This chapter is dedicated to my stalker buddy, ASF! It most likely would have taken another month or something without her kind words and encouragement.
Fun Fact: The ending is actually the first thing I wrote for this whole fic. Everything else came after meaning, this is my favourite chapter!
I don't really feel the need to do disclaimers anymore; if you feel strong, adverse feelings about this look to the last few chapters. You'll find I own nothing. d:
It's 6am. I did another one of those all nighters to write this out. If there are mistakes feel free to tell me. I don't bite. Promise.
* The hedge mentioned is Boxwood. It smells nasty. Calla Lilies are very pretty, Google them if you have the chance. They're often used in bouquets.
Onwards with the story!
They reached Pel within a few hours, Lucy practically pushing herself off Natsu's side as she tried to take in the entire floating city at once. They flew straight to the centre of town, and landed inside the outer walls of the spectacular castle.
Immediately guards rushed to their sides, helping Lucy and Juvia off their companions. There was a pause as the two dragons transformed before the party was escorted into a large, grandeur foyer. Each person they passed, no matter their station, would bow to the young fire dragon. A few even welcomed him back and asked of his stay in the human realm. It was vastly different from any experience Lucy had ever encountered. Not even the people of Tornor had made such a fuss of Natsu.
"They're just scared he'll burn down the whole city again." Gray leant over and stage whispered in Lucy's ear.
"Again?" She squeaked, looking up at Natsu. He only scowled at the hand resting on Lucy's shoulder and growled under his breath until Gray withdrew.
When their escort returned they were ushered into a large drawing room. Gray and Juvia seated themselves on an elaborately embroidered apple green love seat. They spoke, heads together, in hushed whispers. Occasionally Juvia would laugh quietly while Gray gazed at her fondly.
Meanwhile, Lucy chose to walk around the circular room. Her fingers just stopping short of tracing the brush strokes on the paintings decorating the walls. Or the fine carvings in the furniture. Or the soft pink and orange calla lilies which decorated the mantle piece. Everything in the room added to the delicate tranquillity and it mesmerised her.
Outside it began to rain.
"Juvia is sorry. Juvia couldn't hold it back any longer." The blonde faerie glanced back at the couple seated together. A soft smile graced her features. This room was so reminiscent of her own mothers favourite parlour.
"Don't worry, child. A little rain will do us some good." A short, elderly man spoke as he entered the room. Lucy let her eyes wander briefly over his figure. There was something about him that made her feel nostalgic. Even though she was sure she'd never seen anyone dressed quite as… colourfully as him. The orange and blue striped hat was rather cute though.
"Hey there gramps!" Natsu crossed the room in three strides and lifted the man up in an exuberant hug.
"So, did you miss me?" He asked cheekily, putting the old man back on the ground.
"Why would I miss a public menace?" Ah, that sounded more like it.
"Finally, someone who understands my pain." Lucy moaned into her hands. The elderly man looked at her for the first time and she noticed his eyes widening. He glanced quickly between the four occupants before settling on Natsu.
"Would you mind explaining, boy?" As if struck by lightning, Natsu jumped back to Lucy. He threaded his arm around her waist and held her to his side.
"Well gramps, this is Luce. Luce, this is Makarov." She nodded slowly, stretching out her hand in greeting.
"It's actually Lucy." She said quickly. Just because Natsu had never addressed her properly didn't mean everyone could.
"It's nice to meet you, Lucy. Would I be correct in guessing it's your first time here?" He grasped her hand firmly while looking between the two. The slight, mischievous twinkling in his eyes had Lucy blushing. Now she was hyper aware of Natsu's warmth beside her. The protective way he was holding her. The rhythm of his heart. This boy was going to be the death of her.
"Yeah. I grew up in… the human realm?"
"Follow me then, we'll test out your abilities and teach you how to control your powers." Without another word, Makarov turned and left.
Once they began walking Makarov turned back to the small group. He seemed deep in thought.
"Gray, would you mind escorting Juvia to the throne room? Mavis will be waiting there for you. A young pixie foretold your arrival. She has a potion that should lessen the effects of your curse." Juvia stared at Makarov with wide eyes before turning to Gray.
