Chapter Thirty-Seven
Their Allies
Dusk till Dawn - Zayn & Sia. (Natsu tackling Lucy) Praying - Kesha. (Lucy talking to Acnologia's corp- I mean, body).
(ps. not edited)
Natsu growled low at the figure in front of him. She smiled, amused, dark eyes glinting. The castle shook with the power of her noise but it didn't affect him. Glancing right, he could see that Erza buckled with the pressure.
She was singling him out.
Her voice was wispy, a quiet thing, but the Shriek continued on, unrelenting.
"One fraction of my power, and the defence that is protecting the dear little cub… crumbles."
Her body swayed in and out of reality, a projection placed in front of him. Natsu could fight a lot of things, but he wasn't certain he could fight air.
"What have you done with her?"
"I had planned to take her from you, then destroy the safe-haven she has created." She tilted her head, dark hair falling across her cheek, a thoughtful look her face. Natsu growled again, his chest tight with anger at her presumption that Lucy could be taken, and that this, his castle could be destroyed.
"It'll take more than a child's scream to bring down the Moltens." He tried his hardest not to focus on the fact that what she had planned may have worked.
He trusted Lucy.
He hoped that she got out of whatever situation she was in and was far away from this destruction.
A flash of anger swept across her face and Natsu smirked, feeling hunger, and darkness crawl around inside him. This might be the first time he'd ever willingly let out the demon in his blood. To take care of the threat to his castle, his people and his queen.
The anger was gone in an instant, a sweet smile replacing her features.
"But I find it would be better to rip the one she loves out of existence and let her crawl to me."
Natsu took the statement as it was, a threat, but was not swayed.
He would protect his people no matter the cost. He could trust that his father, Ultear and Erza kept Lucy from doing anything stupid.
But he would miss her.
Dragons above, he would miss her.
A few stunned screams made him close his eyes, searching for his father. He couldn't find him. The noise was too loud outside the bubble he was in.
"Stop this." Natsu snarled, "If you so much as kill one dra-"
Her cruel laugh bubbled out, overriding her words, "Do not fear, hatchling." The insult burned into him, making scales emerge on his skin, his world bursting with colour as his eyes shifted.
The smile on her face was full of malice, calculating and her curved eyes were narrowed in on him.
"None of your people will be harmed. But you, you will be torn apart."
Natsu steeled his insides but he had no experience with whatever Scream she was going to give him. He didn't know how Acnologia stood up to it, how he fought it. And stupidly enough, he was scared.
Scared of the idea of never being able to live his life, scared that once he died, his Kingdom would not have a ruler, a protector, scared that he would lose his chance to take in everything his Father and family had to teach him.
Petrified at the thought that he would lose Lucy, and she would lose him.
He didn't want to die.
The realisation swam to him through the clogged thoughts in his mind. He knew what he had to do, but it was something that he had promised to never try. To never give into.
But to save himself, to stay by Lucy's side, wasn't that a good enough reason?
She shouldn't have to do this alone.
The Banshee lifted her hand, fingers splayed out in his direction. Natsu took a step back, trying to remain strong but images of Lucy flashed through his mind.
He wanted to stay with her, watch her grow and fight even more. See how she ages, how her beauty changes, and how their love becomes stronger than it already was.
The noise was similar to a high-pitched, ringing hiss. It shot at him like a rabid creature, cruel, seeking blood and Natsu closed his eyes, pulling on that restraint that held the darkest part of him back. The demon coiled and moved inside him, ready to be released, ready for anything that snake could throw at him.
It pushed at his control and he let it go, the chains in his mind sliding through his fingers.
A body appeared in front of him.
Acnologia stood tall as the Scream slammed into him, his stature barely shaken. Natsu jolted back, watching as Acnologia spread his arms wide, as if welcoming it, taking the brunt of the noise Natsu could dimly hear in the back of his mind.
"Dragon!" The creature hissed, "How are you still alive, you filthy…"
Acnologia didn't move, didn't speak, and the woman snarled, "She gave you her soul! It was supposed to be mine!"
