Hello again. This chapter flips from the past to present a lot so be prepared. I think I'm going to do that now, but it won't always be the same people. This is my longest chapter so far. I tried to edit it better than I usually do, but if there's still some mistakes sorry. Hope you enjoy!
Mavis had been walking through the endless woods for as long as she could remember. She didn't know where she was going, she just walked and walked. Everything seemed to look the same after a while and time didn't really pass for her. As far as she could tell, the whole world was on pause. She wished for a change in scene, yet she didn't search for it. Something told her to just keep walking and she'd find what she was meant to find.
She wore a loose white sundress that a woman with soft eyes and worn, once sweet features had given her a long while back. The woman had found her naked wandering near her home in the forest. Mavis got her name from her. The woman had said Mavis was her late daughter's name, so she gave it to the young looking girl. Mavis only was with the woman for a month. Then something made her leave, that feeling she always had. She always began to feel anxious when she stayed somewhere too long.
Now she was alone again. With endless names and images of keys that she didn't know what to do with. They piled up in her mind, cluttering her brain. She didn't know how they all fit, but they did. She wished she could forget them and clear her mind of the information, but she knew she couldn't.
Around her neck was a white gold key that seemed to glow. Mavis had this with her always since the day she'd appeared in this world. She made sure not to take it off of her. It was apart of her. She feared without it she'd disappear.
One day, a day were she felt particularly feverish, she'd noticed a traveler in the woods. For once in a very long time, she stopped walking. She didn't feel the need to start up again once she did. Her being allowed her to. She pressed her bare toes into the grassy soil in anticipation. She watched him with glittering eyes concealed by a tree. Her soft pink lips parted a tad in amazement of the man to whom she felt so strangely attracted to.
He had short black hair, large dark onyx eyes with highlights of a deep creamy brown that in another like wouldn't be detectable, a slender frame, pale skin, and young features. He wore black harem pants and black strappy sandals. Around his neck, there was a pendant and a platinum key on a silver chain. His face looked drained but strangely content. His pale skin gleamed in the sunlight making him appear supernatural. Mavis was immediately drawn to him or perhaps it was the key. Though, who's to know the difference between the two, as Mavis was the key and the key was very much her.
Mavis's glossy emerald eyes skittered across the image of the man taking him in. She noticed a black smoke coming from the key hanging from his neck. No, it wasn't coming from it, but going into it. It came in faint whips of gray and created a thickness around the man. It almost undetectable to even her. Intrigued, Mavis approached him. But as soon as she took a step nearer, he began to walk faster. He hadn't seemed to have noticed her though. She was certain he hadn't seen her. Mavis quickly caught up with him before she could lose him.
Quickly tired of the childlike pursuit, she cut him off and stood in front of him so he could walk anymore. She small hands were pressed against her hips and first. She leaned forward slightly. Her long creamy yellow hair fell delicately in front of her swinging slightly while suspended in the air, and was the only indication she was leaning at all. The man's eyes widened like he'd just noticed her. He stood frozen in place.
The man's supernatural and entrancing demeanor was now almost completely gone. Now he looked like any man. However, the was anxiousness ridden in his toned muscles. Mavis shuffled forward, her arms falling gradually from her waist with each step. She reached out to the key on his neck and held it in her small hand. He seemed to wince as he did. His body tensed and his eyes twitched with confusion and irritation.
"Aether, the emptiness," The words crawled of her tongue. While the name of the key came to her without even meaning to, the words were strange in her mouth. She hadn't spoken in so long. She was surprised words could still be formed. "Do you have any more?" Mavis asked quickly. The man, taken aback, gave a strained nod.
"Show me,"
"No." The man clenched further, this time his teeth joined his muscles. "And don't touch that. It's dangerous." He said. Mavis gripped the key tighter in her palm before dropping it back to his chest stubbornly. She knew all too well it was dangerous. She also knew a mortal like him shouldn't be near it.
