Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait! So this chapter is super long. It was 14 pages on my Microsoft word. :/ I kinda went overboard while writing this chapter. My bad. :/
I want to thank to Guest, Digi-fanCatt, and Elfen Children for the reviews. You guys are awesome.
Please let me know what you thought about this chapter guys…was it too long? Too boring? Too funny? Lol
IMPORTANT: so guys you know Cindy right? Of course you do! Lol Well guys. I need your help on who you think Cindy should be with. Sting? Rogue? Or maybe both? Or even not specific they just fight for her? Let me know cause honestly I don't know. I love both of them for her.
I won't talk anymore :D Enjoy the long chapter! Thanks for reading!
Chapter 27: Forgiveness and Revenge
When Lucy opened her eyes, the first thing she noticed was a sobbing pink haired man hovering over her. His Onyx eyes were staring back at her in shock. The dark orbs were filled with disbelief as well as joy. His tears continued to fall landing softly on her face like rain drops. Her own eyes started to well up with tears.
They did it.
They beat Acnologia.
They beat the Dragon of Death.
"Luce?" Natsu breathed out.
Lucy smiled lovingly at the fire dragonslayer. Lifting her upper body slowly, she hissed under her breath at the aching pain coursing through her body. She can feel the incredible dragonslayer magic flow through her as her senses became heightened. She could hear Sting and Rogue tackle a cursing Cindy to the ground as they held her tightly. She could hear Gajeel sniff softly to himself thinking no one noticed him crying. Lucy sat up making Natsu lean back to give her room. She stared down at her hands in shock.
This power.
This bond.
Lucy turned to see her younger sister still struggling under Sting and Rogue. Lucy then turned back to look at her hands. Blue swirl like markings surrounded her left wrist. Lucy stared at the markings seeing it almost glow in and out softly. If Lucy wasn't a dragonslayer she would have never noticed it. It is the mark of the bond. Lucy looked back at Cindy to see her left wrist held the same markings around. As strange as it sounds, Lucy could feel her sister's life force through her. She couldn't explain it if asked, but Lucy can feel her sister. She can feel Acnologia's magic flow through the both of them.
Natsu just continued to stare at Lucy not knowing what to say or even do. He watched as she stared around in amazement at her new senses. Her heart beat was picking up in excitement. It was hard to explain, but Natsu could sense the incredible power coming from the sister's. Lucy's honey brown eyes then connected with Natsu's Onyx orbs. She smiled at him, a tear escaped from her right eye. After everything they went through. After all the fighting they kept having. Here she is. Fine. Alive. Safe.
This wasn't a dream.
Natsu smiled a toothy grin. Oh, how Lucy loves that grin. Oh, how she missed the man that stole her heart from the moment she met him. The blonde woman lifted her hand up weakly placing it softly on Natsu's warm cheek. Under her fingertips, she could feel his blood rising up to his cheeks. She could feel his warmth trying to encompass her. She could even hear his heartbeat pick up in excitement. Being so close to him, Lucy could see every single detail in his face. She took in every single thing she was feeling, hearing, and seeing. Her love for the pink haired man grew even more at this moment.
She didn't care who was watching. She didn't care that she felt everyone's eyes on her. She didn't even care when she heard that damn nosy pain in the ass Iron Dragon mutter about how he is going to have to stab his eyes shut soon. With her thumb, Lucy wiped the stray tears that slipped down Natsu's face. She was surprised how cool the tears felt despite how hot Natsu is. A loving smile lights her face as she stares at him.
"Dummy, why are you crying?" Lucy's soothing voice filled the silence between them.
"I'm not crying." Natsu let out stubbornly. He let out a loud sniff as he lifted his sleeve wiping all the evidence from his face. His cheeks turning the color of Erza's hair. "You're just imagining things, weirdo."
Lucy hummed tilting her head to the side. She quirked a blonde eyebrow at him as if telling him she didn't believe him. Natsu just kept sitting in front of her pouting like a child. He looked down at his hands twiddling with the end of his scarf. Lucy resisted the urge to grab Natsu's cheeks and squeezing them. He looked just like a child being scolded. The blonde giggled under her breath. Then she noticed something.
The fire dragonslayer was nervous. He was beyond nervous. Hell, his heart feels like it's going to burst out of his chest. Before Lucy woke up, he promised he would tell her how he feels. He would confess his love for her. But why does he feel so nervous. It's not like he wasn't going to confess before. Before he would have told her in a heartbeat. He had so many opportunities to, but the boy kept interrupting him. They were perfect opportunities too. Just like this one. But no words will come out of his mouth. His confession stayed lounged in his throat. Damn it! Where did his confidence go? Natsu groaned rubbing his pink hair roughly. He is a dragonslayer! Proud son of Igneel! Natsu will be damned if he can't confess to the love of his life. With a burst of determination, Natsu finally decided.
"Lucy…I…"
Wait!
She is not even there.
Natsu's eyes bugged out of his head as he stared at the now empty spot in front of him. Then he looked up frantically to only see Lucy talking with Igneel and Erza. Her delicate porcelain hand is petting a small blue exceed that was clutching to her chest crying. Happy kept crying into her chest telling her how much he missed her. Lucy looked down at the small exceed with a soft expression. Lifting her other hand she hugged Happy to her. Natsu could hear her telling him how sorry she is for worrying him and everyone. Her eyes then focused on her son as she basically assessed him for injuries.
