Author's Note: Thanks again to all of you who favorited and followed this story! And the traffic graph is amazing - so many people from around the world are tuning in to see what's going on! Hope you guys enjoy this wild ride! :-D
And a special thanks to my awesome reviewers!
SisterShoOk - Yea, I love Cana - and I feel like the bond she and Lucy shared during the S-class trials could've been explored more in the manga and anime. So I decided to take it a step further here, with my own little spin of course.
FireShifter - THANK YOU! And I 100% agree. Not enough fanfics highlight how awesome and cool Cana can be - when she gets serious, that girl is a force to reckon with! And I love that she and Lucy share a kind of deeper connection - they both have daddy issues, though for very different reasons, and I sort of felt it makes them real sisters in a certain sense? I'm trying to highlight that aspect of their relationship - and Cana is going to be badass in this story! She's going to have an increasingly important role as this story progresses.
valerioux - Hmmm… But are you sure Lucy has powers? ;-)
Nattie414 (for an older review) - Welcome back! :-D
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Juvia's eyes widened in wonder as she took in the sight of the descending chariot, its golden color accented by the beautiful white wings supporting it in the air. The majestic vehicle drifted down to the earth as gracefully and gently as a feather. She awed and cooed as she spotted the lovely looking exceeds within the chariot, all thoughts of eating such exotic creatures (mostly) wiped from her mind.
In direct contrast, the dragon and the exceed stood in uneasy attention, eying the chariot warily as it made its painstakingly slow progress from the heavens to the ground.
After a few long minutes, the elegant conveyance finally touched the earth, the exceeds within it, at last, coming into full view. One by one they quietly filed out of the vehicle, varying expressions of disappointment and anger on their faces when their gaze alighted on Pantherlily. They took in Gajeel with curiosity, and Juvia with respect bordering on fear, a few of the exceeds even venturing to cautiously approach her to bow low, before taking hasty steps back.
The fancier and well dressed exceeds of the council huddled together for a moment, their guards standing a little away, as they discussed something in low, hushed voices. When at last they seemed to reach a consensus, a tall, solemn and elderly male exceed stepped forward, approaching the increasingly fidgety Gajeel and the quiet and grave Pantherlily, a curious and bemused Juvia perched daintily on a boulder in the lake just behind the pair.
He stopped a few feet away from the trio, his stern gaze fixed on Pantherlily.
"Pantherlily."
"Your honor, Sir Rudolph"
Sir Rudolph frowned. "I thought we had made our stand clear in the judgment, Lily. If you did not take your life, we would be forced to do it for you."
Lily nodded, not breaking eye contact with Sir Rudolph. "Aye. I understood the order clearly sir. However, my circumstances have changed since then and therefore I do not know if the judgment still applies." Lily glanced a bit nervously at Gajeel, before clearing his throat and turning back to Sir Rudolph. "You see… I have become this noble dragon's lifetime companion and familiar."
A roar arose from the exceeds behind Sir Rudolph, a few bolder ones even stepping forward to stand beside their leader.
"Impossible!"
"Unacceptable! Is this a joke?"
"If it is, it is certainly in poor taste."
"But how? You would need a seal to perform the binding spell…"
A hand raised by Sir Rudolph quieted the fretful exceeds. All attention turned to him, as the wise old one thoughtfully stroked his long beard. He regarded Gajeel curiously, addressing him next.
"Tell us, great dragon, is what Pantherlily said true?"
Gajeel stood a little straighter, lifting his chin up proudly. "Aye. It is true."
The elder nodded slowly in acknowledgment. "I see. Well then, dragon, show us the proof."
Gajeel grunted in agreement, turning his back on the rest of the exceeds and facing Pantherlily instead. He extended his hand out, gripping the jet-black exceed's forearm in his own. Exchanging a grim glance with his friend, Gajeel closed his eyes a split second after Lily did. Taking a deep breath, Gajeel then proceeded to mutter a Draconian incantation taught to him in the latest epistle he had received from his faithful fairy friend.
"Nire arbasoen odolaz eta nire herriaren ohoreari esker, nire adiskidetasun betikoa luzatu dut zeru-haurrei."
