Hola! Welcome back!

So, I'm a few days late on this, sorry guys! I started my new program in Osteopathy and it's a wickedly intense course already. But, rest assured as usual, I will keep plugging away to bring this story to completion. Allllso, the next chapter is completed aside from editing, so I can guarantee it'll be on time ;)

80% NaLu fluff and Guild banter ahead.

~Onward

49

-One Magic-

Despite the destruction surrounding them, the prevailing mood was quite positive.

Laughter and gratitude coloured most peoples' interactions, as civilians and mages alike, milled about various tasks. The work to restore Crocus to the prestige of its Flower Blooming reputation, had seen steady progress over the last few days. Piles of rubble that had been meticulously gathered, punctuated the streets, awaiting removal to provide a fresh canvas on which to build the city anew. And working in tangent, the locals and the mages had started reconstructed the destroyed shops in the north and west districts.

Haru paused in his own work, watching as the stones he'd worn away to a smooth finish with his water magic, were lifted into the air with his teammate's telekinesis. Erza maneuvered a multitude of stone blocks into place, almost as effortlessly as she managed with her weapons.

"Wow you guys are the best, my shop's gonna be even better than before!" a small-statured man praised. Erza offered her typical humble responses as she placed the last row of bricks.

Haru stuttered his own acceptance to the praise before escaping the group of onlookers with a hint of heat in his face at their attentions. Ducking through the crowd, he chased down the towering Bull spirit he'd noticed a minute earlier. Taurus was moving armfuls of thick lumber that he'd split with his axe, to the unlikely team of Gajeel, Lily and Laki. Frowning, Haru noted Lucy was nowhere in sight, though she couldn't be too far if her spirit was still present in their plane.

"Hey Haru!"

Isolating the call out from the overabundance of sounds that accompanied the construction work, Haru picked Sienna out of the crowd, waving to him happily. He approached with a fond smile of his own, and offered Jura a greeting as well. "Finally let you out the infirmary, hey?" Sienna asked.

"Looks like," he replied, "guess Natsu finally wore down Porlyusica's thread-bare patience. We were both released this morning."

Sienna giggled, she hadn't met their resident healer, but she had spent enough time with Fairy Tail mages by this point, that she was sure to have heard the stories if she'd been asking after himself and Natsu.

"I met Glaciea," she told him, taking a seat on a stack of timber beams for a break. Jura didn't seem to mind as he continued to manipulate the earth into strong foundations. Haru joined her, threading his fingers in his lap as he gazed at the blue sky and listened.

"She told me she and Igneel plan to set out in the next couple days in search of the others…" Sienna trailed off, and he could feel her eyes boring into him. Tilting his head, he met her gaze sidelong, waiting for her to voice the thought he knew was coming. "I'm going to go with them, I want to find my Mom… Oceanus is leading them, isn't he?"

Haru hummed his confirmation, adding, "That's the rumour…"

"Will you come?"

There it was.

It wasn't as though he wasn't desperate to go… he was certain Mira would join him in a heartbeat, and Natsu and Lucy would likely tag along too, to make up for lost time with Igneel. Haru released a sigh as memories flashed through his mind: flying down from the mountains each morning to swim and train in the ocean… fish bigger than himself, that Oceanus would catch for dinner… laying contently on his father's back between blue scaled spines, to stare at the sky for long quiet and perfectly contenting moments…

"I can't Sienna, Tartaros just attacked and it's obvious they were only testing the power of Fiore's strongest. Bad enough so few of us are in the know about what actually went down, and we're carrying on like there isn't an imminent war looming over us." He leaned back on his palms, returning his gaze to the sky, "I've got commitments to honour, Natsu and I both…"

She put a hand on his forearm, sharing in his quietude, "I can respect that," she offered softly.

"Tell you what… when you find them, give Oceanus a message from me, tell him to get his scaley ass to Fairy Tail, or I'll kick it next time I see him," Haru said jokingly. He was aware, in the back of his mind that it was a very Natsu comment to make, but it did the trick.

She smiled back, "That's a promise."

Sienna had relaxed, but his joking remark didn't break the tension nearly as effectively as a sudden shriek, marred in indignation. Both dragon slayers peered down the street, in time to see Juvia skipping forward, waving something purple overhead like a flag, "That'll teach you for tempting my Gray!"

"Dammit Juvia! Give me back my shirt!" Lucy screeched, sprinting after the blue-haired girl. The stellar mage held an arm over her chest, stopping Natsu's precariously knotted scarf from slipping as she ran.

The bluenette spun, stopping with a smug but playful look and taunted the irate blonde further.

"Uh, I think we're missing some context here…" Haru drawled, watching as Lucy pounced at his fellow water mage. The women tumbled to the ground, completely unaware of the audience they were gradually garnering.

"Lucy was helping Gray and Juvia, with the shop up the street. She slipped on the ice they were using to slide materials around… and landed on top of him, Juvia was not pleased."

Haru turned robotically toward his girlfriend who'd popped up between himself and Sienna, somehow, without him noticing. He dismissed that curiosity, "And why am I not surprised that you would already know what started all of this?" he asked her mirthfully.

She did not offer her source, just a coy smile. Setting down the tray of assorted iced drinks, she slid herself into his lap, to view the impromptu wrestling match between their friends.

Rolling his eyes as Sienna shared in Mira's laughter, Haru looked back and noticed Natsu and Gray walking toward the scuffle with no real haste. They appeared to be engaged in light chatter, despite their respective girlfriends unwittingly putting on a show.

Lucy continued to swipe at the air, trying and failing to reclaim her shirt. She was also failing to notice the scarf that barely protected her modesty, slowly loosening. "Oi, Lucy—" Haru tried calling.

But Natsu seemed to have become aware of the problem as well, and had already appeared behind her in a flash. He caught the blonde under the arms and pried her off Juvia. His hands now firmly anchored against her breasts, securing his scarf against her, just as the knot gave way.

Lucy yelped, arms flailing as she attempted to reprimand Natsu for groping her in public, until she noticed his hands were the only things keeping the fabric in place.

