Hello! What's up y'all? 4ever-a-fairy is back! It's been a long time again. I've been engaged in stuff again. Ok, so I'm going to start with replying to your reviews, which I haven't done in ages.
.98 – Aw~, you can't be serious! Thank you so much, I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for reviewing!
– I'm so glad you do! Sorry for making you wait for so long; here's the next chapter! Thanks for reviewing!
fairy lover – Hahaha, really? Well, I certainly didn't update soon, but… Thanks for reviewing!
DeathBerryHime – Nope, I guess they never will. Not until they go back on Earth anyway. You'll see what's going to happen in this chapter. Sorry, you guessed wrong. I'm sorry for your imagination also, but don't worry, you'll be alright. I… might've bought a voodoo doll, but… yeah, I didn't think it'd really work, you know what I'm saying? About Gray and Juvia, I could say I'm also happy for them, but I'm not sure how true that'd be. Thanks for reviewing!
Fairytailsfanshelly – Yay! I did. Thanks for reviewing!
Adelyna12 – Yup, they finally are! I also liked that part and I'm happy you liked it too. Thanks for reviewing!
Tawny – YAY! \(o_o)/ Thanks for reviewing!
Guest – hahahahahahaha! Your review really made my day. I'm soooooo glad you like it, it made me really really happy to read that. And also… I'm glad you wrote the story! *laughing and thinking how sweet the reader is* Thanks for reviewing!
Poison Flower - Wait, what? You… didn't understand that part maybe. Because no, Lucy didn't dump anyone. She loved Natsu and only Natsu, but Gray threatened her and forced her to marry him. He had played despicably and it turned out very shrewd, so it must've been really unnoticeable, especially for you. But no, please don't understand it the wrong way. Well, I'm sorry you hated that part. I hope you'll like the rest of the story, that if you would keep reading. I guess I can't help it if you found it annoying, so… I'm sorry.
lilpumpkingirl – yeah… you know the story.
…
I initially didn't want to share this with you guys, but I can't hold back anymore. I'm so MAD! I'm furious! I'm so disappointed because I have a retarded English teacher in high school and I cannot enjoy it as much as I did before! It's so much more difficult to get inspired with such a sucker as her! She makes thousands mistakes per word! And she thinks she's so good on top of it all! How could I ever improve my English with such a… thing as her?! And this is where you come in. I'm begging you with all my heart to tell me about the mistakes I'm making. Sure, there might be many small details that I make accidentally without realizing, but I really need help to fix the expressions or stuff like that that I'm messing.
That was one of the reasons I updated this late. Sorry.
P.S.- question: does lover only mean the person you're in love with or does it include… more… (about physical relationships)? 'Cause I'm afraid I might have used it in the wrong way in the past.
''Hold it, giants?'' Natsu moaned shocked just before the earth shook sending bunches of shivers in Lucy's body.
''Those things exist?'' she squealed crestfallen. And just when they had thought they had passed the danger… Natsu was all beaten up! How could they expect to fight a whole new war against giants?!
''They sure do, in this world.'' he replied with his face slowly grimacing.
The earth shook once more and a big head popped out in their view. A giant was approaching the capital and even though he was far away from them, they could clearly shape his huge figure trying to climb the gates. And then, something they could've never imagined before took the form of an army of a few hundreds of giants doing exactly like their leader. It was a frightening view.
''Natsu…'' Lucy whispered looking far away with a horrified expression.
''I know. I don't want to fight either.'' He looked at her. ''Let's get out of here. Let's not get involved in this. This is no longer our war. It never was, in the first place.''
She looked deeply in his eyes.
''And where should we go?''
He returned her gaze and his heart grew littler at the thought that, if he wasn't careful, he could lose her. He just wanted to make her a tiny little doll and put her in his heart, where he was assured she would be safe. At the same time, he saddened.
''I don't know.''
She hesitated.
''Did Lollipop leave? Did the portal… close?''
He threw a glimpse in the direction of the attack and then he answered.
''Why don't we go check it out?''
A wealthy woman – not from the royal family, obviously, but with big influence in the political world of The Frozen Roses – suddenly opened the main gates and escaped along with a huge amount of people. A few soldiers appeared beside her and helped her coordinate the leaving. They were all screaming with panic. Everything was a chaos. They were running in every direction, pushing and stepping on one another carelessly.
But they had season for that. Their king was dead and their queen was-
''-right there!'' the woman said pointing in the direction of Lucy. Hers and Natsu's eyes grew wide when they realized how stupid they had been not running away the moment they saw the gates opening.
''The Queen! She's right there! We found the Queen!'' the desperate yells could be heard everywhere.
Lucy's frozen body was brought back to reality in the moment she was shaken by Natsu's grip. He dragged her running without hesitation. She tripped a little, but then started gaining speed.
