AN: Thanks to all those who favorited and followed this story!
SistershoOk - Don't worry! I don't really explain it well in the next few chapters, so I'll give you the reasoning here - now that Meredy has realized just how wonderful her connection with Ultear is, she's more sympathetic towards Juvia and her own struggles. She's trying to seek out Juvia to say sorry and to try to make it up to her. As for Jellal… more coming up really soon on that!
EchizenRyoma - They absolutely live happily ever after. :-)
Lilyren - Thanks! :-)
Firiare - I've got more Gajeevy coming up in the next chapter, enjoy!
Livalibus - :-)
AshleighLeeann17 - Thanks so much! And I'll do my best to keep updating as fast as I can - glad you're enjoying the story!
valerioux - Well, tbh no one is going to get mad at Lucy for hiding her heritage. They all kept the secret of Natsu's royalty after all, so they won't really blame her for hiding her own background.
Stavroula99 - You'll see Levy's reaction's real soon! And my FairyTail knowledge is a little rusty, which pairing is Bali?
SarangehaeYo15 - Here you are! And as an apology for not posting this sooner, you're getting two chapters at once!
FireShifter - He he. Yup, time will tell ;-) Thanks!
And one more important note - just like to remind everyone that this is a Nalu fic :-D. I promise, the Nalu fluff will be worth the wait...
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Natsu discreetly rubbed his jaw, grimacing behind his hand at the light throbbing ache lining his mandibles. He had been forced to smile for two hours straight, and he had just about reached the limit of his already infamously short patience.
As yet another 'candidate' approached him, Natsu willed his frustration and fury down, instead turning to the young northern dragon maiden with a fake and strained smile. The female simpered and fawned over him, very much in the same vein as her predecessors of that evening.
Natsu felt like killing himself.
Ever since that damn elven prophecy had come to light, his northern superiors had decided that it was his duty to further the war efforts by finding a mate - and it had been made exceptionally clear that the lucky being was expected to be a dragoness, preferably of the Northern ilk. Hence, he had been introduced to the excruciatingly annoying and boring practice of the 'Selvaria Mating Ball' which occurred once a month. The northern dragons did not believe in the 'archaic practice' of bonding, and fully expected Natsu to choose one of their females to be the 'most powerful being in all the land'. An act that Natsu was determined NOT to do. He could barely stand his northern cousins in their meager interactions during the war - over his dead body would he permanently affix himself to one of them.
With a short bow, Natsu abruptly excused himself from the dragon maiden who had been regaling him with boasts of her 'estimable heritage' and how she would love to help him 'shape up' and 'climb the Selvaria social ladder'. He had heard enough of the empty trifles his northern brethren considered so important - he needed a breath of fresh air from the oppressive and stuffy atmosphere of the huge, flamboyant tent that had been erected for the purpose of this frivolous social occasion.
As he deftly made his way outside, his thoughts drifted to the prophecy that had caused him so much grief… And a tiny sliver of hope. He could not deny that, although the prospect of not being able to defeat Acnologia irked him, it was thrilling to discover that he would actually have a bonded. It was a concept he had never entertained seriously in his youth due to the unknown nature of his 'curse'... Once he had discovered that he was part demon, he had abandoned all hope of ever being attached - what being in her right mind would ever want to be with a demon-dragon half-breed? The prophecy however… It had both excited and scared him. He was ecstatic to know that he stood a chance - somewhere in this God forsaken world, there was a female who could love him for who he was. And she was supposed to be strong and admirable! Although that point scared him as well… why would one as strong as her want to be with him? Would she even want to be with him? The prophecy could easily be interpreted in another way - perhaps he wouldfeel that she was his chosen one, but she would not return his affection…
Lost in his thoughts, Natsu did not notice the slim figure walking towards him, lost in her own reverie, until the last possible second.
Oof
Natsu's strong, muscular arm shot out, instinctively grasping the falling maiden around her dainty waist.
"S-sorry! I really must watch where I'm going… Oh Natsu! It's you!"
Lisanna beamed up at her rescuer, stroking the injured pigeon in her arms that she had been tending to. Natsu relaxed, flashing her a warm, genuine smile as he helped her stand upright.
