Hey guys! Kytrin here with your, belated, Wednesday update! I hope you all enjoy!
CHAPTER 46
Aye, Aye
A crew member says this to the Captain, meaning "I will get that done right away!"
Lucy smiled broadly as she practically skipped through her morning routine, eager for the day to begin. The preparations for her wedding had finally begun and she was nearly giddy with excitement. Her father had been a little reluctant at first. Because no matter how much he personally liked Natsu there was no denying her dragon was a pirate.
That had been before Natsu changed things completely. When King Jude had voiced his concern to the couple her beloved had simply smiled and calmly informed them that by their standards he was also a prince. A fact that had taken even her by surprise despite her time spent with Igneel.
She'd never made the connection that Igneel being called the fire dragon king actually translated to royalty. Dragon culture being so vastly different from human in so many ways. However, it seemed this was one thing there was consensus on. Igneel was, in fact, a ruler. Not just of his own nest, but of all fire type dragons. As the most powerful of them by default he dealt with any issues that affected fire dragons as a whole. And as not only his direct heir, but the one showing the most promise of following Igneel in strength, Natsu was in every way royalty.
It was a little mind boggling when she thought about it, but never for a moment was she upset at the revelation. And it had certainly had the intended effect. Her father had been swift to jump on that and cram it down his noble's throats when they tried to raise objections. It had been quite entertaining to watch actually. And not just for her.
Queen Grandine had arrived two days prior, and though the sky dragoness was far too polite to actually do so, Lucy couldn't shake the feeling she was biting back laughter every time she turned around.
"Good morning Grandine!" She greeted happily as she joined the dragoness for breakfast, "How are you this morning?"
"Very well child." Grandine chuckled, "You look to be in high spirits today. Is there a human wedding tradition happening?"
Lucy grinned at her, "Nothing exciting by dragon standards, but today's the day I get fitted for my dress." She replied as she helped herself to a hearty meal, "It's important for us that a bride be dressed in the best finery her family can afford."
"Hm, rather like having ones scales burnished for a special occasion then." Grandine mused, "That's often what we do when we wish to declare a bonding."
"I think that may be the simpler thing." Lucy laughed, "But I guess they don't have much in the way of dragon sized and shaped jewelry."
"Such a thing would be difficult yes." Grandine agreed in amusement, but frowned a moment later as the light abruptly dropped, "That's strange... I hadn't tasted any storms coming this morning."
"Really?" Lucy asked the dragon, sweeping over to the window and peering outside at the rolling clouds over the sea, "Heavy clouds indeed, they came on so suddenly!"
She looked at Grandine with concern, her hands settling near her waist, "Do you suppose Natsu will be fine out on these seas?"
"Yes sweet girl, he will be," Grandine settled her hand on Lucy's shoulder, although the corners of her eyes were tight with worry. She could see how the celestial maiden ached to take up her keys and rush out to possibly aid her betrothed, but also knew it was not possible for her. Not until she married Natsu would she be released from enough of her duties to free herself from the shackles of the castle walls and her duty to the people.
Still, the darkening clouds concerned her.
"Be at peace, The Tempest watches over the Fairy Tail and will keep her path swift until Natsu returns to you," Grandine pressed a light kiss into the crown of Lucy's golden hair.
"Now go, you have a fitting to attend to do you not? A beautiful gown for my son to gawk over, Yes?" Grandine laughed at the way Lucy's cheeks burned red. She nodded quickly and sank into a curtsey before bobbing her head and straightening.
"Then you must come with, my mother and father are attending a council meeting with the lords and ladies, and I need another set of eyes," Lucy smiled at her, good mood returning as she continued her spirited steps down the hallway. Helpless to deny her new daughter-in-law something as simple as a fresh set of eyes, Grandine laughed and followed her at a more sedate pace.
For the princess's privacy though, she lingered just outside the door to wait for her to be fitted into her new gown. With as excited as Lucy was, it was bound to be quite the thing to see.
And it truly was. Lucy ran her fingers over the beautiful white gown, her heart beating against her rib cage with every breath she took. It was perfect, with gorgeous stones sewn into the gossimar fabric, and layers of tulle and satin for her skirt. Her bodice was embroidered with twisting and gorgeous threading, shimmers of gold and silver flashing in the light.
She spun in her mirror, pleased with the result and turned to the door to call Grandine back in.
