Hey everyone! Here's part three, thanks for being patient I hope you all enjoy it!
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Quick PSA, I'm leaving for Europe on Sunday for 20 days so I might not be able to update until I get back but I might manage to get one (maaaaybe two) chapters posted so stay tuned.
CHAPTER THREE: On the Road.
Grass crunched lightly underneath his boots as he delved deeper into the woods. The canopy overhead provided shade from the midday sun, granting him some comfort on his journey.
Inhaling the fresh air deeply, he shifted the pack slung onto his shoulders and began to hum under his breath.
He didn't really remember where he'd first heard the tune, but it was light and cheerful and had a way of sticking in the mind.
And so he hummed as he walked, keeping an ever watchful eye out for anything out of the ordinary or threatening.
He brushed some stray locks away from his eyes, noting that his dark hair was in desperate need of a cut, he'd have to get that taken care of once he reached his destination. But for now the ragged mop would have to stay.
He absentmindedly toyed with the pendant around his neck, skin brushing against smooth metal and polished gem, fingertips memorizing the runes carved into the metal.
Thoughts wandering, he couldn't help wondering if he'd be successful. He'd been planning this for quite some time, and although he tried to think of every possible outcome, there was always the slim chance that he was missing one vital piece that could ruin everything.
Not that that was very likely of course.
No, the odds were heavily in his favor, he needed only to form one final alliance and then...
His fingers curled around the pendant, feeling the gentle pulse held within the ebony gem.
"It won't be long now." He said quietly to himself. "Soon...we'll meet again."
"How much longer to the village?" Lucy asked, trying to keep her voice from sounding strained.
Natsu had seemingly boundless energy, she found that out quickly when he continued to lope onward after hours of travel, zipping left and right every so often when something caught his attention. Occasionally he'd call her over in hushed excited tones, eyes shining with a childlike excitement as he pointed out a mother doe and her two fawns or some other woodland spectacle.
The man in question paused and turned his head to look back at her, raising his eyebrows. "Well if we hurry we can make it by nightfall."
"But with Princess Slowpoke it'll take all week!" Happy snickered from the top of Natsu's pack.
Lucy narrowed her eyes at the feline like fairy. "That's easy for you to say, you have wings."
Happy pouted. "Hey! It's tiring to fly too you know!"
"Not that you would know, you've hardly walked at all, you just let Natsu do that for you."
Happy stuck his tongue out at Lucy and tugged lightly at Natsu's ear, whispering loud enough for her to still hear. "Why do we have to let miss whiny pants tag along with us?"
Natsu flicked his ear lightly. "Give her a break, Happy, she's used to cushy palaces and servants to do stuff for her."
Lucy felt anger and hurt flare in her chest, eyes beginning to burn with the threat of tears. She'd been walking all day, and although it was wonderful to see the forest, the sun was hot, her back hurt from sleeping on the ground, and her foot throbbed painfully.
She'd tried to put on a brave face, but she was scared, excited, but definitely scared. The freedom she always longed for came at the price of leaving everything of her old life behind...including all memory of her mother.
"Look, I'm sorry if I'm slowing you down but I've never traveled this much in my life, I've never slept on the ground before so I'm sore, my head hurts from being in the sun all day and my stupid foot feels like it's being stabbed every step I take, but I'm trying my best, okay?"
The tears that had threatened to fall now welled in her eyes and she sniffed and scrubbed at her face, refusing to cry on top of everything.
"Awwww, Lucy, I'm sorry!" Happy said, flying over and nuzzling his head against her cheek. "I didn't know your foot was hurting."
Lucy sniffed again and brushed her fingers over Happy's hair. "It's alright...I'm just a little tired, I'll be fine."
Natsu, who'd remained motionless with a furrowed brow, walked over to Lucy and moved her over to a tree. "Here, sit down."
She obeyed wordlessly, sliding down the trunk until she was sitting with her back resting against the smooth bark, watching as he slid the pack off his shoulders and began to rummage around in it.
"I should change your bandages, Happy, could you look around for some trinia petals?"
"Aye sir!" Happy crowed, saluting before soaring off through the trees.
"Hold still." Natsu instructed, gently taking her ankle into his hands and slipping the sandal off her foot.
