Sorry for keeping you all in the dark. I'm having a little writer's block. I know where I want to go with the story... but I just don't know how to get there. Haha. Hope you like this chapter.
Let me know how I did! :)
Hiro Mashima owns FairyTail
Natsu and the others surfaced.. they took in a breath of much needed air.. they looked over at Lucy and found her being held in Aquarius' arms.. Aquarius was watching her master with a frown.. Lucy was panting for air.. she smiled..
"Thanks aquarius.."
"Can you stand?"
"Yes." Lucy tried standing but her legs wouldn't hold her up. She stumbled and tried not to show her struggle.
Aquarius saw through her.. how much Lucy had grown… just like Layla.. she was in pain.. and just like her mother.. she tried hard not to show any weakness..
When Lucy had called for her, Aquarius knew that Lucy wouldn't be able to hold her gate open for too long.. and so she had tried to help Lucy as fast as possible and let her rest. Luckily for her.. she had her notorious bullying persona that she had built up throughout the years and knew that Lucy would mistake her actual concern and well thought out plan… as insensitive bullying as always.
"Lucy.. I'm proud of you.. you have to live.. don't give up.."
Lucy's eyes widened at Aquarius' change in character.. The men smiled warmly at the scene..
Lucy smiled.. "I promise."
Aquarius brought Lucy over to Natsu.
"She's getting cold."
Natsu gently wrapped his arms around Lucy… and with a bright flash Aquarius was gone.
"You overdid it again didn't you…" Natsu frowed as he looked at her.
"Ehehe…"
"Luce.. you can't keep using your magic… not until we find Draco.."
"I know… but it was just a little.. and I helped us get inside"
"Thanks Lucy.. but next time.. let us figure it out.. okay?" Gray said putting his hand on her head.
"Okay.." Lucy smiled.
Natsu lifted Lucy up bridal style and got out of the pool. The others followed after.
"Sure is dark.." Lucy said looking ahead into the tunnel.
"Don't worry Luce.. You've got me." Natsu said smiling. "I'll use my magic to light the way."
"And how do you plan on doing that without burning her." Laxus said walking up to him. He put his arms under Lucy and gently took her from Natsu.
"Laxus.." Natsu growled.
"C'mon.. matchstick. Light the way" Gajeel said smirking as he pushed Natsu forward.
Natsu growled and lit his body on fire. The heat was nice on their bodies as the tunnel was chillier than they had expected.
Lucy looked up at Laxus and saw him looking ahead.. she stared at his face and thought he hadn't noticed her.. she felt him hold tighter onto her body and bring her closer. She smiled… and without even looking.. Laxus smiled too.
Natsu leading the way, the rest followed.
She closed her eyes.. she was exhausted.. the walk to the waterfall had been a lot more difficult than it should have been.. bringing out Virgo and Aquarius had caused her to lose most of her energy.. and now she was too tired to even think about being embarrassed for being held by a half naked Laxus when she was half-naked herself.
She found herself in that position a lot lately.. being held by half naked guys..
She was happy.
No matter her circumstance.. no matter her pain and trials.. she couldn't help but to feel blessed. In the last two weeks.. she had been the happiest woman in all of Fiore. She had gone on her first "date" (at least she considered it so) with Gray Fullbuster. She had gotten a kiss from THE Laxus Dreyar.. She had her first real kiss with her best friend and long time crush the one and only Natsu Dragneel, Salamander of FairyTail.. and she had been hit on, nursed, and even fed by the Black Steel Gajeel Redfox. And all four.. had given her precious gifts that could make any woman's heart melt into mush.
She had lived a life full of love.. with adventure.. making friends and family along the way.. FairyTail…. And she couldn't wait to experience more with them in the future. But even if they couldn't find Draco.. even if there wasn't a way… she knew.. that she would die happy… she had no regrets.. all was well.
In his warm arms.. hearing his soft pulsing heartbeat.. she fell asleep… smiling.
Everything back at the guild was calm and peaceful. Lisanna had come back a week ago with Happy.. when everyone asked where Natsu was, she just told them with a weak smile that he was meeting his dad. No one bothered her about Natsu after. Even happy remained silent about the matter. They had waited 3 days at Hargeon.. waiting for Natsu to miraculously arrive.. it was only until Gray and Juvia announced that they were leaving.. did it make it clear.. Natsu.. may not want to come back.. at least not for a while.. and with heavy hearts, Lisanna and Happy had come home.
Mira didn't bother to ask.. she knew better.. she knew that Natsu had gone after Lucy.. but in the process he had met his dad.. causing more confusion and questions.. What did Lucy have to do with Igneel? What was she doing with them? How was she? Where was she now?
She washed the mugs silently.. praying that Laxus, Gray, Gajeel, Natsu, and Erza.. would find her soon.
"Natsu… "
"Yea dad?"
"You don't have much time left.."
"Time for what? I can stay here as long as I want with you. I'm not losing you again."
"Even if it means you lose Lucy."
Natsu froze.. then he thought of the cloaked man he had fought.. and what Gray had told him before they got on the island. That he was sure it was themselves, from the future.. and for some reason… it hurt that Lucy kept it from all of them.. especially him.. she was his best friend.. besides Happy.. how could she keep such a important secret.. how could she not tell him..
"I can sense her.. she doesn't have much time left.. she's already found him.."
"Who?" Natsu said whispering.
"Metallicana."
Natsu's eyes widened.. a shiver ran down his spine.. metallicana.. Gajeel's dragon..
"But it's too late… her body is already too weak…"
Natsu stood up from his seat.. he looked towards the shore.. eyes wide..
"Luce…" he started running towards the shore.
"Go to the waterfall west of Crocus."
"Thanks dad! I'll be back! I promise!" Natsu said looking back while running.