The boy was still unconscious snuggling in Erza's loving arms. Erza held a serious expression as she talked to Lucy telling her everything she missed. The blonde mother took everything in with a serious expression. Natsu could tell she was worried as she stared at Taiyo. Erza is telling her what happened to Taiyo when he thought she was dead. Natsu let out a sigh. This might be a while. Erza already told them everything while Taiyo and the Dragons were bonding the sisters.
Damn it, Natsu. You missed your chance, you idiot.
"You missed your chance, Flame Brain!" Gajeel snorted coming up behind Natsu. Natsu got up to his feet cursing under his breath. The iron dragonslayer is right. Mavis help his stupidity. Gajeel gave Natsu a look of pity as he slapped his hand down on his shoulder. The iron dragonslayer can understand the difficultly of confessing his feelings to his mate. Hell, Gajeel had enough problems confessing then proposing to Levy, but that is a story that will never be shared. The Iron dragonslayer swore his blue haired wife to secrecy to what has to be the most embarrassing days of his life. "uh…if it helps at all, you should know that Bunny girl was waiting with girly sparkling eyes for you to say something. I think she was waiting for you to say the three words she has been dying to hear." Gajeel breathed out. Then he scowled to the ground. He is turning into a fucking softie with these people. Hell, earlier his 'allergies' were out of control. He needs to kick someone's ass soon. "Because your stupid ass stayed frozen, like the idiot you are, for a long time. She gave up waiting and went to check on her brat. Igneel said you were a dumbass." Gajeel added at the end with a smirk.
Natsu let out a groan slapping his hand on his forehead then he kept repeating the action. Why is he such an idiot? Lucy was waiting for him to confess and what did he do? He froze up worse than ice stripper does when Juvia grabs him in a death hug. Upon seeing the fire dragonslayer's frustration with himself, Gajeel roared in laughter. Natsu immediately stopped his actions glaring at the iron dragonslayer. Gajeel stared at Natsu trying to stop his laughter, but only ended up going into another fit of laughter when he sees how red Natsu's forehead is.
All eyes were immediately on them.
Natsu noticed Lucy's curious gaze on him. Her honey brown eyes held concern when they stared at his forehead. She smiled weakly at him amusement dancing in her soft orbs. Natsu's tan skin turned bright red with embarrassment. He looked down covering his face with his pink bangs. He can hear Gajeel's laughter echoing in front of him.
"Shut the hell up, Dumpster face!" Natsu snapped sending his fist flying to Gajeel's face.
Gajeel flew back landing on his back painfully. He sat up. His red eyes stared at Natsu with excitement as a terrifying smirk filled his features.
"Finally! I've been dying for some action." Gajeel got up muttering under her breath. He turned his right arm into a chainsaw while Natsu lit up his own fist. "I'm so kicking your ass, Ash Brain."
With that as his battle cry, Gajeel ran to the fire dragonslayer tackling him down to the ground. The two wrestled on the grass forgetting about the situation they were in. Their insults filled the air causing them to gain everyone's attention. Metalicana instantly grew excited at the sight. Finally, he will see what his son was made of. Not only that, Gajeel will prove he is more powerful than Igneel's son.
"Teach that imbecile a lesson, son!" Metalicana cheered. The Iron Dragon then turned towards the other dragonslayers with a wicked smile. "Everyone must fight! We shall see who the strongest dragonslayer is!" The Iron Dragon hit Rogue and Sting with his tail coming to the suffocating Cindy's rescue. "Stop hugging her to death and come here and fight."
"You didn't have to hit us, Tin Foil!" Sting yelled as he jumped up along with Rogue.
"I can breathe!" Cindy gasped out as she sat up. Her hand came down on her heart as she struggled to regain her normal breathing.
The twin dragonslayer's glared at the Iron Dragon as they rubbed the lump that formed on their heads.
"Did you just call me Tin Foil, pups?!" Metalicana growled.
"You hit us to damn hard!" Rogue yelled crossing his arms over his chest.
"Don't star…" Cindy went to say as she went to stand up. She couldn't even finish her sentence for when her bent down her hair went in front of her face. "Ahhhhhhhh!" Cindy yelled at the top of her lungs. Her hair. Her short red hair is now gone. Cindy's honey brown eyes were wide in shock as she lifted her hand to her now long hair. The blonde hair fading into bright red at the bottom. "No! No! God damn it! This can't be…" The girl jumped to her feet as she ran to Metalicana in panic using his scales like a mirror.
"Hey! I am not your mirror!" Metalicana growled and went to move away, but the young girl yelled in protest at him. "Damn Glacier!" He cursed under his breath pouting.
Cindy simply ignored him as she took in her new look. She kept saying 'no' in horror as she saw her reflection. Her body aged to an adult woman of 25. Her hair stopped at her slender waist now. It was blonde at the top and bright red at the bottom. The damn blonde hair that she always worked so hard to hide. Don't get her wrong. Cindy loves her blonde hair, but she hates everyone mistaking her for her sister. Think about it, you all know her temper. Do you really think she would stay quite if people keep mistaking her for Lucy Heartfila, Fairy Tail's own celestial mage? Cindy then looked down at her chest lifting her hands to squeeze her breast. They got bigger. They are the exact same size as Lucy's. Cindy kept looking at her reflection in horror. She is the exact copy of her sister. She looks exactly like Lucy. Even her tan skin faded to that porcelain soft white. That tan she worked so hard getting. She spent days in the sun dragging Taiyo with her so both of their skins had tans.