"Show me," Mavis demanded again. The man refused. But Mavis didn't need to see them. She could feel their presence. She closed her eyes. The images and names of the keys came to her almost instantly. Caeli, The Air. The image of a gold key with details of white and a pair of wings at its end. Metallum, The Metal. It had silver and bronze detailing twisting down the whole thing. Aqua, The Water. This key had light blue gems placed in patterns down it. The symbol of a wave was shown at one end. Terra, The earth. The key had bronze that wrapped around it then came off making a tree shape. Ignis, The Fire. The golden key had flame shaped details coming from it. Mavis noted he had some other less powerful keys with him as well.
"What are you doing?" He asked. Mavis opened her eyes to see the man scowling at her revealing delightfully pointed canines. The expression made him look like a territorial dog.
"You have all of the elemental keys with you?" Mavis asked surprised, ignoring the expression. "How did you obtain all of them?" The man stepped back away from her. He wore a snarl still, but it was subdued. Now his nostril flared only slightly, his lip raised the smallest amount, and his eyebrows scrunched together to create tiny hills of flesh.
"How do you know that?"
Mavis gestured to the key around her neck without explaining herself further. He let go of his scowl in order to look down curiously at her chest.
"I'll ask the questions here," Mavis said sternly. The man stared at the key around her neck for a long moment. It was clear he hadn't noticed it until Mavis pointed it out to him. Mavis shifted her body wait nervously. The long stare made her uncomfortable. She put her hand over the key and shot the man a glare. The man's eyes flicked upwards once more to look Mavis straight into her sparkly green eyes. "Tell me how you got those."
"I found them." The man said. Mavis waited for him to elaborate. He didn't say anything more. She glanced at Aether around his neck. The dark smoke continued to spill into it.
"It would be wise to give that to me,"
"And why's that?" The man took a small step backward and tightened his fists a bit. His chocolaty eyes shot her a sharp glare. Mavis ground her teeth. She shouldn't lose her patience if she was to get him to cooperate. She huffed out the air she seemed to be holding in.
"Because, like you stated before, it's dangerous," Mavis said. "It's draining the life from you. And from the looks of it, you don't have much longer before it drains you completely."
"It's my burden." He stated. "Besides, it's my right to have it."
"And why's that?"
"I'm a Key Keeper." It sounded familiar. Somewhere in her cluttered mind, she knew the term, but she wasn't able to dig it out.
"What in Earthland is that?"
"You aren't one then?" The man asked surprised. "Then why do you have a key? Unless you intend to sell it, in that case, I'll buy it from you." The man said. Mavis shook her head frantically.
"No, I'm not selling anything. Especially not this key. Now answer my question." Mavis demanded.
"A Key Keeper is simply that. Someone who can obtain and use keys to open rooms in towers and get power and treasure." The man said. But Mavis knew that already she just hadn't realized it. The information came to her now.
"A Key Keeper," Mavis said letting the information settle. Mavis nodded. She could sense it. The magical power that he had in him. It was unusual that he was alone. Usually, key keepers had companions.
"Yes. That's what I said." The man said annoyed. Mavis shook her head as if to clear away the topic.
"Back to my original question," Mavis said forgetting about taking Aether from him. "How did you find all the Elemental keys?" The man sighed. He decided to tell her, probably in hopes she'd leave him alone afterward.
"I found this one by accident a little over a year ago." He held the chain that held Aether before dropping it again.
"In the northern mountains after completing a Silver key tower. I was traveling on foot and the trek was exhausting. So I found a cave to rest in for the night. I started a fire and everything was normal for a bit. But it wasn't long until I heard this faint whisper calling to me compelling me towards its source. I ignored it for a while, but the resisting became too much and I followed the whispers" He held Aether in his palm lightly.
"I found this key deep in the cave in a stone. When I touched it I knew right away the thing was evil, but I couldn't leave it there. I physically couldn't leave it. Ever since I took it, it leads me to the gold keys all over Earthland. Along the way, I could feel myself draining. It wasn't long before I realized the key you called, Aether, was, in fact, draining the life out of me. Yet, I couldn't and still can't be rid of it. Sometimes it feels as if I'm losing my mind." The man looked at Mavis with a look she couldn't quite place.
