Hello again. I updated once more. This chapter is a lot more lovey-dovey just to develop more a bond between Natsu and Lucy but don't expect it all the time. Next chapter will probably be like that too. But anyway, Enjoy!
Pink. Lucy's favorite color is pink. My hair's pink. I wonder if she likes my hair too. The thought filled Natsu's head. He wasn't so sure why he was so stuck on that fact, but he was. He had meant to be finding Wendy. He shouldn't really need to find her. He knew the places she would be. But his head was so occupied that it seemed like he was simply wandering around aimlessly without making any progress.
Natsu headed across the camp still thinking, but not of what he was previously hung up on. Now the marvel of how Lucy's favorite color being the color of his hair was out of his mind and his thoughts were brought to the several gold keys Lucy had. Natsu wasn't completely ignorant. He knew even one gold key was extremely valuable and extremely hard to find. So for Lucy to have around ten of them was really strange. Really really strange. He couldn't help but wonder how she got them. A million possibilities ran through his mind, but not of them seemed to fit. Strangely, the thoughts made him remember something his father had told him about. Natsu focused on the memory to see if he could make it clearer in his mind.
"Did you always travel alone Igneel?" Natsu asked. Natsu was much shorter back then. His body was thin, and while it wasn't quite so muscular, it was clear he was an active child. His pink hair was shorter back then, but messier. His face was smeared with dirt and shone brightly with the ignorance of a child. "I would think that would get pretty lonely." The handsome fiery haired man patted young Natsu's salmon head of hair. He smiled a charming and toothy smile, one that Natsu would soon begin to mimic unintentionally.
"No. Even solo adventurers needed a Key Keeper or they'd cease to get anywhere. And I had the best. She was smart, brave, and kind. She had thirteen very valuable gold keys. Yet, she never used them. Instead, she made us search all over Earthland for undiscovered gold keys. We found many and defeated many rooms with amazing treasure and powers." Igneel told him. Natsu listened in awe. He himself began to admire the woman he'd never met. But he noticed his father's look was sad. It was an expression he'd never really seen before on the man.
"What happened to her?" Natsu looked up to Igneel with his onyx eyes wide and glossy expecting the worst. Surely, if she was still alive Igneel wouldn't have that look. Something must've happened.
"She got married to a nice man and moved into a big house. She never enjoyed adventuring as much as me. I knew that. She always wanted a family. She wanted to settle down." Igneel told Natsu. He looked up at his father. His face sad in remembrance. Natsu was confused. He didn't understand why his father was so sad if she was still alive and happy.
"Did you love her?" Natsu asked with his eyebrows furrowed in cute confusion trying to understand. "She was your only friend and she left you?" Igneel's eyes widened slightly with an emotion Natsu couldn't place. He gave a pained simper and looked down at the young boy.
"I don't think so Natsu. I don't think I loved her the way you're thinking." Igneel stated. Natsu furrowed his small eyebrows even more. He didn't understand what he meant by that.
"She wasn't a friend?" Igneel laughed.
"No, Natsu, I certainly considered her a friend," Igneel said.
"Well, aren't you supposed to love your friends?"
"Yes, Natsu, you should love your friends. But you see, it was a different kind of love." Igneel tried to explain.
"A different kind of love? What other kinds of love is there?" Natsu said still not understanding.
"Well, there's the love I feel for you Natsu that's different from what I feel for a friend. It's a fatherly love. The kind of love you feel for your family. This love is similar but closer than that of a friendly love." Igneel said.
"So you loved her like family?" Natsu asked. Igneel sighed.
"No, there's another kind of love, but I'm afraid you're too young to understand," Igneel said.
Natsu frowned with unsatisfaction. Igneel scratched Natsu's head. He handed something to Natsu. Natsu held it up. It was a gold key. The top of it was shaped in a similar fashion to a flame. In the middle was a red gem that was involved in the gold flame shape. The bottom was a pointed arrow-shaped with a swirled design coming off of it. Natsu held it tightly in his palm and looked up at Igneel.
"Keep this with you. If you become an Adventurer one day and find a loyal Key Keeper, you can give this to them. It's from someone very important. Cherish it. Keep it safe, Natsu. You should protect the things you cherish."