Lucy couldn't help the blush that dusted her cheeks as his fingers gently brushed against her skin. His hands looked rough, the calloused skin a dark tan compared to her own ivory complexion, but he was surprisingly gentle, the worn fingers handling her ankle as if she were made of glass.
"This might hurt a little." He said gently as he began unwrapping her bandages.
She hissed in pain as the bloody bandage peeled away from her injured skin.
"Sorry." Natsu apologized, wincing as if he were the one in pain.
"I-it's alright…" Her breathing hitched, and she blamed it on the pain, not at the way Natsu was gently caressing her skin, carefully examining the wound, his brows drawn in concentration.
"It's swelled, but the bleeding's stopped for the most part, although it does look pretty inflamed...I shouldn't have made you walk so much."
"It's really not that bad, I was just being dramatic." Lucy tried with a strained laugh, trying to erase the guilt in his eyes.
He raised his eyebrows. "I can't believe you didn't say anything before this." A small smirk lifted one corner of his lips. "You're tougher than you look, Luce."
She blinked in surprise, but before she could ask him about the nickname, Happy flew back into the clearing, some pale blue flowers clutched in his hands.
"Found some, Natsu!"
He grinned and retrieved the blossoms from Happy. "Awesome! Thanks little buddy."
"What are those for?"
Natsu began stripping petals from the flowers as he responded. "Well, normally they'd be just some pretty flowers to give to a pretty girl, but I'm afraid I'll have to give you flowers some other time, I need these to make a poultice for your foot."
She watched with curiosity as he pulled something out of his pack, a dark red goop that he mixed with the flower petals that he'd crushed, forming a purple paste.
"What is that stuff?" Lucy asked as he began to apply the poultice to her foot, motioning to the small jar that was now only half full of red glop.
"Huh? Oh that? Just some coagulated hydra blood."
Lucy's eyes widened. "What?" She squeaked. "You're putting monster blood on my foot?!"
He chuckled as he began to wrap bandages back around her foot. "Relax, its venom is in a different jar. Hydra blood has healing properties, paired with the trinia petals and your foot should be almost completely healed by morning."
She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Really? That's amazing. Where'd you get it though? Something like that must be really expensive." She gasped as a thought struck her. "Please tell me you didn't steal it."
He frowned at her. "I'm not a thief."
She snorted. "Sure, that's why you most definitely weren't stealing something the other night."
"I wasn't. And I killed the Hydra. It tried to eat Happy."
"Yeah, that creepy snake thing had awful breath!" Happy said in disgust, wrinkling his tiny nose.
"You...killed it? All by yourself?" She said in disbelief.
He looked slightly offended. "What? Is that so hard to believe?"
She shook her head. "No! Well...I don't know, I've never really seen much violence, but I've heard Hydras are extremely dangerous and nearly impossible to kill because they keep regrowing their heads."
"Not if you burn the stumps before it has a chance to regenerate." Natsu said matter-of-factly as he secured her bandages. "There, you should be set." He offered her a hand and helped her up. "How's it feel?"
She tested her weight gingerly on her injured feet, face lighting up when it was barely sore. "Good, better than good, the pain is practically gone."
He grinned. "Awesome, ready to go then? If we make it to the village before dark we can check into an inn so you won't have to sleep on the ground."
Lucy's eyes practically sparkled. "Really? Then let's get started!"
Natsu laughed when she began striding off, on the verge of speed walking.
"Man, she sure is weird." Happy murmured.
"Yeah...she'll fit right in at Fairy Tail." Natsu said with a small smile as he started after the blonde.
"How do you think she'll react to everyone?" Happy asked curiously. "If she was so surprised to see me…"
Natsu frowned slightly. "I've been thinking about that...but, I think she'll be okay."
"When are you going to tell her about you?"
Natsu glanced sideways at the exceed flying beside his head. "What about me?"
Happy rolled his eyes. "You know what. She said she didn't think she'd met any magical class creatures before."
Natsu snorted. "Yeah right, just 'cause she didn't know they were magic doesn't mean they weren't. I smelled at least three Celestials in the palace, and if they were there, it means a Stellarian was there too."
"Still...you know the kind of reputation your species has."
His eyes darkened. "Yeah, I know, why do you think I keep it under wraps? Even if it's not my species directly...people have a way of not waiting for explanations." He glanced at the small fairy. "Don't worry...I'll find a way to tell her."