Cindy let out another yell. Shocking everyone to silence.
"Cindy-san? Are you ok?" Wendy let out coming a little bit closer to the screaming girl.
Cindy snapped her head towards Wendy. The sky dragonslayer let out a soft 'eep' under Cindy's icy glare.
"No I am not ok!" Cindy yelled. "Wendy! I am younger than you! My blonde hair came out. My tan faded. I look like Lucy's twin."
"Sorry." Wendy let out. She backed away behind Grandeeney who just laughed at the situation.
Happy and Natsu then appeared out of nowhere looking at Cindy then back at Lucy then back at Cindy again. They held the most confused face ever making both blondes angry. Then both fire dragonslayer and exceed let out a loud yell.
"Two Lucys!" Natsu and Happy let out at the same time pointing at the sister's.
"I'm Cindy! You flaming dumbass and stupid cat!" Cindy screeched sending Natsu and Happy flying through the air.
"Wahh! Natsu! Lucy number 2 is mean!" Happy cried.
"Lucy number 2! You stupid-." But Cindy was cut off for she was immediately tackled down by a black haired idiot. "Get the hell off me, Gajeel!"
"I told you I was going to kick your ass when this is all over!" Gajeel yelled wrestling with the now blonde girl. He is taking revenge for when Cindy kicked him off of Jasmine. Gajeel had Cindy in a headlock on the ground as he rubbed her head. Cindy yelled profanities to the iron dragonslayer. "I am going to carve you into a nice ice sculpture."
"Kick my ass! Ice sculpture? You are no better than you damn lizard father!"
Cindy lifted her legs in a cringe worthy position. She grabbed Gajeel with her feet then threw him off of her. Gajeel let out a dark laugh getting up easily as he ran to tackle Cindy to the ground. Cindy and Gajeel wrestled on the ground insulting each other as Metalicana cheered in the background. The large Iron Dragon cheered on his son like a proud father as well as insult Cindy for insulting him. Natsu recovered from his blow Cindy gave him and immediately ran back joining in the fight. Sting and Rogue jumped in defending the pissed blonde girl. Wendy ran to the side trying to stop them from fighting each other.
"Idiots." Igneel, Lucy, and Grandeeney muttered out at the same time.
"Lucy, you come to! You are a dragonslayer now!" Metalicana yelled in excitement looking up at Lucy with sparkling eyes. His tail swished rapidly behind him. "Wake the brat and bring him too! Fight until there is only one dragonslayer left standing!"
"He looks like a dog!" Igneel growled. Grandeeney let out a laugh then scolded Igneel for his rudeness. "Did you not laugh to?" Igneel exclaimed at the sky dragon.
Lucy looked up at the Fire and Sky dragons with a soft smile. The large dragons bickered back and forth with each other like children making the blonde smile. It is hard to believe they are more than 500 years old. She has missed them greatly. Her family. Although they are a bunch of idiots and are always fighting. She loves them. She would never replace them. They risked everything to help her and Cindy.
Lucy turned towards Erza to see her still holding Taiyo in her arms as she glared at everyone fighting like idiots. The Scarlet mage was giving off a look of death as she cursed under her breath. If they wake up Taiyo from his rest, Erza promised a world of pain to the dragonslayers and dragons.
Lifting a hand, Lucy ran her fingers softly through her son's hair. A loving smile filled the blonde's features. She focused on his soft breathing and normal heartbeat. Her son. Memories of the torture came into the blonde's head as she looked at her son. Lucy will never let anyone be tortured like she has been. She will never let Taiyo go through that agony.
Although the Dragon was killed, Lucy knows his minions are still out there. They will look for Lucy and Taiyo. They will want revenge. Lucy promised herself and her son. She will burn them all to dust. She will kill every last person that tries to inflict harm on her son and her family.
"Thank you, Erza." Lucy let out still looking down at her son. The blonde was trying to hold her anger in, scared on what she might do with the new power in her. She doesn't know how to control it. She can already feel it rising in her. "Thank you so much."
"For what?" The Scarlet mage let out in confusion focusing her attention on the blonde goddess in front of her. "I have not done anything."
"Yes, you did." Lucy breathed out. "You love my son as if he was your own. You were strong enough to get my son here safety and protect him even through the news about me. If something did happen to me…" Lucy stopped.
She couldn't even say it. She couldn't fathom the idea that she was almost lost to the dragon of death. The anger has risen again in her. Her skin almost itched begging for her to fight. Begging her to let her new powers out to play. As if he was on fire, Lucy pulled away from Taiyo in fear. She took a couple steps back. Looking down at her shaking hands in fear. This is how it feels to be a dragonslayer? Lucy wanted to laugh. No wonder Natsu always ends up destroying buildings. This power. Just then Lucy felt a soft hand grab her shaking hands firmly. Lucy looked up in shock at the owner of the hand to see Erza smiling at Lucy.
