Hey Guys!
This will be the second to last chapter. I'm contemplating an epilogue like I had in the first, but we'll see. If I do one it will most likely be pretty short. Anyway, a lot of things happen in this one and a lot of "awww" moments. Enjoy!
- Signed
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.
"Leave me, Wendy," Mira panted. "I'm just going to get you killed."
"No! I won't allow it! There has to be a way to save you!" Wendy was kneeling next to Mira who had collapsed a few moments earlier. Unlike Levy and Lucy, Wendy hadn't been able to lose enough weight to get rid of the bracelet. She was trapped with a dying woman without the use of magic.
"Well, at least I'll get to kill someone," a voice said from the dark. After the fifth explosion, the power had been cut from the building and all Wendy and Mira had to go on was the emergency lighting. Berial stepped from the shadows and leered down at the girls.
"Demon," Mira whispered. The man threw back his head and laughed.
"Very good Mirajane. Most people can't see through my disguise. I guess your magic gives you an advantage."
"I thought we defeated all the demons," Wendy said confused but preparing to fight.
"The demons of Zeref daughter of Grandina. Not normal ones." Berial lifted his hands and the disguise fell away leaving before them a very obvious demon, with horns and everything.
"Our friends are coming," Wendy challenged.
"Good, they can remove your worthless bodies from my home." In one swift move the demon attacked. Wendy was able to dodge and kick him in the back. He laughed and acted like she'd barely touched him. Wendy was in a panic. She needed her magic and she needed her magic now!
"Wendy!" Wendy didn't need to turn around to know that Rogue was quickly approaching. Good, he'd give her the backup she needed.
"I don't think so!"Berial yelled. He jumped up and smashed the floor with his fists. The floor quaked and shook, crumbling around them. Wendy's eyes turned to saucers, as she reached for Mira. Mira reached back, but just before their hands touched Mira fell while a hand caught Wendy's shirt. Berial disappeared with Mira, laughing as he fell into the darkness. He'd lost Wendy, but he still got a victim.
"No!" Turning, she saw Rogue's stricken face but oddly enough he wasn't watching after Mira. For some reason he was looking down the hallway across the gaping whole. Wendy chose to ignore his bizarre reaction.
"Rogue, we have to go after her!"
"No need," he nodded to the other side of the chasm. Laxus was approaching with a calm fury, lightening sparking with each foot fall. He looked down into the dark and then looked back up at Rogue. He acted calm and controlled, but Wendy could see his sides heaving and hear the rush of air as he took breaths. He'd run his fastest to reach them, but had not gotten there in time. Wendy took a step back and gulped, sensing more danger from him than she had from Berial.
"La … Laxus," Rogue stammered and gulped. "I only had time to save Wendy and …"
"We'll discuss this later … if she survived. If not, you're a dead man." With that he jumped down into the dark. Wendy leaned over and watched him disappear before turning to the stricken slayer.
"Well, should I stay behind in case they need healing?"
"No, it is my job to get you out of here. Leave Mira to Laxus, he won't let his mate die." Wendy nodded, not at all surprised that Laxus had finally figured it out and moved down the hall with Rogue.
"I think we missed them, Luce," Levy sighed. Lucy nodded, not being able to contain her anger very well. They'd made it to the nursery, only to find it abandoned except for the unconscious body of Reina. She'd looked dead but a quick check revealed a pulse. Normally the kindhearted Levy and Lucy would have helped her more gently, but Levy leaned over and slapped her cheeks until she awoke with a groan.
"What happened?" Levy asked Reina. She gulped the water Lucy held to her mouth, and croaked out her story. Haja had order the three children to be prepared for removal from the compound. Reina had complied but staled while trying to appear in a rush. She had just gotten them completely ready when Haja and Julius came in. Haja had hit Reina with a spell without warning and picked up Ali and Gavey, while Julius picked up Igneel. The last thing Reina saw was them heading in different directions.
"Well, where is the back door?" Lucy had asked in anger, figuring they were simply taking two different routes but Reina had passed out again.
