Chapter 8: Christmas!
Lucy woke up in high spirits, she always liked Christmas. She loved the music, the snow, the lights all of it. She wore her green pajama pants with little dogs in Santa hats and a red tank top. She did her hair up in a high ponytail letting two strands fall to her shoulders on either side. As she did her makeup in the mirror she couldn't help, but to smile thinking of Christmas' from previous years. There was the one year when she was nine when Igneel had brought Natsu over and they had the fiercest snowball fight in history, complete with snow forts. Or the one five years ago, just before her mother had passed away when they went to go see Magnolia High's production of A Christmas Carol, it had been disastrous in all the funniest ways possible. The actor who played the ghost of Christmas past had forgotten all her lines, while the actor who played Tiny Tim messed up the most famous line from the entire book. Lucy giggled remembering Erza was in that show, despite her love of acting and theater, she had crippling stage fright and it showed even all those years ago. A small meow interrupted her trip down memory lane.
"Awww good morning Happy!" She stroked the strangely colored cat's fur after he hopped onto her lap purring. She felt her mouth twist up in a gentle smile. She looked over to her bedside table where a small box wrapped in white and gold wrapping paper laid, she remembered it not being there last night. Picking up Happy she walked over and picked it up, it was a long, thin package. There wasn't a name tag on it, sitting down on her bed, Happy once again curled up in her lap as she opened it slowly revealing a black velvety box. Opening the box her eyes widened, it was a gorgeous silver necklace with 12 tiny key charms on it. All 12 of the keys had a different design and had a different symbol, each symbol was one of the zodiacs. She had seen the necklace before, it was her mother's favorite. She instantly knew this was a gift from her dad. Her smile grew bigger as she put the necklace on.
"Well how do I look Happy?" She asked the blue cat who tilted his head and meowed in response. She giggled, taking that as a good sign.
"What do you say, wanna go wake up Natsu?" She didn't wait for the small blue cat's response before snatching him up and walking with a skip in her step to her best friend's bedroom. She put the cat on the ground, when Happy looked up at her she held a finger to her lips shushing him, Happy tilted his head in response.
Natsu was unaware that he had a visitor in the form of the blonde girl he was infatuated with. He was currently in the midst of a dream. Except it felt real. He was standing in his old house in the middle of the woods, it was just like he remembered it. He looked around for a little before he saw him, he saw Igneel as he stood in the kitchen. Igneel smiled at him holding up his glass of whiskey.
"Merry Christmas my dear boy." He smiled, Natsu felt his knees shake a little, tears formed in his eyes as he rushed forward and hugged his dad.
"I missed you so much!" He cried into his father's shoulder, Igneel set his glass down on the counter and hugged him back.
"I know Natsu, I know and I have missed you just as much." Igneel's own voice cracked as tears threatened to fall from his eyes.
"There's so much I want to tell you!"
"Trust me Natsu I know….But right now I have something I need to tell you."
"Tell me? What's going on dad?"
"I need you to know the events that led to my death. I need you to hear it from me…"
"O-okay?...I'm ready." Igneel frowned and motioned for Natsu to take a seat at the table. Natsu did as he was told.
"I don't have much time, but I must tell you what I can...The person who killed me is known as the black dragon...Acnologia….The Dragon King...I used to work for him."
"What do you mean by that?" Natsu asked, Igneel gulped down the rest of his drink before, continuing.
"I trust you know of the Balam Alliance?" He asked and Natsu nodded his head, the name coming up more and more as of late.
"There leader Zeref...he can create life itself in the form of demonic monsters….He creates them with two purposes in mind, to destroy himself as well as Acnologia. One day however he succeeded in making a monster strong enough to not only destroy them, but all life. Fearing this new monster known only as E.N.D, Acnologia feared E.N.D and created his own army known as the Eight Dragon Warriors. I was a member of the warriors, I used the same element you possess. I was the second strongest in his army known as the Fire Dragon King…." Igneel paused his story letting the information sink in before continuing. Natsu leaned forward listening to every word carefully.