"Now Luce… you know I put up with half the male populace ogling you every chance they get…" Natsu was muttering in her ear, "but these—" he gave her ample chest a firm squeeze to emphasize his meaning, "are for my eyes only." Haru chuckled, and a glance at Sienna's vibrant blush showed she'd picked up Natsu's hushed words as well.

"What? Whaaat?! What'd I miss!" Mira begged.

"Exactly what you're likely imagining…" Haru told her teasingly, tapping the tip of her nose with his finger, when she looked ready to argue further.

"What on Earthland is going on here?" Erza asked, appearing to investigate the events that had halted progress. She walked toward the group in a ridiculous orange jumpsuit and hardhat, no one had dared ask her why that particular ensemble graced her requip collection. The onlookers who were aware of her notorious temper, seemed to wait with bated breath for her predicted punishment and orders… but she gave none.

She merely scanned the scene before passing Juvia, who was still sitting on the ground and pouting.

"Natsu, I'm afraid your hands are not appropriate attire for our stellar mage…" Erza announced sarcastically. She produced Lucy's shirt, causing the bluenette behind her to gawk, having not noticed when the redhead had stolen the article of clothing back. "Lucy… how about you put your shirt on before the men here, are reduced to nose bleeds?"

"Well, aren't you just hilarious today, Erza?" Lucy snarked back, snatching the offered shirt.

Thoroughly amused by the entire interaction, Natsu eyed the crowd now, "Alright, show's over!" he shouted, "anyone who doesn't want to be roasted, will turn away, NOW!"

The crowd snapped to attention and whirled quickly, darting back to their previous tasks as Lucy checked her surroundings for any wayward eyes. Juvia already had her hands clamped over Gray's, as though she wasn't the catalyst to Lucy's nudity in the first place. Lucy raised an expectant brow when she caught Haru's eye and he waved dismissively, laughing as he adverted his eyes so she could swat Natsu's hands away and redon her shirt.

Before Haru had even turned back toward his friends, Erza was directing them all back to work, by request and not demand for once. "Alright, let's get back to helping out the fine people of Crocus, shall we?" she suggested. No one mistook the hidden command beneath the request though, and the few stragglers milling nearby all scattered to resume their earlier work, in an instant.

With a satisfied nod to herself, Erza latched onto Haru's arm and gave him a sharp tug, guiding him along behind her again. "Come along Haru, you've got stone to shape!" she chirped happily.

He gave no real resistance, though he did complain irritably about being able to walk by himself. When she continued without abiding his words, he switched tactics. "Erza if you don't let me go, I'm gonna—"

"What Haru?" she asked bemused, looking back over her shoulder.

Returning her challenging grin, he broke her hold and threw her over his shoulder before her squeak of surprise had even left her lips. The quick movement had her reeling for balance, balance she found in a misplaced hand landing directly on his ass. "Hands to yourself, Erza," he joked offhandedly.

"Yeah, Red," Mira said amusedly, sauntering up behind them, clearly enjoying the chance to tease her easily flustered former rival. "If you're not careful, I might have to take a page from Juvia's book…" she sang, wiggling the fingers of the hand not balancing her drink tray.

Despite her increasingly flushed cheeks, Erza somehow managed to readopt her commanding tone, "Don't you even think about it Demon! –Haru! Put me down!"

Haru disregarded the order and paid the squabbling girls no mind as he passed by his teammates and Juvia, all laughing at the redhead's expense now.

Erza would get them all back later… of that, Haru had no doubt.

. . .

After the earlier distraction, it had taken a little while to really get back into the swing of things, but they were making good headway now. Lucy had Virgo assisting the earth mages, forming holes for the foundational beams that Gajeel went around installing. Taurus remained with Lucy now, stabilizing boards for her to nail into place.

Lucy shifted her weight on Natsu's shoulders, stretching to reach the height of the next board, as he used his magic to fuse the iron rungs below her. Happy flew amongst them and other groups with a bucket of nails and tools they might need.

It had taken a bit, but they were back to a well-coordinated rhythm again and making quick progress on the shopping district. That was, until Natsu's fingers ghosted up the outside of her thigh, tickling just beneath her skirt. "You know Luce, a skirt really wasn't a great choice for construction…" he drawled, sarcastic humour dripping from his words.

She smacked his hand away, "How about you focus less on my wardrobe choices, and more on your job?" she sang back playfully.

"Not my fault you're so distracting." He turned and nipped the sensitive skin of her inner thigh, causing her to gasp and fumble her hammer. It clamored to the ground and he added in a breathless tone, "just so damn tempting."

"Natsu! Look what you made me do!"

"Dropped the hammer… don't worry, I can still nail ya—"

"Natsuuuuu!"

The fire mage seemed entirely pleased with himself as he stooped to retrieve the hammer and handed it back to her. "We only have a couple more hours before I need to go get ready for the Princess' party, so can you please focus?"

"Fine-fine," he acquiesced, allowing fire to dance over his fingertips again. He resumed soldering the unstable seams, though not without giving her ass one final squeeze. "This is just soooo boring."

"You're impossible."

"You love me."

"Shut up and work."

They managed to complete the frames and boarding of a couple shops aided by their magic, despite Natsu's still wandering hands. Lucy hoped to keep his limited attention span on task for at least one more shop before she would have to meet up with the girls.

Company didn't play into the likely success of her hopes.

"Hey, Natsu! Lucy! Take a break!"

Igneel strode up, holding two large drinks, iced lemonade by the looks of it, and suddenly Lucy was acutely aware of her parched throat. She didn't get a chance to decide one way or the other though, Natsu was already slipping her off his shoulders, offering his father an energetic greeting as he did so. "Snuck your royal ass away from work, didja?" Natsu joked, taking the icy glasses, and handing one to her.

"You're one to talk, Son, heard all about your wandering hands… But maybe you can explain how feelin' up your mate, is helpful in construction?"

An involuntary sound of embarrassment slipped passed Lucy's lips. Natsu shrugged a shoulder, "Scratch an itch—improved focus for the task at hand?" he suggested.

Slapping his son on the back boisterously, Igneel let out a hearty bout of laughter, "I'll accept that!"

