AN: A quick shout out to all my reviewers, and those who favorited and followed this story! Thank you! Your encouragement keeps me going :-) I'm not going to do the usual Q&A in the beginning of this chapter because this is kind of a special one - It actually marks the logical end of 'Part 1' of this story.
So you see, this behemoth of a story has grown way, waayy longer than I first intended it to be. To help myself wrap my head around this epic, I've roughly divided it into 6 parts:
Part 1: The beginning - Where most of the gang meet up as kids and get to know each other. The first 30 chapters you've read so far are all a part of this 'arc' (not quite the right word to describe it, but let's just go with that for now.)
Part 2: The war - As you'll see in this chapter, the demon vs other magical communities war will start, and the next 30 chapters will be about all our favorite characters and how they deal with the horror and turmoil of war. Nalu will take a bit of a backseat (sorry guys! This story is a VERY slow burn.) But you'll get a lot of progress with other ships - especially Gajeevy and Jerza. (Two of my all-time favorite ships after Nalu)
Part 3: The calm - After the war, the gang is reunited. Happy times and hijacks ensue. This is going to be one of the shorter 'arcs' and I'm going to try to keep it a lot lighter than the other parts - there will be a lot of Nalu fluff in this one :-D and more progress in their relationship.
Part 4: The trial - A truly calamitous event occurs forcing Lucy to turn her back on her friends and hole herself up in her kingdom. She intends to save Pergrande alone, but will Natsu and the others let her? Nah! They all go to Pergrande too! This part is going to be long and angsty, but the Nalu ship progress in it will be worth it ;-)
Part 5: The revelation - This is an intense part that should tie up a lot of loose ends from the other 'arcs'. Nalu will get really serious and deep in this one.
Part 6: The finale - The final showdown between the heroes and the big baddie. This will probably only be its own arc if I can't fit all of my plans for Nalu into Part 5. As of now, this part is the most vague because I only have a rough idea of what I want it to be about. We're creating this story as we go, people!
Based on what I've written so far, each Part is probably going to be around 30 chapters long. So 6*30 - we're looking at a whopping 180 chapters. Heh. Yeah - I don't blame any of you if you're freakin' out right now! I sort of am too :-P... But I am determined to finish this bad boy. I've already got the next 30 chapters written out (Part 2 done!) so pleeaasssee hang in here with me. There's plenty of stuff in coming chapters/parts that I really hope will make it worth the wait for you guys!
I hope this summary kind of gives you a taste of what's to come and an idea of how long a wait that elusive ending will be - at the speed I'm cranking out these chapters, I still hope to finish this off by July of next year. It's been such an incredible journey so far, and I really hope you guys will give it a chance till the end! Thanks for all your love and support!
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Lucy could not breathe.
The air surrounding her was stifling, nearly suffocating.
She did not know how much longer she could bear it.
Her feet swiftly took her out of the oppressive hall, her body following in a robotic daze. What had been her haven for peace, contentment and true happiness just a few short hours ago, had rapidly devolved into a den of nightmares.
Her beloved friends, returning to their homes far away.
Her cherished grandfather regretfully informing her that she could not visit Fairy Tail as often as before.
Her best friend going to war.
She stumbled as her limbs carried her back into the enchanted woods, her glazed eyes hardly seeing what was in her path as her mind whirled with all the information she had been bombarded with within a few short minutes.
Acnologia.
A name she had never heard before, that mere minutes before would have elicited nothing more than a curious look and an indifferent shrug from her, had suddenly become the reason her universe was unraveling around her.
The Northern Kingdom of the Dragons had been defeated. Nay, from the reports her dragon friends had managed to overhear, the defeat was far more akin to a slaughtering. Overnight, most of the race of the Northern dragons had been decimated, the remaining few fleeing to the neighboring kingdom of Icegard for sanctuary. Where Acnologia planned to strike next.
Gray was going home tonight. His father had sent a retinue to escort him safely home, where he would be required to begin rigorous training until he was old enough to participate in the war. As was normal in human culture, boys below the age of sixteen were not allowed in battle, and although Gray was already a formidable fighter, the rule still applied to him.
