I do not own Fairy Tail

Chapter 7- The Sleeping Maiden

Natsu was shocked, totally shocked.

In front of him was a man, kneeling on his knees as his teary eyes pierced Natsu's soul to bits. His eyes say so much... anger, bitterness, pain and pure relief. Natsu was bewildered by his words: you're finally here. He didn't know what to think of it. Is there a hidden message behind it? Have he already met his man before? So many unanswered questions stuck on his mind as he looked at the man who was sluggishly getting up after his little ordeal.

"Sorry I lost composure. It's been so long long that I-" he gently whispered, voice shaking with emotions. He slowly cleared his face, removing his tears while putting his glasses back again. He glanced at a concerned Happy by his side and pat his blue furry head.

"You alright, Loke?" Happy asked

"Yeah, I'm fine Happy. Sorry for grabbing your tail" the guy named Loke said.

Loke then moved forward to the group, watching each member of the team starting from Levy, Gray, Ezra and finally Natsu. Quick as lightning, he punched Natsu by the guts making him plummet back on the ground. Taken by surprised, the team was frozen by shock while observing the man who was heaving with fury over a still surprised Natsu.

"That's for making us wait for so long" he snarled, his eyes on fire.

"And this is for coming back to us" he reached for Natsu's hand, supporting him while Natsu slowly stood. Finally having his ground, Natsu immediately tried to kicked Loke by the face only dodging by him by the second.

"You're still the Natsu, I know" he chucked still avoiding Natsu's series of punches and kicks.

"What the hell man. Just stand still, so I could punch you in the face" Natsu yelled.

Snapping out of her shock, Erza suddenly grabbed Natsu's hand already hoisted to give another set of punches. "Stop, Natsu!"

She looked at the smirking man, who watched her with interest. "Your name is Loke right? What is your business with us?" she asked "And how do you know Natsu?"

"And you! You're still the Erza I knew" he laughed, while Ezra gave him a devil eye "And still the Erza I was afraid of" he gulped.

Getting infuriated by his weird antics, Erza unsheathe her sword and point it towards his chest "Speak up or forever hold your peace" she snapped. Loke held up his hands in surrender, moving backwards towards the grave.

Walking slowly towards the tense group, Levy gently reaches up her hand to lightly hold Loke's sleeve. "Have you meet Erza and Natsu before?" she asked confused on what's happening.

Loke smiled and straightened his tie. "Yes, you and Gray as well " he said glancing at Gray. Startled, Levy took a step back. She slowly put her hand on her pounding chest and stammered "I d-dont under-stand. When-"

Loke shook his head down, eyes hidden by his bangs, he glance at his still shaking hands and whispered "A long time ago"

After their little trouble, Loke asked them to follow him in a short trip. They were told that everything will be answered once they saw the other grave at the very heart of the Tenrou tree. No one said anything during the said trip, questions and concerns was still flinging in their minds as the sun sets down on the horizon. Exasperated by the silence, Natsu asked Loke on their supposed destination, only to be answered by a wretched smile.
As the sun moves farther away to the west and the iridescent moon took over its place, the group finally arrived at their destination.

Way above the ground the group looked at the surroundings; the whole island could be seen at the center of the tree as they've set foot on one of its massive branches. Loke stopped and eyed the center trunk like a hawk as the center of the tree seems bare, with no branches or leaves sticking out of it.

Loke walked in front of them, back turned and brought his two hands up front. The group was shocked by what they're watching, the magnificent view of the place already took their breath away and here's Loke holding out his hands like a conductor. He somewhat commanded the branches to connect to each other, moving and shifting the branches and creating a bridge for the group to walked on. Golden and silver lights flew above their heads like fireflies, dancing and twirling as the wind gently blows the leaves on the tree. The group was dumbfounded by the magic of it all, they astound and amaze for they've never seen anything like it before. Snapping out of their shock, Loke motioned them to follow him at the center. They were both giggly and jumpy on what they will see at front but they were surprised to see…

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

Just a bare, wooden colossal trunk.

Loke sadly smiled and hold the surface with his left hand while his forehead met the tree's wooden surface. "Princess" he whispered.

"Princess?" Natsu thought. "Did Loke just called the tree, princess?" he thought, puzzled. Loke then pulled out his hands on the surface and said "They're finally here princess. Please show yourself."

Sudden bursts of golden light were gathered by his hands. The surrounding eerie lights all came forth into the tree's surface making it gleam bright. They've all cover their eyes by the sheer striking light emitted by the tree.

Natsu gradually opened his eyes once the light vanished; he looked at Loke stooping by the tree, hands still in front of him touching the trunk's surface. Natsu then turned his eyes slightly above and saw a woman. An embossed wooden figure of a woman in the tree's surface. She's wearing a pleated mini skirt with a haltered blouse, with eyes closed and her hands in her chest like a prayer.

"She's beautiful" he thought, astound by the beauty of the wooden figure. He slowly approached the sculpture not minding the stares of the persons around him. He slowly moved his right hand to touch the woman on her hand. Started he suddenly removed his hands by the surface, bringing it by his chest.

"What is it Natsu?" Erza probed. Instead of responding Natsu moved his hand into her chest, in front of her heart. Eyes widening, he suddenly turned to the kneeling Loke by his side and grab him by the collar, thrusting the guy into his feet.

"What the hell did you do" he roared at Loke, teeth grinding in anger.

"Natsu, stop" screamed Erza.

"WTF Erza! That girl is still alive" snapped Natsu freeing Loke in his clutch.

Startled by his response, Erza dashed to the center and touched the girl's chest in her hand. "A heartbeat" she gasped.

"And the figure is warm" added Natsu.

Gray and Levy also approached and touched the figure, feeling it's warm. Levy looked at the sitting Loke at the side who didn't move after Natsu released him.

"Loke, is this girl, Mavis?" Levy asked.

Loke shook his head and stood up removing the dust in his clothes. He looked at the unearthly figure while saying "No, Levy. Her name is Lucy. And yes Natsu, she's still alive."

"Lucy" they've all said, whereas Loke simply nodded.

Loke approached the figure while he observes the people in front of him. He lowered his head and sadly said "For 500 years we've been waiting. 500 stinking years of heartache and despair. Lucy's waiting for your return Natsu. We all are."

"Wha-" Natsu stammered, backing away.

"You promise her before that you will be back. And she's waiting all this time for your return" Loke added.

"I didn't- It-It's some kind of mi-mistake!" he shook.

"What's the meaning of this?" Erza bellowed

"Oi flamebrain- what did you do" Gray pushed.

"I don't understand" Levy whispered.

"Lusshyyy" Happy added after being quite for some time.

"You made a promise with her Natsu" Loke quietly said

"NO! No- I- didn't! I didn't" Natsu backed away colliding with another branch from above.

"YOU DID! Natsu in this lifetime may not. But Natsu in the past did!" yelled Loke

"Wha-"

"For 500 years! We've been waiting!... For Natsu Dragneel to fulfill his promise!"

A sudden gust of golden light burst off from the tree, startling the group. As a collection of hidden runes and stars surge out of the figure. A sleeping woman fell out and into Loke's warm embrace.

"Welcome back, princess"

/TBC

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A/N: MY first note (yehey!)

This is not an update.

Sorry to disappoint, but I just cant help it. I need to let it all out. Thank you for viewing my story and also thank you for all the reviews, it's usually the one thing that gets me motivated to go on (there are some instances that I get super lazy and just want to delete the story).

I usually PM the people who review my chapters but there are some that doesn't have an account so thank you.