I got an itch again to write the other idea I had a while back, but I am doing my best to ignore it. I'm still hoping to get this one done before December, so I can't afford the distraction! (I'll write it eventually, don't worry.)
Sashaplaz: He's only exposed his real demon side a few times, so I'm going to have to give him a really good reason to bust it out. We'll see when/ if that happens, but I don't think Natsu's quite ready to expose that side of him yet.
As always, thanks for all the love and happy reading!
Natsu jerked up coughing as water was poured onto his face. "Hey, what the hell!" He wiped at the water in his eyes, and when he could finally see, he looked up at Loke, who looked equally annoyed for some reason. "What the hell was that for, Loke?!"
"What kind of demon faints at the news that his master is in trouble? It's despicable."
"What do you mean? What happened to Lucy?"
Loke knelt down in front of Natsu as soon as the hybrid's eyes widened in realization. He grabbed onto Natsu's shoulders and shook him slightly. "Natsu, listen to me, focus on my face. Natsu, look at me!" The last thing the angel needed was to have to knock his companion out again. "Focus on me, alright? I need you to focus."
"Lucy is fine, I don't know why you think she's been taken." Natsu shook Loke's hands off. "If something had happened, I would have felt it. You don't know what you're talking about."
"Natsu, my bond with her is much different than yours. You only feel strong emotions from her, but with mine, I feel a constant pull in her direction. Over an hour ago, that connection evaporated. I can't feel anything from her anymore. Not only that, I can't find her. I had all the angels in town looking for her, and they weren't able to find her. She's not here, Natsu. She's not even on this plane. It's why the connection is broken. It's also why your magic is so low."
"My magic is fine," Natsu spat, but as he held out his hand, he was unable to make even a spark. Natsu flexed his hands, but nothing happened. He couldn't even bring forth his demon form - not one single little scale.
"Natsu, I need you to focus, okay? I've already checked, and there is no scent of anyone else here. I also spoke with your friend, the Exceed."
"Where is Happy?"
"I sent him back." Loke held up his hands as Natsu began to argue with him. "You can't afford the drain on your magic right now, okay? I spoke with him before I helped him go back. He said that he didn't hear or smell anything, but he did sense something just before he sensed Lucy and the girls disappearing."
"The girls?" Natsu's eyes widened. "Whoever took Lucy got the other three, too?"
"That's my guess. I asked Aries to check their homes and Taurus is heading for the bar. They haven't reported back, and while no news could be good news, it wouldn't make sense that we wouldn't have heard from them if Lucy had just disappeared from in front of them. It think it's safe to say that all four of them were taken together."
"But who took them? A demon's senses are stronger than any other beings in existence. Who could mask their presence so thoroughly?"
"Someone from the Dark," Loke answered angrily.
Natsu sat up, wide eyed and obviously worried. "That's the most dangerous realm in existence. Even demons don't go there without a damn good reason. How exactly are we supposed to find them in that mess?"
"Once we're on their plane, my link should be restored and I can lead us to them. The problem will come if the girls have been split up. For that, your nose might be the only thing that can lead us to the others."
"My first priority is Lucy," Natsu said. "I'll help with the others if I need to, but we save Lucy first."
"Yes, yes, I know. I'm her guardian angel, remember? I'd be demoted, or possibly fired, if I didn't protect my charge."
"That's an awfully harsh punishment," Natsu said. "Is that what happens to any angel who loses their charge?"
Loke sighed as he stood. "It doesn't matter. The point is, I need to get her back, alright? And you're going to help."
"You're avoiding my questions," Natsu said.
"Can we move on, please?"
"No." Natsu groaned a little as he made his way to his feet, rubbing his jaw. "I think it's time you were straight with me. If you want my help, you need to tell me right now why Lucy is so important to you."
"She's not important to me." Loke exhaled. "What I mean is, she's important to a lot of people, okay? Now-"
"Why?"
"I can't tell you," Loke growled, eyes beginning to glow. "Natsu, we don't have time for this."
"Then answer my question."
"I already told you I can't, Natsu. By order of the king, I can't tell anyone anything about Lucy."