(Translated: By the blood of my ancestors and the honor of my people, show all that I have extended my eternal friendship to this child of the skies.)
A few tense moments passed, as the exceeds witnessing the pair grew restless. Just as they inched closer to pry the dragon boy and exceed apart, a light glow around the pair halted them in their tracks. All the gathered creatures watched in amazement as the dragon and the exceed were lifted slowly off the ground, encased in a dazzling and shimmering orb of magical light. Sparks shot out from where they gripped each other, forming an intricate pattern around their linked forearms. Through the bright orb surrounding them, the gathered exceeds and Juvia could just barely make out what glowed at the center of the pattern linking the pair - it was Gajeel's personal crest, slightly altered to include Pantherlily's majestic sword in its center. As the assembly continued to watch - mesmerized by the magical spectacle in front of them - the bright orb slowly faded away and the pair were gently lowered to the earth. The moment their feet touched the ground, the spell snapped, jerking the duo out of their stupor and back to the present. Gajeel and Lily blinked, releasing their grip on each other and stepping a little away to face the exceed council once more. An uneasy silence fell on everyone in the open space, as the elder exceed cleared his throat and addressed Lily once again.
"It is no lie or trick then. You truly have become the companion of this dragon. This is… unprecedented. Indeed, I will need time to hold council with my colleagues. Wait here while I discuss what is to be done."
With a slight bow in Gajeel's direction, the elder slowly backed away to join the rest of the exceeds now huddled together nervously, standing as close to their chariot as possible. They talked for many minutes in hushed yet fretful voices, arguing vehemently and occasionally gesturing to Gajeel or Lily on some indecipherable point. After what seemed like hours to Gajeel (but was in truth fifteen minutes) Sir Rudolph stepped forward once more.
"It would seem that our judgment no longer applies. After much deliberation, we have decided to convert Lily's sentence from one of death to one of banishment. This sentence can be carried out in Alagesia or anywhere outside Extalia wherever Gajeel, who is now Lily's dragon companion, sees fit."
Lily heaved a sigh of relief, as Gajeel could not contain his grin. They had done it!
"However there is one detail we would like clarity on…"
The pair stiffened. The elder exceed's tone was anything but friendly, and the glares and calculating leers of the exceeds behind him did little to assuage their anxiety.
"Lily," The elder said directly addressing the midnight black exceed. "You will tell us who gave you the seal to perform the dragon companion spell."
Lily grit his teeth. He had duly noted how the other exceed's words were framed far more like a command than a request. He cleared his throat before addressing his fellow exceed as cordially as he could.
"I'm afraid that information does not seem relevant to my trial or judgment today, therefore I reserve the right to withhold that particular piece of intelligence."
The elder bristled, his companions behind him becoming just as flustered and angry as he.
"Don't you understand, Lily, that whoever gave you their seal has aided and abetted a known criminal? They are, therefore, a traitor and must be dealt with the appropriate punishment. Hiding them only further worsens your own plight - do you wish us to find a reason to sentence both you and your dragon companion to death?"
Lily glared back, his temper finally snapping. "Touch one hair on the head of my companion, and I promise you it will be the last thing that you do."
Sir Rudolph stumbled back a step, quivering as he took in Lily's stance and tone. Recovering a moment later, the elder glanced back at the rest of the exceeds, who had once again retreated next to the safety of the chariot. With a frustrated sigh, he turned back to Lily and Gajeel. However, a melodious voice halted him before he could address the pair once more.
"Juvia has a question, sir exceed."
The elder gulped, but turned politely to the beautiful mermaid, bowing low in respect.
"Please ask it, oh mermaid."
Juvia smiled, a twinkle of amusement in her deep blue eyes. "Juvia is not sure what the problem here is. How is the exceed who gave this 'seal' to his friend here, just in trouble for lending it to him? Is that not something you usually do?"
"Err… under normal circumstances it is perfectly allowable. But in this case, since Lily is a criminal, whoever has helped him is automatically a criminal too."
Juvia frowned, the waters around her becoming agitated as she displayed her unhappiness. The exceeds gathered near the chariot grew even more panicked as they observed the swirling waters, some even clambering onto the chariot for more safety.
