A/N: Gentlemen…behold! This story has been updated! MWAHAHAHAHAHA*cough, cough…author regains composure*
Hello everyone and welcome back to the main plot of "Kids"! Last chapter marked the end to the side stories so from here on out, things will be focusing on where we last left off; way back to Chapter 14 (Chapter 16 according to the site).
Sorry if this chapter is late, I finally got some hours in with my job along with having a substantial work load from college that I had to contend with and I updated my other story so that played a factor. Basically, life happened.
But, I'm off for the week starting today thanks to spring break and will do my best to continue to update this. Don't worry I'm not off partying or anything like that; to be honest, I'm not really into that whole thing. I don't see why people do all that crazy stuff at the beach only to end up on an episode of COPS.
I only have about two more months of school left so I expect things to start to get hectic around midway to the end of April and beginning of May with the end of classes and final exams…oi vey, my head hurts just thinking about all of that.
So, before we continue back onto this little adventure we have here, here's a quick shout out to you guys; you wonderful people who have given me 93 stellar reviews! Let's see if we can make it to 100!
-AyeeeItsCoco: Hello and welcome my newest reader, I'm glad you like this story! I can understand why you don't like OC's and it's rare to find a story where you find OC's that work. Luckily, there are some very talented authors on this site that have the gift of bringing characters to life. I'm glad to know I'm doing something right with my OC's. You think they'd work out for the Fairy Tail manga/anime? In response to your questions, I will correct/answer a few things: Saito is 17 years old, Gray and Juvia's youngest is 5 and her name is Chiara. Sorry for not updating ASAP, but your patience has been rewarded.
-kazenoseiren: Hello and welcome back you lovely girl from afar! I'm doing just fine…a little stressed but I'm just fine. You? I'm glad you liked the previous chapter with Jellal and Erza. I had to stop and think over about a couple parts once or twice but I'm glad it paid off in the end. Yes, that was my final side story, sorry I didn't make more of them but they ran their course. Yes, I'm really sure I don't want to abandon my other story…but I won't be turning my attention back to it any time soon. My thought train for this story is on a roll! Things are going to start to seriously start to pick up so stay tuned.
-Nayami-Chan: Hello and welcome to the story! First of all, let me start by saying this; thank you. Seriously, thank you for your reviews, I don't think I've received reviews of that size like ever; I AM NOT WORTHY OF SUCH PRAISE! I appreciate you also posting reviews for my older chapters. They're old but it's still nice to receive feedback on them. Just one question before I address yours; what time zone do you live in? I normally check for reviews when I wake up in the morning but that's around 7:30 or 8:00 AM for me and when I saw yours the reviews said they were posted two or three hours earlier. I'm just wondering that's all. In regards to chapter 18 (aka Side Story 4) concerning the origins of Gajeel's powers, I'm going to try and address that matter in this chapter…but I'm not going to reveal too much* Evil Laugh*. As for chapter 19; the episode of Castle I was referencing was actually the opening scene to Episode 13 of Season 3 ("Knockdown"). The monologue from Raglan to be precise. It's oaky to complain about your TV, believe me, I've had my fair share of DVR problems myself. The idea for Happy was something I hadn't seen before myself so I decided to use it. Yeah, Jellal would've had more than just his arm broken if he had been in the room with Erza…if you thought she was scary before, just imagine her in child birth. And finally, here we are, back to the main story; I'm glad you've been patient with this.
So…without further ado, who's ready? Because I know I am!
P.S. Right off the bat there are going to be some very obvious references but as to what, I'm not going to tell. I do not anything that is mentioned; it's merely for entertainment purposes…and my poor attempt at humor. Oh! In case you forgot some details of this story, please refer to Chapter 2 for answers.
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CHAPTER 15: The return to Crocus; A night to remember!
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"Remind me again as to why we're here shrimp?" Gajeel said as he looked over his shoulder from the bookshelf he was facing to the petite mage behind him.
"Because it's time we got some answers regarding Saito's behavior along with the behavior of the others." Levy said as she scanned the books before her.
It had been two days since the incident in East Gate.
Two days since Saito, Sam and Igneel's personalities had practically done a one-eighty and they had thrown up the wall of secrecy around themselves and the other kids…minus little Chiara though.
Frankly, Levy wasn't having any of it.
She wasn't going to let the bond that had formed between her and future son, along with the bonds formed between the other kids and their parents, be ruined because they were hiding something.
It was high time that they started to get some answers and if not from the kids themselves then from other sources.
Levy had remembered that she had told Saito, two months earlier on the day she and Gajeel had confessed their feelings, about her and Gajeel's shared dreams and the large library she found herself in. When she had finished explaining her situation, she had asked Saito of he knew anything about what she was experiencing. She could still remember his reaction:
"Does that…does that mean anything to you?"
Saito's lips had been drawn into a thin line and his eyes had widened slightly. His shoulders also seemed to have tensed up.
"Saito…" Levy asked hesitantly, "Is something wrong?"
Saito blinked once and focused his eyes elsewhere.
"No, I'm fine," Saito said, "I have no idea what your dream could mean."
Although Levy didn't say it, as her eyes crinkled slightly and a small frown graced her countenance, she got the impression that Saito was lying to her.
She didn't press the issue, however. Not when she could find the answers on her own.
And finding some answers was now her current task. She loved Saito; she really did. But she couldn't stand the fact that Saito was harboring an important secret from her and Gajeel…and that he didn't trust them enough to reveal it.
She wanted Saito to be honest with her…she wanted to help him.
But she knew she couldn't wait for him to tell her. If she found her answers, she would confront him with what she found.
"Remind me what we're looking for again? I fail to see how we could find anything useful in the back of the Horror section of the bookstore." Gajeel asked as he continued to skim across the book bindings.
Levy let out a sigh.
"We're looking for anything that can be related to or have in depth information on dream magic. The horror and psychological books just happen to be next to each other…Saito seems to know something about those dreams we've been sharing. But to what extent, I have no idea."
"Little punk." Gajeel muttered.
Levy tossed a book at Gajeel's head.
"Ow! What was that for!?" Gajeel said as he rubbed the sore spot.
"He's our son, not some street criminal." Levy said in a crossed tone before giving her mate an apologetic look.
"Look…I'm worried about him too, just as much as you are." Levy said.
Gajeel sighed and frowned slightly and gently bent down so he could take Levy's hand into his.
"I just…I just wish I could do something for him. He looked so lost that day Levy. He looked so sad…so angry…I didn't know what to do or say to him."
