Act 3

I feel like the holidays hit me in the face with a brick.

46

That Was Then, This Is Now

"The difference is that was then, this is now."
― S.E. Hinton, That Was Then, This Is Now

The couple stayed in bed for as long as they could that day alternating between sleeping and exploring each other. They made love once more, reveling in the pleasure and closeness it brought them, before Lucy reluctantly insisted that they had to get out of bed and head to the guild for the afternoon.

They had a war to get ready for after all, and there was no way they could skip out on an entire day. However much both of them might like to.

That didn't stop her from grinning broadly as they got up though. She was still slightly sore from Natsu's ferocity, but that was minor compared to how good she felt, and if his face splitting grin was any indication... he felt exactly the same.

Lucy sighed in bliss as she settled into her, unfortunately, quick bath. There was nothing like hot water for relaxing sore muscles, and the last thing she wanted was to give the guild more ammunition than they surely already would have.

The thought made her giggle a little, and she spared a grateful thought that she was alone. Natsu probably would've called her weird for that.

There were some things that simply did not change.

The thought led her down the well worn path of her amazement over how much things could change in a few short months. It seemed like another lifetime ago that they were snarling and scratching at each other at every opportunity, and Natsu was going out of his way to be malicious and annoying.

She still remembered the dead fish to the face with a shudder of revulsion.

Which reminded her of the book.

It had surely updated more than once by now. She hadn't touched it since she'd locked her drawer and walked away from it, but she couldn't lie that she wasn't still curious.

Maybe now would be a good time to show it to Natsu?

She really couldn't think of a better one. How much more appropriate and romantic could you get than after their morning together? And their confessions?

She blushed a bit at the memory, but a heartbeat later reality asserted itself. They really did have to get going. There was a lot of work to do, and they'd wasted the morning already.

She didn't mind, but this would probably take up the whole afternoon at the least.

She chased the thought around for a few moments and reluctantly put away the idea of telling him about the book. For right this moment. They needed to get to work. She would show him later tonight when they were alone again.

She smiled at the idea and began absently thinking about how she would explain things to Natsu as she finished washing and got out of the tub.

It was a fun thought, wondering how he would take reading what the book had to say about the two of them. And she was certain it was bound to be interesting.

Her own curiosity wasn't easily satiated, and Lucy found herself eager to show it to him.

When she stepped out of the bathroom, toweled off and finally clothed, all thoughts fled from her mind. Natsu was sprawled half on his back, half on the floor, looking as if he were melting into the very earth.

"Lucy you take so looooooong in the bath," Natsu whined pathetically.

"Says you! You're not even finished getting your pants tied on right," Lucy walked over to him, her hands dropping lingeringly over his waistband. His eyes snapped open, full attention drawn to her and her fingers.

Smirking at him, Lucy tugged him upright by the sash securing his pants, forcing him back to his feet.

He staggered for a moment, a hand coming up to brace against Lucy's shoulder. But he relaxed as she tied a neat knot around his waist.

"Figured you needed a little help," She laughed, pulling him in for a kiss once he was dressed, "You ready?"

"Yeah, but if you keep that up we won't leave." Natsu smirked, curling his arms around her waist.

He'd felt desire before, but he'd never dreamed it was like this, and he cursed the fight they had to get ready for as he was more than eager to explore this wonderful new thing she'd showed him.

However, she pulled back and headed for the door, tugging him along with her and he sighed a little promising himself that later on, when they had free time again, he was going to come back to this.

As it was, he curled his arm around her waist as they walked, but it was hard to pretend it was a normal day for them to head to the guild.

The townsfolk were busy making what preparations they could for when things got ugly, and it reminded him uncomfortably of other times and places where he'd seen similar hives of activity in preparation for war.

There was a soft whisper skating the streets of Magnolia. Each person whispered among one another and talks of evacuation reached Natsu's sensitive ears. Lucy looked a little down about it all, and he knew it was because she was trying to place partial blame on herself for what was happening around them.

His arm tightened around her waist, thumb pressing into the curve of her hip to drag her out of her thoughts. She offered him a wane smile as they slipped into the guild.