"Don't let Natsu near the pixies. You'll never pull him away." Gray quickly whispered in Lucy's ear before nodding to everyone and leading Juvia down a different route.
Lucy tugged on Natsu's hand as they followed Makarov through the maze of halls, out of the palace and into a large building. They entered the first unoccupied room they came across. In the centre was a large training ring. A slight glow was emanating from the tall wooden barrier encasing it. Three lines cut across the floor. They split the oval ring into quarters. Makarov opened a door and let Lucy step in. Sand trickled into her strappy sandals. She promptly removed them and threw them over to Natsu.
Once she was positioned roughly in the centre of the room she turned to Makarov. He smiled gently at her and tension she wasn't even aware of fled from her muscles.
"Right now we're just going to test your instincts and basic control." Lucy nodded and closed her eyes. She had always found it useful when trying to bring back the martial arts training she'd done with her mother.
Focusing her senses she moved to the right, ducked and then jumped in quick succession. Her wings unfolded in response and she hovered briefly. To her left she felt movement. She dropped. She curled her spine upon impact and, using her momentum, rolled across the floor. If she was correct in her assumptions then her opponent was predominantly attacking her left side. Interesting.
Deciding to follow her instincts, she performed three backflips and landed facing Makarov once more. Feeling the air charge she threw herself to the right, letting the attack hit her. The sand pushed her a few metres away from the centre but now she was in position for her counter attack. It didn't take much to dodge and weave through the rapid volley of attacks before she was close enough to Makarov to feel his magical energy. It was akin to the gentle warmth of sunlight hitting your skin.
Lucy reached out and tapped him twice on the top of his head before opening her eyes. He was looking up at her with a strange expression on his face. A certain self-conscious unease bubbled in her stomach. She searched out Natsu and found the same look in his eyes. Now she officially wanted to curl up in a ball and cry. Had she done something wrong?
Preoccupied with her thoughts, Lucy didn't notice the look shared between the two males. Natsu jumping straight over the fence didn't even register until his arm was firmly wrapped around her shoulders.
"That was amazing, Luce!"
"Huh?" She stared at him, wide eyed and utterly confused, as he affectionately nuzzled her hair. Did he not realise he was causing her heart to just about burst?
On the way there, Gray had explained more about dragons and their mates. She'd never realised that they were such a romantic species. Once they met, a male dragon would never look at another. His mate was everything. He would gladly die to protect her. And their courting rituals! Everything a male did was to make his mate happy and safe. It was bittersweet. Before, she'd entertained the notion that maybe Natsu might like her. Now she knew the truth. It was never going to happen; no matter how much she loved him.
"I have to agree with Natsu." By now she was sure her eyes resembled dinner plates. She'd forgotten what it felt like to be praised by someone, besides Natsu. It was nice. She looked down at her feet and smiled. At least she had this.
"So, are you gonna teach her to fly now, gramps?" She tilted her head and looked up at the rosette.
"Luce, you were in the air for quite a while there." To be honest, it hadn't felt like more than a few seconds.
"Before that, I want to have a quick word with Lucy. Alone." Natsu's whole body tensed. She could feel the unease rolling off him in waves. Without breaking eye contact with Makarov, she placed her hand against his rigid abdominals. It seemed to be enough to snap him out of whatever just happened. Natsu released her immediately.
Natsu wandered through the halls dejectedly. It had been about an hour since he'd last seen Lucy. He was starting to feel really anxious. Which, he knew logically, there was no reason for. He trusted Makarov more than just about anyone. They were practically family. Whenever he and Gray 'had' to be separated he was sent here to 'play' with Laxus. The older lightning dragon was a bit of a jerk. On his best days. At his worst, Natsu shuddered just thinking about it.
Being apart from Lucy was almost painful. It was making him think of all sorts of ridiculous scenarios. They'd been virtually inseparable for so long that he felt like he was missing a limb or a sense or something.
Not that moping was doing much good. He was pulled as taunt as a bow string. He needed his Luce. Now.
With that thought in mind, he turned and retraced his steps. He would track her scent, find her and feel whole again. Simple.