"Better do it soon, I don't think she'd like you to keep secrets from her."
Natsu nodded. "I will."
"Come on, slowpokes! I can practically feel that hot bath already!" Lucy called back to them, shooting them a cheeky smile.
Natsu grinned and jogged until he caught up to her. "You'll have to arm wrestle me to use the bath first, I'm pretty sure I haven't had a proper bath a lot longer than you have."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Oh yeah? Well I'll have you know that I'm a lot stronger than I look."
Natsu raised one eyebrow, lifting his arm and flexing his bicep nonchalantly. "I am too." He smirked at her as he pat his knotted muscle. "Which is saying something."
Lucy looked away quickly, cheeks threatening to turn pink. He could probably snap her arm in half without even trying.
"Don't worry about it, I'll let you bathe first." Natsu said offhandedly. "Besides, you're starting to smell."
Lucy gasped and smacked his shoulder. "I am not! And you're one to talk!"
He threw his head back and laughed, poking her cheek that she'd puffed out in annoyance. "Aw come on, I'm just teasing you. I'm actually surprised you don't smell bad by now. Must be all those fancy soaps, what is that, vanilla? And...mint?"
Lucy's face really turned red now. "H-how did you do that?"
He shrugged. "I've got a good nose. No need to look embarrassed, it smells good. Come on, there's a road just up ahead."
She rolled her eyes. Right, she wasn't supposed to feel embarrassed when a young man told her she smelled good. And even with a good nose how had he known what scent her soap was? She quickly sniffed her arm. Even with her nose pressed against her skin she could barely make out the scent through the smell of forest.
How on earth had he smelled it? They hadn't even gotten that close to each other.
"Hey! Maybe we can hitch a ride and get to the village in time for dinner!" Happy chirped.
"Oh man, I'm starving!" Natsu commented, placing a hand to his stomach for emphasis.
Lucy laughed. "I get the feeling you're always starving."
He grinned. "True, you must be hungry too though, we haven't eaten anything all day."
Now that he mentioned it, she did have an empty-feeling pit in her stomach, and as if on cue it gave off a loud rumble.
Natsu snorted as he tried to hold in his laughter, stopping abruptly when his stomach practically roared in response.
There was a moment of silence, and then all three of them erupted into fits of laughter.
Once they got their mirth back under control, they set off once again for the village in earnest, eager to arrive in time to grab a quick dinner before checking into an inn.
It took them another few hours, but just before sundown they entered the bustling little village.
Natsu and Happy had passed through this particular town before, and so they made a beeline for their favorite restaurant, giving Lucy extremely vivid descriptions about the food and how wonderful it was, causing her mouth to water and her stomach to rumble louder and louder with each step. It didn't help when they were finally seated and had to sit and smell the food cooking as they waited for their meals to be prepared.
Once their food arrived, Lucy could barely eat because she was too busy watching in horrified fascination as Natsu and his small exceed consumed enough food to feed the entire Celestia army...and then some.
She quickly snapped out of her daze and hurriedly gobbled down her own meal when Happy off-handedly asked if she was going to finish her soup. There was no way she was sacrificing her meal for the two gluttons that were her companions.
Natsu's blissfully contented expression disappeared faster than his meal had when he saw the bill, and he gave a pitiful whine as he began counting out the money from his coin purse.
Lucy almost felt bad for him, but with a shake of her head she stated that he had to pay a price for his enormous appetite. Literally.
"So what Inn are we staying at?" Lucy asked as they exited the restaurant with a considerably lighter coin purse.
"Well, I'm pretty sure there's only a few, and just one on this side of town. Let's hope they've got some vacancies." He grinned at Happy. "Man, I can't even remember the last time I slept in a proper bed!"
Lucy smiled at his excitement, finding herself strangely comforted by the happy light in his eyes.
How had she only known him for barely two days? It felt as if they'd always known each other. Being around him, laughing and talking with him, it felt natural, it felt...right somehow, as if they were always meant to know each other.
She felt cheated not getting the chance to meet him sooner.
"Here it is!" Natsu cheered, darting inside the cozily lit building.
Lucy followed after him, the strain of the day finally beginning to take its toll on her. She couldn't wait for a hot bath and good night's rest.
"What do you mean I can only have one room? I need two!" Natsu cried, hands planted on top of the front desk.