Again he was struck by how eerily similar things were shaping around him. Long, long ago... when the Celestial War was coming close to an end, Igneel had brought Natsu to Fairy Tail to convene with Master Makarov. More spritely back then than he was now, but still just as fearsome. Perhaps even more so.

Natsu had been so little, looking around the guild with wide-eyed awe. He remembered foolishly thinking there were people just like him all around, and Natsu had itched to play with the mages that looked close to his age. But Igneel had kept him by his side since Natsu had to fight in the war. The other children weren't like him or his father, they were strong, but they didn't have the armor of a dragon to protect their small bodies.

He remembered seeing Gajeel, his wild hair tamed back into a long ponytail, missing the headband he rarely went without now, and snorting at his father's quips every now and then.

Natsu lost himself to the memories as he looked around the guild in the present day.

So much had changed, but it seemed like some things were doomed to repeat.

His stomach flipped uncomfortably as he watched the adults bending over a table and speaking in hushed voices so Romeo and Asca wouldn't overhear by accident.

All the usual suspects were gathered. Makarov was sitting crosslegged on a table with Erza, Gray, Jellal, Gajeel and Juvia gathered around. Lucy pulled up short, her hand tightening in the back of Natsu's shirt and making him stop.

"What're they doing?" She asked him, watching them pointing at an old looking scroll laid flat before them.

Blinking at her observation, Natsu flashed her a crooked grin.

"It's sort a makeshift war room, they're planning tactics and strategy," Natsu explained, tugging her hand.

He was reminded again as he remembered watching the mages gather around that table. Gildarts of the West, Ur and Silver of the East, along with Makarov and his family. Ivan and Laxus.

Lucy felt a lump of ice form in her belly at the mention of war room. She'd realized, intellectually, that this would require planning and such, but somehow she'd never really envisioned the reality. Her friends, her family, they were planning for a war. A battle where people could die. All over her magic.

It was enough to make her ill.

She didn't want this. She'd never wanted this. But she knew there was no escaping it. Very powerful people wanted to force her to use her magic to open the gates, and there was no way she could fight them on her own.

She knew that as clearly as she knew that giving in wasn't an option. If she did that countless would suffer. The spirits she loved most of all. She couldn't do that to them.

But the whole thing still make her nauseous.

Natsu glanced at her, noticing her green complexion, and pulled her a little closer, "We're not gonna lose Lucy." He soothed, shifting so he could meet her eyes intently, "It's not gonna end like that. We're going to pound the dark guilds into submission."

"But... what if we don't all make it?" Lucy asked plaintively, "I can't bear the thought that..." She shook her head, unable to even say it.

"That's not going to happen." Natsu growled fiercely, "Because we're not going to let it!"

"Natsu's right." Erza spoke up, her voice gentle as she joined the pair and dropped a hand on Lucy's shoulder, "The dark guilds do not understand what it means to work together or fight for family. And that is what makes us stronger ultimately."

Lucy nodded uncertainly, wondering just how crazy her life was that she'd gone from lonely heiress to planning a war with her magic guild, but Erza seemed to take it as affirmation.

"Come now Lucy! You and Natsu join us and summon Leo. We have much work to do."

Natsu flashed Lucy a confident grin even as the feeling of deja vu grew stronger. Planning for war with the spirits. That brought back even more unpleasant memories. Memories of fighting for his life, and Igneel's death.

His own stomach churned at that one even as his resolve hardened.

He wouldn't let it happen again.

He was older now. Stronger. He would protect Lucy and their future.

However, the resolve didn't stop him from seeing the ghosts of his father and Metallicana standing around the table, snarling insults at each other and trying not to brag about how proud they were of their sons.

He unconsciously gripped his scarf, suddenly feeling very much like that lost little hatchling despite what he told himself.

"Natsu, stay close. I can see the way you're eyeing the kitchens. This isn't our nest. These mages have probably never even seen an appetite like yours," Igneel snorted, his foot coming down to stomp on the end of Natsu's white scarf, stopping his son short from his escape attempt.

