HIIIIIII EVERYONE!
Sorry it took almost two weeks to update. This chapter was killing me I kept changing my mind in it. But I finally got it and I hope you love it with all you fangirl or fanboy hearts. Lol
Thanks to sereneskydragonslayer, prettykitty280, Kamoki-Hygerioshi, and TheDragoNSlayeRnATSU Nin-Nin for the review. Thanks for all the support and being with me every step of the way. I hope I don't disappoint.
Chapter 18: Risks and Determination
"How is she?" Natsu asked again for the thousandth time as he paced back and forth in front of Igneel. They only just arrived at the Dragon Realm not too long ago. Natsu carrying Lucy's unconscious body looking frantic as he begged for help. While Sting carried Cindy's deceased body never taking her off his sights. He and Rogue insisted on bringing her body to the Dragon Realm saying that the dragon's can find something anything to bring her back.
Igneel stared at his frantic son in worry. He couldn't help, but remember the desperation his son showed as he ran to them carrying Lucy's unconscious body. Her body seemed to glow with power in his arms as her closed eyes had tears coming down. As Natsu and the rest of the dragonslayers explained the tragedy of their journey the old dragon couldn't help but feel grief for what has befallen on them.
"Grandine is checking hers and Cindy's condition. Be patient my son. We are all trying our best."Igneel spoke with wisdom as bent his large head to his son's height. Natsu looked at Igneel with saddened eyes as he looked guiltily away. "Tell me what is on your mind?"
"Igneel?...I can't help, but feel it was my fault. If only I paid attention to Cindy's warning on the train I would have not let Lucy out of my sight. She wouldn't have gotten captured. We wouldn't have to go and save her leaving the boy at the guild like that. Cindy wouldn't have died. Lucy wouldn't have…"
"Son." Igneel spoke up stopping his son from continuing. He hates seeing that depressed look in his face. "What happened has happened already. There is no other way around it. We can't go back in time and change tragedies that are meant to help us grow. It was written in the stars for this to happen there is no other way around it. Trust me my son when I say you can't fight destiny. Don't blame yourself for something that was written in the stars."
"No! I refuse to believe that it was written in the stars for Cindy to die. Or even for Lucy to end up like that. I don't even know what happened. One minute she came back to us holding her sister sobbing out in the sky as I held her. Then the next she passes out in my arms glowing with her magical power increasing stronger than I ever felt from her. I tried to wake her up, but nothing happened. I was scared. The only thing that kept me sane was feeling her breathing in my arms." Natsu spoke up frantically with sorrow. His Onyx eyes stared at the large red dragon with sadness. "Sting and Rogue held Cindy not wanting to admit she is gone. Igneel. How could it be written in the stars for her to be gone? She was so young and brave. When she charged towards the danger to save us I couldn't help, but think about how much I regret not taking in her words. She was a better person than me. She believed and protected her family to the end."
"Natsu. They wouldn't want you like this and you know that." Sting's voice echoed out annoyed as he came out from behind the trees along with Rogue. Both Natsu and Igneel turned to them surprised as the two dragonslayers walked towards them. "I know Cindy would agree with Igneel about it being Destiny."
"How would you know?" Natsu spoke almost sounding upset at them. They seemed worn out and emotionally drained, but still holding determination in their eyes. Sting went to say more, but Rogue cut him off.
"When Cindy touched me on the boat she saw her future. It was so overwhelming that she passed the images to me also. I saw it all before it even happened. I saw how she died from my own eyes. I can't explain it. It was horrid for at the same time I felt her emotions overcome me. Anxiety, fear, and pain. She knew there was nothing to be done about it so she asked me not to say anything." Rogue spoke refusing to look at Sting and Natsu in the eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't say anything until now."
"She knew that whole time since she touched you that's why she was shaking in my arms. She didn't say anything. She just focused on saving Lucy." Sting hissed out feeling the sorrow of the lost of the girl he loves. "Why didn't you tell me!" Sting growled at his partner.
"What would you have done Sting? It was already set there would have been nothing we could have done." Rogue argued back.
"I could have done something anything to save her!"
"idiot! Think if you would have saved her what would happen to us or even Lucy? Do you think she would want that? She would rather have herself die than anyone of us dying because of her. I don't know how, but Cindy knew Lucy would snap. She did what she did to save us." Rogue yelled at his partner hoping to get sense into him through all this. Sting and Natsu stared at Rogue with shock. "Do you what it is like knowing that before it happened and not doing anything? Feeling that? It's my fault I could have done something."
