Hiro Mashima owns FairyTail
"LUCY!?" Everyone yelled.
The little Lucy covered her sensitive ears and flinched.
"WHAT HAPPENED!" Levy said "Where were you?! We were so worried!" pushing through the crowd to get to her. She crouched down and hugged Lucy.
"Sorry Levy-chan.. everyone.. I just met up with.." Lucy said.
"Dr. Brom right? If you were with him, how did you end up like that?!" Gray asked coming up now.
"Dr. Brom?! How do you know him!?" someone asked.
"LUSHY IS A BABY!" Happy said flying above.
"Luce! Did someone do that to you? Who was it! I'll go beat them up!" Natsu said lighting his fist on fire.
"NATSU! HAPPY! YOU'RE BACK! No no.. I'm fine. I just got some medicine from Dr. Brom and this just happens to be a side effect. It should only last for a little while. I met him on my last mission." Lucy smiled warmly.
But her smile…
Metallicana and Igneel raised an eyebrow at her.. Grandeeny just watched Lucy silently.
Several people, the ones closest to Lucy, could tell that her smile was suspicious.. something about it made them worry.
Mira walked up to Lucy. She quickly picked her up and hugged her tightly.
"OH LUCY YOU LOOK SO CUTE! I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE SAFE"
"Mi…ra… can't.. BREATHE!"
"Sorry.." Mira said putting Lucy down. "I couldn't help it." Mira smiled.
Lisanna popped up out from behind Mira and also hugged Lucy. "LUCYY AAHHH! YOU'RE SO CUTE!"
"Hi..Li…saannnaa!" Lucy's eyes were about to pop out.
Lisanna put Lucy down and Lucy finally could breathe on her two feet.
"LUCY!" Asuka came running in between the legs of the guild members.
"Hi Asuka!" Lucy said now standing eye to eye with Asuka.
"You have to run! I'll hold him back!" Asuka said turning around and holding her toy gun up.
"huh? Run from who?" Lucy tilted her head in confusion.
From over Asuka's head.. came a figure.. a tall bulky figure.. taking heavy steps.
Lucy's eyes widened.. and now she paled and her body began to shake. Laxus was coming for towards her with a death glare.. she totally forgot what she had done to him. She also forgot about the mission… OH THE MISSION!
She turned around and was about to run for the guild doors.
BBOOOMMMMMM! The doors were held shut as a tall figure had his hands on them. He turned around and looked down at the Lucy.
"Hehe… Hi.. Laxus..." Lucy cowered behind Asuka.
Laxus swooped down and lifted Lucy up with both his hands and brought her to eye level.
"Blondie…" Laxus growled. He glared at her.
Lucy's eyes began to widen.. Laxus cringed.. he began to smell salt.. he growled in frustration.
Comic tears began to stream down Lucy's face as she trembled.
"LAXUS PUT LUCY DOWN! YOU'RE SCARING HER!" Cana yelled angrily drunk.
"I'm sorry Laxus…. I didn't mean to.." Lucy cried with large wet eyes..
Lucy turned her head towards Mira while her comic tears streamed down her face..
"Oh Lucy!" Mira rushed over and took Lucy from Laxus.
"I really didn't mean to… I…" Lucy cried into Mira's chest. Mira held Lucy warmly and demon death glared Laxus.
"WHAT?!" Laxus looked incredulously at Mira and everyone. He had a tick mark on his head as he glared down Lucy's head.
"That BRAT ! # #$ #% BLONDIE!" Laxus cursed inside his head.
"Of course you didn't. Laxus is just being Laxus." Mira said as she walked away towards Natsu and Gray.
Mira put Lucy on top of the table they were sitting at and let her sit with her teammates.
"There. Natsu and Gray will protect you."
"HA! Like they had any chance against me" Laxus scoffed as he walked past them furious and electricity sparking.
"What!? I'll take you on Laxus! Fight me!" Natsu yelled
Mira demon death glared Laxus and Laxus just walked away. She looked back at Lucy and smiled warmly.
