A Fairy Tail Fanfic
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail
Chapter 1: The beginning.
The sunlight was just starting to sink in the sky, falling behind the Alps turning the white snow to a glistening silver from the setting sun. It was just starting to turn to winter and carrying from the Alps was the smell of dewy rain.
Lucy stood on top of the stone wall that was guarding the town of Magnolia within, looking down one hundred feet below her where the Inflicted moved – people they were once, but now more commonly known as the Inflicted – watching them as they looked at the walls with focused eyes.
These weren't typical zombies you read in books; they weren't blank expressionless beings that moved around mindlessly.
These things were different – Inflicted – they were smart. They could strategize, they understood notions and actions, and worst of all moved in packs.
They were lethal at the least.
They couldn't really talk, at best they could string together a few words, but that was only in some cases. Not all.
Natsu moved besides her peering down below at the creatures, "They're getting desperate. They haven't had human flesh in months. At least not these ones."
"The hordes are getting smaller too, they might wither into mounds of unmoving flesh and then we can all move again." Lucy noted.
"Not at least for another year, if let's say they don't get their teeth into anybody." If they decayed enough, they would become immobile for them to chase anybody.
The Inflicted were watching the walls, looking for a weakness, a point of entry for them to feast.
They wouldn't though, Fairy Tail, the guards, and public servants within the walls made sure that everything was protected to the best of their ability.
"And soon it will be over."
There was no way to know how it had started, to know where it first came from. Did they rise from the grave? Was it some virus? How - The question asked by everyone.
But since the classical 'outbreak' that took Fiore by storm, no other country was sending out rescue ships; not wanting to risk it themselves.
"We can all hope so. Imagine, having to take down these walls again? Imagine having things back to how they use to be?" Looking out wistfully.
"It's only been one year, Natsu." Not looking at each other, they counted twelve below them. They were nonthreatening for now. One tried to climb the wall, making it only a few feet before its feet slipped out from under it and fell.
They couldn't get through the wall; it was too thick and high. They were safe.
"Can you deny that it feels longer?" This time his onyx eyes looked at her, his pink hair seemed darker from the setting sun, his skin even more bronze from watching the walls from above in the heated sun – a job he volunteered to do more then he should. It wasn't like they were running short of people.
He looked at his partner, his best friend.
"I agree. But time is time, and it's only been a year. And even when the Inflicted can no longer move, would we take down the walls? We have no clue of the origins of how it started. There is still a chance it can all re-happen again. We could need these walls to stay."
Natsu puzzled it over, "You're right. But that doesn't mean we can't miss a time when things were like they use to be."
"Everyone misses it. It was a time we will never understand how much we took it for granted."
"We know now." There was an edge to his voice, Lucy knew it well.
"You think you should be out there looking for Igneel. You think that if you used you time more wisely before the walls were up and searched for your father you would have found him by now." She knew exactly what her friend was thinking.
Natsu stared off into the dying light.
The sun dipped lower behind the mountains, the sky turning to a dark blue casting, a more sinister look into the night, more sinister than it should have been. Slowly along the sides of the walls, people were lighting their torches, one by one.
You could faintly see the other side of the wall on the opposite side of the city lighting the own lights, illuminating a light grey smudge.
When it was time to return home the guards appeared, nodding in grim greeting as they took their stations at the wall relieving Natsu and Lucy from their duty.
They walked in silence. Before the world turned into a disaster two days never looked the same but now it often seemed to blend into one. Lucy missed the time when she saw men in fishing boats down the cannel. The lights on the street lit with real power. The fussiness of people when they bustled past in their normal lives.
When they arrived at the guild that was dimly lit, they chose a table that held more quietness from the guild. Magic infused objects were used a lot less nowadays. A discovery was made that magic, or magical objects attracted the Inflicted. Soon, and very quickly they were banned. For all Mages, for all Wizards in Fiore, this was a struggle. Once magic was a part of you, it will always be there. Using up the last drop of magic would ensue death. It is a touchy time. The guild reverted to using candles then magical lights, hence, the dim golden glow.
Their Nakama grinned in greeting as they passed. The guild wasn't as full as it used to be, with the shifts and the labour that was now required from the town, it still invoked happy memories and a content feeling among the Mages.
Lisanna slide onto a chair between the two mages, "We need to smile the most in times like these."