The dragons however…
Lucy clutched her stomach, bile rising to her throat as she recalled the news her dragon friends had relayed to her. Dragons were a warrior race, and according to them, it was never too early to start learning the ways of battle. When a war cry sounded, every dragon, regardless of age, would be enlisted. Only those of infirm mind or body would be spared, along with a chosen few who would remain behind to guard the nest from invasion. That meant all the dragons she knew were going to war. Stoic, strong Gajeel, gentle, kind Wendy, and even…
"Natsu…"
Her voice broke as she uttered that treasured name, her limbs finally giving up in exhaustion and grief as she slumped to the ground of the clearing. Curling up into a ball, she at last gave into the luxury of tears, letting out her heartbroken wails and gut wrenching sobs. She did not notice the silent figure who alighted gracefully behind her, his face grave and sorrowful. As softly as he could, he approached the weeping maiden, his hand gentle as he placed it on the crown of her golden head.
"Luce…"
Lucy froze mid-sob, struggling to rein in her grief. She chanced a peek at the speaker, tears still clinging to her long, dark lashes as she looked up at him in the rapidly fading evening light.
Natsu gazed down at her, his eyes sorrowful despite the encouraging smile upon his face.
"Don't cry, strange one. Tis not as bad as all that…"
Lucy glared at him, a few more stubborn tears escaping her brimming eyes.
"You're all leaving. You're going to war."
Natsu sighed, running a hand through his messy pink locks. "Not all of us are leaving to join the war, Lucy. Levy, Jet and Droy will just be traveling to protect Levy from being negatively affected by the strife of magical battles. Wendy will be accompanying Gajeel and I, but since she is an air dragon, her healing abilities will take far more precedence - she will most likely be recruited as a healer in the infirmary camp. Mira, Elfman and Lisanna have simply been called up north by their relatives to reconcile with their tribe - we do not know if they will be asked to join the battle. Erza will be here with you, of course, and even Juvia will be staying here in the south from what I've heard… And Cana will be going to Icegard with Gray to meet up with her old man, but she'll be back in a month with her coven once they travel south. And speaking of the ice prick, he was really sad when you refused to write to him - what was that all about? Not that I'm complaining…"
"The master explained it better than I. Pergrande will be on much higher alert now that even the magical community is at war. Any sort of communication in and out of the capital will be monitored. I cannot risk it."
Natsu's shoulders slumped before he suddenly steeled himself, pushing himself to continue his train of thought.
"What if I found a loophole for that?"
Lucy threw a sceptical glance at her friend, but did not comment. Taking this as encouragement, Natsu charged on.
"You see, there is a special, magical bird called the farlow. It has the ability to take on the forms of different types of birds. If I could procure one, he could carry messages directly to you without anyone in Pergrande suspecting a thing."
Lucy raised a curious brow, despite her heavy heart.
"That sounds… interesting. But wouldn't it still raise suspicions in your camp? And how would you find one?"
"Nay, I doubt anyone in my camp would pay heed to a farlow visiting me, especially since I won't be a very high ranking officer in my unit. I'll be a foot soldier, just like my father when he started his military career." Natsu's chest puffed out in pride, his eyes burning with the desire to prove himself. "As for finding one…"
At that moment a shrill sound pierced the silence of the clearing. Lucy jumped up with a gasp and clung to her dragon friend in fright. The boy smirked, an almost imperceptible blush staining his cheeks as the pretty human maiden buried her face in his vest, a whimper of panic escaping her.
"A-are we being attacked?"
"Aye!" wailed Happy, struggling with the massive eagle currently trying its best to escape his clutches. "This thing has been torturing me with a vengeance the whole way here! Beware Lucy, you and Natsu are probably next!"
Narrowly avoiding another swipe from the eagle's massive claws, the nimble exceed forced the bird down into a squat on the ground… only for it to transform into a duck and launch itself into the clear stream nearby. Lucy watched in wonder as a spluttering, swearing Happy dragged the reluctant creature back to shore, just in time for the creature to transform yet again - this time into a miniscule sparrow. With a trill of victory, the little bird hopped out of Happy's claws, right upto Lucy's feet. Lucy released her grip on Natsu, reaching down to collect the tiny bird in her hands. It nuzzled into her palm and promptly fell asleep.
