All rights to Hiro Mashima

~ Third ~

-Lucy-

"Alright Lucy, let's just start from the beginning shall we?" Master's voice sounded strained.

This whole situation was starting to freak me out. 'Why Natsu? Why his memories of all his friends and family? And what in Earthland happened to his teeth for Mavis sake. He just looks strange now.'

I glance at my pink-haired partner. He was different, that's for sure. There was no fire behind those bright eyes, his drive and conviction seemingly just… cut-off? Removed? Suppressed? I have so many damn questions running through my head.

"I'll start from this morning then, right before Mystogan came and knocked us out...again" Rolling my eyes, I begin my tale.

"I was standing at the request board, looking for a job to go on, you know…lots of fighting, a sprinkle of treasure hunting, somewhere far enough from civilization so that Natsu wouldn't burn down half a city block again like last week." Master nodded, a grimace on his face, his eyes shifting slightly to the stack of forms on his desk.

'Ah, well, the paper work and apology letters are to be expected.' What did Master think? That Natsu, Gray and Eeza would tone it down for the once in their life?

Not likely.

I peeked at Natsu from the corner of my eye. Usually, he seems somewhat bashful when we accuse him of going overboard with such things. He would scratch the back of his head and grin sheepishly at us while stammering excuses, then pick a fight with Gray over something stupid and destroy a part of the guild.

But nothing happened. He just stared straight ahead at Master's desk and… waited for me to continue with the story. 'I have never seen him so patient before.' Natsu not yelling and throwing fire around because he was "bored as the day is long" is just…not…right.

It's actually kinda creepy.

I look back at Master to see him frowning slightly giving the subdued Natsu a quick once over. He met my gaze and nodded slightly for me to go on.

"I found something good with a healthy reward, barring unnatural damage due to scorching, freezing, and slashing. Somewhere near Alcalypha. I was walking back to the table where Natsu was sitting and while I stood next to him I started to get really…sleepy. Obviously this was what Mystogan's spell was doing to us. Next thing I knew I was waking up next to Natsu and the others on the floor. Natsu was acting weird so I called Wendy and Levy. And you know the rest."

Master looked at me. "That's it?"

I looked down flushing slightly. "Well, yah, I don't remember anything else. I was asleep. Just seeing Mystogan's cape as he walked through the doors when he got here. I face facing the right way to catch a glimpse."

Master huffs and looks at Natsu. "Well boy, what do you remember? Anything at all?"

Natsu just shakes his head, eyes downcast. He speaks for the first time since we have been in Master's office. "I don't remember anything, no names or faces. It's all just…blank."

"Okay, it looks like we will just have to reintroduce you to Fairy Tail again until Porlyusica gets here to check you out. I'll let Lucy do that. You were closest to her anyways."

I look up at Master and flush slightly. "Well I don't know about that. What about Cana or even Mira? They've known him since they all were children, they grew up together."

Master gives me the 'are you serious?' look and rolls his eyes. "Yes Lucy, you're going to help him. He's your partner and therefore you've made some seriously deep connections over these past couple of years." He wiggles his eyebrows at me.

'Ugh, that lecherous old pervert.' Seriously, can't a guy and girl be partners and friends without all the romantic drama? Just friends. Best friends.

Just best friends.

"Alright, I'll do whatever I can Master." I eye him shrewdly. He nods and gestures at the door.

"You brats can go and wait in the infirmary now." I nod and grab my depressingly stoic partner by the hand and pull him through the door and back into the heart of the main hall.

'Thank Mavis Erza and Gray are on a mission for the council this week. I don't know how I would handle this situation with them here causing fights and asking millions of questions no one can answer. Although, I could do without a sobbing Juvia. Everything is just so damp around here, she's going to rot through the ceiling's support beams one of these days.'

As I push through another door on the left side of the main room, I let go of Natsu's hand, and the antiseptic smell assaults us from all sides. I grimace and turn to Natsu and point at one of the many beds in the room.

"Sorry Natsu, I know the smell is bad, especially for you, just bear with me for a while. You can just there on one of these beds for a bit until Porlyusica comes." He nods and climbs onto one. Then just looks at me.

'I hate this! He is so quiet and restful. I don't like it.'

Super double creepy.

"Why would the smell in here bother me? It just smells clean." My eyes widen at his words.

'Well that's not a good sign. He usually hates the infirmary claiming that it smells like death.' I sigh and rub my temples. "Never mind, it's really not a big deal right now."

I clap my hands together. "Where to start? I assume you have questions right?"

He nods. "Okay then, what do you want answered first?"

He contemplates his first question. "Who am I?"

I look him in the eyes, praying to see some spark of recognition as I tell him a shortened biography of himself. "You are Natsu Dragneel, also known as the Salamander of Fairy Tail. You're a fire dragon slayer and have been my partner for about two years, technically nine if you include the seven year time skip. You met me in Hargeon and brought me here to Fairy Tail, the wizard guild. You live with a blue Exceed named Happy."

I blanch. 'Ah crap. Happy!' Who's going to tell him that his pseudo father doesn't even remember him? 'Shit this is all so confusing.'

"What's an Exceed?" He asks. I can see he is genuinely curious. 'YES! A positive sign!'

"An Exceed is a flying, talking, annoying, magical cat. They came from Edolas when their magic was banished from their world. Long story, really. There are three here in Fairy Tail, and two more at Sabertooth, they all live with dragon slayers."