"A war between Zeref and his demons soon broke out, in the end Zeref's demons retreated back to behind the gates of the Netherworld, and E.N.D had been defeated. While the dragons were all but defeated, only myself and Acnologia survived. The war left many scars, especially to Acnologia, the once proud and kind warrior turned sour to the world around him. Vowing to destroy Zeref one day as well as the rest of the world, he retreated into a cave where he remains to this day….Meanwhile I moved forward, the day I found you in the woods I found a purpose, I wanted to protect you at all costs. Naturally this meant I was in Acnologia's path...He is planning something, because he now knows what I know….Natsu….E.N.D is still alive. Laying dormant, Zeref is planning to open the doors of the Netherworld once more in hopes of reviving him, that's why I came to you...to warn you." Natsu made eye contact with his father.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying there will be another war. Between Acnologia and Zeref, and when the time comes you must be the ones to stop them...Cause only you will have the power to defeat them." Igneel marched over to his song and grabbed his arm where the bandages wrapped around and undid it.
"I'm giving you what's left of my strength...so that when you come face to face with Acnologia and Zeref, you will be ready...And Natsu one more thing…"
"Wait dad I don't understand! Why does it have to be me! What's going on I'm so confused!"
"One day it will make sense I promise….Now Natsu one more thing….You may come face to face with E.N.D, when that happens you will be faced with the same choice I had to make. To either let live...or to die...Now hold still." Natsu didn't get a chance to say anything as a burning pain in his arm caused him to cry out, he looked over to his father whose hands were engulfed in a dark black and red fire clutching Natsu's arm. After several painful minutes Igneel's flames faded and Natsu looked at his arm. There was now a very prominent burn on it in the shape of a blazing dragon. His eyes widened.
"Keep this wrapped up, it's your secret weapon to destroy them...Don't use it until you come to blows with them, It's the last of my flames. The last of my power. The last of me, my present to you...Merry Christmas my son I love you." Igneel spoke and soon he was starting to fade.
"Wait dad please, don't go!" Natsu pleaded, rushing forward trying to hug his father one last time, but soon he had faded away leaving Natsu alone to try and process all of the information he had just received. His arm throbbed in agony, looking down at the mark on his arm. The only thing that made sense to him, was that the person who had killed his father had a name, and Natsu now had the power to kill him.
"Acnologia….I will destroy you…." Natsu clenched his fist steam emanating from him. The room around him soon faded away and left Natsu alone.
He awoke with a start, cold sweat dripping from his brow struggling to catch his breath. That dream playing in his head, it felt so real, his arm felt like he had dipped it inside a volcano. Placing his hand over the bandage wrapped arm, he flinched at the stinging sensation that came after. He slowly removed a small amount of the wrap, his eyes widening when he saw the start of a black mark in the shape of a fire dragon. The second it peaked out his arms grew hot, Natsu reacted quickly wrapping his arm back up fearing that it might erupt at any second.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS NATSU!" Lucy shouted barging into the room, Natsu quickly ducked under the blankets to hide the bandages. Lucy sprinted over to the bed and jumped onto it landing on Natsu who coughed at the new weight that pressed down on him. Lucy beamed as she sat up on Natsu's chest looking down at the boy who blushed realizing the compromising position they found themselves in once again. Lucy, completely oblivious to the situation, made matters worse for Natsu when she began hopping up and down.
"Natsuuuuuuuu get up!" She pleaded with him as she continued hopping up and down, Natsu chuckled at her childlike behavior.
"Five more minutes…" He muttered, turning his head to bury it into his pillows. Lucy pouted and playfully smacked his chest a few times.
"Noooooo! Come on!" Natsu smirked as she continued her childish antics.
"Okay, okay let me get changed." He started to sit up causing Lucy to slide down his chest and onto his lap, both their eyes widened as Lucy stradled Natsu's lap, Lucy had instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, his hands on both of her sides to stabilize her from falling. Their eyes locked with the others, connected at the foreheads, taking short shallow breaths. Pale cheeks had a pink dusting that was deepening the longer they stared into each other's eyes.
"Merry Christmas Luce…"
"Merry Christmas Natsu…" The two whispered, Lucy absentmindedly used her hand to trace Natsu's toned bare chest, Natsu had started making small circles on her back with his fingers. Both of their body temperatures grew warmer as more and more goosebumps popped up on their skin with each small bit of skin contact. Before she even knew what they were doing they leaned forward ever so slightly closing their eyes. This just felt like the right thing to do they thought as they inched closer, their hearts were pounding, adrenaline was coursing and their lips came closer to each other. Lucy was reminded of their dance together a few weeks prior, where they found themselves in an almost identical situation. Getting lost in each other's eyes slowly leaning in as the music played a song perfect for a first kiss. Natsu remembered the fireworks that had been set off in his gut, the way his heart skipped a beat when they had finally made contact. The kiss wasn't anything but a small peck, but to them it was the most special moment. Another beautiful memory the two shared just like so many others. They were so close, their lips gently grazed off each other, tightening their grip on each other, but something had to ruin the mood, and that came in the form of a loud meow and a blue blur jumping on the bed. The two immediately shot back from each other and faced a dark shade of red.