"There are many back doors," a new voice answered. Turning they saw a burned and bleeding Jegan come in. He ignored and pushed them to the side, checking Reina's head. He was far gentler then they would have suspected and if there had been any doubt of his affection for Reina, it was quickly discredited. He sat back with a sigh of relief and a satisfied smile crossed his face. The one thing about death spells was that they had to be renewed every couple of days in order to keep up potency. Haja had forgotten the last few weeks. Reina would live, but she'd be weak for a while.
"Then how do we get our children back!" Levy fumed, turning Jegan's attention back to the other women.
"By hunting them down," Jegan answered, lifting Reina in a swift movement and walking back out. "You're the mates of dragon slayers. It's time to go hunting." They were silent for a moment, before Levy made a suggestion. "We'll have to split up."
"You're right," Lucy said, heading for the door.
"I'll see you on the other side, Luce," Levy called, going in the direction of her children, just as Lucy knew in which direction her son was headed.
"Yeah, and we'll have to get a play date set up soon. Gavey and Igneel seem to get along well."
"Will do."
"It seems we missed them," Gajeel said, sniffing the air. The scent of his mate and children so fresh and close almost drove him crazy. Both Natsu and Gajeel had regained some of their special senses, but not much. Normally Gajeel would have been able to pin point his family in this giant place in a heartbeat with just one pull of air. Now he was forced to waste time sniffing like a dog. Luckily for him, up to this point he could follow Natsu who had the super powered bond.
"Yeah, but they split up," Natsu said, at the door. "Lucy went in the direction Igneel did."
"Does that mean their together?"
"No, I'd feel it if she had him. Lucy is hunting him down. Along with whoever has him. Unfortunately, my instincts tell me and the small amount of scent I can pick up confirms that it's Julius. He's already a dead man, but still."
Gajeel grunted. "I guess that means that Levy's hunting Haja if my nose tells me right."
Both of them were quiet for a moment, before they said simultaneously, "That's hot." Smirking at each other they nodded and headed after their mates. Something about their mates going dragon and hunting down their children's kidnappers had them excited in probably the most inappropriate way for the circumstance. But both were determined to file away the information and remember it at a more opportune time.
Levy turned a corner at breakneck speed, skidding so she didn't hit the far wall. There he was! Haja had placed Ali on the floor, wailing, while he was forced to manhandle Gavey as hee son struggled. Though only just three, Gavey was actually throwing some of his magic around.
Suddenly Haja hit Gavey across the head. "You will be still you brat!" He roared as he struggled with a large door, bolted to the wall. Levy screamed as she slammed her petite body against Haja.
"Mama!" Gavey wailed in relief. His large tears were a siren call to Levy and she was prepared to fight with everything she had, but first, she needed to get her youngest out of harm's way. Gavey had some magic resistance now that he was using, but Ali had nothing.
"Solid Script Magic Gust!" A stiff wind quickly carried Ali down the hall, gently dropping her in an indented doorway behind Levy. She then turned the wind around to slam Haja into the door. His body slacked enough for Gavey to hit the ground. He stayed on the ground and continued to cry, totally drained.
"Mama!"
"Mama's coming!" She raced to her son and pulled him up as Haja stood and raised his hands. Hatred shone in his eyes as he released a powerful blast.
"Shield!" Levy cried and dodged. She knew she and Gavey would be fine, but she'd placed the shield over her daughter.
"Gavey," she said to her son, "Mama needs you to go to Ali and sit with her. Can you do that for Mama? I need you to protect Ali." Her son looked up with large, tear stained eyes, but he nodded and walked over to Ali as quickly as possible.
"You dragon mates have been more trouble then you're worth!" Haja yelled. "I should have just killed you all and watched the dragon slayers die out of existence."
"Then why didn't you!?"
"Too much power. Power I could control with the right manipulation. No matter! I will kill you now and still take your children."
"You take a step towards my children, and I will kill you."
"Not if I kill you first." Haja lunged with another blast, which Levy dodged as she sent her own spell.
