Hey guys thank you all so much for your reviews last time and this is going to be a long chapter to make up for the long break of no updates please enjoy and review if you get a chance
Forewaring: This chapter has a lot of talking and plot bunnies explained so although it may seem boring please don't skip it! It's important to the overall plot and you'll have a hard time understanding the following chapters if you only skim it! Thanks!
REVISED 2015
Chapter 26: A Wary Friend Revealed
The first thing that crossed Natsu's mind was, protect Lucy. Without thinking he jumped in front of her whilst Angel was in mid lunge, Angel's jagged blade missed it's target and instead lodged itself in Natsu's gut. Natsu let out a strangled gasp, hands flying to the wound, blood seeping through his fingers he fought to stand but his legs turned to butter beneath him.
"Natsu Lucy shrieked, falling to her knees beside him, tears pouring down her face, trembling hands grasping at his carnage covered hands.
The entire ballroom erupted in blood curdling screams, people scrambling to run away, chaos overcame the room and Angel found himself letting out a long sigh of ease as he slipped his dagger in the waistband of his tail coat.
"You had that one coming for a long time Dragneel." Angel laughed dryly, looking down at the fire wizard with disgusting contempt. "Not only were you a thorn in my side but your meddling father too!"He let out a bark of laughter, the sound was cruel and menacing. "He was more trouble than even a dagger in the heart could fix."
"You bastard!" Natsu wheezed, glaring up at Angel, eyes flaming.
Angel rolled his eyes, "you're distasteful language doesn't scare me little dragon but that hole in your stomach is rather gruesome. I'm actually kind of surprised this little baby here was able to do that much damage." Angel inspected his gory blade with piqued interest, "good thing I got you with it instead of Lucy, I wouldn't want to damage the merchandise now would I?"
Falling to her knees, tears stinging her eyes Lucy pressed her hands to Natsu's wound, murmuring furious incantations in hopes of healing him. Angel watched this interaction with distaste with several moments before grabbing at the blonde's shoulder.
"How gross. Human displays of affection are so distasteful." He sneered, "let him die why don't you."
Lucy, who had managed to abide the gruesome gushing of blood on Natsu's front looked up, brown eyes hard as ice. "You're a monster." She growled, "and the world I live in monsters get put down with lots and lots of magic."
Angel's hazel eyes refocused on his prize's, the venomous electricity flowing between them was surging and a forthcoming battle raged in their eyes.
"It would seem I really did wait too long to make you mine doesn't it?" Angel asked bitterly, full lips upturning in a sour expression. "So in this cycle the princess has fallen in love with the dragon and the ghost of the man she used to love is left in the dark."
Lucy stood, hands clenched at her sides. "Stop speaking in riddles Angel, I've had enough of being tormented by you and I'll be damn sure to give you every bit of payback you deserve for both my mother and my grandmother."
Angel watched her closely, the furious and hungry look in his eyes gone, lips pursed as if he was calculating his next move. "It would seem you've been poorly educated in your family history Lucy. There is much more to this story than you appear to think."
Lucy's irises blazed yellow, magic snaking around her rigid fingers, "you better make it clear real fast or all that will be left of you is a scorching hole in the floor!" Lucy snarled through clenched teeth.
Angel didn't retort to Lucy's violent threat instead he began mumbling under his breath and calculating something slowly in his mind, completely ignoring Lucy.
Enraged Lucy swirled her hands and shot a blazing hot bolt of Light energy at Angel's foot, searing off his pant leg. Snapping to attention Angel glared at her, hazel eyes heated. "Getting cocky now are we? Just because I'm off guard doesn't mean I'm harmless my little princess."
"I'm no one's princess, especially not yours, filth!"
Angel blinked, appearing confused. "I wasn't talking about your disposition to my owning you I was referring to your heritage."
Lucy magic faltered, eyes conflicted and confused.
Angel's eyes widened in realization, "you mean to tell me you truly don't know?! She never told you?!" He let out a mad laugh, tossing his umber locks back and letting out a cackle. "This is too rich, it's like this television drama Lauren and I used to watch! Mom doesn't tell her daughter about her being a princess, her mother dies then the girl is raised with no clue of her family heritage until this mysterious young man comes into her life forcing her to uncover her scandalous past!" He ranted hysterically, verging on tears. "The only thing is that your royal blood is much more complicated than being your run of the mill princess."