Lucy's mouth twitched into a reluctant smile as the dragon and cat duo regarded her in astonishment.
"That thing has been trying to use me as a scratching post ever since it first laid eyes on me!" Happy gasped, "Why is it being so nice to you?"
Lucy rolled her eyes. "Knowing you Happy, you would have probably insulted him the moment you met. That is most likely the reason he did not take to you."
Happy pouted while Natsu chuckled, shooting his familiar a mischievous look.
"Oye, don't look so down! Tis not as bad as Carla rejecting your fish again…"
Happy glared at his friend, about to retort in kind when a broken sob halted him.
Lucy gazed between the two, her eyes overflowing with tears, as she struggled to control her shaking frame.
The duo sobered instantly, Happy crawling into her lap and purring softly to calm her, as the dragon boy regarded her in despair.
"H-how can y-you both be so calm and carefree? Don't you understand?! You're going to war. It will be brutal, painful and… what if… what if… either of you d-do not… survive? I've seen enough of the effects of war in my own kingdom - and we are so far away from it! How much more horrible would it be on the front lines? P-please d-don't g-go…"
Happy meowed helplessly, looking to Natsu beseechingly. The dragon boy patted his friend's head, tilting his head a little in a discreet gesture asking the exceed to give them some time alone.
"Goodbye Lucy. We wish we could stay… but we can't. We'll miss you…"
With a heavy sigh, Happy placed a small kiss on the little girl's cheek, before wriggling out of her clinging grip. With another heavy sigh he wordlessly took to the air, the now quiet farlow in his grasp once more.
Lucy did not look up when Happy left, her eyes still trained on the ground, her breathing still labored. Natsu sat cross-legged before her, waiting patiently for her to collect herself. When her sobs softened into sniffles, he placed a gentle, tentative hand on hers.
"Lucy?"
She still refused to look up, her dead eyes obstinately locked on the floor of the glade. Natsu sighed as he reached into his pocket and slowly pulled out an item which glittered even in the wane moonlight.
Lucy observed the object out of the corner of her eye, curiosity momentarily getting the better of her. Natsu smiled gently, noting her distracted gaze, and wordlessly placed what she recognized as a golden chain with a circular pendant on her lap.
"This is something I took out of my hoard today morning. The medallion is my symbol - every dragon has one. And every other dragon will recognize it and know exactly under whose protection you are. Not many other magical communities can read into it that far, but they would recognize it as a dragon's mark for sure… I won't be around to protect you, but this can serve as a deterrent to most magical beings who might wish to harm you. One look at this, and they would know you are under my protection. Would you honor me by wearing this, Lucy?"
Lucy's gaze had wavered from its stubborn home on the ground during Natsu's solemn speech. Reluctantly her eyes had drifted up, gazing into his gentle emerald orbs. When he asked her his question, she quietly removed the necklace already adorning her neck and nodded, still not trusting herself to speak.
Natsu leaned forward, deftly undoing the clasp of his gift. He carefully encircled her, his fingers softly brushing the baby hairs at the back of her neck as he fixed the clasp again. He drew back slightly to admire his handiwork. The shining pendant nestled in the hollow of her throat, the golden hue adding an ethereal glow to her delicate porcelain skin. Natsu tore his eyes away from the beauty of her form and locked his gaze with hers. Her face still had fresh tear tracks, and her dress was messy and unkempt, but these points paled in front of the fire that burned in her eyes. In that moment, Natsu could not worry about his best friend, for the strength of heart and passion she possessed shone through - proof that she was his equal, nay, superior when it came to courage and spirit.
"The chain is magical." Natsu blurted out, still stunned by the raw passion he could see in her expressive chocolate brown orbs. "It can extend and retract at your will. That way, if you wish to lengthen it to hide it in your dress, you may. Be sure to keep it visible when you next visit the enchanted woods though - even the wild animals that inhabit this forest know of a dragon's symbol, and will not dare touch you once they see it."
