All Rights to Hiro Mashima

This chapter is dedicated to RedPandaPaws who added stolen to its second community, thank you so much!

Chapter 7: Citrine

Also known as the success stone, brings good fortune and an abundance of joy in unexpected ways

Month One

After staunchly refusing to take any sort of transportation other than his wings, Natsu and his cat companion had finally arrived in Domus. It had taken three days to get there, and the Dragon was dying for some delicious food that he didn't have to hunt for, and a bed that wasn't the hard ground or the bough of a tree.

King Makarov, the tiny and wise ruler of Domus opened his castle to the young Prince, even though he thought that Natsu was much too young to be out on his own just wandering around the country to find his missing father. When he voiced his opinion, all he got was stony silence and hard onyx eyes that burned with emotions no ten year old should ever have. So the old King gave up trying to convince Natsu to go home and told him all he knew.

"Natsu my boy, listen clos- stop lighting things on fire! Holy Gods above, sit still you ungrateful brat and I'll tell you about Igneel. About a month ago, the King and his friends Grandeeney, Skiadrum, Weisslogia, and Metalicanna passed through Domus on their way to the Worth Woodea, the giant forest just outside of the border that connects Domus with the neighbouring kingdom of Nix. They were going to hunt the legendary white stag that was spotted there recently, the one that was said to grant a wish if caught. Although I don't believe that they really thought the rumour true, it was supposed to be a getaway as friends, they hadn't spent much time together in the past few years you see."

Makarov's grandson, Prince Laxus, sneered down at the boy. "Your dad got lost kid. There's no point looking for him now, he's gone. You'd be better off just going back to Ignis than trying to find someone that essentially abandoned you."

Naturally, Natsu disregarded the jibe from Laxus. He knew that the lightning mage was bitter about his own father's treason and was jaded when it came to parental figures. "So…you're telling me that Igneel went on a vacation in the Worth Woodsea a month ago with his friends and got lost? That makes no sense! He's a Fire Dragon, our senses are the best, so he should have just smell his way out of that place."

Shrugging his shoulders in a rare display of confusion, Makarov lit a long pipe filled with pungent herbs. "I couldn't tell you either way, but you most likely will want to visit with Silver and Ur, Igneel mentioned in passing that when they were travelling through Nix that they would stop for a couple days at the Ice Palace."

Natsu groaned. He really didn't want to see that stupid stripper.

Month Two

The newly appointed young King rushed to his love's side, he didn't want to leave her in the first place, but he had to gather his council and conduct Royal business, which he thought was completely pointless. He never wanted the throne. All he wanted was to work with Mavis and love her forever, if she would have him. But that accident changed everything.

He ground his teeth at the memory of the pompous jack asses that had tried to assert their power by intimidation. If he was anyone else, he might have cowered and bent to their whims, but he was Zeref Dragneel. The King of Ignis, and he would act like a ruler if that is what his people wanted.

They had warned him that his experiments that had brought him unimaginable power – all for Mavis of course – were frowned upon. He argued with them, and ultimately vetoed anything they had to say seeing as he was the ruler now.

They didn't quite know the extent of what he had done, messing with the order of life and death to such a degree that he had circumvented the Angel of Death. If only they knew that there would be no other ruler of Ignis now, they were essentially stuck with Zeref for millennia to come.

Yes, what he had done was unorthodox, to say the least, but it had been worth it because it had worked. Recently he had gone through three separate tests and the conclusion from all of them was the same.

He was immortal.

He couldn't die.

Which meant that if could do it to himself, then he could make Mavis immortal as well. She wouldn't ever leave him then.

"Mavis! Darling! I've done it! It works." He held her cold hand in one of his own and whispered his plans to her as if she was still able to hear such things. "I'll come back when the healers are out, and I'll take you away from this wretched place. I'll make you just like me, and then we will be married, Mavis. You'll be my Queen, forever."

Month Three

"Move your legs! Now Block…Parry…stagger your feet Princess, or else you'll be knocked over…Yes! Again Princess."