"Blaze!" A fire quickly engulfed the area he'd been standing, but he'd launched back just in time, only now there was a wall of fire between them. Levy, deciding that escape was better than fighting, raced to her children. She placed Ali in her sling and put Gavey on her shoulders.
"Running away!"
"Strategic retreat!"
"It's no matter! I'll hunt you all down and kill you one by one."
"Not if I hunt you down first," came the voice Levy had missed with every fiber of her being. He walked past her and stood between his family and the madman.
"Papa!" Gavey squealed.
Gajeel looked back and smiled at his son. "Hey there my boy. I see you were a good dragon slayer and protected your sister and mama." Gavey turned his fingers into iron, which is all he was able to do at the moment, and made a fist.
"Yes," he said emphatically.
Levy smiled at her husband, whose eyes shone with love and pride. "You did well Levy," he whispered. "Protected our children like a real dragon."
"Meaningless complements will get you nowhere." Levy said with a huff.
Gajeel laughed and smiled outright. "Which is why I only ever speak the truth with you." Levy smiled back, just as the fire died and Haja approached.
"Let me do the honors Levy. I'll catch up in a minute." Levy nodded and turned to escape the battle.
"Punch him Papa," Gavey yelled. Gajeel smiled. He crouched as Haja strolled forward.
"You can't win, dragon slayer."
"Correction, I can't lose." Both of them struck at the same time. Haja shot off a blast that would have punched through Gajeel's chest, if Gajeel hadn't also bent the floor to his will at the same time as throwing his iron fist. The blast missed him by mere millimeters, singing his clothes and causing him to wince in pain.
His iron arm continued to travel down the hall, until he'd pinned Haja to the door he'd been so desperate to open a few minutes ago. Coughing up blood and struggling against Gajeel, he watched him approach.
"You know it's really a shame for you. I'm angrier than I've ever been. So, I'm going to use that to fuel this next attack. Someone of your magic might have normally survived my shadow iron dragon roar at point blank range." Gajeel transformed into his special form and stood just in front of the sweating man. "However, you're not so lucky." Without a second thought, Gajeel unleashed the most powerful dragon roar of his life. The side of the mountain exploded with the force and when it was over, Gajeel was left staring out into the night. At his feet there was a smoking pile of ashes that smelled of Haja and death. Good enough proof for Gajeel.
He turned and caught up with Levy soon enough. Her petite frame was burdened by both children, especially since the exhausted Gavey had fallen asleep over Levy's head and was drooling in her hair.
"Come here kid." Gajeel said, pulling Gavey off Levy and easily cradling his son. In his sleep Gavey snuggled closer to his father and took big whiffs of his scent, sighing in peace and contentment. Gajeel smiled.
"Ali's been doing the same with me," Levy said, readjusting her daughter, tears coming from her eyes now that she could finally stop fighting.
"Come here shrimp," he whispered, pulling Levy into his arms. Feeling safe for the first time in weeks, Levy cried and cried as Gajeel hid his own tears. As she calmed down, he could feel and hear Ali sniffing with new vigor, probably catching his scent now too. He'd have to have a lot of father-daughter time with her the next few days to reestablish the bond. An explosion rocked the facility and Gajeel swiftly picked up Levy, carrying her to the exit.
"I can walk, Gajeel," she said, though she didn't try to get out of his arms.
"Yeah and I'll let you once we're near the exit, but for now, rest." Levy placed her head on his shoulder and took a deep breath. She always found his unique blend of metal and sweat oddly comforting.
Mira shifted uncomfortably in the dark. The fall had hurt and she'd had to run as soon as the rubble had stopped falling. She'd gotten lucky in that Berial had gotten stuck in some of the falling floor. She'd been able to run for a while, but she couldn't move anymore. Panting and sliding down the wall she rode out the current wave of pain. She'd over exerted herself, but the pain in her stomach brought its own concerns. A tear fell and she realized just how terrified for her child she was. Using what little magic she could control, she was relieved to feel no injuries to the baby. While checking, she was shocked to feel one thing though. The baby was … concerned. Worried, Mira delved deeper into the child's emotions and was shocked by what she felt. The child felt a love for its mother and a concern for the illness it could feel affecting her. Smiling, Mira cradled over her stomach.