"Hey!" Natsu squeaked where he rolled from left to right, trying to loosen his scarf enough to escape long enough to find something to eat.

His dad had been so busy planning this war against Natsu's brother, he couldn't even remember the last time they had done anything normal together.

Igneel didn't want Natsu to fight. But it wasn't like he could stop him from jumping into the middle of the battle anyway. His ears were too sharp to hide their plans, and it was Natsu's older brother. He had to help fight him off. Natsu believed this battle was all his fault.

Still, that didn't stop him from eyeing the other children his age. The itch to play with someone closer in age to him rising by the moment. He couldn't play with the other dragons in the nest, they didn't seem to like him much, and while Igneel was great - well it wasn't the same.

He stubbornly held by his father's side though. Although he couldn't say it was by choice.

Igneel was still stepping on his scarf, and Natsu was reluctant to part with it.

There was a serious little red headed girl with her hair tied down her back in a long braid, a dusty patch covering one of her eyes. And then there was some loser strutting around naked until his mother chased him down to put some underwear back on him while his siblings laughed.

A trio of white haired children were huddled together, and while they fussed and fought with one another... They looked so happy.

Natsu's little heart yearned to play with them too, but Igneel wouldn't let go of his stupid scarf. Natsu's entire body practically twitched with impatience.

"What is it Natsu?" Igneel asked after Natsu wiggled around his legs to try and use his scarf to entrap Igneel's legs, "Because you're going to earn yourself one heck of a flightless grounding if you keep that up ya lil' brat."

But Natsu didn't take offense. Instead he was just amused at his father's empty threats.

Igneel's gaze followed after Natsu's, and a strange expression flickered over his face.

Natsu blinked at his father in confusion, "Dad?"

Igneel blinked a little and he looked back down at him with a warm smile and the beginnings of a loving rumble in his chest, "Do you want to go play for a bit Natsu?" He asked, "You won't miss anything here if you do."

Natsu's heart leapt at the offer. He really, really, wanted to go play. It would be so nice to wrestle with other hatchlings his age. The weird one that kept taking all his clothes off looked especially fun. But...

He sighed reluctantly and shook his head, "I gotta stay." He mumbled, "I gotta stop big brother from hurting people."

It was his responsibility as Zeref's family and nest. And he knew that if he gave in now he would keep giving in until he was just like the other kids and not fighting at all. And even though he was scared of this kind of fight he wasn't going to let it stop him from doing what he had to.

"Maybe... after?" He asked hopefully, and was rewarded with a sigh and then a head ruffle from Igneel, "Of course Natsu." The fire dragon rumbled affectionately. Though his expression was a little pained.

Except there wasn't an after.

Igneel had been badly wounded by Zeref, and he'd been forced to fight his brother in Mavis' library. And after that...

Natsu nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt a hand on his shoulder and looked over to see Leo looking back at him, a look on his face that spoke of bitter understanding. It was the look of someone who had seen countless battles himself, and knew what it meant to see the ghosts of the past in the present.

It was surprising for Natsu, especially since he hadn't even noticed Lucy summoning him. He had really been caught up in his thoughts, hadn't he?

He shook his head, not wanting to concern Lucy, who was giving him a look that already spoke of worry. He bounced upright and slammed his palms flat on the table top, diving into the planning.

In the past he hadn't done much strategizing. That had been what Igneel was there for. But now he had to help fill that gap. And while he wasn't so great at sitting still and planning a fight out, he could at least offer some interesting narrative and ideas.

He felt the battles more than he planned them. Ideas and strategy were only really useful when you were out in the middle of the brawl, blood pounding and fighting in the moment.

Because everything could change in the space of a minute. That was for sure.

He didn't know how much he was going to be able to affect the course of the battle. Even though he had ultimately been the deciding factor against Zeref, that wasn't to say he would be again. This time it was Lucy.

And he had to keep her safe at all costs.

Natsu tried very hard not to think how this felt an awful lot like deja vu.