This was her life now, the art of swordplay, archery, and strangely enough, whips. One of her more peculiar spirits – Virgo – had felt that a mid-range weapon that was rarely used would be just the right thing for the young Princess, seeing as her hand to hand combat wasn't up to snuff yet. She was just too young, and he muscles too undeveloped for her elbows and fists to do much damage to anyone. The Colonel complimented her on her kicks, though, they at least could knock a grown man to the ground if Lucy put enough power behind them.

Lucy felt that Virgo just liked the idea of her 'punishing' someone with the spirit's own equipment if the chains around her wrists were any indication. 'Whatever cracks your whip' was a familiar phrase now when dealing with the peculiar fuchsia haired maiden.

After she had missed that one breakfast months ago due to her oversleeping, Lucy had decided to conduct an experiment of sorts with the subject being her father. Or rather, whether or not her father would realise that she had stopped joining him for the morning meal. In the past, he had been adamant that she had been there, so they could discuss the upcoming day as a family and enjoy each other's stories and company as they ate. They had been lively and full of fun. After her mother had gotten worse, Jude had all but become mute unless Lucy initiated the conversation, but more often than not, the only sounds heard were utensils clattering against china.

It had been eighty-two days, and the King had yet to comment on her lack of attendance, but she was fine with that. Instead, Lucy had snuck downstairs and spent her time among the serving staff and chefs – her favourite being the head chef, Aed – and ate a hearty meal of oatmeal, fruits and nuts. Sometimes, if there were a special occasion, Aed would sneak her a lemon tart as a treat.

The Colonel had become her confidant, the one that she spoke to most often and about everything in her life. In turn, the older man had let slip snippets of gossip that bubbled up from the knights and mages under his command. This was how she learned that Natsu had reached Domus safely and he was off to the snowy Kingdom of Nix and still seemed to be in high spirits.

He was supposed to be back now. Natsu was supposed to be back here with her so that she could test her new moves on him with her whip. Her best friends said they would come back and tell her their adventures, but, she knew that Natsu would go to the ends of the earth and drag Igneel back by his oddly scaled scarf if need be.

She would just have to be patient and wait for the day they were reunited.

At least she knew that her best friends were alive and well, even if it was in a roundabout way and months after the fact.

"…Alright, Miss Lucy. Please call forth Leo. It's time for our combat session, then we will break for the day. Tomorrow you will work with Sagittarius and the Bow Master. I've heard that they have a new kind of arrow for you to use."

Lucy was ecstatic. The young girl had quickly become attached to the proper horse costumed spirit who called her 'My Lady.' They had a shared love for archery and could talk for hours about the finer points of drawstrings.

Her happiness was cut short as the Colonel had curled his hands into fists. "We must hurry Miss Lucy. You have your arithmetic lesson in two hours."

Lucy grimaced. She really hated her Princess lessons.

Month Four

"Stupid Stripper!"

"Fire Freak!"

"Droopy-eyed Ice Princess"

"Idiot Flame Brain"

Natsu seethed with barely contained frustration. He didn't have time to exchange the usual pleasantries with Gray Fullbuster, but that Icicle could really get under his scales. All he wanted was to find Igneel, kick his butt for getting lost in a stupid forest, drag him back to their home, eat a gigantic meal complete with flaming meats, and then get back to Lucy. He knew that he was months overdue, but it wasn't really his fault. He didn't think that finding his father would turn into a weird twisted treasure hunt. Maybe he should send a letter…just to reassure Lucy that he was indeed alright.

Happy diligently rooted for his best friend from his perch on top of Natsu's pink curls until a booming voice interrupted the warring Princes. Silver Fullbuster, King of Nix, had always been a loud person and that was saying something. Natsu lived with a Dragon that was prone to roaring whenever the Prince burned down a part of the castle.

"Natsu my boy! Welcome! How are you finding the country of Nix?"

