After Jer has impressed everyone, he sat down and Grant took the opportunity to introduce himself next. He didn't even get passed saying his full name before a portal opened in the ceiling and dropped 4 beings to the ground. Everyone dispersed, trying not to get hit by the falling objects. Upon closer examination, he realized that his and Luna's introduction was now unnecessary.
The Fullbusters and Dragneels have arrived
"Will you get off of me already, you fire-eating maniac!" An older version of Gray told an older version of Natsu.
"Why are you only picking on me, you stripper? Lucy and Juvia fell on you too!" replied the pink haired man.
It was true but the guild was too surprised to see an older version of their comrades to notice Gray's discomfort. After Lucy regained her composure, she ran straight to Luna who was shocked to see this turn of events. If it was possible for her to be anymore shocked, her mother did something she has never seen: cry.
"I was so worried, I thought you wouldn't be here when we arrive!" Lucy says in between sobs, "I'm so glad you're okay."
"Yes, I'm fine, mom"
"GRANT!" Juvia yelled to catch her son's attention, just like Lucy, she ran towards him and hugged him. After finding out about the whole Keres factor, she became much more worried about him than usual.
"And just like Luna, I'm fine, Mother." Grant replied, knowing full well that the whole guild was looking at them.
"Did you say 'mother'" asked Cana who wasn't really surprised. She asked to mostly just get a reaction.
When future Juvia nodded, the entire guild went quiet and future Gray finally stood up to walk towards his family.
"Is it that weird that Gray-sama and I are married?" F Juvia asked, she has misunderstood the quietness as something horrible, to which the younger Gray smirked and noted to himself that some things just don't change about Juvia. He found it endearing how she overthinks sometimes.
When the whole guild erupted with their congratulations and teases, the future Fullbuster couple was quick to tell their love story to the group. Surprisingly, Gray was speaking more than Juvia as she fell quiet from embarrassment.
"Oi, Baka, don't just tell everyone how it happened!" the younger Gray chastised the older one. Was this really him in the future? Why was he so open about his life and his undying love for Juvia? It seemed so different from his current, denial self.
The older Gray laughed it off and tells him it's okay, he shouldn't be so shy about it. Grant internally face-palmed himself. Here he was, trying not to reveal the future as much as possible and his carefree father just started telling his life story the minute he arrived.
Because of younger Gray's outburst, the guild turned their attention to him and a certain mage beside him. When Cana walked towards them, she asked for Juvia's reaction to which the young mage replied that she already knew that Grant was her son. If it were any more possible, the guild teased them even more. The person who teased the most was the younger Natsu.
While the Fullbusters took up the spotlight, future Natsu walked towards his daughter and without even speaking, wrapped his hands around her. The whole ordeal was not witnessed by anyone besides the two Lucys.
"Luna, were you fed well?" Natsu asked as an opener to which Luna nodded.
"But you haven't had fire, have you?"
"No, I have not." Luna replied, suddenly craving for some.
"But I'm glad you're okay." He hugged his daughter much tighter as he says this.
"You're not mad at me?" Luna asked as she realizes no wrath seemed to be on its way. She was quite certain she'd be in trouble when her parents find out that she went on this mission.
"No, in fact I want to apologize for making you suffer so much. I always look at you as if you're still a baby that needs her father's protection. I didn't realize that you're already this big and don't really need so much protection anymore."
Luna smiled at his father as a sign that she has forgiven him. She has spent her days with her younger parents and realized that they could be fun too.
"Lucy hated your grandfather for the longest time. I don't want that to happen to us." Natsu continued.
"It won't because we're starting anew." Luna replied enthusiastically.
Future Lucy held her daughter's hand and smiled at her, feeling content that her family is going to try to work together and live happily. Soon, the three noticed a figure staring at them with shocked eyes.
"Yo, Lucy!" future Natsu says with a smile to the younger Lucy trying to catch her attention.
"You're Luna's father?" Lucy asks.
"Don't be coy, Lucy." Natsu teased, "I know you've liked me since the first year we met."
To this both Lucy's blushed and threatened to hit him. His only saving grace was the younger Natsu's outbust.
"So future me, tell me how strong we are now!"
Again, future Natsu grins.
