To those who have been getting annoyed with Loke... I'm afraid that's about to get worse. I'm sorry in advance. Just try to remember what's at stake and know that it's not personal (for him or me.)
As always, thanks for all the love and happy reading!
The first thing Lucy was aware of was heat. It was a dry heat, and not as hot as the jungle, so it was almost a relief to enter the space. Natsu's hand squeezed her own as he pulled her forward, and eventually the black around them receded as they entered a large, rather flat landscape. The ground was dry and cracked, and the dirt was a mixture of reds and black. Large cliffs loomed in the distance and she could smell smoke along with many other unpleasant scents.
"Oh, I wasn't expecting to show up here," Natsu said as he paused and looked around. His hand in hers felt solid, but when she looked his way, she noticed she could see through him. "This is my realm. I thought we'd be in one of the lower ones." His eyes lit up. "That means I can show you the dragons!"
"Oh, I don't know if that's necessary," Lucy said, not sure she wanted to see any of the beings in this world. "I'm okay with going where it's less crowded."
"Where the dragons live is the least crowded area here." Natsu grinned. "Besides, no one can see us as we are now. We'd have to show up in our bodies to be tangible for that. Come on," he said pulling her into his arms, his wings beating as they freed themselves from his back. "I can fly us there pretty quick."
Lucy grit her teeth a little as she allowed him to lift her into his arms and take off.
After a moment, Lucy looked around, confused. Her stomach felt fine, not at all like it normally did after a take off. As she looked around, she still hated the height they were at, but physically she felt much better than usual.
"You don't have a body to get sick during flight," Natsu said as he picked up speed. Even the usual bounce was gone as he flapped his wings to propel them faster. "You should be able to just enjoy the trip. Don't worry, it'll only take a few minutes." Lucy nodded, but didn't let down her guard as they flew over the landscape.
Everything looked the same as they travelled. The ground was the same, the dead bushes and bare trees looked the same, even the occasional lava river looked the same as the last. They flew over a sketchy looking set of valleys that disappeared into the shadows of some rather wicked looking rock formations, but still she saw no other creatures.
"Where is everyone?" Lucy asked. "I expected to see at least a few demons around."
"This is one of the upper realms, the second from the top, so the population is rather low. You have to complete a lot of contracts to reach this realm. It's one of the least populated and also one of the most peaceful. It's why the dragons live here. Not to mention no one likes to live in the area around the dragons. They're rather temperamental about their space."
"Really?"
"Yep. They keep their hordes and their nests here, and they get pretty aggressive if anyone gets too close." Natsu straightened as he carefully landed on a small cliff. "We're here!"
Lucy waited until her feet were firmly underneath her before turning around to look. Her mouth dropped open as she looked across the wide open space.
It was surrounded by tall cliffs on all sides, and she could spot rather large looking nests settled at occasional intervals. The ground in the middle was much nicer looking than the rest of what she'd seen, with sparse grass growing throughout the area and sturdy looking tree with small leaves dotted the space. There was a pool in the middle, with small patches of flowers scattered around the edges. "Wow, this is so much nicer than the rest of what we've seen."
"Igneel had the dragons put it together." Natsu moved forward and sat on the edge of the cliff, a soft smile on his face. "He was convinced if they just tried hard enough, they could find the right plants somewhere that could hold up to the heat. It took years and a lot of searching, but eventually they found a few plants that could survive here, and shortly before he passed away, they found that grass. It's hard on skin, but it's soft on the dragons' scales, so they don't mind it. I actually helped plant it."
Lucy moved to sit with him, but kept a couple feet back from the edge with her legs crossed. "Sounds like you enjoyed doing it."
"It wasn't so bad," Natsu said with a shrug. "I got to spend time with my dad and he was really passionate about the project, so I enjoyed helping him finish it."
"Well you guys did an impressive job." She looked around at the different nests she could see nestled amongst the cliffs. "So do all the dragons have their own nests here? And the half dragons?"
"Most of the dragon demon hybrids shared with their parents. Our instincts for a horde aren't as massive as the dragons, so we could add ours to theirs without taking up much space."
Natsu took the time to point out who each nest belonged to, as well as what they looked like and any children they had that lived with them.
"So Sting and…"
"Rogue."
"Rogue, right. So they don't live with their fathers anymore?"
Natsu shook his head. "They made their own space together somewhere. They initially did it because they were upset with their dads for leaving, but then they decided they liked having the smaller space just between the two of them and it stuck. Their dads still try on occasion to convince them to move back, but they always say no."
"So they didn't leave for good?"
"Oh no, they're just searching through the realms for an unclaimed one for the dragons to move to. It's a long shot, since the one most suited to themwas destroyed, but they still try."
Lucy made a note to all what happened to it later. "So did you always live with your dad?"
