A/N: Four chapters left of the Fairy Tail manga and my heart hurts. But, that doesn't mean the adventure is over for Natsu, Lucy, and the rest of the gang! Especially in my story! I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!
I don't own Fairy Tail.
Enjoy!
War of Fire
-O-
Chapter 3: Hope
Voices.
She could hear different voices.
Hushed and low. Energetic and raspy. High pitched and jolly like.
The world was still black around her as the pounding in her head seized to suffice. She threatened to open her eyes, but her lids seemed too heavy. Her body was heavy, arms and legs feeling like tons of bricks that refuse to move from place.
As she struggled to open her eyes, there was a dim light that made it easy for her sight to adjust itself from the former blackness. There was a musty, dirty smell the enriched her nostrils. Coughing slightly, Lucy was finally able to move.
Hoisting herself carefully, she flinched as the pain in her abdomen emerged at just the slightest movement.
Reaching for her stomach, that's when she noticed the bandages on her arms, on the rest of her body.
Her eyes went wide as she reached for her belt, the pouch that carried her most precious treasured items: her keys. Panic rose as her waist was bare from the sash that was once tied around her. Frantically, she searched the area around her, hoping she didn't drop the pouch, or worse. The empire got a hold of her keys.
It wasn't until she nearly knocked a table over that she found her keys laying on the table next to her. Clutching them to her chest, Lucy cradled them close, promising to never lose them, or let go of them again.
A lengthy, ratted sheet sat in the entrance of the doorway, the light peeking through its slit. She carefully and slowly made her way over, the voices growing louder.
"Gramps wanted me to give you this. He said it was important."
"Ah, yes. Tell old Makarov a thank you is in order."
"Whatcha gonna do with that old thing?"
"Curious, aren't you, Natsu-kun?"
Lucy moved the sheet away from her as she crept into the next room. She looked around, noticing the dinginess of the room. Weapons, books, artifacts, bottles loitered the room, a strong presence of magic filled her.
No longer were they in the old antique shop.
Walking slowly, Lucy's eyes found the owner of the voices. The owner of the shop was sitting down at a table, a package of some sort settled in front of him. Natsu, aka the Salamander, was standing, leaning against the desk behind him with a look of curiosity. He too had a few bandages on his body.
"Hey there, sleepy head!"
"Eep!"
Lucy all but yelped as a sudden blue feline appeared in front of her with a wide grin. Both the owner of the shop and Natsu turned their attention towards Lucy and Happy chuckled as he flew back towards the Salamander.
"Ah, you've finally awoken, young miss."
Glaring slightly at the cat, the blonde composed herself and walked idly into the dingy room, noticing the pair of onyx eyes that were staring right at her. She decided to ignore it for now as she looked over at the older man and smiled.
"Seems so. How long was I out for?"
"A few hours, give or take." He answered and gestured her to sit down. She took a seat and continued to gaze over the room they were now in.
"And the captain of the guard?"
"All taken care of!" Happy said as he sat atop of Natsu's head.
The infamous Salamander gave her a thumb up. "Don't worry about that guy. Like Happy said, I took care of him."
A nervous knot settling in her stomach at the true implication behind his words.
"That was rather reckless, jumping out into battle like that." And here came the lecture knew she was in for. "You frightened me quite a bit."
She appreciated the older man's concern and smiled. "I'm sorry for scaring you."
"It was pretty dangerous, going on in like that." Natsu added to the mix and Lucy crossed her arms, puffing her cheeks. She was ready to retaliate. "But, you really saved our butts out there! If it wasn't for you, he probably would have drained all my magic. So, thanks for that!"
Lucy blushed, Natsu's grin radiating in the dinginess of the room. She clenched her fists in her lap and smiled embarrassingly.
"Uh, I just did what I could do. I wasn't much help though. If anyone should be thanked, it should be Taurus for holding off the captain for that long." She was never all that good at taking praise.
"Nonsense. You did well, my young celestial mage." Lucy blushed and shifted her eyes away from the men in the room.
"You know, you were kind of heavy though. You should really look to lose weight!" Eyes nearly left her head as the feline made his statement. Natsu began to burst into laughter and the old shop owner turned his head to hide his chuckle.
Lucy nearly strangled the blue feline. "Stupid cat! Don't you know not to mention a woman's weight to them!" Shouting and chasing after him as Happy filled the room in laughter.
"Now, now. Let's stop running around before you two bring the entire room down."
With frustrated sigh, the blonde sat down, across from the Salamander and his cat, who were still snickering in their place. If only she could get her hands on the two.
Once the embarrassment of Happy's little announcement washed over, it was then Lucy's turn to inspect this new place she was taken refuge in.
"Speaking of room, where are we?" Lucy asked, and the shop owner put the book in his hand down.
"Taking refuge under my shop. Soldiers have flooded the town and are currently looking for the two of you."