If Silver was looking for praise for his fine lands, he wouldn't find it in the Fire Dragon Slayer who absolutely hated the cold, more than he hated eating spinach.

"It's cold." The small Prince was never one to mince words or be overly polite.

Slightly disheartened, the King just rolled his eyes. "Like father like son I suppose. At least you both are honest."

This perked Natsu right up, giving him a boost of confidence and energy. He clutched the dragon pendant in his hand, hoping that the stone would give him strength just like Lucy said it would. "You saw Igneel right? Before he went hunting?"

A lighter voice answered him. The Queen of Nix, the second wife of Silver Fullbuster, Ur, was as feisty as they came, extremely witty and had an odd problem of losing her clothes while performing her magic. The first Queen, Mika, had died tragically after giving birth to her second son, Gray. She had never known her sons, but had been a gracious woman. Ur on the other hand loved both Lyon and Gray as her own and they in turn loved her. She had passed this down this particular trait to only one of her two step sons. Lyon seemed to maintain the ability to keep his coverings firmly in place during battles. The same couldn't be said for Gray, who even at this point had already lost his tunic and trousers. Her daughter Ultear, never contracted the strange stripping disease as she used Time Arc Magic and didn't need to train in the elements. "Yes, we saw him and his friends. They stayed with us for just three days before venturing out into the Worth Woodsea. Gray, your clothes darling."

"Shit, when did this happen!"

"Language Gray Fullbuster! Don't make me wash your mouth out with soap again!"

The King disregarded his quarrelling family, after all, it was a common occurrence. "Stay with us for a couple days Natsu, rest and recuperate, then if you so choose, go forth into the forest. A word of caution before you decide, though, there are rumours of a witch that lives deep within the Woodsea. A vicious, vile woman who hates all humans and mages alike. Igneel may have met her on his travels. She may speak to you, or she may not…depending on her mood." Silver nodded gravely.

Natsu already knew he would 'venture forth' or whatever and search for his father no question. He would find the witch and see what she knew. He wanted to head out right away, but knew that he wouldn't mind a couple nights of good rest, though, so he thanked his gracious hosts and let a servant lead him to a guest suite with a half-naked pervert trailing along behind him.

"Silver, you know that Porlyusica isn't a witch. She's a healer and a damn good one at that. Why would you send Natsu away with false information?"

"Because it's more fun this way."

Month Five

In the dead of night, a shadow snuck into the intensive long care unit of the hospital. It stole around corners and slunk though the hallways, intent on its path towards a particular room.

Room three hundred and sixteen, where an almost brain dead patient lay completely unaware of the plans of the shadow that gazed at her reverently.

"Mavis, love, its time. Don't worry, everything will be fine now."

King Zeref placed both of his palms face down on the floor of the room and channeled all of his magic into his hands. A gigantic pitch black magic circle engulfed the room and the air shimmered with barely contained power.

He muttered a string of words from a long forgotten language that had been lost to the ages. He worked for hours, rewriting the fate of one Mavis Vermillion. The young woman was supposed to die, and soon. It was the natural way of the world and Zeref was messing with the balance of life and death.

There would be consequences. But he was so intent on his purpose that he wasn't thinking clearly. The only thing in his life that mattered was bring Mavis back from the brink and spend the rest of eternity together.

The King's eyes were screwed shut due to the effort that was needed to complete the spell. He had passed out last time, but he was stronger now and knew that he would be winded after but perfectly alright.

Zeref never saw the deadly aura that surrounded the two bodies in the room, never even contemplated what it meant.

As Mavis' eyes shot open and she took her first breath by herself in months, a ring of black energy exploded out and consumed everything living within fifty meters.

The black haired man only had eyes for his living, breathing love, tears of joy bursting forth from his eyes, trailing down his face. He kissed her head as she fell into a dreamless sleep, silently vowing to come back for her later that day. "I love you Mavis."

He never knew that his actions that day killed seventeen innocent people who were asleep in their beds.

Month Six

Today was a strange day for Lucy.