The sheer force of the Shriek changing, into something wild, uncontrollable, knocked Natsu back. He crashed to his knees.
Acnologia continued standing, a protector between Natsu and the Banshee. A wall that was unmovable, and she hurled all that dark, twisted power straight at him.
Natsu watched, shocked as Acnologia's hands tightened to fists.
"Die!" She screamed, livid, the Scream intensifying until it shook the walls around them. Acnologia swayed but he stubbornly remained on his feet. Natsu tried to sense how he was doing it. The power, it was suffocating him, the remnants making his head throb, his stomach fill with acid.
But Acnologia… he felt, empty.
There was no power, no shield, on him.
When he staggered backward, Natsu reached to grab him, but he turned his head. Red eyes met Natsu's.
"Do not let her touch my body."
The whisper stopped Natsu in his tracks, as Acnologia repeated, "She is not to touch my body."
Confusion and shock spun through Natsu like a winding web of emotion, rooted still to his spot, watching as Acnologia fell to his knees. Then he saw it. The thick tendrils of purple crawling up his right arm. The sweet smell of venom stinking the air.
A poisonous Scream…?
How is that possible?
As he fell, Acnologia reached his hand into his pocket, pulling out a small gleaming bracelet. Natsu struggled to move, shocked as Acnologia clenched his fist tightly.
A loud pop exploded in the air, throwing Natsu back with the sheer force of it. The magical energy was similar… to Lucy's.
But somehow, it was a lot stronger, a lot more controlled.
Natsu blinked his eyes open, watching as the woman, the other banshee, screwed her face up in vile anger. Then, she vanished. Her apparition, her image, just disappeared.
In the very next second, Natsu's mind cleared and the doors burst open. Lucy stumbled in, blood dripping from a cut in her head. Their eyes met immediately, and Natsu almost wept at how relief swam through him. She was injured, but she was standing.
Living.
A soft groan from a few metres away had Natsu reluctantly turning his head, watching as Erza rolled over onto all fours. Her arms shook as she lifted herself up, blinking rapidly, disorientated. Then he swept his eyes in front of him, his blood turning cold at the body in front of him.
Fuck.
Acnologia wasn't moving. His arm was pulsating with those purple veins, poisoning him further, but the Scream had been cut short. Natsu prayed for him to get up. Because, selfishly, he knew Lucy would not be able to handle Acnologia's death.
A gasp made his head snap to the left, and stupidly, he wished Lucy wasn't here right now. But she was, and her eyes were glued onto Acnologia. She stumbled forward and Natsu's heart just about broke at the look of horror, pure unfiltered terror in her eyes.
"No…" She rasped.
Natsu numbly heard other doors open, shouts and voices filling the grand hall they were in but his eyes, his focus was on Lucy. When she moved closer, seeming to gain ground beneath her, Acnologia's word's echoed through his head.
A command, a warning.
"She is not to touch my body."
The minute Lucy broke out in a scrambled run, Natsu was up. Determination to protect her fuelled his shaky steps and he grabbed her waist, hauling her back. Her power smacked against his skin, a wild angry thing. It poured out of her like a hot, dry wind.
Natsu felt his knees buckle, as if his body could sense the Scream approaching and he took her down with him.
"Let go of me!" She shrieked and pain flooded him. He always wondered how her Scream would feel when it was targeted at him. Normally, it just gave him a killer headache.
But this…
It tore at him, savage, seeking. White hot and burning cold all at one. It made his muscles seize, his vision going once, then returning. Going twice, then returning. And it was endless. A torture that continued on, never changing but always worsening.
"Natsu!" Erza's voice swam into his ears, a horrified cry.
Somehow, he managed to get the words out, "Keep away from his body."
And as he said that, another scream, a normal, grief-stricken yell echoed through the hall. Yukino was running, running.
"Stop her!" Natsu shouted, his muscles seizing around Lucy, who thrashed in the grip he restrained her in. Red flashed in his eyes, then black. His vision was going. His hearing was fading.
Was she going to kill him?
