Nashi frowned as she looked at the wilting flowers in her small fist.
The pinkette sat in the meadow as a light breeze ruffled her salmon locs, taking a deep breath as she stood up from her criss-cross position.
She had wanted to get some fresh flowers for her mother today, as it was a very clear, warm summer day. Since her mother couldn't go outside to see this, Nashi decided that she had to bring the day to her. However..
"...Those flowers aren't lasting too long, are they?"
Nashi shrieked as she turned around. "Loke!"
The overgrown cat grinned. "Did I scare you?"
The young girl huffed. "That wasn't very nice."
The spirit bowed. "I apologize, m'lady. I couldn't help but notice that you were in distress."
"Yea…" Nashi frowned once more as her gaze returned to the fading flowers. "Everytime I pick some, they always get bad before I go back home…"
Loke hummed. "I may be able to help with that. Give me a moment."
In a golden flash, the spirit had left, returning a few moments later with a jar in his hand. "Is there any water nearby?"
"Hmm…. I think there's a small stream over there," the child pointed towards the direction of her house. "I pass it when I go out to play. Why?"
"You'll see. Can you lead me to it?"
The girl nodded, picking up her basket and brushing the dirt off of her skirt before walking back towards her home.
When the two arrived at the stream, Loke gently put the jar into the stream, collecting a small amount of water. He then put the jar in front of Nashi.
"Here, put the flowers inside." Nashi did as she was told.
"What will this do?"
Loke smirked. "Look a little closer.."
Nashi grumbled. "I did and it doesn't look like-" Nashi was caught off guard when she saw the wilting flower start to stand just a little bit.
"Loke! It kinda worked!" She cheered.
"I told you," Loke grinned. "Now, let's get back. The flowers should be good as new by the time we get back."
"Okay!"
"Mama!" Nashi cheered as she hopped onto her mother's bed, diving straight into her chest.
Her mother had been bedridden for two years now, only getting up occasionally to take care of herself. Nashi didn't even think her mother had even left the house during that period. Under Porlyusica's orders, she couldn't use magic either, which Nashi found quite upsetting. She wanted to meet all of the other spirits her mother used to summon. So far, she had only met Loke, Virgo, and Aquarius; mostly because those spirits could come to Earthland on their own without her mother's power.
"Hi Nashi," The blonde brushed her daughter's hair as she embraced her in a warm hug. "What did you do today?"
"I went to the Meadow behind our house! It was so sunny outside, but since you can't go I brought everything I saw! Loke has my basket right now but…"
The blonde became a bit alarmed at this. "You didn't go too far, did you?"
Nashi shook her head. "No Mama. I remember! No leaving Magnolia!" She mimicked.
The mother sighed in relief. "Good."
"You don't have to worry, Lucy. I'm always a blink away from the both of you." Loke stated as he walked into her room.
"Yeah, I know… I'm just…"
"Concerned. I know. We all are."
Nashi tilted her head in confusion at the conversation between the two, but shook it off as she moved off the bed, getting the basket from the Zodiac. She then returned to her mother's bedside.
"This is what I brought! There's some rocks from the creek, some tree branches, honeysuckle with only the nectar since the berries are poisonous, flowers; although they're a bit wet because I had to make sure they stayed happy. Oh! And I also brought-"
The blonde shrieked. "A-A frog?!"
"Yeah!" Nashi took the green animal out of the basket. "I named him Stinky because he has so much slime and dirt on him, but I think Aunt Levy said it's mucus..."
"Take it outside.." Lucy cringed.
"But-"
"Outside!" Lucy repeated. "Before we lose it."
Nashi pouted, turning towards the bedroom door. "Alright, mama."
"Jeez, you're so much like him…"
Nashi paused at this, turning around to face her mother. "Hmm? Papa?"
Lucy halted as she and Loke shared a tense glance. She relented and faced Nashi. "Nothing, my sweet. Now, hurry along and let.. Stinky.. back outside to his home."
Nashi frowned and continued on to the front door. This happened all the time; her mother or Nashi herself would accidentally or intentionally mention her father, her mother never speaking about it again. Well, until the next time was brought up.
It drove Nashi mad, since she was so curious to know who her father was, but no one was willing to tell her, not even her guildmates who she saw a few times each month.
It was even worse with Loke. The celestial spirit seemed to have a personal vendetta on her father, which was triggered anytime the two so much as hinted at him. He also always followed Nashi around, randomly popping up by her side at times.
Which brought her to her next question, why did she have to stay at home all the time? Did it have to relate to her father? The young girl had so many questions.