"It is no one's fault. That girl choose her own path. No one could have stopped her. You idiots know if you tried to stop her she would have done something to stop you." A voice roared with annoyance as the ground shook under them telling them the approach of the metal dragon. The guys looked up to see Metallica along with Grandine and the rest of the dragonslayers emerge from the forest with a sullen face. The large Iron Dragon glared at Rogue, Sting, and Natsu with annoyance. "I am tired of overhearing you idiots blame yourselves in your own self pity. What happened has happened. Now look to the future as we solve this together." Everyone stayed silent as they stared at Metallica in shock. "What? They were annoying me! I just said the truth. Stop looking at me with your stupid faces."
Igneel shook his large head at Metallica knowing what the large Iron Dragon is really feeling. Metallica's way of grieving is different from others, but it helps. Igneel and Grandine knew that the large Iron Dragon will grieve on his own when no one is around about Cindy's death. Although he acted as if he hated her he truly loved the young dragonslayer he helped raise. She was like a daughter to him along with Lucy. Although at times Lucy would act like their mother.
"Grandine! How is she?" Natsu spoke up as he ran to the white dragon. His eyes widen with fear and anxiety. Grandine stared down at the pink haired boy with a sullen face.
"Natsu…She is under a coma." Grandine breathed out softly. "Wendy and I have tried everything we can with her and Cindy, but.."
"Natsu.." Igneel went to speak to his son upon seeing his face drop to sorrow.
"Coma? But she was fine. How could she be in a coma? How long?" Natsu breathed out looking down at the ground. Everyone stayed silent not wanting to look at the fire dragonslayer. "HOW LONG!"
"Natsu. We don't know how long. All we know is that when she killed Acnologia she became a dragonslayer. Natsu, Lucy absorbed Acnologia's magical power at the same time her original power came back. Lucy's body is failing to sustain all the power. Her body forced her to go into a coma locking all the magical energy in her. The only way to save Lucy is to transfer some of the energy in her body to a close blood relative. The two will share the unimaginable power that lurked inside Acnologia while also sharing a bond." Grandine explained as she let out a way to save Lucy. "But it is not recommended to do that."
"Why? If it is the only way to wake her up. What's wrong with it."
"Natsu! What we will be doing is considered forbidden and dangerous. Not only can we risk permanently putting Lucy in a coma for the rest of her life, but also putting the other person in a coma or even killing them. But if it does work the two will be bonded in a way that they share magic and life. If one dies so does the other." Wendy explained hoping to get it through Natsu's head.
"Grandine are you positive there is no other way?" Igneel spoke up after much silence. The large sky dragon let out a sigh as she shook her head no.
"Blood Relative? What if we use the boy?" Gajeel suggested.
"NO!" Natsu and the Dragons all yelled at once. Gajeel, Sting, and Rogue stared at the Dragons with confusion.
"We can not risk using the boy. Lucy wouldn't want this." Grandine spoke up looking at Gajeel with a serious expression.
"I promised Lucy I would protect him. There is no way in hell I would risk his life like that." Natsu practically yelled glaring at Gajeel. He promised himself that he would protect Taiyo with his life. So he entrusted the guild with him knowing the guild will keep the boy safe. But now Natsu couldn't help, but feel the need to go get the boy.
"Well there is no one else we can use. Her father died 3 years ago and her sister is long gone." Gajeel retorted out loud as he stared at everyone with cold eyes not wanting them to see how he truly felt. Sting and Rogue growled out in warning while they glared at Gajeel in rage.
"Way to be a little compassionate about the situation asshole!" Sting growled out.
"Shut the hell up goldielocks. At least I am trying to figure this out instead of blaming myself in my own self pity. It already happened. Metallica was right. We need to look ahead and stop this together."
"That's my boy." Metallica huffed with pride as he smiled down at Gajeel. " Gajeel is right. Is there another way?"
"There is one way." Grandine spoke as she looked down at Wendy with a warily look. Both Girls seemed to look reluctant to say. Natsu stared at them with impatience.
"Tell us! Please it could be the only way to save her." Natsu begged.
"Well Wendy and I discussed the possibility of using Cindy to share the bond with Lucy." Grandine spoke. "But we must bring Cindy back to life."
"What? We can bring her back." Sting spoke up in shock as silent tears went down his eyes. Grandine and Wendy nodded their head sullenly.