Natsu's lips twitched upwards revealing a small toothy grin. "Who says I'm not smiling?" Happy had followed over with Lisanna, having spent the day at the Guild. The blue feline was often with Natsu but without the ability to fly (as that uses magic) couldn't be of much assistance on the wall. The Exceed flew into Natsu's chest.
"Happy!" grinned the teen, scratching behind his friend's ears.
As Lisanna and Lucy caught up on each other's lives Natsu's mind wandered … travelling outside the building and into the open world. Lucy was right earlier about Igneel, how he had lost the time to find his adoptive father. As their isolation stretched into the unforeseeable future the weight in his chest grew heavier.
The ache to go out into the wilderness was almost physically painful.
Natsu was pulled back into reality when the voices of his friends kept calling to him, Lisanna squeezed his bicep gently. Natsu looked at it briefly and up to Lisanna's eyes. "I have to go and help Mira, but I'll see you later. I will be stationed on the North Wall this week mostly, try and see me k'ay?"
Before he had the chance to reply she flounced away.
Lucy said nothing but a small crease sat in her forehead as her eyes followed the take-over mage.
When the full blanket of the night sky shined down at them Lucy called goodnight to her fellow guild mates and made her way home.
Just like Natsu there were people in the outside world Lucy craved to hear from. She hadn't heard anything from her father when the Walls were put up. Visiting and sending letters now were near impossible, and if it was done – because you needed Magic – it was only done by officials at necessary times, communicating using Lacrima.
And her Spirits, she had only seen them all a handful of times and half of that secretly, scared of them being caught in Earthland. They were her family, and sometimes the only way to seek comfort from them was holding their key and feeling the warmth of gold and magic in her hand responding back.
What a world they were in now. It was a mixture of a war and pandemic. It was an apocalypse.
When the celestial mage was settled in bed, she heard the knowing sound of feet landing on the windowsill. Lucy didn't say anything as he moved into her room, celestial mage feigning sleep. The Dragon Slayer lost his house on the outskirts of the city.
And being Team Natsu and being that Natsu already self-invites himself to her house, it was a natural decision that Natsu and Happy would move in with the key-mage.
On one rule, they don't sleep in her bed.
But sometimes Lucy still woke to familiar feeling of warmth along her body and deep snores in her ear. Some battles you can't win. But can be fought with a Lucy-Kick.
Natsu slept on the pull-out couch on the opposite wall. Dropping his vest on the ground along with his trousers, he was almost naked save for the fire flamed boxers.
Heat flushed to her cheeks. He was her friend, but Lucy couldn't ignore how otherworldly handsome he was. How subtle unhuman he was to the naked eye – all the Dragon Slayers were. Just how the canines were that touch too sharp, their skin near unbreakable, how their eyes turned to slits in the heights of emotions. The Dragon Slayers were predators by nature with their sense of smell, hearing, and eyesight.
But Natsu was something more. He was perfectly fit and proportionate, tanned and edged. Spiky pink hair and deep fathomless onyx eyes. There was something in him that scent Lucy's hormones crazy.
Squeezing her eyes shut pushing out the less then decent thoughts of her comrade, she willed herself to sleep.
"Night Luce …" Natsu whispered into the darkness, hearing her uneven heartbeat.
Flicking her eyes back to her friend who was vaguely seen under his blanket, "Goodnight Natsu."
Lucy peaked down from the wall to the moving individuals of decaying flesh, all snarls and teeth. These were older ones. You could tell by the pigment of their skin where it was grey, and how the skin seemed to hang loose. The state of the clothing: tattered and faded like clothes that had been left to dry in the sun for weeks at a time. Small indications like this.
One stood eerily still gazing back at Lucy, watching as she patrolled the walls. For fun in the early days when humour could be found on the wall, the boys would drop bricks from above aiming to hit them. It angered them, as if they felt indignation for their brethren. Lucy didn't understand or know what they knew or what they were fully capable of, truthfully, no one did. They could learn from you, observe and copy.
This further added to the creepy mystery of the Inflicted.
Just now, Lucy took a strong stance and stood sideways. One below copied her. Lucy marched forward with straight legs like a toy robot, and the same one below her mimicked. Striking a hand in the air, she waited for it to follow suit, and like she expected the Inflicted to it did.
The Writer in her was full of curiosity, trying to learn and understand. Dropping her arm to her side Lucy stepped back out of sight.
"Jeeze, these things are creepy …." She muttered. The rest of her shift was short and uneventful.
When Lucy returned to the Guild, she found Team Natsu around a table buzzing with excitement. In fact, everyone was. A hum in the atmosphere made Lucy giddy.
