Disclaimer. I don't own anything.

-Oby Abel-

Chapter 8: Fear

After Levy telling her everything. Like everything. Lucy freaked out. How could she not. First she was embarrassed of Levy's very explicit, detailed explanation of how everything led up to the Iron Dragon Slayer and Solid Script mage starting the ritual.

Like, did she seriously want to know how both of them were dry humping each other or how their tonsils were having a little passionate dance.

No.

No she rather not have those images but they had already manifested after Levy's blabbering. What worse was that she couldn't even fathom how Levy wasn't crushed. Levy was so little and petite and Gajeel, huge and heavy. How was it even possible for her to be in one piece.

What was even worse was that they were only at the beginning of the ritual. How will Levy even survive when they actually have sex. Mavis, she didn't want to know.

But the thing that freaked her the fuck out was how Levy described the pain from those bites. The first day hadn't been bad, but the day after. That had made her shiver in fright.

Apparently the petite girl had felt the magic transfer into her, his magic. Meaning that not only was it magic like that was in the air but his magic, iron. She was literally feeling the chunks of metal sip through her veins, blood supply, her core, being.

That did it for Lucy. If iron was bad, how will fire feel? She didn't even want to know. She knew for sure that she would burn from inside out and that was definitely not a think she wanted to feel. Even if it meant that she would be fire proof and fire wielding for the rest of her life.

Nope. Not a fat chance.

So she comforted her friend and suggested that maybe she should take a sedative potion or something and sleep through the ritual. She even encouraged her by saying that it would probably be more bearable by the last days. Not that she believed that but still, it was the best she could come up with by comfort.

After Levy left, Lucy began pacing in her room. Occasionally gazing at the dreaded book and cursing the stupid Dragons and Draco. Because of them she was put in this situation. She really wanted to blame the Slayers but they had been oblivious till Metalicana told them about the book.

"Shit, shit and double shit!" She was at the process of pulling her hair out. She was so frustrated that she didn't know what else to do to take her frustration out on.

Pulling her hands out of her disheveled hair, she began planning. She had to find a way out now more than ever. There no freaking way she was going to be roasted from the inside. No.

So she started her original plan. But not before a bath to have some tension in her body disappear.

After bathing – one hour soak – she dressed and prepared the jewels she had to pay for her rent and walked to the landlady's apartment.

The landlady accepted her money and shut the door in her face leaving the blonde groan and sigh. Taking heavy steps Lucy returned back to her apartment and wrote a quick letter for the guild and her team.

"Okay, everything done. Let's get this over with." She laid the envelope neatly on top of her desk and pushed her chair back. She pulled one gold keys out in the middle of her room.

"Open! The Gate of the Maiden, Virgo!"

"Princess." The pink haired spirit bowed as she entered through her gate. "What can I help you with today?"

"I need Celestial clothing. Can you get me some?"

"Of course Princess. You can have mine." The spirit said as she began undressing leaving Lucy blushing madly.

"No! don't take your clothes off!" She frantically pulled the Spirit's clothes down. "I need clothes of my own, not yours!" She chided

"I'm sorry princess, punishment?" Lucy sighed and rubbed her temples. Of course her spirit had to ask for that.

"No. No punishment. I need clothes and you to lead me to Grandpa Crux' library, okay?" The spirit nodded with a hint of a pout and disappeared for a second.

After Virgo's arrival, Lucy dressed into her Celestial dress. The same one she wore when she along with her friends visited the Celestial realm. It brought back nostalgic memories but she didn't want to dwell on those memories and shrugged them off and prepared to leave with her spirit.

The two arrived in front of a majestic looking building that was sparkling. It looked so beautiful and left the blonde in awe. It was like a gold castle that was covered in millions of diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires. A piece of art.

"Wow."

"This is Crux' library and the Celestial Library, princess. Want to come in?" The Maiden brought the blonde's attention to her and Lucy smiled with a nod.