"Its whispers fill my head, but somehow they don't now. My mind is unusually clear. The key was compelling me away from you and the whispers went on about a bright light that I should stay away from." He paused. "I would've avoided you completely. But you followed me."
"You found all six keys in a year?" Mavis asked, not wanting to address what he had just brought up. He nodded.
"Less than a year. It became an obsession to find them, even if I didn't know what it was I was finding. I couldn't take a break and I had to do it quickly. The whispers from Aether guided be in the right direction, and the key itself compelled me to keep going. They took me to some strange and dangerous places. Ignis was inside a volcano, for example, and Aqua at the bottom of the ocean's floor." He described.
Mavis put her hand on her chin. She didn't know Aether could do such things. If it could control the person to do things and fill their head with its own thoughts, it was far more dangerous than she had thought. Surely, the power it holds within its room is far more dangerous. Aether shouldn't be in mortal hands, that was very clear. But Mavis was not confident this man would let her take the key from him. She should at least supervise him and see if she could learn more information.
"May I ask your name?" Mavis asked. The man blinked surprised by the question. He debated whether or not to say for a long moment.
"It's Zeref." He said finally. Mavis took his hand and shook it. Her grip was light. She was taken aback by the coldness of his hand.
"I'm Mavis." She said. "You mind if I join you on your journey for a while. I think it would be wise to have a companion if you're going to be carrying around something so dangerous."
"Yes, I do mind."
"Is that you or Aether talking," Mavis asked.
"Both." Zeref said. Mavis put her arms on her hips.
"Well, unfortunately, neither you nor Aether, have a choice, "
"Who are you anyway?"
"Like I said," She smiled with a wickedness that didn't seem to suit her. "I'm Mavis."
Natsu and company had left Crocus two days ago and were fresh on their journey to Magnolia. Natsu had been there several times before with Fairy Tail. It was one of the places Fairy Tail visited more frequently. At the far end of town was a large empty building that Laxus always said that he'd buy for the guild as a headquarters once they completed their first tower. It was like a silly pipe dream then, but now, Natsu was sure it was possible. The fact that their first tower was in East forest just next to Magnolia was surely fate.
The guild had been walking a good amount of distance without breaks. Their excitement helped propel them forward. And after a while, it seemed that their bodies became numb to their soreness and tiredness. Even so, Natsu was thankful they decided not to take the train again because, despite Wendy's efforts, he was still quite queasy during the ride. He didn't want to tell her that though and make her feel bad.
Laxus decided against taking a train for many reasons. Firstly, the cost. Fairy Tail was running low on funds which happened a lot, especially since they were big spenders. Natsu was surprised Laxus was willing to say in a hotel in Crocus. Secondly, riding the train takes away from the adventure of it all. Surely, riding on the train wouldn't make the moment when they finally reached the town nearly as exhilarating. Thirdly, they needed plenty of opportunities to train. On a train, ironically enough, you can't train, well at least not efficiently.
With the fear of another train ride miles from his worries, other things were on his mind. Natsu hadn't been completely sure before, but now he was. He was hearing voices. At first, it was only a random whisper that barely able to be heard. Now they were more clear and happened more than before. No one else could hear them, so they must be in his head. The whispers were something like, Find the Keys, mostly. But sometimes it would be, You won't fail me like he did, or, Feel the life draining from you. Time is running out, or, My power could be yours, Natsu.
Natsu didn't like when it said his name. It sent shivers down his spine. However, the things they said allowed Natsu to conclude that they belonged to Aether. He didn't know keys could talk, but then again Mavis was technically a key wasn't she and she could do all kinds of things Natsu didn't think a key could do, including talking. Natsu was regretting agreeing to take the key. But even though he was regretting it, he knew he couldn't be rid off it. It became as attached to him as his scarf was, which was a considerably significant thing.
