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Hiro Mashima owns Fairytail.
"I'll give you just 7 hours… that is all I can do. If you don't come back—" The captain said to the three.
"Thank you so much. We'll be back soon. We promise." Lucy said smiling..
The captain sighed and looked nervously ahead.. Lucy turned around and stared at the sight before her.. an erupting volcano.
Hands slipped into both of hers and held tightly.
Gray on her left.. Natsu on her right.. they held onto her hands gently yet firmly.
"Ready?" Natsu smiled.
Gray smiled.
Lucy let out a deep breath of air. "Yosh."
Master Makarov and Master Mavis stood in front of the office desk. His eyes wide with shock. Master Mavis was quiet.
Laxus, Orga, and Rufus were standing in front of the masters. They had just informed Master Makarov that it was in fact future FairyTail members that had come to their time.. and Lucy Heartfilia had and was currently with them right now. And that would mean, it was one of their own that had attacked Wendy, Carla, and Happy.. that it was one of their own who had probably altered time through their interference with this period.
There was so much that they didn't know. Why did Lucy hide them? Why didn't she say something? Why did they run off with her? Why did they attack Wendy? Why.. why.. why…
Master Makarov had a gut feeling.. a really bad feeling that something was wrong.. that for some overwhelming reason.. that his own children did not seek him out.. did not seek for help.. sought out to deal with it alone..
And now.. she really was alone.. excommunicated from her own family that she had left..
Master Mavis remained silent.. because she knew. She had a feeling that man in the cloak was on of their own.. that he wasn't of their time. She had met Lucy and the cloaked man before they had decided to leave. Lucy had asked her to remove the guild mark despite the man's protests.. Lucy only replied that she would return.. and the removal was only temporary. But as the first master.. she couldn't go against Lucy's wishes.. she trusted that her child would return after everything had been taken care of.. whatever issue it may be. And her family would be waiting.. FairyTail would always be waiting for her return.
Master Makarov clenched his fists… "Laxus…"
Orga and Rufus watched Laxus watch his grandfather's every move.
The master looked up at him with a serious gaze.. that of a father.. a protective and angry father..
"Notify Gajeel.. I'll call Erza, Gray, and Natsu….." He said
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"Find her." He said in a low voice..
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BOOOM!
The office door and the guild doors slammed open. Downstairs, people yelled in anger. "Laxus!"
Orga crossed his arms.. Rufus walked up towards Master Makarov.
"We will take our leave now. Our best regards in finding Lucy Heartfilia. If we learn anything about her whereabouts, we will make sure to let you know Master Makarov."
"Thank you Rufus. Send my regards to Sting will you." Master Makarov said in a tired voice.
Rufus bowed and turned to leave. Orga followed after. Soon the office doors were closed again.
Master Makarov sighed…
Master Mavis walked over to the couch and sat.. deep in thought.
The grandfather clock tick tocked away.
Sitting in a bar.. he was drinking his emotions away.. beer after beer.. he chugged the mugs down.. his vision blurring.. he had the Sorcerer Magazine in his hands.. he rubbed Lucy's face with his thumb.. water droplets dropped onto the magazine page.. she was smiling so happy in the picture.. and yet here he was in bar.. trying to make the pain go away.. the overwhelming pain..
His anger and sorrow rose as he gazed upon Lucy holding hands with a stranger.. no.. it was no ordinary stranger.. it was him.
He couldn't believe he didn't notice it earlier. It was himself from the future.. a different hair style and color thanks to Cancer.. he was the one in the picture.. walking beside her.. dining with her.. smiling with her.. making her laugh.. holding her hand.. the very same man that took her on that boat..
And so… It was his own fault.. that Lucy… that Lucy… it was bad enough that Ur.. that Ultear… and now her…
He clenched a fistful of his hair.. tears running down..
"I'm sorry… I'm sorrryyyyy….." Gray repeated to himself..
"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" he let loose his magic.
The unsuspecting people in the bar looked over at Gray like deer in headlights. Their eyes wide before the chilling magic burst towards them.
It was so hot.. she held on tightly to his cool body as he carried her and walked along the steaming volcanic rock. She was blushing wildly as his bare chest was against her body.
"You cool enough Lucy?" Gray asked.