"What the hell are you talking about?!" Lucy hissed, her heart rising and falling in her chest.
"The reason you can talk to the dead Lucy is because you're Nocturne's great great great great granddaughter."
"Nocturne?" Lucy whispered, racking her brain for some reference or text she'd read but nothing rang a bell.
"You know the pagan God of the undead and cursed, visiting the mortal world only through dreams, seducing young women to come over to the Otherside; promising them fame and limitless wealth and pleasures. Around one hundred and thirty years ago in a small pagan village outside Cornwall, England lived a beautiful girl named Lucia Heartfillia. Lucia was the envy of all the village girls and was often excluded and tormented for her unfair beauty, Nocturne watched this golden haired beauty knowing if he waited long enough she'd easily bend to his will. So one night he visited her in her dreams, appearing as a gorgeous man, offering her a place where she wouldn't be tormented and where she'd finally find peace. Unable to resist the man's charms she followed him, unknowingly leaving her earthly body behind, she wandered into Otherside. It was then she realized her mistake for Otherside is not a place young girls like Lucia should be, she begged to be returned, claiming it to be trickery and that she was lied to." Angel's eyes darkened momentarily before he continued. "Lucia did what any girl would do, she found comfort in Nocturne, who enchanted with magic to force the belief he was never truly at fault. Lucia fell in love with Nocturne, and him unwittingly with her, soon after Lucia conceived a child, Luna. But their was a price to Luna's birth, the rules of Otherside are resolute and the rules clearly state that no life can be given in Otherside without sacrifice, so Lucia gave herself to Lucifer for her daughter's soul. Driven mad by Lucia's lost and stricken with grief Nocturne knew he couldn't allow his daughter to remain in Otherside so he brought her back to Earth and to his oldest and dearest friend, Singe the Flame dragon. Singe and Nocturne shared a complicated relationship but they trusted each other although their conversations were often abrupt and harsh, Nocturne left Luna in the care of Singe and another human child he had adopted who went by the name Igneel Dragneel."
From his place on the ballroom floor Natsu's eyes widened, wincing in pain he struggled to stand, fingers pressing down on his wound in fear of his insides falling out. "What are you saying Angel?! That my father was raised by a dragon as well was Lucy's great grandmother?! You're insane!"
Angel watched Natsu in almost a respectable manner, watching as the fire wizard fought to stand. "Yes your father stupid Dragneel. A loving father to your sister and husband to Grandeeney, your human mother. Funny how that works really, I don't know how the hells he's still alive." Angel let out a sharp laugh, "the guy's at least a hundred and ten by now, I guess having part dragon blood will do that to you."
"Part dragon?" Natsu intoned, voice barely audible.
"Why yes, you don't think you became such a powerful fire wizard by chance did you? No, you are in fact one third dragon and your dad a whole half dragon, damn he had a wild temper back then."
Natsu jaw snapped shut, unable to even form words.
"And now that you know the basis of my tale I can begin to fill in the blanks; so I'd appreciate it if you'd both shut up so I can finish."
Lucy and Natsu shared a hard look and silenced.