"R-right, I ummm gotta go...downstairs and help make lunch…." Lucy awkwardly walked out of the room avoiding looking at the shirtless figure sitting on the bed, afraid that if she did she would die of embarrassment.
"Y-yeah...I'll be down in a sec…" Natsu replied, thankful that she didn't turn around as he realized how close he came to her seeing the bandage wrapped arm that used to hide a slash from Erigor, but now hid a gift from his father.
Natsu, Gray and Erza all stood out on a balcony in the cold looking out at the snowy day. From where they stood they had a pretty good view of Magnolia. The rest of the guests were loud down in the living room, Levy and Juvia had kidnapped Lucy to talk about boys or something leaving the three pseudo siblings alone.
"Hey Erza….I know what Queen Elsa's powers are-"
"Watch yourself candlestick!" Gray muttered, but Natsu continued as if nothing happened.
"But I've been wondering, what exactly are yours?" He turned to his left to face the redhead. She smirked gently.
"Would you like me to tell you, or show you?" She offered turning to face the flame wielder. Natsu grinned mischievously.
"Is that a challenge?" He grinned, Gray's face turned paler than usual, he placed a hand on Natsu's shoulder.
"Natsu….that is not at all a good idea." Natsu turned to face the ice user and saw right away how serious he was. Natsu gulped glancing at the redhead.
"Anyway Natsu. To answer your question…." Erza spoke holding her hand out, and a flash of light appeared, when the light dimmed a brilliant silver sword was in her grasp.
"I possess the power to equip any weapon or armor I please. Observe." She spoke and once again a bright light shone from her, this time covering her entire body when it faded she was clad in the same armor Natsu saw her in the other day. Natsu gawked.
"That's so cool! What about you snowflake? How does that black stuff cover your body?" Natsu turned to the black haired male as Erza returned to her Christmas party attire. Gray grinned.
"Easy, my power is used to slay demons, the black stuff…" Gray spoke, taking off his jacket and showing as the black substance soon took half his body over.
"Is what protects me from those demons, I become a half demon. My father actually taught me it, with the hope that one day I would slay the monster known as E.N.D...A creation of Zeref." Gray spoke softly putting his shirt back on. Natsu stared out into the horizon.
"Two weeks ago if you would have told me that I lived in such a crazy world, I would have told you both that you were insane. Now with all that's happened, I can't help but think that the life I lived before was the weird one...It's weird, but it's nice knowing that there are more people like me and I wasn't born some freak." As he spoke Erza made her way over to him and wrapped her arm around him.
"I know what you mean. I was a child when I discovered my powers, I was shunned for them, I was scared of myself. Then I met Fairy Tail, I learned how to control them, and now I am happier than I was ever before. You will find that with Fairy Tail, you have no choice but to grow close to the people there, they become your family. Everyone in that place would die for one another."
"Exactly. When I lost my parents I was so lost, but Fairy Tail welcomed me with open arms. I am extremely thankful for them...Speaking of I believe they are meeting up for a late Christmas dinner later. You should go, it will help you get to know everyone better. In time you will find just how much of a family we actually are." When he finished Natsu looked at the two and smiled.
"I'd like that."
"There you three are! We've been looking everywhere for you!" Levy announced her presence and walked out onto the balcony.
"Gray, Juvia has been searching far and wide for you, she was afraid some hussy cornered you in one of the bedrooms." Natsu and Erza grimaced at Gray who knew he was in for it from his girlfriend.
"I guess I better go face my fate…" He spoke walking inside, Levy turned to face the two.
"Also Erza, some girls named Kagura and Milliana were asking about you."
"Oh really? I'm sorry Natsu I want to go see them, it's been ages!" Erza rushed past Levy leaving the two alone on the balcony, Natsu couldn't help but think that was intentional.
"Natsu, I need to talk to you." The tiny blue haired girl marched forward standing in front of him, Natsu raised an eyebrow.
"Ooookay?"
"Lucy informed me of something interesting that happened this morning."
"What happened?" Natsu feigned innocence.
"She told me you two almost kissed again...Which is why I need to talk to you. I want to know how you feel about her."
"I mean I obviously like her, she's my best friend! We have been friends for years. I care about her a lot." Natsu confessed, but Levy wasn't satisfied.