"Yea." Lucy said softly.
"If you want me to carry you instead let me know Luce.." Natsu said walking beside them.
"Stupid flamehead.. she'll just get even hotter if you carry her. Defeats the point of us carrying her at all." Gray said walking along the volcanic rock.
With each step he took, the volcanic rock steamed as he used his magic to cool the ground, making it possible for him and Lucy to continue on their journey on the volcano. He let out a steady output of ice magic, cooling the air around him so Lucy and he wouldn't overheat. A piece of cake for an S-class mage like him.
"Whatever. I'm sure she'd rather be in my arms than yours stripper." Natsu growled.
"Oh I'd beg to differ. I'm sure she's absolutely loving it in my cool muscular arms. Aren't you Lucy?" Gray smirked looking at her.
Lucy blushed tomato. "Gray! Don't say such things!"
"See. She doesn't deny it. Because it is true." Gray said looking over at Natsu. Smiling in victory.
"Just you wait.. when we get off this island.. she'll be in my arms. Like always. NOT YOURS." Natsu said yelling back.
"Well.. times have changed Natsu. Times have changed." Gray said smirking as he tossed Lucy in the air a little, making her squeak. He caught her gently and held tighter.
"I'm not a toy to be fought over!" Lucy yelled at them.
"Of course you're not a toy Luce. You're much more special than that" Natsu said smiling.
RRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR!
The three stopped in their tracks.. Lucy's eyes widened in fear… that roar… that sound.. a flashback of the Eclipse Gate.. the fire… the destruction.. she began to tremble.
His arms around her tightened.. "Don't worry Lucy.. I've got you." Gray said looking sternly ahead.
She was amazed at how composed he was.. how easily he controlled his magic despite the overwhelming heat of the volcano.. and…how handsome he looked doing so.
Looking over at Natsu.. she was just as amazed with him. The hot air and steam rose around Natsu.. his body glistened with slight sweat.. but overall, the heat wasn't bothering him at all. And his face… his excitement evident in his wide grin and the glint in his eyes..
"Dad…" He said softly.
Startled.. "Dad…?" she said. "You mean… you mean we're here to see…"
She turned her gaze towards the canyon in front of her.. her eyes widened..
Scaled wings stretched out from the canyon.. a red scaled tale was seen rolling over the top.
Badump Badump Badump her heart began to beat faster.
"Yup. We're here to see my dad. Igneel" Natsu said smiling confidently.
In the shadows.. a yellow dragon eye opened.. and began to ascend. The head of a fearsome fire dragon appeared in the light and the dragon spread it's wings out wide.. on its fours, the dragon came closer.. smoke and fire came out of its mouth..
Lucy hid herself in Gray's chest. The two men stared straight on at Igneel. Igneel stopped right in front of them and towered over the three.
"Natsu…."
"Hi Dad." Natsu smiled.
"How have you found me?"
"Dad…I'm from the future. My current me has no idea I'm here.. or that you're here." Natsu said calmly.
"Why have you come? You should not be here."
"I am here to save this girl's life." Natsu said looking over at Lucy. She looked over at Natsu with soft eyes. "This is Lucy Heartfilia.. my partner. And the stripper here is Gray Fullbuster."
"Pleasure to meet you sir. I am also here from the future.. to save Lucy's life." Gray said calmly.
"Fullbuster…. Lucy….." Igneel said bringing down his head so he can see her closely.
She looked over at Igneel's head and eye.. she tugged Gray's shoulder.. and Gray let her down onto her own feet.
"It is an honor to meet you Igneel" Lucy bowed. "I am Lucy Heartfilia, the celestial mage from FairyTail."
"Yes.. I know all about you. You… are the girl that opened the Eclipse Gate."
Lucy's eyes widened.
"And I know my son has a fondness for you. I've been watching him closely and I thank you for taking care of him." Igneel said bringing his head up again.
"It has been my pleasure.. he is a good friend… Natsu really misses you." Lucy said looking up at him.
Natsu looked away.. Gray just watched Lucy with soft eyes..
"I know."
"Then why haven't you come for him? Why.. do you leave him alone?" Lucy said firmly.
"Little girl…" Igneel growled now.
"He's been searching all over for you.. plagued by all the possible reasons why he was abandoned… he really needed you.." Lucy said heartbroken for Natsu.