"Your focus has hardly been improved Natsu..." Lucy countered.

The trio headed for the shade of a group of trees, miraculously untouched by the destruction, though most of the park around them hadn't been so fortunate. Lucy slid down against a tree, carefully maneuvering her skirt to avoid putting on another show… she'd been the center of lewd attentions enough for one day.

"How'd you hear about Lucy's streaking experiment anyway—" Lucy barked an immediate rebuttal that did little to faze her boyfriend. Natsu paused, and the blonde could practically see the gears in his brain turning. "Wait. Don't answer that… you saw Haru and MIRA, didn't you…I bet that's where Glaciea is now."

Igneel gave him a distinctly draconic-looking grin, in place of a verbal confirmation and they both broke into another fit of shared laughter. Lucy watched their interactions for a while, not actively participating in the conversation, while fascination dominated her musings.

Predictably, Natsu began demanding a proper fight so he could finally kick Igneel's red-tailed ass… or some such insult, and Igneel was retaliating with jokes that demeaned his son's strength all together. Something about 1000 years too early to pose a proper challenge for the King of Dragons… or some such. Lucy was only vaguely processing the specifics of the words, it was the pairs' dynamic, their apparent love washing through the seemingly harsh insults they hurled at one another, and their very similar mannerisms, that claimed her unwavering attention.

"Lucy! Tell my delusional dad I'd win!"

"Lucy! Talk some sense into my idiot son!"

They were both staring at her expectantly, pointing at one another childishly. Their words had been lost to her as they'd made their demands loudly, and over one another. She blinked back at them dumbly for a moment, and then burst out in uncontrolled laughter. Their indignation was apparent as they exchanged a look, trying to decide if they should be insulted.

Lucy swiped at the tears her hilarity had elicited, flapping her hand at them as she tried to calm herself, enough to speak. "I finally get it!" she declared, to their utter confusion, "where Natsu's… uh, Natsuness comes from."

Deadpan. Mirrored deadpans.

If Natsu had been in his Dragon Force at that moment, they'd look nearly identical. Seeing them both together, she had to kick herself for not realizing Igneel's identity sooner when she'd first met him, even despite the impossibility of his presence.

Lucy dissolved into another fit of laughter.

The men gave up trying to understand, smiling at one another until Igneel's carefree demeanor sobered. "Natsu, I need to talk to you about—" he stopped, seemingly chewing on his thoughts as gold eyes snapped over to Lucy for an instant, "that is… how has your training been going?"

The carefully encrypted conversation irked her, prior amusement fading as she fixed them both with a questioning brow. "Lucy knows," Natsu offered, bringing understanding to the blonde as well, "my whole team does. I won't hide things from my team."

"Good, I wouldn't ask you to. It's better they know anyway, just in case…" Igneel trailed off.

Expression hardening slightly, Natsu finished the sentence tonelessly, "in case I lose control?"

Lucy gasped, "that could happen?"

"No, I can't let it happen!" Natsu quickly denied the remote possibility. Lucy shifted closer, placed her hand over his on his thigh.

"Then I will ask again, how's your training been going?"

"I've been able feel and manipulate Etherious a bit… but it's always by instinct. Usually when I'm desperate, or angry… I wish I had a better progress report to give you Dad."

Igneel looked at the fire mage with interest, "And you had the gall to challenge me, a minute ago?" he said tauntingly. Igneel was obviously trying to get a rise out of the withdrawing fire mage, but Natsu just looked over with concern. This was something that had been eating away at him for some time, Lucy realized, and for once, she hadn't been any wiser.

That came as a surprise.

Igneel rolled his eyes, letting his taunt drop, "Natsu you knew this wasn't going to be easy, but Tartaros is getting more and more bold. They won't stay in the shadows much longer, so you don't have the luxury to be doubting yourself."

Empathy chewed at Lucy's core, she understood how deep seeded self-doubt could be sometimes, especially if it was rooted in one's concern for those around them. She'd stopped herself from forming any lasting bonds for years, always telling herself it was because her father was dangerous. And he was, but the truth of it, was she simply hadn't trusted herself to be able to protect her friends from him.

"Look Natsu, you said you haven't made any progress," Igneel started and Natsu nodded uncertainly. "You said you've only been able to access fragments of your Etherious when you're desperate or angry…" another nod, confusion still plain to see. "What does that sound like Natsu?"

"Dragon Force!" Lucy yelled abruptly. Her head whipped in Natsu's direction, "the only time you accessed Dragon Force without ethernano crystal, was in the face of Acnologia, to protect the Guild!"

"Yeah, but it's not like I have access to an Etherious to train me for a year like with Dragon Force!" he gasped incredulously. "Knock, knock, hey, Tartaros? Ya think one of ya Demon Gates might be willing to take on a pupil so I can learn to control my power, an' kick all your asses into oblivion?"

Despite herself, a snap of laughter at the ridiculousness of the statement and the theatrics he'd presented it with, escaped her. Then she took a fistful of his hair and wrenched his head over to look her in the eyes, "No… but you're the strongest person I know, and we can figure this out together. I believe in you, Natsu. I always have, from the moment I first met you."

His lips parted a moment, uncharacteristically speechless for a long moment. She could tell her words, though deceptively simple, had landed their intended mark. She could already see the ever confident, (if slightly cocky), undertones gracing his features again. "Thanks Luce."

Mercurius

Lucy smiled at Cancer in the mirror as he wrapped a couple strands of braids around the loose bun atop her head and fixed the waves framing her face. She thanked him as he declared his work to be done and vanished in a golden shower. Rising, she turned slowly in the full-length mirror and smiled at her reflection. Lucy had always loved getting all dressed up, though she rarely got the excuse. A giant party in Mercurius' ballroom was the perfect excuse.

"I guess we won't be enjoying your company for very long Lu!"

Glancing at the petite bluenette who met her eyes in the mirror, Lucy fixed her with slight confusion as she smoothed the scarlet red material of her dress over her hips, "what do you mean Lev? I am going to enjoy these celebrations all night!"