Like how he was taking Igneel's place and Lucy was taking his. His stomach clenched at the thought, rolling with nausea at the idea of Lucy becoming anything like him.

He dismissed the thought as soon as it came since it was Lucy he was talking about. But still-

There was something about all this that made his heart uneasy. Like there was a bigger trap he hadn't been able to see.

"If Zeref is their main goal, then we need to understand their purpose might be more than just Lucy," Leo's voice cut in next to Natsu's ear.

"We need to go back to that final day in the Celestial War and see what Zeref's goals were. We might be missing some crucial detail," He continued.

Erza nodded, "Agreed. We need to comb through as much documented details we have on the event."

"You were there too, weren't you Master?" Jellal turned towards the old man.

Makarov frowned, "Hm, yes." He agreed, "After Igneel and Atlas Flame managed to destroy the eclipse gate, the fighting shifted to Magnolia itself." He scowled at the memory, "You kids were safe with the townsfolk and didn't see it, but the fighting was horrific."

He looked over at Natsu, "But I never saw Zeref after his battle with Igneel. Not until Mavis' library exploded into flame. Can you tell us Natsu?"

Natsu scowled down at the map. He didn't like remembering this. He didn't like thinking about how his brother had nearly fatally wounded the only father he could remember. Or what had happened after...

"Zeref!" Natsu cried as he skidded to a halt in the large library, tears streaming down his face and grime covering the rest, "How could you?!" He roared, "How could you do that to Igneel?!"

Up until the end he hadn't wanted to believe his big brother would really hurt Igneel. There had been that childish hope that everything would be fine, and things would work out with Zeref realizing what a stupid head he was being. But that wasn't how it had turned out.

Instead Igneel was hurt bad, possibly dying, and his stupid brother was sitting at a table reading some dumb book like it was nothing! It made him want to curl up and cry, but more than that it made him want to scream and rage, and as the feelings grew his fires burned hotter until a young dragon was standing in the place the child had been.

Natsu clenched his fists at the memory, the pain still raw after all this time, "I don't know." He growled tensely, absently feeling Lucy's gentle hands curl around his, "He was reading when I found him. Like everything he'd done was nothing. Like he hadn't just hurt Igneel."

He bared his fangs unconsciously at the memory, and in response Lucy pressed against his side as the rest of the nest moved around him in support.

"What happened after that Natsu?" Lucy asked quietly, her eyes sad and apologetic that they were making him re-live his pain.

Natsu shook his head, "I lost it and transformed. Then he said something about the book being helpful and a gate opened. I attacked him after that."

"Ah yes." Makarov murmured thoughtfully, "I remember that. The destabilization of Zeref's magic and the destruction of the eclipse gate meant portals were popping up and collapsing all over the place until you defeated him."

Natsu dragged a hand over his forehead, trying to push back the emotions gripping him. He growled in the back of his throat, "That's really it. I totally lost control. My emotions got the better of me and I set Mavis' library on fire. I couldn't stop raging until I had completely exhausted myself even though Zeref was long gone."

He grumbled. Natsu couldn't even recall the blaze right afterwards. He just remembered coming to in a pile of ash, surrounded by all sorts of people he didn't recognize. All except the one who had mattered.

"I went to find Igneel right afterwards, whatever Zeref was reading didn't do him any good. He still got hurt, still fell through the portal, and the book probably got turned to charcoal with the rest of the volumes in the library," Natsu finished.

"It's nothing you guys really don't already know," He looked over at Lucy, "It's not going to help us protect her."

And that was his priority.

Strange, Natsu had so many people to protect now. He hardly thought such a thing would even have been possible for him had someone asked him that just a while ago.

But now he had people who cared about him. And he, them. A nest. A family.

Lucy. The Dragons. Fairy Tail.

He wanted to explore all of that.

And Zeref wasn't going to mess that up for him.

Thanks for everyone who reviewed! There are only a couple of chapters left in Act 3 and then we'll be in the Final ACT. (ohgodsosoon?plzplzplz.) I'm calling it early tonight, so I'm updating a couple of hours early!