As for the draining, Natsu didn't seem to notice much. He wasn't ever more tired than usual or anything, but he did only have it for two days so far. From what Mavis had said, Zeref had it for a good amount of time. He wasn't complaining. The longer he didn't notice the effects the better. Mavis's necklace probably helped with that. However, the whispering was rather annoying. He found it troubling he could hear them already. He had thought it would take longer for them to emerge. He supposed they were more impatient than before. Natsu had a feeling it would become unbearable eventually, especially if he kept ignoring what it was telling him.
Things seemed to be moving rather quickly since he'd met Lucy. Natsu didn't mind it though. After all, he was always one for action. He wondered what the guild would've been doing now if Lucy never came into the picture. Possibly disbanded. Natsu wouldn't know what he would've done without Fairy Tail. It surely would've been a lot less fun and a lot more lonely. That's the main reason why Natsu was so grateful to Lucy.
Natsu and the others stopped to train for the day. Natsu was helping Lucy after much begging from her. He was hesitant at first. He hadn't really taught anyone before.
Lucy's form was pretty good, but she didn't have much strength yet. Natsu suggested she do daily workouts to build up her strength slowly. Lucy said it was a good idea, but Natsu could tell she wasn't too excited about it. He would have to make sure she actually did it and didn't "forget". He decided to teach Lucy a bit of sword fighting. It was important to know how to use many types of weapons even if it isn't your preference. This was something he learned from his father. Plus, he was most knowledgeable on this topic.
"Alright, Lucy," Natsu said, getting into a standard sword fighting position. Natsu usually did this instinctively and now that he was trying to think about what it was, it didn't come to him very easily. "Uh, just try to mimic what I'm doing right now." It was becoming clear to Lucy and Natsu himself that he wasn't a very good teacher. Erza, or even Gray, would've been a better option for this job. But Lucy asked him and he wasn't going to turn her down or let one of the others do the job instead. Lucy sloppily got into something that resembled what Natsu was doing. Natsu got out of his position and observed Lucy's. Natsu nudged Lucy to see how stable she was. She tumbled over slightly. Natsu bit his thumb.
"Depending on the style of fighting and sword, the way you stand, swing, and what techniques you use will differ. I don't really have a certain way I fight. I do it mostly instinctively. I learned the basics of sword fighting and different techniques from a lot of different fighting styles. This means my fighting is a lot more unpredictable. Which also makes it harder to teach you." Natsu explained, laughing slightly. "But I might be able to give you a few basic things." Lucy nodded.
"For this stance the hand that you have on top when holding the sword, so in your case, the right, is the leg is the leg you want to be forward, so the right leg. Your right foot should face forward. Your left foot should be at an angle. Both legs should be bent, but you left leg should typically be bent more." Lucy adjusted her stance to what he was describing. Natsu nodded in approvement. "The way you move your body should fit the way you swing. You should make your movements feel natural. This stance should be good for a simple swing in either direction and an up and down strike and some defensive moves."
Natsu went through how to do simple moves, having her repeat them several times. At first, Natsu wasn't sure he could really teach Lucy, but now he was doing pretty well. Lucy got the hang of all the basic things he'd shown her. Now, it was time to teach her when she should use these moves in battle.
Natsu and Lucy stood in front of each other in fighting positions. They waited to see who would take the first move. This was something he wanted Lucy to experience. The anticipation, patience, and trying to read your opponent. Natsu usually wasn't in that situation since he was the type to jump in with the first hit. Like Natsu wanted, Lucy struck first, bringing her sword down in a fast swift movement. Natsu blocked it almost as fast as it came and swung at Lucy. He struck at full speed but stopped himself right before the sword made contact with Lucy's side. Lucy blinked a few times in surprise.
"Wow, Natsu, you're fast." Lucy complimented. Natsu shrugged.
The two of them spared like this for the next couple hours until it was in the evening and the sun was lowering in the sky. The two of them walked beside each other to where the guild set up camp. Natsu wiped his sweaty forehead with his scarf and brushed back his pink locks.
"Good work today, Luce," Natsu said. Lucy smiled.
"Thank you." She said. "You taught better than I thought you would." Lucy's smile lingered on her lips.
"Thanks." He scratched the back of his head. He made a face. Natsu desperately needed to pee. "I'll catch up with you in a bit. I need to pee." Natsu told Lucy as he slipped away from her side and headed into the woods and little ways. She giggled to herself as she watched him scurry away.