Dimly, he noticed a tall man, Bickslow, launch forward. He seized Yukino who fought him wildly, snapping her fangs at him, trying to get to Acnologia.
Trying to get to… His mind hazed over for a few seconds, and Natsu felt his heart speed up.
Dragons above, the pain was exctruitating.
"Lucy, Lucy." He rasped, his vision fading, "Come back to me."
When the noise didn't falter, the sheer power of her Scream continued on, he whispered, his body weakening, giving out.
"I love you. Don't do this… Come back."
Don't kill me.
Blackness surged forward and Natsu felt himself being taken apart by her power. And at that last moment where his heart stuttered in his chest, and his lungs tightened, he felt it. His own power fought back.
It gripped at him, pulling his mind back and Natsu waited, shocked when he didn't completely lose sight of what was happening.
"Malo." His mouth said the words, and Natsu hated that. Hated how smooth, controlled that voice of his was. But he understood. Stupidly, he understood. The woman below him was stripped, fuelled by her anger just like he was.
At their cores, monsters that would rip, tear and destroy anything they want.
And who better to talk to her monster, than his own?
"What happens after this, malo? You kill me, then kill this Kingdom. Is this a plan based on revenge? An eye for an eye?"
Lucy didn't speak, but the Scream died a little.
She was listening.
He continued, his voice full of dark sadistic amusement, "Whilst I think that is an excellent plan… does it make sense? I did not kill your… Acnologia. This Kingdom… well, they didn't either. How do you plan on taking revenge when you go about killing the wrong person?"
The Scream dissipated into thin air but the warm hot wind stayed against his skin, threatening.
"Who killed him?"
Natsu felt the demon loiter, for some painstakingly alarming moments, before shockingly, it pulled back. Let some of his humanity seep back in.
Let himself become… whole again.
"She did… malo." Natsu whispered, his voice warmer, softer. His body throbbed with pain.
"The Banshee." Lucy whispered, her tone soft, musing.
"Yes."
They were both quiet, ignoring the people watching them and Natsu took a deep breath in as her hair began to flow golden, and her tattoos began to sink into her skin once more.
"Now that you are both… here once more," A crass, loud tone made Natsu look up. Fear chocked him as Porlysucia touched Acnologia's forehead once. It reluctantly left when he noticed the silk gloves on her hands.
"I feel obliged to tell you, that he is not dead."
Lucy's head snapped up, head butting his chin and Natsu pulled back, surprised when she followed, keeping their skin touching. Her power bounced around inside him for a second, and Natsu realised she was having trouble controlling herself.
He placed his hands on her cold arms, as she spoke.
"He's not?"
"No." Porlysucia stated, her eyes flicking over to them, "But he will be… soon. If we don't amputate."
Wendy breezed past the citizens working to repair the parts of the castle that had gotten the most damage. She wished she could stay, and help them, but her services were needed elsewhere.
She had to tell Natsu, and Lucy, that Acnologia's surgery had gone well. They had managed to get most of the poison out but only time would tell if he was going to get better.
Wendy hadn't wanted to be the one to tell them, but something in Porlyuscia's eyes made her offer. She knew the healer had been there when supposedly Lucy had almost killed Natsu in grief, and Natsu had lost control of himself in accordance to that.
Porlyuscia wasn't fearful of much, but the look in her eyes made Wendy offer to share the news.
The bells echoed through the halls, alerting them that another clan had arrived to help their King rebuild. Nobody had died, but the damage done was enough for many to feel the loss.
Wendy thought to her Mother, who was working to heal the injuries given by the other Banshee's scream, and Igneel, who was consuming more fire to keep his own magical stamina up.
The minute she stepped into the corridor, she stopped. The power made her whole being freeze, her heart pulsing inside her chest at the pure energy swirling in the air. She noticed a few dragons passing by very slowly, on their way to their duties, watched as their wings shuddered and their eyes grew clearer.