"Until Natsu gets an eye full of that dress…" Levy teased back, "Gods Lu, you look incredible!"

Lucy giggled as she turned to face her friend and let out a loud squeak of shock, when a pair of hands snuck under her arms to grope her chest for the second time that day. "These things—" Cana emphasized with a firm squeeze, "in red, —no doubt you did that on purpose— gonna have him popping a boner as soon as you hit that dance floor!"

"Canaaa!" Lucy screeched in embarrassment; she could feel the intense heat in her cheeks as she swatted her friend away. The brunette peeled away in fits of giggles as she twirled passed the other girls approaching, to finish getting ready herself.

"Ne Lucy, she isn't wrong," Mira said sweetly, a delicate hand hiding her amusement at how flustered the stellar mage was.

Lucy narrowed her eyes at the model, approaching with Erza and Wendy, framing the princess in the center. Mira's deep blue gown accentuated her eyes perfectly, she wore a teardrop-shaped blue stone at her forehead on thin silver chains. Lucy assumed Glaciea had had a hand in that. Erza's deep purple gown, with lavender details was doing wonders for her as well and Wendy's soft pink dress had her departing from the clumsy little sister figure. They all looked beautiful, Lucy thought, smiling back at her friends.

Hisui stepped forward with a bright smile, one hand holding her jade-green skirts off the floor, "Well, shall we make our entrance ladies?"

. . .

It didn't take Lucy long to pick her dragon out in the large ballroom. The sprawling space was filled with mages from all over Fiore, but the largest group was crowded around the rooms center, attentions fixated on something—someone.

She couldn't see what held everyone's attention, but she was certain she'd find her fire-breathing idiot at the core. She glanced around the ballroom taking in the immaculate decorations, and spotted Haru near one of the long spreads of food and bowls of alcoholic punch mixtures. He was chatting with Glaciea and Yukino.

Lucy would describe the trio with an undeniable, sophisticated attractiveness. Haru had opted for dark slacks, and a light grey shirt with a deep blue vest over top. A long white dress that faded to a steely blue at the bottom adorned the blizzard dragoness' human form, and a strapless dress in rose gold tones, emphasized Yukino's understated beauty.

Lucy and Hisui trailed after Mira who had also spotted the water slayer and was already heading his way.

Haru and the girls paused their conversation when they noticed them and Lucy grinned when she caught the less then subtle awe entering Haru's expression. The way his gaze swept up and down Mira's form, "Careful Haru, your face might freeze that way…" Lucy teased.

Mira blushed happily under the attention of the water mage, whose eyes had snapped over to Lucy in displeasure.

"Who asked you Lucy…" he grumbled in mild embarrassment.

Stepping forward, Mira fit herself to his side, looking up at him with a bright smile. He slipped his arm around her waist and returned the smile, choosing to ignore the grinning blonde. "You look stunning Mira," he offered, stroking his hand over the swell of her hip.

"What, the Princess and I don't look beautiful?" Lucy teased again.

Haru rolled his eyes landing back on her again, "You can be a right pain, when you want to be—" he retorted to her bemused look. "All you girls look beautiful tonight," he conceded, with a second eye roll.

Lucy laughed and finally let him off the hook. She jabbed a thumb back over her shoulder at the crowd behind them, "Natsu?" she asked with a smart tone.

"And Igneel…" Glaciea added, amusedly.

"Should have guessed that too," Lucy replied. "I guess I'm only surprised there's no fire flying yet—" her face dropped as a few surprised yelps sounded behind her and a mild heat warmed her back. She closed her mouth with a click of teeth and deadpanned as amusement played across her companions' faces.

Hisui giggled behind her regal demeanor, a hand attempting to stifle her laughter, "That's Natsu for you…" she said, smiling knowingly at Lucy and her guildmates.

"NATSU—NO FIRE!" Erza's voice rang out, "and I don't care if you are a King, you will both behave yourselves, we are GUESTS!"

Lucy's eyes bulged when she realized her scarlet-haired friend had added Igneel to her reprimands without a second thought. Only Fairy Tail and a select few, were aware of the dragon's true identities… they just believed Igneel and Glaciea had been visiting Mercurius for the games from whatever neighbouring nation. Haru burst out laughing and Glaciea slapped a hand over her face, mumbling about her King's lack of proper conduct.

The crowd parted as Natsu wove his way between the party goers toward them –wearing a suit?!

Lucy had honestly half expected him to attend the royal party in his usual white trousers and vest combo… in her wildest dreams, she thought he might zip up the vest… but here he was, bounding toward her with a gleeful air, clad in black slacks and suit coat over a light pink shirt. He'd even forgone the ever-present scarf, revealing a tease of tanned skin where he'd left the top couple buttons undone.

As he grew closer, Lucy had to stop herself from doing a doubletake, his hair was also combed back, though the odd pink spike still refused taming. She decided Haru must have gotten a hold of him… He looked gooood.

It took her a moment to realize he'd dragged Sting along behind him as well. Natsu slid to a stop in front of her, with her name falling from his lips in a husky breath. Then he circled her, his eyes raking over her shamelessly.

"Damn Lucy. Are you trying to break my self-control?"

"Just testing a theory concerning you and the colour red," she chirped.

Returning her coy smile, Natsu glanced between her and the others, "This has a bet with Haru written all over it."

"You're imagining things, Natsu." Haru dismissed.

"Suuure I am… anyway, enough talking— Let's dance!" Natsu cheered, shoving Sting at Yukino, and spinning to pull Lucy to the dancefloor. Their friends exchanged amused glances and trailed after.

"Do you even know how to dance?" Lucy asked expectantly when he skimmed a palm down her side to land on her hip, the other taking her hand.

"Ballroom? 'Course not! Figure a fanshy shmancy former aristocrat like yourself, can teach me!"

"Don't mock me! You're freaking royalty!"

