23: night at the museum.
What started as a sweet drizzle of snow quickly turned into a blizzard.
Lucy was running around town, showing people pictures of Natsu to see if they've seen him. All of the answers were no. She even tried calling him but he never picked up.
"Where is he!?" She wondered out loud.
The wind was started to pick up so she shoved her hands into her pockets and walked faster. As she did, she still scanned the whole area for signs of Natsu. Still, within the hundreds, maybe thousands of people walking outside, she couldn't find him.
Her search came to a halt when she heard her phone ring. Immediately, she stopped walking and answered the call. "Natsu!"
"Do I sound like Natsu?" Levy asked.
"Oh, my bad," Lucy answered.
"So he disappeared literally into thin air, right?" Levy asked.
"How did you know?" Lucy asked.
"The same thing happened with Gajeel!" Levy answered.
"Wait, Gajeel disappeared too!?" Lucy asked.
"Yeah! Gajeel took me to see the light show in order to get my mind off of things. One moment, he's fine, the next moment, he's gone!" Levy explained.
"It was the same thing with Natsu!" Lucy cried.
"I just called Mira and the others. They said the same thing happened with Wendy," Levy said.
"Really? Does this have to do with them being dragon gods?" Lucy wondered.
"No, Natsu isn't a dragon god," Levy said.
"He's not right now, but in the past, he was a dragon god," Lucy said.
"So you may be right. It has something to do with them being dragon gods. But I don't get it. Why are they gone? How are they gone?" Levy wondered.
Lucy dug her free hand into her pocket in order to keep them warm. Then, her fingers brushed against something. She pulled it out and saw that it was Yukino's business card. "If this is happening to Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel, that means the same thing is happening to Sting and Rogue."
"As in Sting Eucliffe and Rogue Cheney, the chairman and the vice chairman of Sabretooth?" Levy asked.
"Long story, but to make it short, they're dragon gods too," Lucy answered.
"How come I'm just now finding out!?" Levy asked.
"So much has been going on one by one so I haven't had time to tell you guys. But don't worry. All of this ends when I open the spirit realm gate. I just need to find Natsu and the others...somehow..." Lucy explained.
Levy sighed. "Okay. The others and I will also help look."
"'Kay. Bye," Lucy said before hanging up. She then typed in the number on the business card so she could call Yukino.
"This is Yukino Agria. How may I help you?" Yukino said.
"Yukino! It's me, Lucy!" Lucy cried.
"Lucy!?" Yukino asked.
"Thanks for the keys, by the way. Um, so is Sting still there?" Lucy asked.
"Sting? Why? Do you want to book an appointment with him? Now is not the best time. He's really mad at you and Natsu," Yukino asked.
"Check his office and see if he's there," Lucy ordered.
"Okay," Yukino said. There was shuffling on the other line which could only mean that Yukino was making her way to Sting's office.
Suddenly, Lucy heard Yukino scream. "Sting! Oh my gosh, Sting!"
"He's not there, right?" Lucy asked.
"What's going on?" Yukino asked.
"I have absolutely no idea, but it looks like all of the dragon gods are literally vanishing into thin air," Lucy answered.
"Why the dragon gods specifically?" Yukino asked.
"I wish I knew that too," Lucy answered.
Yukino sighed. "Thanks for letting me know. I'll immediately get a team together to look for the dragon gods."
"Anytime," Lucy answered before she hung up.
She stared at the cars that were passing by as she collected her thoughts. Where's Natsu...!? How's this happening!? Why's this happening!? I've just dealt with one problem and suddenly another one shows up!
A gray car slowed down and stopped in front of her. Then, the driver got out of the car. Lucy quickly recognized the driver as Gray.
"Gray? You're back?" Lucy asked.
"I heard about what happened to Erza so I rushed back," Gray answered as he took off his jacket and draped it over Lucy's shoulders. "Woah, you're shivering! Why're you out here in the cold all by yourself!?"
Lucy hadn't realized that she was shivering until Gray pointed it out. "N-Natsu...he's g-g-gone," she said through her chattering teeth.
