All rights to Hiro Mashima
~ Thirteenth ~
-Lucy-
We sit in our chairs, absolutely dumbstruck at our apparent luck.
"It's so pretty…" Meredy breaths. Her comment snaps us out of our current daze.
"Shit! Levy, Freed…get that inside Natsu as fast as possible!" Her and Freed absently nod their heads together and start whispering conspiratorially.
Master clears his throat. "Anything you would like to share with the class you two?"
Levy looks a touch sheepish. "Well…you see…"
"We need more time." This blunt answer comes from Freed himself who is cradling the lacrima in his hands reverently. "We need to check out the lacrima to make sure that it is in fact Natsu's magic. I would feel remise if we didn't thoroughly inspect it."
"Good idea. How dumb would we feel if we put it back into him and it turns out it wasn't his or if there was a curse or something put on it." Cana tips her head back to slurp down her beer in three gulps.
While Master and the researchers are occupied by the finer points of curse detection, I look around at Natsu. He still looks somewhat uneasy about all of this.
Glancing around and seeing that no one's gaze is directed at us, I tug him into a corner of the library where it is quiet. "Are you okay Natsu? I know this is so overwhelming, but if that is your magic over there wouldn't that be amazing?"
His eyes burn a bit brighter at that. "Yah, it would be amazing, but Luce, what if I forget all the memories that I have now? What if I turn into that other idiot who is apparently oblivious to everything?" He grabs my hands in a strong grip, like I was anchoring him to reality. "Don't get me wrong. I would love to feel complete again. But I hear how everyone talks about me, like I'm a complete idiot who doesn't know what sex and love is. I don't think I want to be that guy anymore. I know that I want more in my life."
I never thought about it like that. "Natsu…I don't know if you'll remember or forget what has happened since your magic was stolen. But you're my best friend. I miss the other you, we all do. Bouncing off the walls, crazy antics, lovable personality and all. Your memories and feelings make you who you are Natsu. I miss my best friend."
He smiles at me and pulls me into a very warm hug. I sigh and breathe in his spicy scent. "Please Luce. If I don't remember all of this time with you later, make me remember. Help me to be this guy again. In this situation you were the only thing that felt like home to me, all the other imprints were dull compared to yours. I know I'll regret it all, even if I don't remember…again."
Who am I to refuse my best friend?
Truthfully I don't want him to forget. We seem closer than we did before. I noticed it in the small things he does, like when he looks around for me in the hall and his eyes light up just a little bit more. Or the way he hooks his pinky with mine when he notices I'm stressed.
Ugh, the light brushes of his skin against mine, like he is trying to reassure himself that I'm still around.
It lights a fire deep in my bones.
"I promise you Natsu, I'll do everything I can for you, if you forget." I murmur into his shoulder. "And Natsu, if you don't forget, promise me something."
"Anything Luce." I take a deep breath.
"Don't stop whatever this is. Whatever we are doing, or wherever this is leader, just…keep going." I can feel him nod his head above mine.
"I promise you weirdo." I pull back from his hug to smile up at him to see his face echoing my sentiments. His megawatt smile out in full force.
"Come on, we need to hear the end of this. I would especially like to know if Bix and Thunder Thighs found out where Ivan is hiding." I grab his hand and re-enter the circle of our friends.
Just in time too it seems. "Ever, Bixslow and I searched close to Crocus and some of the outlying towns close to the capital for anything…iffy. But the only strange thing we heard about was when Sabretooth sent a team out for a monster hunting job a week ago, the team found all the beasts and the animals that live within a certain area of the forest already dead.
Crap! That reminds me! Smacking my head with my hand not currently entangled with Natsu's. "Gajeel! Did the moron you incapacitated specifically say they needed my magic? Or did they say Celestial magic in general?"
He looks at me funny. "Celestial magic in general. Why?"
"I don't know what their plan is, but my magic is now much rarer than even Dragon Slaying magic now that's to those idiots." I point at the Seis who have the good grace to not act affronted. Which gave me another lightbulb moment. "Angel, do you still practice celestial magic?"