He nodded and pointed at the nest at the very top of the cliff, the highest one of the bunch. "He was the king, so he lived at the top where he could keep an eye on everyone. I never had much reason to leave, so I stayed there with him, and after he passed, I inherited the whole thing." Natsu's smile softened. "I keep thinking about cleaning it up, but Igneel always said it was arranged the way it was for a reason."
"A lot of people think that about their treasures, and they're usually right." Lucy put her arm through his as he continued to stare off into the distance. "I'm sorry if I upset you by mentioning him."
"You didn't." Natsu leaned over to kiss her on the head. "I just miss him sometimes, you know?"
"I thought I sensed you around here."
The hairs on Lucy's neck rose and she couldn't bring herself to turn around, but Natsu had no such issues. A smile broke out across his face and he jumped to his feet. "Grandeeney!"
"It's been a while. Where have you been hiding, young one?"
"I'm contracted right now," he answered and then reached down to drag Lucy to her feet. "This is my master, Lucy."
Master… A purr filled Lucy's ear but she was too distracted by the large beast in front of her to think about it too much.
The dragon in front of her was so massive, Lucy wasn't even sure she was taller than its front feet. Its scales were a stark white and feathers seemed to poke out at varying spots all over its body. Lucy tensed as its head lowered to her level, but the blue eyes looking at her were kind as the dragon smiled.
"You brought your master here? Isn't this a rather dreadful place to visit?"
"This is home," Natsu argued. "Home isn't dreadful, I like it just fine here!"
The dragon chuckled. "I meant the realms, not here natsu."
"Oh." Natsu flushed under the dragon's gaze. "Yeah, of course, sorry."
"No need to apologize for that." The dragon laid down, keeping her nose pointed their direction. "You should apologize for not doing decent introductions. I know Igneel taught you better than that."
"Right, sorry!" Natsu grinned and threw his arm around Lucy, who still hadn't said anything. "Lucy, this is Garndeeney, Wendy's mother and the Dragon Queen. Grandeeney, this is my master, Lucy Heartfilia." He frowned as he looked at Lucy. "Should I introduce you as my gir-"
"It's nice to meet you!" Lucy practically yelled as she raised a hand and then faltered when she realized she couldn't shake hands with the dragon. "Uh, I've met your daughter. She's wonderful, you must be very proud."
Grandeeney smiled and nodded. "I am. I'm glad you liked her- she had many good things to say about you as well."
"She… did?"
"If you talked to Wendy, then why did you ask where I was?" Natsu asked, annoyed.
"You didn't send a message or anything to let us know where you were, and you know we appreciate the heads up. I'm aware Happy has been back and forth, you could have easily sent him to speak to us."
Natsu hung his head. "Yeah, I suppose. I'm sorry. I just got excited and forgot."
"I have been keeping him rather busy," Lucy chimed in, not at all happy about the expression on Natsu's face. "With our contract and all the things he's had to learn about my world, he's been rather busy."
"I see. Well, perhaps next time he will remember."
"I'm very sorry, your highness." Lucy bowed low, surprised when the dragon began to laugh.
"There's no need for that. Unlike what Natsu said, I am not actually the Dragon Queen. Natsu just refuses to accept that we did not name a new king after his father passed away."
"You should be queen," Natsu mumbled.
Grandeeney sighed as she lifted a foot to run one toe against his head. "You know as well as I do that we do not need a king or queen right now. With so few dragons remaining, we can easily come together and talk things out amongst ourselves instead of having a leader make decisions for us. We all agreed to the arrangement."
"You're still the deciding vote when they can't agree," Natsu pointed out.
"Only because I am the oldest." Grandeeney sighed. "Must we have this argument now? I'd much rather get to know your friend and hear about your time in the human realm."
Natsu instantly perked up and launched into a story about the first meal he had with Lucy, his excitement palpable even in his current state. The three sat on the cliff for what felt like hours talking about Natsu and Lucy's time together.
Occasionally Lucy would cut in to steer the conversation if Natsu came too close to talking about their private activities or if he got too sidetracked in his story. She also answered questions when Natsu couldn't remember details or names of things.
When they eventually decided to leave, Lucy was surprised to be pulled into the hug between Natsu and Grandeeney. After promises to send Happy back more often so they could keep in touch, Natsu and Lucy flew off, headed for the portal so they could return.
Grandeeney stayed on her perch to wait for her visitor to join her again. It didn't take long before nearly silent footsteps approached her. "What do you think?"
"I agree, she is definitely his mate." She glanced down as the angel stopped at her side. "What you didn't mention was how he'd changed since meeting her."
"I didn't know him prior to that so I had no frame of reference to measure that kind of thing."
"Only part of that is the truth, but I won't push you on it to save us some time." Her eyes found the pair as they were cresting a mountaintop and disappeared over it. "She would be a good mate for him, and he for her." Her smile disappeared. "Are you certain? About what you told me?"
The man nodded. "Yes. I don't want to be, but it's the only explanation that makes sense. He is the two, since he is both dragon and demon."