"Let me take you to my place. It's closer," Gray said, leading Lucy to the passenger seat.
One Lucy was all buckled up, he went around to the driver's seat, turned on the seat warmer for Lucy, and drove off.
Lucy rubbed her hands together to warm herself up. "Where did you go?"
"It was the anniversary of my dad's death so I had to visit my hometown," Gray answered.
"Oh...are you okay...?" Lucy asked.
Gray sighed. "More or less. I just have a pile of work to do now. I'm the last surviving member of my family."
"So am I," Lucy answered.
"Oh yeah. You're a Heartfilia," Gray said, approaching a red light. "I also heard what happened with your dad. You okay?"
Lucy wasn't sure how to answer. "I haven't really had time to process his death. So many things have been happening one by one, like the media finding out I'm Lucky Lucy Heartfilia, and then Erza's death, now Natsu and the other dragon gods have disappeared."
"Wait. What?" Gray asked.
Lucy covered her mouth.
"Natsu's gone? And dragon gods? Like the gods from the myths our ancestors used to worship?" Gray asked, facing Lucy.
Lucy sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "It's...a very long story. I'll make things short. The dragon gods have literally disappeared into thin air, including Natsu."
"Is Natsu a dragon god?" Gray asked.
"Technically," Lucy answered. I definitely can't tell him that Natsu turned into END. I'm pretty sure Gray knows what END is.
Gray sat back in his seat. "So that answers my questions."
"What questions?" Lucy asked.
"I knew Natsu wasn't human, but I wasn't sure what he was either. I was even thinking that he might be a demon," Gray answered.
"I...see..." Lucy answered.
"Wow. That's a lot to take in..." Gray said. "How am I supposed to act towards him now? I still hate the guy, but he's a dragon god!"
"Just act the same way you've been acting towards him," Lucy answered before adding something else. "And get along with each other."
"No promises," Gray answered as the light turned red.
Lucy started to play with her hair. "Where could Natsu be? I've never felt this lost before..."
Gray tapped on the steering wheel as he drove. "When you were introducing me to Natsu, you said his last name was Dragneel, correct?"
"Yeah, why? You know where he could be?" Lucy asked.
"No, but I know someone who might," Gray answered.
Lucy moved her whole body to face Gray. "Who!?"
"Does he have any relatives?" Gray asked.
"He has an older brother..." Lucy answered as a bad feeling rushed down her. His brother is Zeref, the god of death who wants me back in the Underworld.
"That explains why his last name is Dragneel," Gray answered.
Lucy blinked. Are we talking about the same person? Does Natsu have another relative that I don't know about?
Gray glanced at her and saw that she looked lost. "You've heard of Larcade Dragneel, right?"
"No, I haven't," Lucy answered.
"Really? He's famous," Gray said.
"What does he do?" Lucy asked.
"He's a famous painter who auctions off his paintings at the museum that's in the heart of the city. He's actually having an auction tomorrow night so I was thinking that we go there in person to speak to him. He'll definitely be there. If we're lucky, he'll tell us where Natsu is," Gray explained.
Lucy took out her phone and Googled "Larcade Dragneel." Immediately, results about Larcade Dragneel appeared. She went onto his Wikipedia page and saw that there wasn't much information about him except for his achievements and career timeline. Then, she went on Google images to look at pictures of him and his art.
"To participate in the auction, it's by invitation only. Luckily, I know a guy who's friends with Larcade. He got an invitation for me and he kept on begging me to go," Gray said.
"That's perfect," Lucy responded without looking up from her phone. She was busy staring at a picture of Larcade. In the picture, Larcade was at some dinner party and was holding a glass of red wine as he talked to shareholders. I've heard of him before...and it wasn't about how he's some famous artist...but from where...and what was I told about him?
When they arrived back at the penthouse, Gray prepared some tea for Lucy.
"There's something off about this place," Gray mumbled as he set the tea cup down for Lucy.