"Then I can begin; once Luna turned sixteen and Igneel twenty they decided to leave Singe, telling him their plans to explore the world and seek out their own adventures. Singe agreed, having taught them all he possibly could, the two sought after adventure and fame in the bustling city of London. Upon reaching the city they soon realized the small amount of funds they had accumulated along the way would not last long, so they rented out a small apartment and took jobs in the city. Luna opened a small cafe called The Lucky Bird's Nest. Igneel, being strong and able worked as a labourer on a farm on the outskirts of town. Everything was slow and quiet for the two until Luna meet Silas. Silas was a businessman who worked on the strip near Luna's cafe and often came in during the days he got off early at the office. He was charismatic and handsome and Luna was soon entranced by him, his charm inescapable. Luna knew Igneel disapproved of their relationship and the two grew distant and soon began hardly speaking at all. Igneel decided he was moving out, he had enough money to move out closer to the farm. As he was coming back to Luna's apartment late one night to pick up the remainder of his things, was when he ran in on the two. Luna was pinned under Silas, it was obvious he had raped her, and Igneel, in a fit of rage, ripped Silas off Luna and killed him right then and there. Ashamed and terrified of seeing Luna again Igneel fled from London that very night, taking only his coin with him, the two never saw each other again. It was soon after this Luna went mad, she started hearing voices and became very mentally ill and was admitted into a psych ward, she never stopped talking about the ghosts that wouldn't leave her alone. That's where she gave birth to her and Silas's unplanned child, a baby girl named Lauren. Orphaned due to her mother's insanity, Lauren was sent to Greendale, the London orphanage where she was raised until she could take care of herself. At seventeen Lauren worked odd jobs until she had enough money to reopen Lucky Birds Nest, in her mother's name, and began single handedly managing the restaurant." Angel grimaced, a conflicted and pained expression momentarily marring his handsome face. "That's where I come in and this is also where your story and mine converges." He looked at Lucy, his eyes usually riddled with deceit and treachery were almost kind; Lucy nodded her agreement to hear him out, her hands still clasped to Natsu, completely mending his injuries.
Angel took a deep breath, talking once again. "Professor Bob showed you his rather ingenious Time Hooper didn't he? Well although he showed you your past with the best intention of aiding you in the struggle to understand both my history and your own; that memory was actually tampered with and the events occurring in it are fabricated."
Lucy sucked in a ragged breath, her eyes flickering with suspicion. Natsu squeezed her hand, reassuring her silently.
"As you can guess after Nocturne rescued Luna and took her to Earth Lucifer was enraged. The rules of Otherside, the rules that were punishable by death, had been broken by not only one of his own but his right hand man. Unable to retrieve the halfing himself, the rest of his subjects proving evidently more loyal to Nocturne, refused to retrieve the young child as well. This sent Lucifer over the edge, Lucifer had Nocturne publically executed in the most painful way Othersiders can possibly experience, burned by the Holy Flames."
Natsu and Lucy grimaced, turning their faces toward the blood stained floor.
"After Nocturne's death is where my story begins, and it started with my sudden boost in rank. At the time I was a lowly incubus1, a god of lust and dreamed of nothing more than seducing and eating the hearts of human females. I was the smartest most attractive incubus out of the bunch and this is why Lucifer approached me first. He made a bargain with me, if I was able to convince the baby Luna to come over to the Otherside he'd grant me my darkest desire; to become human myself." Angel's expression grew dreamy as he thought about it, eyes lost and dazed. "There was nothing I wanted more than to become human, freedom, beautiful woman and living without the constant fear of Lucifer looming over our heads it was more than I could possibly dream of. I agreed to his terms and quickly slipped through the Nether portal and made my way to Earth in search of the lost child." Angel's eyes grew bitter again and his words harsh and clipped. "But when I arrived Luna was already grow, she was a pretty blond thing and she was tumbling around in the grass outside Singe's cave with a pink haired boy with pointy canines." Angel pointed a cold glare at Natsu, "it seemed that my journey, although it seemed short on my end was actually considerably longer on the Earth plane. Being nothing more than a simple incubus I was unable to touch Luna, for the love of Mr. Dragneel seemed to encase her in a protective bubble even the most cunning of my spells couldn't break. It's too bad Luna was oblivious to Igneel's love, for she frolicked around with many boys in her time, if you know what I mean'." Angel said with a cold laugh, hazel eyes dancing.
Natsu growled under his breath, not liking that he was insulting both Lucy's ancestor and his own father.
Angel raised his hands defensively, "I meant no harm flame breath but what I'm trying to say is that Luna would have been a lot better off if she went with Igneel, by far he was the better choice; but I suppose if she did that your guy's little relationship would be quite er-."
"We get in Angel!" Lucy snapped, "get on with it."