It took her only two steps before she was tackled to the ground by two spirits. "You came to play with us! Piri Piri!" One of the twins spoke jumping on the blonde's stomach.

"Maybe later guys. But it's nice to see you." Lucy pulled them off of her and stood on her knees, smiling at them.

"What are you doing here, Piri?" The other asked, after playtime was over.

"I need to talk to Grandpa Crux and read some books. Wanna help?"

"Yes. Piri Piri."

They helped the blonde on to her feet and dusted her dress. Lucy giggling at their assistance.

Trying again, Lucy started for the door more aware of her surrounding. As if it was instinct she side stepped without turning around and let Loke plummet face first on the concrete ground. She knew the Lion Spirit would appear sooner or later and if the twins had felt her entering he sure would have too.

As if not affected, his nose bleeding, he jumped back up and smiled dazzlingly at the blonde. "My love! Have you come because you've missed me so?" Dodging his advances, Lucy gestured for Virgo and the twins to go in first while she dealt with lovesick Loke. She had something for him to do for her.

"I need a favor." He stopped abruptly when she looked at him serious.

"With what?"

"I need you to ask the King if he knows anything about stopping a Dragon's mating, or at least for them to find another mate."

Loke gave her an odd look as he began talking. "And how does this affect you? We all know you've been stressed out lately about something. Is this connected?"

She began blushing and turned her gaze down. She really did not feel like telling him about Natsu's situation. He'll either throw a fit and threaten to go to Earth Land for a talk with the Slayer, or he'll laugh and think of it as a joke. Embarrassing her nonetheless.

But then again, she couldn't hide it any longer from her spirits. She was there for a reason and they needed the truth. But it didn't make it less embarrassing.

"You see.." Her tone had gone from serious to shy, timid almost. "Natsu may or may not have me as his mate." She quickly clarified what it meant. "Like his future wife. Fiancée…" She bit her lips and looked at him, feeling her heart beating fast. Embarrassment and nervousness..

Loke stared at her for a few minutes as he let her words sink in. The more he thought about it the more he felt like laughing. So he did, much to Lucy's liking.

"Bahahaha! Him, you? Hahaha."

And it went on for a few more seconds before the blonde had enough and Lucy kicked him right in the gut.

"It's not something to joke about. This is quite serious." She hissed, scowling sternly.

The Lion spirit picked himself up and looked at her and understood that she was being serious. "Shit."

The blonde kept quiet and let him process the severity of her situation.

"How? And when?" Loke finally managed to ask.

"How? Apparently fate and destiny. And when, well we haven't mated. But he told me about it at the party. And it's serious, Loke. He will die if he doesn't mate with his mate before his 22nd birthday." The grim look told him how severe it was and he felt like an idiot and a jerk for laughing earlier.

"Fuck." He let his hand run through his hair, not really knowing what to say. He hadn't really crossed many Slayers in his life time, despite living for a long time. So he couldn't comfort her in any way.

"Yes, it is fucked up and I'm scared. The mating ritual is horrifying. And the idea of being bonded with another's soul too. I don't know what to really do so that's why I'm here, trying to find another way out for both of us." She confessed after a few minutes of silence.

"Tell me about everything." He demanded and she did. She told him about most of the things she knew of the situation – of course minimizing the details of how they would mate and other embarrassing stuff.

"Wow, 66 bites. And fire. No wonder Levy was scared. Just wow."

"Yeah." Lucy agreed. She did feel guilty the more she thought about everything but she let her fears control her. And she knew Natsu would be okay with her finding a way out. He had avoided her as much as she had him, and it had seriously put a strain on their relationship. So she really wanted a way out and continue her everyday life as it was before everything happened.

"So you will accept if you can't find a way, right?" The blonde nodded. "Then let me ask the King if he has information."

"Thanks. It will mean a lot if you do. And when you're at it, tell him sorry for breaking the rule of coming here without permission."

