Chapter Thirty-Four

Natsu left Lucy curled up in the nest. The symbols on the wall telling him it was mid-morning. He wasn't too surprised. They hadn't gotten back to their room until early morning. He pulled food out of the cabinets and set them on the counter for when she woke up. She murmured and rolled over, snuggling closer to the blanket's he'd slept on top of. He smiled softly. He strolled over, covering her with a blanket and smoothed her hair away. He brushed his lips over her forehead and pulled back. She had a soft smile on her lips, a warmth filled his chest.

He headed out, as quietly as possible. In the hall, he saw Droy coaxing the plants he'd used to decorate the halls back into their special beds. He nodded at him and Droy nodded back sleepily. He didn't see anyone else until he was at the lift. Laxus appeared, looking rough.

"You okay?"

"Shuddup." Laxus growled and Natsu's lips quirked. They stepped into the lift and it started to lower them. "Why are the damn lights so bright?"

Instantly the lift darkened. With their enhanced sight it didn't startle them. Laxus sighed in relief. Natsu watched as he leaned back and groaned. Natsu crossed his arms over his chest and kept standing.

"How ain'tcha as miserable? I saw that demoness Cana give you a mug of whatever that was too."

"Lucy didn't let me drink it." Natsu snickered. Lucy had switched the mug as she'd crossed between him and Cana and sat down and drank it herself. He'd seen the color rise in her cheeks but that was it. When Cana watched Natsu take a sip and have no reaction she'd looked disappointed and turned on the other Dragis who were starting to giggle as their cheeks colored as well.

"No fair." Laxus snarled. "That Earth liquor is heinous. No wonder she can drink our stuff and never seem fazed."

"Lucy mentioned on the way up that Earth's liquor is made… very potent by a special process, but I can't remember the word right now."

"Distillation." The A.I. stated from around them. "When water is removed from the liquor to leave more of the fermented alcohol behind."

"That should be illegal." Laxus snarled again and Natsu chuckled softly. Lucy had obviously saved him from a bad experience. The lift stopped on the main social level and they stepped out. The lights lowered as they walked forward and Laxus relaxed. He dropped onto a bench in front of a table and looked around. There weren't many people up, and most were humans from the lower levels.

They looked at Laxus and shrank down closer to the table. Natsu frowned. He didn't want them to get scared. He walked over. "Don't worry. Laxus isn't unhappy with you or anything. He's suffering from drinking too much Earth Liquor. We don't…distill our drinks."

"Ah…" Several of the older adults nodded in understanding and they straightened. "You look good considering."

"Lucy didn't let me drink it. She said Cana looked too devious so she didn't trust the drink."

"Smart woman." A man said and held his hand out. "I'm Michael. It's nice to meet you. It's Natsu right?"

"That's right." Natsu looked at his hand and the man chuckled.

"Human greeting. Put your hand in mine, clasp it, and we move it up and down."

"Okay." Natsu did as instructed and looked at him. "Why is this a greeting?"

"I don't know. Just is." Michael shrugged.

"It proves you are unarmed." Levy's voice was soft and they all turned and saw her shuffling over. She had a mug in her hand with steam rising from it. In her other was a small plate with bread and butter.

"But we're holding each other's arms?" Natsu asked in confusion.

"Weapons ya idiot." Laxus huffed from a few tables away and the women at the table giggled as Natsu blushed.

"It's early and last night was a lot." Michael let him off of the hook. "But that makes sense. Back when we carried weapons more."

"Why did you all stop?" Natsu asked and Michael rubbed his chin.

"Times changed. It wasn't as necessary to carry weapons. Laws and rules made it harder to carry weapons and take justice into your own hands."

"I guess that makes sense." Natsu nodded and he looked at Levy who was just staring at her mug. "You okay?"

"My head throbs in beat with my heart." She whined and picked up the bread and took a bite. "Everything hurts right now. Light, sound, smells."

"I'll take her to Wendy's room." Laxus said and stood up and wrapped Levy in his arms, letting her keep her mug with her. The bread on the table disappeared as the self-cleaning feature activated.

"I do appreciate that." One of the women murmured and Natsu smiled. "You have a nice smile."

"Thank you." He blushed. "I hope you all have a good day."

He headed out of the meal area and headed for the lift again. He heard an low growl and turned his head right as the lift announced its arrival. Gajeel and Laxus were glaring at one another over Levy's form; still curled up in the latter's arms. He shook his head as he stepped into the lift. Slowly the lift started to descend.

The greenery on the agricultural level shimmered in the light, a residual side effect of the release of magic. He walked through the plants, feeling a bit like he wasn't on the station. It didn't last long however. He rounded a bend and came across Layla and Jude. They looked up, startled and he held his hands up.

"I'll come back."

"You may as well stay. Before or after the noon meal seems pointless now." Layla interjected and put her hand on Jude's forearm. Natsu nodded and grabbed a large stone and picked it up. Jude gave a sound of surprise as he set down closer to them.

"That stone has to weigh at least three hundred pounds and he moved it like it was tissue paper."

"He's a Dragis dear. Their strength is said to rival a dragon's."