Wendy knew that dragons could feed off power, but this… this was not inherently dragon. She could feel Natsu's warmth, but admist that, there were sparks of freshly made steel dust, and a timeless swirl of ice. And sweeping through this abundance of energy, was the ominous, waiting, wind. It was so unlike the wind Wendy grew up in, she felt her control over her own change tremble.
It was like this power was strengthening her, pulling her closer. Making her feel invincible, knowing that this flux of raw power was following her, fuelling her. She watched, blindly, when a few more dragons passed by, stopped at the door, and their wings lowered for a few seconds.
They looked tired.
Wendy opened her mouth to tell them to rest, that help had just arrived from the other clans, but then they straightened. Determination, rage and the strength of those in that room filled their eyes, corrected their slouching postures and their wings shuddered, stretching around them.
It looked like they were preparing for war.
They moved on, bowing low to Wendy as they passed and she forced her own legs to walk. Closer to that power. Closer to the creatures in that room.
She lifted her hand, noticing how it was shaking, how her body was tensed and coiled.
The door pulled open and a smiling Ultear greeted her.
"Princess Wendy. I thought I felt your presence."
Ultear's eyes were cheerful, apparently untouched by the power that swirled in the room behind her and Wendy felt her heart stammer a little, trying to see if she was as affected by the latest attack as the rest of them were.
"I… I bring news of Acnologia's progress."
"Let her in, Ultear." Lucy's voice came from behind her, but Wendy couldn't see her. In fact, besides Ultear, who Wendy had pinned as the bittersweet touch of ice, she couldn't see any of the others that she had sensed in the influx of power.
"Lucy, as your voice of reason, I would highly protest against that." Erza stated softly, before Natsu's low drawl made Wendy flinch back from Ultear.
"Well, oh' voice of reason, you look like you are craving a few beheadings."
"Do not tempt me to make you the first."
"Ultear." Lucy's voice swam through their bickering, and Wendy gasped, feeling the power sting and sink into her skin. It was the strength of a queens voice. So familiar to the power her mother used occasionally when she needed to assert her dominance.
Did this mean…?
Ultear simply smiled and stepped to the side, waving her hand with a welcoming grin, "Come in, you'll let the homicidal power out."
Wendy stepped inside.
Igneel stepped out onto the upper level of the grand hall, watching the flurry of dragons work to repair the damages. The west wing had accounted to the most damage, unsurprisingly, as it was the oldest and the stones were brittle, more predisposed to crack, and shift under extreme duress.
But then, on the bright side, Igneel now had a reason to build a stronger structure and maybe even redecorate.
He watched Grandeena sweep out of the hall with another dragon who appeared to be suffering after effects of the Scream, and huffed, smoke blowing out of his nostrils. He had been pushed from his rightful place by his people by the Queen of the Wind after she had proclaimed he looked like he had aged ten years in a single afternoon.
Which wasn't untrue but the mass healings he had been putting out had nothing to do with that.
He closed his eyes, the image of Natsu, driving Lucy to the ground still fresh in his mind. The power that the pair of them had was… like nothing he'd ever felt before. Something so strong that it created a vortex around them, snuffing out any combatting power that could even have a chance to rival them.
Despite the blinding, parental fear he had suffered when Natsu slouched forward, his heart stuttering to a stop, he could recognise exactly how Lucy and Natsu had fit together. Two unyielding, stubborn forces that would only mould to each other.
Of course, not automatically.
When Natsu had proclaimed that Lucy was to be his queen, Igneel had his doubts. He hadn't wanted to question his decision, wanting to rely on his sons judgement but he couldn't help it. He wanted to see the Moltens advance and continue to live on, protected, a fortress of lava and fire.
His own foolish mistakes of choosing what he thought to be the perfect queen and mother of his own hatchling had almost ripped the Kingdom apart, and him in the process. Natsu would never know but the beginning years of his young life, the Kingdom had been torn in protecting the King and his unusual offspring and planning a revolt.
Numerous incidents, dragons turning traitor, attempting to kill Natsu and overthrow Igneel, had plagued the early years of his life as a parent. And despite all the trouble, and catastrophe his mistakes had caused, the look in Natsu's eyes as he woke up from a nap, grumpy, unsatisfied that he didn't sleep long enough - no nap could ever be long enough - was enough to believe that despite his decision, he had done right.