"Bring back your mate next time!" Igneel's voice resounded throughout the island.
Natsu frowned.. Mate… what was Igneel talking about.. he didn't have a mate… he brushed it aside.. "Luce I'm coming!" he thought.
As he watched his son run.. he felt proud that he had grown so strong.. so tall.. all on his own..
"Thank you… for growing up so well.." He thought as he took a step forward towards Natsu.. continuing as far as he could go..
CLINK*
He couldn't move any further.. he looked towards his left foot.. a red magic chain was wrapped around it and it extended all the way to the volcano. Looking back at his son.. he watched Natsu with fierce eyes..
"Go my son and show them whose son you are." Igneel said in a low voice.
"I can smell him.. we're close.. meaning he can smell us too…" Natsu said walking further into the cave.
"YO DAD!" Gajeel yelled, his voice echoed throughout the caves.
*Rumble Rumble Rumble*
The cave began to shake like a huge earthquake. Laxus held onto Lucy tighter.. Natsu, Gray, and Gajeel stood as if nothing was happening.
Laxus looked down at Lucy..
A giant dark figure was seen in the distance.. and it came closer with heavy steps..
"Blondie… time to wake up." he gently shook Lucy. She was still smiling gently as she slept. She wouldn't wake up.. he stopped shaking her and decided to let her sleep.. the bags under her eyes were getting darker..
Natsu, Gray, and Gajeel kept looking forward while they kept their ears alert for what was going on behind him.
A large sleek metal head.. and metal claws stopped right in front of them.
"Gajeel…." Metallicana said in a growl.
"Hi Dad….." Gajeel said warmly.
"Why are you here.. this world can not handle two brats of you. I don't want to deal with two of you." he said.
"Tch… don't worry.. I wont be here long.. though you don't even deal with me now or in the future anyways. So there's nothing you deal with anyways."
"Are you mocking me boy?" Metallicana seethed..
"We don't have time to play around… Dad.. where's Draco?"
Metallicana froze.. "how do you know about Draco…. and why are you asking me?" he growled.
"Natsu here.. is Igneel's son.."
Natsu came up and smiled. "It's nice to meet you Metallicana."
"So you're Igneel's boy.." Metallicana said
"Igneel told me that you know where Draco is… we know about her because in the future.. we know more about dragons than we do now.. and we know about July 7, x777."
Metallicana looked annoyed.. "Igneel…" he growled.
"We need to see Draco as soon as possible.. will you help us?" Natsu asked.
"I have a friend.. she's dying… she needs Draco's lacrima to live.." Gajeel said
"HA! Draco's lacrima to live?!... more like it will kill her."
What happened next shocked everyone to the bone.. Gajeel…. Fell to his knees..
"She's losing her magic.. she doesn't have much time left.. please.. help us…"
Natsu came up next to Gajeel and knelt as well.
"Please Metallicana…"
Gray came up and knelt next to Natsu.
"Please help us."
Metallicana watched the three kneeling boys with a frown.. and now he could see Laxus in the back.. holding Lucy.. the sleeping blonde girl… he could sense that she was indeed getting weaker in her already weak state.. her keys dangling from her belt… a good amount of keys in fact..
"...Draco…. is dead."
Pant pant.. run.. rustle rustle rustle..
He ran through the forest.. and now.. he could see Crocus up ahead..
"I'm almost there…" he thought to himself..
He ran through the city entrance.. through the streets.. looking for a specific store. Spotting it down the street.. he ran towards it.. he ran inside and scared the people in the store.
"What…can I do for you sir?" the man behind the counter said shakily.
"I… pant… need… pant.. to send a letter." He said trying to catch his breath.. he took out the letter in his pocket and gave it over to the man.
"Okay sir.. I'll put this in an envelope.. and what—"
"I want your fastest service.. and I need it sent to Wendy Marvel who lives in Fairy Hills.. in Magnolia.. ASAP" he said straightening up and breathing normally now.
"Right away sir." The man went bustling about to get the necessary papers.
He just hoped that he had made it in time.. time was ticking.. and throughout all his life.. he had never wished so hard that time would slow or stop.
"Have you seen this girl?" she demanded.
"No!" the man cowered in fear.
"Have you seen this girl?" she faced a woman.
"No..o…." the woman ran away.
"Have you seen this girl?" she faced a little boy with an ice cream cone in his hand.
The little boy began to cry and ran away.
"Lucy…" she punched a tree and caused the tree trunk to blast. What remained looked like something had bit into the tree.
"Where are you…." Erza said with pained eyes.
In the shadows… a dark figure watched Erza with beady eyes.. a menacing toothy grin slowly crept on his face… and in a swift movement, he was gone.
He stepped out of the store now.. it was time to head back.. he was about to walk to his right when someone clamped their hands onto his left shoulder and pulled him towards them. His eyes widened….
"You…" he growled…
"Loke-san… it's been a while" a black exceed said on the man's shoulder.
"Gajeel… Lily!" Loke stuttered..
.
.
Gajeel grabbed Loke's collar and brought him closer.. he glared into Loke's eyes…
"Where… is she?" he said in a low dangerous voice.
.
.
.
.
Loke smiled… "With your father."
And with that.. his body began to light up and in a flash, he was gone.
Gajeel's eyes were wide… so were Lily's… his father?... like his dragon father?
"Metallicana…" he whispered.
Tick…
He started too look around the street in a panic.
Tock..
By backtracking Loke's scent.. he followed it out of the town.. and saw himself being drawn into the forest..
Tick...
He ran into the forest.. running through the brush and through the trees.. desperately hoping for a sign..
Tock…
Sniff sniff… a small hint of vanilla.. peaches….. smoke…. Water.. adrenaline pumping.. his heart was pounding hard..
"Found you." He clenched his fists and dashed deeper into the forest…