A/N - Sorry for the long delay! As mentioned in the last chapter, I decided to partake in the Febuwhump challenge and I actually completed it! (Forgot to sign up for the Hall of Fame thing afterwards, oops) And from it, I feel that I learned quite a bit. There might be a change in my writing style now, I am not sure, but I feel there is a difference.
If you notice anything, please let me know in the comments!
Also, part of this was written while I was at an awards ceremony for work. I was extremely nervous about even going, but I did it...and then I got drunk, lol. People kept giving me their drink vouchers and I didn't want to pass up a free drink! Don't worry, I was responsible and had my husband pick me up.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter!
Former Arrangements
By Genavere
Chapter Eighteen
The ground shook sending showers of dirt from above onto her body and in her hair. While above ground, the dirt had become a caked layer of mud from the rain, this far down remained dry. A cold moisture soaked into her exposed flesh. Shivers of cold spread goosebumps all over. Cuddling the only bit of warmth she had, Happy could not deny cuddling into her warm bosom. Both feared the concerns they had of their luck running out and being buried alive. That surviving had been a fluke and that death waited to pull them down a dark void.
A dark void that seemed to be their world now.
A free hand wiped at her face and eyes, desperately trying not to rub the dirt further into her eyes, but still trying to work them clear. Tears pooled to gather the specks irritating her eyes and added mud tracks on her cheeks. When she could fully take a look at their surroundings, a brief moment of disappointment filled her at the blackness.
What had she been expecting, she scoffed, disappointed in her lack of common sense. All the time she had spent with lackluster conversations with Duke Sawarr depleted what braincells she had. It would take months of discussions with Levy to get back what he had stolen from her. Thoughts of Michelle and the letters she wrote to her mom crept forward. Would she even be able to get everything back?
A loud rumble filled her ears. The ground shook and dirt fell in her hair and down her back as she wrapped herself around Happy to keep him safe. A prayer to whoever might hear her sang in her heart that the pocket they found themselves in did not collapse.
"Happy?" Claws dug into her skin, a relief that she did not question. "Are you alright?"
"Aye," his muffled voice quivered against her breasts. With how close they had come to being crushed, she could not blame him. The rapidly shrinking hole that had swallowed her. Happy's small frame growing in his desperation to catch her. Dirt walls that heaved and shuddered. It had been too close. They should have been crushed.
Squinting through the darkness to keep the falling dirt from her eyes, she reached out a hand to feel around in the dark. Cold, tightly packed earth lined the hole on the right and offered no viable means of escape. To the right, her hand fumbled around in the dark, searching for either the other wall or something. It felt like the right first move to figure out how to get out of their tomb.
Reaching blindly and moving her arm back and forth, something bumped into her fingers Frowning, she leaned closer to get a better feel of what she touched.
It felt slightly malleable against her fingers and went down in a sharp slope to another form of warmth that had some give under her touch. Thinking of it, the texture, shape, and albeit cooler temp, it all reminded her of times she would touch Natsu's face late at night.
As realization set in, a blinding light filled the crevasse. Hissing at the pain it brought, she pulled her hand away and covered her eyes with her arm. Even with the light source, it became impossible to see anything with how much it filled the room. Through squinted eyes, trying to take in any features of what might have brought the light failed.
Slowly, the light dimmed and two shadowy figures blurred together from the tears the pain and dirt brought. Features formed, clothes grew familiar. Her heart stopped in realization, a choked cry gripped her throat and made swallowing an effort.
"It's good to see you again, Princess."
Virgo.
"You sure know how to keep us on our toes, Lucy." Loke gave her his trademark grin. Behind his trademark shades, relief shimmered just as brightly as the regulus in his hands.
"Loke…Virgo…how?" She looked between them, confusion and relief evident on her dirty face. "Did I summon you?"
"Brother Leo brought me with him when we felt your heart rate spike, Princess," Virgo explained, kneeling before her. "I apologize that I did not think to bring an outfit for you to change into before we came. I should be punished for that."
"Maybe later, Virgo," Leo butted in, taking in Lucy's condition. "When we felt your connection again, we were thrilled. It's been almost two weeks since Scorpio and Taurus came back saying you had been attacked."
Even with his record of being a professional womanizer, he respected his master enough to keep his eyes from the areas her torn dress showed more than it should. "We felt you were in danger and Virgo was the first one I thought to grab to help. Good thing I am so handsome and smart, else you would be a pancake right now."
Lucy laughed, wiping the wetness she felt warm her cheeks. Mud stained her cheeks and the pain from her wounds dug deeper into her exhausted bones, but the love she felt from her spirits gave her strength. "We would be. Thank you, both of you, for saving us."
"We live to serve you, Princess!"