It was the day after her eighth birthday and her father had called for her to meet him in his office. She had tried to pull any sort of information out of the servant that came for her, but to no avail. The mystery surrounding her summons remained intact.

She honestly couldn't remember the last time she had actually spoken with Jude, and that knowledge saddened her greatly.

What happened to her loving and happy Papa that used to laugh and dance with her in the grass of the grounds? What happened to the man that was supposed to protect and shield her from all the despicable things of the world?

Lucy knew that she was being forced to grow up too quickly, her childhood had essentially been ruined by the man she was about to see for the first time in months. The only happiness she had felt in the last year and a half had come from her adventures with Natsu and Happy.

She would be forever grateful to Natsu in particular for finding her that day.

The servant she was following knocked quickly on the grand doors of the King's study. "Your Grace, I have brought Miss Lucy as you requested."

A single grunt was heard as acceptance. The blonde was pushed through the doors and it was shut quickly behind her, trapping her in the giant room with the cold King.

She glanced towards her father's desk and her breath stalled in her throat. She was actually surprised that the King hadn't found out about her training before this. It seems like her good fortune ran out.

The sword that Natsu had made her laid there, gleaming in the dim light.

"Ah yes. Princess…do you mind telling me what this is?" He sneered he words at her and gestured towards the weapon as if it was the vilest thing he had ever seen.

She swallowed her fighting instinct and answered as truthfully as she could. She must keep her friendship with Natsu a secret for as long as possible. If this was the way he reacted to a sword then what would he think about her having a best friend? "It's a sword sir."

The King's eyes flashed with rage. "I know that, you useless girl. I meant, what is it doing on my grounds? More specifically, what is it doing in your possession?"

"It is my sword. I have been practicing with it to be able to help defend my Kingdom if need be." It seemed that her answer hadn't been the one he was expecting. He probably thought that she had been messing around with it for fun.

"Despicable. You are a Princess, a woman. You were never meant to learn the war arts, nor where you supposed to even know how to handle a sword. You are only good for marrying a man and ensuring the like of Altaris will continue on by giving me an heir."

Lucy bowed her head to shield the disgust in her eyes. She hated that he only thought of her as a possession to sell off when she was of marriage age. She wasn't an object! Lucy had her own dreams and her own desires. "I refuse to be a weak Princess who sits on the sidelines and sends her innocent subjects into a battle that she wouldn't fight herself! My heart desires that I ensure that my Kingdom is protected! Mother told me that I should follow my heart, what is so wrong with doing that?"

Immediately, she knew that she had made a dire mistake by mentioning Layla in his presence.

A smack rent the air.

The little Princess clutched her stinging cheek as anger tears prickled at the corners of her blazing brown eyes.

"Learn your place! You will not continue with this foolishness. I want you to give up the name of the person who was training you."

She stood stoically in the room, refusing to open her mouth. She knew that the next words would be rude and unkind, so she chose to remain silent, else her big mouth might get others in trouble. She would never give up the Colonel. It was a stroke of good luck that the person who had ratted her out didn't know that she was getting lessons from him and the Bow Master. They would be safe.

"No? Well then, your punishment for your silence will be more severe. You are banned from leaving this castle, the grounds are off limits to you. You will stay in your room unless you are at your lessons. You will be escorted everywhere and if you try to escape, I will chain you there. If you would like to leave your suite, you must give up your teacher."

Again, she stayed entirely silent, not moving a muscle.

"Tch, stupid girl. Get out of my sight. Guards! Take her to her room and observe her. She isn't to leave under any circumstances. Get in touch with Governor Justine from Domus and ask him to come as soon as possible. I want runes around her suite to prevent her escape."

They turned to leave, but the King held up a single hand and smirked. "Almost forgot, how silly of me. Guards, strip her of her keys."

Her belt was wrenched off her hips, her pouch handed towards the cold hearted man standing behind the desk. "Leave now."

Numbly, Lucy realised that the man before her was no longer her father, but a stranger that wore his skin. She was ashamed to be related to him. Her mind whirled trying to shield her from the overwhelming pain that was sure to come. She was utterly and entirely alone now.