"That is why we need to confront him about this if we find anything. If we confront him…he'll have to open to us. I think…I think he wants to tell us…but he knows he can't for whatever reason it may be."
"Do you think it could be about the future?" Gajeel asked.
Levy frowned and nodded slowly.
"Yes…and I think that's what's bothering me the most. Saito and the others, since they arrived here, have made no effort to return back to their own time. As much as I don't want to see him leave…I find that to be troubling."
"Very troubling". Levy thought.
The two were silent for a moment.
"Let's keep looking." Levy said.
Gajeel nodded and continued to read the books. Just reading the names of some of these books made him quirk an eyebrow.
"Who in their right mind would want to read any of this?" Gajeel thought as he read over a particular cluster of books.
"Slender: The Eight Pages…Slender: The Arrival…Amnesia: The Dark Descent…Amnesia: Dark Room…Vanish…and Cry of Fear...I'm getting the creeps just reading the titles." Gajeel thought and decided he should check somewhere else.
"Ah-ha!" Levy said triumphantly catching Gajeel's attention.
Gajeel turned around to see Levy struggling to pull a thick book from its spot on a shelf. Gajeel gave a wry smile as he watched Levy try and fail to remove the book. It didn't budge.
"Need some help there shrimp?" Gajeel said earning a pout form Levy.
Levy crossed her arms in a cute manner and mumbled, "Yes please."
With a firm tug and a grunt, Gajeel pulled the book out. It was surprisingly heavy, even for him. Wiping some dust off the cover, Gajeel saw that the tile read: DREAMS: DECIFERING THE MIND, MAGIC AND THEIR MEANINGS.
"Think we'll find anything in here?" Gajeel asked.
"It was the only book on the shelf that had that title so I hope so." Levy said as she and Gajeel went to a nearby table. Setting the book down, which made a hefty "thunk", the two took theirs seats and Levy opened up the book.
"Let's see what we can find." Levy said confidently as she put on her Gale-Force Reading Glasses and set them on the 18x speed. She didn't want to blast through the entire book and possibly miss something though, so she did her best to slow the speed just a bit.
The book itself was large and it surprisingly took Levy ten minutes before she came to a stop in the middle of the book.
"I think I've found something." Levy said as she placed her finger on the page.
It read:
Foresight (Praedictio futuri): "Respice de futuro, sed numerus" ("Gaze of a future yet untold.")
Attribute(s): Premonition based dreams of future events that are often linked to highly skilled mages who specialize in written text or incantation based magic. Examples include but are not limited to, Solid Script magic, Song Magic, and Prayer Chanting magic and so on and so forth.
Companion Magic: None.
Magic Trigger: Unknown.
Levy and Gajeel looked at each other before turning back to the book. So far, they seemed to be on the right track.
Description: Foresight is a rare ability that is heavily influenced by magic and only found in highly skilled mages who specialize in knowledge based magic. Foresight allows the user to catch glimpses their life as it would play out in the distant future. From what has been gathered, the user of the ability will find themselves in a subconsciously generated area that matches a unique trait of their personality or has some connection to their specialized magic. From there, they are free to interact with their environment and will eventually be led to a place or object that allows the premonitions to be accessed.
It should be noted that if the user shares a strong bond with someone besides themselves, the Foresight ability will imprint on the other person and from there the users and the second users' subconscious minds will be linked. Ergo, they will share the same dreams and still be able to interact with each other.
The exact origins of this ability are undetermined, however. It has been theorized that there are only a select few mages who are born with this ability. If they become associated with knowledge based magic and hone their skills to a certain point, it is believed that the ability is then unlocked.
Recent studies have shown that women, in particular, have a greater chance of unlocking this ability shortly after child birth. It is has been shown that female mages who conceive of a child are drained of their magic as the child develops their own magic signature. Once the child is born, the mother's magic steadily returns to her body. This sudden influx of magic caused by the trauma of the birth allows the ability to manifest.
Another theory states that if the mage has gone through a series of traumatic events in their life, the shock from such events automatically triggers the ability.
Whatever the case may be, Foresight is an ability that should not be underestimated. The prophesized events are extremely detailed and have shown an accuracy probability of 97.99%. The interpretation of such events, however, is left up to the user to discern.
NOTE: Foresight, in a way, can be negated if the future associated with the user of the ability has been suddenly altered in a way that time itself has been offset. The connection between these events however has yet to be determined.
Taking off her glasses, Levy closed the book and bit the arm of her glasses in thought.
"Hmmm," Levy mused, "this information only answers some of our questions."
"Yeah," Gajeel said, "I can understand the traumatic events thing…but how does the child birth thing work?"
Gajeel cupped his chin and then gave Levy a curios and slightly wide-eyed look.
"You're not pregnant…are you?" Gajeel asked.
Levy replied by flicking he finger at Gajeel's forehead earning a slight yelp form the iron mage.
"Gajeel, I assure you, I'm not pregnant." Levy said firmly, "We started having the dreams before we even got together."
"Oh, that's right, I remember." Gajeel said as he rubbed his forehead.
"I do think I know why there might be a connection to Saito. When we first met him, my maternal instincts went into overdrive and came to life. Saito made it a point to establish that he was our son and did everything he could to help solidify that bond. I think that by doing so, even though I have yet to give birth, Siato's presence is awakening the Foresight."
"…That actually makes sense." Gajeel said.
Levy nodded.
"As for the dreams themselves…we have only seen glimpses of us in the future and when Saito was a child. Those are fairly obvious and don't really require an explanation. But…"
"But what?" Gajeel said noting Levy's slight pause in her speech.
"I do remember one dream where it showed Saito as he currently is…all grown up instead of little. He was looking back at us with this…this expression. I don't know if it was worry, sadness or regret…I couldn't' place it."
"What do you think that could mean?" Gajeel asked.
"I have no idea." Levy said with a groan as she massaged her temples.
"Ugh…this is frustrating…we find one answer only to have another series of questions pop up."
Gajeel placed a comforting hand on Levy's shoulder.
"We'll figure it out in no time. You just need to take your mind off of it for the moment. The answer is probably something so simple that it might just smack us in the face."
Levy chuckled at Gajeel's words and stood up from the table.
"Let's put the book back and head back to the Guild. I want to see if Saito's mood has improved that we can safely talk to him about this."
XXXX
The Guild Hall was busy as it usually was. Friends sat at the bar or tables and struck up conversation with one another while others searched the job board or used the amenities the Guild offered to its members.
