Story name; The Fairy's Jinchuriki.
Summary: "The boy who eats fire." She murmured. Eventual Lucy/Erza paring. Lucy is the nine tails Jinchuriki.
Disclaimer; I own nothing. This is a nonprofit work of FanFiction
Contrary to popular belief, Jinjuriki were not invincible. True, they were stronger than the average mage (much strong for some) but that was a case by case bases.
When your average person thought the words Jinkuriki, the association wasn't to the human host but the Bijuu. The giant monstrous creation of anger and destruction residing within their gut.
Lucy couldn't really blame them. She often made the same mistake. The blonde hardly considered herself human anymore. So it was understandable how the uneducated saw them. It really wasn't so wrong to say that Jinjuriki were more Demon than man. At least for the times Lucy had the displeasure of meeting one such as herself. The link between host and Bijuu was so thin, often blurred that the two were no longer separate but two beings sharing the same body and mind.
There were stories that Jinjuriki shared similar traits to the demon within, or even gained strange and otherwordly magic as a result of their unholy bond. This, Lucy knew from personal experience to be true. It scared them. To know that these unnaturally powerfully beings could have abilities that they could never understand. What the masses didn't know, or care to understand was the price to such power.
Sharing ones body with such a powerful creature isn't pleasant. In fact, it was down right pretty un-fucking pleasant. They never seemed to realize that maybe the the creature doesn't want to be held captive. That maybe being shoved inside a human host and draining them for strength wasn't what they wanted at all.
They were creatures with thoughts and feelings of their own and most of them despised humanity. So it came to no surprise, that the Bijuu rebelled against their captors. And Lucy was the Demon's captor. No matter how much she loathed to admit it. Or really, how little choice she had in the matter, Lucy Heartfilla, and all other Jinjuriki held the nine demon lords captive.
It was the sort of thing hushed in cautious whispers across taverns, the horrid nightmarish tales spun to scare uncooperative children. Stories of how Jinjuriki lost their minds, or went ballistic. When the rage filled monstrosities finally forced their way passed the hosts gut and laid waste to the world. It was the stuff of nightmares. No, that wasn't quite right. This was the real inescapable truth.
It's said that Jinjuriki all had a time limit. That they were ticking clocks as it were. They would say it was only a matter of time before the influx of too much power consumed them. It was something that secretly terrified Lucy. She knew all too well the vicious cycle, the addiction to power. The madness that always followed.
With that being said, Jinjuriki were not always powerful. In actuality, if the seal placed on the host was designed right, then the host might not get a drop of power. It's so easy to forget that. Lucy herself hadn't always been able to activate the Demons power at will. For a time the blonde hadn't even been aware of the nine tails presence, let alone be able to use it's power.
But there inlied the flaw of human nature. What was the purpose of Jinjuriki if not to have access to a legendary power? Since the dawn of Zeref's creations, humans had vied for their power. Lusted after. Through a vile and despicable manipulation of magic, man forced demons to do their bidding.
Jinjuriki were not made to be mere seals. No, there were other, better ways to contain such evil. They were weapons. Nothing more than tools to be used and discarded as they envidable withered away.
It's funny how fickle people could be. They fear her so much but didn't understand. Lucy was not all powerful. She was actually pretty damn far away from being such. If only they could see how truly pathetic she was right now, then she wandered how much they would fear her.
It was becoming so very hard to focus. If Lucy allowed her vision to linger on anything particular then she would end up staring dully in a stupor. She had to actively snap herself out of starring blankly at a tree.
Whipping her eyes up and blinking in attempt to shake the present fog surrounding her mind, Lucy caught Happy staring after her in worry from her lap. She didn't like seeing the concern on the usually bubbly cat but she just didn't have the energy to put up any sort of act.
It was a nasty little side effect. The over exposure to Demonic power was leaving her exhausted. It was curious though. Usually such a small display didn't leave this kind of effect. She had certainly never experienced a nose bleed before.
Absently whipping with the back of her palm, the blonde started to think back over the last few weeks since joining Fairy Tail. She had been using the Demons power more than ever. Actually, it had come without her will against Dadoria. It had flown so readily and easily into her system, she barely realized it was there. Until . . . well, she felt the power.
Was this state of hers because of overuse? Were the numerous uses of Demonic power finallly starting to come together or was it something else? Ever since stepping foot on this island Lucy had felt, off somehow. She had actually felt fine after the fight but something had happened.