"Bye Stinky…" Nashi gently put the frog in her palms down, the green being hopping away freely. "If only I could wander around as freely..."
When Nashi had returned to her mother's room, she had overheard hushed arguing; presumably between Loke and her mother.
"What are you two arguing about?" Nashi asked, walking back into the room.
The two looked up at Nashi, staring at the child for a moment.
"It's nothing." Lucy dismissed. "Just adult chat.."
"Oh okay…" The child sat back on the bed.
"Mama?"
"Yes?"
"Why do I remind you of Papa?"
The room went silent as both adults returned their gaze to the child; one with guilt and the other with anger.
"Will you tell me about him this time? Please?"
Lucy looked at her celestial spirit, who shook his head profusely. "No. I refuse to let you."
"Loke!" Nashi whined.
"I'm serious, Nashi. I don't want you to know about that monster."
"Mon..ster?" Nashi's eyes widened a fraction.
"Loke." Lucy said firmly, giving her friend a cold stare.
Loke ignored this though, and continued on. "It's true! I can't believe he just up and left after that, after all that he has done and continues to do! I can't let the same thing happen to Nashi!"
"Loke." Lucy repeated.
"B-but why would my Papa be a monster! I know I don't really know him… but.." Nashi's lower lip trembled. "..But I know my Papa wouldn't do that!"
"Oh really.." Loke chuckled angrily. "Well why don't you ask your mother. I'm sure she'd love to tell you how he's impacted her. How he's killing her from the inside."
"Killing… Mama?"
"That's right! She's going to be gone in only a few months and that bastard is the reason why! He didn't even-"
"Loke!" Lucy shouted, done with the lion's antics. "Leave..."
The spirit was about to continue on when he saw the tears threatening to spill. "Lucy…"
"I said leave!" The celestial mage sniffled. "You've done enough."
With a solemn frown, the spirit disappeared, leaving a yellow glow in his wake.
"Mama?" Nashi finally turned to her mother. "I-Is what Loke said true? Are you really going to leave me alone?"
"Nashi…" Lucy brushed her daughter's hair, unable to give her an answer. She averted her gaze.
Tears began to escape Nashi's eyes. "Y-you lied! You said you were just sick! Not that you were going to... to.."
Lucy hugged Nashi tightly, understanding all too well how the young girl was feeling. She hadn't been too much older than Nashi when she had lost her mother.
"I won't let you! I'll make sure you'll get well! I won't go outside anymore! I'll stay here and help you! You won't have to move a finger! Just let me help you…"
Lucy kissed the top of her head. "I know you will, and I appreciate it but…" Lucy sighed. "It isn't something you nor I can control."
Nashi continued to cry as her mother held her tightly, brushing her hair in efforts to get her to relax.
After the sniffles died down, her mother called out to her. "Hey, Nashi…?"
"Mhm.." A muffled response came.
"You wanted to know about your father, right?"
Nashi's head perked up immediately. Although she was sad about her mother's condition, she could help but feel a little excitement when she was told she could finally know something about her father.
Lucy softly laughed at this, holding Nashi's face up and brushing her child's dried tears away with her thumbs. "Let's see…" The blonde began to think. "He's about a head taller than me, with tanned skin and the most beautiful onyx eyes; although you have most of those features from me. You do have his pink, unruly hair though," Lucy ruffled her daughter's hair, causing Nashi to let out a small smile.
"W-was he very polite?" Nashi asked quietly. She refused to believe Loke. She didn't want her father to be a monster.
Lucy let out a louder laugh this time. "Barely! He would destroy everything in his path when he used his magic."
Nashi shrieked. "So he is a monster!"
"Mavis, no!" Lucy started quickly, running her hands through Nashi's hair. "He may have been a handful, but he's one of the kindest people I've ever met. He's so strong and brave, he would aid anyone who asked without any hesitation…"
"S-so.. h-he's not a bad guy?"
"No, he's not. Don't listen to Loke, he's just really mad at him for leaving us.."
"Why did he leave? Is it because of me?"
"Of course not! He would've loved you so much…"
Nashi was about to open her mouth when her mother interrupted her. "I know you want to know why he left, but unfortunately I can't tell you right now. It's not the right time."
"Okay.." Nashi frowned. "Can you tell me anything else?"
"Hmm…. alright! I'll tell you how we first met!"
"Ooh!" How did it go? Was it like a prince finding a princess story?" Nashi bubbled with excitement.
"More or less…" Lucy cringed. "Well, it all started in the town of Hargeon…" Lucy recalled, bringing up the memory of the pink-haired boy and blue exceed that she had stumbled across nearly ten years ago.