The clerk sniffed and adjusted his vest. "I'm sorry sir, but you only have enough money for one room."
Natsu growled in frustration, and scratched at his head absentmindedly. Glancing back at Lucy, he relaxed slightly and took a deep breath, turning back to the clerk, he dumped the remaining contents of his money purse onto the counter. "Fine, we'll take it. But the bath water had better be hot."
"Of course, enjoy your stay." The clerk said, handing Natsu the key.
Natsu glanced back at Lucy and shrugged apologetically. "Sorry, looks like we're sharing a room tonight."
Lucy felt her cheeks heating up and she cursed how easily she blushed. "It's fine! I mean...it's not like we had separate rooms in the woods, right?" She said quickly.
His face lit up. "Yeah, you're right. Come on, he said the bath should be ready when we get to the room."
With a sharp tug at the reins, Gray halted his horse's progress, bending over to give the ebony steed's sweaty neck a firm pat.
"Good boy, let's take a breather." He murmured, lifting his head to survey the forest.
If memory served him correctly, there should be a lake somewhere near by, the ideal spot to rest and water his horse.
He'd left soon after his talk with Ultear, both setting off together before splitting off once they reached the outskirts of Celestia's outlying villages.
He'd ridden hard all day, stopping only when it grew too dark to safely travel. Rising at daybreak, he'd set off again, only stopping every now and then so as not to wear his horse out. Although the stallion was young and strong, born and bred from the bloodline reserved only for Frostfell's royalty, their kingdom was renowned for their well bred horses.
His father had gifted him the black colt when he turned fifteen, the same year he was murdered by bandits.
They'd attacked their party on the way home from retrieving Gray's present, eager to snatch the prize horses.
Gray had blamed the colt for his father's death, refusing to even look at the beast for months after the incident.
It was Ur who made him realize the colt was a gift, a memory and reminder of his father's love.
Now, five years later, he and Deliora were practically inseparable.
"What do you say, boy? Up for a refreshing drink?"
As if responding, Deliora shook his mane and let out a whinny.
Gray smiled slightly. "That's what I thought, come on." Turning to the right slightly, he urged the stallion forward and before too long saw the glint of sunshine off water through the trees.
Pausing atop the gentle slope down to the lake, Gray took a moment to enjoy the breathtaking view.
As beautiful as his home was, nearly eternal snow and ice could become a tad droll. This lush greenery, the bright sunshine and sound of insects and birds, the gentle warm breeze that ruffled through his hair, the flowers that dotted the ground like bright jewels, it truly was wonderful.
It took him only a few minutes to reach the lake's edge where he dismounted and looked around, absentmindedly stroking Deliora's neck.
Slipping the bridal off the horse's neck, he looped it around the saddle and let him water and graze, knowing a simple whistle would bring the horse bolting to his side.
slipping off his boots and socks, he began to roll up his pant legs, wincing as the sun continued to beat down on him.
Used to the arctic temperatures of his homeland, he tended to get overheated quite easily, which accounted for his unusual habit of stripping. He didn't even realize he was doing it half the time, it was just instinct to cool down by removing clothing.
Although, try explaining that to the scandalized duchess you inherently scarred.
Yes, his inconvenient habit had gotten him into uncomfortable situations more than once.
Peeling his shirt over his head, he stretched his shoulders and waded into the lake shallows, bending over to splash the cool water on the back of his neck and face.
Deliora whinnied behind him, happily munching on the sweet grass, idly flicking away flies with his sleek tail.
Gray smiled at him before turning back to the lake.
He froze, half crouched down, water dripping from the tips of his hair and sliding down his back, eyes locked on a figure standing just a few yards away from him.
His eyes widened, shock registering on his face as he looked at the silhouette before him.
"It's you…" He straightened up slowly, not wanting to make any sudden moves and startle them. "How...what are you doing here? Did you follow me?"
The figure seemed to glide closer, allowing him to get a closer look at them.
She was just as he remembered, long, flowing hair that shimmered and moved like sunlight on water, the color seemed to shift like the ocean, making it hard to distinguish just what shade of blue it really was.
Her wide eyes were framed by thick lashes, the deep irises a mesmerizing shade of indigo.