Her teammates turned to her excitedly.
Erza's voice was controlled, stoic as always. Her eyes glittered. "There has been a new job posting coming for Fairy Tail. Master has shared no details with us yet, but Mira has informed us that she may have heard that the Council mentioning something about needing assistance."
Gray smirked, "Mirajane's information and gossip is more than often correct. And Mira is master's informal assistant, she would hear more private knowledge related to the council then we would."
Lucy let the news sink in. Council was contacting Fairy Tail - Council needed assistance, from Fairy Tail – needing assistance meant physical travel. And that meant leaving the city.
Something no one had done in over year unless it was official business. But that had never extended to Fairy Tail until now.
"We might leave the city?"
Natsu carefully watched Lucy's face gauging her reaction.
They news ran a thrill down Lucy's spine.
"Finally! I have been couped up here too long!" The Fire Mage bounced on his feet. "Being stuck behind these walls have killed me – "
"I'm sure it's nothing compared to how Lucy feels being couped up with you in her little town house. I would have smothered you with a pillow by now."
Smashing his fist together small flicks of flame just danced over his skin. "You want a fight Ice freak? Missed a good pummelling from me this year?"
"Natsu!" Growled Erza, leaning over to table at eye level with the pyromaniac. "Extinguish yourself before I do it for you."
Immediately realising the force of habit, the flames disappeared.
"So," the writer pushed the topic. "When dose this get announced to us?"
It was at this moment Lisanna had overheard and moved to their table. "You have heard the news too?" she gushed. "Mirajane said the Master is out at the moment but when he is back, master will tell us."
Erza nodded.
"Good, I hope the old geezer gets back soon – Where the hell did my coat go?" the Ice mage sighed, looking for his wayward clothing. Somewhere in the Guild you could find Juvia tentatively holding the coat to her chest.
Lisanna stifled a giggle. "It's so good to know that some things never changed in Earthland, Gray." Lifting her head to Natsu, "Their just too precious to miss." Lucy's eyes watched as the blue-eyed mage looked wistfully at her childhood friend.
Lucy put full focus to stop her eyebrow from twitching.
The leader of Team Natsu excused herself. Erza moved to the bar and ordered a Strawberry cheesecake. Gray sat beside her, "Should I comment on that thing from before?"
The reequip mage smiled inwardly. Erza too had noticed the knowing touches Lisanna lingered on Natsu, they were slight, but as a fellow woman they did not go undetected and it seems Gray noticed it too. "Gray, go find your pants or I'll dress you myself."
Gulping, he vanished the next moment.
Erza looked back over at Lucy studying her expression, it gave away nothing if Lucy hadn't shown she was putting true effort into pretending she didn't see Lisanna's gliding hand run up Natsu's arm.
Even during an apocalypse teen love and drama could not go unmissed.
When Master had appeared, it was night. Looking tired and weary.
"Gramps!" yelled Natsu.
Everyone turned to see the Makarov in the doorway, steadily moving through the guild.
Makarov didn't say anything back. He stopped by Team Natsu's table, a distant look in his eye. "I need to speak to all of you in my office."
The Guild went silent, a tightening feeling coiling low in their belly. A heavy feeling falling into the air.
Staring at each other, curious and worried, they stood up and followed. The Guilds eyes heavily on them as they disappeared upstairs and behind wooden doors.
Master looked at them, anguish and tiredness spoke volumes in his features, looking like a very overworked man.
"Children, I need something from all of you. Take a seat." Waving a hand in front of his desk. "I need a favour that may be too big from you."
They continued to stare. "What is this about, Master?" Erza asked.
"The King needs assistance to travel between cities. This hasn't happened before, but with the progress of the country becoming safe it looks like longer travel is doable. With there being smaller and less attacks throughout the country the King feels with the right protection he can move safely. He's coming to all major cities to inspect the Kingdom himself."
When no one said anything, Makarov continued.
"But he will have with him his own small army to escort him, but for extra safety he wants people from Fairy Tail. And you are my strongest team."
Natsu grinned, "Sounds like the perfect job. You can count on us Gramps!"
"We will not fail you or our King." Nodded the reequip mage.
Makarov twisted his hands together, the worst of what he had to say hadn't been said yet. Lucy innately knew.
"There is one other thing. Natsu needs to stay here."
Lucy's face paled, as did her comrades.