She looks surprised that I would address her directly, but shakes her head. "No, I do not. After I lost my spirits, I gave up the practice to pursue other ways of becoming more angelic. But I don't think they would come after me. I was not well known, even when Karen was alive. I have broken so many promises that I wouldn't be able to perform the magic at all anyways."
"Ms. Lucy, is that truly how you're magic works? Off of your word alone?" I nod at Freed. He looks like he wants to ask a million more tiring questions but we just don't have time for that.
"Freed, I would love to hash out the nuances of my magic at a later date with you, but not right now, there is too much at stake." He looks like a kicked puppy.
So cute. No wonder Laxus can't resist him.
"We need to warn the other stellar mages just in case someone comes for them." I look at Master with pleading eyes.
Levy cocks her head to the left and looks over her book that she cracked open yet again. "Mages? As in plural? I thought Yukino was the only other one that we knew of in Fiore?"
"Ahh, uhm…I don't know if I can tell you the other one." I start to sweat as everyone gives me a very scrutinizing glance.
"Lu, please tell us, their lives and magic may be in danger!" Erza grips the pommel of her sword in a tight grip while simultaneously tightening her other hand, which is still connected to Gray's shoulder making him grimace and hiss at the pain.
I sigh. "This must never make it past this room, you hear?" They all nod. I trust my family and I trust Jellal's judgement because Erza trusts him.
"It's Princess Hisui. She's the other Celestial mage." I am prepared for the blow up but it never comes. The only people who look mildly surprised are the Seis. Natsu just looks lost…again.
"Oh yah. I totally forgot about her." Evergreen looks haughty as she examines her nails.
"Wait, what do you mean? You all knew?" Thank the Gods they all knew before hand, I didn't know if I was committing treason or something with that revelation.
"Yah Blondie. She opened the eclipse gate. Using the keys…please tell me you didn't think that we were all that dumb not to put two and two together. For Mavis' sake you and Yukino were the only people that could close the damn thing." Laxus looks proud at his deduction. If anything Freed looks even more proud than him if it's possible.
Everyone already knew. The weight on my chest feels much lighter.
"Alright then. We will need to contact Sabretooth and the palace to warn them both. Cana, make those calling cards, and add the Crime Sorciere to that pile as well. Wendy please inform Porlyusica that we are in possession of a lacrima filled to the brim with Natsu's magic. Levy and Freed, figure out if that is Natsu's magic, then put the damn thing back in him, he is too quiet and it's unnerving. Gray, please find some clothes and the rest of you take some jobs in town or close by, there has been a backup on the board since this…situation has started. Jellal, may I ask that Crime Sorciere be on the lookout for unusual happenings in Fiore, I know that with Cobra's talents this task would be infinitely easier than if we did it." Jellal nods his head in acceptance.
"All right you brats, get out of my hair. It's getting thinner by the minute having to deal with the likes of you." Master dismisses us with a wave of his tiny hand.
"Lucy, Natsu. I don't want you two going anywhere until that lacrima is safety in Natsu again. Help Mira at the bar if you need the jewels, I'm sure she would be glad for the help." He glances down at our connected hands and grins.
I tug Natsu out the door and throw a 'thank you' over my shoulder to appease Master.
Like I would go see the demon shipper anytime soon. Not before I figure out all these feeling swirling inside me. And definitely not before I get the old Natsu back.
I got so inspired by everyone's kind words that it spurred my desire to write a another chapter today! I felt like everyone could do with a little more Nalu fluff in their lives. Thank you to all the reviewers!
Zerophelia: Thank you for your kind words! It truly inspires me to write new chapters!
LisaLia11: I hope I didn't make you wait too long! I love it when readers are as eager for the next chapter as I am.
ThatOneFriend-3: Thank you so much! I love a little drama that cliff-hangers bring. I hope that this next chapter helps that curiosity of yours.
MarSofTheGalaxies: I hope this chapter was to your liking. I felt like everyone deserved a little Nalu fluff to be honest.
FairyRains: I am so glad this made you laugh! My ultimate goal is to make as many people smile as possible. And I agree, laughing no matter where you are is always worth it.
Usamaro: Thank you for the kind words and encouragement!
kratos1991: thank you for your input. I love Jerza, but I also love Erza crack pairings that go against the norm.