...
Natsu peed for an unusually long time. He didn't know he needed to pee so bad. Natsu began to walk back into the direction of camp when something catches his eye in the distance. It looked like a large egg. Natsu suddenly got flashbacks from five years before. He'd found an egg in the woods that resembled the one he could see in the distance.
...
"Natsu, what in Earthland do you have in your shirt?" Gray asked. "You look nine months pregnant with triplets."
"Its an abandoned egg," Natsu said. "I'm keeping it warm."
"I've never seen an egg that big in my life," Gray stated. By this comment, the others were now all looking at Natsu with curious and confused looks.
"Forget keeping it warm, we should cook it." Cana laughed. Natsu gave her a death glare.
"No one is going to lay a hand on this egg!" Natsu growled. His eyes darted to each of the members threatening them with only a look.
"Natsu, it's only an egg. Don't get so worked up." Laxus stated.
"There's a living thing inside it guys," Natsu argued. "The poor thing was abandoned. It'll die without my help. Whenever it hatches, I'll give whatever's inside a home and a family."
"Aw, that's very sweet Natsu." Mira gushed. She pressed her palms together and placed them in from of her lips. Elfman nodded and patted him on the back with a strength that made him wince.
"A real man you're becoming, Natsu."
"More like a mom." Gray teased. Levy cleared her throat.
"I hate to tell you this Natsu, but there's a chance that egg isn't even fertile. Even if it is, if it was abandoned for a while it could be dead."
"You could make a very large cake with that egg if it isn't fertile," Erza stated. She stayed silent in a dreamlike state for the rest of the conversation, probably thinking about giant cakes. Natsu clenched his teeth but said nothing to the scarlet-haired woman in fear of her.
"It's gonna hatch. I'm gonna make sure of it." Natsu said storming off and holding the egg protectively.
Natsu rarely left the egg alone. He did everything he could to make sure it stayed at the right temperature and that it wouldn't crack. Several months passed without its hatching. Natsu still refused to believe that it wouldn't hatch. Finally, he accepted the truth. Teary-eyed, he buried the egg by himself without telling anyone. Since then no one really mentioned it, at least not in front of him. The topic was definitely a touchy one.
...
Natsu walked over to the egg. Upon closer inspection, he could see blue flame-like patterns on it. He placed his ear against it. He was sure he heard something inside of it. He grinned hopefully before hoisting the egg into his arms. He carried it back to the camp where the others, including Lucy, sat around the fire. His friends looked at him.
"Uh-oh. Natsu has another egg." Cana stated. Gray facepalmed.
"Natsu, haven't you learned your lesson from the last time?" Laxus asked stoically. His reactions to the group's hijinx were always that way, but Natsu imparticular. Running the guild must really wear the man down. Natsu crinkled his nose.
"No. I haven't." Natsu said a matter-of-factly.
"Natsu…" Levy sighed.
"There's a chance that there is something living inside the egg. And if I left it there with something living in it and that thing died because it didn't have anything to protect it, I couldn't live with myself." Natsu stated. Mira pressed her hands together; touched. Erza was in her cake dreamland again. Natsu really wanted to kick her in the shin to get rid of the thoughts.
"It's not gonna hatch," Cana stated taking a swig of her flask. This one was longer than they usually were. She was probably preparing herself for Natsu's fit that he was sure to have. Lucy, Wendy, and Gajeel exchanged looks. The three of them were out of the loop since they were newer members. Lucy stood up with a smile.
"I think it's super sweet, Natsu. I'm sure it will hatch and when it does it will be because of you." Lucy assured.
"Don't enable him," Gray said. Wendy stood now.
"I think it's good of Natsu." Wendy declared. Gajeel stared bored at the whole situation.
"This is ridiculous," Laxus said. "Natsu put the egg back." He was annoyed now.
"For all you know, it wasn't even abandoned and you just stole it from its mother. Which, from the size of that egg, is probably very large." Gray said.