"I know you like her Natsu…..but do you, ya know like her. Like do you want to be more than friends?" Levy spoke plainly knowing that if she danced around her words Natsu would have no idea what she was talking about. Natsu's face flushed at the question.
"I-I don't know, I've never really thought about it. I always thought her type were those super polite guys, the ones who liked reading and treated her like a princess, that has never been who I am, I don't know I just never imagined her liking me." Natsu shrugged, Levy looked at him like he was insane, she grabbed his ear and dragged him inside the house leading him to Lucy's room without a word. She opened the door and flung him inside.
"Stay here. I'm going to grab Lu." She spoke slamming the door leaving Natsu alone inside of Lucy;s bedroom. He glanced around, he had been in her room several times before, but he had never noticed all the pictures she had scattered around the room. Some of them consisted of her with her mom and dad, but the majority of them were of her and Natsu himself. His heart skipped a beat.
"LEVY WHERE ARE WE GOING?!" Lucy's shriek interrupted his thoughts, he stared at the door waiting for it to fling open any second now.
"Don't worry about it!"
"LEVYYYY!" Their voices were right outside the door now. A split second later it shot open and Lucy was pushed inside.
"Neither of you are to come out until there are babies!" The short girl slammed the door behind the two leaving them alone in an awkward silence.
"Ummmm….hey….." Natsu tried to break the silence. Lucy turned to face him repressing a giggle.
"Hey yourself." She replied leaving the two in another awkward silence.
"So...how are you?" Natsu asked, Lucy resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"I'm doing fine...what about you?"
"OH FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING JUST KISS ALREADY!" Levy shouted from behind the door revealing that she was eavesdropping. The two blushed.
"Listen Natsu...I have something I need to tell you…" Natsu listened intently, but never got to hear what she was going to say, because the next thing that came from her mouth was a blood curdling scream, Natsu turned to face what she was looking at, but was thrown to the ground unconscious after something metallic hit him in the head. Lucy's screams were the last thing he heard as well as Levy bursting into the room, before everything went black.
"Natsu wake up!" Gray slapped him, forcing Natsu to come to. His head throbbed, looking around the room he noticed it was a mess, several things had broken, and there was now a gaping hole in the wall that now led to the outdoors. Erza and Juvia were knelt around someone else.
"Oww. My head is killing me, what happened?" Natsu asked slowly, sitting up holding his throbbing head.
"Lucy's gone." Gray spoke mournfully, that snapped him out of his daze.
"What do you mean gone?!" He shot up to his feet a little too fast stumbling, and almost falling over.
"Easy there man, you probably are concussed. And she was taken. Levy's also hurt pretty badly." Gray nodded his head over in the direction of the three other girls. Natsu walked over and saw that Levy was knocked out cold laying on her back, she was bloody and bruised. Natsu's stomach turned though when he looked down, her orange sweater was torn open and on her stomach a strange emblem was painted with her own blood. Natsu's face darkened while the rest of his body heated up.
"Who did this?" He spoke slowly a darker tone than what was normal for him. Juvia turned to face him tears in her eyes.
"Juvia is sorry Natsu...that is the mark of my old organization…." She sniffled. Gray walked over to her hugging her.
"It's okay Juvy, it wasn't your fault." He spoke, Natsu however stayed still looking down at Levy's unconscious body.
"Who. Did. This?" He repeated himself slower than before. Erza stood to her feet.
"Natsu, we need to remain calm, I will contact the Master and we will take care of the people who did this as a team."
"That wasn't my question." He shot at the redhead, his eyes never leaving Levy.
"They are called Phantom Lord…." Juvia quietly answered Natsu's question.
"They have Lucy….They hurt Levy….I'm going to make them pay!" Natsu finally looked up from Levy, the other three took a couple steps back as Natsu's body began to smoke.
Chapter 9: Phantom Lord
A/N: Hey everyone! I appreciate all the great feedback and kind reviews! I'm glad so many of you are enjoying this story. One recurring question I have been asked is if I plan to give Lucy or Levy powers at some point. And the honest answer is, I don't know, I have redone my outline for this story a few times trying to figure out which one would tell the better story, at the moment my plan was to have them still be important to the plot in big ways, but without their powers. That's for a couple of reasons, in my opinion, I think it would tell a better story if I had characters that saw all the events like we would, and I would lose that if everyone had powers. That being said, Lucy is not going to be a Mary Jane Watson by any means, she will be very important. Once again that might change in the future, but for now I don't have plans for that. Once again I love all of you and hope for more amazing reviews they really keep me excited and motivated to write this story!