While everyone continued to socialize, Jer finally found his cube projector. Now, his next challenge was to figure out exactly how to use it. The last time, Laxus contacted them so Jer didn't have an idea how it works the other way.
Trying to get away from the teases, F Juvia asks Jer if she could see the cube. Laxus has told her how it works and in no time, Juvia was able to contact the future. This causes everyone to quiet down as they come face to face with Mirajane, whom they assume was from the future too given her different attire.
Mira greeted everyone and in return everyone greeted back but the interaction was interrupted by future Wendy and Romeo.
"REN!" the couple yelled in unison.
"Hi mom, hi dad" Ren greeted shyly. He didn't want to be the center of any attention but his parents were a surprising duo for everyone in the guild so he knew very well that there was a slim chance of being left alone. Beside Ren were a shocked Wendy and Romeo who seem to be growing more and more awkward as they realized that they were definitely a couple in the future. Romeo winked at his past self and tells him not to grow up so fast. Ren almost wanted to apologize to the younger duo, given their age, it almost felt like they were his classmates in school while the teasing continued in the guild.
"Shrimp!" Gajeel greeted from behind the Conbolt parents.
"Dad!" Lexy chastised, annoyance visible in her voice. "Stop calling me that, I'm not mom!"
"What about me?" Levy questions coming out of nowhere.
Is everyone just going to come out of nowhere now? Jer wonders to himself.
"Ahh, nothing, mom! I miss you!" Lexy says genuinely. "You too, dad."
"We miss you too, darling! I hope this mission ends soon."
"Yes, but it's okay because I finally met you guys in your youth!" Lexy grins as she places her arms on her parents' shoulders as they stood in both her sides.
"Oh my, I don't think your father and I were toge-"
"JER!" a wrathful yell interrupted Levy, even Gajeel seemed surprised and the two quickly said their goodbyes to everyone in the past guild.
Yup, they are just going to continue coming out of no where. Jer thought as he quickly made up an excuse in his head.
"Where is that damned son of mine?!" Erza finally reaching the view in the projector.
"Oh my, is that me, even I'm scared" Erza comments on the side which caused the people around her to sweat drop.
"Hi, Mom." Jer says, keeping his head down.
"What took you so long to contact us?" Erza asks, getting straight to business.
"Well you see we were attacked and –"
"Not a good enough excuse!" Erza continues to lecture his son about leadership and responsibility and Jer wished for anyone to randomly come out of nowhere again.
Jer did notice two new figures coming closer to the projector, one of them was his father.
"Dad?" Jer asked surprised as his father was rarely seen in the guild. This also surprised the Erza standing beside Jer.
"I wanted to surprise visit the family but then I heard you were in an S-class mission." Jellal says, reflecting on his failed attempt of a surprise.
"Haha, yeah, I'm sorry about that, dad. Until when are you over?"
"I'll be here for a month this time. So quickly finish your mission." Jellal smiled at his son and turned his attention to the younger Erza who smiled at him fondly. She knew that Jellal was Jer's father given his last name and his confirmation a few moments ago, but seeing Jellal face-to-face almost made her cry due to happiness.
"Erza, thank you for looking after Jer while he's there." Erza hasn't really been looking after anyone but she welcomed the interaction she was having with Jellal. Jer looked at the woman beside him and realized the kind of pain she must have been feeling, hiding even, these past couple of years. To wait for a man you don't even know will return, to forgive a criminal who has hurt you so much. Despite his playboy reputation, Jer wished to find the kind of love his parents have.
"I hate to ruin the beautiful family moment," Laxus coming into focus, "and I'm really glad that you are all safe but I do wish I knew a lot earlier."
"Hehe, sorry about that."
There was a certain thickness in the room as Jer realized that everyone seemed shock to see Laxus in front of them. Was this another surprise to the past Fairy Tail? Now that he's seeing this, he realized how he hasn't met the past Laxus. Why was that?
"La-Laxus?!" everyone finally says in unison and then everyone bombards him with question.
"So you're not in exile anymore, then?" Evergreen asks her friend.
"Ah, so this is the time period you're in." Laxus comments before answering the question. "No, I'm a 100% certified Fairy Tail member."
This seemed to make Freed extremely happy that he fainted.