"Yeah...Natsu and I had to live here for a few days because of the paparazzi," Lucy confessed.
"What!?" Gray yelled before running upstairs.
"Ahhhh! What happened to my room!? Did Natsu do this!? No, it's obvious that Natsu did this! Ima kill him the minute I see him!" Lucy heard Gray yell from his room.
"Oops, forgot to clean it up," Lucy mumbled as she took a sip of her tea.
Looking fabulous is Lucy's craft. She has outfits, accessories, shoes, makeup, and purses for specific events that include work, going out with friends, traveling to places for work, running to the grocery store, lounging at home, watching dramas, and many more. Since her whole closet wasn't with her, she stopped by Fairy Hills a few hours before she and Gray were to leave for the auction.
"Guys, I need your help!" Lucy said the minute she entered Fairy Hills.
Cana was pouring herself a cup of soju at the dining table.
Mirajane was wrapped in 2 blankets holding a cup of hot chocolate as she sat across from Cana.
Levy was laying on her back on the couch as she read a book.
Juvia was sitting in front of the tv as a dramatic scene from the drama she was watching played out.
The minute they heard Lucy, they all turned to face her.
"Lucy! You moving back in yet? You really should! The paparazzi are no longer looking for you, they're looking for Wendy!" Cana said, clearly drunk from her early evening drinking.
"I though you guys were going to look for Wendy?" Lucy asked.
"Yeah. Right now Lisanna's doing it. The rest of us are stress managing," Levy answered without looking up from her book.
"It's too cold outside," Mirajane said as she adjusted her blanked.
Lucy decided to pay no mind to it. "Anyway, I have to go to an auction tonight and I have to look sharp," she said as she took off her shoes and slid on her slippers that were waiting for her on the shoe rack that was near the front door.
"An auction? I'm surprised. I thought you'd be going crazy looking for Natsu?" Levy asked.
"The auction is my way of looking for Natsu," Lucy answered.
The girls were lost.
"Natsu Dragneel? Larcade Dragneel?" Lucy asked.
Now the girls understood.
"Whoa! I've never realized that Natsu could be related to Larcade Dragneel!" Juvia cried.
"Larcade kinda fine though, not gonna lie," Cana said as she took a sip of her soju.
"What's their relationship?" Levy asked.
"I don't know, but I know that they're related. My plan is to show up to the auction and see if Larcade knows where Natsu and the others are," Lucy answered.
"Why do you think Larcade knows?" Mirajane asked.
"Natsu's not human. He was a dragon god turned king of the demons. Zeref, his older brother, is the god of death. He's also not human. Larcade is related to them somehow which means he might have an idea of what happened," Lucy explained.
"Okay...rocky but at least it's getting us somewhere. How're you going to get into the auction?" Mirajane asked.
"Gray has an invitation and he's invited me to go as his date," Lucy answered.
Juvia jumped up. "What!? As his date!?"
"Wait, no, not like that! There's nothing between us! The both of us just really have to go!" Lucy cried.
"I want to go as Gray's date! You fucking love rival!" Juvia yelled.
"I'm not your love rival! Trust me! I like Natsu, not Gray!" Lucy cried.
The girls grew silent.
"Oh? Is Lucy finally admitting that she's in love...!?" Levy slyly asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
Lucy realized what she had just said and quickly turned red. "Um...I...uh..."
"This girl is willing to do anything for her mans!" Cana cried, raising her glass.
"Just...help me get ready for the auction!" Lucy cried before running into her room.
The Museum of Art, the biggest museum in the country, was filled with fancy-looking people who obviously came from big money. People were conversing with each other and the amount of times people said "omo" whenever they were talking to another person from the high class society was nearing a thousand.
Gray didn't grow up in this kind of environment but Lucy did. As a result, she was able to help him talk to the nobles.
"Omo! It has been a while!" Lucy cried as she approached a middle aged women. Lucy's arm was hooked with Gray's in order to create an appearance of a classy couple.
"Ah! Lucy! When will you marry my son!?" The woman cried before "rich people laughing" with Lucy.