"Dragon etiquette isn't exactly to ballroom standard, Luce… Case you hadn't gotten that impression from my Dad." He pointed toward Igneel and Glaciea, sharing fits of laughter as they spun haphazardly over the dancefloor, any semblance of grace abandoning even the dragoness. Natsu had a point, the transformed dragons looked less like they were dancing and more like they were enthralled in a tag team battle, with every other pair around them. Bumper cars came to mind…

Natsu's lopsided smile left the dragons and returned to her as she eased into beginner footwork, allowing him to easily catch on to the coordinated foot work. She had to give him props for that, Natsu had always been a quick study in any area, apparently that even transferred to something as refined as ballroom dance.

By the time the notes of a third classical piece faded, Lucy had relaxed and let him coax her closer to him, no longer worrying over the potential of him stepping on her toes that peeked from the strappy heels she wore. With her head resting on his shoulder, his lips hovered near her ear and his breath ghosted over her skin as he whispered, "You know where your dress would look even better?"

Lucy hummed in curiosity as he pressed a kiss to her neck. She felt his lips turn into a smirk against her skin, and instantly knew where this going, "The floor around your ankles while I—"

She gasped his name and pushed him back to get a look at his face, but his expression was all mirth. "Okay, now you're testing my self-control," she retorted breathlessly.

"Since I know you and Haru have a bet going… I'm going to make good an' sure, it's your self-control that fails first. And when you both lose… I get the winnings, yeah?" His words had sounded nonchalant. But his actions were pure temptation. Eyes half lidded, he reached up and casually popped a third button open, revealing more golden skin to her eyes.

Lucy swallowed thickly; he'd never tried to seduce her before… he typically just kissed her into submission. But this was Natsu, no way she could lose a fight with draconic instincts guiding his near every action, right?

. . .

A vague memory of a time she'd happened to underestimate Natsu eroded the confidence that she could win the unexpected bet. From a time, most of even their closest friends, save Happy and Haru, had still been unaware of her relationship with the fire breathing idiot.

He had succeeded in getting her so hot, she'd been forced to abandon the guildhall, lest she inadvertently divulge her less then friendly feelings toward him. But his success had been won with his hands… his fingers… beneath the cover of a table, to be precise.

Her traitorous memories were not helping.

Just an hour earlier, she had been overconfident that she could fend off his attempts to seduce her when he couldn't rely on his more aggressively forward tactics.

She was wrong.
He'd been doing a bang-up job of efficiently leading her, headlong, into an undeniable loss and with subtleties she wouldn't have thought him capable of. Deviant looks that encouraged her imagination to run wild… The ghost of fingertips over her waist that left trails of fire in their wake… And perhaps most dangerous of all, the very descriptive, whispered words, of what he would be doing to her, if only he had her alone, that set her arousal ablaze.

She'd been getting dangerously close to saying fuck the bet… fuck him instead.

Lucy fanned her still-heated cheeks with the flat of her hand. Recollecting her cool, during the temporary reprieve from Natsu's unrequited challenge. A challenge she knew she had no right to complain about… given her bet with his partner, being the trigger.

Once again, she was falling victim to the competitive tendencies of dragon slayers.

She'd be lying, if she claimed she hadn't been more than a little thankful for the chance to wrestle her quickly dwindling win, back under control, when Sting had appeared to borrow her boyfriend.

Then a glimpse of long pink tresses, redirected her ponderings. The slightest tunes of relief building to a crescendo when she realized she hadn't mistaken the identity. Her comrades noticed her staring from across the room, and the warmth of understanding her icy teammate sent her, had Lucy sucking in a breath to steady a very different array of emotions. Gray moved toward her, drawing Juvia and Meredy along with him.

Meredy.

She hadn't realized the young girl had finally beaten the magic-induced coma. The stress on Meredy's mind and body after the Etherious has been forcibly stripped from her body, had been a worry on the backburner of Lucy's mind since their fight.

After all, she'd put her in that state.

When the trio reached her, a reflexive apology immediately sprang from the blonde's lips. It took a moment to realize the words Meredy had spewed at the same time, had carried an identical plea of forgiveness. It took another moment, to place the prevailing emotion in the teen's eyes, but Lucy hadn't been mistaken, she was looking at a face etched in guilt.

Empathy filled Lucy, remorseful actions fueled by the pain of loss, betrayal, and abandonment, fuel she was all too familiar with… It was fuel that led to a path, that could have just as easily been hers, in another life.

Meredy was so young, not much older than Wendy. She'd made mistakes, but she was far from a lost cause. Clearly, Lucy's comrades and the Princess, must have thought so as well, or she wouldn't be here.

Lucy threw her arms around the girl, feeling Meredy's muscles bunch under what was likely an unfamiliar gesture. "I'm so glad you're okay, Meredy," she told her former enemy, with genuine care.

To her surprise, the girl expressed her gratitude for the beat down Lucy had delivered. "Please don't apologize, you saved me. I was so desperate for power, Etherious was supposed to enhance my abilities beyond human capacity… but really, it only felt like I was a prisoner in my own body. A passenger to the horrific actions my own hands carried out, and I was incapable of doing anything to prevent them. If you had killed me, it would have been a mercy."

Choking down the jolt delivered by the girl's words, Lucy realized Meredy was as blunt and seemingly emotionless as she had been when they'd met in Seven all those years ago.

"Jellal said somethin' similar about absorbing curse power." The heat of a hand found the small of her back and Lucy shivered, peeking up at the fire mage who'd joined them. Natsu was focused on Meredy though. Apparently, he grasped what seeing Meredy again, meant for her, enough to put his seduction game on hold for now. "What will you do now Meredy?" he asked.

"You could join us, if you wanted," Gray put in.

"Fairy Tail would really accept me?"

"Jellal wears our mark now, you're no different, really."

"Fairy Tail has become a sort of haven for the previously broken and abandoned…" Natsu added, the barest hint of pride melting through the subdued words.

Meredy nodded slowly, a faint smile on her face, "I do appreciate the offer," she breathed. "I'm going to stay here in Crocus though, as an advisor on Tartaros to the Princess."

"Wait, do you know where Tartaros is now, then?" Natsu asked.

Deflating a bit, Meredy shook her head, "Unfortunately, no. By the time I joined Raven Tail, they were already under Tartaros' control… I only ever interacted with two from the main guild."

