Lucy sat on her bed, and stared at the faces of her friends currently scattered about her room. Juvia sat in her desk chair while Gray sat on her desk; thankfully he still had pants on, though his shirt was missing. Erza stood in the corner by the door, her arms folded across her armored chest, and her hair covered her left eye. Natsu was sitting in the window, the breeze teasing his hair and scarf. Loke was also here with Crux, they stood right at the foot of her bed; all of them wore a serious expression as they stared at the bronze key laying at the foot of her bed.
It was originally her house key, a simple key with the sole purpose of unlocking her front door. Now it was long, and the length was carved to look like a dragon. The broad end was carved to look like flames.
Natsu's summoning key.
"Lucy, now that we are all gathered, would you kindly explain what happened?" Erza said as she stepped away from the wall she was leaning against.
"Well," Lucy put her hand on her cheek as she started her story, "I was low on magic, and knew that at any moment Juvia would be running out of magic." Juvia nodded a confirmation as Erza glanced her way. "I decided to try a drastic measure, and use my blood to summon a Celestial Spirit." Everyone in the room gasped except Loke and Crux. Crux gave an understanding nod as Loke gave a scowl. "I must have grabbed my house key instead of a Golden Gate Key, and called for Natsu, after that I passed out." Lucy looked around the room and her eyes settled on Natsu, who gave her a reassuring smile. It calmed Lucy down greatly.
"Natsu what happened to you?" Erza then turned towards Natsu, as did every one. He wasn't different in anyway physically or mentally, except his clothes. Gone was his black vest, now replaced by a red shirt with black seams and edges. It had the same scale texture as his scarf. His pants were in the same style, but now golden. He gave a toothy grin and rubbed the back of his head.
"Well I was done beating up that Bark Moss Guy and was looking for any of you guys," Everyone gave a sweat drop as Natsu already forgot the guilds name, "And suddenly I was engulfed in light. I appeared in front of two more of those Brain Cast guys and thought it was some dark spell, so I kicked their asses!" Natsu grabbed his arm as he made a fist. Erza released a sigh and turned back to Lucy.
"So really, no new information." Erza asked. "Well, what is the problem with what happened to Natsu?" she still didn't understand Lucy's concern with what happened during the mission.
"Erza, I turned Natsu into a Celestial Spirit!" Lucy grabbed the key and waved it in the air. "Right?" She looked at Crux and Loke expectantly.
After she had regained her consciousness, she found that the enemy had successfully been defeated, and in fact, The team had collected their reward and was ridding a train home. Lucy was glad that her last minute plan had worked, but was confused as Juvia explained what had happened.
"Juvia was very concerned as that magical blast had hit you, Lucy-san, but I was very preoccupied keeping the other mage at bay. Juvia was very relieved when Natsu suddenly appeared and took out the mage that attacked you." Juvia smiled and then leaned on Gray, "Then my Precious Gray-sama came to rescue me, his princess in peril!" Gray gave a sigh as he gently loosened Juvia's tight hold on him before slinging his arm around her.
"So my summoning didn't work" Lucy began to reach into her key pouch.
"Juvia didn't see any of Lucy-san's spirits," Juvia said.
Lucy had finally grabbed onto her key pouch and brought it up to look inside. Twelve Gold Keys, Five Silver Keys, One Black Key, and One Bronze Key, Everything looked in order.
"Wha!" Lucy suddenly exclaimed pulling out the bronze key, "What's this Bronze Key!?" Lucy turned the key in her hands as everyone now had their eyes on her.
"Well summon it, Lucy." Erza said. She sat across the aisle with Natsu sickly lying on the other bench.
"I am linked to the path to the world of Celestial Spirits, now! O spirit, answer my call and pass through the gate!" Lucy weakly held the key above her head, afraid of what might appear. "I Summon thee!"
A Bright Red Magical circle appeared on the middle aisle, and Natsu suddenly was shrouded in light, before appearing. He stood in the circle with a shocked Expression on his face before promptly falling over with a nauseous look on his face.
The four other mages all gave a gasp and looked at Lucy, who in turn was staring dumbly at the key held in her hand.
"I-It summons N-Natsu?!" Lucy asked in complete shock.
And so, The mages, after arriving in Magnolia, immediately headed for Lucy's house to Further discuss this matter.
"I mean now Natsu will live forever, have to travel back and forth between here and the Celestial Spirit Realm, and forever be weakened by staying too long here on Earth Land!" Lucy was pacing back and forth, unable to calm down knowing that she cursed Natsu to forever be a Celestial Spirit.
"What's the problem with that Luce?" Natsu gave a toothy Grin, "All that stuff sounds cool, well except that whole getting weak part. Besides, Now have all eternity to become the strongest mage ever!" It was just like Natsu to see the brightest side of this situation. Lucy promptly gave him a Lucy Kick for his stupidity and stormed over to Loke.
"Please tell me you two understand the severity of this situation" Lucy pleaded to the two spirits she had summoned. Loke The Celestial Lion, and Crux The Southern Cross were easily the two most knowledgeable people in all the Celestial Spirit World, and Lucy knew that if anyone had any sort of information on this it would be one of these two.
"Calm down Lucy," Loke put his hand on Lucy's shoulder and gently sat her on her bed. "We don't know if Natsu is really a Celestial Spirit yet." Loke walked over to Natsu, who sat rubbing the bump now forming on his head. "Natsu, Do you feel heavy, or some pull on your magical force?"
"Not really Loke," Natsu tilted, "But I am kind of hungry!" Natsu gave a wide grin and a smile. Loke sighed and turned back to Lucy.
"Well according to you, he's been summoned for more than two hours, and after one hour is when I start to feel the strain." Loke looked back at Natsu. "If he was really a Celestial Spirit, no matter how tough a wizard he is, he would begin to feel weakened by Earth Land's different Magical flow."
"I don't believe he has turned into a Celestial Spirit" Crux had finally spoken up after his extend time thinking or sleeping, "Yet." Crux looked Lucy in the eye. "But I worry that if this problem isn't dealt with soon, then Natsu most certainly will become a Celestial Spirit"
"I think it would be best if Crux, Myself, and the others research this more." Loke turned to Lucy and grabbed her hand before kneeling, "We will search diligently to find an answer to help you Lucy, I promise you." He then kissed her hand and departed along with Crux.
"I think it also be best if we report to Master about our mission and Natsu." Erza stood again as did everyone. "Maybe Master may be of help to us." And Erza, Juvia, and Gray left, leaving Natsu and Lucy.
"Natsu, I'm really sorry for this," Lucy felt almost close to tears.
"Hey Lucy, don't be so sad," Natsu said taking her face into both her hands, "You heard what Cross-jiji said. I'm not a celestial spirit, and he and all your spirits are looking for a cure."
"But what if they don't find a cure, and I can't see you anymore, because you're a spirit?" Lucy looked into Natsu's eyes with her tear filled gaze.
Natsu pulled her into a tight embrace and whispered quietly, "I'll always be by your side Lucy, and you don't need some stupid key to call me, because I will never be apart from you."
And Lucy felt calmer. If Natsu is by her side, then everything seems less terrible and better to deal with, and suddenly the situation didn't seem so bad, even if it was about to get ten times as worse
Hey all, It's me again! A little bit more explanation on what's going on this chapter, plus some NaLu fluff, and Gruvia if you squint.
I'd really appreciate some Reviews, so I can know how I need to improve upon this story. So do not hesitate to leave one, cause as of writing this, I have received none.
Well, See you soon!