Lucy looked towards Laxus as he walked away with tears still brimming her eyes. She felt so guilty… Laxus was really mad at her this time.. somehow it just felt AWFUL.
She wasn't left alone in her thoughts enough before large hands wrapped around her waist and lifted her up in the air. She swung her gaze around to the person holding her and found herself staring into a man's eyes.
"Hahahaha. She is a weird one." A man said.
Weird?! Who was calling her weird?! She was getting irritated now. Lucy frowned slightly and was about to yell in protest, but she noticed the man had pink hair.. JUST like Natsu's.
She blinked several times..
"Hello Lucy." The man said.
His voice… Lucy's eyes widened.. the pink hair… the eyes…
"Igneel" Lucy said incredulously. "How.. When.. What?!"
Igneel smirked. Putting Lucy on the table again, he crossed his arms and looked at her closely.
Grandeeny walked up next to Igneel and smiled warmly at Lucy.
"Hello Lucy.. it's a pleasure to finally meet you. I want to personally thank you… for helping save us." Grandeeny said warmly.
"No.. I didn't do anything at all."
"Sure you did. You and your magic have allowed us to be found by our children. Without you, we'd still be imprisoned possibly for many more years."
"You were a key to our freedom. And we thank you." Igneel said.
Lucy looked at the two dragons.. and smiled warmly. She looked towards the right and found a new older man sitting next to Gajeel. Her eye contact with the older man's eyes… his and gajeel's trademark smirk… gave her all that she needed to know. She smiled.
"I'm glad to have helped." Lucy said. She looked at Igneel's right shoulder, Grandeeny's right shoulder, Metallicana's left shoulder. Her eyes widened and her smiled widened.
"YOU'RE ALL IN FAIRYTAIL! And human! How are you human!?"
"Yup and that's why we're partying! They went to Warrod-sama and with his help was able to turn into humans like us" Levy said happily.
"Then what are we waiting for! Let's parttyy!"
"YEA!"
Lucy smiled widely with teeth showing.
"I told you I'd help you find Igneel someday." Lucy said towards Natsu.
"And Grandeeny" Lucy said to Wendy.
"Metallicana." Lucy said waving over to the dark trio in the shadows.
Suddenly, Natsu lifted Lucy and embraced her. Embraced her as if he hadn't seen her in years.
"Natsu" Lucy said wide-eyed.
"Thank you Luce… " Natsu whispered.
Lucy smiled. "What are partners for." She hugged him back as tight as she could with her little arms.
They let each other go and smiled.
"ALRIGHT LET'S PARTTYY!" Lucy said fist pumping the air.
"YEA!"
The guild doors slammed open.
Clinking was heard as a red headed mage stepped in.
"ERZA!" They all shouted.
"What is the meaning of this." Erza said as she looked around seeing everyone gathered and having a party without her.
Her eyes travelled around and noticed new faces… and Lucy.
Lucy and Erza's eyes locked.
"LUCY?!"
Gray and Natsu paled… and began to inch away from Lucy and Erza. Again…. The two of them had left Lucy and once again something had happened to her. Meaning…. Punishment was inevitable.
"RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!" Natsu and Gray yelled to each other.
A few hours later.
Natsu and Gray were knocked out cold in the middle of the guild. Erza was filled in to Lucy's condition and the party was still raging on.
Igneel, Grandeeny, Metallicana, Master Makarov, and Master Mavis were sitting together watching the youngsters and other older team members party. Igneel just shook his head at the sight of his son passed out on the guild floor. Metallicana just drank away his beer. Grandeeny was having fun watching the excitement in the guild.
Lucy was sitting with the girls, enjoying her milkshake. She looked around the hall and watched Gajeel and Lily draw on Natsu and Gray's faces. Their "gihi" giggles could be heard clearly with her sensitive ears and she just shook her head smiling at them.