Angel glared at her for a moment but continued, "as I said I couldn't get to Luna for Igneel's love was invincible but I could get to her daughters. I waited many years for Lauren's birth, always following Luna and Igneel in their travels, hidden in the shadows. When she met Silas it was a stroke of luck in my favour, I felt the chemistry between them and I knew Silas's intention so I waited with baited breath for my time grew near. After Lauren was born I honed my skills on various girls, waiting until she was at the right age, built up a fake family background and heritage, I made a full dimension character and his name was Scott. Capable, rich and sexy I knew catching Lauren in my net was going to be a slice of cake, for I had dealt with her kind before and now I was ready. I started seeing her at her cafe and I knew I was getting close, I could feel my freedom on my lips and that's when things turned very sour for me. Around the time Lauren started seeing me she came into her Nocturne blood, she grew distant and always had a faraway look in her eyes. Luna, her mother, had come back from the grave to haunt her and to warn her daughter about me." Angel inhaled deeply through his nose as if he needed a moment to calm himself. " I don't know how Luna knew about me and I still don't. When I was following her I made very sure to be careful of where I stepped and what I did but apparently in death she became knowledgeable of my existence. This is where the scene from your journey in the Time Stream begins Lucy; in that dark alley, where Lauren supposedly killed me is where the memory was tampered. What you were shown was a lie, Velma never truly existed. I made her up to make me seem like more of catch to Lauren, it was all part of the chase, part of the game." Angel clutched the bridge of his nose, eyes closed, he suddenly appeared much older than before. "Whoever tampered with this memory made it look like I was some sort of monster, they wanted it to appear to you like I truly was the villain in this twisted tale. By making it look like I killed an innocent woman to possess your grandmother's affection made me look deranged and insane but this never actually happened."
"What did happen then?" Lucy asked, voice a shaking whisper.
Angel looked at her, "are you going to believe me? After all we've been through? If you do you truly are more noble than I previously thought."
Lucy nibbled her lip, wanting to reject Angel's words but somehow she knew he was right. All these crazy things, it had to be bigger than her and Angel. "I'm listening." She said.
Angel nodded, hazel eyes again slipping into the past. "I did meet your mother that night and she did stab me that part is true. But what happened is that when she stabbed me I didn't die. I mean I can't die so when her knife teared through my chest, her lovely brown eyes no longer belonging to her but instead willed by some unknown force I just stood there, bleeding and shocked . . ." Angel's voice trailed off, becoming lost in memory.
"Y-you're still alive?!" Lauren whispered disbelievingly, brown eyes frantic. Dropping the knife her bloodied hands jolted up to her face, clutching at the roots of her hair. "What have I done?! I don't know what came over me! Scott? I'm so so sorry!" She reached out to the paralysed man,shaking him but he just stood there, unmoving. That's when she realized he wasn't dying, he was hardly even bleeding. "Ohmygod!" Her hands flew to her mouth, muffling a scream. "That voice in my ear was right about you! Y-you're not human! But what are you?!"
The frozen man before her slumped to his knees, gasping and hacking up purple blood, unable to speak. Lauren fell to her knees, reaching out towards the man. "Ohmygod, I can't believe she was right," her voice wavered and tears began to dribble down her face. "But it doesn't really matter does it?" She whispered more to herself than anyone. "Because although you're trying to lure me to my own death I still love you. That's crazy, this is so crazy Scott, but I love you. I-I"
The man looked up, hazel eyes consumed by a massive swirling darkness. "You love me?" He wheezed, hand clutching at his chest, as if he was afraid his heart was about to burst. "But why? Now you know! Know what I planned to do to you!"
Lauren shook her head slowly, tears falling down her cheeks, small fingers ran down his cheek. "Like I said it doesn't matter. Although she never told me what your reasons are I don't care, I love you Scott, or whatever you call yourself. I did from the moment you came into my cafe wearing that pink blazer and asked for my number so fast that I didn't even have a chance to say hello. What you're doing," she paused, voice weak. "Whatever it is it has to be important because I know you love me as well, I can see it in your eyes"
The man looked up at her thunderstruck, it all becoming very clear to him very fast. What he had brushed off as a game, nothing more than a job to gain his freedom were actually the happiest days of his very long existence. She had been kind and fair and beautiful and everyday he spent in that cafe, drinking her coffee and talking to her, listening to her laugh he had fallen more and more in love with her. A shaky hand rose to cup her cheek, coughing through the effort, he smiled at her with the purest smile, hazel eyes glowing.