These things were lost, however, on one Lucy Heartfilia. Lucy sat the bar with Natsu sitting as close to her as he could in his bar stool. Occasionally, she would take a glance over her shoulder at look towards the back corner of the Guild Hall; a small and concern filled frown marring her beautiful face.
In that corner, situated around a table, was Igneel, his sister Lilly and his friends. Missing from the small group was little Chiara. She sat at table near the bar with her mother, Juvia, and Asuka and Bisca Connell as the two little girls made crayon drawings on pieces of paper before proudly presenting them to their mothers and each other.
Back to the corner, the young mages sat close together and spoke quietly as they seemed to be in deep conversation about…something. Lucy had no doubts in her mind that they were discussing the events of two days prior; of Sam and Saito's encounter with the dark mages in East Gate.
But as to what they were discussing, Lucy could only guess. Igneel, although he had asked Lucy to trust him, was starting to through up a wall of secrecy again. He was dodging questions and the others seemed to follow suite.
"He asked me to trust him…when he doesn't even trust us; his own parents," Lucy lamented internally, "how is that fair?"
Lucy took another quick glance to check her future children.
The groups table was situated in a shadowy part of the room and it only served to darken Igneel and Lilly's features. They seemed tired but alert at the same time…especially Igneel, with his mouth set in a firm line and his body tense. Considering that he hadn't been sleeping well the past few days, Lucy wondered how he could be so on edge.
The same went for Lilly. The young woman who looked so much like her mother, sat with her hands gripping her knees and her brow was furrowed slightly. Her normally jovial expression was now one of concentration.
Lucy also noticed that every now and then, Igneel would tap a small pouch on his belt. It was where the Time Key was and it never left Igneel's side…he watched the damned thing like a hawk.
Gray had explained that item the dark mages were after in East Gate was the last key that was capable of manipulating flow of time. That being said, Lucy quickly deduced that whatever was bothering the kids was something that involved that key and the future.
It was that fact that unsettled Lucy more than her future children's behavior.
"Think we should go talk to them?" Natsu asked with a mouth full of food, not looking up from his plate.
"I don't think they're in a talking mood." Lucy said glumly.
Natsu swallowed his food and looked at Lucy.
"Is there anything we can do? I'm getting tired of that attitude of his." Natsu said a little stiffly.
"I know what you mean. They ask us to trust them but they can't trust us…ironic." Lucy said.
"Very." Natsu added.
Igneel noticed Natsu and Lucy staring at him and the others and nodded slightly at them. At least he was making the effort to not totally ignore his parents.
The Guild Hall doors opened and Gajeel and Levy made their way to the bar. Along the way, Levy casted a glance at Saito who made a minuscule smile to acknowledge his mother's gaze.
Taking their seats next to Natsu and Lucy, the two mages let out two tired sighs.
"Did you find what you were looking for about your dreams Levy?" Lucy asked.
"Yes…and no. There are still some gaps that need to fill in because we seem to have more questions than answers."
Levy looked back at Saito who was facing away from her.
"Still…I want to talk to Saito later and see if we can press him for answers."
Before Lucy could reply, the sound of a high pitched whistle from Cana caught everyone's attention. Turning to Cana's table, the Guild watched as Master Makarov hopped to the top of a nearby table so everyone could see him.
"Listen up everyone, I have some important and exciting news." Makarov said as he observed his Guild. A crowd had begun to form and in the very back, Makarov watched at the kids left their table to join the group...from a slight distance, however.
Makarov let out a silent sigh and reached into his coat pocket before he withdrew a magic letter.
"As many of you may know, these last three days have been a bit rough of some of our Guild members," Makarov said as he looked at the kids. The only response he got was an awkward neck rub form Sam, "and I've been meaning to set aside time for us to take a day or two and relax…to help lessen the tension."
Makarov held up the letter.
"Luckily, fate intervened on our behalf. I just received word from Crocus; the King of Fiore has personally invited us and other Guilds form across the land to partake in the Magic Guild Appreciation Festival."
This news caused the Guild to erupt into a series of excited murmurs and whispers.
"As you may know, ever since the end of this year's Grand Magic Games, the mages of Fiore have started to play a more crucial role in day to day life. That being said, many of Guilds, ours included, have been working hard to make the lives of others easier by performing various odd and serious jobs. As a show of his gratitude for all that we mages have done, the King has arranged for a three day festival to be held in Crocus. That means three days of celebration." Makarov finished with a beaming smile.
If there was one thing his Guild loved more than anything, it was a good time.
This news brought forth a series of cheers and hollers from the Guild.
"I have also learned that Gildarts is currently in Crocus and will be joining us tonight as well."
This brought another set of cheers.
"Mister Gildarts?" Lilly said to her brother with a surprised expression.
"Looks like it." Igneel said with admiration in his voice.
"Oh man, this looks like it will be one hell of a party." Sam said with a grin. It was the first time in two days that his compatriots had seen him smile.
"The opening ball begins tonight so we still have some time to get to Crocus and get settled in; so pack your things along with your Sunday finest, it's party time people." Makarov said.
As people began milling about, Levy noticed that Saito seemed to have perked up a bit having heard the news of the party. Figuring now was the best time to talk to him while Saito was still around, Levy made her way over to her son.
"Uhm…Saito?" Levy said, catching his attention.
Saito turned around to face his mother. Levy was slightly taken aback to see that Saito's expression had softened slightly.
"Yes?" Saito said.
"I was wondering…you know what, it can wait till later."
Saito cocked his head slightly.
"…Okay…is everything alright?"
"Yeah," Levy said with a nod, "everything's fine, I'm just wondering what to pack that's all."
Saito's lips quirked into a small smile as he shrugged simply.
"If you say so…c'mon, I'll help you and dad pack." Saito said with a gesture of his hands.
Levy smiled and followed her son. She had wanted to ask him if she could talk to him later about what she and Gajeel had found…but seeing his expression made her change her mind. He seemed relieved that the Festival had been announced…almost as if he wanted to take his mind off whatever he had been thinking about. As if he just wanted a night to relax.
Seeing that look, Levy thought better of her decision. She could talk to Saito latter…she didn't want to spoil his good mood.