Gran, Porly and that bastard Metalicana had been his biggest allies during that stage of his life. Without their support Igneel would have struggled to keep the Molten together, while protecting his tiny hatchling made of fire and shadows.
Of course it hadn't been hard. He had simply shoved Natsu in Porly and Gran's face, the doe-eyed, stupid look his son often possessed had melted their skepticism and reminded themselves that babies, despite their creature, should be protected.
And Metalicana, well… Forty three hits later with his infamous steel attack, a chuffed Lord of the Steel had agreed to provide protection and ally himself to Igneel's side if a revolt would explode.
But it never did get that far.
Because Natsu… he grew up.
And caused his first volcanic explosion.
A reluctant laugh bubbled out of Igneel at how ridiculous the prospect was. They had all been hateful, untrusting to the promised Prince of the Molten until Natsu had stupidly climbed a volcano and caused it to explode.
Then he sat at the bottom, covered in scales, and sprouting a tiny tail, trying to lick the lava because it tasted nice.
"Igneel."
He was spurred from the memory of telling Natsu that eating the lava would give him constipation, turning to greet the new tribe that had come in support. Cubellios, the Queen of the Poison, stood there, with her son, Erik.
"Cubellios. I did not expect you to travel all the way here to support us."
"We recognise our high King's fragility and come to our offer our wisdom."
"Mom." Erik growled, "Don't."
"It's fine Erik." Igneel stared at Cubellios closely, raising his eyebrow, unimpressed at her insult.
"Is that all you can offer to your King, Lady of the Poison? Seems like it will not be needed here."
Igneel watched as her eyes glinted red, and a low growl ripped out of her mouth. He remained still, watching, as her son, took a step forward, ready to stop his mother from committing a crime they both knew would rip her title from her.
"Igneel? Am I interrupting?" Igneel felt his spine tense in surprise, not expecting to hear the soft voice of Lucy from behind and wanted to turn around to see her. Because, he was worried about her. She had enclosed herself from the rest of the castle after Acnologia was placed in Porly's care.
But he was facing an angry Queen and knew better than to turn his back.
Lucy must have sensed this and stepped forward, taking place beside him, purposely putting herself in his eyesight. And Cubellios's.
"Who are you to address our King with such informality?"
Igneel watched out of the corner of his eye, as Lucy smiled, a serene, calm spread of her lips. The air around her was… still. Something about her was… different.
"Who are you to question me about my relationship with Igneel?"
A chuckle left Igneel's mouth accidentally because, Natsu, his arrogant, predominantly dragon son, would never have the smarts to avoid a question so gracefully. Lucy was smart. She didn't give much to people she didn't know, and she gave even less to people she did not trust.
Strangely, Igneel remember the terrified, haunted look in her eyes when she had first arrived at the Moltens. Wide-eyed, pale, covered in bruises and cuts. Dirty, lost and afraid.
Now she stood tall, a small smile on her lips, her dark eyes alert, watching Cubellios navigate through the question she had just asked.
"You… disrespectful brat. I am Queen of the Poison, Cubellios, ruler of the Eastern Tribes."
Igneel had never heard the last title, and he certainly hadn't bestowed it to her, but before he could call her out on it, Erik, her son, the soon to be predecessor of her lands, spoke.
"Mother. Do not behave rashly. This is your King you are insulting."
"Currently, I am insulting the human trash beside him." Cubellios snarled, "Do not let me remind you of your place, son."
"Actually, I do not believe you have insulted me at all." Lucy spoke clearly, her eyes carefully blank, and when Igneel listened closely, her heart was slow, calm. There was no fear inside her. Igneel didn't know if she was that brave or if she was still in shock over recent events.
Either way, Igneel let her speak, not wanting to undermine the authority she had suddenly adopted.
"I am a disrespectful brat but you still answered my question, and for that I am thankful. I will return the favour, and inform you that I am Princess Heartfilia, Ruler of the Star Lands and Future-Queen of the Moltens."