Lucy gulped as the old man explained the current predicament her and the Resistance member were facing. While she was less than thrilled, Natsu seem completely unfazed, almost like he had been here before.
"For me?" The blonde questioned in a low whisper.
The shop owner nodded. "Well, mostly for Natsu-kun. But, yes, you as well, my dear."
"I ain't worried. They aren't going to find us down here." Such confidence, Lucy thought to herself. But, being a Resistance seasoned you into a warrior she would imagine. Fighting against the imperial army meant knowing which battles to fight, acknowledging when retreat when hand you better results.
She wished she had that confidence. But, the celestial mage didn't have the experience that the Salamander had. Being on her own for two years has added to her growth, allowed her to explore her magic in ways she was never allowed to before.
But, there was very little she could learn without risking the lives of her celestial spirits.
As Natsu and the owner of the shop shared a conversation, Lucy took note of the room once more. She was distracted earlier by Happy's presence, but she could feel the magical presence again. Lucy was blessed with a gift, to read magic, to feel it's presence.
"Speaking of down here, you're the owner of this chain of the black magic market, aren't you?" She had her suspicions, but only he could answer her question.
The older man smiled wearily. "I was wondering when you would catch on."
"I didn't think about it when we first met because I was so paranoid about outrunning the platoon of imperial soldiers. But, after some thought, it just made sense. Also, there's a heavy presence of magic in this room. I'm assuming you used some sort of masking spell to hide it from the empire."
She explained and the old man chuckled to himself.
"Intuitive, aren't you?"
Natsu, who had been rather silent, finally made movement. A raised brow and his trained eyes searched her. He shook his head, and crossed his arms, confusion written across his onyx eyes.
"Wait, wait, wait. How'd you even know to look here for the market?"
Lucy couldn't help the mischievous smirk on her lips at that point. To have one up on the Salamander of the Resistance? She would hold onto that forever. Also, she could not sell out Hibiki. The blonde couldn't fathom what the consequences would be of his sharing information with her. Yes, he was a great source. But, he was also a good friend.
"That's my little secret."
Those dark eyes narrowed at her, but then he scoffed and returned her smirk with a smirk of his own, showcasing his fang like teeth.
"Huh. I'll give it to ya, Luigi. You're pretty smart."
Lucy would have flushed at the compliment, but calling her by a name that didn't belong to her took precedence. She puffed her cheeks and stood s her hands were fisted at her sides.
"My name is Lucy!" She yelled, glaring sharply at the pink haired man.
But Natsu didn't look like he felt remorse. He hardly blinked an eye as he looked at everywhere else in the room but her.
"Ara, ara! Luigi, Lucy. Almost identical, isn't it?" Was that an honest question? Lucy grew more infuriated at Natsu's statement.
"Not even!"
"Luigi! Luigi!" Oh great, Lucy thought to herself. Now that cat was a part of this too! Lucy turned immediately to the feline and pointed an accusing finger at him.
"Shut it! You stupid cat!"
But, Happy seemed to have other ideas as once again, he flew around her, calling her by a different name. And once more, Lucy chased him around as Natsu watched with laughter.
The older man chuckled to himself as he watched the playful interactions amongst the young mages. It had been some time since he felt peace and innocence. Watching the two quarrel brought him back to the days before the war, the days before Zeref took control.
What he would do for those times once more.
"Enough of the ruckus. My magic may be able to mask the magical presence of this room, but your loudness is another issue in itself."
This caused Lucy to stop in her step and Happy to land on Natsu's shoulder.
After the young mages settled in their seats, Lucy realized she still didn't know the name of the older gentlemen sitting in front of her. They never introduced themselves to one another and the blonde wasn't sure if he could even share his name. From what it seemed, the old shop keeper was part of the Resistance. The celestial mage was sure that even sharing their name was to be kept under wraps. Perhaps they had an alias?
"You know, grandpa. I didn't really give us a chance for formal introduction." He raised his brows and then followed with another chuckle. Lucy smiled sheepishly. "My name is Lucy."
The last name was irrelevant to share.
"Yajima Hoshi." He bowed and Lucy appreciated the lack of investigation.
"It's nice to meet you, Yajima-san." And she truly meant it. Yajima-san may have played riddles and been somewhat senile, but he also saved her life. Lucy was hopeful for an ally.
Grabbing at his cane and leaning forward, he put a hand out. "Please dear. The honorifics aren't necessary."
Before Lucy could reply, Natsu stood up and padded down on his stomach.
"Well, now that introductions are out of the way, say Old Man, you got any grub?" He snickered and Happy followed suit.
"Please tell me you have some fish!?"
Lucy and Yajima both laughed. "You boys. All you ever think with is that stomach of yours." The older man used his cane as his leverage and stood up, heading over towards his makeshift kitchen. "I'll see what I can stir up."
Lucy couldn't help but shake her head and chuckle at the antics of the odd pair in front of her. The demeanor of this Natsu was so different from the Natsu she had seen in battle. They were almost two different people.