Natsu pulled the string that always sat around his neck from where it was hidden by his scarf. The key reflected the light from the sun. Natsu sighed. He debated whether he should give it to Lucy. No one else knew he had it. It was his secret. Really the only secret he kept from Fairy Tail. Something he cherished and wanted to keep for himself. Maybe there was a similar reason why Lucy kept her keys a secret. Maybe she was afraid of something. It didn't take Natsu long to decide he'd give the key to her. He felt strangely drawn to her. He knew he could trust Lucy. He just had that feeling deep in his chest.
Natsu realized he'd been standing still. He quickly continued walking. Suddenly, he had a thought. He should give Lucy a gift to. He found Lucy first, so he shouldn't let the others have all the credit. He wanted to get her something special. But he wasn't sure what she liked. He remembered how Lucy often looked up at the sky whenever it was dark. She'd gaze at the stars. With that in mind, Natsu decided he would go into town and look for something after talking to Wendy.
Natsu stopped the makeshift tent Wendy made to make her medicines and such. Natsu crouched down and went inside to find Wendy. Wendy smiled at Natsu as he came in.
"What up Natsu?"
"I need some pain medicine for Lucy. The training yesterday made her really sore." Natsu said. She frowned.
"I'm all out." Wendy sighed. "That's fine I'll make some and give it to her later. It probably better she holds off having it anyway. Its effects are still strange. I haven't figured out another more effective remedy."
"Great Wendy. Oh, and Lucy's favorite color is pink." Natsu said.
"Oh right, I have to make the ink. Pink's a hard request." Wendy said in dread of the work to come. She still managed to give a genuine smile. "It'll be done by the end of the day."
"Thanks, Wendy. I'd help but I've gotta head out. See ya later." Natsu waved and left without letting Wendy say goodbye. He grabbed a pouch of jewel that he'd saved up over the years. He headed in the direction of town, determined to find Lucy a present that was better than the whip the others got her.
The town was more crowded today that it had been. Natsu couldn't wait to get moving again. They'd been in this town for too long. The only place he really didn't mind staying for extended periods was Magnolia, anywhere seemed to just get old. They'd stayed at that camp for about a month. They were in a bit of a slump. Now that they had Lucy, it wouldn't be long till they had some actual adventure instead of just traveling and doing side jobs to make money. The thought made him eager.
Natsu pushed through the herds of people trying to find the string of outdoor gift shops he'd seen the other day.
He spotted the colorful wooden signs overhead and went in that direction. The first shop he came to was run by a stubby old man. He was selling pots and vases of various sizes and shapes. Natsu was pretty sure that Lucy didn't need a vase or wanted one, but he looked through them just to be sure. He waved to the old man and went to the next that was selling painted rocks that were scarily overpriced. Natsu decided to skip over that one too. A rock wasn't exactly an excellent gift. He stopped at looked at all of the shops, but nothing jumped out at him. He still had no idea what to get Lucy and the only thing he knew that would help him was that she liked the color pink and maybe likes stars.
Natsu was debating giving up. He hadn't had any luck and he definitely didn't want to miss Lucy's party. Maybe he could come back tomorrow and find something. It would give him more of an opportunity to find out what Lucy liked. But after thinking it over he decided it wouldn't be as special that way. He should give her something from the heart. He really wanted to show that he appreciated her and that he was glad she was joining the guild. She didn't seem too convinced of that yet. Natsu didn't really know why she was being so stubborn about it. Maybe it had something to do with her gold keys.
He wandered around a bit more. The clocktower up ahead read four. He wasn't sure exactly when the party was supposed to take place. He thought they'd planned on around five. He eyes caught something that reflected the light from the sun. It gleamed from where it was on display. Natsu, with a bit more hopeful than before, walked towards it. It was a pair of rosy pink crystal heart earrings. He dug through Lucy's appearance in his mind to confirm her ears were pierced before getting too hopeful. He noted the small diamond earrings she wore. He looked around at the other earrings. Once again, his eyes spotted something that popped out at him. A pair of gold star-shaped earrings. Natsu's eyes went back and forth between both trying to decide which one Lucy would like better. Pink or stars. Pink or stars. Why can't there just be pink stars? The woman behind the counter watched him with a fond smile.