Natsu stepped back until he hit the table and then crossed his arms as he leaned against it. "I've never heard of a human being so important to the king of the angels that he'd put multiple angels in charge of protecting them. Not to mention that they're you're all part of the Zodiac."
Loke's eyes continued to glow. "Natsu, we really don't have time for this."
"We could save a whole lot of time if you'd just answer my question."
Loke ground his teeth together. He wondered what would happen if he leaned into the bonded part of Natsu and brought up the things that could be happening to Lucy, but decided against it. He didn't need the half dragon losing control again. Instead, he sighed and asked, "Have you heard of the Blood Bond prophecy?"
"Blood Bond prophecy," Natsu repeated slowly. "Can't say I have."
"Well the Heartfilia line is part of it." The glow slowly faded from Loke's eyes and he adjusted his glasses. "It's completely dependant on the lives of Lucy's family line. That is why every single member since the first has been protected by a guardian angel. Every realm depends on the continuation of her line, even yours. I can't tell you any more than that. If you want to know the truth, you need to do your own digging, but you cannot, under any circumstance, tell anyone about the Heartfilia line. Not a single soul, do you understand? The state of our realms is at stake, Natsu. Will you promise not to say anything?"
Natsu studied the angel as he considered his words. "I can promise that. I'm pretty sure that I'm not going to find anyone who's heard about this prophecy anyway, but I won't mention Lucy's name when I'm looking."
"So we're good? You have enough answer to come help me?"
"For now." Natsu grimaced and touched his still naked chest. "This nonsense with my magic is starting to bother me. Since we're heading to the Dark, do you mind if we get a little back up to find them?"
"I was going to get help," Loke said, a little defensively. "Do you think I'd honestly go into the dark with just us?"
"I meant, can I bring some back up. I know a pair of guys who will be perfect for this kind of thing."
"Demons?"
"Better."
Loke groaned. "Please don't tell me they're hybrids, too. I have my hands full with you, I don't know if I can handle two more."
"Of course they are. I kinda grew up with them." Natsu went into the living room to pull out the stack of tracing paper and some plain sheets. "Since you can apparently summon demons, it shouldn't be hard to do. I'm not a fan of that, by the way, knowing that angels can summon us."
"It's not a universal skill," Loke said as he watched Natsu draw. "It's something only the king and I can do."
"That only makes me feel a little better. We've always been told only humans can summon us."
"Sorry," Loke said, not sounding at all apologetic.
"Here, start with this one. We'll talk to him first, and then summon the other one."
Loke studied the summoning symbol Natsu handed him. "Is he some kind of light dragon mix?"
"Yep, he's Weisslogia's son." Natsu gestured at the paper. "Come on, get drawing. We gotta get going."
Loke snorted. "Sure, I'm the one keeping us." He quickly copied the drawn image and a moment later there was a bright flash of light.
Once the flash had faded, a new voice said, "Well this is unexpected."
Loke turned in time to see Natsu give the other man a hug. He was easily as tall as Natsu, with blond hair and similar black eyes. He wore a cropped shirt under a fur lined vest with black and white pants held up by suspenders.
Natsu was grinning as he pulled away. "Long time no see, Sting, how's it going?"
"Pretty good. Haven't been up to much lately, so Rogue and I have just been hanging out with the dragons." Sting nodded in Loke's direction. "What's up with him? Find something he needs help with that the great Salamander can't handle on his own?"
"Oh shut up," Natsu said with a swing at the blond who easily dodged. "This is Loke. It's kind of a long story, but we need some help getting my master back from the Dark."
Sting began to laugh. "Oh man, that's amazing! How did you manage to screw up so spectacularly that you lost your master to the Dark of all places?"
"It doesn't matter, will you help us? Your light magic will help keep most of the pests away, and make this whole rescue a million times easier."
Sting grinned, obviously smug. "What can I say to the great Salamander when he begs so nicely except yes? You should get Rogue in on this, too, though. He'll be able to move more freely around the realm and help guide us."
"Already working on it," Natsu said, turning and finishing up his second drawing, which he handed over and Loke quickly got to work copying it.