They shared the room in silence with Yajima only a few feet away. The blonde took this time to examine herself and the injuries on her body. Despite looking somewhat like a mummy with bandages tied around her arms, her head, and her abdomen area, and finally a patch on her cheek, she didn't feel as sore as she thought she would.
"So, you're a celestial mage, huh? I haven't seen one of those in a while." Natsu stated as he gripped at his scarf. Lucy didn't pay much attention to his scarf outside of when she first noticed him. But, looking more closely, she noticed the almost dragon like scales on the patterned white scarf around his neck.
"There's not that very many of us left out there." She replied solemnly. There just couldn't be many celestial mages because of the lack of golden keys.
"How many gate keys do you have?"
Odd… why does he want to know that?
The question seemed innocent enough. If it would have been anyone else, she would have lied. But, it was Natsu, a freedom fighter. If he was part of the Resistance, then her secret was safe with him, right?
"Currently? I have two golden keys and 2 silver keys." She removed her keys from her pouch and the shine of the keys reflected off the dim light in the room. "A friend of mine told me that I might be able to find a golden gate key here in Hargeon, at this black market. But, his information may have been wrong."
"Ya never know. I'd ask the old man. He may know something. He's been running this shop for years now." Natsu explained as he shrugged his shoulders, throwing his hands behind his neck.
"Sounds like you two have met on more than one occasion." She giggled and he smiled.
"We've made a lot of stops here! This is Natsu's favorite town to eat at because of the all you can eat buffet down the street! Though, something tells me that you're going to have to wear a hood from now on, Natsu."
Happy must love scaring her because this had to be the third instance he came out of nowhere.
"Damn. You might be right, Happy." Natsu seemed genuinely concerned as he frowned. But, his demeanor changed immediately at his next statement. "Anyway, yeah, we stop by and visit the Old Man from time to time. Not bad company, and that all you can eat buffet isn't bad food either."
"Do you two ever think of anything outside of your stomach?" She giggled.
"Nope!" They yelled in unison with large smiles.
After sitting down and chatting for some time, Lucy concluded that Natsu had to have two split personalities. Despite the world they lived in, with a tyrant ruler, both Natsu and Happy lived rather care freely. One would think they would throw more caution to the wind with the imminent threat that loomed over them.
But, they smiled and laughed like there was no care in the world.
When Lucy was watching Natsu fight, he was focused, and cold almost. He had no regard for the life around him as long as he won. But, sitting here with him, it was like seeing a whole new person. And his power. She was absolutely blown away with the sheer force of his magic. It was tremendous, but frightening.
"Alright! Food's ready! Come eat up children!" Yajima shouted and Natsu glared.
"We ain't kids!"
Lucy followed behind Natsu and Happy, her mind remembering what she could before falling into unconsciousness. Natsu's magic wouldn't leave her mind. Seeing what it could do and the damage it causes could give anyone nightmares.
"Are you feeling well, dear?" Yajima asked, and Lucy merely smiled.
She waved him off. "Huh? Oh yeah. I'm feeling just fine. Just sore and tired, understandably so."
"Grab some food, Lucy! You'll probably feel better!" Happy chewed happily on his fish as he invited her to the table.
"Yeah! Come on, Luigi!"
The anger bubbled within her once again as her annoyance rose. Natsu either had a death wish for continuously saying her name wrong, or he found entertainment in teasing her.
"For the last time! My name is Lucy!" But, everyone at the make shift dinner table just laughed as Lucy pouted to herself.
Once their dinner ended, Yajima excused himself and headed to bed. Something Lucy knew she should be doing as well. She needed to take advantage of the times she could get some decent rest. But, watching Natsu and Happy, learning about them and the Resistance made her heart race. And not in the way most would think.
She loved books in her younger years. Every night, before she would fall asleep, her mother used to read her stories about the Resistance and their fights against the Empire. She would share stories about the Celestial Spirits and their personalities. Her mother's stories made her yearn for adventure.
Once Lucy was old enough to head out on her own, she began researching, learning about everything the freedom fighters did. And Natsu came up more than once in her travels.
"So, you're the infamous Salamander?"
This caught the pink haired man off guard as she finished the remaining food on his plate.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I guess!" He was nonchalant, as if his name had no importance to it. Did he even realize what the true implications of his name meant to people? To the fight against the Emperor?
"I've read lots of stories about you." It was rather… stalkerish, reading about the freedom fighters and following their adventures during her journey. But, they were a constant inspiration to her.
Natsu put his plate down and looked at Happy, who shrugged his shoulders. A smirk appeared on his lips and he was intrigued by the blonde's statement. "Oh yeah? And what do they say?"
"That you're strong. And that you cause a lot of destruction." Which wasn't a false statement. Lucy saw the aftermath of their battle. She saw how little he cared for the area around him.
"Well, they ain't lying there." His arrogance was showing, and that smirk looked more proud than ever.