"So you do know about my race. Lucy wasn't misguided on that." He looked at her mother and Layla's cheeks darkened as she shook her head. She tightened her hold on her husband's arm and looked at him. Natsu watched them. Unease settled in his stomach. Which he didn't understand but he let it go.

"Is that because…you…like Luce, aren't fully human?" Layla's head snapped towards him.

"What?" Layla asked and Jude's jaw clenched.

"She's part Zodiacrian, right? Like you?"

"How do you know about Zodiacrians?" Jude asked and Natsu tilted his head.

"Don't tell me your the Zodiacrian?"

"Why are you sounding so incredulous?" Jude snapped in irritation. Natsu's eyebrows rose up into his hair and he lifted his hands slowly.

"Dear." Layla chided and he looked at her, and physically softened. Natsu watched silently. "Why are you smiling?"

"What?" Natsu looked at Layla, again amazed at how much Lucy looked like her mother.

"You have a soft smile on your face."

"Sorry..I just…" He ran his hand through his hair and rested his forearms on his thighs. "I guess I know now what I look like."

"What?" Both asked.

"The way you calmed him down, and he looks at you. I can only assume that's how I am whenever I'm with Luce."

"Oh." Layla blushed and laughed softly. She turned to face him more than her husband and took him in. He was tired from the festival but there was still energy radiating off of him. As calm as he appeared though, she saw the slight tension in his form. She was sure if he was a dog his ears would be twitching, listening for the sounds of anything that came near. "Are you okay?"

"I don't know why…but I feel uneasy."

"Do your kind have the gift of prophecy? I can give you a number of reasons to feel uneasy." Jude tried to intimidate Natsu, but the Dragis had to repress his urge to smile.

"Jude!" Layla smacked his arm. "Natsu…meetings the parents is always uneasy. At least on Earth."

"Maybe." Natsu said and shifted, inhaling. He caught Lucy's scent but as he looked around he couldn't see her. Maybe it was left over from the night before. "But, getting back to the matter at hand."

"Yes…Lucy." Layla inhaled a shaky breath.

"She's my growlkin." He stated and she lifted a hand to her throat and Jude wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Zodiacrian or not. Earth-land human or not. Halfling or not. She's Lucy, and as such, my growlkin."

"Our daughter cannot be your growlkin." Jude forced out the word. Natsu tilted his head and raised a brow.

"She's promised to someone else." Jude bit out through clenched teeth. Layla's eyes lowered. Natsu nodded.

"Sucks for the other person." Layla's eyes shot up. "Unless of course Lucy chooses them over me. Then I'll have to step aside."

"You can't step aside!" Layla gasped horrified and she leaned forward. "You'd fall into a mental stasis! Or worse!"

"Maybe." Natsu swallowed hard. He looked at Jude because seeing's the same eyes as Lucy's filled with tears tore at his heart. "But I cannot force my growlkin to want to be my growlkin. Lucy's happiness is what is important. Her happiness and her safety."

"Smooth words." Jude crossed his arms as Layla's hands twisted in her lap. "But you won't gain our approval with them."

"I don't want your approval." Natsu chuckled.

"What?" Jude demanded and Layla looked at him uneasily.

"I wanted to speak with you about Lucy. If she's part Zodiacrian; Gramps and Lucy both need to know. Gramps because he has to report that as they are supposed to be gone; and Lucy because she deserves to know who she is." He straightened up and thumped his chest. "I also wanted you both to know nothing will stop me from believing that she is my growlkin. You can detest me al you want; you can hate me all you want. But it won't change my heart."

"You aren't listening…she belongs to another." Jude stated and Natsu rolled his eyes.

"I would take on the entire known galaxy's armies if anyone tried to say she belongs to anyone." Natsu growled. "She belongs to herself. She may be my growlkin but I do not own her because of that."

Heat filled him and he rose to his feet. Breathing deeply; trying to control his feelings. He rolled his heads back on his shoulders. Jude shifted and looked at his wife and Layla took a deep breath.

"Mard Geer."

"Why bring him up?" Natsu asked and looked at Layla.

"He's…who she's promised to." Layla's words froze Natsu. He sank to his knees in front of her.

"What? I think I misheard."

Layla was crying and she shook her head. "It isn't Layla's choice."

At Jude's voice Natsu looked at Lucy's father. The man shook his head. "It wasn't my doing either. We have done everything we could to protect Lucy."

"Wait…how is Lucy supposed to be promised to Mard Geer?!" Natsu demanded to know and Layla released a shaky breath.

"I am Zodiacrian." Layla bit her lip. "When Mard Geer attacked our realm…I was sent away. My guards with me. But during a meteor storm; I got separated and ended up on Earth. Jude found me; alone in the woods. I looked human, and at first I didn't tell him who or what I was. I pretended that I had gotten lost while camping with friends."

"By the time she came clean…I loved her." Jude rubbed his wife's hand. "Her guards never came; we assumed they died in the meteor storm. Over time she accepted that she was here alone; on a backwater planet where no one knew about aliens."