He offered her a smile and patted her shoulder. "The King will always bent the rules for you Heartfilias. Don't worry, I'll tell him as I'm sure he knows you are here. I'll be back." Lucy nodded and smiled back at him and watched him go.

Taking a deep breath the blonde finally pushed open the door and entered. She was slack jawed when she saw the interior. Books. Books everywhere. The walls was just piled up with books. No shelves, just books from ceiling to ground. And at the center lay a large golden table where her spirits sat, waiting for her.

"Princess, did big brother need punishment?" The Maiden asked standing up from her seat.

Lucy chuckled and shook her head. "No Virgo." She turned to look at the Southern Cross and smiled. "Grandpa Crux. I've arrived." She greeted and walked up to them. There were other spirits sitting far away, looking at the blonde oddly but none said something.

"Good to see you Lucy, been a while. I already got the books you need." The blonde smiled and took a seat as the spirit pushed forward a pile of books for her. A huge pile which would take at least two days to read. "These are the books that contains information of Dragons and Dragon Slayers. And the one on top is from my personal experience."

"Thanks a lot."

"It's nothing much. It will affect us as much as it will affect you." She gave him a not and began with the thickest one of the book. Having prepared her Gale Force glasses and a book for writing, she began her research.

Back down on Earth Land, Lucy had already been gone for two days and her team was a bit worried.

On the third day they interrogated Levy who had been the last one from the guild to see Lucy.

"No, she didn't say anything about leaving anywhere." Levy answered when Erza asked if Lucy had told her about her whereabouts.

"That's strange. What did the two of you speak of at her place?" Titania questioned, trying to put the puzzle pieces together. She was seriously getting worried.

At that Levy blushed and sputtered. "N-nothing!" She wasn't about to tell them about her personal life in front of most of their guild mates.

Erza raised a brow at Levy's behavior and was about to questioned further but a low threatening glare from the sidelines stopped her. She turned around to see Gajeel throwing mean glares at her. Her interest was definitely piqued now. And she figured it was about that mating stuff Lucy told her about.

Gray watched the exchanged but didn't say anything and turned to Levy. "What about some ideas of where she could be? She hasn't been seen for three days."

"I don't know. We did talk about a library and how Lu-chan wanted to visit to do some research on ma – er, on her situation. But she wasn't specific. Or maybe she was but I was kind of in a bad mood that day, so…" She gave him an apologetic look.

"Then let's just go to her apartment. Natsu?" He noticed the Slayer and his companion were gone and sighed. "The idiot already went without us."

"Then let's follow him. He'll throw a his hissy fit if Lucy is gone for good." Erza chimed, already starting towards the door. Gray nodded and followed. He didn't want to find a frantic Natsu running wild looking for the blonde.

Natsu had left when Levy told she had no idea where Lucy were. He and Happy zoomed out and ran towards her apartment. He was worried that something might happen. Like if he had driven her out of town because their situation or because he had avoided her.

It made him feel guilty.

To their surprise her window was open so they slipped in without problem but Natsu immediately knew there was something wrong. Lucy's scent wasn't assaulting his nose like it used to whenever she was home or he and happy waited for her to come home. Only a bit lingered and that made him panic. She hadn't been home for a while.

But on the bright side there wasn't any new scents lingering, meaning no bad guys entered. But that didn't soothe him. Not the least bit.

"She isn't home. Where is she?" He spoke more likely to himself.

Happy flew around looking around the room to find clues to where the blonde was. He rested on top of her writing desk and noticed a neatly folded envelope, addressed to Fairy Tail. "Natsu!"

"What is it?" The Slayer asked peeking behind his shoulder.

"I think Lushy left us a letter. Here."

Grabbing the envelope, Natsu opened it and began reading aloud.

"Dear Fairy Tail,

Don't worry about me. I'm safe and will be back in a little while. Right now I'm at the Celestial realm, doing some personal research. I'm no danger so there is no reason to worry.