"And that your flames resemble that of a dragon."
He remained silent for a moment, his eyes finding hers.
Lucy didn't know why she didn't notice it before. She was a rather intuitive person. Being on her own required her to sharpen all her senses and grow smarter in all ways.
"And after seeing it first hand, I have to say I agree."
His silence was deafening. He was a rather loud mouthed idiot. Seeing Natsu remain in what resembled a catatonic state threw her off.
"Ever heard of dragon slaying magic?"
Lucy's eyes went wide as those words left his lips.
She read so many books on dragon slaying magic. After her mother shared her first story about the dragons and the Dragon Civil War, Lucy's curiosity was sparked. Intrigued in all things dragons, the blonde rummaged through her mother's library to find any book on the mythical creatures. And dragon slaying magic was brought up quite a bit.
"It's supposedly a myth. A legendary form of magic that died off when the dragons we're all killed off over 400 years ago. During the Dragon Civil War, dragons taught humans how to kill a dragon, therefore, it was dubbed as Dragon Slaying Magic. Only a few selected humans were taught this great power. Near the end of the war, when it seemed like the human allied dragons would win, a slayer turned against them and killed them all. He was so powerful, no one could stop him."
Natsu was nodding almost approvingly. But, Lucy noticed a change in his demeanor. The once carefree attitude he was showcasing vanished. The atmosphere in the room was growing rather… tense.
"They called him the Black Dragon, Acnologia."
She had seen the drawings of the Great Black Dragon in her books. It was enough to give her nightmares sometimes. Acnologia was a beast with no regard to any life, human or dragon.
"He was unstoppable, killing every slayer he knew, every dragon he saw. It wasn't until his run in with the great Fire Dragon King, Igneel, that he was able to be defeated. But even then, there are believers who think Acnologia is still alive and will once again reign terror on the world."
Suddenly, the room went hot. She felt the sweat build as Natsu's eyes turned dark. Even Happy looked at his friend in concern. Was it something she said?
"You know your stuff." His voice was rough, deeper than it was when they first met.
She gripped the fabric of her tights. "Let's just say I had plenty of time on my hands as a kid."
And the atmosphere remained hot and tense, and Lucy watched as the Salamander hid himself in the locks of his pink hair. All this talk about urban legends and ancient forms of magic. What was the purpose of it, anyway?
"But Natsu… what does that have to do with anything?" She treaded carefully.
"I'm a dragon slayer… a fire dragon slayer." Finding her eyes once more, no longer did the air around her feel hot and though no longer dark were his eyes, they still seemed guarded.
"EH!?"
Lucy stood up, shock coursing through her. Her eyes went wide and jaw fell to the ground. Her mind was reeling, trying to understand how he could learn such magic; magic that has been dubbed as ancient and extinct!
"Wait... you're a dragon slayer!?"
He nodded.
"I have dragon slaying magic."
"I- I thought that dragon slaying magic was nothing but a myth! An urban legend! A bedtime story!" Still in disbelief, she remembered all she learned as a child, every text, every sentence, every word that she read through. It was impossible even.
"It definitely ain't a bed time story!" He defended as he crossed his arms and the wall around his eyes disappeared.
Lucy just couldn't believe it. A dragon slayer? How!? "But I thought only a dragon could teach that type of magic! How did you manage to learn such a rare form of magic?"
He smirked. "Now, that's my little secret, isn't it?"
Natsu caught her off guard, but she scoffed. "Fair enough." She responded, but looked at the ground. Well, the Resistance certainly had the biggest trump card in it's army, didn't it? "Wow, a dragon slayer, huh?"
She still couldn't believe it. Lucy had seen many things in her journey so far, but an actual dragon slayer? That had to be the coolest so far.
"He's one of the best! And the strongest!" Happy interjected and Natsu immediately covered his mouth.
"One…?" She furrowed her brows and once again, her eyes went wide. "Wait, are you telling me there's more of you?"
"Happy! You know that stuff is confidential!" The Salamander quickly defended and Lucy was nearly knocked off her feet. There was more than one dragon slayer?
"Oops! My bad!" The blue feline apologized, but he also didn't seem that apologetic as he snickered. Natsu rolled his eyes and frowned.
"Confidential? What do you mea-" But then Lucy remembered who exactly these two were. They were part of the Resistance. Natsu and Happy were part of something much bigger than her.
"Right. The Resistance can't go giving away any information that may be used against them."
"Uh, yeah." He responded quickly and she mulled.
Lucy may have proved she wasn't on the Empire's side, but that didn't mean she was to be trusted. She could easily spread Resistance secrets and foil their chances at catching the Empire by surprise. Any information or intel about the Resistance needed to remain in the quarters of their base.
"Don't worry. My lips are sealed." She winked and promised, her mind still processing at the existence of not one, but multiple dragon slayers.
"Much appreciated. Besides, I don't need Gramps to rag on me again, or worse. Erza." Both Natsu and Happy shivered at the name and Lucy cocked her head.