''No.'' she whimpered, little tears appearing in the corners of her eyes. ''No, why did it have to happen? Why now?''
Couldn't this world just leave them alone? She wiped the frustration out of her eyes with her dirty sleeve. Her aching feet were stepping fast on the grass. It was beginning to catch color in the mild rays of the morning sun. She thrust her neck and looked at the dawn forgetting for a moment about her suffering heart. It was such a beautiful sight; and it would have been so much more beautiful without the tension in the capital disturbing her happiness.
But there also was this fact which she wronged. By the time she realized what it was, she had already stopped running and fallen on her back, her wide eyes stuck on the giant figure in front of her. The tension wasn't only in the capital.
Natsu made the mistake to drop her hand. He stared at plump, disproportionate and huge body of the creature and a drop of sweat rolled down his temple. The giant took a step forward. It hadn't seemed to have noticed them. He spun his head and narrowed his eyes, looking as if it was searching for something. He held tighter the bat in his hand and mumbled a few incomprehensible words. A high-pitched voice coming from his top reached Natsu's eyes. It was screaming something like:
''Go forth! Enter the gates and de- No, you stupid creature! Go left! No, the other left! Where are you looking, you- Left! Do you know what left means?! N- Hey, I- S- Whoa, careful there!''
It seemed to be continuously cut off by the fast and sudden moves of the giant's head. Natsu squinted his eyes. There was something… on top of the thing…
And then he saw it. A bald little creature with grey beard, short arms and legs, big black boots and a yellow shirt under which a stuffed tummy popped out. It was holding a rope that was meant to serve as a rein for the giant. He couldn't see where it was connected to, but he couldn't care less either. He remained quiet and still, holding Lucy tight in his arms for protection. The giant eventually understood his commander's orders and began to walk towards the capital. His enormous shadow covered the two humans for a few moments when he prepared to step beyond them. His outworn shoe pressed the ground three feet away from them, the body's weight leaving a big spot of crushed grass and lowered level of earth.
They couldn't sigh with relief just yet. They had only just noticed that behind the first one, there was hiding an entire army of giants rode by the cocky dwarfs. Big creatures are sometimes expected to be stupid, but who would've thought that small ones could also lack intelligence?
''Let's go.'' Natsu announced. She looked at him and then at the rest of the creatures approaching them and the gates. ''Even though it'd be expected, it surprised me to see that they are attacking from more directions.''
And there could be seen, indeed, many other armies in the horizon approaching the one spot they were aiming for: the capital.
''Let's just get out of their way.'' Natsu continued, a little worry reflecting in his eyes.
''How could we? They can easily see us if we move.''
His eyes fell upon hers and remained so for a few quiet moments.
''Then let's hurry.''
He placed a knee on the ground and rose up. He then thrust his arm in her direction. Lucy took his hand and rose up hesitatingly as well. She glimpsed over to the army that was getting dangerously close.
''On my mark.'' Natsu mumbled looking straight at the giants. He squeezed her delicate hand with compassion and reassurance.
''Halt!'' a dwarf yelled and pointed a sharp glare towards them. The creature he was riding stopped confused and the ones behind him stumbled and bumped into his huge body. ''I see humans!'' he left a moment of silence waiting for reaction. ''What are you dumb creatures waiting for?! Catch them!''
Lucy flinched and started trembling. Natsu squeezed her hand tighter.
''Natsu…'' she started to panic.
''On my mark, Lucy. We're going into the thick forest. Your left.''
The giants started running, some of them going in the wrong direction while aiming trees that might've looked like humans from their point of view. No brains, just brutal force they were. But that brutal force could have meant danger to them. Lucy threw a glimpse at her left.
Natsu opened his mouth and screamed: ''GO!''
They jumped away, beginning a race of life and 'overriding'.
''Catch them!'' the dwarf yelled. ''Catch them at all cost!'' and then ''Faster!''
''We're soooooo gonna get squashed.'' Natsu laughed out of the blue. The girl threw him a surprised look. Their feet, flying like butterflies over the fallen trunks stepped before long on the rotten territory of Fallen Forest, the woods that marked the beginning of the Red Town. They would soon reach the same forest Natsu had tramped that night, and so, the lake.
''Westminster! Help us out here! We've got two lowly humans trying to escape our invasion!'' a dwarf called out to an ally from another side of the attack that was apparently closer than the two had esteemed. Natsu hurried his running and advised Lucy to do so too. They almost hit a bigger tree, stumbled upon a bunch of stones and got caught by a fat hand trying to reach out for their little bodies. The blonde squealed alarmed and dodged a shot of the same giant. They had no idea how the bunch had managed to get so close in such a short amount of time. And on top of it all, the bigger creatures were making all kinds of different sounds announcing their presence. It was most probably supposed to be their battling yells, but then again, we can't make assumptions on invalid truth (because they were perfectly able to simulate chickens in grave need).