I apologize for leaving so abruptly and without telling anyone but I was panicking and I was in a haste. So I'm sorry. And to my team especially. Sorry Erza, Gray, Wendy, Carla, Happy and Natsu. But I had to do this now while I still had the chance.

I don't know how long I will be gone, but I guess it will at least be some months. Time flows differently here as most of you know. So expect me to be gone at least for two-three months. If my stay extends, I'll have one of my spirits tell you.

Again, I'm sorry but I have my reasons.

Love,

Lucy."

"So Lushy will not be here for a long while?" Happy stated more than questioned. "That sucks."

"Yes. She should've told us, no. She should've brought us along." Natsu didn't know what to feel.

Relief? Sadness? Hurt?

He had no idea.

"Oi! Flame Brain. Why did you leave without us?" Gray and Erza entered through the front door. Lucy had given Erza a spare key months ago. Actually all of her team mates had a key to her apartment and Mira as well. Just for safety precautions.

"Lushy is gone!" Happy said over dramatics. "She left us!"

Alarmed both mages looked at each other before narrowing down on Natsu. "Is this true?" Erza demanded.

"Yes but she will be back." Natsu said sourly. He knew that the blonde left because of their situation but he felt a bit betrayed that she hadn't told him beforehand. But more importantly he felt disappointed. He had no idea why, but he did.

"What do you mean? Just spill it out already and cut the suspense!" Gray said with great annoyance.

Rolling his eyes he thrust he letter into Gray's hands and began walking away. He didn't want to deal with them right now when he felt so sour. "I'm going Happy. See you at home."

The blue Exceed looked at his partner and frowned but he didn't follow him and nodded. "Aye.." He knew Natsu was feeling down. In a way he could relate to him. Whenever Carla rejects him he feels disappointed and sad, and Lucy leaving like that would sure bring those emotion forth in his partner. He was sure of it.

They did liiiiike each other, after all. He just knew they did. A cat feeling.

"So she left for the Celestial realm. And won't be back for a few months. Hmm."

"Let's tell the guild before someone decides to throw a search party for her." Gray suggested and handed the letter to Erza.

"Aye." Happy agreed and hovered behind them, leaving the apartment.

Natsu walked towards the forest near his home. He had serious thinking to do. He was feeling so many emotions but the evident ones were hurt and disappointed.

"Why? Why do I feel this? I agreed to her terms… but it still hurts…" he sat near the lake he and Happy always fish by and laid on his back.

"What does this mean? Do I like her?" He questioned as he watched the sky and clouds drift by. As he stared at one cloud, he couldn't help but see the Celestial Spirit Mage. All smiles and waving towards him.

His heart was beating fast, like whenever he was fighting but this time without even lifting a finger. It beat fast because of his thinking of Lucy. He gripped his chest as he continued to watch the clouds. Every one forming into Lucys. Smiling, glaring, crying, hurt and so much other expressions.

It was like an explosion going on in his chest. He was freaking out. He couldn't understand what was happening. He had never felt like this. It was… nice.

Back at the Celestial realm, Lucy had finished four books. Read them thoroughly and taken notes. But none of them had given her the answer she sought. Everything was mostly the same and something she already knew of.

"Princess, how about a break and some food?" Virgo suggested putting a tray of food on the table.

Lucy sighed and began stretching her limbs. She had been reading for the past four hours straight and taken notes. Food sounded good.

"Thanks. And sorry for making you do all this for me." She said apologetic as she pulled a plate of steak and potatoes to her.

"Don't mention it, princess. I'm happy to help you. If my service bother you, please punish me."

Sighing deeply, Lucy shook her head and concentrated on her meal. It was delicious. But she didn't expect less from her Spirit's cooking. Virgo was the best at cooking.

"I wonder what the others are doing and if they got my letter." She said after finishing her meal. She had been so absorbed in her reading that she hadn't had time to think about the guild and Natsu. "Bet he's mad." She mumbled to herself.