His eyes are as wide as saucers. "Talking, flying cats? Really?" I nod my head.

"Yah, you hatched one when you were a boy with your friend Lissanna and named him Happy. You go everywhere together. Ever since you brought be here to Fairy Tail we have been a team together along with an ice-wizard named Gray Fullbuster and a Requip mage named Erza Scarlet."

Quietly, I hear a whispered "Ice-princess."

I jump off the bed I've been sitting on, and get right into his personal space. To his credit, he didn't lean back or flinch. "What did you say? Where did you hear that name?"

He shrugs again. I almost groan. 'Gods, he's so nonchalant about all this. I would be freaking out if it was me.'

"I don't know, it just seemed like something I would say when I heard the name Gray." His face twisted into one of mild disgust. I can feel myself smiling.

"Is that a good or a bad thing?" He asks. "I can't tell really. That name makes me want to punch something." His smile is small when he looks back at me.

"It's a good thing, I think. At least there is something in that brain of yours. It's not all gone. Just like you knew that I always keep my promises." He looks thoughtfully at the white sheets of the bed across from him. "He's your 'rival' whatever that means. You both constantly fight and bicker like little kids until you've destroyed half the guild hall or Erza knocks you both out."

He looks a bit paler at that statement. "Okay, so my next question is, who are you?"

"Well, that's easier to explain. I'm Lucy Heartfillia, a celestial mage of Fairy Tail. My best girl friend is Levy McGarden, you met her before downstairs, and I'm writing a novel. I've been your partner and best friend since you brought me here. I am 20 years old and have contracts with 14 different celestial spirits, 10 of which are zodiac spirits."

I gasp and smack my head. "Of course! Why didn't I think of this sooner?" Natsu looks just as confused as ever across from me. 'Well, at least somethings don't change.'

I shuffle the keys hanging off my belt and grab a silver one.

"Open gate of the Southern Cross, Crux!"

A doorbell sounds, as always, and is accompanied by the elderly spirit whom I rely on for information and research purposes. He is floating above the ground, taking a nap…I think.

I hear a thump behind me. I turn my head and look at Natsu, who is now on the floor gaping at Crux like he is the weirdest thing he's ever seen. When I think about it, I guess it is the weirdest thing he's ever seen. "What the hell! He came out of nowhere!"

I chuckle as Natsu hops back onto the bed glancing warily at the slumbering Crux. "Sorry for not warning you Natsu, I did it without thinking how you would react."

"It's okay I guess, just took me by surprise." His face is a bit pinker than usual.

'Huh, he's actually cute when he blushes.' Good gods this isn't the time for that. I turn to my spirit instead.

"Natsu, meet Grampa Crux…err…again. He is the celestial spirit of the Southern Cross constellation. He helps me out with research sometimes, as he is a lot faster than most of us when finding hidden or lost information. He even gives Levy a run for her money and that's saying something."

"Cool, so you call on these…spirits…to help you do things?" I nod. He looks back at Crux. "Is he sleeping?"

I follow his gaze. "Well, I'm not entirely sure. Hey, Grampa Crux! Can you look something up for me?"

"Ah, Miss Lucy, nice to see you again. We haven't talked a lot after your seven year slumber." I smile at the cross.

"I'm sorry Grampa Crux, you know what it's like here at Fairy Tail. Always something happening here that requires a huge amount of attention. Anyway, you know of the situation with Natsu correct?" Crux hums in acknowledgement. "Okay, could you please look up if anything like this has ever happened before and get back to me? I know you'll need time since this situation is just so vague."

"Of course Miss Lucy, consider it done." He poofs away in a flash of golden light and flashy sparkles.

'A bit ostentatious, as always.' I shake my head in amusement. My spirits are so strange. Did he really need the sparkles?

Natsu is staring wide eyed at the spot that previously held Crux. "Huh. That was…weird."

I smile brightly at his word choice. 'Ah, the nostalgia.'

"There you go Natsu that was one of my celestial spirits. I have contracts with them that I try to uphold to the best of my abilities. It's why I don't take promises lightly. My magic power hinges on my ability to keep my word."

Smiling back at me, he nods. "Lucy… what magic do I have?"

"Oh, you have fire dragon slayer magic."

"Yes, but what does that mean? Do I actually go around killing dragons?"

I think back to the first time I met Natsu and Happy. How did that flying cat put the description of Natsu's power again? "You possess an ancient magic that allows you to breathe, eat, and live in your element; fire. You can never be burned, and any fire you eat will boost your power, but you can't eat any fire that you produce yourself. It was handed down from dragons over the years."

"Woah, then how did I learn this 'dragon slaying magic'?"

"Well your father taught it to you." I fiddled with the sheet under my legs. I knew what his next question was going to be.

"Who's my father?" I sigh. I knew it.

"The fire dragon king, Igneel."

Natsu looks stunned for all of two seconds before he burst out into a fit of laughter. "What! Seriously? My father was a dragon?" I nod. I didn't really expect this reaction from him, indignation maybe, but not mirth.

Unfortunately, Natsu was laughing so hard he fell off of the end of the bed again just as the door swung open bringing in three people, one of which stares down at him on the floor, fury glowing in her red eyes.

"What in Earthland are you doing down there you stupid human?! Are you the reason I had to come back here agian?"

'Well shit,' I thought. 'Porlyusica's here.'