Erza? Why did that name sound so familiar?
"What's it like?" She asked.
"Hmm?" Natsu responded, and it was then Lucy realized she wasn't being specific enough.
"Being part of the Resistance? What's it like being a freedom fighter?"
Her eyes glowed and she could barely keep her excitement at bay. Lucy had always been drawn to the Resistance and all its stories and adventures. She admired and respected the work they did to fight against the tyrant Zeref.
"It's… exhilarating." He started, "Every day is a new adventure. I know it sounds weird, because we're fighting a war. But, you're never in the same spot and constantly on the move. You meet so many people, strong mages. And it's really fun to spar with them and test your strength with one another. But most of all, getting to kick some empire ass is always a fun bet. Especially when you get to stick to em."
"What Natsu is trying to say is that it's fun being part of something that is making a difference, despite how dangerous it is." Happy explained and Lucy smiled.
"You guys are really something, you know? I've seen the fight you wage with the empire. It's incredible. The magic you guys have in your arsenal. Hearing, reading, seeing what you guys can do gives the rest of us hope."
She looked down at her keys and clutched them tightly in her hands. Her eyes went crestfallen, thinking about events from her past, from earlier in her life.
"Sometimes, I wonder if it's even worth it. Fighting against the empire like this, you know? The Emperor has a terrible power, and an army of mages with intense, monstrous magic that can easily overtake cities. It scares me."
And she truly was scared. Every day she feels like the empire grows stronger, and the fight against them grows weaker. Lucy sees the retreating forms of rebellious mages who once stood so proud against the Emperor. She sees the extingusihed eyes of the innocent people who live in fear day by day.
She sighed deeply. "But, then I remember what you all fight for. And that gives me hope. Hope that we can and will stop the Emperor and return Fiore to the people."
Natsu grinned with confidence as he crossed his arms. There was a light in his eyes, a fire that burned so brightly. Lucy was almost overwhelmed by its sheer brightness.
"The Resistance doesn't give up. We don't know what losing means. There is always hope. No matter what the Emperor does, it's not enough to scare us away. We're always going to keep pushing. The day will come when that bastard falls. You just gotta believe."
Lucy smiled and nodded. "My mom always believed magic was good. She always believed that it was meant to help people. And so do I. I'm not going to stop believing now."
Her mom had always talked to her about the goodness of magic, about the world of mages before Zeref's rule. The world wasn't without its problems, but, magic was not policed as it was now.
Before magic was prohibited, there was strife between the mages who refused to serve the army and the Emperor's court. Since magic was now banned from free use, people felt that their rights and freedom of use were being imposed.
Riots rose all over the country, magic users fighting off the imperial army. Villages, towns, cities, banded together to oppose the restriction of their rights, to challenge the new law set by the empire. It was proving to be more difficult than the Emperor's court had foreseen.
The Emperor answered the ruse with a single declaration.
The devastation of the former capital of Fiore before the slaughter of the King of Fiore: Crocus.
Millions of lives lost within a matter of seconds.
The country of Fiore went silent as the demolition of Crocus was shown to all its inhabitants. The power of the Emperor was known to all men, women, and children of the country.
Thus, a declaration against magic was made: all users of magic outside of the imperial army would result in immediate death.
Following the annihilation of Crocus and execution of King Fiore, the people cowered to the demands of the Emperor. Different divisions from the emperor's court had left the new capital of the country and made residence in other cities around the nation. Corruption, greed, crime, and exploitation of the innocent lives of the people of Fiore rose through the appointed officials of the emperor's court.
All seemed lost until a small band of mages fought against their local appointed officials. Eradicating the city of what was once known as a dark guild before the disbandment of guilds, a newfound strength in the people of Fiore ignited.
Little by little, rebel groups across the nation arose, resisting the tyrannical rule of the emperor and his court. It wasn't until a few years later that rebel groups joined together and announced the creation of a rebel based group called the Resistance.
For almost eighty years, the Emperor and his court have been at war with the Resistance. Lucy had heard tales of the vicious and horrific fight against the Emperor and his court. Not only was the Emperor said to be immortal, but the Spirrigan 12, who were his confidents, were rumored to have magical power that was never seen before.
The Resistance took more casualties than the empire, but they never faltered. It sparked a fire within the country and more mages were joining the ranks of the Resistance, doing all they could to destroy the Emperor and take back what was taken from them.
All her life, Lucy had always felt that she was meant for more than the submissive life of the wife of a Duke. After the discovery of her celestial magic, same as her mothers, she had a drive to help extinguish the darkness in the country.
Her mother had shared stories of brave mages, both men and women, who fought against the tyrannical idealism of the emperor, using magic for good; spreading love, not hate.
"You sure you ain't one of us, Lucy?" Natsu laughed and the blonde followed suit.