"You're right Lauren, you always are. What's so clear to you is always painfully hard for me to see. I do love you but I'm afraid I can't stay long my love, for the Devil is taking me back and I'll let you know he's not very pleased." Although the man's tone was lighthearted his words rang true, he was very slowly fading away.
Lauren watched in horror, sobs bubbling from her throat. "Scott! Dear god no! You can't leave me not now, not like this, NO!"
The man laughed tiredly, as if was fighting to stay awake. "My master is taking away my mortal body and soon I'll return home and there I will rot." He struggled for breath, "but it'll be bearable because I know you'll be safe here, I won't let him harm you Lauren." His hand slipped from her face, eyes closing as his energy depleted.
Lauren screamed in terror, ugly sobs breaking and impairing her speech. She shook his limp shoulders, trying to wake him. "SCOTT!" She shrieked, hysteric. "SCOTT! COME BACK!" But her screams were in vain, it was too late.
"Lauren," he whispered, voice barely audible, "time is short," he fought to find the words he needed. "If I am to come back, don't _ don't trust me, stab me right through the heart because Lauren, next time you won't find the man you love, I'll be a _ monster. Lucifer will change me." Then he was gone, his soul departing from the mortal body and slipping back into the Nether portal.
Angel snapped back to attention, realizing he had lost himself in memory. Lucy and Natsu stared at him,both now standing in front of him watching him incredulously. He rubbed his chin, wondering how long he had been gone.
"Angel you have a tear in the corner of your eye." Lucy said, pointing at his face.
Surprised Angel touched his cheek and realized they were in fact damp and then he let out a hollowing sigh. "I'm sorry I was lost in memory."
"We realized, we even tried shaking you but you were completely lost." Natsu grumbled.
Angel said nothing but instead looked at Lucy, eyes searching. She was the very picture of her grandmother but her chin was stronger, eyes more defiant she had the face of a warrior princess whilst Lauren looked more like a fairy. Although the resemblance was there he would not find Lauren in Lucy; she had never even meet her grandmother and she knew nothing about her. Angel heart ached as he thought of Lauren but it was a dull pain, a pain he had long grown accustomed too.
"Lucy, I have a bit of explaining but I cannot do it now." He said, voice hard again.
"What're you talking about? Spit it out pretty boy here and now." She barked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Angel shook his head exasperatedly, "there is no time, he draws near." Angel looked up toward the ballroom ceiling eyes worried and tense.
"Who is coming!? What is going on here!?" Lucy demanded, grabbing his arm and digging into his flesh painfully.
"Lucifer!" Angel hissed, glowering at her impatience. "The Solstice lessens the gap between Otherside and Earth and he has grown far too impatient to wait for you any longer, Nocturne's Daughter." Angel looked at her, fear etched into his features. "You're technically a royal duchess of Otherside, even if you're father was executed for treason."
Lucy gaped at him, "Lucifer's coming now?!" She shot a frantic look at Natsu, brown eyes losing their hard edge momentarily. "What about all my friends what happened to them?! There is innocent people here Angel we can't let them all die!"
Angel nodded his agreement, "don't worry, Lucifer won't kill them all," he hesitated, "I hope. He is in a rather foul mood."
"Angel!" Lucy roared, "this is serious! How can you be so careless about this?!"
Angel shrugged, "I was raised in Otherside for several hundred years you know, it's not like death is uncommon to me. In fact it's a celebrated event there."
Lucy wrenched his arm, eyes blazing. "We're protecting all of these people and you're going to help."
Angel sighed, "you want me sinner among sinners, Lucifer's old lap dog and harbinger of destruction and broken hearts to help you aid innocent people?"
"Yes." Lucy said sternly, "for you're the only one who can. I know you love my grandmother, even in the years since her death you yearn for her and you're going to do this for her." Lucy's eyes grew soft and her hold on his arm gentle. "I don't know how I know it but I know you're not the Angel that haunted my waking hours for weeks. You're not the man I grew to fear and despise and you're not the man who used me as a puppet of their own cruel doings."
Angel stared at her speechless, eyes wide.