"Thank you, Lucy." Erza breathed out knowing what Lucy was going to say. "But you must understand. I never want to takeover being a mother to Taiyo. I love Taiyo like a son, but if anything ever happened to you. I could never replace you, Lucy. No one can. You, my dear friend, are irreplaceable." Tears swelled in Lucy's eyes as her anger immediately died down by Erza's words. "What happened to you? No one should ever have to experience that in their lives. Trust me when I say. No one will have ever to. Fairy Tail will make those bastards pay for everything they have done to you. Even if we have to scour the globe to find everyone last one of them. We will make sure any threat towards you, Cindy, Taiyo, and even the dragons are eliminated."
"Erza.."
Lucy cried out as she thanked the requip mage. She hugged Erza tightly to her. She apologized over and over again to her best friend for everything that has happened. She apologized for lying to them. For making her spend time away from Jellal in order to come here. For not telling her everything. For making her worry. She apologized for everything.
"No, Lucy. I am sorry. I'm sorry for not going with Natsu in order to rescue you. I knew he was going to rescue you, but I could not leave the boy. I'm sorry." Erza breathed out pulling away from Lucy. The requip mage looked down at the ground where she softly placed Taiyo before Lucy hugged her. "I sincerely apologize, Lucy. I did not notice your scars. I am sorry that I didn't notice anything wrong with you. I'm sorry I didn't pay more attention in protecting you."
"No, Erza…" Lucy went to say, but Erza held up her hand silencing her.
"I should have noticed there was something wrong with you all these years. I should have forced you to tell me. I should have followed you when I felt uneasy. Spell or not to wipe our memories. I should have still noticed." Erza understood her circumstances. She understood why Lucy did everything she did. She is a Celestial Mage. And Celestial Mage's always keep their promises. She promised the Dragons her protection even if that meant keeping them as a secret. Erza felt so angry with herself for not noticing her nakuma's struggles. Fucking Gajeel noticed. Even Natsu. But not her. She is a horrible friend. Lucy called out Erza's name out softly in concern. Erza stared at the blonde woman. "You do not need to apologize to me. I do not need it or want it. The only people that would want to hear it, is them."
Lucy followed Erza's gaze seeing that she was staring at the dragonslayers still fighting. To be more specific, she was staring at Gajeel, Natsu, and Wendy. Lucy let out a sigh knowing the Scarlet mage was right. Her palms sweated as her heart quickened. What if they don't forgive her? What if they hate her? No, she is being ridiculous.
"Gajeel is a crybaby! Gajeel is a crybaby!" Cindy taunted the Iron Dragonslayer as she stuck her tongue out at him. Natsu let out a howl of laughter from his headlock on Sting. Gajeel shook in anger as he glared at the blonde girl with annoyance. He went to jump her, but Rogue immediately grabbed him. The Shadow dragonslayer pinned the iron dragonslayers arms behind his back. Rogue held tightly to Gajeel. Gajeel thrashed around growling at Cindy's arrogant face with annoyance. "Are you going to cry again?"
"You fucking Yeti!" Gajeel growled.
Silence.
Cindy, Natsu, Wendy, Sting, and Rogue stared at the raging Gajeel in shock.
"Did you just call me a Yeti?" Cindy let out in shock.
A loud boom echoed through the air as the ground shook violently. Grandeeney and Igneel stopped their bickering to only see Metalicana rolling on the ground howling in laughter. The Iron was gone in his laughter. He couldn't take it. His son just called Cindy a Yeti. Those big ass ugly as fuck snow creatures.
Cindy shook in anger as Gajeel just smiled. Seeing the raging girl, Rogue immediately let go of Gajeel. He backed a safe distance away bringing Wendy, Natsu, and Sting with him. Blue flames surrounded Cindy's skin as she lifted her hand. Her fist covered in ice. They guys watched in awe as the fire didn't melt the ice on her hand at all. The mark of the bond on her wrist glowed brightly. Digging her feet into the ground. Cindy launched herself at Gajeel yelling as he launched at her with a wicked smile. But just before they collided into each other a Scarlet demon appeared before them.
"Enough!" Erza yelled in anger.
She slammed Gajeel's and Cindy's head to each other. The blue flames on Cindy extinguished immediately as she and Gajeel yelled. Both dragonslayers fell to the floor groaning in pain as a giant welt formed on their heads.
"Damn she-demon." Gajeel and Cindy muttered at the same time.
The rubbed their throbbing heads as they glared at the ground pouting. The Dragons looked at the two pouting idiots with amusement. Cindy had both her hands covered in ice using them as ice packs. One of her hands was on her head while the other hand was on Gajeel's. They grumbled about Erza to each other, mad that she hit them to hard. She didn't have to go that far.
"Quiet, everyone." Erza commanded shutting everyone up. Everyone looked at Erza with confusion written across their faces. The Scarlet mage then turned towards Lucy with a soft smile. The blonde now had tears streaming down her eyes as she nervously played with her hands. She had her face covered with her blonde bangs not letting anyone see her tears. Everyone stared at her with concern and confusion not knowing why she is like this. "Lucy, has something she wants to say."