"G-gramps! You can't do that to us, this is my team! My name is literally the name of the team. I travel with them; I won't stay behind." His voice deepened darkly; eyes turned to slits. Skin stretched tight over his face.
"As much as I disagree with shits for brains here, Natsu is right, we are a team, and we travel together." The ice-mage shoved his hands in his pockets, his words definite.
"What would be the reasons for Natsu staying behind?" Titania's mind waited for a response to reason with. To give rational logic to defend her friends place in their expedition.
"Erza," the small man only looked more tired, and neither pleased with his own choice. "Natsu is Magnolia's biggest defence. He is needed more here than out there. All the Dragon Slayers – especially Wendy – is to stay in the city."
Titania stood up. "Freed has put runes around the town to know if a hoard is coming this way from a mile off, the town will have enough time to go underground if need be, and Fairy Tail is the best defence. Everyone together. Not solely three Dragon Slayers."
"Gramps I'm going."
Makarov grew in size warningly. "You could put your team in danger. Your magic is too powerful, and I'm worried you will be a beacon to the Inflicted out there. One surge of power from your magic could bring a whole horde down on you, your team, and the King."
Natsu's eyes glanced at Lucy, but she was deep in concentration. Hairs prickling along her arms she knew without looking that Natsu was watching her.
Lucy nodded understandingly, "When do we leave?"
"At first light tomorrow, it's never safe to travel at night. We have gotten a carriage ready for you. Will you be ready to go?"
Erza and Gray nodded solemnly.
"I just need to grab a few things, but essentially, yes."
"Good, go. Prepare your things and say your goodbyes." There was sadness in his eyes, and Lucy knew it pained him to say those things.
When the news hit their Nakama there was a swirl of emotions.
"The King thinks the country is safer I wonder if that means we will open the walls again one day …"
"They're the strongest Team, if anyone can be counted on to return its them."
"We need to celebrate before they go."
But Team Natsu's emotions were more indifferent then their Nakama.
There was a small celebration, but the blonde mage couldn't find herself able to enjoy it. Natsu was uncommonly quiet.
Natsu and Lucy walked home pressed shoulder to shoulder.
"I can't believe that he wants me to stay. It might not be safe enough out there; I can't just stay here and twitch my thumbs-"
"I know Natsu, but this will safer than you give it credit for. We have elite guards with us and our experience out in the field is more than enough for us to come back safely. If we can take down scheming Dark Mage's we can take care of some decaying infected."
A deep breath shuddered out of him. They arrived home.
"I-I Just don't want you to go." Looking down at his feet, Lucy moved closer linking her arms around his back, and buried her face in his scarf. Lucy welcomed the warmth his body radiated. "We have never done a mission apart."
After a shower and a change of clothes, Lucy found the pinkette sitting on her bed holding up the blanket for her. They spoke without words. The other one's presence was all that was needed. Lucy curled herself into position and Natsu dropped the blanket on top of her and settled behind her.
Heat spread across the writer's face.
It was interesting how a man and a woman's body could fit together, thought Natsu. They had never laid like this before, not through all their missions or the times Lucy woke to Natsu sleeping peacefully in her bed.
This felt more intimate, even though a blanket divided them.
Lucy inhaled Natsu's scent, trying to imprint it to her mind. Taking in the abnormal warmth his body provided her, the way that tension diminished in her body when he was around.
"I can sneak out after you all leave and follow you."
"That won't last long."
"I can't let my family go without me."
"Maybe with you here we will have extra reason to come back, to make sure we all arrive safely."
"How will I know if you're safe?"
Lucy thought about this. There was no way to communicate with Natsu without magic.
"You will need to trust in me."
The Dragon Slayer squeezed Lucy against him. His head resting just above hers, his arm sliding below her head as if the closer he pulled her towards him he could protect her wherever she went. The smell of Lucy was intoxicating. Her scent was unique, lime, coconut and sultry.
"I trust you."
Authors note:
So, I originally wrote this story a few years ago. When I first started writing this story, I had no idea what my plot was going to be. The beginning, middle, and end of this was not planned. I just had a strong desire to write it when I couldn't find my own Fairy Tail Zombie apocalypse AU on the internet. So, I told myself to write it, and the more I thought of it the more convinced I was onto something (A strong desire to finish a story that is.
And then it went stagnant for a few years. My bad.
I have slowly I returned to the Fandom. And with the plot, beginning, middle, and end in my mind.
I hope this story can satisfy you.
Hours to write and seconds to make a writer happy.