''You silly Fotherson!'' the one called Westminster replied after a short while. ''How do you expect to be able to catch these two with an army of three hundred, all together rushing to the same spot?''
Lucy and Natsu shot their heads backwards at once. Three hundred heads with six hundred feet, filling seven times more area than a three-hundred army of humans were clearing the forest of trees while running at Lucy's and Natsu's heels. A shiver of surprise scared a yell out of them both and they began running extremely fast, so that they could barely hear the following words:
''Your dumb mates could easily crush them, you know! Refrain the giants before anything happens to them and they wouldn't be able to speak!''
The 'man and woman of the human race' looked at each other with sparkling eyes. A load off their shoulders, those words! They weren't going to crush them!
''There are many other humans able to talk, Westminster! We don't need two fugitives and we definitely don't need two extra humans since we'd like them gone that much!''
Lucy's face paled and Natsu's eyes widened. So they had had the intention to crush them after all?!
''Aw, sink your words, you barbarian!'' Westminster yelled harshly. ''Have you thought how useful for your reputation it could be if these two respectable people could hold the information we need and on top of it, you'd be one of the first it'd be given to? Think how the lord will look at you when you step forth with the key to our desire!''
The words had a strong impact on the one called Fotherson which brought phrases of blessings to the humans' lips for the kind dwarf.
''All rightie, then!'' Fotherson announced happily after a while. ''You sure hide a damn smart brain behind that ugly forehead of yours, Westminster! Imma' follow your advice and sprint even faster to catch the nasty humans so I can receive from the lord what I deserve!''
THAT'S NOT WHAT HE MEANT! Natsu and Lucy called out in their imagination while the reality brought them screaming again in the middle of that amazingly fast race.
''WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM US?!'' Natsu yelled desperately.
''He can talk!'' was the call of many shocked voices from the other dwarfs.
''Of course he can talk! Humans can talk, you fools!'' Fotherson yelled annoyed. At the same time, Westminster found it delightful to talk to the two little (they were of top of the giants, so don't be surprised that he considered them so) creatures.
''If you are willing to talk to us in normal conditions…'' he began. ''It would be wonderful.
''IF YOU ARE WILLING TO STOP RACING US TO DEATH!'' Lucy shouted with little tears from the wind and the desperation flew behind her.
''Fotherson! Stop your giant! The rest of you! Do the same!''
But in reality it took more than ten minutes for the situation to finally settle and for the giants to sit, panting, down. As for Natsu and Lucy, they fell down gasping for air as if they had been in water for hours. When safety – meaning 'no touching, no pushing, no smashing, no smelling' and 'no, Bob, humans aren't edible' – was assured, they could sit in the middle of the circle made of the little dwarfs, followed by the enormous giants without worry. They immediately began to represent the main attraction for the creatures, for most of them had never seen humans in their lives. They had heard about their strange, ridiculous appearance with small head, long arms and legs and, in the beautiful cases, thin body. But they were all listening quietly and filled with curiosity to the conversation between Westminster and the two, from time to time Fotherson popping out with short comments.
''So what information do you need from humans?''Natsu had started after catching his breath.
''In fact,'' Westminster began '' it is not generally humans we need information from. We had had the intention to get whatever we can from the first person that we meet, but since our question is most probably not going to bring any answers from you humans, we made the plan of taking hostages and force that information out of them. Each wing of the attack could take minimum one hostage; the more, the best. You had seen that the other armies already entered the capital and it wouldn't surprise me to find out that one of the wings had gotten a hold of the answer before any of us, from this army, even arrived in the sight of the capital's people.''
''Are you saying you lied to me and I can't be the first one to get the information?!'' Fotherson rounded on Westminster angrily.
''I'd appreciate, dear friend,'' the dwarf frowned ''if you'd let me finish what I have to say to these people.''
Fotherson backed up grumpily, mumbling his annoyance to no one.
''As I was saying, our wind was the last one to arrive.''
''But you weren't part of the group at first.'' Lucy said quietly with curiosity.
''True. I am a researcher and I came before the rest along with my giant to study the well-known vegetation of the capital, which you probably already know as being born from ice.''
''Yes, it was turned to ice by the prince. That's what I heard, at least.'' Lucy looked away trying to sound indifferent. It was safer to play neuter for the moment.
Natsu looked at her. She was sad and her heart was weighted down. That saddened him too.
''Indeed. So, as I was saying, we gathered this many for the purpose which I cannot yet tell you. Before we would reach our aim, we find ourselves in the need of an answer which cannot suffer any delay. That can only be answered by the people living in the Kingdom, and, more specifically, the people living in the capital.''
