Hello my lovelies, welcome back to the twelfth installment of The Star Queen! I hope you're liking the story so far, and I promise we're getting to the main story here very soon. As always, I have undying love and loyalty to my fans, please never be afraid to tell me you don't like ANY part of my story. I have no fun writing this if you have no fun reading it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not the Characters, Location, or Spells.
Love you all!
BlackRose999
The Star Queen
Chapter Twelve: Revelations
Timeskip: One Month
Natsu and Erza took the long way, taking the time to retrace and look over where they'd found Lucy. They wanted to be thorough, making note of every snapped twig and footprint that didn't belong to her. She had been beaten badly, and the evidence of such was very apparent. Twigs were broken, tree trunks dented, and ground disturbed with scorch marks. Natus felt a bit of pride, noticing the scorched earth, toward his mate. She'd used everything she could to defeat them, and only when they started beating her and kicking at her did she submit to protect their children.
Erza looked at the tire tracks, watching them fade deeper into the forest. Knowing a Magicar relied on the strength of the user's magic, she figured the tracks would stop every now and again so the driver could change. Getting Natsu's attention, she pointed out the tracks.
"They had Magicars, so they're likely going to have to stop at some point to regain their magic. We have to figure out where and when they stopped."
Nodding, Natsu smelled the air around him, picking up the men's scents and the underlying tones of Lucy's. His blood boiled at the metallic stench that nearly covered Lucy's usually vanilla-scented perfume. Anger filled him, and he stalked toward the redhead, who stepped back fearfully. They walked in silence for some time, rage coming off him in waves so palpable she could taste the metallic flavor of blood on her tongue.
"She's ok Natsu, being enraged like this can make you stop thinking altogether. I need your mind today, cave into the rage when we find them."
He took a deep breath and held it, after twenty seconds he let it out. Looking at her with clear eyes, he nodded and sniffed the air once again. He came to an abrupt halt. There, about ten yards out was the Magicar that stole Lucy. Erza looked around the Magicar but offered no helpful information other than Lucy's unraveled binds. Smelling once more, he turned and headed west, off the road and onto a small trailhead.
He followed the trial cautiously, coming up on an old barn. He hid behind a tree and glared when men came out to push another Magicar into the building. He listened, hoping his draconic hearing could help him. He heard them talking about their boss being angry that they'd failed to capture the 'blonde girl'. Snarling, he bolted forward as they walked back into the barn. Erza, hot on his heels, didn't dare stop him.
"Fire Dragon King's Destruction Fist!"
The men inside had no time to react as the building collapsed with the force of his will. And when the dust cleared Natsu stood tall, burning rage on his face. He stepped forward, smirking at the terrified men before him.
"So… Which one of you sick fucks took my wife? Which one of you beat her, a pregnant woman! Which one of you deserves to die first?"
His voice dripped with malice, his aura full of volatile magic. He wasted no time, charging forward and punching the first man, before taking stock of the number of men that prepared to charge him back. Swords came flying at them, and as he whirled around he caught sight of Erza in her Heaven's Wheel armor. She held back tears, knowing that this was necessary for the healing of a dragon who nearly lost his mate. He punched anyone who came near him, landing blow after blow as his rage grew. Finally, unable to contain it any longer, he let out a scream of deep red flames, filling the area with the scalding air. Erza, thinking quickly, donned her Adamantine armor, but it wasn't enough to block the entire blow. Cracks formed almost immediately and she found herself gritting her teeth in an effort to block his flames.
Having enough, he sagged and took stock of the many burned bodies of those who perished under his flames. Erza's armor shattered, and she looked at the back of the slayer who never seemed to reach a cap on his magic. Perhaps Marking Lucy had made him more powerful?
"Ugh.."
Ears pricking, Natsu did a 180 and glared at the only survivor. He walked up to him with barely-contained rage.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't burn you to a crisp right now…"
"I... I have information on who paid us. Who wanted your wife dead!"
Pausing, he grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt. Bringing him up to eye level, he gave him a cold, ruthless stare.
"Tell me. And tell me quickly before I change my mind about letting you live."
The man quietly babbled, offering pleading words for his life, until Natsu picked him up by his throat and shoved him against the still-smoldering wall. "I don't care about your life, I want to know who tried to take her life!"
"It was a woman named Lisanna! That's all I know! I swear!"
His blood ran cold, and as Erza slowly realized what had transpired, he was already out the door.
Meanwhile
Lucy couldn't help but feel anxious, like there was someone watching her day and night. After confronting the figure a month ago, her appearances had doubled. She saw the damned thing everywhere, the market, the guildhall, and most of all her house. It became apparent that this person enjoyed tormenting her, wanted her to feel paranoid, and alone. And Loke's words had been less than helpful.
"Everything… Your mother has everything to do with you."
"What do you mean? Tell me what's going on!"
"You'll know soon enough, the journey before you is cold and brutal, but you will have your happy ending Lucy. I promise."
He turned away, vanishing back into her key and refusing to allow her to open it again. She stood there for quite some time, angry and scared. Sighing, her head hit the pillow softly, and she found herself to be quite tired. Dozing into a dreamless slumber, she did not see the figure outside her second-story window touch the glass ever so quietly.