Another tremor shook the small hole. Happy and Lucy held each other tighter, unsure of the stability of the dirt. Virgo took a moment to assessed the situation and gathered intel of the land. "If Brother Leo can help me stay here for a little longer, I can tunnel a path to the surface for everyone."
He pushed up his glasses and grinned. "Of course, I can do that," he said. "Then I will help punish all those who tried to hurt our master." He gave Lucy a wink and straightened his tie. Flattery had never worked on her, and it had even less impact without his usual flare since he only had room to kneel.
"If you can do that," Lucy said, biting her lower lip in thought, "then Happy, could you take me up and help me attack from the sky?"
"Aye, sir!" He pulled himself back from her a bit. "We'll do our best against that monster, too!"
Without knowing the situation on the surface, Lucy felt worry gnaw at her insides—though it could have been hunger pains, too, she reckoned. Still, until they go up there, they could not formulate any good strategy, but if she used her Sagittarius Star Dress and fired arrows from the air, then it would not matter if she could walk or not. Natsu and Gray had to be fighting up there. If they could offer support, even fighting that dragon, maybe the battle could tip to their favor. At least, she hoped it would.
"We don't have much time with Virgo, so let's get moving." Leo shared a nod with Virgo and the maiden began digging her way upwards with the sound of jackhammers.
Happy climbed over her shoulder as she touched her keys and felt the brilliant light of the stars wash over her. The torn slip disappeared to the green clothes of the archer and the star bow materialized in her hand.
Strength filled her, from the magic of her spirits and determination to help her friends, even with the numbness from the needles still affecting her. "Let's do this!"
#####
"Fire Dragon King's Roar!"
"Ice Devil's Rage!"
Two columns of ice and fire breath buffeted the dragon. Claws dug into the ground, but the attack still managed to push him back several feet. The fury in the Fairies felt had yet to dissipate. They flew just behind the end of the breath spells, fists and ice blades slammed against the scales of rock and wood. Many had already burnt to ash from the fires, and the rock brittle at the constant temperature changes from sub-zero to boiling.
A claw swept out at them and massive jaws snapped forward. Both they were lucky enough to avoid and fall back.
Bare chests panting, Natsu and Gray stood by each other and glared at the beast. From the constant barrage of rocks and dirt thrown by the powerful wings and the claws that sought to cleave them in half, deep bruises and cuts littered their bodies and tore the fabric of their pants.
Neither cared of the pain their injuries brought. It had stolen their friends and teammates from them. No matter what the dragon threw at them, they continued to get up and continue their attacks. They would make him pay!
Another round of rumbling shook the ground. Natsu pushed off into the air, wings beating hard against the buffeting wind. Gray created a curving line of ice that he slide over onto the beast's back as it crumpled behind him. Ice fell to the ground in large pieces as the ground shattered the supports.
Both refused to allowed to be swallowed up by the earth and put out of commission before they had taken their revenge.
Then Natsu heard it. Before when the ground shuddered, it groaned and growled, rocks and dirt breaking apart beneath their feet, jutting up and burrowing deep. This time, it sounded like a jackhammer.
A distinct sound he had heard before.
Golden-crimson eyes wide, he turned to look at the area the sound came from. The same area that had the pushed-up ridge of dirt. Hope and disbelief pounded in his chest. Above him, lightning light up the sky and thunder rumbled mutely behind it.
Shadows darkened around a large patch of dirt that churned and lifted. A hole broke up through the grass and a familiar form flew up into the sky. Then another followed through with two more after.
Draconic features morphed from shock to surprise and sheer bliss. Tears and fire filled his eyes. "Tch, let's do this!" Blood pumped through his wing as they pushed him toward the enemy, a triumphant roar filled the air.
Virgo bowed mid-air, disappearing into a shower of golden dust Loke dove through. Building up his energy, his fist glowed with the power of Regulus and he flew at the dragon behind Natsu.
Heading in a different direction, Happy took Lucy high into the air, paws gripping her Sagittarius outfit tight. Angel white feathers shimmered in the lightning above as they kept out of the dragon's reach.
"Keep me as steady as you can, Happy," Lucy said, voice raised over the wind of the storm. It took little time for her to gauge the situation on the battlefield. Pinpointing each member of her team. Narrowing her eyes in determination, she lifted her bow and summoned an arrow.
As the first arrow struck the dragon's face, Loke and Natsu combined their own charged punches. Jaw forced up, it stumbled backwards several feet. Wings and arms stretched to keep balance.
Gray summoned his demon ice and it spread over the back and up the wings of the beast. Shades of pink shimmered from the attacks above as the wings sunk heavily to the ground.
Muscles strained to lift his wings, the ice impossible to break with his claws. Enraged, the beast managed to settled on his hind legs, scales shuddering as he rippled his muscles under them. Massive jaws snapped toward the fairies fluttering around him before it let out a deafening roar.