"I can visit the guild if you like, princess?"

Lucy shook her head. "No need. They'll probably think something is wrong and panic. I told them in my letter that I'll send one of you if my stay extends."

"Alright. Can I do anything else for you princess? Perhaps a back rub?" Lucy smiled and shook her head once more.

"No need but thanks Virgo. You can take a break for a while. I'm sure you're bored of all this reading. The twins were." She eyed the still big pile she had yet to read. There were just so many books.

"Not at all princess. I'm happy to help. I can ask big brother and Capricorn to help, if you wish."

"No, no need. I'm sure they're busy. Speaking of Loke, have he been by? I asked him to speak with the King." Lucy wondered since she had not heard him or any of his flirtatious advances.

"No. Shall I go look for him?"

"Does an audience with the King take a while?"

"Not usually, no. But it can be that they had something else to discuss. Shall I check upon them?" Lucy pondered if she should let her since she was a bit worried. She knew she had nothing to really worry about but it just made her uneasy that it had been four hours almost five since she requested Loke to talk with the King.

"If it doesn't bother you." She finally said with a small smile.

"I'll be back soon, princess."

Lucy watched her spirit leave, not dive, the library. "Guess they don't use magic here as much as they do at home." Shaking her head with a chuckle she pushed the tray aside and picked another book.

"Myths and stories of Dragons." Sighing she read the title and opened the book. A sudden gush of wind appeared and the book began glowing. Startled Lucy dropped it on top of the table and jumped a few steps back.

"What the-"

"Welcome to the untold stories and myths of Dragons and their kin." A voice spoke and suddenly a projected tiny Dragon appeared. "The first story is about the creations of the first Dragon, Draco."

Lucy listened to the dragon tell her stories and myths about the past, or rather she saw every story being illustrated. She was awed that she didn't take any notes. She was so immersed into its storytelling.

So many surprising facts, some scary and others helpful and just plain awesome.

It had been over three months since the blonde left for the Celestial Realm. Natsu had isolated hinself and was constantly mopping. He didn't go to mission with the team, he would rather take a mission alone than listening to them reprimand him and whatnot. He didn't even bring Happy with him.

He was so frustrated, confused and slightly hurt. No. He was hurting a lot.

Gajeel had already succeeded mating with his mate and they were expecting their first child. Laxus had also told Mira about her being his mate and she accepted. It wouldn't be long before they complete the ritual and start their family.

He felt suffocated being in the guild with those mated couple (or to be) because he was missing his. Maybe it was his instincts, but he was seriously missing Lucy more than he had ever felt. Of course he missed her too when he had gone off on his year long training but now knowing Lucy being his mate, the longing to see her intensified. So much it was suffocating.

Virgo and Plue had visited the guild last week telling them all that Lucy would stay a few hours more, meaning it could be yet another month without Natsu seeing her.

It hurt. Because being apart from her made him come to realize he did like Lucy. More than a friend. Being his mate or not. He liked her. A lot.

At first he was confused. He didn't understand what it meant to like her more than a friend. To like her as a woman. So he asked Alzack. The man who had been in his situation - sorta. A man who married his best friend slash partner.

The married gunslinger was surprised when Natsu had approached him and more so about the topic of love.

The Slayer asked how it felt to be in love. To like someone more than a friend. How Alzack knew he liked Bisca before dating her and eventually married her.

When Alzack told him everything he was still confused but he could still relate to many of those things. He had strong desire to protect the blonde from any harm. He hated seeing her sad and cry because it pained him too. It hurt seeing her devastated. He liked her smiling and happy more. It filled his heart with warmth – which he had always thought was due to his own magic. He even liked her when she was annoyed with him and Happy especially how forgiving she was whenever they did something stupid - in her opinion, they never did something stupid. Just plain awesome stuff.

Unintentionally he was in fact already in love with Lucy. He didn't know when it had happened but it had happened. Or that was Alzack could decipher from what he had explained to him.