"Gajeel, Wendy, Natsu…" Lucy let out softly. Her heart accelerated. Her palms sweated. She soon started fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. Her tears coming down refusing to stop. She has to do this. She wants to do this. They deserve this. She can't be nervous. They can't hate her, right? Who was she kidding? Lucy would hate herself if she was them. Lucy swallowed the lump in her throat snapping her head up to look at the three dragonslayers. Their eyes softened upon seeing her tears. "I'm sorry." Lucy cried out. "I'm soo sorry." She fell to her hands and knees weakly as she sobbed out loud. Lucy shook her head. "I am soo sorry. I kept the dragons from you. I didn't tell you that I knew where they were….. I kept your parents from you. I erased your memories from when I disappeared two years ago. I lied to you about Taiyo. I worried you. You saved me when I don't deserve it…. I kept your parents from you!" Lucy continued to sob into the ground. Gajeel and Natsu could only stare at her in silence as Wendy cried softly to herself. Even Happy was crying as he whispered Lucy's name. Erza, Cindy, the Dragons, and the Exceeds smiled at the sobbing blonde lovingly. "I understand if you will never forgive me. I understand if you don't trust me. I understand if you hate me. I understand if you never want to talk to me again." Lucy sniffed. Her tears dropped to the soft green grass like rain drops. Lucy looked up at the dragonslayers. Her face a mess. Her eyes held so much pain and sorrow. "I am soo sorry. I betrayed you."
Grandeeney, Igneel, and Metalicana looked at each other in sadness then looked at Lucy. Everyone watched in shock silence as the three large dragons came up next to Lucy placing their tails softly on her back. Lucy sat up with wide eyes as she watched the three dragons bend their upper bodies down to the ground. Their heads lowered to the ground completely as they closed their eyes. A soft tear escaped Grandeeney's and Igneel's eyes while Metalicana held a pained expression.
"It is not Lucy's fault, young ones." Grandeeney let out opening her eyes. She gazed at their children in sadness. "It is our fault. I am sorry, Wendy. I have left you and made you cry. I am deeply sorry for all the pain I have caused you, my child." Grandeeney looked at the crying blue haired girl with sadness.
"We hid away from you. We were afraid that if Lucy told you that you would be put in danger. Also we were afraid to see you again. It took everything we had in us to leave you. We were afraid that you would not have forgiven us. We were afraid to see the hatred in your eyes. We hated the fact we disappointed our own children." Igneel continued letting out a sigh. His now opened Onyx eyes stared at Natsu in sadness. The pink haired man stood there with tears running down his cheeks. "We are to blame for all of this. I am sorry, Natsu. I am sorry I have hurt you. I am sorry I have disappointed you."
"Do not blame the girl completely. We are to blame also." Metalicana let out looking right at Gajeel. Gajeel just stared at them expressionless. But his red eyes shook as tears threatened to come out. Metalicana smirked at his son's face. "If you let it out, you will get very ugly."
Gajeel tsked at his father looking to the side. His lips lifted up slightly into a smirk.
"Then I will look just as ugly as you." Gajeel let out turning his head back to Metalicana. Matching smirks filled the father and son duo. Metalicana laughed his approval at Gajeel's comment. Gajeel then focused his attention on the sniffing blonde between Igneel and Grandeeney. He grew instantly angry at the sight of her. With a disgusted face, Gajeel marched right up to Lucy. He towered over her covering her in his shadow. Lucy looked up at Gajeel with sadness then sighed looking down waiting for Gajeel to hit her. She doesn't blame him. Gajeel lifted his hand up in anger earning a gasp from everyone and warning yells from Natsu and Cindy. Lucy flinched slightly shutting her eyes tightly. She waited for him to strike. But it never came. The blonde softly and cautiously opened her eyes to only widen them in shock. There bending down to her level was Gajeel. His facial expression still cold and angry as he glared. "Damn sisters. You do whatever you want not caring about what other's feel." Gajeel lifted his hand to Lucy's forehead. Gajeel poked Lucy's forehead with his fingers. He put enough strength knocking Lucy down on her behind. Lucy sat up looking at Gajeel with her mouth agape in shock. "You turned me into a damn sissy making me worry about you. If something happened to you, do you know how much Levi would cry? Do you know if something happened to you, I would have to deal with every single person's fucking tears? I am pissed you kept our Father's from us. But it is not completely your fault. We are all to blame to. I knew something was wrong with you and I didn't follow you. I saw your scars and I didn't fight you about them. I didn't tell Master or anyone about them." Fresh tears came down Lucy's eyes as Gajeel stared at her apologetically. "I'm sorry, Lucy. I should have been obnoxious as those idiots in that damn guild." Gajeel then got up coolly. He played off the fact that he apologized to the crying blonde. He even pretended that he didn't just call her by her real name. The Iron Dragonslayer stared down at Lucy with a sadistic smirk now. "If you want to make it up to me. You will fight me one of these days. I can sense your power in you and I am fired up to test what you can do." Natsu glared at Gajeel in anger not liking that the dark haired man took his famous line.
Lucy stared up at Gajeel in shock then smiled softly. She let out a soft laugh as she nodded at him agreeing to fight him later. Gajeel let out his unique laugh then went to talk to Metalicana. Lucy let out a breath as she looked down to her hands. The green grass tickling her fingers. Her finger softly digging into the soft, cool orange dirt.