Following his plan, Natsu ended up outside at the edge of the maze. Oh the memories. Apparently gramps had predicted he'd tail them. Still sharp, despite his decrepit age?
This maze was any dragon's Achilles heel. The leaves gave off a noxious smell, confusing their keen senses and eventually sending them into a deep sleep. Which could only be cured by ingesting the flowers at the very centre of the maze. Last time Natsu -in the company of Laxus- had been challenged to solve the maze they'd managed to burn down half the palace grounds. And most of the city. And the surrounding forest. As it turns out, lightning is good for starting fires. That incident was, funnily enough, the reason that Pel was a floating city.
He entered quietly, breathing through his mouth and began his search. This maze also happened to be the best possible hunting ground. Nothing tested your abilities quite like it. Unless you decided to forfeit stealth. With a wicked grin Natsu shrugged off his vest and let his wings rip through the thin skin encasing them. Sometimes it paid off to be at the top of the food chain.
Well, that was easier than expected. He memorized the path -two lefts, a right, follow straight and take the last left- in seconds before landing and taking off. He naturally adopted a silent lope, hoping to sneak up on his target. Just before he turned the last corner he paused. Luce would kill him if he interrupted something important. He bit back the whine attempting to escape. At least from here he could listen.
"You're sure. Hmm. That's quite a rare gift you have." Natsu frowned. What gift? Why couldn't they discuss this with him?
"It would explain your performance before though." He leaned as close to the foul hedge as possible, straining to hear the conversation.
"Empaths are very uncommon. I can only think of one, besides yourself." Natsu's eyes widened. It seemed his deductions earlier that morning had been correct. Now this was interesting. If Luce had this ability and one assumed it was passed genealogically then she really was related to whom he'd thought. They did look alike...
"Only pure blooded fae can develop any form of empathic powers."
"My father is human." Ah, that was his Luce. His bluntness must be rubbing off on her. Was it normal for that to make him proud?
"Magic doesn't work in straight lines, my dear." She must have looked confused again because Makarov continued.
"Take my grandson for example. His father is a faerie while his mother is a dragon. He is a dragon. He has some fae characteristics but is predominantly draconian."
"In regards to your question earlier, there is a way for you to return home." For the first time in over 100 years of his existence, Natsu felt his blood run cold. His hands were shaking slightly and his breathing was laboured. He needed to get out of here. He flew back the way he'd come, desperately rifling through his brain for a reason Luce would want to leave him. His nails, now resembling talons, were digging into his palms. Bloody pearls ran across tanned flesh. He shouldn't have heard that conversation. He shouldn't have followed them. He shouldn't have come to Pel. He shouldn't have fallen for Luce.
The first thing Lucy spotted upon their return was the distinct lack of Natsu. Her eyes scoured the training area as if he might magically appear.
"Shall we begin the next part of your training?" She instinctively nodded, more concerned about Natsu's whereabouts then her training. Makarov had already explained that this would be more self focused. The hard part would be finding her power and drawing it out, like water from a well. It would take it's primary form without much instruction or guidance.
She spotted pink -salmon- in her peripheral vision and unconsciously relaxed. Meanwhile, Makarov positioned her on the first of the three lines. He walked to the corresponding line and began to gather his own power.
Trying out a simple meditation technique, Lucy envisioned herself travelling with her breath, drawing deeper into her body with each inhale until she reached the spring of power. She let it flow through her fingers. Imagined it overflowing and slowly filling her body. With one last breath she released it in a violent flash of light.
Her eyes slipped open. Before her stood a tall man, wearing a crisp black suit. His handsome face was framed by tastefully messy orange hair which reminded her of a lion's mane.
"You've finally summoned me, princess. I was beginning to think you didn't love me anymore." His voice was rich like wine and it caressed her senses like a lover.
"I d-don't think I k-know you." She stammered. If his voice was intoxicating then his gaze was hypnotic and predatory.
"I'm truly hurt, princess. If you want, you can just call me your boyfriend." Oh wow. That was lame. But the delivery was oh-so-very perfect. If it wasn't for Natsu growling like a caged animal she might have fallen for his charms.