The presence of this place was familiar somehow. The thought still ringing inside her brain. It was like the land itself was calling to her. The voice of the wind reaching within her gut. 'Ba Boom.'
Her chest thumped loudly within her ribcage. 'Ba Boom!' It roared again. Louder and louder it shouted. 'Ba Boom' Ba Boom' 'BA BOOM!'
Her hands gripped the withered material of her shirt. Clinching her hands tightly, Lucy grimaced. She could feel him. Letting out a deafening roar that only the two hear, the Kyuubi, the mightiest of the Bijuu rattled against his chains. The Demon was reacting to something. A call, or a beacon, what she didn't know for sure, or really, want to know but the delirium Lucy was feeling failed in the face of the Biju's mighty fury. The connection mirroring on Lucy's features as if she were the one at war.
She could hear the faint echoes of battle. The sound suddenly so clear, crystal that it nearly shocked her. All at once she began to feel the fog leave her body. She blinked once, twice, and then again.
Sharp crimson red eyes scoured over the area hoping for any sign of Natsu or Gray. They were too far away, she realized. Odd, it sounded as if they were so close. She could smell the ash burning the air, along with the unseasonably chill that floated the air. They were fighting.
Releasing a puff of air in frustration Lucy found herself grinding her teeth. She was suddenly angry. Too angry. As much as she desperately wanted to go find the others, the blonde was hesitant.
She was just so damn tense. Her senses on hyper awareness and the slightest thing might set her off. If not for the threat of more enemies lurking about, she would have dropped Happy and made a run for it. It was becoming increasingly difficult to not clinch her hands and ruin what was left of her shirt.
Her breaths were coming out hard and labored. Heart beating faster than humanly possible. Lucy's less than stellar control pushed to it's very limits. When she got like this, the maddening red hot rage boiling to the surface. It was hard to come back.
Craning her neck back at an odd angle until she felt a 'pop' Lucy bit down across her lip with enough pressure to form blood. Incisor like teeth struck painfully over the soft flesh but in her state, Lucy barely noticed.
She could feel it happening. The all too familiar signs that she was losing to her blood lust. It was almost like drowning. The pull, drawing her down, down, down, deeper into the abyss. The white hot rippling rage that flooded her system with all it's power and false promises slowly eating away at her humanity until nothing was left but dark crimson fire.
"L-lucy?"
The small voice was timid. Squaking out in a high pitched tone. Lucy almost didn't hear it. "Lucy." The voice tried again, and this time there was a small bit of fear. "Lucy! Come back!"
A sharp cut across her forearm jolted her back into reality. It suddenly brought the little fuze ball back into her mind.
Sharp eyes glanced over to see the cat's claws sliding back. Happy looked guilty but also hesitant. He was very still as those overly emotional eyes watched her. Waiting for her to do something out of rage.
". . . Sorry." She found herself saying. It was all she could do to keep from crying or screaming. Her voice was so strained. She couldn't even make herself look him in the eye.
She was the reason for that look on his face. He was afraid of her. . .
Tears began to swell up in her eyes. She didn't know why. It was stupid that she was having this kind of reaction when in reality she hadn't even been about to hurt him. She had done far worse, she reminded herself with a streak of dark memories. Had very nearly ghastly awful things. It was far worse then frightening a crybaby feline.
For all she tried to rationalize, the feeling wouldn't go away. It stuck painfully in her gut. Not even the burning acidic power currently running through her system could compare to the self loathing she felt. She had hurt Happy. The fucking cat was named Happy for gods sake! What kind of person could actually frighten someone like him?
"Hey," there was a light furred tap against her chin. The blonde couldn't quite force herself to look up but she put no resistance when Happy pulled himself close, his nose peering up at her only inches apart.
There were tears there too, she realized with a startlingly sob. It didn't even sound like her. Lucy was very unused to such a sound ever having come from her throat but it escaped passed her quivering lips seeing one of her closet friends crying.
"Don't cry Lucy." He told her.
She had to blink away the tears. They were pouring down at this point. How could this be? How could this stupid little animal be staring at her. His so very human eyes meeting her Demonic slits with nothing but love and compassion.
"You don't get it." She sobbed. "I shouldn't be here."
"Your my friend." He replied softly. "Why shouldn't you be here?"
Her hand stroked his tiny ears. She moved slowly, so not to accidentally cut him by mistake. "I don't deserve a friend like you Happy."