"Are you getting a present for a special someone?" She asked. Natsu looked up at the women and nodded.
"Yeah, but I'm not sure which one she'll like better. The stars or the pink hearts." Natsu stated. The woman laughed.
"You know it's buy one get one free." Natsu grinned.
"Really?" Natsu was beaming. It was perfect. That way if she didn't like one there was a chance she'd like the other and if she liked both that would be even better.
"Yes, but you have to buy the more expensive one and those Rose Crystal earrings are quite expensive." She informed him. Natsu shrugged.
"How much?" Natsu asked.
"20,000 jewels." She stated. Natsu's eyes widened a bit. He opened the pouch and quickly counted how much worth he had. 150,00 jewel worth was what he counted off his life savings. He'd planned on paying for a custom sword, but he guessed he could wait a little longer. He pulled out the money he needed and handed it to the lady. She smiled.
"She must be one lucky girl." She laughed and placed both earrings into on box larger sized box and placed it in a paper bag. She handed the bag to Natsu. "Have a good day."
"You too." Natsu smiled and waved goodbye. He cheered silently in his head, pleased with his success. Natsu walked the streets some more the bag tightly held in his hand. He stopped where he was when he heard a familiar name. The people's voices echoed quietly from the alley. Natsu listened closing. He tracked their voices and listened as new ones popped up.
"They say Lucy Heartfilia was spotted nearby the other day."
"Yeah, that's right at a weapon shop."
"I can't believe they lost her."
"Apparently she got some help."
"Yeah, some guy with pink hair they say."
"Sounds like a lot of bull if you ask me. Probably wasn't even the right girl. How'd he even know what she looks like."
"Must've gotten ahold of one of those rumored sketches of her."
"How do you even know those sketches are accurate."
"They come from an inside source. A worker from the Heartfilia Estate. But there's no telling whether or not that story's genuine. There's no way to know for sure the pictures are real unless you find Lucy Heartfilia."
"They cost a big buck. They'd better be."
"It's a small price to pay compared to how much those keys are worth."
"I'm just surprised they weren't used yet."
"Yeah, if I knew they'd give me that much money I'd want to use them right away."
"The keys are very rare and valuable though, which means the rooms are super dangerous."
"You'd be better off selling them and getting money the safe way."
"But the treasures you'd find in those rooms would be enough to house all the homeless in earthland!"
Natsu realized he'd been biting his lips and could taste blood. Were they talking about Fairy Tail's Lucy? They must've been. If that was the case then Lucy had bigger reasons for keeping her keys a secret. Everyone under the sun was looking for them, looking for her. Did she think that if she told us we'd take the keys from her or force her to open doors for us?
Natsu understood that they hadn't gained her trust yet, but she should know that Fairy Tail wasn't that kind of Guild. Why was she joining us if she felt that way? She could've refused. Or maybe she felt safer. Maybe she was using Fairy Tail as a means of protection. Maybe she didn't like them at all and was simply using them. Natsu shook his head. No, he knew that wasn't the case. Lucy was a part of Fairy Tail now. A part of his family. He'd protect her, no matter who many enemies she had or how much trouble she might get in. He'd do that for anyone in Fairy Tail.
Natsu stepped into the alleyway. His face cold and stern. He looked at the group of five men. They all were much bigger that Natsu but that didn't intimidate him in the slightest. Natsu may not look it but he was strong and could put up a good fight. As soon as someone underestimates him, that's when they lose.
"Hey who are you." A sandy-haired man asked. Natsu kept approaching.
"Hey, that guy has got pink hair. Is he the one that helped Heartfilia escape?" A dark-skinned man asked.
"Tell me what you know about the people who are looking for Lucy," Nasu demanded. The men laughed.
"So it is him." A ginger-haired man stated. "He thinks he's a tough guy."
"We'll show him tough." A man with shaggy black hair stated. The black-haired man swung at Natsu. Natsu held up his hand and stopped the fist.