Gajeel.
The past seven years while Natsu was gone, that cold hearted iron dragonslayer was like a brother to her. Of course, they fought like cats and dogs sometimes. She would make him watch her son while she was gone on jobs and he would refuse like normal. Which would have left her into threatening him to agree. They bickered then they fought until Levi would intervene. In the end, Gajeel along with Levi would end up watching her son.
"Lucy-san?" Lucy snapped her head up to see Wendy standing in front of her.
Tears still trailed down the sky dragonslayer's eyes as her nose was bright red. Wendy's bottom lip was trembling violently as she held herself from openly sobbing out loud.
"Wendy." Lucy breathed out softly her face softened at the young dragonslayer.
Wendy held out her hand to help her up. Lucy looked at the hand then at the blue haired girl in front of her. Wendy didn't even give her time to grab it for she immediately took ahold of Lucy's hand pulling her up. Lucy let out a yelp in surprise as she was pulled to her feet, hands circled around her shoulders tightly. The sky dragonslayer hugged Lucy tightly sobbing into her shoulder. Lucy apologized to the girl as she hugged her back just as tightly. After what seemed like hours, they both pulled away from each other. They sniffed loudly then giggled at the same time. Both of them wiped their tears away.
"Thank you, Lucy-san." Wendy let out with a smile.
"For what?" Lucy asked confused as to why she was even thanking her.
"For protecting them." The blue haired girl sniffed. She smiled brightly at the blonde. Her eyes shined with happiness. "A Celestial Mage always keeps her promises, right." Lucy smiled back at Wendy nodding her head at her. Lucy knew from the Sky dragonslayer's smile that she forgave her. Understanding was sparkling in Wendy's eyes as she pulled Lucy into another hug. "I was never mad at you, Lucy-san. I know whatever you do is for a good reason. When Cindy-san showed me everything, I understood." Wendy pulled Lucy away at arm's length. She continued to smile brightly at the blonde. Lucy felt herself become overwhelm with emotions again making fresh tears escaped her eyes. "I am sorry, you were alone in this. But you won't be anymore." Lucy nodded pulling in Wendy for another tight hug.
"Thank you, Wendy."
After the girls pulled away, Wendy walked over to Grandeeney. Lucy watched with a curious gaze as the Sky Dragon apologized to her daughter. Wendy started to cry again jumping to her mother's neck hugging her tightly. She dug her face into Grandeeney's soft neck. Wendy cried to Grandeeney letting her know that she loved her. Wendy informed her Dragon that she forgave her. Lucy smiled softly at the scene. After some time, she looked down to the ground then looked back up to face the last Dragonslayer that was left to talk to her.
"Natsu." Lucy whispered in sadness.
The pink haired man just stared back at Lucy in silence. His face was completely as expressionless as his eyes. Panic instantly settled in the blonde as she remembered when they talked next to the lake. She remembered everything that happened when he first discovered about all this. He forgave her, but he didn't trust her. With a sigh, the blonde woman looked down at her feet again. They weren't on good terms since he found out. In fact, there was a heavy tension between them. But he saved her in the caves. He held her limp body as he climbed the ladder. Lucy bit the bottom of her lip in order to keep it from trembling. He screamed in horror when she made herself drop to the ground to kill the dragon. Igneel told her he was frantic about her safety when he carried her here.
When she woke up….
It was like old times. He acted like a child. He stared at her with so much love, compassion, and relief as she sat in front of him. She believed in that moment there was hope for them. She believed that they still had a chance. But, she guesses she was wrong. Natsu was frozen stiff when he sat in front of her. Lucy remembers how frustrated he looked. She actually believed it was because she acted like they were ok. Maybe, he saw the hope in her eyes and hated it. That has to be it. That was why after a while Lucy got up to go check her son while Happy attacked her chest crying.
Lucy shook her head no. Her chest clenched painfully. Her throat felt like it had something huge stuck in it. With calming in and out breaths, Lucy ran a shaking hand through her blonde hair in hopes to calm down. She can't cry about them anymore. If it is Natsu's choice. It is his choice. Lucy will not force anything on him. She will respect him and act accordingly around him. Her heart ached in sadness.
With a heavy sigh, Lucy forced the hope that she felt earlier to stay locked away in her heart. She turned her body away from Natsu towards her sister.
Cindy stood in front of her with her arms crossed over her chest. She sent a piercing glare to Natsu, hating the fact that he just stood there like a fucking idiot doing nothing. The girl then focused her attention to Lucy. Her eyes softened upon seeing how heartbroken Lucy was. Yup, Cindy was going to kick Natsu's ass. It is going to be painful and long. When the water and ice dragonslayer took a step forward towards Natsu, ready to inflict never ending pain on him, she noticed it.
Cindy let out a soft smile when she saw Natsu's eyes blaze with determination. His gaze staring at Lucy's back heatedly.
They still have a chance.
Natsu stomped with purpose towards Lucy. He is not letting her go. He is not going to freeze up again. He is not going to let anyone interrupt. God Damnit! He loves her.
"Lucy." Natsu let out huskily when he got close enough to the blonde.