She jolted when she realised something. Lucy knew she should have seen this inevitability coming, but she had refused to see the cruel man that Jude had become.

After all, when was the last time he had called her by her name?

Month Seven

She had finally come home, back to him.

The healers had called it a miracle, but he knew better. He knew it was his new magic that coursed through her veins that woke her up.

Mavis was like him now, unable to die, able to live many lifetimes by his side.

They wouldn't age, but that wasn't a problem for him. She looked as beautiful to him as the day he first saw her, all those years ago. Her mind was still intact and her mouth still as sharp as he remembered.

Gods he had missed her.

Mavis was with him now, and nothing would ever take her away. Zeref wouldn't allow that to happen.

Month Eight

"Filthy human! I'm not a witch! I'm a healer! Ungrateful savage. I heal your wound and this is how you repay me? By calling me a damn witch!?"

Natsu was admittedly bewildered as a broom whizzed over his head. If nothing else, Polyusica the not-witch-healer-whatever had good aim and an ever better throwing arm. He had gotten into a tousle with a forest boar and one of its tusks had almost ripped his jugular out. Fortunately, the healer had been collecting mushrooms near him at the time and heard his exclamations of pain.

"What do you want brat? Speak, then get off my land, you're tainting its purity."

The young Prince found his voice. "I was told that my father, King Igneel of Ignis might have passed by here on his way to hunt the white stag. He was with four of his close friends. They are all full Dragons."

The pink haired old woman squints down at the boy. "Tall man, scar on his face, unruly red hair, extremely loud?"

His ears perk up as he recognizes his father's description. "Yes! Have you seen him?"

"Briefly. We crossed paths a month ago when his group stumbled upon my home. They harvested an apple each from my tree then left to the east into the heart of the Woodsea."

"That's it?"

"Yes. Are you going after him?"

"Of course."

The aged healer nods in acceptance, neither encouraging him nor giving her own opinion on the matter. "A word of caution young Prince, the Worth Woodsea is dense and immensely large. It has swallowed up many who would try to pry its secrets out."

"I can't give up. He's all I have."

She scrutinizes his expression. "What is your name child?"

"Natsu Dragneel."

Porlyusica pulls out a wrapped package from inside her cabin and thrusts it into his hands. "He left this here for you. It seems that he knew that you would come for him. It also looks like he knew he was leaving." With those parting words, her wooden door snaps shut and silence reigns on her porch.

Natsu gingerly opens the wrappings, as it the present could combust at any given moment.

He pulls out a white scaly scarf, the same one that his father usually had draped around his shoulders at all times of the day and night.

He pulls the material through his fingers, circling it around his neck, hiding his new scar.

For the first time in months, he allowed himself to cry, clutching his arms to his middle feeling like if he let go he would fall apart into nothing.

Month Nine

Awaken.

Dress.

Eat breakfast in stony silence with a glowering King.

Fake understanding in her lessons.

Change clothing.

Eat dinner in stony silence with a glowering King.

Undress.

Stare at the stars.

Sleep.

Repeat.

Month Ten

Natsu had searched for a single sign of Igneel and his friends for a whole month to no avail. So, with Happy by his side, he started his journey back out of the Worth Woodsea, back towards his home. It won't take him as many months this time, seeing as he doesn't have to visit the Fullbusters again, or go to Domus, but he's decided that as soon as he's out of the forest, he'll walk the rest of the way.

Maybe train a bit with his magic, as best he can. He has many things to think about.

Month Eleven

"What have you done to me Zeref? Explain this…whatever it is?"

This turn of events was not was he was expecting. The new King thought that his love would be grateful for the fact that he saved her life and could spend eternity by his side.

But it seems that fate had dealt him another blow.

"Mavis, love, you're like me now. Immortal. We will never die and we will be together until time runs out."