"Oh little one, your mother loves you so much."
"Sweet sentiments, for a dying woman." Mira looked up. Only the red glow of the emergency lights showed anything, but she could still see Berial approaching. "Now be a good girl and let me kill you."
"No."
Berial laughed! "Okay, I'll humor you for a moment. Why fight for your life now? I'll make your death quick and ultimately painless, while that creature growing inside you is killing you slowly and painfully. Why choose that?"
"Because if I die now, my baby won't have a chance. If I can make it to seven months then he or she does."
"So sweet, for a demon. It's sickening. Prepare yourself. Any last words?" Mira stared defiantly up at him prepared to do what she could, though there really wasn't much she could do. Just then she smelled ozone and felt the crackle in the air.
With a smile she breathed, "Laxus."
Berial didn't even have time to look surprised, as his head literally exploded into a ball of electricity. With a deafening thunder clap that had Mira holding her ears, his body fell over and Mira looked over at her mate. He hadn't even stopped walking. He'd shot Berial as he made his way forward, making barely a pause. He finally stopped when he reached Mira and stared down at her.
"Laxus," she said, "I'm glad someone came to help me." She smiled as sweetly as she could, but it faltered when she saw his look.
"I'd always come for you. You and our child." Mira's smile completely fell then and she looked down.
"Who told?"
"Does it matter?"
"No, I guess not," she whispered after a pause.
"The real question Mira, is why didn't you tell me."
"You were gone, and then there was no time when you got back." The air filled with more crackling tension and Mira flinched.
"No, you're right," she corrected. "I had four days, there was plenty of time. But Laxus, I was terrified of how angry you'd be at being forced to play mate and father for nothing more than a fling. You made it clear that no permanent attachment was desired."
With a sigh, Laxus crouched before her so that they were eye level. "I can explain that."
"No need," Mira said, some of her smile returning. "I know you don't remember that night."
"Yeah, thanks to being a second generation dragon slayer."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I'll give you the details later. For now, I need to clear something else up. It's true that when I found out dragon slayers had life mates, I was bummed. I was already enjoying the romantic benefits of being a famous wizard at the time and the thought of settling down was not my idea of fun. However, even back then whenever I gave any kind of thought to a family I always placed you in the role of my imagined wife."
"Really?"
"Yeah, though it isn't what you think. I always felt closest to you than the other girls of the guild. Except for Evergreen, and there was no way I'd ever marry her." He shivered and Mira smiled.
"So when you kissed me that day and I came to the conclusion, fighting and screaming I might add, that you were my mate and the woman I truly loved I was shocked. I'd held onto the drive to never settle down for so long that I decided to fight this new knowledge for as long as I could. Until finally I literally snapped and my instincts took over, which is pretty much why I don't remember that night. My magic decided for me. Best thing they've ever done to be honest." Mira smiled again. She'd sort of stopped paying attention after Laxus admitted to loving her, but she'd gleaned enough to decide that all could be forgiven.
"So," Mira ventured, "what now?"
"Now," Laxus said, taking her right wrist in his hand, "I'm going to mark you."
"But, I thought we had to make a big public spectacle first?"
"Yeah well, I've been doing all of this backwards from the beginning anyway, so might as well keep going. When we get back with the others and you've had time to rest, we'll take care of that. Besides, I can feel the pain and weakness you're in all because my mark isn't on you. I'm going to take care of that first." Looking into her eyes, Mira felt Laxus send a brief jolt of electricity into her arm. When he released her, his mark of interwoven lightning bolts shone on her forearm. Instant relief flooded her and she practically passed out. Laxus caught her and hoisted her up.
Mira readjusted herself to fit more closely to his chest, listening to his heartbeat and breathing. As she was carried Mira couldn't help an incandescent smile, which Laxus noticed instantly.
"Can you try to not act so happy? It's embarrassing." This made her smile even more as she grabbed his cheek, leaned up, and kissed him. It wasn't impassioned, just full of joy. Laxus, after a moment, answered in kind and pulled away with his own brilliant smile, one he was reserving only for her.