XXXX
Later…
The train car was a buzz as the mages of Fairy Tail chatted away about the upcoming festival. It went without saying that everyone was excited for the event. Having prepared their overnight bags and their best dress clothes, the mages had quickly made sure the Guild was locked up for the night before rushing to the train station. Upon their arrival, Makarov handed the ticked teller the envelope he had received. Inside was a special ticket that paid for the train and boarding costs for all the mages. Once the ticket had been approved, the mages were then led by a conductor to an awaiting train that was destined for Crocus.
The sun was setting now but luckily the ball didn't start until eight o'clock in the evening.
All though the Guild was slightly scattered about the car, the kids found themselves with or near their parents as they made conversation or interacted with those around them. It didn't go unnoticed that they seemed to be in a better mood.
Situated in the back away from the group, Saito, Gajeel, Levy and Pantherlily, sat in relative silence in their seats. Saito was stretched out in his seat as looked out the opposite window while Gajeel and Levy sat across from him. Levy had fallen asleep and was resting her head on Gajeel's shoulder while Lily lay curled up in her lap. Gajeel himself looked out the window on his side but every now and then, his brow would furrow slightly and he would look down at his hands before clenching and un-clenching them.
"Something on your mind?" Saito asked as he looked at Gajeel.
Gajeel's jaw moved slightly from left to right as if he were flexing it in thought.
"Just remembered something you said…from a while ago…I don't know why it popped up now."
"What is it?" Saito asked.
"…It's nothing…don't worry about it."
Saito snorted slightly.
"It's obviously something judging by the way you keep looking at your hands."
Saito sat up and removed his sunglasses thus exposing his vibrant red eyes.
"C'mon…I know I haven't been approachable lately…but that doesn't mean we can't talk like normal people."
"I don't think the word "normal" has ever pertained to us." Gajeel countered.
"Touché," Saito said, "still…it doesn't hurt to talk."
"That's rich, coming from you." Gajeel sneered.
Saito didn't so much as flinch at Gajeel's barb.
"That's one matter…this is another." Saito said. "Level with me here would you, because I'm not going to drop the issue."
Gajeel held his sons gaze before letting out a deep sigh.
"Alright…I've been thinking…how do I get Dragon Skin?" Gajeel said.
Saito' shoulders instantly tensed and his mouth drew into a thin line.
"You said I should have received it by now...but I haven't…what gives?"
Saito crossed his arms across his chest.
"Don't say you can't tell me," Gajeel said, "I've earned that much."
Saito lowered his head and let out a deep sigh.
"Alright, I suppose you have…" Saito looked at his father, "are you sure you can handle what I'm about to tell you?"
"Give me the clean cut version if you don't think so." Gajeel said.
It was a long time before Saito blinked.
"Okay…I'll give you the clean cut." Saito said as he leaned forward slightly.
"You received the Dragon Skin magic from Grandpa…right before he died." Saito said.
"…Grandpa?" Gajeel said with a raised eyebrow, "Saito…as far as I know; I don't have a father."
"Yes you do…you just haven't seen him for fifteen years." Saito said.
"What are you talking abo-" Gajeel said before suddenly pausing.
"Wait…fifteen years…no…it can't be." Gajeel thought as his eyes began to widen in shock.
Saito noticed his father's expression change and nodded in affirmation.
"That's right…your received one of the rarest and most powerful magic abilities from the dragon who took you in and raised you as his own. Your adoptive father…my grandfather…Metalicana."
Gajeel was floored by this revelation. Metalicana, the Iron Dragon, had given him Saito's power at some point in the future.
He had actually gotten a chance to see his adoptive father again.
But…
"M-my…my father is dead?" Gajeel asked as he felt his body start to go numb.
Saito shook his head slowly.
"As of this moment; no. But at some point in time, he will be…just like the other dragons." Saito said causing Gajeel's jaw to hang agape slightly.
"You and mom, along with everyone else, never really spoke of what happened and how exactly your powers came to be. But you did tell me this; just before Grandpa Metalicana passed, he transferred all of his magic too you. Grandpa apparently said, "I'd feel like a total ass if I didn't leave you something to remember me by; it only seems fair after I just up and left you like that. Fifteen years is a long time but hey, you turned out alright didn't you? You're now a selfish prick just like me!""
This caused both Saito and Gajeel to chuckle even though Gajeel could feel his eyes start to burn.
"Grandpa then said, "Damn it…now look at me…I'm getting sentimental. Who the hell am I kidding; you turned out just fine…I just wish I could've spent a little more time with you. I wish I could have seen you become the man you are today. I'm not going to apologize for what I've done but I'm glad that, here, in the end…I can die by your hands my son…I now leave my power to you; it's the least I can do for you. Give it time and soon you'll be almost unstoppable…but use it wisely…goodbye…Gajeel.""
Saito reclined back into his seat as he watched his father quickly wipe the tears out of his eyes.
"I know it may seem selfish of Grandpa to give you his power like that, but it was in his nature. Although Grandpa would never admit it… I do believe he truly loved you dad and that he wanted to give you a piece of himself. A memento of sorts."
Gajeel gave a sad chuckle.
"That sounds about right."
A thought suddenly dawned on Gajeel.
"How does that Thorn chick have Dragon Skin then?"
"…You're probably not the first person Metalicana taught Iron Dragon Slayer Magic to. I'm guessing at some point, he gave one of his adoptive sons or daughters a little bit of the Dragon Skin power. As time passed from generation to generation, that power grew and grew until it was passed to Thorn. She eventually reached a point in her life that she was able to harness and control that magic."
"That makes sense…" Gajeel said, "But…considering what you just told me…how come I haven't seen Metalicana yet?"
Saito sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I have no idea why dad." Saito said. "I honestly have no idea. I've been noticing that some things with this time period seem…out of place. To what degree though, I couldn't tell you."
Saito let out a deflated sigh.
"I've already told you enough as it is…who knows what I've changed just by telling you all of that." Saito said as he placed his sunglasses over his eyes.
Gajeel paused at this. Was Saito seriously altering the future by telling him this information? If that was true, then did that pertain to the others as well?
Gajeel shook his head clear. Thinking about all of that made his head hurt.
"Regardless…I'm glad you told me. At least…at least I can be prepared for it when the time comes." Gajeel said.
"…In a way, I'm glad I told you too." Saito said after a pause. "I don't like keeping secrets form you…but it's in my nature to do so. I just thought you should know about Grandpa…you have every right to know…but there are still some things I can't tell you."
"…Are you ever going to let me and shrimp in?" Gajeel asked.
"When the time is right," Saito said, "when the time is right."
Saito then looked out the window and began to put his jacket on.
"Better wake mom up, we're almost to the city."