"Guys. Stop bothering Natsu. He just wants to do the right thing. It won't bother you. Natsu can handle the outcome whether good or bad. He's done it before, without any of us." Mira reminded.
"Well, we're leaving tomorrow morning and walking for long stretches the next couple of days. It's your job to carry that thing around until it hatches if it ever will." Laxus said. Natsu nodded with a grim look on his face. He stalked off to where his sleeping stuff was. He created a small fire and wrapped the egg in his blanket to keep it warm. He watched it to see if there was any sign of life from it.
Mavis had been traveling with Zeref for a little over a month, though it certainly felt much longer. He hadn't gotten noticeably worse, from what Mavis could tell. He acted the same. He always seemed to be out of it and sleep deprived. Wearing the same empty expression. Mavis did manage to make him smile though. She could tell he was thankful for the company, even if he'd never admit it and definitely didn't act like he was.
Mavis and Zeref didn't try to complete any rooms together. They merely traveled from place to place. Mavis didn't completely understand Zeref's reason for this. Mavis suspected he was still trying to withstand Aether's compulsions to complete the Elemental rooms. She had no doubt the key wanted Zeref to finish them so he could unleash its power. Then again if the key wanted this, it shouldn't be draining Zeref.
It was a disabler but at the same it an enabler. The only way to get rid of the key was to complete its room or disappear into nothing as everything is drained from you. It was like an hourglass. The grains of sand slowly falling until there's nothing left and you have to flip it again. In the case of Aether, that would be to find a new person to complete its rooms. The thought made even Mavis shiver.
"Zeref. I'm bored." Mavis stated one afternoon. Zeref didn't say anything and kept walking. Mavis pouted at his lack of a response. It always took a lot to get something out of him. But in the end, Mavis would always come out successful. "You're great and all, but can get terribly lonely with only two people. And you never like to talk." Mavis took large exaggerated steps forward to pass Zeref.
"Well, you'd think you'd be used to being lonely. You traveled by yourself until meeting me isn't that right?" Zeref asked. Mavis stopped and did an about-face. Her dress twirled artfully along with her.
"That's a terrible idea," Mavis said. "Being used to loneliness."
"You didn't answer my question." Zeref stated looking past her. He walked around the stopped Mavis in his way.
"Yes, I did mostly travel alone," Mavis said catching up to him. "And I was lonely. I've decided it's one of the worst things. To be lonely." While she supposed that she had been lonely, at the time she didn't notice. She hadn't really known what it was like to have company, but now she was sure she'd be terribly saddened without it.
"Is that so?" Zeref asked. "I don't mind it. In fact, I think I prefer it."
"Ah, see. I was right it is a terrible thing." Mavis said. "You're used to being lonely."
"Believe it or not Mavis, some people want to be alone," Zeref noted.
"How could anyone want to be alone?" Mavis scoffed.
"Because maybe they find other people annoying and a waste of time." Zeref said a matter-of-factly.
"Are you trying to say you find me annoying and a waste of time?" Mavis put her hand on her hips and leaned back slightly to make herself look taller. Zeref looked at her from the corner of his eye. He gave a small smirk.
"Exactly." Zeref said. Mavis huffed.
"I think you like my company." Mavis gave a smirk of her own. "You just won't admit it."
"Keep dreaming." Zeref said. Mavis sensed something not too far ahead. They were keys. She could tell they were pretty powerful. Mavis rushed curiously ahead leaving Zeref in the dust with slight confusion dusted onto his otherwise stoic expression.
Mavis was met with two people. One was a middle-aged man with rusty hair and a strong build and the other was a pretty blond haired woman with starry eyes. The woman noticed her first. Her brown doe eyes widened and she smiled before tugging on the man's sleeve.
"We have a visitor." She informed him. Her voice was sweet and kind very much similar to honey. Mavis came forward and bowed in greeting.
"Hello, sorry to interrupt me and my traveling companion just happened to notice someone here and wanted to make friends. He should be here any second. He's a bit of a slow walker." Mavis laughed. She glanced behind anxiously seeing if he was in sight.