"Aye, Lisanna. And that warning serves for me as well. I was not paying heed to where I was going - sorry."
The pretty elf maiden just laughed and shook her head, as Natsu's grin widened.
"When have you ever been one to watch where you are going Natsu?! Being the impetuous and reckless dragon that you are!" She teased, a mirthful twinkle in her eye.
Natsu rolled his eyes, his grin never abating as the elf maiden giggled again.
"That's harsh! I will get you back for those baiting words, just you wait… but what are you doing this side of camp, Lisanna? And with an injured messenger pigeon?"
Lisanna smiled radiantly. "I'm looking for Wendy. This injury looks a little complicated, and I wished to have her professional opinion before attempting to fix it."
"Ahhh," Natsu hesitated, a rare blush making its way onto his visage. "You might want to hold off on that until morning. I just saw her sneaking out of the tent a half hour before with… Chelia. Knowing how hot those two run for each other, you wouldn't want to risk walking in on them."
As Lisanna's giggles started up again and she blushed a little herself, Natsu lifted his eyes up to observe the moon, an involuntary sigh escaping him.
Just a month before, his little sister had surprised them all by announcing that she had bonded. Amongst much stuttering and blushes, she introduced her brother and father to the being who had captured her heart - her childhood friend Chelia. It was indeed a happy and fortunate event that Chelia returned Wendy's deep affections - in fact, she had reached maturity slightly earlier and had already realized her feelings for Wendy. The pair were now practically inseparable, spending every waking and sleeping moment in each other's arms, only forced to part due to the rigors of war. On a similar note, his Uncle Metalicana had gruffly informed them one day, that he had received a rare message from his son. It seems the metal moron had bonded as well, and with Levy no less! Natsu was happy for his dragon kin, he really was. But it was also frustrating being one of the few dragons his age yet unbonded. It made him despair that perhaps one such as he was never meant to bond at all - the way he had suspected in his childhood.
His morose expression did not go unnoticed.
"What's wrong Natsu?" Lisanna's soft voice pierced his melancholic thoughts, her eyes wide with worry.
Natsu smiled down at the elf maiden, attempting to brush off her concern. "Nothing at all! Just annoyed by all the unwarranted attention I was getting in that boring excuse for a ball."
Lisanna grimaced. "My prophecy has caused you nothing but trouble, hasn't it?"
Natsu chuckled. "Aye, that's one way of putting it."
She sighed, her tone wistful as she addressed him. "I'm sorry. If only I could control my visions…"
"Nay! There's nothing for you to apologize for. It's these blasted Northern dragons who should be sorry. I'm nothing more than a means to an end to them. They just want one of their females to be declared 'the most powerful in all the land'. They don't give a flying fuck about me as a being…" Natsu halted abruptly, aware that bitterness had seeped into his tone. He ducked his head down, staring at his feet and refusing to meet his old friend's eyes.
A gentle, slim finger under his chin lifted his head. He gazed into soft, affectionate baby blue eyes as the elf maiden held his gaze steadily.
"Do not let them affect you Natsu! You are the most amazing being I've ever had the pleasure of knowing! No other male I know is as kind, caring, loyal and large-hearted as you! They don't deserve you, none of them do…"
Lisanna blushed, ducking her head down to look at the sleeping bird in her arms, a little embarrassed by her soulful rant.
Natsu just gazed at her.
He was not as dense as all those around him thought him to be - he had long known the lovely elf maiden in front of him harbored feelings for him. She was far more discreet in her display of affection than a certain love-struck mermaid he knew, but her emotions were plain to even the most casual observer. It all seemed too great a coincidence. That she would be the one to have the vision of him that gave him hope for a future, that she had long since cared for him as more than a friend, and that she… now inspired this comforting warmth in his chest.
It was not the consuming passion or the immediate longing described by his bonded brothers - but maybe, in his case, that was never meant to be. After all, he was not even a full dragon. Perhaps his heart would never stop for those three beats. Perhaps a gentle glow was all he needed to realize that…
"Lisanna?"