Igneel struggled not to show his surprise at her introduction but felt the fierce pride and happiness burn in his dragon at the fact his son had managed to attain such a powerful queen, and that she had said yes to the proposal, after putting it off for so long.
But he worried that she had decided to accept because of what had happened to her… Acnologia.
Cubellios and Erik both blinked, and Lucy nudged Igneel softly, giving him a grin, "Queens don't bow to Lady's, do they?"
Igneel shook his head, grinning back, before Erik swiftly dropped to one knee. Lucy didn't move, just peered down at him curiously before turning to Igneel with a little confused shrug. Igneel felt like she was asking if she should tell him to stand up, and attempt to be friendly to the future ruler.
Igneel wondered if she knew the relationship between Natsu and Erik. He expected his son would make Erik kneel before him until the cows came home. But that was expected between two idiot dragons.
"You may stand Erik. Thank you for the respect you have shown L- Princess Heartfilia."
Once he stood, Lucy offered a sweet smile and Igneel stifled his snort at the bewildered look on the young dragons face.
"She's a little young for you, don't you think, King Igneel?" Cubellios snarled out, clearly disgusted and Igneel frowned, before smiling slightly. Lucy pressed her hand to her mouth, clearly understanding the misinterpretation.
"I think Igneel is strong, and sturdy for his age, Lady of the Poison." Lucy's eyes glittered with amusement, her posture relaxed, as Igneel chuckled.
"You flatter me, young Princess."
Lucy cleared her throat, stifling laughter, as another voice halted whatever Cubellios was going to say next.
"Luce, what have I said about flattering Dad? He doesn't deserve it." Igneel felt his spine fully relax, a grin forming on his lips as Natsu sidled up beside Lucy, eyes keenly interested in whatever had made her smile.
"Apologies, Prince Dragneel, I was just informing the Lady of the Poison of my plans to marry and run the Kingdom with your father."
Igneel watched as confusion swam through Natsu's eyes before an easy grin spread across his lips, his hand reaching out to wrap around Lucy's waist, tugging her body into his.
"Out of all the men you have following you, to think I'd have to be worried about my own father."
Lucy laughed softly, touching his cheek, "What can I say? Daddy issues."
Natsu barked out a short laugh, rubbing his cheek against hers, before tilting his head up to look at Igneel.
"Dad, if you're done using my Queen for your childish games, we need to speak with you."
"His Queen?" Cubellios stated with such shock that Igneel grinned slightly, noticing how they had unwittingly gained attention from all the working dragons in the hall.
Igneel watched as Natsu's eyes slid over to Cubellious, before cutting to Erik. They stared each other down for a long moment before Natsu gently unwrapped his arms from Lucy's waist, moving her to the side swiftly.
Igneel sighed as Natsu rushed forward, fire covering his fist, and slammed it against Erik's jaw. Erik went soaring back, and Cubellios lithely moved to the side, rolling her eyes as Erik collided with the far wall.
"Should they be fighting after the castle has already suffered such damage?" Lucy asked softly, watching as Erik shook himself off, and with a nasty, feral look in his eyes, his change swept over his features. They collided in a mess of fangs, limbs and tails.
"No matter how much you try to train a hatchling, they suffer their own egos until they die." Cubellios stated wistfully, watching the fight and Igneel watched Lucy gaze at her thoughtfully, as if she saw something Igneel didn't.
When Cubellios noticed she was being studied, her spine straightened and that angry, piercing glare returned.
"Erik! Stop this nonsense!"
Her sharp command made the young dragon halt, his mouth stretched wide, showing longer than normal fangs. Igneel snorted when Natsu shoved a knee into his gut when he wasn't looking. When Lucy made a disgusted noise at the dirty move, Natsu glared harder at Erik as if it was his fault.
Igneel thought back to when Lucy first arrived, unsure, hurt, suffering from extreme guilt, harrowing fear and crowding confusion.