"But… from what Juvia understands of this situation, the only ones in Extalia who even know of his fate are those of the council and the Queen - isn't this correct?"
The elder opened his mouth to refute her words but paused when he observed the grim look upon Juvia's face. Gulping visibly, Sir Rudolph tugged nervously at his collar before addressing the mermaid with a contrite look. "I do not know how you are aware of that but… yes. You are correct. Pantherlily was a well-known and popular general in the Extalia army, a favorite of the queen. We did not wish to spread distress or panic amongst our people with news of his betrayal, and therefore we have kept the news as secret as possible."
"Juvia sees…" She tapped a finger thoughtfully against her chin. "Then whichever exceed gave Pantherlily his seal probably did so without even knowing he was a criminal. Unless…" Juvia gave the exceeds behind Sir Rudolph a bright yet sinister grin. "One of the members of your esteemed council lent him their seal."
As one, the exceeds all paled. Forgetting dignity and composure, the few remaining on the ground made a mad dash for the chariot, fighting and elbowing each other to clamber onto it as quickly as possible. Sir Rudolph moved back with a few more hasty steps, but still courageously stood his ground.
"That is… highly unlikely, oh mermaid. But we will investigate that, I assure you."
Juvia nodded. "The only other possibility is your own Queen…"
Sir Rudolph threw her a sharp glance before turning towards Lily with a panicked grimace on his face. "I didn't think of that! Could it be that the queen?..."
"Nay." Lily said abruptly, his tone stern and final. "It was not the queen. I can promise you that."
Sir Rudolph relaxed, heaving a sigh of relief. His grimace faded into a frown as he took in the formidable trio.
"I suppose then that we, the council of exceeds, will not pursue this issue for now. As it has been pointed out this is… extraneous to the current situation. Farewell, Lily. And for your sake, I hope whoever has aided you is never found by us."
With a glare at Pantherlily, Sir Rudolph turned on his heel and stalked up to the chariot, the magical conveyance launching into the air the moment he stood upon it.
The three friends observed the ascent of the ostentatious vehicle, each silently pondering the events that had just occurred. Once the chariot had entered the hidden gate of extalia in the sky, Gajeel turned to Juvia.
"Thanks water girl. That argument would not have been effective if it had come from me or Lily. We owe you a great debt for that."
Juvia gave him a small but genuine smile. "Juvia is pleased she could be of assistance. And it was nothing, Juvia merely had to pose the question you had already received from your clever fairy friend." Juvia's smile turned slightly sly, her eyes shining with mirth. "If you truly think you are indebted to anyone, it would be her, for she is the one who taught you the dragon side of the companionship spell, as well as found you an exceed's seal, as well as gave you enough arguments to counter any points the exceed council might have thought of! Speaking of those arguments, Juvia has a question for you, Pantherlily…" She addressed the exceed with a knitted brow. "When the other exceed asked you if the seal belonged to your queen… You were very confident in your refusal. Lady Levy did not mention whose seal she had sent you in her letter, so how could you be so sure it was not the Queen's?"
Lily nodded gravely. "That is because every seal is unique, and an exceed can easily tell whose magic seal they have been given simply by looking at it. I know who the brave and noble exceed who has lent me his special token is. The seal I currently have safely tucked away in my knapsack belongs to the exceed named Happy, the familiar and companion of Alagesia's Prince Natsu."
"That lazy trickster?" Gajeel raised a skeptical eyebrow. "All he ever thinks and talks about is fish and pranks. Why would he send you his magic seal? Did he not know the dangers attached to this gesture? Maybe he's more of an idiot than his dragon companion."
"I doubt that Gajeel." Lily said with a fond smile at the dragon boy. "I've known Happy since he was an egg, and though he has always appeared to be playful and carefree, he is actually quite aware of all that occurs around him. He hides a great deal of courage and intelligence under a goofy exterior. Rather like his companion." Lily chuckled as Gajeel rolled his eyes.
"The Salamander hasn't an ounce of intelligence in that stupid brain of his, and I'm pretty sure his courage is nothing more than ignorant recklessness."
"Juvia has observed something about you, iron dragon." The graceful mermaid interjected with a giggle, "When you lie, your left pinky twitches quite comically - just as it is doing now!"