The whole group perked a bit, giving the teen their entire attention. "There was a demon called Lamy, I think she was low-level though… and the Macro demon, don't know her name. I don't remember anything between meeting them and arriving at the Games."

"I'd bet anything the Macro demon was the one Mira fought… and the one responsible for slaughtering the Rune Knights." Natsu stated lowly. "Her curse could explain the gaps in your memory as well."

Meredy nodded, and the group considered the information silently. "What is our next step?" Gray ventured.

"To enjoy the party."

"Oh Princess," most of the group said, flinching at her sudden arrival.

"Hey Hisui," Natsu said, as she entered their circle between himself and Juvia.

Hanging her head, a bit, Lucy asked quietly, "Doesn't it seem selfish, to be celebrating when so many died? And when Tartaros is still out there?"

Hisui's jade gaze took them all in, "One thing ruling a nation shows you, Lucy, is there is always a threat looming out there. Taking the chance to live and celebrate what we have accomplished isn't selfish. All we can do, is honour the sacrifices made and be ready to take on whatever danger faces us in the future, without putting our lives on hold. We will move forward, to make Fiore stronger, one day at a time." The conviction she offered reminded the group, that despite being slightly younger than most of them, she was every bit the regal ruler her father was.

"Now then, were all those rumours I've heard about Fairy Tail being the life of a party just greatly exaggerated, or…?"

Flashing his signature grin at her, Natsu pivoted, tugging Lucy along behind him toward the center of the room. He released her wrist and leapt onto a table, simultaneously sending out a bunch of fiery orbs to dot the air overhead. The flames popped in bursts of red, orange and gold.

Those that hadn't already seen him charge over, sought the source of the mini fireworks filling the towering space of Mercurius' ballroom. "NATSU, I told you, NO fire!" Erza's voice sounded somewhere deeper in the crowd of mages.

Natsu gave no indication of hearing, let alone acknowledging the redhead's reprimand, "Everyone, on the dance floor!" he commanded boisterously. "It's time we get this party fired up!"

Lucy smiled affectionately at her boyfriend's display, then he bounded off the table with more fireworks blooming overhead and snagged her hand. He twirled her and dipped her low, looming above her as other pairs filtered onto the floor around them. "So, where were we?" Natsu asked, devious grin promising a return to his previous game.

She flushed as he made a sound of mock recognition to himself, 'ah!' and leaned in further. His breath fanning over her cheek, "Jus' let me know when you want your private fireworks," he said. He sealed her lips with his own, before pulling her upright and spinning her around the dancefloor again.

They laughed, as they danced, weaving through pairs and groups of their friends all around. Juvia clung to Gray so tightly he barely had the leg room to dance at all, her head rested on his shoulder with a blissful look on her face. Erza was forcibly leading Jellal with a giddy grin of her own, he appeared to have resigned himself to following her lead, if the soft smile he returned was any indication. Levy was putting her entire weight into attempting to drag the iron slayer onto the dance floor and he looked beyond uncomfortable as he eyed her efforts with flushed cheeks. Elfman and Evergreen argued loudly, even as they danced, their gentle touches a stark contrast to the insults they barked at one another. Wendy was dancing with her new friend Chelia, and Haru and Mira looked every bit as graceful as Lucy would have expected from them.

Lucy snuck an arm around Natsu's neck, drawing him closer and rested her head on his shoulder, letting herself enjoy the moment. Hisui had been right, they would never get to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, if they were always worrying over the dark mages and monsters of their reality.

Besides, Fairy Tail always prevailed.

They would this time as well.

"May I cut in?" Lucy picked her head off the fire mage's shoulder to find Natsu staring derisively at his father who wore a wide grin in turn.

"What are you planning Dad…"

"Jus' wanna get to know my son's mate better," Igneel assured.

Natsu didn't seem less skeptical of his father's intensions, but Hisui interrupted before he could argue back. "That's a great idea, I have something I need to discuss with Natsu anyway!" the Princess announced, ignoring the couple as she and Igneel came to their agreement.

Lucy gave in, eyeing Igneel, "I saw you and Glaciea earlier… I am not a bumper car, got it?"

The dragon laughed and led her away as she watched Natsu and Hisui over her shoulder for a brief moment. She had nothing to worry about, but she couldn't help the slight tinge of jealousy that flitted through her heart. Her suspicions of the princess' harboured feelings for her boyfriend didn't help, though she knew Hisui was far too honourable to try anything with him.

She shook it off as Igneel led her with clumsy movements, she supposed adapting his true form to that of a human might pose a challenge.

"So, Lucy Heartfilia…"

"So, Igneel, King of Dragons…" she returned with a hint of mirth.

"It's kind of poetic, you know, that of all the potential mates… it would be you, my son would fall for."

"Why do you say that?" Lucy asked, mind flicking over Lisanna, eyes flicking over the jade princess.

"Your ancestors have always been embroiled in the Dragon Wars, as close to the center of the conflicts as me. Anna Heartfilia was responsible for the Eclipse Project. She was one of the only, in the Dragon Council to fully reject Zeref's experiments with Living Magic, as a viable option to fight back. Of course, she also raised the true dragon slayers… it was Anna who put Natsu in my life, and now Natsu is fatefully tied to you, 400 years later."

Lucy was still pondering Igneel's words when he asked, "How much has Natsu told you about his past?"

"Hm… as much as he knows, I guess. From what I understand, there's still a lot of holes in his own understanding." Igneel looked at her expectantly, a prompt for elaboration, she sighed.

"Natsu lived 400 years in the past, during the Dragon Wars. He was one of eight children who were sent into this time to face the unchecked power of Acnologia and Zeref. He was one of the subjects of a series of cruel experiments conducted by Zeref, experiments that made him Etherious. You took him in, to balance that power." She listed off the main points of her knowledge diligently, watching Igneel's expression for hints as to where the conversation was headed.

"True…" the dragon agreed. "What Natsu doesn't know, is Zeref is a Dragneel… when I say the Heartfilias and Dragneels have been tied together for centuries, understand the depths of that. "

Gasping, Lucy froze in her dance steps, gawking, "Dragneel? Zeref?!"