Lucy's turned around in confusion towards Natsu's voice. It all went in slow motion in front of everyone's eyes. Everyone witnessed with proud smiles as Natsu grabbed Lucy's arms. He slammed her to his chest. In a manly fashion that would make Elfman jealous, Natsu bent his head down claiming Lucy's lips with his. Holding her tightly to him as if she might disappear, the fire dragonslayer kissed her passionately.
"About damn time." Gajeel, Metalicana, and Cindy let out at the same time.
All three of them looked at each other with a smirk.
"Hey Cindy?" Sting let out slinging his arm around her shoulders. Cindy looked up at the blonde man with a glare. She hated when people do that. It makes her feel short. Rogue looked at them both then glared at Stings arm in envy. "What happened in Lucy's head?"
The Twin dragonslayers watched with concern as Cindy immediately paled. She looked like she's seen a ghost. A small tremor went through her body as she saw the horrifying images of what happened in her head. Goose bumps raised on her arms shocking both men. Sting instantly felt guilty that he asked as Rogue smacked his partner in the back of the head. Sting immediately glared at his partner in annoyance then he went to look back at Cindy with concern.
"Dumbass." Rogue growled. The Shadow dragonslayer bent his head closer to Cindy. "Cindy?" He let out softly cupping the girl's cheek with his hand. Her honey brown eyes were unfocused and full of fear. Rogue looked back up at Sting with a scowl. "Do something!"
"I know." Sting retorted. "Cindy? I'm so-." He started to apologize to the girl under his arm, but he was soon cut off.
"No. Don't say sorry." Cindy whispered pulling away from Sting and Rogue. She looked at both Sting and Rogue with a sad smile. Both men's eyes held so much worry, concern, and love for her. "The Dragon tried to fight back. That's it." She shrugged as if it was nothing then smiled brightly at them.
Rogue and Sting oohed as they nodded understandingly. Whatever happened, scarred the girl. It scared the shit out of her and they knew it. She will never want to relive it again. They have known Cindy long enough to know if something painful happens to her, she will not talk about it until she is ready. That's what they will do. They will wait till she is ready to actually talk about what happened. They will comfort her and hold her if she cries then make her laugh to bring a smile to her face. They did promise her before she woke up that they will make her laugh till the end of time.
The twin dragonslayers looked at each other with the same serious expression. They will never break their promise.
"You know you missed a lot." Sting breathed out. He lifted his arms up in the air crossing them in back of his head. He smirked at blonde and red haired girl. Cindy cocked an eyebrow at him. "We didn't get a chance to catch up. I didn't get to tell you that Rogue got arrested for streaking in town."
"No way!" Cindy gasped. She looked at the black haired man in question with wide shocked eyes. Her mouth hanging agape.
"Sting!" Rogue warned. If looks could kill, Sting should be disintegrated right now. "You swore we would never speak of it!"
"I don't remember swearing to anything?" Sting let out. His smile widen evilly at his furious best friend. Rogue growled in anger. "Do you want to know what happened, Cindy?"
"Fuck yeah!" Cindy let out excitedly.
Rogue immediately tackled Sting down before he can say anything. The Shadow dragonslayer attempted to shut his friend up with no avail. Sting maneuvered his way around Rogue blocking expertly his attempts to shut him up. Rogue yelled for him to shut up and then yelled at the laughing Cindy that it wasn't true.
"Idiots." Gajeel let out watching the scene between the three dragonslayers. He had his arms crossed over his chest as he looked around with a bored expression. Wendy, Grandeeney, and Igneel were still talking, secretly planning Natsu and Lucy's wedding. Happy was sitting next to the still unconscious Taiyo looking up hearing the dragon's conversation with Wendy. Erza was red faced and stammering over her words as she stared at Natsu and Lucy still engaged in their passionate lip lock. Gajeel sneered at the sight of the new couple. "Disgusting. Can't they go somewhere else and do that."
"I was thinking the same thing." Metalicana let out bending down his head to Gajeel's level. Gajeel turned to stare at his Father with a sadistic smirk. Metalicana quickly matched the smirk. "I got something for you."
"What is it?"
"Patience, son." Metalicana told him. The large Iron Dragon then turned his head to stare at a certain black exceed talking to Charle. Lily instantly froze upon feeling the large dragon loom over him. "Lily?" Metalicana let out dangerously.
Lily's body let out a terrified shiver from head to toe. The black exceed slowly turned around to face the large Iron Dragon. Sweat beaded down Lily's head as gave Metalicana a tired face. Metalicana just smirked wider. There it was that face. That face that mischievous smirk that Gajeel gave him when they first met. That mischievous smirk that the Iron Dragon has been using on him for the past month while everyone was gone. Lily let out a sigh knowing what he had to do. He had to do it. Mavis knows how much the small exceed truly wanted to run away screaming no to the large Dragon. But frankly he can't. Metalicana scared the shit out of him.
"Do I have to?" Lily let out giving Metalicana an unsure look.
Metalicana simply nodded then motioned for the exceed to go. Lily let out a heavy sigh and went to go do it. Charle watched with pity as the black exceed walked away with his shoulders slumped and his ears down. Poor Lily. He truly did dread for this. Charle knew what Lily is going to do. What Metalicana trained the poor exceed vigorously for the past month to do.
"Where is Lily going?" Gajeel asked completely confused.
"You will see my son." Metalicana simply answered.