So here he was. In the corner of the guild hall, mopping while his mind was constantly thinking of the blonde Celestial Spirit Mage.

He was curious and couldn't help but worry. He always worried when it was about Lucy but now he worried even more because she wasn't near him. And he worried what information she would bring.

Had she found a way out? Which in all honesty he didn't want. He wanted her. Only her…

"Just come home already…" He grumbled lowly as he watched Gajeel and Levy sit next to each other, all smiles while Lily was enjoying a kiwi smoothie. Just like a family. And Natsu hated it. His heart hurt badly.

"Nashuu…" Happy hovered towards his partner with a sullen expression. Mira had given him a tray with fish for himself and Natsu's favorite food for Natsu. An attempt to cheer the sad Slayer up.

"Are you okay?" Happy finally had the courage to ask the dreaded question he had postponed for weeks because he knew Natsu weren't okay. But he still wanted to ask, and offer his comfort.

Natsu glanced at his blue feline friend and sighed before his expression softened. "Of course buddy." He lied. "I'm all good."

"No you're not. You've been ignored everyone at the guild for the last three months, mopping. You even ignored me. Aren't we…" Happy sniffed sadly, "…friends?"

Surprised, Natsu's eyed widened. He suddenly felt really guilty because what Happy was telling was nothing far from the truth. Patting the silently crying Exceed's head and looking apologetic, Natsu said. "Sorry Happy. I didn't mean to. I'm just… I'm confused." He confessed. Because he still was very much confused. He may be in love with Lucy but what did that mean he still had no clue.

"We – I miss Lushy too. But Plue said she will come back soon. We just have to wait for her."

"It's not that simple Happy… it hurts. A lot. And I don't understand what it means, just that it really hurts. And I feel sad." Natsu looked pitiful with the look he gave Happy, it broke the Exceed's heart.

Putting a paw on his best friend's arm Happy looked at him with a determined look. "We'll have her fall in love with you. Everyone will help us too. You aren't alone with this, remember that. You'll be happy like Levy and Gajeel and Laxus and Mira." He promised breaking out into a smile. He already had a plan forming. Bullet proof.

A small smile formed on the Slayer's face. Happy always knew how to encourage and comfort him. He gave his best friend a nod before fully grinning. "I'm all fired up!"

By his loud cheer, the guild roared with their own cheers after finally having their energetic Dragon Slayer back. Having Natsu back to his former self always ensured the liveliness of he guild and give them a sense of strength and happiness.

While Lucy is the light of the guild, Natsu is the strength, passion and fire.

Thus why they matched perfectly.

Grinning even more by the cheers of their nakama, Natsu felt much better than he had for months. He knew Happy was right. He wasn't alone with this. The guild would help him court Lucy. They would help him making her fall in love with me.

"Operation: Fall in love with me, commence."

Sooooo. I managed to have Natsu realize his feelings, though he's still confused as fuck. He is just adorable.

And Gajevy has completed the ritual and are officially mated. Yaaaaaaay. And they are expecting. No surprise. xD Mira and Laxus is next! More babies to come xD

Remember, there will be NALU babies to come too. I just want to write a story where Natsu is the one being in love for a change, first. And have him learning what love means and shit.

Plus I have a lot a new stuff to experiment with. Loke and the Stache dude are talking way too long, it must be important. xD And there will be cameo of our favorite …g..s You have to guess who he/she/they is/are xD Let me just say, the dead ain't dead in this story. XD hope ya get the hint.

And I will have next chapter with some NALU interacting, I promise. It's unfair that Natsu doesn't get to see his mate. xD

Remember to review and guess who'll make a cameo soon. Maybe next chapter even. So review, fave and follow!

Next chapter will be up tomorrow if I at least get four reviews. So review! xD

And remember, my stories is always nonsensical xD I love experimenting with different theories and shit xD

Peace out!

-Oby Abel-