Lucy was on the chase. She'd never really felt like this before. It was exhilarating and she finally understood why hunters got such a thrill. Speed was essential, but so was stealth. So she stayed as quiet as she could while running.
Turning a corner Lucy stopped dead when she saw Julius standing there leaning against the wall, smirking at her. "It's about time dearest. I was worried that I'd have to leave before you arrived." Julius hoisted Igneel up and Lucy stiffened as she saw her whimpering son.
"Give him to me, Julius," Lucy said in the most commanding, no nonsense voice she'd ever used.
"No, I think not," he purred. "See, I want one thing and one thing only Lucy, and this little guy is going to get that for me."
"And what's that?"
"Lucy, Lucy, I've always just wanted one torrid night of love making. One night is all I ask."
"No."
"Ah well, I'd thought you'd be more obliging, but since you're determined to be stubborn …" He suddenly removed the blanket that Igneel had been wrapped in and showed Lucy the glowing curse he'd place on her son. Stiffening further, Lucy took a step forward.
"No, no, missy," Julius said, pressing his finger to the middle of it. "This is a special spell by my design. If I give the right word, the sign will detonate, as will your son."
"What do you want Julius!?"
"I want you to come over here. Let me lead you into the nearest room, have my way and then I'll let you leave with Igneel."
"You lie!" Julius seemed surprised that Lucy had called his bluff, but he smiled.
"Indeed I do. If I'm going to give the child up, I must have another. So, it's your life for your sons. Take your pick." Lucy glared at him hard, before her looks softened and she approached, defeated.
Julius smiled and placed his arm around her when she was close enough. "There, isn't this much better. Now, I'm going to put Igneel down over there so his worthless father can find him." He placed Igneel down, just like he said he would and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, turning her away and moving further down the hallway. "I'm afraid that you can never see your family again, but I'll be a most energized lover. I can assure you. Oh, and don't even think of running away. I can detonate my curse from anywhere in the world."
"So, you have to say a word and that word will kill my son."
"Not your son any more dear," he said glaring at Igneel. Igneel was wailing, having heard and smelled Lucy. He was confused as to why she wasn't cuddling him and holding him. Lucy understood all of this with the heart of a mother, when Julius spun her around to face him. "You must forget him and his worthless father."
He grabbed her face roughly and kissed her. Lucy was sure that he thought it was hot and sexy, but it was by far the worst kiss she'd ever had and that was saying something. She'd been cornered by a drunken Bacchus a few years back and he'd mostly missed her lips, which caused him to slobber all over her cheeks. Natsu had come to her rescue pretty early on. Well, he wasn't here and she didn't need him to rescue her anymore.
Lucy pulled back gently, lulling him into a false sense of security. She didn't even check the bond. She'd felt a jolt of shock when Julius had kissed her and she was sure that Natsu was now, most likely, blowing the building apart to get to her faster. Because according to Natsu, hallways just get in the way sometimes. As soon as she was able to get her lips away from him, he smiled and was about to say something, when Lucy throat punched him. He gurgled and fell, struggling to breath and most definitely not able to say anything.
"A helpful tip, Julius," Lucy said, bending down and lifting Igneel up into her arms. "Don't use seal magic and lie about it to someone who's been around plenty. I know from my friends that this particular seal will cause an explosion, but only if you're touching the object when you give the word."
Julius's face contorted in rage and he hurled himself at her. Lucy side stepped and slammed a kick into his side. He flew into the nearest wall. Lucy wanted to beat the living daylights out of him, but she couldn't risk him touching Igneel. Julius was mad enough now to actually do it.
"Need help, Luce," Natsu asked. Lucy turned in surprise. She hadn't heard him coming, even though he'd melted through most of the walls. Well, she'd been busy.