Lucy popped up on her tippy toes, mouth near his ear. "You never said it but I can see the way you watch me, secretly hoping I'll become the woman you loved. I won't but that doesn't mean that I can't come to care for you." Lucy leaned back a bit, meeting his eyes, smiling tenderly. "We'll become good friends you and I. For people whose destinies are so closely intertwined are bound to be together forever. But today we avenge what was taken from us." Her eyes grew dark, lips hard. " You were used against your will to hurt not only my grandmother but my mother and myself and today we take back what is rightfully ours." Lucy grinned, "Otherside will soon be changing ownership, I'm sure Lucifer won't object once he's dead. Don't you agree Azael?"
Suddenly Angel felt as if he had a bucket of cold water dumped over his head. In one simple word he had become who he used to be, the smartest of the incubus, the bravest and the kindest. He was no longer drowning in mismatched personalities, men he had created, and ones Lucifer had created for him; forced him into playing for so many years. A warm light bathed him and he allowed it to tear away the layers of lies and filth that had built upon him like silt. Once he stepped out he was once again himself, the man who he had found briefly when Lauren was in his life.
He was Azael.
Lucy watched his transformation in awe, Natsu holding her hand so tightly her blood pressure ceased. She was proud of Angel, or Azael rather, although he was so muddled and deluded he still had preserved his true self somewhere deep inside his own mental hell. All she had to do was coax him back into his true shell, the person he was. Deep down it was obvious, she'd read many stories about the strongest of the incubi. She knew the folk lore and once she'd connected the dots there was no doubt.
Azael stood before her very different from the tormented man that had been there before. He had cast his outgrown mortal shell and looked very much like a devil of the night winds. Wild untamed black hair fell to his shoulders, heavy brows accentuating his strong features, eyes a mesmerizing blue. He wore nothing but a pair of dark trousers, pale abdomen covered with dark tattoos and scarring making him look even more intriguing. He truly did look like one of the models on those cheesy romance novels that Lucy would see in bookstores except he was much more captivating.
"Azael." Lucy breathed in like his name was fresh air.
He looked up, eyes momentarily confused. "Lauren?" He asked, voice rich and soothing.
Lucy shook her head sadly, wishing she could be Lauren; just for a moment to give him that happiness. "No not Lauren sorry. My names Lucy, I'm Lauren's granddaughter."
Again he looked slightly lost, "granddaughter?" He echoed, "who did Lauren marry? Whose child are you?" His hurt expression burned her and his eyes showed the full extent of his pain.
Lucy shrugged, she didn't know. "I don't know, I'm sorry, but I really need your help Azael. Try to remember me. Lucifer is coming and Natsu and I won't be able to defeat him alone."
Natsu scoffed at this, "watch me, I can take that undead punk." He cracked his knuckles and his eyes flashed crimson.
Azael watched this interaction with wonder, he rubbed his skull as if trying to bring back his still missing memories. "I still don't really know what's going on," he muttered, "but if you're Lauren's granddaughter I'll lend a hand in whatever way I can." He swallowed thickly. "I owe her that much."
Lucy smiled relieved, "thank goodness for that. After this is over I'll have to tell you a very long story and then hopefully you'll tell me the remainder of yours."
Azael looked puzzled again but nodded stiffly. "Lucifer approaches. Do you have a plan of attack?"
Lucy grinned widely. "I do. But I need you to listen to me, don't question my orders okay?"
Azael looked at her blankly but sighed then nodded again.
"Okay here's the plan, you and Natsu need to get everyone to safety. I don't care by what means this is done but get them all out of here unharmed. Second I'll need you two to drop everyone off in the field a couple miles from here, then and only then generate a magical barrier around the mansion. In case anything goes south I don't want a big magical explosion injuring anyone in the crossfire."
"Okay that sounds all fine but what about you? You're not seriously thinking we're going to just leave you here alone against Lucifer are you?" Natsu growled, glaring daggers at Lucy, he knew she was reckless but this was just insane.
Lucy smiled again, "but I won't be alone, I've got some friends coming and and small family reunion planned."
Azael shook his head disapprovingly, "this still sounds insane. I shall stay here with you."
"Sure as hell you will be!" Natsu barked, "if anyone's staying here with her it's me!"