XXXX
With a screeching of metal on metal and the hiss of steam, the train pulled up to the station. Once the conductor gave the all clear, the mages of Fairy Tail disembarked. And they were greeted by a familiar host.
"Captain Tenembaum." Erza said in surprise when she saw the Captain of the Capital Guard waiting on the platform with a small entourage of guards.
"Hello, Miss Scarlet, it is good to see you again." Tenembaum said with a welcoming smile before addressing the rest of Fairy Tail. "All of you. I was beginning to think that your train wouldn't make it in time."
"It is nice to be back, especially when people are not trying to kill you." Gray said.
"Indeed," Said Tenembaum, "Sir Arcadios has asked us to escort you to the Royal Palace where the other Guilds are staying. He asks that after you get checked in that you should change into your formal attire and meet with the other mages in the grand hall; the same place where you assembled for the royal ball after the Magic Games."
The Captain then extended his hand outwards.
"If you would be so kind as to follow me…time is of the essence and we do not want to make the others wait."
The mages and their escort quickly set off at a brisk pace.
"Gildarts Clive has already settled in and is expecting you and your Guild." Tenembaum said to Makarov.
"Thank you Captain…has he caused any havoc yet?" Makarov asked.
"…If I tell you the truth will you promise not to get mad?" Tenemabaum asked.
Makarov simply sighed and began to mutter under his breathe.
As the mages walked along, Tenembaum slowly drifted to the back of the group where Igneel was.
"Hello again young man." Tenembaum greeted.
"Captain, it's nice to see you again." Igneel said.
"It is…I've been hearing a lot about you and your group recently; about the children of Fairy Tail from the future." Tenembaum said.
"People have taken notice of us…I guess I shouldn't be surprised."
"One way or another, word about things will get out and soon everyone will know what's going on."
Tenembaum looked at Igneel.
"I heard about your friends encounter at East Gate as well."
Igneel visibly tensed.
"The guards that were killed there were some of my finest…I will have to thank your friends for dealing with those dark mages."
Tenembaum slowed his pace and Igneel did the same.
"Last time we spoke…you told me you were here in this time to combat those dark mages. But there is more to it than that isn't there?"
Tenembaum took Igneel's silence as a "yes."
"Rest assured young man, I will not divulge anything to your Guild and I will not press you for more information. I only wish to know that you have a handle on the situation."
"That's it?" Igneel said.
"Indeed."
Igneel paused for a moment.
"Me and my friends know what we're doing Captain…you don't have to worry about us."
"…If you say so." Tenembaum said before he noticed Saito walking towards them.
"Everything alright boss?" Saito asked addressing Igneel.
"Yep, the Captain was just asking me some questions…nothing more."
Saito eyed Tenembaum for a second before shrugging.
"Alright…I just noticed you guys were falling behind, that's all."
"Then we'd better catch up." The Captain said as he and the boys quickened their pace.
"By the way Captain," Saito said, "I've been meaning to ask you, what became of that girl?"
"Who…" Tenembaum said before suddenly remembering who Saito was talking about, "Ah, yes, I remember now. After you brought Leila McAllister in to us, we had her locked up in the psychiatric ward of the main hospital. She was kept sedated for a time before the doctors began treating her psychosis. That poor girl may never recover from what happened to her…but she is showing signs of improvement that much I can tell you."
Saito let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you sir."
And with that, the trio rejoined the entourage.
XXXX
After entering the Palace, the mages were directed to their rooms where they quickly set about unpacking and changing into their more formal wear and freshening up.
"C'mon everyone, we don't want to be late!" Makarov said as he quickly walked down the expansive hallway that led to the ballroom.
"We're coming, we're coming, don't get your shorts in a knot." Cana said as she adjusted her dress.
"I'll relax when we get there, but as of this moment, I have every right to panic a little!" Makarov fired back.
"Sheesh, the old man is in rare form tonight." Sam mumbled to Lilly who giggled in turn.
Sam, who was dressed in white and blue, wore an ankle length overcoat over his dress suite with a blue tie. His hair was combed and neatly slicked back slightly. Lilly, in turn, was dressed in a brilliant white and red sleeveless evening gown and had styled her hair so that it fell down into beautiful cascading waves. Some makeup completed her look.
"Cut the man some slack, it's not like we're about to appear before the King of Fiore or anything like that." Saito said sarcastically.
Saito wore a pair of baggy, black slacks that were tucked into a pair of lace-less black, polished leather boots. He wore a black button down shirt under a white button down vest with a brilliant red tie. His sleeves were rolled halfway up his forearms, however. He no longer wore his sunglasses and had taken off his bandana so his short hair was left unobstructed.
"I just hope he doesn't push himself too far. He's bound to break sooner or later if her gets too worked up." Jenny said.
"Ane-san, how can Master Makarov get his shorts tied up…if he isn't wearing any?" Chiara asked as she held her sisters hand.
Chiara's question combined with her adorable but bewildered expression, caused her sister and the others to burst out into laughter.
Jenny wore a sky blue, high collar long sleeved gown that trailed gently behind her while Chiara wore a dark blue sundress with her hair tied into a long braid.
"It's just a saying grownups use when they say some one is getting too nervous, Chiara." Senna said.
"Oh," Chiara said as her mouth formed a perfect little "O"…but her expression changed to confusion again.
"But what does that have to do with short?" Chiara asked.
"You'll understand when your older." Igneel said.
Senna and Igneel walked arm in arm as they tagged along with their Guild. Igneel had slicked his hair back and wore an outfit similar to his usual attire. He wore a black button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up at his elbows under a white button down vest with a navy blue tie. A pair of dark slacks and polished dress shoes completed the look.
Senna wore a form fitting red cheongsam style dress with a pair of laced of heels. Her hair was styled in an elegant knot with her usual chopsticks holding it in place. Some lipstick and eye shadow finished her look. Needless to say, Senna simply looked stunning.
"I just hope we don't have an incident like last time." Lucy muttered, referring to the Grand Magic Games when Natsu had taken the King's crown and attire.
Natsu in turn, simply gave an embarrassed smile and laugh as he rubbed the back of his neck.
Soon enough, the large group of mages arrived at the doors to the ball room. The guards on duty opened the doors and allowed the mages to pass through as they soon found the spacious room filled with various mages from all over Fiore. Amongst the crowd were the members of the Sabertooth, Lamia Scale, Blue Pegasus, Quatro Cerberus, and Mermaid Heel guilds.