Only to stop at the sudden dark figure which stood behind her, too close for proprietary or for her to react in time.
Her keys rested on the side table near the dress she had worn prior. And she gathered her skirts to swiftly turn around and glare at her intruder.
"Who are you!" She hissed at him, eyes falling over the handsome face and dark eyes of the intruder. He was tall, with long hair that fell down his back and various tattoos which spiraled over his skin. He was cloaked, and Lucy noticed he seemed to favor his left side where it appeared as if he was missing a part of himself.
"Fear not Princess Lucy, I have not come to harm you," The man rumbled, stepping towards her even as she made moves to get away from him, "My name is Acnologia, the Destroyer, the god of war, fire and power"
Lucy swallowed, every instinct in her screaming that something was amiss something was not right about this. Her eyes flashed towards her door where she knew Grandine was standing just outside.
However if this truly was a god paying her a visit, there was nothing her mother-in-law could do to stop him. Acnologia had a reputation for being ruthless in getting what he desired and didn't hold a high opinion of anyone who worked against him.
She couldn't put Natsu's mother at risk, and without her keys she had to play this more canny than her sharp tongue typically allowed.
Lucy swept into a curtsey, never taking her eyes off the god.
"Apologies for the suspicion m'lord Destroyer, I was startled," Lucy lied smoothly, "To what do I owe the pleasure and honor of your personal visit?"
"I have come to see you princess, that I might present my offer of honorable courtship and marriage." Acnologia replied evenly bowing his head and presenting her with a prettily wrapped box, "You may not realize it, but you are worthy of being a goddess, and I would be honored if you would consent to be my queen."
Lucy gaped at the god in shock. He was asking for her hand in marriage? She could hardly believe it. Was this some kind of joke?
"Just what are you playing at sir?" She demanded, torn somewhere between stunned, horrified, and outraged, "If you're truly a god then you should already know that my hand is not free for the asking!"
Acnologia stared at her with enough genuine shock she began to feel some remorse for her outburst. It seemed that god or man she'd caught him by surprise. Though how a god could be caught by surprise she had no idea.
"Your... hand is not free?" Acnologia asked stiltedly, as if he couldn't believe his ears, and abruptly his expression darkened, "To whom is it promised?"
Lucy felt her temper start to rise, annoyance at his presumption flashing through her, "That is hardly your concern." She replied tightly, "My affairs are exactly that, my own. I regret that I must turn down what was clearly a heartfelt approach, but you presume too much if you think you can accost me in my dressing chamber the day I am trying on my wedding dress, and demand aught of me!"
Her eyes narrowed, "Now, kindly take yourself away before I call for the guards. I am not free for you or anyone else to pursue."
Acnologia drew in close to her, fire and smoke burning in his eyes, "Do not mistake me for the lords that you may easily dismiss Princess, I came to you cordial and polite, with gift in hand and my heart extended to you. I did not come here to be humiliated and dismissed without even a show of respect."
Lucy blinked at the turn of his temper, realizing perhaps her mouth and sharpness of her tongue may have run away with her in the face of a god. However she held still and met his eyes.
"I apologize for any offense you may have taken, however it does not change my stance. I am promised to another man whom I love very much," Lucy said calmly, "I must insist on your departure, otherwise the guards—"
"—will stain your pretty little bedchambers scarlet with their blood," Acnologia cut her off, his expression unmoving. He stalked away from her, and in that moment Lucy quietly reached her hand up to sneak her keys to hide behind her back. She tucked them into the sash at her waist, her mouth going dry. His god was every ounce as violent and angry as he was rumored, and she had just offended him.
She did not doubt the gods ability to punish her guards with a merciless ferocity either.
"Your betrothed," Acnologia spoke up, "He is not here, is he?"
At Lucy's silence, the god took it as confirmation and he smiled, "He isn't. Is he? How foolish, leaving his bride unguarded."
"I am hardly unguarded sir," Lucy snapped back coldly.
"Perhaps not," He allowed, "But you are not married to him yet, and still his claim could fall through on you."
Acnologia turned towards Lucy, "I will bring war to the very doorstep of your kingdom Princess. I will flood the streets of your hometown with blood as the innocents weep for mercy."
He took her chin in his hand, a cruel smile flashing over his face at her wide eyes, "Your parents will be torn asunder, you will be hunted down where not even your precious betrothed will find you — save for the day I bring his severed head to you, wrapped neatly to rest on your lap."
