression tight. He wondered why. The door opened and the three stepped inside.
Dead silence met them, as did hundreds of eyes. Lucy looked around lifting to stand on her tiptoes to peer deeper into the crowds of people huddled near the back of the hall. No one moved or spoke. Natsu smelt her nerves, and could tell her anxiety was rising by the way she twisted her hands together. He gently put his hand on her shoulder and she looked at him, relief flooded her eyes. She turned back around and he did too, and noticed more hostile looks.
"Damn it where are you guys?" Lucy finally shouted and everyone flinched. Even Gramps jerked in surprise and then they heard scuffling.
"Let us go!"
"Lucy! We're over here!"
"Let go damn it!"
Natsu spotted the scuffle at the same time Lucy did. She flew across the hall as people parted. She pulled a man off of Cana and punched him, sending him falling to the floor. At his thud as he hit the floor, the rest let go of the others. Elfman pushed back the men who had held him and glared at the two who had held back his sisters before they cowered out of sight. Cana hugged Lucy as the blond helped pull several girls away from the other people.
"Oh Lucy you're safe. I'm so glad." The older girl said as she released her.
"You know me. Too lucky to go quietly." Lucy remarked as she hugged Levy briefly and looked over at Erza. The older girl was standing upright, and her sword was on her back. She was a step away from everyone else, and she wondered if it was because she was armed.
"Hey Zaza. Looking good."
"You look like shit." Erza said and raised a brow and Lucy nodded.
"Natsu and I didn't have time to stop at a spa on the way in. I'll tell him to make more time for that stuff in the future." Erza's lips quirked as Lucy flippantly responded.
"Glad to see you're good." Erza moved and Lucy hugged her, the two of them meeting in the middle. Natsu smiled and looked down at Gramps who was also smiling. Lucy pulled back. She looked around and then back at Erza.
"No luck?"
"No. They think we've been brain washed." Erza shrugged.
"Sucks for them." Lucy sighed and looked over at Gramps. "When's dinner? I'm starving. And Natsu mentioned something about fresh Rainbow berries?"
"What are those?" Lisanna asked as she smiled from around her brother's side.
"Interstellar strawberries."
"Those sound so good." Mira chimed in and stepped forward. "And I'm glad you and Natsu and Gajeel managed to find Levy and bring her back."
"That was more Gajeel than me and Natsu."
"Still, you all came back safely. That's what I was hoping for."
"Thank you Mira." The older girl smiled and nodded. Lucy looked around.
"What is it Lucy?"
"I guess I thought there were more survivors."
"There are." Cana said and her head whipped around. "The rest stay on the floor below. These ones are willing to come up here and get things, food and drinks and take them below."
"Shut up!" A male voice barked, making everyone jump. They turned and looked over and saw an elderly man shaking a cane at them.
"No one here is going to hurt you." Lucy stated and the man shook his head.
"Like you can be trusted." The girls all around her stiffened but she held her hands up.
"If you all would stop being so afraid you'd realize that no one on this station will hurt you. If they were going to, they would have already."
"Hump…you dress like them…are you with them?" A woman sneered and Lucy blinked and Natsu felt his temper flare. Before he or Lucy could speak, Levy pushed forward and pointed at the woman.
"That outfit has saved her life from the draconics more than once so shut your mouth. Just because we realize that these people are our allies doesn't mean its sexual. It means we aren't small minded petty fear mongering bitches."
"What did you just call me?" The woman took a half step forward before a dark blur cut between them and then Gajeel was standing between her and Levy. She shrieked and jumped backwards and Gajeel rolled his eyes before he turned and pointed at Levy.
"Quit pickin' fights with people bigger than ya. One of these times I ain't gonna be around in time to save yer scrawny butt."
"I don't need you saving me! And my butt isn't scrawny!" Levy shouted and pounded on his chest. Everyone tensed except for the girls who were giggling. Elfman shook his head and caught Gajeel's attention.
"Do you let her do that because it's like a massage?" Levy immediately stopped looked from the grinning Elfman to the equally mirthful Gajeel.
"Oh you stupid Gajeel!" She spun on her heel. Lucy chuckled and shook her head. She looked around the people who were still obviously uneasy and unsure.
"If they were truly evil, do you think Gajeel would let Levy talk to him like that? Do you think they'd feed you? Try to convince you repeatedly that this is a safe place? If you want to live in fear that's on you. But don't talk down to us or try and make us feel bad for trusting people who have proven to be trustworthy."