"Grandine! You can't possibly be thinking what I believe you are thinking?" Igneel gasped out in shock as he stared at Grandine with wide eyes. "No! I will not permit you to do that. It is too dangerous."
"Igneel it is the only way to save both of them." Grandine tried to reason. But Igneel would not back down. He knows what she will do.
"They will be at risk of forever losing their souls in there if they are not out in time. It will not work."
"Igneel! Don't doubt these children. I believe in them. I am not happy with this situation more than you, but it is the only to save the sister's. I will not lose these children, but I believe with my entire existence that they can do it." Grandine roared back at the red dragon shocking everyone in utter silence.
"Is there really a way to save, Cindy?" Sting spoke up breaking the heavy silence. The sky and fire dragons stopped glaring at each other as they faced the blonde with a concerned look.
"Please Igneel, We will do anything to save them. Tell us." Natsu begged. Igneel stared down his son with worry as he let out a sigh. Smoke came out of his nose as he huffed. He didn't like this. He didn't like this situation, but Grandine was right. This is the only way.
"Taiyo and you all must go to the spirit realm to recover Cindy's spirit. You must convince her to come with you, but Taiyo is the only one that can return her spirit back to her body. But you must not remain in there for more than 48 hours." Grandine spoke sternly her large dark eyes staring with concern.
"Why?" Rogue asked as he looked up at them.
"The spirit world is no place for the living to go unless they are strongly connected to the spirit world like Lucy and Taiyo. If you go in you will be at risk of losing your souls in there for eternity." Igneel breathed out in frustration.
"But there is a way to save them?" Sting asked his voice filled with hope. He stepped up and stared at Grandine and Igneel with begging eyes. The dragons stared back at him.
"Yes but the risk. We don't know that you will be able to find her on time. If you don't find her on time you might lose your souls in their forever."
"But Igneel. Can we save them both?" Natsu asked. His Onyx eyes stared up at his father with desperation. Igneel could see the determination in his eyes making the large dragon sigh out.
"Yes." Natsu nodded his head with a serious expression. Everyone watched Natsu as he stared up at Grandine his Onyx eyes burning with flames of determination. The risks running through his head as if trying to stop him from speaking to the large Sky dragon. Sting stepped up next to Natsu holding the same determination in his eyes as he stared up at Grandine. Natsu stared at the Dragonslayer's seeing the same determination in their eyes as they smiled at him. Would they take the risk?
"How do we go to the Spirit world?"
************************************************** *****Protecting Dragons******************************************* *************
"Erza! I'm tired." Taiyo breathed out in exhaustion as he fell down on his knees on the ground. He breathed heavily in and out as he looked down at the forest ground. Erza stopped running and turned towards the tired boy with a worried look. Maybe she went too far.
"Taiyo! We are almost there. Come on a little more and you go to Lucy." Happy spoke as he and lily landed on the ground next to Taiyo with a soft thud. Charle continued to fly in the air as she looked down with worry. The boy is tired from all the training that he has done, but he is now more capable to control his powers.
"Erza! The boy is clearly exhausted from all the training. How about we take a rest then go normally to the realm of dragons." Charle spoke as she landed on the ground with a soft thud in front of the boy.
"Taiyo? Do you want to stop? After we have come this far for the past few days. Do you want to stop the progress now? Don't you need to be strong enough to help Lucy. Don't you want to be strong enough to protect everyone?" Erza questioned as she stared at the boy with cold eyes. "You will never be strong enough if you are too weak to keep going."
"Erza!" Charle scolded the scarlet mage only to end up being ignored. Happy and Pantherlily told the boy not to listen as he stared at the ground gritting his teeth.
"No Charle! He wants to be stronger to protect everyone. How can he be stronger when he is tired already. We are almost to the Dragon's Realm. I will not let him give up now. Not after we have come so far." Erza argued back to the white exceed.
"He just wants to rest. That does not show weakness. He has already proved his strength. LET HIM RE-"
"No!" Taiyo spoke up as he snapped his head up to stare at Erza right in the eyes. "I won't stop. I won't be weak. I want to be stronger and protect." Taiyo got up ignoring the worry looks from the exceeds as he stood up tall and strong. For 7 years of age he is already showing maturity through these past few days. "I'm sorry slowed us."
Erza watched with pride as Taiyo ran ahead through the forest his hand glowing as he used the different elements to make a path. His movements seemed almost graceful as he lifted his arms moving the trees to the side. Fire covered his left hand while water covered his right. Erza and the exceeds watched in fascination as Taiyo created what seemed to be fireworks of elements in the air around him. Erza then turned to PantherLily nodding her head for him to train with the boy. Pantherlily let out a sigh as he transformed into his large form as he held his sword on his hand. He ran straight for the boy without hesitation.