She shifted slightly, the slip of a dress she was wearing clung wetly to her slender body, made of some material he couldn't place, but it almost looked like fish skin. The hem was jagged and uneven, allowing her long shapely legs to peak out into the sunlight, water droplets glinting on the pale skin.
"Who are you?" He tried again, wary of the mysterious woman. "I...I saw you, back in Frostfell, I thought it was a dream. What are you doing here? What do you want?"
Her brows furrowed ever so slightly, tilting her head to the side as she blinked at him.
"Can you speak?" He asked, suddenly wondering if she was mute.
Delicate fingertips reached up to brush across her full lower lip, face pinched in confusion, as if she was trying to figure out how to use her mouth.
"Do...do you need help?" Gray attempted hesitantly, suddenly unsure of what to do. "My name is Gray, Gray Fullbuster. Do you need help getting somewhere?"
Her eyes shimmered, expression almost dreamy. "G-Gray…"
His breath stuck in his throat at the sound of her voice, light and musical. The way she said his name...almost like a prayer, it was…
Realization suddenly dawned on him, and he staggered backwards, heading for his sword which he'd left at the lake's edge. "D-don't come any closer!"
Anguish washed over her face at his sudden change of mood, her hand reaching forward as if asking him to stay.
"Stay back, nymph! Don't try anything." He warned, drawing his sword and holding it protectively in front of him.
She frowned, suddenly looking irritated. "Gray!" She said his name reproachfully, like a mother scolding a naughty child.
He shook his head. "Stop! Don't say anything else!"
She tapped her throat and shook her head.
"What? You're saying you can't charm with your voice?"
She nodded.
"Yeah, right. Like I'd believe you, siren, you're just trying to catch me off guard so you can drown me."
"No!" She protested, stamping her foot in the water, causing the surface to churn dangerously.
He'd have to be careful, water nymphs could control water with deadly applications.
"Just...just stay where you are, I'll leave your lake, alright? I'm sorry for disturbing your home."
"Wait! No!" She cried, still sounding unsure of her voice. "Not Juvia's home!"
He paused. "Juvia...is that your name?"
She nodded.
"You don't...live in the lake?"
She shook her head.
"But…" He frowned. "That's impossible, nymphs are bound to their home source."
She shook her head. "No."
"No what? You're not bound?"
Another nod.
"How?"
She hesitated, then tried tentatively. "Choose...land, Juvia is mortal, she wanted to follow Gray." A light blush dusted her cheeks and she looked away shyly.
Suddenly flustered, Gray hurriedly tugged his shirt back on over his head as he stammered. "W-what? You're saying you left your home source and chose to become mortal just to follow me around? Why?"
Her eyes met his again. "Juvia saw Gray save that little boy...he was so brave, Juvia had never seen a human like that before...she wanted to see more."
He blinked, thinking back to when he'd rescued a small child from drowning after he'd fallen through the ice. That had been several months ago...had she followed him all this time?
"L-look...as much as I'm flattered, you need to return home."
"Juvia can't go back."
"I can take you to the nearest village and give you some money so you can rent a carriage to take you back to wherever-"
"No, Juvia can't go back...Juvia chose land...she is mortal now."
The full force of her words sunk in, and a sick feeling twisted in his gut. She'd left the water...forever. She could never return to her immortal form. Never go back home. All because of him.
"But...why? You're mortal now! You can be hurt and you'll die, why would you choose that?"
She bit her lip. "Juvia wants...she wants to learn more about humans...she wants to...feel. Gray was the first human that made Juvia feel something...feel human."
That's right. Gray thought. Nymphs were incapable of real emotion, they entertained themselves by luring people into the water and drowning them, or bickered with each other, but could never experience any real depth of feeling.
And yet...when Juvia witnessed the selfless bravery he displayed when he saved that boy...she'd felt something.
She'd abandoned immortality just for the chance to feel human. The idea seemed ridiculous, but deep down it moved Gray.
"Oh." He said simply.
She blushed and played with a lock of hair distractedly. "J-Juvia hadn't planned on following Gray...but," Her eyes suddenly looked up and locked on his. "She has something she needs to tell Gray."
He frowned slightly, taken aback by her sudden seriousness. "What?"
"Juvia saw bad men...she heard them talking."
Despite the heat of the day, an icy chill ran down his spine. "What did you hear?"
"They said they were bringing something to Gray's home."
"What were they bringing? Juvia what is it?"
"War."