That Lucy was the young princess Igneel had feared that would get lost in the sea of dragons the Moltens housed, and ruled over.
But somewhere between then, and there, things had changed. Lucy had… grown.
She was changing right before his eyes, and Igneel hoped that his intuition was right. That Lucy would not fall into the darkness but find the balance this Kingdom needed in a good Queen.
Porlysucia looked up, and stilled. The cloaked figure in the room was certainly a surprise, though not unwelcome. She was leaning over Acnologia's body, administering the poison Cubellios, Lady of Poison had given her.
It wasn't her first time using poison to combat poison. When she was younger, she'd would have refused to even try the idea all together.
But she knew better now. Her long, tiring years were worth something, at least.
"How is he?"
"He is better." Porlysucia watched the woman come to sit beside the bed, reaching out to touch Acnologia's hand.
"He's cold."
"Fighting off severe poison is a lot of work. Lady Cubellios had very important insight."
Porlyuscia felt the annoying pang of pity hit her heart when Lucy's grip on Acnologia's hand tightened, her eyes downcast, watching the rise and fall of his chest.
"Tell me, please."
The elderly woman cleared her throat, trying to remain as cold and calculative as she could. She always hated this, telling the loved ones what was wrong, destroying what hope they had. But it was apart of the job, apparently.
"The venomous Scream he endured was something unlike I have ever seen. Lady Cubellios was able to tell me that despite amputation, he was still suffering from the poison. It has a very fast recovery and infection time, so the loss of the original infected limb only slowed it down. And he was… He suffered though a lot of pain, it seems. Lady Cubellios overlooked his nervous system, and informed me that he was still experiencing horrible after-effects. The poison I have just administered will combat that."
"How so?"
"The poison she gave me gives the opposite effect, it paralyzies the victim. And according to her knowledge and my experience, it should make things more peaceful for him."
Porlysucia watched as she closed her eyes, absorbing the information weakly. And when she spoke next, there was a tremor in her voice.
"How long does he have?"
"Five days, give or take. It depends on how his body fights and how long he can withstand the Banshee's poison. Lady Cubellios assured me that hers was non-lethal, just temporary. We will continue to administer it to keep his pain at bay."
"Is there any chance he will wake-up before then?"
Porlysucia pursed her lips, thinking before shaking her head, "It's highly unlikely. But possible, I suppose. This is a very peculiar incident. We don't have much information about this sort of poison, so it is hard to tell."
Lucy nodded softly, reaching out with one hand to brush the hair that had fallen on his forehead, wiping away the sweat there with her thumb.
"I hope I will be back in time for you to lecture me one more time."
Porlyuscia busied herself with tidying up herbs and books on her desk, but listened to Lucy speak to Acnologia with a very gentle, somber voice.
"I wish I could ask for your guidance. Despite your grumpy attitude, I feel like your lessons helped me the most." She whispered, "I am scared, Acnologia. I am scared of what will happen, and how I can fix it without losing people I care about."
Porlysucia turned her head slightly, watching Lucy lift the hand that she grasped and pressed it against her forehead, eyes shut tightly closed.
"She is stronger than me, this much I know. Her experience and power triumphs over mine. Which means the only thing I have left to fight with is… my feelings." The laugh that left her lips was nothing short of broken, lost, a small girl clinging to someone she thought was invincible.
"You told me that I should never use my feelings to awaken the Scream. That it could lead to… insanity. But to protect my friends, my family, isn't that a price anybody is willing to pay?"
Porlysucia waited for what felt like an eternity, waiting with Lucy for an answer that never came. And turned to watch Lucy press her lips against Acnologia's hand, "I can never thank you enough for saving Natsu. And coming into my life when I needed you the most."
Lucy laid her head down on the bed, slouched over, and placed Acnologia's hand gently atop of her head. Porlyuscia stupidly felt tears prick at her eyes at how hopeless the sight was. When the hand slid off, landing on the bed softly beside her, Lucy shuddered so loud that Porlysucia could hear it.