"Does not!"
"Oh it certainly does… Just look at your own hand for proof."
"AAAARRRGGHHH. THIS TWITCH IS BECAUSE IT'S SO COLD OUT HERE."
"Gajeel, please don't argue with the mermaid. This won't end well. For you."
"STAY OUT OF THIS LILY! GIRL OR NOT, I'M GOING TO FIGHT HER FOR THE SAKE OF MY HONOR!"
"... Your funeral then. Ok younglings, I'm off to find some dinner. Catch up with me once you're done, Gajeel."
With another friendly smile at the pair that was already focused on facing off each other, Lily spread his luxurious white wings and launched into the sky, feeling lighter and more free than he had in years.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"And then, Father complimented me, and told me I was ready to learn my dragon roar! Not even the rust-bucket has progressed to this level yet - the other fire hatchlings reckon I'm the youngest dragon to be taught his fire dragon roar in the history of dragons!" Natsu proclaimed proudly, as he puffed out his chest.
Lucy, who had been deftly weaving flower crowns to gift Wendy and Levy when they next met at the glade, looked up at Natsu's words with an exaggerated eye roll.
"Your fire-hatchling fan club seem quite harmful to your already humongous ego. In fact, if your head were to grow any larger with their praise and adoration, it would be the size of a boulder. You would no longer be able to fly, or even walk, and Happy would be forced to roll you around from spot to spot, like a huge ball of lard…"
Happy, who had been lounging beside the creek, nibbling happily on the golden koi Lucy had brought for him, burst into peals of laughter.
"Ha ha! I can see it now! Rolling a fireball all over the pal…"
A sudden hand clamped to his mouth muffled his voice. Natsu shook his head vigorously, slowly loosening his hold on Happy while Happy gave his friend a sheepish look of apology. They both knew he had been about to utter the word 'palace'. As Lucy glanced curiously between the pair, Natsu directed a glare her way, more as a distraction than anything else.
"You're so mean Lucy! Why can't you be encouraging like a good friend?"
Lucy rolled her eyes again. "You hardly seem to need encouragement! And although I am always proud and happy to hear of your accomplishments, I'm not happy with the way you boast about them. As your best friend, it is my duty to let you know when you are being a spoiled little braggart."
Natsu snorted. "Pot, meet kettle. Don't you brag about your brilliant schemes and pranks all the time?"
Lucy reddened, returning his glare with full force. "hmph… Perhaps. And you and Happy, being the wonderful best friends that you are, constantly tease and taunt me about it."
She hesitated, unwilling to concede a victory to the insufferable dragon boy, but unable to deny reality. "... And I suppose that helps me keep a level head about some of my more… err… elaborate schemes…"
"Downright crazy, you mean."
"Cats should be seen and not heard, Happy!"
"Wahhh! Natsu! Lucy's being mean to me too…"
"I know my friend, today seems to be our unlucky day. She has resolved to punish both of us with her cruelty."
"Natsu, Happy…" Lucy sighed. "If you honestly find me so mean, then why didn't you go with the others to visit that place you've been going on about endlessly? Fairy Tail… ?"
Both males blinked. "Why would we go there? You cannot come with us yet, Lucy." Happy said primly, as if stating the obvious.
"Yea! Everything is more fun when we're together Luce, so there's no way we're going to Fairy Tail again without you!" Natsu dazzled Lucy with his trademark bright and fanged grin. The radiance of his expression and the intensity of his gaze caused the young maiden to blush, her eyes dropping shyly to the floral wreath resting in her lap.
"Thank you, both of you, for your loyalty. But I do not wish to hold you back from enjoying yourselves with good company. Especially when I have no idea when I will be able to accompany you to this place. Or even if I will ever be allowed too…"
Natsu snorted, casually waving his hand in a gesture of dismissal. "Trust me, Gramps won't mind letting you in! Heck, he's even let in Erza, what could he possibly have against you?"