Gray fought with everything he could to stay on the dragon's back. Fingers clung to scales and reached for the ice-covered wings. Each time he thought his grip had settled, another rippling of scales caught his fingers as it moved along the creature's back. Unable to keep his grip, he slid down the jagged scales, barely missed being crushed by the massive tail flicking.
"Loke!" Natsu called and they both moved to strike against the exposed stomach. A barrage of light arrows pierced the air between them, hitting their target. Fists raised, crowing the name of their attacks, they noticed two large claws coming at them from both sides.
Realization struck them at the same time and they braced to fight a near certain death. Each turned to face one of the claws, arms and legs stretched out to catch the meaty flesh and fight to keep the claws from colliding.
Pain and pressure slammed into them, pressing their limbs inward and towards their chests. Both cried out at the immense weight on their bodies and joints. Muscles strained with each inch gained and lost. Sweat mixed with the pouring rain from the effort to stay alive.
"Don't you give up on me, Loke," Natsu grunted.
"You think I'd allow Lucy to cry by letting either of our dumbasses die here?" Loke felt his glasses slip from his face. A gut reaction to catch them made him pause before he could seal their lives over the silly accessory. What good would his glasses be to him if they were dead?
Hot breath ruffled their hair and clothes. Both risked a glance up to see the face of the dragon inches from its claws that still worked to crush them. Its large golden eyes creased in excitement at their plight and another heavy breath coated them.
"Oi! Your breath stinks," Natsu shouted. Resisting an urge to smack the dragon's snout fueled his fire. Wings shifted behind him in an effort to pull them out and help keep the claws from gaining more ground.
"Hey, watch it," Loke said. One of the wings pressing against his legs and he felt himself losing ground. "I'm slipping cause of you!"
Natsu growled, golden-red eyes flashing. "This is pissing me off!" Flames erupted around his feet and back in an attempt to burn the thick hide that dug into their skin. Heated air full of moisture passed over them in quick session of each other. They looked up in disbelief. The dragon laughed at them.
Light flashed over the battlefield, blinding both of them. Weightlessness caught them by surprise before they were able to catch their freefalls and get a good distance from the dragon. Loud roars of pain filled the air, the claws of the dragon swung wildly around above them.
They reeled in shock as they glanced behind them. Though covered by a claw, deep in the beast's left eye nestled an enormous arrow made of light. The weapon shimmered and sparked like the fires of the stars hidden above. Thick blood rained down from the wound and coated scales and grass alike. Then, from above, a hail storm of swords plummeted right down into its head.
High in the sky, Erza clutched two of her swords with Heaven's Wheel armor donned. Lifting one of her swords high above her, everything slowed as her body moved from one place to another. A single word on her lips, "Blumenblatt!"
"Natsu!" He looked up at Happy's voice. The blue Exceed flew down toward him with Lucy. Her clothes had reverted back to the dirty and torn slip she had been wearing earlier. Just how much of her magic energy had she put into that shot, he wondered in concern.
Battle forgotten in that moment, he flew up to meet them and wrapped them both against his chest. Without words, the two of them wrapped their arms around him, too, and relished in being together again. Their little family.
"I thought you were both gone," he muttered, barely above a whisper, but they heard him. Both understood his worry.
"If Happy hadn't brought my keys with him, we would have been," Lucy said.
"Good job, lil' buddy!" They all laughed, tears in their eyes.
"I missed you two so much! You're never allowed to leave me again, you hear!?" Tears and snot ran down Happy's furry face. The absolute heartbreak he had felt without them bright in his eyes.
Lucy and Natsu tightened their embrace around him and each other. "Sorry, Buddy, we'll do better in the future."
"You better!"
"Hey guys," Loke shouted up at them. The wind blew his hair wildly around, and without his glasses, it made for a bit of distraction. Yet, he still stared, his eyes wide at the area the dragon had once been. Only the quickly dissipating cloud of mist, debris, and rain remained. A beast that size should not be able to disappear like that.
In the cloud, a shadowy figure approached them, stance proud and tall. With his left hand pressed against his bleeding eye, a large male broke the cloud. Wild eyes stared at the group with violent lust, eager to see those who had harmed him dead.
"Prepare, Fairy Tail Wizards," he growled. A hand griped the still shimmering arrow and tossed it to the side. Golden sparks flew up into the air before it touched the ground below. "No leniency will grace you by my hands!"
A/N - The main three are back together and almost the whole of Team Natsu is, too! Only people missing are Wendy and Carla. Soon, the other chapters will explain what other people have been doing, but this story is focused on Natsu and Lucy, so I have kept things trimmed down from the rest.
Hope you guys are excited for the battle against Osou, a second generation dragon slayer of earth and wood! My goal is to get the next chapter up around this time next week, so let's see how that goes!