Receiving various greetings from the other guilds, the mages of Fairy Tail fell in place with the others and soon enough, the King and Princess Fiore arrived at the balcony overlooking the ball room.
"Welcome Mages of Fiore, to the first annual Magic Guild Appreciation Festival.," King Toma E. Fiore said from his spot on the balcony, "Due to your dedicated service and pursuit of maintaining the balance of the world as we know it, it is my honor to start these festivities. Tonight, I encourage you to socialize and have fun with your fellow mages. For come tomorrow, you shall share that enthusiasm with the people of this city as the two days of festivities begin. So relax, kick back and enjoy this night to your heart's content!" The King said, earning a thunderous applause from all present.
"I do hope that Dragon Slayer doesn't attempt to steal my crown again," the King said as he stepped down from the podium, "if he does, I'll never forgive him."
Princess Hisui E. Fiore giggled lightly at her father's musings.
"Even if he did try to take it, I don't think anyone would be able to stop him from doing so." She said.
"I suppose your right," Toma sighed before a peppy smile appeared on his face, "why don't you go ahead and join our guests and mingle with them, I have some last minute things to take care of and will be down shortly. I'm sure they'll appreciate your company."
"Are you sure?" Hisui asked.
"Of course I'm sure, besides, you may even find someone to dance with tonight." Toma said with a mischievous wiggle of his eyebrows.
"Father!" Hisui said as her cheeks turned a shade of pink while Toma laughed in a good natured manner.
"Relax my daughter, relax. Now go and have a good time…I shall join you shortly." Toma said.
Hisui nodded, gave her father a smile and made her way down the ball room.
XXXX
The party soon found itself in full swing.
Mages both young and old found themselves trading stories of recent and past adventures. Many, however, found themselves gravitating towards Igneel and his group of friends; the kids from the future.
Juvia Lockser found herself watching in amusement as Sam was swamped by the questions about the future getting from those around him while Jenny fended off the womanizers of Blue Pegasus, although Hibiki and Ren were quickly dragged away by Jenny Realight and Sherry Blendy, respectively. She found it quite entertaining to watch Sam and Jenny's cool and collected exteriors break under their current situations.
"Oh dear." Juvia said in slight amusement. It wasn't that she enjoyed seeing her future children tormented, it was just seeing them out of their element that made her smile.
"It would seem that way." A voice said from behind Juvia. Juvia instantly recognized the voice.
"Lyon-sama." Juvia said in surprise.
The ice mage gave Juvia a courteous nod with a warm smile.
"Hello Juvia, how are you doing?" Lyon Vastia said.
"I am doing well," Juvia said after regaining her composure, "actually…I am doing more than well…I am fantastic to tell you the truth."
"So I've heard. Gray has told of what has happened over the past two months." Lyon said.
Juvia blushed heavily.
"E-e-everything!?" Juvia asked.
Lyon chuckled.
"Well…almost everything."
Juvia let out a sigh of relief as she brought a hand to her chest to still her heart.
"So…Gray finally had some sense knocked into him?" Lyon asked.
Juvia smiled.
"Yes…he has Sam to thank for that." Juvia said as she looked over her shoulder at Sam, who had managed to pull himself away from his group to go to Jenny's aid.
"…It must be nice…to be able to see your children from the future." Lyon said in a tone Juvia couldn't place. He almost sounded…jealous?
"To able to know that you have a family…someone to love…it must be very nice to be happy like that."
Juvia gave Lyon an understanding smile.
"It took some getting used to…but eventually, Gray and I came to accept that they were our children. That we were able to finally just open up to each other and…and just be able to love one another."
Juvia looked at Sam and Jenny, who were now making their way over to the open bar.
"They are our children…they are so much like us…but different from us at the same time." Juvia said with a sad frown.
"So I've heard. Wasn't Sam, your son, and Gajeel's boy who fought those dark mages at East Gate?" Lyon asked.
Juvia nodded and casted a worried glance at Sam.
"That was two days ago…and he's distanced himself from Gray and me…like he doesn't trust us."
"I'm sure he has his reasons…"Lyon said, "whatever they me be."
"But then why doesn't he let us in…Gray and I want to help him…to help Jenny. But they won't let us in."
Lyon paused as he thought over what Juvia had said.
"Maybe…maybe he wants to tell you…but is afraid to do so."
"Afraid? Juvia asked as Lyon nodded his head.
"Maybe Sam wants to tell you what he is feeling but he is afraid to do so. It's like a defense mechanism he created to protect not only himself but you two as well."
"But from what?"
Lyon gave a helpless shrug.
"Only Sam knows…look, what I'm trying to say is don't try and force things out of him. Let him tell you what is going on in his own way."
Juvia bit her lip but nodded at Lyon's reasoning.
"I understand Lyon-sama…thank you for…thank you for talking to me about this."
Lyon placed a comforting hand on Juvia's shoulder.
"I know I will never be yours Juvia…but that doesn't mean I don't care about you. I'm happy I was able to provide some measure of help."
"Mommy!" A little voice called out.
Juvia turned to her left and saw Chiara running to her. Juvia instantly knelt down and scooped her daughter into her arms.
"What is it sweetie?" Juvia asked.
"I'm hungry mama…can we get something to eat?" Chiara asked, "Ane-san said she needed to get away from the scary men and Ani-san said his head hurt from everyone talking to him."
Juvia smiled.
"Of course sweetie, let's go see if we can…Chiara…is something wrong?" Juvia asked when she noticed Chiara was starring wide eyed at Lyon.
"Chiara," Juvia said, hoping to ease her daughter, "this is Lyon-sama…he's a friend of mama and papa's."
"Hello there little one." Lyon said warmly.
"…Uncle…Lyon?" Chiara said.
Juvia and Lyon starred in shock at Chiara's tone. She sounded surprised…afraid, even. Chiara's hand slowly touched her forehead and she clutched her teddy bear closer to her.
"My head hurts." Chiara mumbled.
"It's probably your tummy telling you its hungry…let's go get you something." Juvia said. As she walked off, she casted a confused look over at Lyon.
"What was that all about?" the ice mage said as he rubbed the back of his head.
XXXX
The night was passing by quickly, Saito Redfox mused as he leaned up against the counter of the bar while taking a sip of his drink.
A small string and woodwind ensemble had been brought out around nine o'clock and had begun to play various songs to fit the mood of the party.
Right now, they seemed to be preparing a dance piece.
Saito grumbled something unintelligible; he didn't dance.