Lucy frowned, pondering over her friend's words. It had been a surprise to find out that her magical human companion had already been granted permission to visit the seemingly famous gathering place of magical beings that was referred to by all as Fairy Tail. As did all of her other magical friends. Many, such as Natsu, Wendy and Gajeel, had been members from their birth, while others such as Gray and Levy had joined a few years before. Curious, she had questioned most of her friends about this mysterious place that they all seemed to have in common, and from their vague descriptions she could understand that it was a sanctuary of sorts where all those who were magical or friends of magical races could gather to meet and make merry. To protect all those who visited, Fairy Tail's location was magically concealed, and only those who possessed a special 'mark' were able to find it. Only the master of the hall - a mysterious man that Lucy had heard all of her friends refer to as either 'Master' or 'Gramps' - could deign a person worthy, and grant him or her permission to get a mark. The actual mark would then be placed as a magical hidden tattoo on the body of the chosen being at a spot of their will. Natsu had shown her his mark just the day before, a beautiful deep red design on his right shoulder, above his curse scar. Happy too had one in bright green on his back. Lucy longed to be worthy of being a part of their magical society, and hoped that their Master allowed her that honor.
"You're going to love it there!" Natsu interrupted her musings. "I'll show ya how well I can win fights and I'll introduce you to Lisanna and Mira and everyone else you haven't met yet. I'll even show my brand new fire dragon roar to you and everyone else there!"
"And burn down the entire place on the day of my very first visit, I suppose." Lucy teased him, biting her lower lip to stifle her giggles.
Natsu crossed his arms over his chest and pouted, his eyes betraying his answering mirth. "There you go - being mean again! When I told Lisanna I would show her my fire dragon's roar, she was so excited! And here you are, my best friend, making a snide remark about me burning the place down! Shame on you Lucy…"
Lucy merely smiled, amused by his put upon ill humor.
"If you feel so, then perhaps this Lisanna should be your best friend instead of me?"
Natsu glanced at her, a mischievous grin on his lips. "Great idea Luce! She's much nicer than you!"
Lucy shot him a caustic glare, a sting of jealousy shooting through her. "hmph… Are you dragons always such fickle friends?"
"Only when our best friends are so mean."
"I shan't succumb to your emotional blackmail. Begone, faithless dragon!"
"Finally giving this flame retard the boot, eh Lucy? About time!" Gray sauntered into the clearing, chuckling at the glare the annoyed fire dragon threw his way.
"Stay out of this, frozen stripper!"
"Now boys, behave yourselves." Erza, strolled into the glade right behind Gray, directing stern looks at both the males who quailed momentarily under her gaze.
Lucy rose from her spot on the grass, nervously fiddling with the delicate wreaths in her hands. "Are you back from Fairy Tail, Erza? Has the Master really returned from his last sojourn as you suspected?"
Erza smiled warmly at Lucy. "Aye, he has. Gray and I spoke with him directly, and we have conveyed your wish to join. He has requested us to bring you to Fairy Tail right away."
Lucy's worried mein had Natsu rising from his spot on the grass to wrap a comforting arm around her shoulders. Happy promptly abandoned the fish bones he had been lovingly arranging in his knapsack to leap into Lucy's arms, snuggling into her hold and offering her more comfort.
"Trust me Lucy!" Natsu chirped. "All will go well… You'll become a member of fairy tail this very afternoon!"
"Aye!" chimed Happy.
"We've said great things about you Lucy, I'm pretty sure Gramps is ready to let you join. This meeting is just a formality." Gray added in a soothing tone, offering her a warm smile which earned him one in return from Lucy (and a rather jealous glare from a certain fire dragon).
Erza nodded, an amused twinkle in her eyes. "It is just a formality as Gray has said. After listening to us, the Master seems impressed by all you have done to befriend and protect your magical brethren. And well, after all is said and done, he will find it very hard to refuse you anything Lucy - as you will soon see." Erza bit her lip, seeming to suppress a giggle as she pivoted gracefully on her heel and headed back in the direction she and Gray had come from.
Lucy shot curious glances at Gray and Natsu - both boys answering her look with a helpless 'we have no idea because it's freaking Erza' shrug.
Natsu tightened his hold on Lucy's shoulders, his face breaking into a gleeful, fanged grin as he maneuvered her out of the glade and onto the path in the woods that would lead them to their sanctuary.
"Onwards, to Fairy Tail!"