"Boy did we avoid another thunder palace today." Lucy heard someone say. She turned her head towards Macao and Wakaba.
"Yea… I haven't seen Laxus that mad since then."
"Glad that Lucy came back like that. Otherwise we'd all be fried like before."
"Nah… Laxus' has changed. He'd only fry her."
"Haha…. Ha…. You're right." Wakaba said taking a puff of his cigarette.
She sweat dropped and looked away. She turned her gaze towards Laxus.. and there he was sitting with the raijinshuu… death glaring her down. Chills went down her spine and she shuddered from his terrifying gaze. She gulped and crouched down to hide away from his sight. She slid away quietly to not get noticed by the girls. She was NOT ready to die from him. Just as she had decided before, she would ignore him and their relationship would go back to how it was before.
Stepping down from the chair, Lucy found herself standing next to Asuka.
"OH hi Asuka. Thank you for trying to help me."
"Mhm! No problem Lucy! But stay away from uncle Laxus.. he's really mad at you. I heard momma and papa talk about him and his team being in a magazine."
"Magazine..? OOOOHHHH!" Lucy paled.. magazine.. Sorcerer Weekly.. the runway request.. modeling..
THAT WAS WHY?! Lucy paled and felt her mouth go dry. It was worse than she thought. Ten times worse. Not only had she bailed on her mission.. but Laxus had filled in for her?! And specifically that mission?! But he had wanted to take it from her in the first place! Why was he so angry?!
Lucy sighed. Asuka giggled.
"It's okay! Uncle Laxus isn't so scary. He's actually a big softie." Asuka whispered.
"Heh…." Lucy squinted as she thought of thunder palace Laxus. Yea.. BIG softie… NOT!
"Well I'm going to head home. See you later Asuka!" Lucy whispered. She signaled Asuka to keep it a secret and began walking towards the guild doors.
"Bye!" Asuka whispered.
Lucy snaked underneath people's feet and tables. Closer and closer she came to the guild doors. She opened the door slightly and slipped out quietly.
The night breeze was amazing on her skin. She walked along the streets and was amazed at how big everything looked. The river looked larger as she walked along the ledge.
"Be careful little girl! Don't do that! It's dangerous!" the men called from a boat.
"It's okay!" Lucy waved at them.
"It's dangerous!" they yelled.
Suddenly she felt someone grab her from behind and lift her up.
"AAAAHHHHHHH!" she squealed. She kicked and trashed with her little arms and hands.
"Woah… calm down bunny."
Lucy froze and blinked several times. The hands lifted her up and put her on his shoulders. Legs on each side of this shoulder.
"Gajeel! What are you doing here?" Lucy said hugging his head. She looked over towards her sides and found Metallicana walking next to her and Lily flying.
"Oh Metallicana and Lily too!"
Metallicana just strolled with his hands in his pockets. Not a thing bothered him.
"Tch. What does it look like im doing." Gajeel walked along the street.
"Well.. I don't know. That's why I'm asking." Lucy said playing with his hair now. She made a ponytail on top of this head.
"Walking you home bunny. You're a 6 year old girl remember. Not very safe for a little girl like you to be walking around alone in the middle of the night. Not that its any different from when you're normal either." Gajeel laughed.
Lily who was flying next to him looked over and stifled a laugh. Gajeel's eyebrows twitched in annoyance. Lucy ignored Gajeel insult and contined playing with his hair.
"Will you stop doing that!" Gajeel yelled at Lucy. She giggled and hugged his head again.
"You brats are so loud and annoying." Metallicana said frowning irritated at them.
"Good to see you too Metallicana" Lucy said smiling over at the dragon.
"Ha. What have you done to yourself now." Metallicana said looking over at Lucy at the corner of her eyes.
"Nothing! I did nothing!" Lucy said looking away.
"Turning into a little bratty whiny 6 year old is nothing?" Gajeel scoffed.
"HEY! IT'S THE MEDICINE'S FAULT!" Lucy hit Gajeel's head.