Lucy, in the meantime, had shakily risen from her spot on the ground, making her way slowly towards the stream nearby. Kneeling at the water's edge, she splashed a few drops on her face, rubbing away the tear stains and a few remaining tears. As Natsu observed her curiously, she slipped the key shaped pendant off the chain in her hands, placing both items on the ground beside her. She retrieved a pocket knife from a hidden pouch in her voluminous petticoat, and leaned over the clear stream, regarding her reflection with a calculating look. She ignored the startled yelp behind her as she carefully cut off a lock of her own hair, placing the golden strands inside her tiny key locket in one swift motion. Resolutely, she turned back to her dragon friend, the innocent looking pendant clenched tightly in her grasp. She knelt down next to Natsu, coaxing his right hand out and guiding it to rest on her lap. She regarded the black and red patterned wrist band he wore with satisfaction - it had been her gift to him on his last birthday, an accessory she had woven herself and had enchanted with Cana's help to adjust to his size even in his full dragon form. She was thrilled that he wore it always, and even more so now that it would make it far easier for her to give him her gift. As Natsu looked on, a mystified expression on his face, Lucy gently attached the pendent to his wrist band, humming softly in approval once done.
"This was my mother's locket, Natsu. It looks like a pendant to most, but has enough room for something tiny… In this case, a lock of my hair. It is a tradition amongst humans for a maiden to offer a favor - such as a lock of her hair, or a handkerchief - to a knight whom she cares about, before he leaves for battle. It is considered good luck, and a reason for the noble warrior to fight hard and… return home safely. W-would you wear what I have offered?"
She was suddenly engulfed in a warm, strong embrace as Natsu gathered her close, gritting his teeth in a desperate attempt to halt the torrent of tears that threatened to flow. He was overwhelmed by her affectionate gesture, and his heart ached from the thought that he soon had to leave her.
Lucy gently pushed him away, her fiery brown eyes fixing his in a mesmerizing stare.
"Promise me, Natsu." She began, her voice steady and filled with passion, "Promise me that you will do whatever it takes to survive this war and return home - alive. You must not die, no matter what."
Natsu simply stared at her, speechless. Slowly, he nodded, his eyes never leaving hers.
"I promise Lucy."
The dragon boy gathered the little girl in his arms and held her tight as she clung to him equally as fervently, the pair sitting in complete silence and mutual sorrow well into the cool night. For the first time in their young lives, they dreaded the daybreak.
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The screech of clashing metal and the pained cries and grunts of men rent the crisp wintery air. At the center of the conflict, a wild mane of rich scarlet flashed like a beacon. Irene, the rebel leader, twisted and whirled in a deadly dance with a blue haired figure, both combatants evenly matched as they grappled for victory. Jellal fought with wild eyed abandon, almost giddy from the fact that he faced a powerful opponent who could easily kill him if he did not give his all.
At the edges of the fray Ultear moved with precision and grace, desperately trying to hold back the rebel forces as they swarmed around their leader. The pitiful contingent of soldiers they had brought with them had either been killed or fled - leaving the three powerful mages locked in a suicidal battle with the grim rebel men. Ultear dodged an arrow, hurling a time curse at the assailant in the same fluid motion. The telltale whistle of three more missiles alerted her to the trap in which she had fallen, the first arrow obviously being a decoy to lure her to the correct spot. With a curse on her tongue, she raised a quick barrier - only to watch the three arrows whisked away in a sudden gust of steam as the sharp shooters who had aimed so true fell out of their perches in the clump of trees yards away, howling in agony at some unknown pain. Ultear looked over her shoulder, her gaze instantly softening as she caught the eye of the young mermaid who had come to fight beside her. With a curt nod, Meredy charged forward, whipping water around her in a whirlpool as she drowned grown men where they stood. Ultear could not help but regard the young girl with affection and pride. Gone was the scared, irritable and defiant child that she and Jellal had chanced upon months ago. The little girl had blossomed into a young woman, and though Ultear still saw a shadow of darkness in the mermaid's eyes from time to time, she had come to love the young one as a sister. Her lonely yet stubborn look had initially intrigued Ultear, and that was why she had insisted on taking her along in their journey. But after spending so many moons with the girl, Ultear was now sure of what she had initially suspected - the young one was just like her. She too yearned for freedom from a darkness in her past, and she too was doing everything in her power to make it a reality. Ultear had told Meredy about Gray, and her burning desire for vengeance and for some reason it was that confession that had drawn the young mermaid even closer to her.