"I think that's enough Loke. You don't want to wear her out." Makarov called from across the room.
"True. I can think of much better ways to wear her out." He vanished with a smirk and a wink leaving Lucy totally drained. Why did she attract the weird ones?
"Loke's like that with every girl he comes across. He means nothing by it." Between blinks, Makarov had crossed the space and was standing right in front of Lucy. He looked impressed.
"I didn't even need to attack you for your strongest guardian to come forth. Layla would be proud." The statement made her heart squeeze. The old man had known the entire time. It made her wonder what else he was keeping to himself.
"At its most basic, you possess summoning magic. What you did just then was summon one of the twelve celestial guardians. Loke, otherwise known as Leo, the Lion."
"So that's what he meant." She whispered to herself, mind firmly in the past.
"My mother taught me all about the zodiac. I used to pretend they were my friends." She looked up and caught Makarov's eye. She knew her own orbs betrayed nothing but determination. It was time for her final lesson. Flight.
"Natsu you were laughing." Lucy crossed her arms over her chest, looking away from the cute dragon as he tried -rather unsuccessfully- to hide his chuckles. Her own lips twitched, wanting to join him in his mirth but she had to stand strong, too often did she find herself giving in to his charms.
"Luce, how could I be laughing? Dragons can't laugh." She sucked in her cheeks as he pulled her into the line of his body, effectively locking her against him. An involuntary shiver wracked her frame as his breath ghosted across the back of her neck.
"It's not funny. I bet you weren't much better when you started." She refused to look at him.
"Sure, if you saw someone fly straight into the roof you wouldn't laugh. Just like I didn't laugh. I learned to fly when I was newly hatched. You're almost 20. There is a bit of a difference." She huffed, trying to pull herself from his embrace. He simply pulled her back and proceeded to pepper soft kisses along the tops of her shoulders which just about short circuited her system. What was she angry about again? Oh yeah.
"Natsu Dragneel, I have known you long enough to know that you can laugh. You were laughing. When we get home…" He cut her off before she could finish her threat, turning her around and pushing her body away from his own like she'd burned him.
"When you get home, you're never going to see me again so it doesn't even matter." His trademark grin was absent, the serious expression making him look more mature and intimidating.
"N-Natsu?" She could have cursed herself for the stutter, especially at a time like this. She just didn't understand. Did Natsu not want her around anymore? Was she just a nuisance to him? Did he bring her to Pel hoping that she'd want to stay with her own kind?
"Face facts here Lucy, this is goodbye. I hope you have a great life." With that, she watched him walk away, willing her tears not to come. At least until he was gone. Then she could stop pretending to be so tough. Stop pretending that she wasn't hurting; that her heart wasn't shattering into millions of tiny shards. What did it matter? He was just one boy. There were plenty more. There would be another stupid, silly, crazy, adventurous, loyal, strong, funny, handsome guy to sweep her off her feet. She'd known this day was coming anyway.
"But all I want to stay with you." She whispered to the empty room, voice breaking and tears streaking down her face.
"Where did we go wrong?!" Igneel questioned, pulling his hair in exasperation.
It wasn't long ago that Natsu had stormed through the foyer, charged up the stairs and entered his suite. Gray had flown in, only moments behind, and headed straight to his own room looking quite dejected. An unsettling feeling had seeped into the other occupants of the castle, especially when they noticed that there was no Lucy trailing after Natsu and apologising for his rude actions. She'd been there for such a short time and they'd already become so accustomed to her presence.
"We didn't do anything wrong, he's just too much like you." Grandine responded, as she sat watching the fire. All the hope they'd had was burning right before their eyes. How stupid did her son have to be to throw away his mate?
"Grandine!" His voice was unnaturally high pitched and whiny, a tone she hadn't heard since they were much younger.
"What? Oh, stop pouting, it's just the truth." She rolled her eyes.
As always, feel free to leave a review. Or not. I've kind of given up on them. People just don't want to review… They do make faster chapters and happy authors. Otherwise I'm just writing this for me.
Cool.
Oh, Gray's warning about the pixies will be explained next chapter.
:D