"Yes, hold Igneel would you?" Natsu smiled and took his son. His son, who'd quieted when Lucy had picked him up, started cooing when he smelled his father again. Natsu cradled him, a brilliant smile stretching across his cheeks. Lucy smiled at her men and her heart softened, but not enough to not get her revenge. Turing back around, she let her anger out. She kicked an already down Julius in the stomach and then punched him in the face over and over again. She just kept going, until she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Luce, I think I've become a bad influence on you." He turned her around to face him, as the man on the floor panted in pain. Natsu whipped her tears away, tears she didn't even know she was crying and placed his forehead to hers. As she breathed in, she felt her rage flowing away and she sighed. Later, she would realize that with the bond being so strong, Natsu's anger had been leaking over and she was not used to having to control a dragon's rage.
"Better?" She nodded and Natsu kissed her forehead. Lucy, deciding that she wanted a better greeting, lifted her face and Natsu took the hint happily. It was a long kiss and Lucy had completely forgotten where she was until Natsu suddenly jerked out his arm and she heard a hard impact followed by a groan. Natsu pulled away, his eyes hard and glowing.
"It would've been wiser for you to use the time I was taking to greet my mate and child to escape. Instead you tried to hurt them again."
"She's mine!" Julius screeched.
"She doesn't belong to anyone Julius. She chose me, someone she could have refused if she'd desired and I would never have forced myself on her."
"You're a fool Dragneel. I'll claim her eventually."
"No, because you die here." Lucy, now her rage spent, was trying to decide how to stave Natsu's hand. He honestly hated killing people, even when it was necessary. He tried to hide it, but she could always tell. However, she was saved from such a need, because Julius was stupid. Natsu had taken a step or two from her and Julius, either mad, desperate, or too injured to judge properly, lunged for her and Igneel. Natsu grabbed him and with a speed faster than Lucy had ever seen, broke his body. His staring eyes, though dead, still seemed to long for her and so she turned away. Natsu set the body on fire and turned towards her. She saw the pain of the kill in his eyes and Lucy walked forward. Taking his hand, she led him away until they couldn't smell the smoke anymore.
"Hey, Luce?"
"Hmm?" He stopped and pulled her into a bear hug. First he breathed deeply, bringing in her scent and then he leaned further down to do the same with his son. Igneel, finally with his mother and father, and sensing a peace from them was asleep. Natsu smiled and kissed his son, before bringing his attention back to his mate. He cupped her face between his hands and just looked at her.
"I missed you, Luce."
"I missed you too, Natsu." Tears were in her voice, though her eyes remained dry. Natsu closed the distance between them and kissed her. He was aware of Igneel between them, so he kept his desire for a passionate kiss in check. Instead, it was slow and patient, gentle and loving. Natsu didn't want to show Lucy how much he'd missed her in his bed, he was trying to show her how much he'd just missed her. He loved her more than he'd ever loved anyone and he was expressing it as best he could. Lucy, as always, understood and answered back showing him just how much she'd missed him.
Finally, Lucy pulled away. "That will do Natsu," she smiled. "Let's get out of here. I'm tired, hungry, and I want to sleep in a real bed." Natsu nodded and draped his arm over her shoulders as they made their way out of the ruined fortress.
"Oh by the way," Natsu said, fishing into his pocket. "I thought you'd might like these." He passed Lucy her keys.
"Where did you find these?"
"Loke showed up on my way here and gave them to me. His ability to just pop in and pop out can be quite the life saver."
"Or quite the annoyance and cause of embarrassment." Natsu's face darkened. She was referring to more than one instance where he popped in on them in compromising actions. His excuse was that he felt her heart rate increase and he thought she was in danger. Of course, according to Virgo, they always knew when Lucy's reactions were from danger or from the pleasant punishment of her mate. Leave it to Virgo to make it sound dirty.
"You know of course," Natsu said a few minutes later, "that now that this has happened a second time, that I'm never letting you leave my sight again."
Expecting this, Lucy just rolled her eyes and decided to just buckle down and wait him out. He'd go with her everywhere for a few months if the last time was to go by, but eventually his paranoia would diminish. "Well, then you can help me pick out a new outfit this week."
"Anything." Lucy sighed. Great, usually that was the tester to see how committed to the part he was. She was in for a long wait.