The Iron Dragon held a wide scary looking grin as he looked at where Lily disappeared to in excitement. Gajeel let out a unique laugh sitting down on the ground cross legged waiting for what's to come. Soon enough, Lily came back out from the forest in his enlarged form. He wore a shining iron suit as he carried a stool and a guitar in each hand. A winged microphone followed next to him. Gajeel's jaw dropped landing on the ground in shock. Metalicana let out a chuckle at the sight. His son will love this gift.
Everyone immediately stopped what they were doing to watch Lily curiously. As Lily set up for Gajeel's present everyone walked next to the still shocked Gajeel wondering what was going on. The only ones that knew what Lily was doing was Charle and Metalicana. Charle only knew because Lily told her with a terrified expression a few days ago as he begged her to hide him from the Iron Dragon. Sadly, he could never hide from the Iron Dragon.
"What's going-" Natsu went to say, but he was cut off by the strum of the guitar.
"This is for Gajeel." Lily said into the microphone.
Lily closed his eyes begging for a swift death as he strummed his guitar expertly. Everyone gasped in shock at how well Lily was playing the instrument. They couldn't believe at the beautiful sounds that came out from it. All the dragonslayer's stared at the large suited exceed in awe. Amazing.
Then he opened his mouth and chaos exploded. Lily belted out discordantly into the microphone making almost everyone scream in agony as they covered their ears. He sang about the friendship between Iron and a cat. He even put that damn phrase Gajeel always puts in when he sings. Natsu, Sting, Rogue, Cindy, and Igneel yelled furiously for it to stop. Metalicana just laughed at their reactions enjoying every minute of it.
"G-gajeel. Shut your damn cat up." Cindy roared grabbing Gajeel's shoulder forcing him to look at her. "No fucking way." Cindy let out in shock upon seeing Gajeel's face.
The Iron dragonslayer was openly crying. Tears were seriously streaming down his eyes like rivers as he clasped his hands together. Cindy backed away from Gajeel in fear not liking this side of him.
"It's so beautiful." Gajeel sobbed.
"That's fucking it!" Natsu and Sting roared at the same time.
Lucy squealed in shock as she jumped out of the way of a tree the two dragonslayers sent flying towards Lily. The tree slammed into the poor black exceed knocking him unconscious with a huge welt on his head. Fishes were flying freely over his head making Happy chase them happily.
Silence fell in the dragon realm for about a split second as everyone stared at Lily. Rapidly, everyone snapped as a screaming and fighting chaos ensued. Wendy, Erza, Charle, and Grandeeney watched as everyone fought in front of them. Their voices roaring into the sky.
"You did not just fucking hit my cat, Flame Ass!"
"He needed to shut up! God that was awful."
"Natsu! Sting! I am going to kill you! You almost hit me with the damn tree!"
"You dumbass! Could have decapitated my sister!"
"This was your most important project that you have been working on for a month. How could you teach that to that poor cat!"
"You are burning with envy aren't you, Igneel. My son's cat is better than yours!"
"Where the hell do you think you're touching, Rogue!"
"I'm sorry, Cin-"
"That's my fucking ass you shadow puppet!"
"What's going on?" Taiyo groaned finally awakening from his slumber. Wendy, Erza, Charle, and Grandeeney all snapped their heads to the small boy to see him sitting up. He rubbed his eyes with his small hands as he let out a soft yawn. "ummmm." Taiyo then looked around confused. His small eyes landed at everyone fighting in front of him. His mother had kicked Natsu in the face then blocked a blow from Gajeel while his aunt sent Rogue and Sting flying slamming into Metalicana, who was butting heads with a furious Igneel. "Why is everyone fighting?" The small boy breathed out not taking any notice to the dark aura surrounding a certain scarlet mage.
Grandeeney grabbed both a confused Taiyo and a worried Wendy by the tail. The Sky Dragon placed them safely on her back away from danger. Charle also flew up away from the danger that is going to be unleashed soon.
"You all dare to wake the boy up!" Erza roared.
Everyone immediately ran screaming in horror as Erza unleashed her wrath. Explosion shook the ground furiously as swords flew all around. Trees were toppled over and uprooted. Girlish screams pierced the air that weren't even from the girls.
"What is wrong with this human girl?" Metalicana yelled.
******************************************************Protecting Dragons********************************************************
Outside the Dragon realm in the dense forest surrounding the city of Ember, lies a deep darkness. A terrifying evil with a strong thirst for revenge. They lurked blending into the shadows of the trees lying in wait for more than a month now. Some of them were starting to grow tired of the wait.
"How long more do we have to wait, Rue." A deep voice growled through the shadows.
"As long as it takes! They believe they got away with killing out master, but they did not. We will kill that wench that killed our master. Then we will kill her son and consume his heart for ourselves." A reptile-like grotesque man roared making all his men cheer in excitement.
"What about the dragons, Rue?"
"The dragons?" Rue let out a throaty laugh. He smiled widely showing off his sharp fangs. "We will save them for last. Let them watch their precious humans die in front of their very eyes." Rue along with his men roared with laughter at the thought. After some time, they stopped. The shadows watched Rue as he lifted his scale filled hand up. Digging his claws into the tree in front of him. "First, we need to draw them all out. We wait patiently, men. Patiently for our first victim to come out."