"As a little girl, I always dreamed of being part of the Resistance, making a difference, helping fight against the Emperor." She could remember the days spent in her father's study, building fortresses and setting up her plush toys to be her enemies. Lucy would set up 'missions,' and run around her home, pretending to be a freedom fighter.
"But?" So, the Salamander could be smart, huh? Lucy eyed him carefully before scoffing.
"But now, my focus is finding the remaining ten celestial spirit gate keys. I want to assure they don't fall into the hands of the empire. I refuse to let them be used as pawns or puppets. They deserve better than to be mistreated for personal gain. And I believe with the gate keys, it will help bring the Emperor down."
It was her mission now. No matter how badly she wanted to join the Resistance. She promised her mother she wouldn't let the keys fall into the hands of the empire.
"It would be pretty cool to do both though. Being a freedom fighter? Wow. It would be like joining a guild back when they were around! In a way, it'd be like joining a family, wouldn't it?"
Lucy smiled sadly to herself at the thought of her family. She couldn't resist the overwhelming feeling of sadness that enveloped her. Just like the war did with other families, it tore hers apart.
"Lucy?" Natsu and Happy asked when they noticed the change in her attitude.
She blinked, realizing what she had down. "Oh goodness, what am I even thinking? Sorry, Natsu, Happy, for ruining the mood. Anyway! I think it's time for some sleep. I'm still pretty exhausted from earlier. I'm going to catch some sleep before we head out. Night!" She quickly dismissed herself and disappeared in the back room where she came out of earlier.
"Uh, yeah! Night!"
"Night, Lushi!"
There was a heavy silence following her departure and Happy turned towards Natsu with his ears down, his heart feeling heavy.
"Hey Natsu?" The Salamander ripped his eyes away from where Lucy just disappeared through to find his partner's sad eyes.
"Yeah, buddy?"
"Did… Did Lushi seem kind of sad to you?" Happy asked, and Natsu smiled slightly.
"Yeah, yeah she did buddy."
"I wonder why."
Natsu didn't have to wonder why. He already knew. This war. This ugly, cruel war that has been waging on for years now, it took something from her. It took something very close to her. It may have very well broken her. And now, she's living with shattered fragments of what use to be her life.
-O-
After a few hours' rest, Lucy packed her bag, ready to return to the callous world awaiting her. Running away underground, it was rather easy to forget the pained world that awaited above. It was almost like life stopped, and she wasn't on the run from the empire, hiding in the shadows, fighting to survive, day by day.
But, all good things come to an end as life would have it.
Her conversation with Natsu earlier left her feeling nostalgic of her past. In their sharing of stories, she had made herself to be vulnerable. At least, that's what she felt. Lucy didn't know if Natsu had caught on, but the blonde allowed herself a moment of weakness.
As quickly as it came, she shut it down. She ran away, as she always did. It was how she dealt with her problems, and hoped they didn't catch up to her. Lucy doubted that the conversation mattered at this point. It was likely her and Natsu wouldn't see one another again.
She secured the sash around her waist and tied the hooded cloak around her neck. Her keys danged at her side, stashed away in her pouch. Throwing her bag behind her back, she was ready to continue with her journey.
Yajima had just returned from above, noting the disappearance of imperial soldiers that had once been searching for them.
"I took a walk through town, and the imperial platoon that was once here looking for the two of you has left. I got word from a few old friends that they caught a 'trail' of you heading towards Magnolia. There are a few soldiers still scattered throughout the port, but nothing that the two of you can't handle."
Both Natsu and Lucy nodded.
"Before you two head out, I have a few things that may accompany you on your journey." Yajima opened a brown sack, pulling out some items from deep within.
"Natsu-kun, take these. You have raw magical power, but this will help you have better control of those flames of yours. Once you master that control, these will be useless. Also, take this bottle for that nauseous of yours. It should help. But only for a short amount of time." The bald man handed Natsu two arm braces and a bottle with a blue liquid inside.
"Thanks!" He cheered, slipping the arm braces on.
"Happy, for you."
Yajima dropped a fish in Happy's hands, who was now drooling.
"Fish! Thank you!" Happy took a large bite and hummed in content.
The old shop keeper then turned towards Lucy and pointed at her. "And you."
"Me?" She squeaked.
"Follow me upstairs, if you will?"
Yajima began to walk upstairs, and Lucy looked back at Natsu, who just shrugged his shoulders and encouraged her to follow. The blonde caught up to the older man, who put a key into a chest like a pirate would when opening his treasure.
Lucy almost sweat dropped. That must be the key he was asking me to look for.
"I believe that the reason for our paths crossing is this."
When Yajima faced back towards her, Lucy gasped immediately, her hands covering her mouth. Tears kissed the rims of her eyes and she almost fell to the floor.
"A golden gate key…" She whispered as the ancient key laid in his hands.
"I've been holding onto to this for quite some time now. A dear friend of mine went through great lengths to get it. I was bestowed with the responsibility of holding it until a certain mage walked through my doors." Yajima said tiredly with a smile.