"It's really a pleasure." The woman smiled. "What's your name? I'm Layla and this is Igneel." Layla offered her hand to shake. Mavis took it.
"I'm Mavis." She said. As if on cue, Zeref came into the clearing. He gave Mavis a look of dread and almost turned around to walk back into the other direction. Mavis put her hands out to present him. "And this is Zeref."
"Nice to meet you. Are you a key keeper?" The man, Igneel, asked Mavis. His voice was a lot gruffer. His demeanor was a lot more careless than the polite woman.
Mavis shook her head. "No, but Zeref is. The key around my neck isn't one that can be used." Layla looked at Zeref for a long moment.
"That key. It's very powerful but it feels very sinister." Layla said. Zeref gripped the key protectively, learning his lesson from his encounter with Mavis.
"Mavis we should go." Zeref stated between his teeth. He tapped his foot impatiently. He looked like he was gonna combust.
"But we just got here. And these are the first people we've come across since I've joined you." Mavis said. She sat down around the fire. Zeref stood stubbornly apart from them. "You're a Key Keeper too, aren't you Layla. The keys you carry are pretty powerful as well." Layla nodded.
"Yes, you can say that."
"I can tell you about them if you'd like. It's a talent of mine." Mavis offered. Igneel gave Layla an urgent look. She didn't see it though. Layla shook her head.
"I'd rather not," Layla said. "I really don't mean to be rude, but I have to be cautious. There are people that would kill me for the keys I have." Mavis's eyes widened.
"No, of course. I understand. We've only just met after all." Mavis smiled. "There are truly awful people out there."
"Thank you for understanding." Layla smiled. "Would you like to stay around for dinner? Igneel caught several fishes today. We couldn't possibly eat all of them by ourselves." Igneel cleared his throat.
"Actually—" Igneel began to protest but Layla slapped him lightly.
"Actually, we should get going." Zeref stated. "It was rude of Mavis to intrude like that. If you're not careful she'll trick you into letting her travel with you." Zeref said grimly. The statement seemed more like an excuse to get away more than anything else.
"What there's no way I'd leave you, Zeref," Mavis argued. Zeref, however, didn't look relieved at all. He looked possibly even more troubled than before. "I need to keep an eye on you or you'll do something stupid."
"We really don't mind if you stay to talk for a bit. We haven't had the chance to talk to many people, especially another Key keeper. Most Key Keepers travel with a guild. So it's rare to see only a pair traveling together like we do." Layla insisted.
"See, they don't mind." Mavis smiled. "Don't be a downer Zeref. It's always nice to make new friends."
"Right . . ." Zeref scoffed.
Lucy was really impressed with Natsu. He's been carrying around that egg for the past three days and they've been walking all day with few breaks. Whenever they stopped to sleep, Natsu hardly left its side. She never imagined Natsu would take such initiative when it came to that sort of thing.
Lucy brought Natsu his food and took care of the egg when Natsu went to the restroom or when Lucy made him freshen up. She also gave Natsu company while he obsessed over keeping it warm or while he staggered behind the rest when walking because he didn't want to shake the egg too much. She figured it was the least she could do. She felt so bad that he was doing all this by himself. She couldn't bring herself to ignore him like the others.
Lucy was watching the egg while Natsu was in the bathroom. He'd been gone longer than he should've if he was only peeing, which gave Lucy an assumption she didn't really want to think about. Natsu had given her very clear instruction on how to take care of the egg. The insane attention to detail along with the way he explained it was rather humorous. But executing it wasn't the most flattering. Lucy was to wrap herself around the egg and hug it lightly. She'd made sure not to laugh when she'd seen Natsu do this, though she really really wanted to, the others weren't as merciful. They didn't spare Lucy either.
"How's the baby, Lucy?"
"Is Natsu the father?"
"Why don't you marry Natsu and you can be a big happy family."
"It must've been hell popping that one out." These statements came from Cana, Gray, and Gajeel mostly. They were the least merciful.