Lucy stared at the god in shock, at how he seemed to relish in the fantasy of ruin and destruction. Of how he seemed to live for the domination and power he was holding over her head.
"All can be avoided, if you marry me," he purred.
"Even if you were content with letting your people fall to war and your home crumble, I doubt you will want to suffer the loss of your soulmate," Acnologia hissed, lip curling in disgust, "because you should know Princess. Deep in your heart, you know me. You know what I will do to him when I find him. And you know I will delight in seeing your champion fall."
"You are every bit as foul as your reputation suggests." Lucy whispered back, sickened at his words, "That you would even consider the murder of innocents for the sake of forcing my hand... that you would even force my hand in such a way." She shook her head, "There aren't words for brutes such as you."
"Call me what you will princess." Acnologia replied, not at all apologetic, "War itself is brutal, and I will not hesitate to do what I must to ensure my victory."
"You go to far." Lucy replied, bile rising in her throat at what she was about to do, "And yet I am aware you will not hesitate to follow through your disgusting threats against my family and kingdom." She glared at him in disgust, "So though I would sooner lay with a viper than consent to be your wife, I am left with little choice but to accept."
A look of pure delight crossed his face and Lucy's already frayed temper snapped.
"Do not mistake this destroyer!" She snapped furiously, "I do this only for the sake of those you would wantonly slaughter!"
"And yet my tactics worked did they not?" Acnologia smirked.
"Aye." Lucy hissed, "You have successfully forced my hand. Congratulations destroyer, you have forced a woman you profess to love into the position of betraying her own heart for the sake of her people. And in so doing have earned her undying hatred. I hope you are happy with that." She stepped up to him, "Just as I hope you will be happy with the knowledge that your bride to be does not come to you willingly, and when you force her into your marriage bed you will be no better than any other rapist!"
"We shall see about that when the time comes Princess," he took her wrist in his hand, yanking her towards him, "But know this. You have pledged yourself to the god of war. There is no longer any escape for you from me, in any lifetime. You will marry me."
He smirked in victory, his magic whipping up around them in a dark funnel. Lucy gasped at the sensation of the magic curling around them, looking towards the door for fear of the family she would leave behind.
As if summoned by her thoughts alone, the door opened to reveal a concerned looking Grandine.
"Lucy darling, did your hair get stuck on a button?" She called out, but froze at the sight of the god getting ready to steal her daughter in law away.
"No!" Grandine roared and rushed towards the god, only to be thrown back by an arch of powerful magic. The dragoness slammed into Lucy's dresser but quickly climbed to her feet.
Too late however, Lucy's eyes spoke an apology as the god disappeared with his reluctant bride.
—::—
Lucy gasped as she woke from a cold sweat, her hands trembling as the memory washed over her and shook her from the inside out. The fear from her dream lingered like the plague, and she couldn't get rid of the feeling that there was something very wrong burgeoning on the horizon.
Natsu stirred from her sharp movement, a drowsy sound dragging from his throat. His arm laid comforting and warm over her middle, and he pulled his head up onto her hip.
"Lucy?" He asked, half awake but with growing alertness, "Wha's the matta?" He slurred.
"Natsu!" She gasped and laid her hands on his cheeks and jerked his face up to hers. He yelped at the motion and struggled to balance himself with his cheeks mashed together, but it did an excellent job in waking him up.
"I had a bad dream," She whispered to him, her eyes glowing with the faint light Natsu associated with her wakening divinity, "It was the day Acnologia took me away from you. When I was preparing for our wedding day."
"Oh hell." Natsu breathed, and wrapped his arms tightly around her, "That's not gonna happen this time Luce. I promise."
"No." Lucy shook her head, despite automatically relaxing into his embrace, "I mean, I'm glad it's not, but that's not the problem."
Natsu frowned a little, "I don't understand."
Lucy took a breath, trying to organized her scattered thoughts, "That dream wasn't just a dream or a memory." She told him, aware she sounded a little crazy, "It's a warning."
"A warning?" Natsu asked, "A warning of what?"
Lucy shook her head, "I don't know. But Natsu I swear I'm not kidding about this. My memories... some of them were more than just that. Things have happened afterwards related. I had a dream about meeting Igneel and dragon culture the day we visited Galuna." She met his eyes, "It was the day you introduced us when I was a princess."