Exile? Master was exiled? For what? Oh, blackmail material. Jer thought
"Master," Luna steps into the conversation. "How is everything back home? Is everyone safe?"
"There is nothing for you to worry about here, we're as lively and safe as ever." Laxus was the one who replied to the girl.
This brought another waves of shock to everyone in the guild.
"Laxus, you're the guild master?" it was Natsu who asked this time.
"Yes, you annoying brat, what do you want from me?" Laxus asked irritated while Natsu just rolled on the floor laughing.
"Look, my energy is draining by keeping all of you alive in that world so I will have to cut this conversation short." It was then that everyone noticed the dark bags under Laxus' eyes. He turned around to meet the faces of everyone else in the future guild and yelled, "Any of you brats want to say their greetings say it now because I'll be closing this projector soo –"
"BYE!" everyone in the future guild yelled and waved their hand to the past Fairy Tail and the past Fairy Tail did the same in return.
Jellal said his final words toward the past Erza. "Erza, continue looking after Jer while he's there." Again, Erza wasn't really looking after him to begin with, but she just nodded her head as she blushed and stared at the floor.
"Dad," Jer growing annoyed, "You know, I'm an S-Class mage, I don't need protection!"
"Oh, then you protect Erza then."
"I don't need protection either!" Both Erza's rebutted angrily which caused Jellal to jump.
"Well ok, as long as you're all alive and well." Jellal says, giving up in trying to ensure everyone's protection.
When it started to quiet down in the future's side, Laxus faced the group once again.
"Thank you, everyone, for taking them even though they were strangers to you before."
"There is nothing for you to thank us for. We look after our family and these children are part of our family. They are always welcome in Fairy Tail. You of all people should know that, right, Laxus?" It was Makarov who replied to his grandson.
Laxus bowed and agreed. Makarov was glad to see that Laxus has become the mature person he was capable of. To even become the master, he was truly convinced that his grandson has learned his lesson and realized his love for his comrades. Makarov was also excited for the next time he will see Laxus in his time period.
Laxus wished everyone good night and everyone returned the greeting.
"Oh and by the way, Prodigy team, try not to ruin the guild hall."
"Roger!" the five teammates said in unison, which didn't build up Laxus' confidence at all. If anything, he felt certain they replied enthusiastically as a joke because they all knew a few buildings her and there will need repair once they're done with a fight.
When the projector closed, everyone turned their attention to someone they haven't truly greeted just yet: Future Natsu.
"So Natsu, did you grow up alone and single?" Gray asked as payback for the teases he was receiving earlier.
"Me? No. Didn't anyone tell you guys? Luna's my daughter." Natsu said in pure confidence.
Gray started laughing. "Somehow, I'm not even surprised!" Everyone agreed with Gray at this. Possibly the only one surprised by the whole thing was Natsu himself.
"Wait, I'll marry Lucy?!" Natsu asked in disbelief.
The guild continued to tease him for his denseness but F Natsu saw something in Natsu's eyes. Oh no, don't tell me. This is the time period when I still didn't love Lucy romantically.
"It's not that I'm dense or anything." Natsu counters, visibly bothered by the teases. "But I just don't see Lucy as a life partner, so how did that happen?" Natsu didn't know how the words stroke Lucy. As future Natsu commented earlier, Lucy must already have strong feelings for Natsu at this time, but it wasn't the same for him. First was because he never truly considered being in such a relationship and when he did, Lisanna returned. He didn't fall for Lucy until later but the difference was Lucy was never hurt this way during their time because Lucy never made her feelings known until Natsu realized it on his own. This was not supposed to happen. Did we mess up the future somehow?
While F Natsu and F Lucy worry about the future, Lucy was forming tears in her eyes and they threaten to fall.
"Lu-Lucy?" Luna was the one who spoke as she worried for her mom/friend. This caught Natsu's attention as he saw the tears falling in her eyes.
"I don't mean that you won't make a great partner or anything, I just meant that I didn't see you and me –"
"I don't want to hear it!" Lucy yells as she ran off the guild.
Natsu ran after her and finally caught up. Lucy tried her best to break free from his hold but of course the stronger, determined Natsu would win.