Was coming here a bad idea? I really don't get this rich people stuff, Gray wondered, awkwardly looking up at the high ceiling of the museum.
"Who is this?" The woman asked.
Lucy hit Gray in the arm to get his attention as she answered the question. "His name is Gray Fullbuster. He is a close friend of mine. He has helped me through a lot."
Gray, realizing that the topic had shifted to him, bowed and shot a charming smile at the woman.
"Ah, now I know why you have been away from home for so long! So you can see this handsome young man!" The woman cried.
Lucy simply smiled.
"Will you be taking over the Heartfilia Konzern?" The woman asked. "You cannot just let your father's hard work go to waste. He built up that company from scratch. It would be devastating for it to only survive one generation. My family's business, however, has survived for 5 generations! Would not your grandchildren's grandchildren be proud to be part of a family with a long lasting dynasty?"
I want nothing to do with that company! Lucy thought before answering as gracefully as she could. "My priority at the moment is to plan out my father's funeral to let him properly rest in peace."
Plot twist: she had completely forgotten that she should plan a funeral for Jude Heartfilia.
"Ah, I see. But why are you here at this auction?" The woman asked.
"My father was an avid fan of Larcade Dragneel. I felt that I would be honoring him if I manage to get him one of Larcade Dragneel's paintings," Lucy lied.
The woman smiled. "You are such a wonderful daughter! Please be my daughter-in-law!"
Lucy rubbed the woman's arm. "We'll see!"
The minute the woman walked away, Lucy grabbed a glass of wine from the tray the waiters were carrying as they walked around with drinks.
"I forgot how suffocating these events can be!" Lucy cried before she chugged her wine down. Then she realized that she's still in noble territory so she cleared her throat and took careful sips of her wine.
"I thought you handled everything fine," Gray told her.
"I'm struggling!" Lucy whisper-yelled.
"Should we get our seats? The auction's about to start," Gray suggested. Lucy nodded.
During the auction, the bidders kept on bidding prices of Larcade Dragneel's newest painting, Dragon Paradise. Gray was shocked by the amount of money that was being announced. He was even more shocked to see that Lucy was also bidding high amounts of money.
"Wait. I thought we were just going to sit through the auction and wait until it's over to talk to Larcade? When was bidding part of the plan?" Gray asked.
Lucy shook her head. "One thing you should know about the world of the rich is that everyone is watching you carefully, waiting for you to make a mistake. One mistake can tarnish your reputation. If I'm not bidding, that would make me look bad and I could even lose my social standing."
Gray blinked. "But I thought you don't want to be part of this world?"
"I don't, but that doesn't mean that I would like to be judged by everyone. Think of it as high school," Lucy answered as someone yelled out a price.
"$7,000,000!" Lucy yelled.
Gray's jaw dropped to the floor. "Where are you getting all of this money!?"
"My father's bank account," Lucy casually answered.
She's using up her dead father's money!? Gray thought.
"Going once! Going twice!" The auctioneer cried.
Nobody bid money anymore.
"The painting Dragon Paradise by Mr. Larcade Dragneel goes to Miss Lucy Heartfilia!" The auctioneer announced.
Everyone clapped and although they had pleasant expressions on their faces, Lucy knew that they were pissed off at her. Still, she didn't care. She's one step closer to finding Natsu.
"Please go to behind the curtains to receive your painting from the artist himself!" The auctioneer instructed.
With a triumphant smile, Lucy stood up and walked to the curtains with Gray. When they were about to walk behind the curtains, however, the auctioneer stopped Gray.
"I said Miss Lucy Heartfilia, not Miss Lucy Heartfilia and her date. Security purposes," the auctioneer said.
"Okay. My bad," Gray told the auctioneer before facing Lucy. "I'll pull the car up front."
"Thanks," Lucy said.
Gray smiled. "No problem."
When Gray walked away, Lucy pulled open the curtains and saw that there were Gothic white double doors.