"Ho-How? How did you know?" Lucy was flabbergasted, even more so than when discovering Natsu was a dragon slayer. Hibiki's information was right after all. There really was a golden gate key. And it was right under her nose the entire time of her stay here.
He placed the key in Lucy's hand. The blonde immediately clutched the key to her chest.
"Some time ago, a young celestial mage, came through those very doors and entrusted me with this key. They asked me to promise them that I would care for the key, and hide it, until it's next entrusted owner came searching for it."
Lucy looked at him in confusion.
"How are you sure it was me?" She asked. It was hard to believe that someone like her was supposed to be meant for this key. She was merely searching for the keys, and if they were in good hands, Lucy would let them be.
But, she didn't believe that she was meant for it.
"Missy, I have seen a lot in my 90 years on this earth. I have seen much pain, much suffering. But, I have also seen hope. In these times, most are frightened by the world we live in. They cower in fear and have lost the will to fight. Watching you run into battle with an enemy that you knew you had no match against reminded me of why we fight this war against the empire. There is still a chance at a future where our land is ruled in democracy once again."
Lucy turned misty eyed as she rubbed away at the tears.
"You have given me hope for a better future. Therefore, I entrust this gate key to you now, Lucy-san."
A genuine smile appeared and Lucy felt a warmth in her heart. After two long years of coming up completely empty, Lucy found her first key, on her own. Success after failing for so long filled her with happiness and confidence.
"Thank you. Thank you. I have been searching for so long. You have no idea what this means to me."
Lucy hugged him and he almost fell over, but returned her embrace.
"One more thing before you head off on your journey. Here is another key. It's a simple silver key, but he may come in useful. Also, take these with you. These trinkets may help you in the future."
"What are they?" She asked as he set another silver key next to her new gate key and finger less gloves on top of her keys.
"These are magic infused finger less gloves. They enhance the strength in your body and will allow for a harder punch, I guess you could say. And these bracelets, will make you swifter in your movements. For now, while you're still growing and mastering your power as a celestial mage, these accessories will aid you in your journey. They will give you an advantage in future battles."
Lucy placed her new silver key in her pouch and placed it back on her sash that was wrapped around her waist. Like Natsu did with his arm braces, she slipped the finger less gloves on her hands.
"In time, these accessories will be rendered useless to you as your own strength will be enough to take down your enemies."
Lucy gave a sharp nod and she thanked him once more.
"Thank you. I truly do appreciate this."
"Whoa, that's cool!"
Lucy was startled by Happy's sudden appearance. Natsu followed behind with a smile as he crossed his arms.
"It seems that it is time."
Yajima stood as he watched Lucy and Natsu stand next to one another, sharing a sharp smile as the blonde clutched her new key in her hand.
"So, the Old Man did have a key after all, huh?"
Lucy grinned and proceeded to place her new golden gate key in her pouch.
"Yes, yes he did."
Natsu walked ahead of her and Happy flew over her head.
"Thanks for hiding us out! And feeding me fish!" Happy thanked as he flew on top of Yajima's head. The old shop owner chuckled as he petted the feline.
"Till next time, Old Man." He threw him a thumbs up with a pearly grin.
"You boys take care of yourself, you hear?"
"You got it!" They cried in unison.
Before Lucy followed behind Natsu, she stopped in her step and looked back at the man. "I can't thank you enough."
"Nonsense. It was my pleasure, dear."
"Don't get yourself into too much trouble." The blonde warned, and the old man laughed. He leaned against his cane and waved them off.
"Me? Why, I'm just a simple shop owner."
Lucy giggled as Natsu smirked.
"You two should take the back door out. It is best to avoid the suspicion." Yajima caught them before they walked out the front door. Natsu made his way through the shop and found the back door, opening it and stepping outside.
The celestial mage followed behind him, but Yajima's voice stopped her.
"One more thing, Lucy-san."
His once calm demeanor turned to one of more concern, his brows furrowed and a slight frown settled on his countenance. A grim line made way to his lips and Lucy felt a tightness in her chest.
"The journey you embark on will be perilous. Your search for the celestial spirit gate keys will lead you to many paths. On these paths, you will make new allies, new friends that will aid you on your journey. But, you will also meet new enemies; enemies with greater power than you will have ever imagined. It's imperative that you are cautious about those you trust. This path, whatever it may be, will be arduous, my dear." Yajima began to explain and Lucy sighed heavily, understanding the words he spoke.
"You will be met with tasks and challenges that will make you question yourself and the power within you. You will see horrors that will bring you to your knees. You will see things that you will want to un see, that will prevent you from sleeping peacefully. This war is not kind. It is dark, and cruel, and will try to extinguish the light within you. At the end of this road, you will not be who you once were."
She gulped, fear creeping into her heart.