The young blonde woman stares incredulously at her best friend, her voice barely above a whisper. "I never asked for this. I would have rather died Zeref. It is the way of the world! You've…you have tampered with life and death! The consequences are too great, look at the destruction we have wrought!"

Bodies, strewn every which way, drained of their life force by the death magic.

What Zeref thought was a gift of longevity, was in turn a curse. The Gods didn't take too kindly to mortals who would deem them above the deities. Ankhseram, the God of Death, turned Zeref's good fortune in on itself and twisted his intentions beyond belief.

The more they cared.

The more they killed.

However, neither of them knew of this stipulation.

Zeref gathered the weeping blonde into his arms, gently holding her to his chest. He loved this woman above anything else in the world. He tilted her head up to meet his and kissed her tenderly, trying to pour every feeling he had ever had into the embrace.

His love for her turned into black magic so potent that even though Mavis was immortal as well, her life was stripped from her body before either knew what was happening.

As he looked upon Mavis' still features, something in his mind shattered and rage took the place of love, bitterness replaced kindness. The King had gone mad with his grief.

He vowed to do everything possible to bring Mavis back from the dead. He would need to start immediately.

Month Twelve

Lucy hadn't spoken a single word in almost five and a half months. She had no real need to anyways. Jude seemed to tolerate her presence more when she was completely mute.

Her boredom grew, so in secret, she began to write out her adventures that she had had with Natsu, to keep the idea alive that he would come back for her one day. That she would be able to see him again, her best friend with his pink hair and toothy smile.

He promised he would come back, so he would. Lucy had no doubts what so ever about that, she just doesn't know when.

It was almost a year to the day he had left when Natsu touched back down on the landing of Lucy's room. The double doors were wide open and he could see his Lucy, his best friend, bent over sheets and sheets of parchment, scribbling away as if her life depended on it.

He sprang quickly over to the doorway and was surprised when a purple barrier filled with unfamiliar words and characters prevented him from giving his best friend a gigantic hug that was long overdue.

He was thrown forcefully onto the stones of the veranda. "Ouch! Dammit!"

And there she was, Lucy, the girl he had missed every day for the past year, looking at him as if he was a stranger to her.

"…Natsu?" Her voice sounded so broken and unused. He could see that she had lost weight, her extremities were spindly where before she was gaining useful muscles from training.

"Luce! I'm back! I have so much to tell you!" He placed a hand onto the barrier that was keeping him away from her. "What is this thing? Why can't I get into your room?"

Lucy looked at him with an expression rife with pain and sadness. She held up her own hand and mirrored his actions, her small fingers splaying against the purple runes. "Natsu? Are you really here? This isn't a dream?"

She sounded so hopeful and heartbroken all at once. "Yeah it's me Luce. I promised I would come back didn't I? Happy and I both missed you so much. He's at home though, the journey took its toll on him. He's still really young."

"Oh Natsu! I missed you so much! I've been so lonely without anyone to talk to!" Lucy suddenly swung out with her other hand and hit the invisible wall between them. "This is called a rune barrier. My father had it put up as my punishment when he found the sword you made me for my birthday. I wouldn't rat out my trainer, so he has basically kept me in my room. When I do leave I'm surrounded by guards." She spat the words out as if they were poison in her mouth.

She looked up at him with those big brown eyes of hers. Natsu's stomach flip flopped and he couldn't take a deep breath. "It's a gilded prison, Natsu. I feel like a prisoner."

"How long?" He choked the words out past the lump in his throat.

"Six months."

He hissed in anger. Her father had kept her locked up for that long? What kind of man does that to his only daughter?

"Your spirits?"

"He took them."

What a despicable man.

Lucy toyed with the hem of her dress. "Did you find Igneel?"

"No."

She didn't push the issue, for that he was grateful. Lucy always knew just what he needed.

They sat in silence for most of the night, on opposite sides of the accursed barrier, until Lucy finally let the tears she had been holding in for half a year fall down her face.

And Natsu, all he could do was watch and wish with all his heart that he could hold his best friend as she fell to pieces.