Igneel nodded, "Natsu and Zeref are brothers, Lucy. Natsu's death was what prompted Zeref's fall into depravity… a desperation to bring Natsu back. Obviously, he succeeded, but his mind was corrupted by the black magic and curse power he dabbled in, inevitably corrupting his motivations all together. The Zeref, Natsu would have once called 'brother,' is long gone."

"W-why tell me this?"

"Because Natsu will need your support, you are the one he was always meant to be with, but you're bound by more than fate, it's love— Centuries ago, there was constant debate on whether magic was born of darkness, negativity, fear… or if it was love." Lucy's attention settled on the fire dragon slayer over Igneel's shoulder as she listened. "Personally, I think it was love. The desire to protect those most important to us, those we love, gave rise to magic and those with pure intentions, the ability to wield it."

Brown eyes met gold again, "He is stronger with you at his side and Fairy Tail behind him, Lucy."

Lucy blinked through the slight mist of tears filming her eyes, a smile stretched across her face as she threw herself into the dragon's arms. Igneel stiffened in surprise before returning her hug, "It's nice to have you as a daughter, Lucy." When she pulled away to look up at him, she found a mischievous grin banishing the heartfelt conversation. "Now about those grandkids…"

"Shut up about the grandkids would ya!"

. . .

"So, what did the Princess want?" Lucy asked as she reached for a flute of champaign.

Quirking a brow, Natsu looked at her knowingly, the slight jealousy in the undertones of her question brought a smile to his face. "To talk about the hot passionate night, we're gonna—"

Lucy smacked him with a gasp, dissolving into laughter with him a second later, despite the colour on her cheeks. Grinning down at her, he explained, "Just a simple Eclipse job, we needed to discuss." He tipped her chin up and stole a kiss, pulling her hips flush to his so she could feel him, semi hard and just waiting for her to cave. He deepened their kiss for just a second before releasing her, "I will be all yours forever, Luce."

Between those words and the desire in his eyes, Lucy felt like he'd set her on fire.

She tore her attention away for a second, checking on their friends, gathered around a couple tables with the two dragons. Gajeel was complaining, loudly, that the 'rust for brains,' he called a father, couldn't be bothered to drop in before heading out with Weisslogia in search of the others. Sabertooth's Twin Dragons, Sienna and Wendy were all enthralled as well, likely speculating on their own dragons' current where abouts. Some of their other comrades listened in as well or chatted amongst themselves nearby, but Haru and Mira were noticeably absent.

Everyone that remained, were all oblivious to Natsu and herself.

They had a world all to themselves, right now.

"Screw it!" Lucy snapped, she latched onto the fire mage's wrist and spun on her heel, dashing out of the bustling ballroom. Behind her, Natsu laughed in delight, knowing she'd lost the bet… and, at the moment, Lucy didn't care in the slightest. Between the sexually charged comments and subtle touches Natsu had peppering her with all night, Igneel's revelations, and the slight jealousy that drove her to claim him… it was a miracle she'd lasted as long, as she had.

The palace corridors still displayed signs of damage from their fight with Grimoire months ago, though it had remained unscathed from Crocus' most recent battles. Natsu had whipped passed her as soon as they'd exited the ballroom, guiding their search for privacy with his knowledge of Mercurius' layout.

He spun down a hall, and stopped, narrowing his eyes at the door in front of them, the one he and Haru normally shared when they stayed in Crocus for missions. "Fuckin' Haru!" he growled. Then he pivoted and took off again, and Lucy followed, sharing the exhilarated energy, as he swivelled down a new hall. Natsu threw open a new door and quickly pulled her in, slamming it behind them.

Leaning back against the door, his eyes raked over her from head to toe. The look on his face was just a little bit predatory, but Lucy was okay with that, she was feeling just a little predatory herself…

"That dress really is something else…" he said as he pushed himself off the door and stalked toward her. Natsu had a talent for fluffing her ego. She snagged the lapels of his jacket and pulled him to her, "Is that so?" she asked coyly.

"Mmmhmm," he hummed, hands already working on the straps of her dress, "but I maintain, that it'll look better on the floor around your ankles."

Lucy threaded fingers into his hair at the back of his head and yanked him forward for a kiss, immediately pressing her tongue to the seam of his lips as her dress fell to pool around her ankles. She had the buttons of his dress shirt open in seconds and snuck her hands under the material to meet heated skin. He shrugged off the clothing when she pulled away and looked up at him through a layer of dark lashes.

"Think you can make good on all your speculations and promises?" she challenged, pressing down on his shoulder in a less than subtle hint.

Natsu chuckled, "I don't quite recall… remind me again, just what did I say?" he asked as he sunk to his knees, dark eyes trained on her.

"You said… you were going to hook my leg over your shoulder," she breathed. His hand slid down her side and guided her leg over his shoulder, complying with the instruction.

He wore the wolfish grin that she was certain would be her privilege alone, forever. His hand stroked up and down the outside of her thigh and the other played along the band of her panties, "Memory's still a little foggy Luce, keep going…"

Her head tipped back, hands tightening their hold on his shoulders as a soft moan escaped, unbidden, from her throat when he nipped at the flesh of her inner thigh. "Focus Lucy… what next?"

Lucy sucked a breath in, trying to calm her racing arousal. "You w-were going to—"

She cried out, the words lost in a drawn-out moan when he flicked his thumb into her panties, moved the lace to the side and deftly fit his mouth over her dripping pussy. He hummed, pleased with her reaction and the vibration sent her pleasure into overdrive quickly. Natsu steadied her with a hand at one hip and alternated between delving his tongue into her folds and sucking at her clit.

Without parting from the task of keeping his promise, he glanced upward and marvelled in the sight of his beautiful blonde girlfriend. Her head lulled back again, lips parted in ecstasy, chest heaving for strained breath, and muscles quivering with the effort to simply stay standing. In a quick series of movements, he removed her leg from his shoulder, leaned away from her needy center and picked her up.