The elf maiden hummed in response, still caressing the injured pigeon with soft, loving strokes.
"I believe that you are my bonded."
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The ominous looking contraption loomed over the ground, its dark, imperious presence causing even the wild forest below it to still in dread. The tattooed young man, in contrast, merely regarded the vehicle with a hint of boredom and disdain - such ostentatious displays of power were not his style.
He watched with light amusement as the vehicle ground to a stop a few feet away and a flimsy rope ladder descended from a hidden hatch in the belly of the beast. He hoisted the burlap bag he carried more securely over his shoulder, as he made his way leisurely up the precarious ladder. As he swung his body neatly through the hole at the end of his climb, he paused for a moment, allowing his eyes to adjust to the scene that awaited him within.
A tall, imposing, rough and elderly man sat upon a dark and twisted throne, his gaze solemn and stern as he regarded his surprise visitor.
"Jellal."
Jellal smirked.
"Hades."
"And to what do I owe this pleasure?"
Jellal's twisted smile widened into a mocking grin.
"Why, I come to offer my condolences, of course. It is not every day that one as powerful and omniscient as you loses an ally who was both promising and talented."
Hades did not respond, his face a mask of cool indifference, but his brow twitched in annoyance.
"And you've come all the way to Fiore to mock me, young man?"
Jellal's smile turned into a slight grimace.
"Not by my choice."
It was Hades turn to smile, the gesture only making his scarred face more threatening.
"Ahhh… Could it be, the almighty Jellal met his match? Perhaps that wily leader of the rebels - the scarlet despair, I believe she is called - tamed your miserable hide?"
Jellal only shot the older man a glare, as Hades began chuckling at the younger man's expense.
"I will get to the point." Jellal grit out through clenched teeth. "I have come here to offer you an exchange - an entire group of mages to 'replace' the one you lost, in return for information."
Hades raised a brow, unwillingly intrigued.
"I am listening…"
Jellal threw the sack that had been slung over his shoulder onto the floor of the monstrous vehicle. It landed with a dull thud, the sole object within it rolling out of its container at the force of its landing.
It was a man's head.
"Is that…?"
"Sir Brain of the Oracian Sies." Jellal responded coolly, ignoring the dismembered organ on the ground. "His team were connected to his body via a spell - I have transferred that power to myself, and will now transfer it to you, if you accept my terms. Doing so, they will become your slaves - forced to do your bidding, no matter what you ask of them."
Hades frowned, his air subtly shifting from relaxed contempt to intrigued wariness.
"What is the information you seek?"
"The exact whereabouts of the primordial source of magic. And all other knowledge about it that you may possess."
Hades' frown deepened, his gaze searching the younger man's face for any hint of deception. He regarded the tattooed youth's blank look with hostile apprehension.
"Why do you seek that? Do you not have enough power as it is?"
"Nay." Jellal bit out, a bitter tone seeping into his voice. "As capable as I am, the ability to unlock my own memories still eludes me - it was for this reason that I rebelled against Sir Brain. This useless puppet of that infernal King refused to do as I bid until I returned back to Alvarez with him. I've dealt with enough deception to know a bald-faced lie when I heard one - his pathetic progeny did not help matters, that snivelling weakling looked positively guilty when his sire promised my memories would be restored with my return…" Jellal bared his teeth, his look almost feral in his rage. "So I killed him, and enslaved his former puppets. But the slight magical drain required to retain them is annoying - I would rather be rid of them…"
"Why not just kill them then?"
"Too wasteful." Jellal paused, lifting a questioning brow. "I let them live for similar reasons that you've allowed Ultear to still exist - they could be useful in the future, could they not?"
A shadow passed over Hades face at the mention of the young witch's name.
"Sometimes."
Jellal observed the fleeting emotions of the usually stern man flit across his face as he rapidly considered his options. After what seemed like an eternity to the impatient younger man, the elder gravely spoke.
"Very well, Jellal. I accept your conditions. I will tell you all I know about the primordial source you so blatantly desire. We will have to create a sufficient alibi for you to travel to... I assume Ultear has already told you the country in which it exists?"
"Yes. Pergrande…"