"IF YOU DON'T STOP HITTING ME OR MESSING UP MY HAIR I SWEAR ILL THROW YOU IN THE RIVER TO DROWN!" Gajeel barked.
"Okay okay! I'll stop." Lucy giggled as she hugged Gajeel's head. "But Gajeel…"
"What." Gajeel said annoyed.
"How did you do that?"
"How did I do what?"
"How did you sneak up on me like that? I didn't even sense you. Smell or hear you." Lucy said looking puzzled.
"Gihi… you're forgetting who you're talking to bunnygirl." Gajeel smirked.
"But… you're the one who trained me. It's odd that I couldn't sense you." Lucy said perplexed.
Gajeel frowned. She had been talking about he future Gajeel. He thought hard what it meant. He had trained her? How to sense her surroundings? He?! Out of all people who trained her?! And her!? Out of all the people in the guild? What exactly had happened between his older self and her?
"Obviously I didn't teach you everything." Gajeel said.
"hmph." Lucy pouted
Gajeel walked up the apartment stairs and Lucy gave him her keys. He opened the door and the four stepped put Lucy down and went straight for her fridge.
"REALLY?!" Lucy said incredulously at Gajeel.
"What? I'm hungry."
"Then you should've eaten at the guild!" Lucy said putting her hands on her hips.
"I wasn't hungry then. Bringing you home took a lot of energy you know. You're still heavy as a 6 year old." Gajeel smirked.
Lucy puffed and clenched her fists.
"URGHH! I HATE YOU GAJEEL! IM NOT FAT!" Lucy stomped into her bedroom.
"Gihi…" Gajeel rummaged through her fridge.
Metallicana wandered around her apartment, observing curiously at everything.
"Well.. can we go now?" Gajeel said chomping on a sandwich he found.
"You don't even give me just one second do you." Metallicana said annoyed at Gajeel. Metallicana was at the sink and found a peculiar object. He stared at it wide eyes.
"We walked her home. She's safe. Let's go." Gajeel said impatiently. "Why are we even here. She has her own team to take care of her."
Metallicana walked up to Gajeel and stared him down. Gajeel froze from his father's gaze. It was full of unspoken emotions.. Metallicana stayed silent.. and after a while, he tore his gaze away from Gajeel. He headed towards the apartment doors and left. Gajeel and Lily stood confused as to what just happened.
"Are you coming or not!" Metallicana roared.
Gajeel took another bite of his sandwich and yelled. "Yea yea.. you senile dragon." He muttered. He took a couple steps before he looked towards what Metallicana was looking in the sink.
An iron spoon. He could smell it. It smelled tasty, but it looked too interesting to eat. He picked it up and felt the intricate designs of the spoon. It was a dragon and to his surprise, the dragon was protecting something in its arms.
A bunny.
"Gajeel! Stop eating all my food!" a little voice was heard.
Gajeel's eyes widened.. and he quickly clenched the spoon and looked towards Lucy's room.
Gajeel rushed out the apartment doors and Lily followed. The doors were shut quietly after them. Lucy ran with her little feet towards the kitchen and was about to yell. She blinked in confusion as she found her kitchen empty.
"Oh.. they left." Lucy turned around and closed her bedroom door.
It felt very warm. Safe. She snuggled in closer to the blanket.. the heavy blanket. The thick heavy blanket that seemed a little too hard. Lucy's eyes fluttered open and her eyes saw a bare chest.
BARE CHEST?!
"NATSUUU!" Lucy struggled in his arms. If she had been her normal size it would have been easy to kick him out. But 6 year old Lucy…
She squirmed and squirmed. Natsu snored on and hugged her tighter.
"NOO! NAT….SUU!" Lucy suffocated in his hug.
Strong arms plied off Natsu's arms and released Lucy. They lifted Lucy up from the bed and into the man's arms.
Lucy looked up at the man.. and found herself looking at Igneel.
"Igneel!" Lucy said shocked.