"Erza! You are going too hard on the boy." Charle spoke up not liking the situation. " Are you going to have him fight Lily all the way to the Realm. We are only a few hours away.!" She exclaimed as she walked along side Happy and red head. They walked ahead watching Lily and the boy fight as they also moved forward.
"Charle this is the only way. His aunt wanted me to train him. She entrusted his training for now to me. His powers are under his control now with my training. Also he can fight with no second guesses. He is stronger." Erza replied as she stared ahead. She watched as Taiyo blocked Pantherlily's attack with ice then flip gracefully in the air as he lit the floor under the large exceed with fire. Pantherlily quickly jumped away from the danger then circled the boy to charge at him again.
"I don't think having him do your laundry was helping him control his power." Happy commented out loud.
"What?" Erza hissed out hearing the blue exceeds comment. Happy quickly rejected his comment as he shook his head furiously. Erza sighed out as she ignored him knowing it was like fighting with Natsu. Not worth her time.
"He is just a boy." Charle whispered out as she stared out at the boy fighting with Pantherlily. She watched as Taiyo jumped away from Pantherlily's attack into the trees. Pantherlily yelled in frustration as Taiyo surrounded the area around them in fog to conceal himself. Charle couldn't help, but feel impressed by how much the boy improved. Erza proved to be an excellent teacher to the boy with her ruthless technique. "You worry for him?"
"Of course. I see him as my own child now. I train him to the best I can. I know I may have been too hard on him, but it was of good will. I want him to be strong for the future. I don't want to ever see him weak. I want to see him fight for his future." Erza spoke as a soft tear went down her face. She watched Taiyo strike Pantherlily in the back with flames as he used the fog he created to conceal him. He was clever about his attacks as he dodged Pantherlily's attack. "I know he is just a boy. But he is a special boy who will always be in danger. We won't always be there to protect him. There will come a time where he must fight for himself. Hopefully that time will never come, but if it does he won't be weak."
"So you did all this for him. You acted like a demon for him." Happy commented earning a glare from Erza when he called her a demon. "You know if you think about it. Taiyo is a lot like Natsu and Lucy both."
"He has Natsu's determination and protective instincts. As well as Lucy's caring and kind nature. He is the best of both of them, but he isn't Natsu's child?" Charle commented. Erza looked down at the exceed and laughed. "What is it?"
"He is not Natsu's by blood, but by heart he is. We have seen the way Natsu was with him before he left to go save Lucy. He treated Taiyo as if he was his own son. Even Taiyo feels it. Remember the way the boy went frantic in looking for Natsu when he couldn't find him like a son looking for his father. They way he cried saying he lost his mom not Natsu to. Although Taiyo will most likely never admit it he knows that Natsu will be the closest thing to a real father that he will ever have." The Scarlet Mage spoke with a small smile playing on her face.
Her eyes focusing on the Yellow and orange haired boy the way his eyes lit in different colors as he unleashed different elements and powers. Under the different colors of his eyes he seemed to burn with determination. Erza watched with pride as Taiyo is starting to win over his fight with Pantherlily. He had the upper hand with his sneak attacks and speed warring Pantherlily out. Erza watched in amazement as Taiyo blew a gust of strong wind in Pantherlily's direction sending the large exceed flying in the air screaming. As Pantherlily was falling to his doom Taiyo's eyes turned bright green as he lifted trees off the ground hoping to soften Pantherlily's landing. The dark exceed screamed out as he landed on top of the trees only to feel the branch break under him making him hit every branch that was slowing his speed to the ground. Taiyo's whimsical laugh echoed the enchanted forest as Pantherlily landed on the ground with a loud thud and groan.
"Ugh! I'm done!" Pantherlily groaned out as he went back to his small form. He stood up dusting the leaves from his small body as he walked to Taiyo looking up at the small boy. He smiled at him happily as he held a paw out to him. Taiyo stared at the paw then laughed as he lifted his small hand to shake Lily's paw. "You are a very formidable opponent it's a pleasure training with you." Taiyo smiled widely at the black exceed as he felt pride swirl in him.
"Taiyo." Erza said getting the small boy's attention. Taiyo looked up at his trainer with the utmost respect as he stood tall staring at him with determination. Erza saw the fire burning in his Hazel eyes and smiled. "You're ready."