Scowling at the memory, she stood up as carefully as she could, her belly massive as she neared her birthing days. She was eight months along already, and boy did she want those babies out of her body. She loved the feeling of them, the tiny kicks, and the movement within her, but the pregnancy took a deep toll on her body.
She sighed, looking at the heavily pregnant form of Levy, who was due to pop any day now. Speaking of, the moment the thought crossed her brain, Levy doubled over in agony. Water staining the floor and the front of her dress, everyone started rushing, helping her stand and leading her to the guilds infirmary, where Porlyusica had set up shop once she knew Levy was due any day.
"Levy! How are you feeling?"
Lucy gripped her friend's hand as she was laid onto the bed, acting as an anchor. Gajeel was on the other side, ready to slip in behind her to help push if she needed him to. Levy, groaning and whimpering in pain, squeezed Lucy's hand so hard it hurt. She was like that for three hours, before finally, she bore down with everything she had and a wailing cry filled the air. The baby was cleaned up nicely before it was handed to Levy and Gajeel, where it was pronounced a boy.
"What should we name him?" Levy asked quietly, her body bruised and sore from the whole birthing business. She touched the wispy strands of his blue-black hair and gasped when his cherry-red eyes opened. "I don't know Levy, I've never named anything before. Maybe you should name him."
Smiling she gently put her finger in his hand, grinning like a drunken fool when he wrapped his tiny hand around her finger. "I like the name, Laurie, with Rie for short, what do you think?"
"I'm happy with whatever name you pick out Shrimp…"
She looked up at the tearful face of her Mate and smiled so warmly his tears dried up instantly. She looked around the room at the smiling faces of her Nakama and settled back on Gajeel.
"His name is Laurie Redfox."
Cheers rang up, and the couple was left to themselves to celebrate as they saw fit. Lucy stood, and made her way to the stairs, only pausing when the feeling of RAGE-Concern-TERROR filled her through the mark. Clutching her chest as her mark flared angrily, she tried to take a step down and missed, nearly falling down the steps. The noise drew her Nakama's attention, and suddenly she was surrounded.
"Lucy, what's wrong?"
"Are you laboring too?"
"Two births in one day! What a treat!"
"Lucy?"
At Mira's soft inquiry, she looked up at her with tear-streaked eyes. Lucy allowed them to help her stand, and then sent them away so she could talk to Mira.
"Something's wrong… I felt all these negative emotions through the mark, including fear. I'm worried something's happened to them..."
"He took Erza with him, right? I bet they're just fine, and they found what's been stalking you."
She sighed, and her thoughts of world-wide destruction vanished as Mira plopped a hot bowl of spicy udon in front of her. She ate quietly and flipped the pages of the novel she'd been reading until she found her place again. The guild doors suddenly flew open, with Natsu and Erza barreling in and looking around wildly. Eyes landing on his wife, Natsu bolted toward her.
"Lucy we gotta go! Now!"
"Slow down! Go where?"
"Anywhere! Just not here!"
She paid for the meal and eased herself into a standing position, noting the wary and terrified expression on his face. She grasped his hand, willing calm, and control into him. When he finally stilled, she asked him quietly "What's happened? Why are you so scared?" He took an inward breath, willing the calm to spread out in his body.
"You were right from the beginning Luce… She's been stalking you, she sent mercenaries out to kill or capture you, whichever came easiest for them. She wanted you gone, in any way she could get it."
Gasping, her hand immediately flew to her stomach, and he nodded somberly.
"She knows about that too, she's furious. She thinks that you trapped me by getting pregnant on purpose."
She shook her head, stepping back and then clutching her stomach painfully. She gasped, her body beginning to ache as the contraction hit her. She groaned, and grabbed at Natsu for support, almost yanking him to the floor with her.
"Lucy! Lucy, baby, what's wrong?"
"The babies!... They're coming!"
Natsu helped her stand, letting her lean on him and use him as a crutch. They went to the infirmary and brushed past Levy and Gajeel as they moved to leave, no doubt casting many SolidScript healing spells to get out early.
"Lucy?!"
Levy cried out and moved to help her friend, but was pulled aside by Gajeel after he noticed Natsu's primal expression. He knew any attempts to help would be treated like attempts to harm if it was by another Dragon Slayer couple. Maybe Wendy would be a non-threatening source of aid? Thinking quickly, Gajeel made a beeline for Wendy, finding the mini-slayer already heading toward the infirmary. He led Levy toward the rooms at the back of the guildhall mainly reserved for visiting guild members, intent on making her rest after giving birth so soon.
Lucy groaned and gripped her stomach, breathing harshly as she tried to ease the contractions a little bit. Natsu ran downstairs, looking for Mira who'd volunteered to also be her midwife. Not finding her, he began smelling the air for her, and what he caught chilled him to the bone. They were surrounded by unfamiliar scents, so much so that they nearly drowned out the familiar familial smells of his Nakama.
Blood running cold, he turned around screamed out a final warning to everyone to take cover just in time for the wall around the doors to blow open, letting in a horde of enemies.