"Yeah okay, but you knew you were going to Galuna by then right?" Natsu asked, not really doubting her, but not really sure what to say either.
Lucy shook her head, "Please trust me on this Natsu? I know something is very wrong. And that memory was a warning."
Natsu smiled at her, "Trust was never a question cap'n. You say it's a warnin' it's a warnin'. What do we need to do?"
"We have to get back to the ship." Lucy replied as she flung the covers off, shivering a bit in the cold, and got up to get dressed, "Right now."
"Now?" Natsu asked, though he was already getting up to pull his clothes on, "But you remember what Lyon said about travel at night on the way back down the mountain right?"
"We have to risk it." Lucy insisted, "The longer we stay the worse it'll get."
She bent over to grab her boots and hissed a little as her head throbbed, rubbing it irritably as she sat back down to pull them on.
Natsu shot her a sharp look when she shook her head, knowing they were out of time. If her memories were returning with a certainty and feeling she wouldn't question, then it was only a matter of days at most before her memory fully returned.
A scream from outside shook Natsu from his thoughts though, and he jerked upright from where he was tying up his own boots.
He sprinted to the window and looked outside, just in time to see Meredy being dragged outside by her hair and screaming bloody murder.
"Shit!" Natsu swore as he rushed to the door, reeling back as a wall of ice frosted from under the door to form a barrier several feet thick. Natsu slammed into it, an angry roar bursting from his chest.
"Stay in here for your safety. They have magic sealing stones, and we can't risk you losing the piece you labored to get," Ultear's voice was muffled from the other side, "This doesn't involve you. The villagers finally want their pound of flesh from my family, and we aren't going to let them get it from you."
"Sorry, once it's safe the ice will melt, take the mountain path straight down. It'll take you to the port." Lyon hissed, a hurried whisper before his feet thumped away with his sister's to draw the villagers ire.
Natsu punched his fist into the ice, the powerful magic from both siblings holding strong against his assault, "Damn it!"
"Natsu look," Lucy was staring back out the window, seeing how Lyon had rushed to the aid of his fiancé, only to be struck down with something clamped around his wrists.
Ultear, regal and with her head held up, merely lifted her hands to accept her cuffs, not once protesting her treatment as they shoved her to her knees.
She supposed if the woman was going to meet her death, she chose to do it with her dignity intact.
"Where's Juvia?" Lucy hissed, throwing on her jacket and snatching up her keys. Already she could see Natsu considering smashing straight through the wall and ignoring whatever magical enchantments The Fullbusters might have placed over their home to withstand against war and elements.
Her question was swiftly answered when the woman was dragged out from the pen where she had been quietly tending to one of their mounts which had sustained a hurt paw on their trek. She struggled in their hold, blue hair curled in her face as she was dragged out to the front of the crowd.
"Wait," Natsu whispered, "What're they doing with her? If it was just The Fullbuster's they wanted—"
"Natsu look!" Lucy grasped at his shoulder and pointed towards where Juvia was kneeling with her arms tied up behind her back. The goddess glared up at the mortals, but in her current form was just as hindered by her magical restraints as the others. But she had seemed to notice the same thing Lucy had, that Natsu missed.
"What is it?" Natsu asked, utterly clueless to what Lucy was seeing.
"Their eyes, can't you tell?" Lucy asked him, utterly baffled that his sharp eyesight was failing him, "They are burning red like coals. They're being corrupted, the anger and darkness in their heart is being pushed to the surface."
"Lucy, I can't see nothin' like that, but I'll take your word for it," He growled and yanked his hands hard against the window panes.
He froze when there was something he did notice. Something that Lucy's divine eyes had missed. Something that was his long ago.
A broken fragment of a golden key passed from villager to villager, until the head man held it before Juvia's kneeling form.
Juvia stared at it with wide eyes, and for a moment Natsu knew he could see genuine fear in her eyes. The key which could weaken a god enough to be killed. It dangled before her in enemy hands, and Natsu could suddenly remember Gray's trusting face in his mindseye.
He let out a furious roar, bellowing loud enough to dislodge the ice from trees and make the snow laden mountain tops rumble threateningly. He let loose the warning to the crew and the sign to Sting, letting them know something bad had just happened.
"That scurvy rat!" He raged, "He knows!"