"Something bothering you?" A voice said catching Saito's attention.
Saito turned to the voice…and nearly choked on his drink.
Standing before him was no other than Princess Hisui E. Fiore.
"You majesty!" Saito spluttered out.
Hisui stifled a giggle. Catching his breath, Saito regained his composure.
"Princess Fiore…forgive me, you took me by surprise."
"Don't be, I didn't mean to startle you like that," Hisui said, "and please, call me Hisui. You don't have to be that formal around me."
"If that is what you wish…Hisui," Saito said with an embarrassed blush on his face, "is there something I can help you with?"
"Can a Princess not speak to someone without having and ulterior motive?" Hisui asked.
Saito made the wise decision by choosing not to answer.
"Heh, I see your point," Hisui lamented, "but, I just want to talk…that is all."
"Okay…about what?"
"About why you're just standing here?" Hisui said, "Everyone is making their way to the dance floor…but you're standing here all by yourself."
"I don't dance." Saito simply said.
"Do you now?" Hisui said with a raised eyebrow.
"I don't like dancing."
The newest dance song began. It was a soft, relaxing piece.
"Well…we'll have to change that." Hisui said.
"Pardon?" Saito said before he noticed Hisui's outstretched hand. Realization dawned on Saito.
"May I have this dance?" Hisui asked with that lovely smile of hers.
"Y-you're majesty…not to offend you or anything of that sort but-"
"But, nothing." Hisui said cutting Saito off. She gave him a reassuring smile.
"I'm not asking you as the Princess of Fiore…I'm asking you as a girl who wants to dance with a handsome man and who was standing all alone."
Saito let out deep sigh…before smiling.
"Well…when you put it that way…" Saito said.
Hisui beamed. Grabbing Saito's hand with both hands, she jovially pulled a surprised Saito out onto the dance floor.
And all the while, Natsu and Lucy had watched the exchange.
"Well, he seems to have his hands full." Lucy said.
Natsu laughed openly at Saito's predicament.
"He's redder than a tomato, I swear to Mavis." Natsu cackled.
"Of that we can agree." A voice said.
The two turned to see Igneel and Senna, their arms linked together, standing behind them.
"Having fun you two?" Senna asked.
Natsu and Lucy nodded.
"Yes, very much." Lucy said.
"Same for you?" Natsu asked.
"Yes…this is turning to be quite the party." Igneel said.
A silence soon formed between the two.
"Listen…" Igneel said, "I know we've been distant with you guys since the…incident." Igneel said.
"But…when we were talking earlier…we came to the conclusion that we can't keep you in the dark forever…that you are a least entitled to know what's been bothering us."
"What Igneel is trying to say," Senna added, "is that we're going to start to let you in. We're…we don't want to keep hiding things from you forever."
Natsu and Lucy starred wide eyed at the duo.
"Is this true?" Natsu asked as he looked at Igneel.
The light mage nodded.
"When the festival ends…when we get back home…we'll take some time and talk."
Lucy smiled and hugged her future son.
"Thank you…you don't…you don't know how happy we are to hear this."
Igneel returned the hug with his free hand.
"I can take a guess…but for now, let's enjoy the rest of the night."
Natsu and Lucy were all too happy to agree as they joined Igneel, Senna and the other mages on the dance floor.
XXXX
Later…
It was well past midnight by the time the ball ended and Natsu and Lucy found themselves stumbling back to their room. They were both tired from the dancing…and a little off kilter from some of the drinks they had.
They were not drunk per se, but they were a little tipsy.
Lucy leaned on Natsu as she searched for the room key.
"I…I had a fun time tonight…Natsu." Lucy said.
"Same here Luce…that was…it was different, in a good way." Natsu added.
Lucy let out a giggle as her hands fumbled with her keys. Natsu reached out his hands, with a chuckle of his own, and steadied Lucy's hands.
"Thanks." Lucy said with a warm smile.
The door was opened and the two entered the spacious room. Natsu kicked the door closed behind him as he took off his jacket and set it on a nearby chair. Lucy did the same with her shawl.
"I'm…I'm glad Igneel and Lilly are ready to open up to us." Lucy said as she undid the elegant knot her hair was kept in.
"Yeah…I guess this is a sign that things are looking up for us." Natsu said before pausing.
The moonlight lit the darkened room thanks to the large pane window near the balcony. And standing in the light was Lucy.
She looked…she looked breathtaking.
The moonlight casted shadows that accented her curves and caused her golden locks to practically glow.
She was beautiful.
"What is it?" Lucy asked, noticing Natsu was openly starring at her.
Natsu said nothing and with two simple strides, Natsu and Lucy were face to face. Natsu raised his hands and pulled two stray locks of hair behind Lucy's ears. He then leaned forward a fraction of an inch…and brought Lucy's lips together with his.
Lucy's eyes widened for a only a second before they fluttered closed. She raised her arms and crossed them behind Natsu's neck.
The two pulled apart after a lengthy kiss and looked into each other's eyes as green met brown.
They had kissed like that before…but something about this one felt different; special even. Natsu and Lucy didn't know if it was because they were tired, tipsy or relieved from what Igneel said…but they didn't care.
The spark between them had become something more with that kiss.
Before the two knew it, their lips were brought together as their hands slowly began to roam…to explore.
Natsu let out a deep moan that rumbled deep from within his chest and traveled through his sealed mouth into Lucy's. That moan awakened something deep and primal in the back of Lucy's mind; and she loved it.
Their kissing became more frantic…more passionate. Lucy pressed her body flush against Natsu as she felt his body heat up. Natsu pressed his tongue against Lucy's mouth and forced it past her lips. The moment their tongues met, the two mages knew they were now past the point of no return.
As their tongues wrestled for dominance, the primal need to be closer took over and the two mages quickly set about fulfilling that need. Clothing was removed as Natsu and Lucy tumbled their way to the queen sized bed. Falling onto said bed, Lucy felt goose bumps form on her bare, heated and sensitive skin when the cool bed sheets connected with her body.
Natsu and Lucy were now completely naked with the former's hands framing the side of the Celestial Spirit mages head. Lucy's hands reached up and she ran her hands down Natsu's taught and muscular chest. Her right hand paused over his heart; she could feel it pounding like a jackhammer in his chest.
Natsu in turn took his one hand and cupped Lucy's cheek with it as the blond beauty smiled and nuzzled Natsu's palm.
"Lucy…" Natsu said, his voice almost hoarse, "if we do this…we can't come back. We'll be bonded together till the day we die."