"Still not sure where Mard Geer is coming into this." Natsu felt like he couldn't breathe.

"Mard Geer appeared at a formal dinner; he used his powers to put everyone to sleep. Because Jude had been around me so much his powers didn't work on him. But he also didn't take Jude as a threat. He tried to take me."

"What happened?"

"What do you think?" Jude asked. "Some man came trying to take the woman I loved. I fought him. I had surprise on my side. I got Layla outside, under the night sky. She, like the others of her kind, are strengthened by celestial light. I thought if nothing else, she'd be able to leave."

"You'd let her leave Earth and you behind?"

"Of course. If it meant she was safe." Jude stroked his mustache. "But Mard Geer's henchmen encircled us."

"I couldn't leave Jude to die." Layla shook her head. "Mard Geer came out of the house. He told me that he'd been searching for me ever since I escaped his first attack on my home world."

"Why?" Natsu asked, fear filling him.

"He learned that there is a Zodiacrian prophecy. That if a first daughter, of a first daughter joins in a Unison Raid with their mate; during a black moon—then they would rule the universes in darkness."

"But Zodiacrians are people of light." Natsu shook his head. "Gramps said that they are protectors. Darkness can't taint them."

"But a black moon casts black light." Layla explained. "That is the only way that a Zodiacrian can turn evil. If that black light is infused with their essence during a Unison Raid."

"But Unison Raids are rare. The likely hood that Mard Geer could get one to happen during a black moon…"

"He has a spell…" Jude swore. "He tried to use it on my Layla."

"It would have worked except…"

"Except what?" Natsu asked, feeling Igneel's fire roiling in his gut.

"We got Lucky." Layla sniffled. Jude kissed the side of her head.

"I don't understand."

"Lucy." Jude stated. "Layla was pregnant with Lucy and when the spell caused Layla to join in a Unison Raid; against her will with Mard Geer; the black moon light couldn't fuse with Layla; because there were two Zodiacrians's essence already merged together."

"Twice the light that couldn't be tainted." Natsu felt his shoulders relax. "Lucy protected you."

"Yes." Layla wiped at her tears. "But then Mard Geer realized that he had a second chance."

"But you were the…"

"I was the first daughter of a first daughter on Seireikai." Layla explained. "Lucy was the first daughter of a first daughter on Earth."

"Oh no." Natsu shook his head.

"He couldn't take her as a child. Zodiacrians only gain power if they are around other Zodiacrians. So he had to leave her with me. He'd killed all the others…"

"No he didn't." Natsu shook his head and Layla froze. "I met a male Zodiacrian some solar cycles ago on another world. It's the only reason I know about them."

"Who was it? His name?" Layla asked and Natsu shrugged. She choked on a sob and put her head on Jude's shoulder. Natsu hated hearing her cry. It was as if watching Lucy cry. Lucy!

"A.I.?"

"Yes Natsu?" The A.I. came to life instantly.

"Can you show us the recording of when I met the Zodiacrian male?"

"Do you remember the date of the meeting? I cannot find a file with the parameters just listed." The A.I. responded after a brief hum. Natsu rattled off the report number; it was one he remembered vividly writing.

A screen appeared and they watched as Natsu took out several Draconics before hearing a sound off in the distance. They followed him follow the sound. Then they saw a male fighting off Draconics. As he turned, Layla gasped. The recording froze.

"You know him?" Natsu asked and Layla nodded.

"When he was younger but I'd recognize that face." She cried softly and then took a deep breath. "I can't believe he survived the meteor storm. He was one of the youngest of my guards."

"Then we send a message out. That he needs to come and help protect Luce." Natsu pointed at the screen. "The more fire power we have against Mard Geer the better. And he can fight. I tried to get him to join us but he just vanished."

"Zodiacrians don't answer calls of other races."

"Then we send a Zodiacrian call. You are Zodiacrian."

"It isn't that easy." Layla shook her head. "It takes two Zodiacrians to issue a call. One can answer, but…the amount of magic it takes to send across galaxies is more than one can do. Even right after a Rainbow Sakura release."

"Then we send it." Lucy's voice made all three jump. She was standing down the path and she looked murderous. Natsu look at her, feeling heat searing his chest. Then he looked at her parents. He stepped between her and her parents; her brown eyes filled with rage. He held his hands up and slowly walked towards her. He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her away from her parents. She glared up at him and he stared at her eyes. All Lucy. And all rage.

"Breathe." He whispered and her eyes narrowed. "Lucy, you've wanted the truth but if you attack them they'll clam up."

"Natsu…"

"Luce." He rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. Her scent was tinged with anger but under it all; was pain. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He ran his hands up and down her back, while taking deep breaths. She started to mimic his breathing and when he opened his eyes, he saw the tears in hers.

"Hey. Hey, it's okay Luce." He whispered and nuzzled the side of her head. Her arms wrapped around his waist and he felt her tremble. "This is going to be okay."

"But Mard…"

"He is never, getting his hands on you." Natsu vowed and she looked up at him. After a few moments she closed her eyes and her arms tightened around him. He carefully kissed both eyes before nuzzling the other side of her head.