"Don't say that!" The cat pronounced suddenly. Even standing at full height, the little blue fur ball could only reach her forehead. "Your our friend! Your Natsu's friend. And Gray and Erza and even Cana. We need you around!"
His tiny little voice on any other occasion would have slug Lucy's sensitive hearing. He was shouting, so close to her and couldn't control the high octave it would reach when a sob would tear through his small frame.
She couldn't help but smile like a fool. While Happy was certainly not the brightest of people. And probably even one of the strangest beings Lucy had ever known, she couldn't help but love him. He was so small. So weak. Yet, here he was shouting at the Jinjuriki of the Nine Tails, proclaiming her to be his friend.
"We want you around forever . . ." He cried. "Promise Lucy."
"Happy." She tried.
"Promise!"
"Okay. I promise."
The Fairy's Jinjuriki
It was far too easy to find Natsu and Gray's battle. With her strength still full, Lucy could easily carry the bulking form of Dadoria and move through the island forests with ease. She had stumbled upon them and was quietly surveying the scene before her.
Her friends enemy was quick on his feet that was for sure.
With a quick glance, Lucy watched in slight awe as the man gracefully glided back and forth avoiding Natsu and Gray's blows with ease. Zarbon, as she guessed, was the fair haired one. With a more studied look, she couldn't really be sure, he was in fact, a he.
With dainty skin and almost gymnastic levels of grace, the blue haired man was a tough call that was for sure. While Dadoria was boorish and ugly, Lucy had to admit Zarbon had a very pretty face. That was . . . until he opened his mouth.
He was at least skilled, Zarbon preforming a perfectly executed spinning handstand, the blonde watching the man then flip backwards before kicking out, even having the audacity to flip his long braided blue hair back.
On the surface, Lucy's two boy team members seemed to be on the ropes. Zarbon was a skilled fighter with an odd style of combat. He was putting on quite the show too, exaggeratingly dancing around his outwardly image obviously very important.
Lucy had the sneaking suspicion that he was arrogant. He truly thought he was in control. He was holding back, his increasingly obnoxious scoffs of distain proving such. He hadn't yet showed his magic but something he didn't even care to notice was that neither had Natsu and Gray.
A frown played at her lips in thought. A serious of beeps and numbers flashed across that familiar piece of eyewear as Zarbon's attention suddenly turned back. Leaping back and away from a fire encased fist, Zarbon once again lunged as he spun, kicking out nearly hitting Natsu.
Oh how Lucy wanted to jump in seeing his snide features curl back in a smirk. Him and his pink friend were one of a kind. She was certain she hadn't noticed yet either. The blue haired man constantly looking to that eye piece of his, those same sequence of numbers flashing across the small screen.
It was how he was keeping track of them, she realized. Before every build up in magic by either Fairy Tail mage, the little device would squeak out a warning. It must have showed the strengths and weakness of their blows. How else would he be able to so easily determine which strikes to dodge or simply ignore. All without looking either. Lucy didn't believe in luck. At least not on that level. And he clearly wasn't a sensor type either.
She also took note he had yet to detect her presence.
For whatever reason those scanners couldn't detect her unique power. She really shouldn't have have been so surprised. What Lucy did wasn't magic. Or rather, what the demon did wasn't magic. The Fox had always been very specific when referring to it's power. A curse.
It both disturbed and amused her that she was immune to their sensory devices. On the one hand it was a huge tactical advantage. On the other . . . it only served as a reminder that Lucy was different.
As it was, the blonde decided to hang back. Watching carefully with still crimson eyes, she was ready to act if needed but she had more then enough confidence that her boys would be enough for someone of this level. It was for the best. With her demons power still pumping hot through her veins Lucy might have been a liability. She also wanted to keep an eye on Happy and Dadoria as well.
So settling back along the heavy tree line Lucy watched the fight precede. Locked in a heated exchange Natsu and Zarbon were throwing blows back and forth. Left and right Natsu launched strikes only for the slim man to twist around, launching back a high kick for the Dragon Slayers head.
With a stance more akin to a boxer than a mage, Natsu easily parried the blow with his forearm, much to Zarbons displeasure. A scowl erupted along his face only moments ago smirking lips ugly and vicious. Then his scouter beeped loudly, numbers and icons whirling across.
Being knocked off balance by the strength of Natsu's strike, Zarbon leaped back only to be nearly whirled in shock. He had forgotten about Gray.