''So? Get to the point! What's the question?'' Natsu said.
''Well… We first need to be sure that you are able to answer our question. If you do not know the answer, it'll be alright, but-''
''Don't be a fool!'' Fotherson barged in ''If they don't know, it means they're hiding it from us, so we kill 'em!''
''Fotherson, you silly! Don't say such a thing! I know it's very important and it is only natural that, as the people of the country, they would be ready to protect the answer with their lives, and of course they'd try to hide the fact that they do know it with a lie, but we can never be sure, and it would be such a wicked thing to end somebody's life only with the thin foundation of a speculated truth while-''
''Shut your trap, you fool! Yea, it's natural I'd kill them and I don't care a thing about your opinion of the fact!''
''But Fotherson, think about it; how would you feel if-''
''What's the damn question?!'' Natsu yelled, shutting both of them. Their narrow eyes fixed him surprised.
After a while, Westminster finally spoke.
''We were trying to find out, if possible, if you would be kind enough to tell us the truth regarding the location of your king at present.''
Natsu and Lucy looked at him and remained quiet. The dwarf looked back at them reading the surprise in their eyes. The pause of silence confused him and the conclusion he drew was that they were hesitating to answer.
''They're trying to find a good lie, I'm telling yea'!'' Fotherson commented quietly throwing suspicious glares between them. ''They're gonna say they don't know and nobody's going to believe them! You'll see.''
''Y-You don't have to worry, my friends!''Westminster announced shaking his short hands in the air. ''I can assure you that no harm is intentioned towards your king!''
''My ass!''Fotherson barged in again. ''If I were there, I'd beat the crap out of him without hesitating!''
''No, you silly, the lord told us clearly that we are not to touch him out of the situation of a possible opposition, but that won't happen, because we didn't come to fight! Please, humans, don't misunderstand. You can count on me; I swear on my beard that-''
''That's not it.'' Natsu cut him off and the mood thickened. The two dwarfs looked up at him again and read the seriousness in his eyes. ''It seems that…'' he looked at Lucy, but the girl was looking with empty eyes in the distance. He didn't know why, but she wasn't angry and she couldn't chalk it up against Gray. She was just very sad about him.
The silence was heavy, and when she spoke, every dwarf and giant heard her clearly.
''He's dead.''
At first, the news brought an even heavier silence upon the ones present. Eyes widening, mouths dropping and hopes crushing. It was a total shock.
''What in the world…'' Fotherson commented shaken.
''What happened?'' Westminster asked.
Natsu hesitated and looked at the expressionless Lucy.
''We… don't know…''
And it was the truth. They knew about his condition before he died, and they had known he could still live well even after such a beat-up from Natsu. So the reason for his death was unknown.
''Nobody knows.''
No creature said anything else for another couple of moments.
''He didn't leave behind any heir to the throne, did he?'' a dwarf from the first round asked doubtfully.
Before Lucy or Natsu could answer, somebody from the fourth round answered instead.
''No, but I heard he only just got married last night. We could use the queen in his place!''
The enormous crowd started mumbling surprised with their hopes raised again. As for Lucy and Natsu, the words had struck them and panic began to slowly arise inside them.
''A Queen! But that's just wonderful! It's even better and we might even use her with her own will!'' another one exclaimed.
Lucy felt her fast beating heart whisper the sound of fear again. She looked at Natsu and they knew they were thinking the same thing.
They had to get out of there before anybody would suddenly say they know anything else about the queen. They couldn't be found out no matter what. The portal was in danger to close perhaps in that very moment so if they lost one more minute, Lucy could be found out and who knows how much more they would be forced to remain in this cursed world!
But suddenly, the circle of creatures looked so big and, even if they hardly managed to pass the dwarfs, they couldn't be able to escape the giants. They looked in every direction for a way out and they found none.
They were caught up in an unconsciously-made trap and time was running out! What should they do?
Ok, that definitely sounds like a manga chapter ending. Probably because I've read a LOT of manga lately. But that's not the reason why I haven't updated in ages! …. Ok maybe it is, along with others. So, if you consider this chapter being short, I'm sorry. It's true that I ended it kinda suddenly, but I can't help it, because otherwise it would've been way too long and I finally got the chance to write and I got advantage of that and I couldn't wait to update and so on. So I hope you enjoyed it! I wrote it with all my heart and I sincerely had fun while doing so.
And, for what I lost and for what's to come, I say:
Happy birthday me!/Happy birthday otaku's! ^W^ (same day hehehe)
Merry Christmas!/Happy birthday, Jesus!
Happy Birthday Adelyna13!
Happy New Year!/ Happy birthday (like, birthday) 2014!
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
P.S.-you can imagine just how much chocolate I had this December!
Bye bye! Love you all!