"Okay. Larcade is behind those doors. Fingers crossed, he'll know where Natsu is or at least where to find him," she told herself before opening the doors.
The room at the other side of the double doors was plain white and there was no furniture except for a long table that only had two chairs. One chair was at one end of the table and the other chair was at the other end. A white table cloth was draped over the table. Hanging on the wall at the other side of the room was the painting Dragon Paradise. A man with platinum blonde hair was looking at the painting with his hands behind his back. Based on the pictures of him on Google images, the man was Larcade Dragneel.
Lucy jumped when the doors closed behind her before straightening up and bowing. "Good evening, Mr. Dragneel."
Larcade turned around and looked at Lucy for a while before sitting down at the end of the table that was closest to him. "Please. Just call me Larcade."
He gestured to the seat in front of her. "Have a seat."
Lucy nodded and sat down. Fiddling with her fingers under the table, she debated on whether she should get straight to the point or to make small talk. Larcade was watching her with a calm expression.
"You're last name is Dragneel...do you know Natsu Dragneel?" Lucy asked, deciding to get straight to the point.
"Of course. He's my uncle," Larcade answered.
"Oh!" Lucy responded, putting two and two together. "Natsu has mentioned how Mavis and Zeref were together. Are you their child?"
"No, August is. I was actually created by Zeref which makes him my father," Larcade answered.
"Really? Why were you created by Zeref?" Lucy asked, suddenly interested in Larcade's origins.
For a millisecond, the calm expression on Larcade's face turned dark. Only for a millisecond. "I'm supposed to be Natsu."
Lucy blinked. "What do you mean?"
"What Natsu became a demon, Zeref created me to be Natsu. Unfortunately, I ended up a failure but because I'm powerful, he kept me around," Larcade answered.
"Are you a dragon god?" Lucy asked.
"No. There are no dragons in me. Zeref believed he could create a dragon god from scratch but what he discovered was that he couldn't. All he did was create an Etherious demon such as myself," Larcade answered.
"You're an Etherious demon?" Lucy asked.
"Yes, I am, but unlike the others, I can control myself. I have other ways to get my daily meal," Larcade answered with a smile.
Lucy realized that she was getting off topic. "Do you know where Natsu is? And the other dragon gods?"
"Yes," Larcade answered.
Lucy lit up. "Where are they!?"
"Do you want to know why my painting is called Dragon Paradise?" Larcade asked.
"No I..." Lucy trailed off as a thought came into her mind. "The painting has something to do with the dragon gods. That's why it's name Dragon Paradise."
"Correct. The dragon gods are currently enjoying a paradise in the painting," Larcade answered.
"They're inside of the painting!? Can you release them!?" Lucy asked.
"Of course, but that's only if you agree to go to the Underworld with me," Larcade answered.
Lucy suddenly remembered where she heard of Larcade and what she was told about him:
"They're my brother Zeref's minions but he likes to call them his shields. Trust me. They're his minions. Each one of the are actually guardians. Dimaria is the guardian of time. I've never actually talked to any of them before so I don't got much to say about them except the fact that I can take them all on with no problem. But I heard you gotta watch out for Larcade, Irene, and August," Natsu explained.
Random Fact: Driving scares the living shit outta me but I have to suck it up and get my drivers license soon cuz my permit is about to expire and ya gurl is not retaking that permit test again
Wassup!? It's ya gurl sugarsugarrush!
So, 9 or 10 more chapters until this story ends! That means I gotta start going through previous chapters and edit them. Yay. My favorite thing to do. I'll admit, there are some chapters that I don't like that much that I'd like to rewrite but I can't rewrite them cuz it would affect the story so I have no choice but to leave them. It's going to bother the living shit out of me (ya gurl is a HUGE perfectionist) but it's whatever
Reviews:
Copperreign12- Lol I see! Thank you very much!
I think I got some sort of update schedule: update every 4 days. It's not official, but I've just been noticing that I be updating around 4 days at a time. Hmmmmmm
I need sleep so ima end this! Don't forget to PM me or leave me some reviews! Later, yo!