"There is much light in you. I see a greatness in your future. But, you must take great caution in your step, Lucy-san. The world is bleak. And you will be confronted with the greatest adversaries of your life. In your times of weakness, it is important to rely on the strengths and support of your friends. Do not let the hate of this world consume you. That is how the Emperor wins. You must believe in hope."
Lucy nodded, taking heed to the advice Yajima passed down to her.
"There is always hope, Yajima-san."
He smiled, giving a firm nod.
"Well, you best be off now."
Lucy swallowed the older man in a hug before running out the back door. She turned and gave one more wave goodbye before finding her place next to Natsu. The Salamander smirked and waved, before disappearing in the shadows of the alleyway with the celestial mage.
"What a fine child you have raised, Layla. Fine indeed." Yajima stated softly, looking up at the cloudy sky of the port. "I can only hope that this war does not destroy what's left of that gentle heart of hers."
-O-
"Where you off to now?"
They accompanied one another down the street of the port town, taking precaution and assuring that the guards didn't realize they were the mages they were searching for the day before. Lucy assumed that Natsu's next stop would be to continue whatever mission he was on at the moment.
"Home, I guess. I got what I came here for in Hargeon."
Happy was hiding under Natsu's cloak, the cat unfortunately being an identifier to the Salamander's identity. The feline wasn't amused with the decision, but it was a choice he had no choice to make.
Lucy wondered what home was for him and Happy. Was it a huge, covert base? Did they work out of safe houses? Underground facilities? She always did wonder if the Resistance was a traveling nomadic group. She giggled at the thought.
"So, mission complete then?" She asked.
"Yeah, mission complete." He answered. "You gonna go search for your next key now?"
Natsu was a quick learner. "You bet."
"Any leads?" She shook her head, but wasn't discouraged. Being back at square one only meant a bigger challenge. And Lucy was fond of challenges.
"Nah, but I'm sure I'll think of something. Besides, my new key may be able to help me out."
Happy poked his head out of Natsu's armpit area and smiled at her. "I hope you find all your keys, Lucy!"
"Thanks, Happy." She reached for him and petted his ear, Happy purring at her touch.
Lucy realized that Natsu was heading in an opposite direction and her heart fell. Though their meeting was quick and they fought only very briefly together, Natsu's presence was filling. He was rather reckless and destructive, and he didn't really have a filter.
But, he had a good heart.
And she was glad that someone like him was fighting with the Resistance. There were too many bad people in control and that caused strife and pain. Good people like Natsu were who were going to make a difference in this war, in the world after the Emperor.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye then?"
He looked at her like she had two heads and Lucy cocked her head to the side.
"Nah, not goodbye. More like see ya later." He said and padded down on her shoulder.
"Yeah! We don't say goodbyes, Lucy!" Happy said under the cloak, his paw sticking out of the cloth over Natsu's shoulders. He was giving the blonde a thumbs up.
"How are you so sure we're going to see one another again?"
She had to ask because Lucy was sure she wouldn't see him again.
"I just gotta feeling." And that was his explanation. Nothing else to offer but those four words.
"And Natsu's always right with his feelings!" Lucy giggled at Happy's affirmation. Even though the cat was somewhat of an annoyance, his twisted sense of humor kind of grew on her.
"Exactly!"
She took a few steps away from him and smiled sadly. She didn't want to say goodbye, but Natsu had a responsibility and so did she.
"Well then, see you two later. Stay out of trouble, alright?"
"Trouble is our middle name!" They shouted in unison.
"That's what I'm worried about."
"See ya later!"
She watched him go, but as his retreating form began to shrink, Lucy realized there was one thing she forgot to do.
"Natsu! Wait!" She hollered at him, and he stopped in his step.
"What is it?"
"Thank you." Cocking his head to his side, the Salamander seemed confused.
"For what?"
"For saving my life. I may have gotten you out of those chains, but you stopped him. And if it wasn't for you, well, I may very well be six feet under right now. So, thank you. I owe you." And Lucy truly did owe him. Natsu did all the gritty work. At the end of the day, she wasn't strong enough.
But one day, she would be.
The pink haired freedom fighter began to laugh, which caught her off guard. "You really are a weirdo, Luigi!"
"For the love of… it's Lucy!"
"Ara, ara! It all sounds the same!"
Even as she wallowed at him, the smile still spread on her lips. His sense of optimism and quirky charm was contagious. Despite the raw, terrifying power Natsu possessed, those words did not define the carefree, rambunctious man she just met. She may have not understood him fully or why he did things the way he did, but he filled her with something she did not realize was dwindling inside her.
Hope.
A/N: This chapter was on the lighter side of the action, but it addressed some important plot points for the future of the story. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! It ended up being a lot longer than I had anticipated, but next chapter will go back to the regular page length (10-12 pages). I hope this chapter cleared up some questions about the timeline and the differences between canon Fairy Tail and this slightly different time line.
Be sure to let me know your thoughts! Reviews are always appreciated!
Until next time!
Dark Waffle