The two glared at each other venomously, sizing one another up.
"Enough!" Lucy screamed, "this is pointless it doesn't matter what either of you say because you're not staying here! There are hundreds of people here and they aren't dying because my past keeps coming back to haunt me!" Lucy calmed, growing somber. "So please leave, don't put their lives on my head please." She whispered, eyes pleading.
Natsu wanted with all his might to tuck Lucy behind his back and take on the entire world in her name but he couldn't riddle her with the guilt of these peoples lives, not when she could never forgive herself from the shame. "Fine," he muttered, "we'll do as you say but as soon as we're done we're coming straight back here."
Azael grunted his agreement.
Lucy looked up, eyes moving between both of them she spoke. "To the man loved so many years ago; brash and ruthless but protective and soft hearted. To the man whose life was a lie but finds himself once again clarified but a kind tongue. To the man who lives life humbly, destroyed by guilt from what he could never hope to to prevent. From the depths of the ocean to the highest rocks our fate hums like a buzzing bee, lest us forever stay as one." Lucy stopped, eyes closing and her face growing peaceful. "I always liked that passage in moms old journal, but I never knew what it meant until now. It's amazing how much we've been through together yet their are still so many untold stories." She shook her head and smiled blissfully.
"Lucy, what are you talking about?" Natsu asked, confused.
Lucy looked up at him, hand reaching out to stroke a small cut on his forehead, eyes like brewed honey. "Our story, although tragic and misread and mistold, is very old. For although my mother is my mother and my grandmother my grandmother they are just versions of my past self. I don't know how I know this but I've been alive a very long time and I'm a repeated cycle just as you two are. I'm my mother as she is part of me yet we are different." Lucy let her fingers thread themselves through Natsu's hair, eyes faraway. "In my cycle I fell in love with the dragon, the first line of the verse and the beginning of our tale. Temperamental and dangerous but underneath a kindred spirit capable of so much love." She turned to Azael, lips pursed. "In my grandmother's cycle she fell in love with the Wanderer, a spirit drowned in himself but finds love with someone so kind and open there is no shame. And my mother, she chose a man who was humble and honest and gave her the promise of simplicity and everlasting love." Lucy let out a contented sigh, closing her eyes again. "It's like a three sided die, each Heartfilia shall have a different fate depending on the dice they rolled; and I rolled dragon," she gazed at Natsu lovingly, "and I'm really glad the game was swayed in my favour."
Natsu couldn't help himself, he grabbed Lucy by the waist and kissed her. He couldn't stop, every nerve in his body hummed and he could feel his heart strain against his chest. Although much of what she said was in riddles he didn't care, what the underlying truth was he had many, many lifetimes to love her over and over again and that thought itself was dizzying. The two only separated because Lucy could sense Azael growing uneasy.
Parting, Lucy composed herself. "It's time, you two go. I'll stay here and hold down the fort." She shot them a wink as she kicked off her heels and hurried away, ripping off the useless parts of her dress in the process. Only looking back once, waving at the two, hoping to inspire confidence.
Natsu watched her, clenching his fists. "Come on pretty boy, we better get this done fast so we can get our asses back here."
Azael grunted his agreement and Natsu let out a strained laugh. "You sure are much more subdued in this form, glad we got rid of that smart mouth Angel."
Azael frowned, "I still don't have my memories back so I would appreciate you stop bringing up matters I don't understand."
Natsu laughed again, punching him in the shoulder, "whatever man, just put a shirt on of something your bulging pecks are starting to freak me out."
Looking down at his finely toned chest Azael inspected himself, "really?" He asked earnestly, "Lucy didn't seem to have a problem with it."
Natsu grit his teeth to stop himself from charring the incubus, "shut it." He hissed.
Azael smiled smugly, "say as you must dragon child. Let's get going!"
The two took off, making it a personal race. It was only a matter of time before Lucifer arrived and they couldn't waste another second.
Hey guys I know that was a lot to take it but it was important to finally get out. Thank you all for sticking with me this long. This novel will hit its one year anniversary soon and thank you to all of my readers, new and old for reading and reviewing and supporting. If I could express my gratitude in words I would.
Until next time and fair winds.
3 Suicidal