She felt a hand on her shoulder.. she turned around to see Natsu look at her with a pained face.
"It's okay Lucy…" Natsu said smiling weakly.
"No it's not okay!" Lucy yelled. "You might have seen your dad in the future and came to terms with the Igneel of your time. But my Natsu hasn't. He doesn't know that his dad is here perfectly fine and living.. and had not once tried to make contact with him."
"Lucy Heartfilia" Igneel's voice echoed throughout the canyons around them.
Lucy looked up at Igneel with an angry serious face.. but it wasn't an angry face at all.. it actually looked like a pout.
Igneel raised his eyes in amusement.
"My son.. has done perfectly fine without me.. he has found a family of his own.. to cherish and make memories with.. he has found good friends like you."
She softened her face and continued to watch Igneel. Sweat forming in bullets as the heat started to get to her.
"Lucy.." Natsu said "Everything will be okay. I'll be okay. In the future.. dad and I will meet. And everything will become clear." Natsu smiled. "Right dad?"
Igneel grinned, his pearly white sharp teeth was showing. He really was a magnificent looking fire dragon. The scales and claws.. the large wings..
Lucy smiled.. "I guess.. if you can talk to him so calmly like that.. I'm sure everything will be fine."
Suddenly, she began to tilt.. without herself even knowing.. to herself, she was standing perfectly fine.. the world began to swirl..
"LUCY!" Gray dashed over to her and lifted her up bridal style again.
"Gray… I'm.. fine." Lucy said having trouble breathing.
"No you're not.. you have a heat stroke right now.. why didn't you say anything!" Gray scolded her.
Her vision began to waver. She felt weak.
"Dad." Natsu said abruptly. "Lucy's in trouble… she's… dying."
Igneel leaned in closer to her.
"She's suffering from magical depletion syndrome.. her body is slowly losing its ability to make its own magic.." Gray said seriously.. "If we don't do anything soon… she will die.. the more she uses her magic, the closer she gets.. without using any magic, she's just prolonging the inevitable."
Lucy was breathing hard.. Gray continued to cool her body as he held onto her.
"Even now.. her body can't undergo strenuous activities or environments.. she's even having a hard time healing.. and honestly.. we don't know how much time she has left.. " Gray said softly..
Lucy looked up at him with sad eyes.. Gray gazed upon her face.. her sweat glistening face.. with a gauze pad taped onto her forehead.
"We need something that can give Lucy magic." Gray said looking back up at Igneel.
Natsu stepped forward to Igneel.
"Dad… where's Draco?"
He was on the train now.. taking out the crystal orb.. he activated it. Soon, he saw a studded face..
"Stop whatever mission you're on. Jiji has a new mission for us."
"Tch.. No.. I have something I need to do and I'm already on a mission with Lily and Levy."
"Just scrap the mission, take Levy home, and do as I say." Laxus growled and glared through the communication lacrima.
Gajeel sensed the different air to Laxus.. his normal apathetic self was now gone..
"What's going on…" Gajeel said lowly.
"Lucy… she.. was with the future us on her S-class mission.."
"So I was right." Gajeel said glaring away from the lacrima.
"What? You knew?" Laxus said wide-eyed.
"No.. I had a hunch.. I was able to get some information about the men she traveled with. And the hotel I am currently staying at happens to have an employee that recognized me. How did you find out?"
"Rufus and Orga were there during her S-class mission. Rufus showed me what happened that day. I saw us."
Gajeel remained silent..
"Jiji has ordered us to find her." Laxus said with narrowed eyes.
"I was trying to anyway." Gajeel said looking back.
"Take Levy back and don't tell her."
"Don't need to tell me."
With that the lacrima turned off..
"I will find you Blondie.. you think you're so clever… but just like before.. I will eventually find you."
"Luce.. Igneel... where are you..." He thought to himself as he gazed up at the stars above.
Lisanna walked up to Natsu and slid her hand in his. He looked at her with wide eyes that softened after seeing her smiling face.
"Cmon Natsu. It's getting late. We'll look tomorrow." Lisanna said pulling him along.
He watched Lisanna from behind.. he looked at his hands that were being held by Lisanna. Her hands were warm.
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It felt nice.