Ah, so now she followed her teams plan. Unlike Lucy the pair had decided to scout out there mysterious opponents. They were just testing the waters. Judging that device of his and seeing how far they could push. All the while they were lulling him into s false sense of victory.
So sure in his ability and technique it had never even occurred to the man his foes might be holding back. Their numbers not even mattering to him. He had made a grave mistake. Lucy couldn't really blame his lapse of judgement. At times Natsu and Gray could really act stupid. To the point a stranger might not actually think them a threat. Now it was only a matter of setting the bait.
Sliding into a familiar stance, Gray had both hands cupped behind his back. The air around him visibly chilling around him. Then with a wave of his hand the area around turned solid. It started out as a small circle, just puddling at his feet. Then in a flash, the ice spread out covering the ground.
Amazing. . . Lucy hadn't even heard a command.
Zarbon's eyes widened for a moment before he stilled his features. Flipping gracefully up into the air Zarbon shocked the ice-wizard by jumping backwards slamming his suddenly clawed hands into the Ice holding himself firm.
Swiftly pulling his knees into his chest his powerful legs kicked out striking gray into the chest. Sliding him back across his own ice. It looked as if Gray stumbled on the slippery surface. That was definitely not something expected to see. Anyone capable of being called Natsu the salamander's rival was clearly powerful. Seeing him slip and stumble like a new born wasn't in Lucy's image of him.
Watching the ice wizard fly across his own ice Zarbon laughed at the dark haired boy. "You call yourself an ice wizard? How pathetic. You can't even balance on your own ice?"
The taunt was ignored as a Gray grunted but his sudden smirk gave Zarbon pause. The confidence in Gray's predicament stretched across his delicate features, frown lines forming. Gray just stopped.
There was no steadying stead. The teen didn't even move. He just came to a sudden stop across the ice, whatever preconceived notions that he couldn't balance on his own creations thrown away in a horrifying realization. He was being played for a fool.
His scouter blared out a high pitch warning as the man whipped back.
"Fire dragon's wing attack!"
Barreling toward him the fire user was almost engulfed in a golden haze of reddish flames. It burned so hot that the ground scorched under his touch. Flames whirling around in a giant tornado in a way that Lucy could almost see a dragons wings attached to his sides.
It was an impressive sight. One that she realized couldn't be ignored. It had captured both her and Zarbon's attention so absolutely that neither saw the Ice wizard move.
"Ice make, lance!"
If not for the words Lucy would have never known that Gray had done anything. Because of her unique power, the blonde had always had a way to sense magic different than others. While she couldn't use it or really interact she could definitely sense it. That's why it came as such a shock that she never felt the neccacary build up for Grays attack. What the hell had he done?
Just coming into his landing the changling was only able to tilt slightly, the blow just barely avoiding a kill shot. Pain ripped through Zarbon's armor tearing into his side was a large stick of Ice. But unfortunately for him it was only the start.
It wasn't just a diversion. It was a two pronged attack. The Jinjuriki marveled at the genius levels of team work by two different forces of nature. These two fight each other daily. They battle until they could no longer move. They had lived together since they were children and more than that, they were friends. It was like they could actually read each other's mind.
Natsu slammed into the slim figure of their blue haired opposition. The man, who had been so confident moments ago was a beaten into a pulp under the strength of a Dragon. His armor and long blue sleeved shirt rippling away into ash as flames licked his skin.
When the flames resided the revealed form of the mage was burned, bruised and literally bleeding all over. His hair, was stained a dark blotch of charred red. Black and blue blotches stood out on his face and exposed skin.
"You will never revive him." Gray spoke to the downed man. His very aura looked menacing and Lucy had to wonder what they had been talking about before she arrived. Revive? What did that mean?
"That Demon will never walk this earth again."
It was like a cold chill had ran down the blonde. Seriously, what?
"Believe it." Natsu seconded. Lucy also noticed he eyed Gray with a guarded expression. They both looked tense at what was being discussed. Obviously a heavily weighted conversation considering how very adamant Gray was in his declaration.
"So that's it huh?" Zarbon breathed out, ignoring their words. The sound causing both Fairy Tail Mages to look down at him with caution in their eyes. You allowed yourself to be pushed away by your own ice? The entire time-". He cut off, his form struggling to rise to a knee. "You've been holding out on me?"
"That's right. You didn't really think an Ice wizard couldn't control his own magic did you?"
"I see," he mused. "And the dragon slayer?