The pair whirled about in seemingly synchronised steps, lashing out at their wary opponents. With a cry of triumph, Meredy brought down yet another bunch of their assailants, throwing a proud smirk at Ultear over her shoulder. She furrowed her brow at the look of shock on Ultear's face. The next few moments passed as if in slow motion. Meredy was suddenly yanked back by Ultear, thrown to the ground behind her. A dark beam of magical energy cut through the rebel forces, reaching Ultear far too quickly for her or Meredy to react. Meredy watched in horror as the woman whom she had grown to grudgingly respect and even admire fell backwards from the force of the black blow, a gaping, bloody hole ripped into her stomach on the right side. Meredy screamed. The force of her emotions amplified her sensory link magic, linking all hapless individuals in her near vicinity and forcing her pain and grief on them as it was doubly increased by her wrath. As the men around her fell to the ground, writhing and screaming in pain, she shuffled forward, holding the limp form of the human woman in her arms.
"U-Ultear? W-why… You saved me..."
Ultear smiled up at the girl, her gaze hazy with pain but still fond as she reached up to touch her cheek.
"And I do not regret it. But this is not the time for fond farewells, my worst fear seems to have come true - in his zest to reach his goal, Jellal has lost control of his magic. You must leave now. Save yourself - do not let my sacrifice be in vain."
Meredy grit her teeth and closed her eyes, an internal struggle overtaking her. A moment later, she opened them, resolutely glaring at the woman in her arms.
"No. You saved me. I owe you a life debt, and I will repay it."
With almost superhuman strength she lifted the human mage in her arms, casting a glance at the still moaning and groaning men around them. With supernatural speed, she took off running, determined to get the troublesome human as far away from danger as she could.
Irene glanced at the retreating pair, grim determination writ on her face. So the last of Jellal's team were retreating. Good. She focussed her lazer like gaze on the mage in front of her.
His cloak and clothes stood in tatters on his muscular form, his breathing ragged and labored as he glared at her with a fanatical glint in his eyes. Despite the fact that he was her enemy, she could not help but feel a pang of pity for the young man before her, the desperate and hollow look in his orbs barely masked by his pain and rage.
"I know what you seek, cursed one. And I cannot help you. Not when you approach me like this."
Jellal barked out a harsh laugh, his grin menacing as he tilted his head.
"I have not come here to ask for your help you lowly rebel. I have come here to seize what I need from a pathetic group of weak humans - and no one, not even the disappointing rebel leader, appears to be able to stop me."
Irene narrowed her eyes. "You are mistaken, young one. Your troops have deserted you and your friends have fled after you carelessly attacked them. It is only a matter of time before we overcome you."
"Nay…" He hissed, a black mist rising around his feet as he spoke, "They were merely a means to an end. A distraction I used to get to my end goal. You. And the knowledge that you possess. And I will take what I want by force!"
Before he could raise his hands, Irene acted, raising her staff and making an obscure sign in the sky. The men around her scampered back as the sign glowed gold, easily overpowering the black mist that Jellal had aimed straight for her heart.
"You have a lot to learn, young one. About truth, light and love. And I fear that the dark path you are on is leading you farther and farther away from your true destiny."
The golden glow encompassed the screaming man, Jellal thrashing and cursing as gentle rays of light encircled him in a tight grasp.
"I hope we meet again, Jellal. And I hope that by then, you will no longer be plagued by the darkness that threatens to consume you. Farewell."
The golden light blazed as bright as the sun, blinding all in its vicinity. With one strangled cry, the human mage wrapped in the light disappeared, as Irene finished casting her infamous Universe One spell.
The men around her blinked, trying to regain their sight as the cool evening air replaced the heat of the battle that had been happening just moments before. One of the braver rebels turned to his leader, a curious expression in his eye.
"Where did you send him, Irene?"
With a smirk, she turned on her heel, leading the way back to their camp.
"Some small kingdom in Fiore. But mark my words, we have not seen the last of him."