"Aw, it's so adorable. You're like a family! You and Natsu are so cute." Mira cooed often. Mira was never trying to tease though. That's just the way she thought. Wendy, Levy, and Elfman didn't tease her or Natsu at all, they merely just watched with a curious eye. Erza mostly stared at the egg and gave the occasional comment about baking a cake.
Gray and Wendy walked over to Lucy. Wendy wore a large smile. Gray looked like he was trying to hold a laugh.
"Just don't Gray," Lucy said with a sigh. She had been sitting like that for a while. She feared her legs would get stuck like that. Gray burst a laugh.
"I'm sorry I can't help it." He said. "If it makes you feel better you look a lot more normal doing that than Natsu does."
"Thank you, but it doesn't," Lucy said. "I don't know how Natsu does this all the time."
"I wish he'd let me. But whenever I ask he says I'm not tall big enough." Wendy frowned.
"You can help me if you want." Lucy offered. She glanced at Gray. "You can help too."
"Tempting offer, but I'll pass," Gray said. "I wanted to talk to you about Natsu." Lucy raised an eyebrow curiously. She never really talked to Gray one on one before. I glanced at Wendy. "Wendy? You mind if you help some other time?" Gray asked. Wendy nodded sadly. She crinkled her nose slightly.
"Fine. But you owe me, Lucy." Wendy said walking off leaving Gray and Lucy alone.
"We don't have much time. Natsu should be back soon." Lucy said.
"Well, I wanted to ask you if you noticed Natsu acting strangely. I've known him for a long time and he seems to be acting kinda distant sometimes." Gray said. "It nothing big, really. But I'm a little concerned. I thought you might know something, you two are always together." Lucy thought for a moment. Lucy noticed this too, but never really gave it a second thought. Sometimes he seems to be out of it a little. Lucy suspected it was because of the key. But it's only been, what, five days.
"Yeah, I've noticed too. But it's probably nothing. He hasn't told me anything about it. But it could have something to do with your guy's constant teasing." Lucy said. Gray scratched his head guilty.
"Maybe, but he knows we're kidding around," Gray said. "I do hope for Natsu's sake this egg hatches. Last time after he buried the egg, he hardly spoke to any of us. Do you think it'll hatch Lucy?" Gray said.
"Well. I think there a chance it could. Natsu seems to believe it so I'll help him." Lucy said. Gray laughed.
"I think I get how it's possible that you're the closest to Natsu now. I think you believe in him a little too much. It's probably not good for his ego." Gray said. Lucy shrugged. She was going to say something when the egg she was wrapped around began to shake. Gray and Lucy exchanged looks.
" Oh, my Earthland. It's gonna hatch!" Lucy shouted. She scrambled to her feet. Wendy heard this and ran over quickly. The three of them hovered over it.
"Guys! Come over here! It's really hatching!" Wendy said. The guild members came over curiously.
"Wow. It is really hatching. I thought it was a prank." Gajeel said. Erza wore a deep frown, but at least she was out of her daze.
"No cake then?" She said sadly.
"Where's Natsu?" Elfman asked. "He won't want to miss this." With that comment, Natsu's voice came ringing out.
"Did someone say it's hatching! Move out of the way." Natsu said running towards them. The guild cleared a spot for him. The egg wobbled and cracked a small bit. The egg rose up into the air. The guild member's heads followed it. The egg glowed and cracked into several tiny pieces. The glowing dimmed to reveal a tiny blue cat with wings.
"It's a cat?" Laxus asked dumbfounded.
"It's a cat!" Wendy screeched practically crying with pure joy. The cat shrugged to fly with its new unused wings. It drifted down to Natsu's head. The small cat's wings disappeared. The guild watched to see what it would do next.
Much to their surprise the cat raised its paw and exclaimed simply, "Aye!"
Natsu grinned wildly, "I told you it would hatch!"
"Forget that. Natsu, it talked!" Levy screeched.
As always have a lovely day.
(I hope you don't mind Happy being just a kitten. I could've made Natsu meet Happy all grown up, but I thought it was cute this way.)
Edited and Refined: 02-25-18 [ish] (This was mentally jarring to fix up. Thank goodness for celestial white noise!)