"My son is an idiot. Forgive him." Igneel said walking over to the couch. Lying down on the couch, he put Lucy on top of his stomach.
"Yes he is" Lucy said still angry at Natsu. "You know he keeps coming over to my house uninvited and sneaks himself into my bed! Do you know how much he invades my privacy?! He sometimes even walks in on my when I'm bathing!" Lucy complained to Igneel.
"Haahahahahaha" Igneel laughed heartily. "Well I didn't per se teach him manners to survive in the human world."
"That idiot sometimes URGH!" Lucy clenched her fists in the air.
"Haha… well he has you to teach him everything that I haven't been able to.. no?" Igneel said raising an eyebrow.
Lucy looked at Igneel and frowned.
"I don't want to be his mother."
"No.. you're his partner."
"Yes.. but I shouldn't have to teach him not to sneak into a girl's private room or when a girl is using the bathroom." Lucy crossed her arms.
"He'll learn." Igneel just smiled it off.
"So you're Natsu's partner." Igneel said staring at Lucy.
"Yes." Lucy said "And so is Gray, Erza, Happy.. sometimes Wendy and Gajeel"
"No.. he can only have one partner for life." Igneel said.
Lucy scrunched her eyebrows in confusion.
"Only one partner?"
"Dragons… only have one partner in their lifetime. And you are Natsu's partner as you and he say." Igneel said.
Lucy was shocked. She wasn't ready for this. No.. not this.
"No no no no… I'm sorry but we aren't dating. We aren't as you say LIFE partners. We are just partners."
"I don't understand." Igneel said frowning now.
"Natsu and I are just partners like he is with Happy. Partners in the guild do missions together. We are a team with Gray and Erza. We work together to complete missions for jewels and make a living off of it. We have fun adventures together and…"
"But you care about each other. And are always together." Igneel said raising his eyebrow.
"Yes…" Lucy said. But then she remembered the past few months and how Natsu hasn't particularly been there for her. Her Natsu of her time at least.
"Well actually…No."
Igneel frowned.
"No we aren't always together. He has the freedom to go on missions with whoever he wants to. He doesn't always have to stay with me.. or protect me. And I don't always have to go on missions with him. But we are a team no matter what. He's my friend." Lucy smiled.
Igneel stared at Lucy silently.
"He was the one that brought me to FairyTail in the first place. He's saved me countless times and has been there for me when I've needed him most. I've fought beside him and he's the bravest person I know. He's immature and hot headed most of the time but he's loyal and caring. Many of our guild members look up to him and his fighting spirit. You should be very proud of him."
Igneel looked over at Natsu sleeping on the bed. He smiled.
"Do you love him?" Igneel looked at Lucy.
Lucy was frozen.
"Uhm….uhm…" Lucy muttered. "Igneel… we really don't have that kind of relationship. I'm sure Natsu has never even thought of liking a girl or having a girlfriend." Lucy sweatdropped.
"You don't know that" Igneel said crossing his arms. "My son isn't stupid. He's a young man with raging hormones and I am positive that having women around does not go without effect on him."
"hahaha it's natsu! I'm sorry but he's as dense as a rock. Anyways… He and I aren't interested in each other like that. I know that as a fact." Lucy said as she slid off of Igneel's stomach. "Well I'm going to shower. We'll wake Natsu up later and head to the guild. I'll let you guys pass for trespassing this morning but I expect no surprise visits in the middle of the night anymore now that you're here Igneel."
"Natsu seven years from now begs to differ." Igneel said calmly.
Lucy stopped in front of the bathroom door.
"Natsu seven years from now… isn't the Natsu now.. or the man this Natsu will ever be. That Natsu is gone.. and will never come back. Time has changed.." She said smiling as she went in the bathroom.
The bathroom doors closed and water running was soon heard.
Igneel looked up at the ceiling..
In the bed.. Natsu lay quietly still with his eyes open. He was slightly frowning as held a single strand of Lucy's hair in his fingers.