The blonde's legs reflexively wrapped around his waist, even as she fixed him with her disapproval. "Natsuuu, why'd you stop? I was so close," she whined. He only chuckled and deposited her on the bed, fingers working at his belt. Lucy knew the look on his face all too well, it was the look that warned her that he was up to something. That look didn't always allude to a decision she appreciated, but she had a sneaking suspicion whatever he was up to tonight, would gain her full approval.

He shed his pants and crawled back over her body, his hand lazily brushing over his own arousal, tenting the boxers he hadn't yet removed. Lucy reached out to do just that, but he clasped her wrist, preventing her. "As great as your dress is, I've recently discovered one outfit I like much better…" he admitted.

Lucy didn't follow. True, her usual outfits revealed a lot more skin, but he saw those outfits every day… That couldn't possibly be a new discovery. He appeared amused by her increasing confusion when light flashed around his palm.

Pulling the soft scaled fabric of his scarf from his requip space, Natsu bared his fangs in a wider smile. "I'm not sure there's much that would be sexier on you, than my scarf barely covering your boobs," he declared, gaining her wide-eyed remembrance of that days earlier run in with Juvia. "But there is one possibility, I can think of…" he continued.

"And w-what might that be…" she dared to ask.

Natsu held the fabric up, dangling it in front of her eyes, enlightening her to his plan, finally. She swallowed, nervously eyeing his beloved scarf and peeked over it to get a look at his face. The gold flecking into his eyes betrayed just how turned on he was, but that didn't stop him from checking, "Is this, okay?"

Her heart swelled. He really was incredible… she could always be certain he'd put her comfort, and enjoyment first. Besides, beneath the thin layer of nerves, she couldn't deny the idea sent a renewed course of arousal through her as well... She nodded slowly, "Y-yeah, it's okay."

"You're going to love it…" he promised excitedly, leaning forward to place the material snuggly over her eyes. The muted light that filtered through, disappeared as he secured his scarf with a knot, and told her, "Lay back, and let me take care of you…"

Lucy did just that, dropping back against the pillows, and listened to the sound of his shuffling momentarily. Heart pounding with anticipation of where his, (eagerly awaited), touch might appear on her skin. He didn't leave her wondering long, a pair of hot fingers grazing over the underside of her breast had her gasping. He ran teasing touches all over her body, everywhere but her most sensitive places and always unexpectedly.

She said his name in a bare whisper, borderline whimpering, and tone desperate for more committed touches. "—Please."

She wondered if her body was more hypersensitive to his touch because he'd removed her sight, or because he'd spent half the day carefully fanning her desire with subtle touches and whispered promises. Potentially both—Lucy screamed again, he'd left her body entirely for a few long seconds before sealing his mouth over one nipple and plunging two fingers into her pussy at the same time.

Lucy hadn't stood a chance; she was coming undone around his fingers after mere seconds.

"Atta girl Luce…" Natsu's voice rumbled near her ear, his tongue dragged over the shell, nipping at the ear lobe as she shivered. "Stay with me here…"

He spread her legs further and settled between them. He'd finally removed his boxers at some point, she realized, when his cock pressed against her. Though he didn't quite enter her yet, frustrating her to no end. His mouth returned to her chest, laving the breast he'd neglected earlier with swirls of his tongue and sweet suction. Natsu's hand found her hip and he finally pushed into her, inch by torturously slow, inch. Lucy's moans melded with his as he stretched her.

Fingers itching to remove the scarf, so she could get a look at him, she reached up and gripped his arms shoulders instead. She just knew his face would be twisted in pleasure. It was a look she'd never get her fill of, the pure animalistic want, coupled with undeniable love that he'd always look upon her with.

"Gods Luce… you are so damn sexy… in anything." His words washed over her as her grip trailed over to the muscle of his back, and her hips rolled to meet his every thrust. Her nerves felt like they were on fire, in the most delicious way. Every inch of contact between them, sent waves of tingling pleasure through her. "But I think… I was right… you, in my scarf—" his words broke off in a strangled-sounding moan of her name.

His lips found hers, tongues battling as he snapped his hips forward against her. Then light flooded back into her vision suddenly, as he pushed the scarf up, "Want to—see ya—" he breathed.

Natsu's other hand tightened in a bruising grip over her hip bone, "Oh, fuck, Lucyyy…" he growled, eyes screwing shut as his release overtook him. Orgasm hit Lucy in powerful waves just a moment later, the feeling of him bursting inside her, coaxing her to completion. She cried out with the intensity, and their hips continued to rock erratically until they were completely spent.

"Wow…" Lucy whispered, reaching up to fully remove the scarf that loosely encircled her head still and hugged the precious item to her chest. Natsu pulled out of her, muttering incoherent words of affection, and collapsed next to her in a heap on his back, looking rather euphoric. Lucy rolled to her side, brushed his damp bangs from his face. The gesture had him peeking at her between narrowed lids, mischief pulling at the corner of his mouth. "Won your bet."

She gaped at him, jaw dropping as he began detailing how he was going to get Haru back for betting against his self-control… It involved recruiting Mira, and didn't sound great for the water slayer, Lucy almost felt bad. Almost. At least his revenge against her, for the bet, had turned out very well in her favour.

"You know what?" she said, he paused in his plotting to return his attention with a raised brow. "This is one bet, I am completely okay with losing."

He grinned, eyes sparkling as he rolled and caged her between his arms, "Who said I was done collecting on my winnings?"

"You are insatiable."

A/N. So that was nearly pure fluff and fun. I felt like we needed a break from the heavier action that Tartaros is sure to deliver.

For those of you excited that the dragons are back on scene, don't worry, they won't be disappearing for long, but they also won't be big fixtures in the upcoming battle. This store remains focused on the Fairy Tail mages, and Dragon Soul, specifically.

Any predictions for the upcoming arc? What are you hoping to see?

PS. The referred to 'underestimating Natsu' (and his fingers) is from the one shot "All Weekend," for those of you who missed it and are curious.

Thank you, thank you for sharing some love: AliceCullen3, SuperSaiyajin4Vegeta, Valerioux, Joker D. Zero, FireShifter, EternalFlame, Earth Faerie and guests.

'Till next time,

R&R

~LokaMuse