Then in an uncharacteristic move, she walked over and placed her own hand on Lucy's head. The princess below tensed, but didn't move an inch, letting Porlysucia slide her hand through her hair once, twice.
"When are you leaving?"
"Ultear has been monitoring Igneel, Laxus and Zeref. Once they are asleep, we leave for the Stars."
"Come here before you go." Porlyuscia commanded, before sighing tirelessly, "Stupid little Banshee, thinking you can take on the world without proper supplies."
"Excuse me, old bat. But the only one who can call my princess names is me." Porlysucia glared at the intruder, taking her hand from Lucy's head as the mermaid glared venomously back.
Lucy laughed softly, wiping the tears from her eyes while straightening, "I'm glad you got my message."
"You didn't make it very private. Princess Scarlet has no sense of tact."
"Don't let her hear you say that." Lucy smiled up at the mermaid, "I need you to do me a favour, Aquarius."
"I don't do favours for spoiled brats that don't understand what danger is." Aquarius scoffed, "And I already have plans."
"You do?"
"Do you think I am blind, idiot girl? I have been watching you make this obscenely stupid plan for the last week and a half. I am planning on following you so you don't get your foolish self killed."
Lucy stared up at Aquarius before shaking her head, turning her head back to Acnologia's resting body on the bed.
"I need you to stay here."
"If you say it's to look after the comatose dragon, I am going to throttle you."
Porlyuscia snorted softly, amused at her words before turning away to tinker at her desk once more, giving the illusion of privacy between them both.
Despite it being her office.
"No. It's to look after Yukino and Acnologia."
"And why do you think I am qualified for the role of babysitter?"
"Yukino needs someone like Acnologia to keep her distracted. So mean, growly, and superior." Lucy explained with a small smile, "If she's busy, she has less chance of going on a blood-bender, she told me. I've managed to keep her distracted with other priorities but the minute she finds out about Acnologia…"
"It is not your job to look after strays, Lucy." Aquarius stated sharply, "You barely know the pair of them. They can look after themselves."
"Yukino has only known Acnologia all her life. He rescued her when she was only young. And now, he's dying. I can't ignore that, Aquarius." Porlysucia ignored the long stare off they had in favour of lighting some new candles, glancing over her shoulder when Aquarius sighed long, and loud.
"I am able to ignore your wishes Lucy." Lucy frowned, disappointment flowing over her features as Aquarius continued with a pointed, searching look.
"But I cannot deny my princess."
Before you say ANYTHING, yes, yes, yeS I know that Aquarius in canon would definitely NOT let Lucy go anywhere dangerous without her escort but dammit it's my own work and it's like, supposed to show how the loyalty to the princess is above all? Or something like that, I dunno, I just really want Yukino with someone that can boss her around and make her forget about dying Acnologia?
Protect Yukino.
Also, it's like, the CREW TM are gonna do shit. I mean, the mains will be there ofc but can you guess the two extra's that'll be there for the final battle? I doubt you can. You're all probably too gaping at this chapter in complete shock because I finally updated...
So yeah. About that.
I am speechless with how generally shit I am. I feel shit, I think shit, I AM SHIT PERSONIFIED. I am so so sorry for the ridiculous ass wait. I mean, I'm stunned at my own incapability to write any sort of drivel. And yes, I want to make a ton of excuses, like anxiety, the fact I grew a year older and that's kind of scary and how am I so damn old? and a ton of other things but there's no excuse for this.
I mean, I literally fell off the map.
I feel bad for all the messages you guys left me/ which I will now be reading and responding too.
But this story is getting FINISHED dammit. The next chapter, I promise, I PROMISE, will be out in four days.
You can count 'em. On the fourth day, Fresh will give you another chapter. I swear it.
I swear it on HAKYONA. And I don't joke about that shit.
If you're still around, obviously, I'm a horrible human being and deserve to be thrown on a bonfire of flames, so I don't deserve any reviews -
but it might be nice to... hear your thoughts? to see if you are still there?
I dunno, I feel like I'm scrambling at this point.
I'm so so sorry.
stay fresh (and apologetic)
xo freshprincess.