"So what's with the entrance?" Natsu asked. "Looked like it was all flash with no substance."
"I'm a light dragon half breed, why wouldn't I come in like that?"
"You weren't even in your dragon or demon form."
"So? I could tell a male was summoning me, so I usually go with this. It's less intimidating."
Natsu laughed. "I show up in my dragon form for females all the time, and I've never had a problem."
"Well, the males in this world are apparently more jumpy with this kind of thing," Sting argued, "because they always either faint or fight me and it's a waste of time."
"A lot of what you do is a waste of time," said a new voice.
"Oh shut up," said Sting, "and get out of my shadow."
A figure rose up next to Sting from seemingly nowhere. He had black hair that covered most of his face, revealing one red eye. Most of his clothing was also black, except for his pants. When he was finally standing next to the others, he glanced at the other hybrids before turning towards Loke. He studied the angel intently with his red eye long enough it almost made Loke uncomfortable. "How did you summon me?" he asked.
Sting glanced at Rogue. "What kind of question is that?"
Rogue didn't look away from Loke as he said, "He's an angel."
"What?!" Sting spun around but instead of facing Loke, he turned towards Natsu. "You're working with an angel?! What the hell?!"
"It wasn't my idea, trust me," Natsu said.
"So what's the deal?" Rogue asked. "How are we being summoned by an angel? And why are we being summoned?"
Natsu answered first. "Apparently he's one of two angels who can summon us, but there's some big conspiracy to cover it up."
"Well that's not true," Loke said.
"The answer to your other question is to help me get my master back. She's been taken to the Dark, and I think you two will be really helpful." Natsu looked between the pair. "Please. I'll owe you both."
Sting laughed as he elbowed the other hybrid. "Kinda nice to see the Salamander ask for help, huh? And having him owe us would be a first."
"How long are we going to be here?" Rogue asked. "If your master is in the Dark, I don't think we really have time to lollygag here."
"As long as it takes to come up with a plan," Natsu answered.
"I already have one," Loke said. "Once we get there, I can lead us to Lucy. The problem is, three of our other friends were taken and if they were split up, we'll need extra help finding them and getting them back as well."
"Well with Rogue's ability to sink into the shadows and my light, we should be able to move around fairly well and get them back quickly." He glanced at Natsu. "While it would be fun to see Natsu get in trouble for losing his charge, I like the idea of him owing me more, so I'm in."
"I am too," Rogue said. "In exchange, I want a week here in the human world. There's no rule against a human being contracted more than one demon, so we can just use your master."
Natsu shifted on his feet as he began to frown. "I don't think I like that."
"Why?" Rogue asked. "It's only a week, and I won't be spending it anywhere near you."
Loke could sense something in the air, something he had a feeling he needed to stop, so he stepped forward. "I actually also have a problem with that."
"Why are you here again?" Sting asked. "I understand Natsu, since it's his master, but why's an angel here?"
"Long story," Loke said. "All you need to know is that I am invested in getting Lucy back as well."
"Who's Lucy?"
Rogue sighed. "I'm assuming Natsu's master. How could you not figure that out?"
"Whatever," Sting said. "Is this who we're bringing?"
"No," Loke said, "there's one more. I just need a moment." He moved towards the kitchen and left the hybrids alone.
"Seriously," Sting said leaning forward, "what's up with the angel?"
"Guardian angel," Natsu corrected.
"A guardian angel?!" Rogue's eye widened. "Natsu, what is happening? Why are you fraternizing with an angel?"
"It's a long story, but I can't tell you." They tried to argue with him, but he stepped away. "You already agreed, so don't try to negotiate with me over it. I can't tell you, so let it go, okay? Maybe some other time."
"I'll hold you to that," Rogue said, "now let's get going."
Sting sighed. "Fine. When do we leave?"
"Whenever Loke is ready."
"Which is right now," the angel said as he returned to the living room. Behind him, a short woman with pink hair in a maid uniform followed. "So let's go."
So I hadn't initially planned on bringing in the Dragon Twins, but they seemed like the kind of backup you bring to the Dark, so there you go. And everyone loves Virgo, right?