"Lucy," Natsu whispered. When he realized he wasn't getting any attention from the blonde, he spoke louder. "Lucy! Look at me!"
"No! I don't want you to see me crying!"
"I already did! But I don't understand why you're crying in the first place!" Natsu was annoyed but mostly worried. Did he hurt her? How?
"Honestly, Natsu," Lucy started as she tried to catch her breath, "Just how dense are you in love and relationships?!"
"Wait what?" Natsu was caught off guard, which allowed Lucy to break free from his hold this time.
"Lucy, are you saying that you love me?"
"Are you trying to make an idiot of me? No, I'm just crying for no apparent reason," she spat out sarcastically, which she regretted almost immediately. It wasn't Natsu's fault if he didn't feel the same way about her as she did with him, but the pain was too much and it annoyed her how clueless Natsu could be at times.
"Look, Natsu, I'm sor –"
"NO!" Natsu spat out in return. "You need to cool off your head and quite frankly I do too."
"What are you mad about?"
"I'm mad about how you're reacting and how everyone's reacting as if I'm stupid. I mean I'm sorry if this is hurting you, I really am. You're my best friend after all. But is it my fault that I don't feel the same way as the future Natsu? I'm sorry that I'm not some knight in shining armor!"
"I don't understand where your outburst is coming from!" Lucy tried to deduce. Yes, she spat out something sarcastically, but what was up with Natsu's sudden anger.
"And you say I'm dense?" Natsu replied as he turned to walk away. "I'm going home."
Natsu wasn't quite sure where his anger came from either. Maybe it was the pressure he was suddenly put in. He has always been carefree and did everything in his freewill. He loved Lucy as a friend and he felt the same for Luna but to suddenly think of them as family? He wasn't quite sure that he was up for it. He suddenly felt like he was trapped in this box of expectations: expectations to marry someone who he currently doesn't love romantically and to have a daughter with her. And instead of finding comfort from the person he could open up to, he realized that she too expected him to stay in that box and love her. But really, how was that fair to any of them?
Lucy stayed in her spot and continued to cry. Maybe if she hadn't yelled at him, they could've had a more understanding conversation. She finally decided to go home but stumbled along the way. There was too much pain inside of her to really focus on anything. When she finally got into her apartment, she didn't even make it in her bed as she collapsed on the floor while she cried some more.
AN: Hello! So, this story is almost over. In the next few chapters you can expect some heavy NALU and battles. This is technically chapter 8, and I planned for 12 chapters in this series! So a lot of things will happen in the last reaming chapters.
And just so you know, I haven't forgotten about Mira looking for Laxus. Lol :D
ALSOOOOOOO
Since this story is ending soon, I want to introduce a new story I have set to start rolling on March 8, 2015. The story is called "Remembering Lucy" and I actually plotted it, unlike this current story which I just wrote out of the blue and allowed it to grow from there. Remembering Lucy is going to be 27 chapters, the idea is to make it feel like an actual novel as I want to do it as a writing exercise.
Here's the synopsis, if you are all interested:
After a gruesome mission, Natsu is quickly rushed to Porlyusica for treatment. Upon waking up from his month long coma, Natsu seems to think that he's 2 years younger than he really is. The last thing he remembers is Lisanna's funeral, forgetting everything that happens after Lisanna's death and ultimately forgetting Lucy.
As if this isn't painful enough for Lucy, Natsu also seems to be harboring strong hatred towards her, forcing her to unravel the mystery of a strange letter while risking her life in the process. While Lucy fights with her celestial zodiac spirits, a celestial wizard from a foreign country claims to own a special kind of zodiac spirits: zodiac from the east, such as Monkey, Rat, Snake, and a Dragon to name a few.
Would Natsu return to his old self? Why was he even so hostile towards Lucy and what does the mysterious letter and the eastern celestial sphere have to do with it? In the end, can friendship and love truly conquer all?
New allies, new enemies, and new celestial spirits await Lucy as she tries to save Natsu and get him to remember her again.
Told in Natsu's, Lucy's, and Juvia's POVs
DISCLAIMER:
Lisanna remains dead. It's nothing personal, I don't hate the girl but Lisanna being dead is crucial to the story.
Here's a link to a FanFiction trailer that I made: /watch?v=ofGsL3ZENhw