Lucy opened her eyes as they turned from shock to hopeful astonishment.
"You mean we'll…" Lucy's voice died slightly.
"Yes…we'll be mates. I'll be yours…you'll be mine; we'll be together…forever."
Lucy felt her eyes tear up hearing this.
"But I need to know that you're okay with this…that you're ready." Natsu said.
Lucy's answer came in the form of her leaning up and delivering a soul searing kiss to Natsu's lips. She unsealed her lips from his and rested her forehead on Natsu's.
"Natsu…I want this. I want you. I want us to be together. I'm not saying this because of the heat of the moment. I'm saying it because I mean it. From the bottom of my heart…I want us to be mates."
Natsu couldn't help the tear that fell down his cheek. She wanted to be his…she wanted him.
"Then…" Natsu said low and husky, his voice making Lucy's skin tingle excitedly, "let's begin." Natsu said as he leaned in and claimed Lucy's lips. All the while he gently ran a finger from the valley of her breasts to her belly button then across her waist so his hand cupped her waist. He then rand his calloused hand up and down her creamy smooth thigh.
Lucy in turn dug her nails into the skin of Natsu's chest and back while also wrapping her legs around Natsu's waist.
With these simple motions, Natsu and Lucy brought their bodies together in passionate love making.
Time became irrelevant for the two mages as the room became filled with their heated gasps and pants as their sweat slick skin connected. When their passion reached its climax, Lucy let out a muffled scream of ecstasy as she bit down on Natsu's shoulder. The Dragon Slayer in turn bit his extended fangs into the crook of Lucy's neck as stars exploded across his vision.
The deed had been done…and Natsu had imprinted his mark onto Lucy. They were mated, now and forever.
With a heavy grunt, Natsu collapsed atop Lucy as their limbs became tangled in each other. Taking in deep breathes of air, the two mages were silent as they stared with half lidded eyes at each other. Natsu slowly rolled onto his back and pulled Lucy with him. Once settled, Lucy pulled the bed sheets over their sweat slick skin.
Lucy rested her head on the crook of Natsu's neck as the fire mage increased his body temperature while wrapping his arms around Lucy's back. Lucy let out a contented hum.
"Natsu…I love you so much." Lucy said.
Natsu smiled and kissed Lucy's forehead.
"And I love you Lucy. I love you more than you could possibly ever know."
With those words, the two mates fell into a dreamless sleep; the smiles on their faces not fading just yet.
XXXX
Igneel walked down the hallway that lead from his room to the terrace style balcony at the end of the hall. Right now, he needed to think.
Approaching the doors, Igneel paused when he heard the sound of boots gently echoing down the hall next to him. Pausing before the door, Igneel turned and let a sly smirk form on his lips.
His eyes averted from Igneel, Saito walked with his hands in his pockets…and a heavy blush on his face; courtesy of the love bite on his neck. His tie was undone along with his vest and the top two buttons of his dress shirt. Igneel had seen Saito dancing with Princess Hisui earlier in the night and had seen the two talking shortly afterwards. After that however…the Princess had asked Saito to walk with her for a little bit. But to where, Igneel didn't know…
…And now he did.
Igneel was about say something along the lines of, "So, the Princess eh?" or "Having fun are we?" but Saito raised his finger in warning.
"If you so much as say one word, I will rip your skull from your spine." Saito said in a dark but embarrassed laden tone.
Igneel simply smiled.
"Goodnight Saito." Igneel said pleasantly.
"Prick." Saito muttered under his breathe.
Igneel laughed and made his way outside. Making his way to the railing, Igneel leaned on it as he observed Crocus as it slept, the moonlight illuminating the city. The night air was cool and it felt pleasant against Igneel's skin.
So…he was going to go through with it. He was going to gradually start to tell his parent's the truth.
"The others and I agreed to do it…still, I'm not sure they're ready to hear it. If they're willing to accept it."
Igneel sighed.
"And she is still out there."
The woman who haunted his nightmares, the one who commanded Thorn and Talon, still eluded him. It would only be a matter of time before she came to Fairy Tail, looking for the key. But he wouldn't let her have it. He'd die first.
Igneel lowered his head and looked down beneath him at the side of the castle. His eyes furrowed in confusion when he saw something slink its way up the castle walls and onto the balcony two floors below.
"The hell?" Igneel muttered.
The moonlight soon illuminated what appeared to be three moving shadows. Soundlessly they pooled onto the balcony and began to take human like shapes. Soon, two men and a woman appeared out of the shadows. The two men quickly moved indoors but the woman lingered behind for only a moment. But, it was long enough for Igneel's blood to freeze in his veins.
"No…" Igneel whispered hoarsely, "It can't be."
But it was.
And despite the distance, Igneel could see very detail clearly. Standing on that balcony, two floors below, was a woman with long and flowing jet black hair that reached the middle of her back with an equally black head band wrapped around her forehead. A crimson red rune had been placed in the middle of the fabric. A black cape with a red interior was draped across her shoulders and over an unbuttoned, long-sleeved white button down shirt which revealed a black leather corset. In turn, she also wore skin tight black pants and knee high leather boots. Her hands, which were at her sides, had identical magical, rune filled circles imprinted on her palms. Her look was completed with black lip stick and piercing blue eyes.
The woman was Aya Higurashi.
Tossing her hair over her shoulder, Aya soon followed Shriek and Wraith inside.
The sound of stone cracking brought Igneel back to his senses and he found his hands had griped the railing to the point that his fingers dug into the stone. Prying his fingers out, Igneel double timed it back inside in hopes of catching up with Saito.
He had to warn the others.
XXXX
A/N: And there you have it folks! Saito reveals some family secrets, Natsu and Lucy consummated their love and I end this chapter with a cliff hanger. I promise it won't be a long one though. I hope this chapter was worth the wait and I apologize if it isn't on par with the previous ones. With all the college work I was doing, I didn't get the chance to work on this chapter that much as I would've liked to. But, next chapter will hopefully make up for this.
Next Time; CHAPTER 16: Second Encounter
So, yeah, I actually am going to be busy over the break with some school work and community service projects. So, even though I will work on the next chapter, it's not going to be high on my priority list. But, I promise to have the chapter delivered sometime next week or over next weekend.
Patience, please, I beg of you!
As per usual, if you guys have any comments or questions, please put it in your review and I'll make sure to respond to you in the next chapter.
Until next time; read, review and most importantly of all, HAPPY READING!