"We're married?!" Lucy barged into their house, seemingly angry.
"Huh?" A confused Natsu and Happy turned to face the loud blonde.
The blonde pointed to the red mark on the side of her neck.
"Uh…" Natsu and Happy trailed off dumbfoundedly, exchanging glances.
"Well, you did it. So you're on your own. See ya!" Happy quickly flew out the window.
"Happy!" Natsu whined. It wasn't fair. He was leaving him to deal with Lucy's wraith alone. Sure, he may have started it, but he wasn't quite sure what he did to upset her in the first place!
"What do you mean 'married'?" Natsu sighed, trying to figure out why his girlfriend was so upset.
"Levy said that this mark means you're married!"
Natsu stood up and brushed her blond strands behind her ear, examining the mark he had left a few days ago. It had changed colors since he had first given it to her on that steamy night. Changing from a purplish-blue to a reddish color, with some gold specs in between.
"I mean in dragon terms yea…"
"And you didn't tell me?!" She shrieked.
Natsu winced. The blonde seemed to be very worked up about this. "I mean… I didn't think it was that important.. If you want it off maybe Levy could find a way but.."
"No!" Lucy waved her hands, taking the slayer's hand and sitting them on the couch. "It's not that, I love it, it's just that it… seems like a very important thing to discuss, you know?"
Natsu shrugged. "I mean for dragons it's not really as big of a thing. It kinda just happens when it happens."
"So there isn't any special ceremony or celebration?" Lucy questioned.
"No, not really," Natsu shook his head, thinking back to what Igneel had told him all those years ago. "Well.. now that I think about it, there kinda is a sort of ceremony..."
"What is it? Is it really important? Does it warrant a big celebration?"
"Nah, it's more.. private. Like one on one." Natsu chuckled.
"Private? Have we done it yet?"
"Oh yeah. We've done it for awhile now." Natsu smirked, amused at Lucy's curiosity.
"We have?"
"We have."
Lucy frowned, trying to recall any event where they completed some sort of ceremony. "I don't remember doing any ceremony with you? Was it like at the guild or-"
"Lucy," Natsu halted the blonde's rant in exasperation, brushing his hands over the very mark they were debating over. "I'm talking about this."
"Oh." The blonde stated, looking down at her lover's hand, confused at what he found so amusing. She then recalled how she had received the mark, blushing a bright red. "Oh." She repeated again, at a loss for words.
Natsu let out a loud laugh. "Jeez, Luce. For someone so smart you sure do have your moments. Happy would've held this over your head for ages!"
"S-shut up! I just didn't expect it to be so…"
"So?"
"Straightforward!"
Natsu grinned. "I told you it's nothing really special. You probably didn't even recognize when Levy got hers."
"She has one? When did this happen, and by who?!"
"Yeah, she's had one since before that Alvarez thing." Natsu recalled. "But I'm pretty sure you know who it is."
Lucy's mind had suddenly wandered off to the black and blue haired twins that had been born about a year prior. "Oh.. yeah.."
"You okay Luce? You seem a little off today."
"Mhm.. just tired." The blonde admitted, yawning coincidentally.
Natsu wasn't surprised. She had only returned from her mission with Erza and Levy a few hours prior, and had been at the guild ever since; staying in the guild's library with Levy to do who knows what.
He responded quickly and brought her to rest on his chest, holding her close with his hand on her back. Lucy accepted this action happily as Natsu rested his chin on the top of her head.
"But how do you know she has one? I don't even see hers.." Lucy recalled their library session earlier. She had been wearing a tank top due to the excessive heat, but Lucy hadn't seen any blemish or bruise anywhere around her neck.
"Well, It doesn't need to be on the neck. It can be in other places.."
"So why'd you do mine on my neck? It's so inconvenient, especially when I go on formal jobs and such.."
"Because I want everyone to know that you're mine…" Natsu playfully pouted, brushing his fingers against the mark once again.
"Dork," Lucy sighed, placing her hand over his.
"Your Dork."
"Hmph!" Lucy huffed, albeit her voice muffled. The celestial mage rolled her eyes, a small grin forming on her lips. As possessive as it sounded, she didn't really mind it. In fact she found it a little attractive.
"That still doesn't explain how you knew she had one, though."
"Because I can smell it."
"Smell what? The mark?"
"No." Natsu made a weird face. "Their scents kinda mix whenever they go at it"
"Wait, does that mean Gajeel can smell-"
"Yes."
"Even Wendy?"
"Mhm."