"What?" Lucy asked only for her own eyes to widen as she got a look at the glint of gold, instinctively recognizing what it was, "No..."
She stuffed the relic into her bodice, ignoring how it pressed uncomfortably against her skin, "We have to get out there and help!"
"On it." Natsu growled as he balled his fist and ignited it.
"No!" Lucy yelped before he could slam it into the ice, "Do that and you could blow up the whole house!"
"So what'm I supposed to do?" Natsu demanded, "That ice ain't budgin' otherwise."
"We'll see about that." Lucy snorted and pulled out her keys, "Open! Gate of the golden bull!"
"You called Mmmmmmiss Lucy?" Taurus grinned he appeared, "And may I say you're looking mmmmighty fine!"
"Not available Taurus." Lucy smirked, "And we have work to do!"
"Yes ma'am!" Taurus grinned as his stardress sparkled into being around her, "It'll be a real pleasure fightin' with ya properly again!"
Lucy flashed in a grin, a faint trickle of guilt working through her. He was one of her favorite spirits, though she'd never tell him that, and she didn't get to call on him often out at sea. His strength showed best on land, where she rarely was.
However, now wasn't the time to dwell on it. She flashed Natsu a grin, a flush of pleasure winding through her as he grinned toothily back and stepped aside. She raised her hand and cracked her whip down sharply, "Earth wave!"
There was a visible crackle of energy as the two magics collided, and Lucy grit her teeth against it, pushing with all her might, until finally there was a sharp crack in the ice. She pulled back as she watched the crack spiderweb outwards until it was impossible to see through the clear ice.
"Now Natsu!" She cried.
"You got it Lucy!" Natsu roared as he ignited his fist and smashed it into the center crack as hard as he could.
There was a heartbeat of stillness and then all of a sudden the ice shattered in an explosion of steam and water. They were through. Natsu grinned fiercely for a moment before turning his glare on the man with the key.
"Hey! Asshole!"
The man paled a little at the sight of an angry Natsu, but before he could react Natsu had sprinted over to him and smashed him firmly in the cheek, snatching the key fragment out of the man's hand as he did.
"Not a chance in hell pal." He growled as he turned to check Juvia, "You alright?"
He planted his feet squarely and glanced back at Juvia, who gave him a weak look, "Natsu, the key..."
Before he could register what she was referring to however, Natsu felt a shiver run over his body, shaking him from the waist down. His eyes went wide and he dropped, his legs disappearing into a tail as Juvia's weakened state made itself known.
He hissed in pain as he collapsed into the snow, his tail freezing against the ice.
"Natsu!" Lucy cried out and aimed to guard his side as he frantically searched through the snow for the key fragment he dropped from his sudden collapse.
"Yeah yeah I'm on it! It's a little hard to reign this sucker in once it has a target!" Natsu growled, his teeth grinding and chattering as he searched. Fish did not do well while beached and in snow, Natsu had taken his legs for granted.
The villagers circled around them, Lucy cracking her whip to keep them at bad as Natsu's hands melted paths in the snow to find the fragment. However her eyes were on the horizon, and the black clouds which were quickly rolling towards them.
"Natsu hurry!" Lucy cried out, just as his palms closed around it.
"Got it!" He cried out and pulled the key to his chest. He closed his eyes, trying to quell his tremors as Lucy caused the earth to shake. Juvia collapsed next to Natsu, her body prone and unmoving. She was turning a dangerous shade of white. It was clear by the villagers intents, they were aiming to kill her to ascend.
Natsu warmed the key with his magic, a warmth filling him from within as he felt its familiar power drift over him and settle like an old friend.
"Withdraw," he breathed to it, feeling the magic coil like a snake, pulling away from where it had attached to Juvia and sliding back through the air to return to the key.
He felt Juvia stir next to him, her strength returning enough for her tail and subsequently his to as well. But not fast enough for dark shapes to emerge from the hills, coordinated marching with a dark figure leading the front.
"Acnologia," Lucy breathed.
And that's the chapter my loves! I'd like to give a huge shout out to our lovely reviewers for this chapter. You guys were truly amazing despite having a day less to review lol. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite enough to get us more than 22/30 reviews for the preview despite the few extra hours between yesterday and now. I promise, we'll make sure we're on top of the Sunday update so you guys get a better shot next time! Until then, you guys take care and we'll see you Sunday! :)
