It was gone midnight so most of the guild had gone home with just a few stragglers left, they stood just through the doorway looking around at those left. Natsu spotted Makarov drunkenly hanging off the bar with Mira trying to pry his glass from his hand, glancing round he saw Gajeel chatting with Levy, he wasn't able to spot Wendy around so presumed she had turned in for the evening.
"Oi Gramps, metal mouth - we got a problem!", Natsu starting striding towards the bar - mindful of course to give Lucy a wide berth as he passed by her.
"Natsu ma boy, come here and drink with me! I'm sure a little alcohol will make all your problems better!", Makarov perched himself back atop the bar and downed the rest of his drink passing the now empty glass to Mira for a refill, she sighed shaking her head at the guild master before refilling his glass for him.
"Yeah Gramps...alcohol ain't gonna solve this one. Not unless you got some magic time warping alcohol"
"Hey Lu-Lu, are you ok? You look like you've been crying!?", Levy was quick to leave Gajeel at the sight of Lucy still frozen just inside the guild hall and quickly embraced her in a hug when she saw the tear stains on her friends face.
"Salamander the hell ya do to Bunny girl??", Gajeel stomped his way towards the bar where Natsu had made it to Makarov, whatever happened had made Levy bound away from him and that ticked him right off.
"I didn't do anything!! You wanna blame someone blame the lightning idiot!"
That sobered Makarov up, eyebrow raising slowly "What did my idiotic nephew do now Natsu?", face forming into a grimace knowing he needed to ask but not wanting to really know "And what does it have to do with Lucy?"
"Think I'm gonna need a drink please Mira", he sat down on a stool at the bar with a sigh, quickly downing the fire whiskey Mira offered him before relaying all the details Lucy had told him and Happy earlier a,one with what he knew of what was happening to Lucy. Whilst he'd been talking Gajeel had sat on a stool and Makarov had sat down on the bar both their jaws wide open on shock. Whilst they processed the information he glanced for Lucy - Levy had brought her to the table closest to the bar, both girls sat there quietly as they'd listened to Natsu, Levy had a hand to her mouth in shock. He managed to catch Lucy's eyes, she hadn't cried in a while and seemed to have regained some of her normal Lucy composure managing to give Natsu a small smile. A small 'oh my' had come from Mira as she had stood listening from behind the bar.
"LAXUUUUUUSSS", Makarov stood in rage "He better have a damn good explanation for hurting one of the children of this guild AGAIN!"
"You sure bout this Salamander? He ain't even a 1st generation slayer, who's to say lacrima ones even have that ability? Ain't no denying she stinks like him but that doesn't back up whatcha tryin to say about him"
"WHAAAT?! You think I'd just make that shit up, ohhhhh ok then, you don't believe me? Why don't you go and try your theory. Yeahhh you think I'm lying so bad you go sit next to Lucy then see what you think!"
"Yes Gajeel...why don't you test the theory for us", mischief lit up Makarov's eyes always one for teasing his children.
Gajeel stood suddenly and walked towards the table Lucy and Levy were sat at, Natsu and Makarov lighting up with mischievous glee. "Uhhh Gajeel, I really wouldn't recommend it, Natsu's not lying on this one!" Lucy had her arms out in front of her trying to stop Gajeel's advance.
"Relax Bunny girl, there's another way to tell if he's lying. Move your hair wouldya", he'd stopped shy of the table but focussed his keen eyes on Lucy's neck as she pulled her hair back over her shoulder revealing the mark Laxus had left there. "Well shit. Flames for brains wasn't kidding, you've got one pissed little dragon on your neck"
"Huh?!?! What do you mean a little dragon, isn't it just a bite??" Suddenly trying to contort herself to see what Gajeel had but to no avail, Levy looked around from Lucy's other side to get a better look.
"Oh Lu-Lu, he's right. There's a little dragon on your neck he looks super angry and he's surrounded by a ring of lightening bolts. Oh no way!!"
Levy's eyes were glued to her neck, as now were the others as they'd come closer to inspect her at Gajeel's confirmation. "What? What is it Levy?!" With all of them gaping at her but saying nothing she lost her temper slamming her hands down on the table and stomping off towards the bathrooms. Not 2 seconds later an almighty scream tore through the guild before a shocked Lucy came back out walking slowly back to her table. "Yup ok, dragon, angry...moving...yup...just another day in the life of a Fairy Tail wizard", she sat back down next to Levy as the others watched the dragon pacing around it's lightening bolt cage glaring angrily at them all.
"Fascinating! I've never heard of anything like this before!" Levy's eyes were almost bugging out of her head as she stared at the little dragon in curiosity, she was writing notes down in a notepad that seemed to appear from nowhere.
"Right well, now we've all decided Natsu wasn't lying is there anything more any of you know?" Lucy was looking between Gajeel and Makarov but neither was currently offering up anything of help both too entranced with the dragon. Hands slamming down and standing again Lucy glared at all her spectators "HEY! Stop your staring and start your helping! Don't make me shock you both!". Immediately broken from staring at the angry dragon they all started to fumble to say something to the blonde. Natsu stood with a grin - she was getting back to being like normal Lucy more by the minute, short temper and feistiness coming back.
"Well, Metalicana did tell me about this. Ugh, so not how I thought this night was gonna go", Gajeel awkwardly looked away from Levy ruffling his hair. "What she has right now is 'the mark' which starts the process. And flame brain is right that it's to get other dragons to mind their own business an to try to keep them away."
"You said 'try' to keep them away. Does that mean it doesn't always work?", Levy was looking inquisitively at Gajeel pen at the ready, well - least this meant she'd ask all her questions now which might make a conversation between them in the future easier.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts Gajeel continued "No, it doesn't always work. BUT before y'all start yer celebratin you should know that Laxus would have to be defeated. You can get out with a challenge against Laxus, but it won't be you challenging him bunny. Not that you'll be able to soon anyway - that mark also makes you want to please Laxus, it's temporary till the whole process is complete but in this phase you won't be able to hurt him, you'll probably try cheering him on to win"
"So all we gotta do is beat Laxus? Well consider yourself free Luce - I got this!" Natsu was proudly pointing at himself, big grin plastered across his face looking at Lucy, she smiled back at him a little bit of hope returning
Gajeel snorted, "yeah it ain't that easy Salamander, might wanna let me finish"
"What more is there, you said Laxus has to be beaten so all I gotta do is kick his ass", "Aye Sir!" Happy had flown up with determination landing on Natsu's head with an equal grin.
"Geez shut up wouldya!!", Natsu finally crossed his arms with a loud 'hmph' and looked back at Gajeel for him to continue. "So. As I was sayin. Laxus has to be beaten, he can be challenged to a one on one fight. And if he accepts, which he don't hafta, the fight ain't for her freedom." Grins were dropped at this statement. "It's to replace the mark and claim her for themselves", at this one it was safe to say jaws hit the ground all around him.
Sorry this puts 3 chapters running in this timeline. We'll head back to the fight and some answers on Laxus soon but this felt like it needed a bit more before switching back. Hope you enjoy this instalment, somewhat more timely for a weekly update than my others have been. Thanks to everyone following and reviewing! :)
Oseaena nice to see you back in reviews, glad you're still enjoying!
Copperreign12 glad to see you're still following!