Appearing behind him, his whole body ablaze with fire magic the pink haired boy smirked. Smashing his fist together "We knew you'd do that. When I used my fire to clear the ice it was the only place you could land.
"Giving an easy target." Gray finished.
"Well it looks like I underestimated the two of you."
Zarbon couldn't stop the laugh that barked out of his lips. "Oh this is just to rich."
"You've got some nerve . . . The audacity, to not only challenge me but to make a slight against our lord. . ." Zarbon trailed off menacingly. His pale features beginning to redden and scrunch in barely contained fury before it cleared from his face entirely.
Then releasing a puff of air, the feminine looking mage scoffed. Tossing his long tattered hair back over his shoulder. "Though I must admit, you've impressed me. I was going to brush you fools off but not after you've so rudely made me look foolish. That can't be overlooked."
Natsu glanced at Gray and he nodded just enough to pick up. The two instantly going on guard.
Calmly taking a step back the man held up a single burnt glove. Then with a flick of his wrist, grabbed his scouter and tossing it to the ground. A moment later the slim man removed his armored chest plate, it too resting on the grass next to the green eye piece.
The two Fairy Tail mages waited until the blue haired mage was done. He clearly planned on getting serious but he didn't even remotely seem concerned with them. The fact he removed his scouter on both Gray and Natsu's mind. Without the threat of him reading them, Lucy knew they would really let loose.
"I'll take care of you both with this!" Shouted the blue haired man.
Without his armor to restrict view, Lucy could easily see the changes the man suddenly went through. His muscles rippling, his face stretching past the point that was normal. Two, massive pairs of fangs shot out of his now reptile like maw.
The claws he had shown off before were now far more pronounced and he used them in a burst of speed. Well, speed might have been the wrong word. He was far slower than he had been before but it was easy to see the intent behind the strike. He drove forward with nothing more than brute focus aiming his out stretched arm at Natsu's gut.
When Zarbon stomped the ground it caused a tremendous shake to hit the ground. It sent everyone in the area off balance at the unexpected show of force. The shaking allowed the much slower Zarbon a chance to get close to Natsu very nearly catching his side.
That was as far as he got however. Natsu was no stranger to a sneak attack. Lucy had seen countless members of Fairy Tail try something similar to the boy, so he easily recovered in time. The arm aiming for him sliding harmlessly by. Then surrounding himself in a sea of flames Natsu caught him in the chin with a strike of his own.
While strong it didn't do much against the hulking monster. The blow strong enough to whiplash Zarbon's head backwards but not draw blood. It did leave a nice burn though.
Five different sickles of ice suddenly shot forward. Again there was hardly a warning, just Lucy catching Gray slice his hands across the ground any sort of warning that Gray did a thing at all.
He was moving his own ice? Red eyes easily saw the scattered ice move, pattern along with Grays own movements. It was strange. Lucy didn't know that an ice make mage could create that kind of control over used creations.
While taking advantage of Zarbon's exposed flank it did little but lightly pierce the hardened flesh of the enemies flesh. Still though, Zarbon whirled back in a rage. His mouth opening in a combination of pain and furry.
Lucy almost wanted to shake her head in disappointment. It was just too easy. How anyone could forget about Natsu was beyond her.
A bright blast of fire erupted into the sky. It was blinding in its intensity. Almost shockingly so. It really looked like a star flickering out of existence. She didn't know what she was expecting. Perhaps his Dragons roar. Or really, anything that might burn Zarbon into dust but whatever was on Lucy's mind, she did not think Natsu would be extending fire from his elbow, propelling his fist like a battering ram into Zarbon's stomach.
"Fire Dragon's flaming elbow!"
A/N: So I'm back! Again thanks to everyone that has supported this fic with your reviews and follows. It's all very appreciated and I promise I won't give up on this. Obviously life slows down updates but that's unimportant. All that matters is that I've got several chapters ready to post.
Now with that out of the way lets get on to the story. I wanted to show Natsu and Gray off with this chapter along with a little bit of Lucy's evolving friendships. Next chapter will heavily favor our blonde along with a brutal fight(my opinion) that is pretty awesome. And to answer a few reviewers questions. No, this hasn't evolved into a full on cross over with DBZ but there will obviously be some more characters joining this arc. I really wanted to do something different from the norm and the villains in the anime just don't scream S-class level of dangerous. So please tell me what you guys thought, I'm enjoying the feed back. Read review follow! Out!
-RRR