"But doesn't the girl-"
"She is still just a human." Leo rubbed his hands over his face. "Grandeeney, please, I need you on my side for this. I have no choice but to get his contract terminated, and since I can't convince any of the demons to side with me, I need your support. The demon kings don't understand this kind of thing, but if you talk to them, I'm sure you can help us sway them to end the contract."
The dragon remembered the way Natsu had smiled while they talked, the way he'd instinctively kept close to Lucy in order to protect her from whatever may come. She'd felt how happy he was, and to take that away… to part of what took that away…
She looked up towards Igneel's nest where it sat on its lofty perch, and silently begged his forgiveness.
"I will speak to them with you," Grandeeney agreed. "Natsu is like a son to me in many ways, and while I hate to break his heart, his unhappiness is a small price to pay for the safety of the realms."
"Thank you," Leo said, his gratitude obvious as his shoulders fell. "I just need to be sure that they'll agree. They've never fought to end a contract when we've given good reason, but I don't know if they'd go along with this. I'll speak to my king at as soon as I'm ba-"
"I have one condition."
Leo looked up, a strange twisting in his gut telling him he wouldn't like what she was going to say next. "What is it?"
Grandeeney continued to stare up at Igneel's nest, wondering what he would do in her place. "How good is your nose, Leo the Lion?"
Leo frowned. "Not as good as a dragon, but better than most. Why?"
"Have you sensed it, that duality in Natsu? His smell has shifted as well. Even as a projection of himself I could tell."
Leo considered her words before slowly nodding. "I think so. The campfire smell seems to strengthen and wane and that dark aroma with it."
"That's because the dragon in him is fighting him." Grandeeney continued to stare off as she spoke. "If not for his dragon's anxiousness, I might not have sensed him here." She slowly shook her head. "His dragon will not allow him to remain unaware for long. It is too strong for that, and I get the feeling that he has shown himself more than once to Lucy. Happy said Lucy knows what is going on, and while I cannot say how she feels about it, I think that she is using that knowledge to help Natsu and keep his dragon at bay."
She finally looked down, her eyes pleading as she made her favor known. "Allow him to figure out what Lucy is to him before you split them up. If he returns here without that knowledge, without her, I am afraid that his dragon may get the better of him. Especially…"
"Since he won't be allowed to see her again?"
Grandeeney nodded, tears forming in her eyes. "I don't want to watch him destroyed by himself like that. He will never get passed the broken heart that will follow being separated from his mate, but a rift like that within himself could allow the demon free, and if that happens, we will have no choice but to put him down.
"Igneel was hard pressed to contain him the one time it happened in the past. I can not imagine we will be so lucky a second time, especially now that he is older and stronger. As long as he is aware, and he and his dragon are in sync together, I believe he will be able to keep his demon contained, even as upset as he will no doubt be.
"And we will be here to help," she said looking once more around her. "Many of us know what that is like, and we will help him to come to terms with her absence, I am certain of that."
Leo crossed his arms, unsure that he could allow that to pass. "I don't know if I can do that. If he were to figure it out and mate with Lucy-"
"Lucy is special, but she has no idea how to complete a dragon mating ritual." Grandeeney got up and sat on her hind legs, her tail curling around her. "Even if Natsu's dragon forces him to start it, she will not know how to complete it, nor do I think she would even be able to. She is only a human- I do not think she is quite strong enough for that."
"But Happy told me-"
"I know that Natsu has bitten her. Happy told me as well." Grandeeney looked down at Leo. "Her teeth are not hard enough to pierce scales, and the ritual requires both participants to pierce the other's flesh."
"Humans can bite hard enough to make skin bleed, and Natsu has skin in at least one of his forms."
Grandeeney shook her head. "In the state he would be in for that, he would not be able to control his dragon enough to hide any of his scales. And if he realizes it when they are not intimate, there will be even less chance he will try to perform the mating ritual."
"So… if I can figure out a way to make him realize Lucy is his mate when they aren't having sex, he won't mate with her?"
"The instinct will be there, of course, but he will have more control of himself and more than likely won't try." She unwrapped her tail and got to her feet. "Lucy is only a human, and only one dragon has ever mated with a human before in our collective history. It did not go well for the human, and Natsu knows that. He will not risk hurting her in the same manner, so you do not need to worry. In either scenario, they will not be able to complete the mating ritual. As long as you wait to separate them until he has figured it out, I will speak to the kings with you, I promise."
Leo sighed. "Fine. They'll be returning to Magnolia in less than a week. I'm sure I can come up with something before then."
"That is all I ask, Leo the Lion. I look forward to seeing you again soon." With that she flapped her wings and took off, a blast of air nearly knocking Leo off his feet.
When he could finally see again, he watched her fly off in the direction the other dragons had gone earlier, no doubt to hunt.
With a groan, Leo held out a hand to make a portal back to the human realm. He had six days to come up with a way to help Natsu. He couldn't wait any longer than that.
He just hoped the pair didn't do anything crazy in the meantime.