"Tell me what you know or I'll have no choice but to beat it out of you," Natsu growled throwing down the man's fist. The men stood surprised for a moment, but then they all came at him at once. Natsu dodged the attackers' defenses with artful movements.
The attackers were determined and never stopped their attempts to hit him. Natsu was punched in the stomach, but he couldn't afford to stop because of one mere hit. He needed to get off of defensive. He hopped out of the group of men for a second taking a quick breath and letting them pursue him. This time instead of just dodging, Natsu found every opportunity he could to hit whoever he could. He only needed one of them conscious.
The fight dragged on longer than Natsu wanted. The men were quite tougher than Natsu at first thought, but they still weren't gonna win. Natsu knocked out the second to last man. If he had his sword this would've gone a lot faster but it was too late now. Natsu approached the last man. He grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and brought him to his face.
"Tell me what you know." Natsu spat. A man shook scared and avoided eye contact his Natsu's fierce gaze.
"All I really know for sure is that Phantom Lord is leading the search for Miss Heartfilia. There are some solo adventurers and smaller guild looking for as well, but Phantom Lord has the most information and is the most powerful. I wouldn't be surprised if they sent someone to town to search around for her and hear the rumors." The man said.
"Do you know what happened to Lucy's family? Why she ran away." Natsu asked.
"They say Phantom Lord burned down the estate with everyone in it. Jude Heartfilia is dead and gone for sure. Most of the staff perished in the fire as well."
"Why'd they burn down the house with Lucy inside. The keys would've been destroyed." Natsu said. The man shrugged. Natsu narrowed his eyes. With one swift punch, Natsu knocked the guy out.
Natsu was deep in the town. He was sure he'd missed Lucy's party. He still held Lucy's gift in his hand. He hoped Lucy's wouldn't be mad at him for missing it. The sky was dark and stars were scattered in it. It took over an hour or so to get back to where they'd decided to have the party. When Natsu got there, the others were passed out asleep in several random positions. The only one Natsu didn't see was Wendy who, since she wasn't old enough to drink, probably went to sleep back at camp.
Natsu headed over to where Lucy lay to the right of the fire. Her arm was used as a pillow and her gold hair was sprawled over her shoulder. The whip the others got her as a present was off to her side unraveled. Natsu approached her. He shook her lightly. She rolled over to face him. There was a small smile on her lips, but her face was tired. She yawned. She seemed to look past me at the stars a moment like he'd seen her do before.
"Natsu, you missed the party. Where were you?" Lucy mumbled. Natsu frowned in guilt.
"I know. I'm sorry, Luce. I was getting you a surprise and I ran into some trouble." Natsu explained briefly. He didn't want to tell her what the trouble retained. He had a feeling if she knew he knew about her, she'd push him away. He'd let her tell him and the others on her own time. Luckily, Lucy didn't question the trouble part at all.
"A surprise?" Lucy yawned the question. The cold wind blew and Natsu could see Lucy shiver.
"I'll give it to you tomorrow," Natsu assured a smile in his voice. "You can go back asleep." He could see how tired she was. She was still half asleep. Natsu turned to go, but Lucy grabbed his wrist. Natsu turned around and looked down. On Lucy's hand was a pink guild mark. She was truly a member of Fairy Tail. It was official.
"I'm cold Natsu." She informed. "Warm me up?" She asked. Natsu shook his head with a happy smile. He tugged off the scarf around his neck and draped it over her. Lucy snuggled into it.
"Thank you, Natsu," Lucy said sweetly, her eyes fluttering. She looked so peaceful and beautiful asleep there. Like all her troubles were behind her. Natsu stood over her for a few moments with a small smile.
"Welcome to Fairy Tail, Lucy Heartfilia," Natsu said softly. He turned around and walked back to camp. He gripped the exposed key around his neck. Tomorrow, he'd give her his father's key and his gift. Lucy was really a marvel to him. He was certain he'd never do this for anyone else. He wasn't sure what made Lucy different. Natsu wanted to protect her, wanted to make her smile, wanted her to trust him more than he did with anyone else. But Natsu was too dense to realize that yet.
Have a lovely day.
:)
Edited and Refined: 02-03-18