"That's so embarrassing..." Lucy recoiled in disgust, hiding her face in her partner's chest. "Still, I wish you both could've told me what getting marked entailed.
"Sorry," Natsu apologized. "I just assumed we would have a traditional wedding soon enough, so it wouldn't really matter…"
The news sobered the blonde up quickly, lifting her head up to stare at her boyfriend. "What did you say?"
"We would get married soon enough? I even got the ring-"
"You did?" Lucy squealed, moving so that she was on top of him, holding his face with both hands.
"Yeah," Natsu cringed. "I shouldn't have said that huh.."
"Probably not." Lucy nodded in agreement. "But who cares! You were going to ask me?"
"Yeah, what's it called? A Property? Program?"
"Proposal!" Lucy corrected happily.
"Yeah, that. Erza made me plan out this big thing and everything. She's going to be so mad.." Natsu shivered, already imagining what the red head would say now that he had ruined her surprise.
"She doesn't have to know." Lucy smirked mischievously.
Natsu raised an eyebrow. "You're not mad?"
"Not in the slightest! I'm surprised you were even thinking about that in the first place!"
"I'm not that dumb…" Natsu pouted. "But you're seriously not upset?"
"Not really." Lucy shrugged. "It was done in true Natsu fashion. I couldn't ask for more." She smiled brightly.
"Ah, well if that's the case, will you marry me?"
"Yes, idiot. You didn't even have to ask anymore." She laughed.
Natsu smirked at the celestial mage. "You'll have to wait to see the ring though."
"That's fair." Lucy grinned, giving him a quick peck. "I love you, Natsu."
"I love you too." Natsu returned the grin, pulling his fiance closer to him for a longer, deeper kiss.
Nashi hadn't slept in her room since she had been made aware of her mother's condition, instead opting to sleep right next to her mother so that she could spend as much time with her as possible before she was gone forever.
Her mother hadn't really minded however, and even went as far as continuing to tell Nashi stories about her mother and father's adventures when they were younger. Right now, she was learning about how her mother had met another version of herself in a different world? All Nashi really knew was that it wasn't the celestial spirit world and that it had no magic anymore, which sounded like a sad life to the child.
"Natsu…" Her mother had murmured in her sleep.
Nashi sighed. She didn't know who it was that her mother was calling in her sleep. She had suspected that it might have been a guildmate or friend of her mother's that she hadn't met. It was odd though, their names sounded very much alike.
It was then when Nashi felt something flash from behind her, a pair of feet softly landing on the ground with a faint thud. Nashi didn't need to turn around to know who it was, instead sitting up from her lying position.
"Loke."
"Nashi." He answered. "Your senses are getting sharper, what I would expect from being his daughter."
"What do you want, Loke." Nashi stated sharply, already mad at the spirit due to yesterday's events. From how her mother had reacted, it seemed like she didn't appreciate the sentiment either.
"I came to apologize." He sighed. "I realize my mistakes. I was coming out of a place of anger and I wasn't aware how much it was affecting you, how much it was affecting your mother."
"And what about Papa?"
"I shouldn't have called him that." Loke said quickly. "I still don't agree with the decisions that he made involving your mother, but I'm ashamed that I let my anger get the best of me, so much so that I would badmouth a friend."
"You and Papa were friends?"
"We were. Long before I met your mother."
The two sat in silence, Nashi finally turning around to face the spirit, who was on one knee. He didn't spare her a glance, looking at the floor in disappointment.
"I forgive you, although I don't think I could forget what you said about Papa."
"I understand."
"Why did it take you so long?" Nashi asked. It had been a week since the argument had occurred.
"Time works differently in the spirit world," Loke explained. "While a week has passed for you, it's only been a few hours for me."
"Really?"
"Yeah, your mother even came one time. She stayed for one day and-"
"..ended up skipping three months in Earthland." Lucy finished for the celestial spirit, stretching as she too sat up in bed. "It was a shame too, we wasted those three months having a party that only lasted one day."
Nashi turned around once again. "G'morning Mama."
"Good morning my sweet." She held her daughter's head gently, kissing the pink-haired girl's forehead. She then gazed at the being in front of her. "Loke."
"Lucy.."
A/N: Hi! Since CLAP is going to take awhile to finish, I thought I'd make this short story to post while you wait. Unlike CLAP, this story will be updated not published all at once. I'm also new to the website so bare with me as I learn to use the platform. I have some finished fanfictions on Wattpad (although not as good) if you want to check them out. (Queen Autumn or Autumn_Breeze19 on Wattpad) Thank you and see you soon!
