Chapter Sixty-Three
"What was that?" Juvia asked, holding onto Gray's shoulders as she leaned awkwardly across his body to keep from completely falling.
The Magi-Hover had rocked side to side and downwards all at once. Lucy and Happy were in Natsu's lap and staring at the others tensely. Cana's voice was muffled as her card had fallen face down onto the table top. Gray reached over and flipped it up with his left hand while holding onto Juvia with his right.
"What just happened?" She demanded and everyone shook their heads, their hearts racing.
"The Solarium shuttle has done a stacked landing." Alfie stated and everyone released a shaky breath. Lucy looked up at the ceiling of the Magi-Hover where sounds were starting to be made.
"Stacked landing?" Gray asked and there was a hum but nothing else. He rolled his eyes and looked at Juvia. "You comfortable in that weird position or do you want to right yourself?"
"Oh, Juvia is so sorry!" She said and moved to straighten, turning into water and his right hand sliding through her. She didn't appear to notice while Gray's expression turned to surprise and unease and Lucy tried not to laugh at him. Natsu was staring at the ceiling and had missed the exchange.
"I have latched the shuttle to the Magi-Hover and the opening will be near the main portal." Alfie said after some humming and Natsu nodded and his chair spun around, Lucy and Happy stared as the ceiling panel started to retract and form an opening. After that there was a large opening, and a ladder of sorts quickly formed its way to the floor. They watched as boots appeared through the opening, their breaths held.
"Hey Lulu." Erza said as soon as she was fully into the Magi-Hover and then jumped down the last few steps and held her arms out. Lucy got up and Happy hovered over their heads as they hugged. Natsu smiled sadly from his seat as he watched as Sting and Rouge both leapt down, ignoring the ladder all together. Romeo, Meredy and Ultear all climbed down on the ladder and Jellal leapt down like the Dragis had. The rest of the crew opted to stay in the shuttle. The opening closed and the Magi-Hover shifted as the shuttle disengaged. Lucy pulled away and walked over to the wall. Everyone staring in confusion.
"Alfie, can you open this wall real quick into the shelter?" Alfie hummed as the wall opened. Two draconic heads popped up into the opening and their large dark eyes looked around. The smaller head chirped.
"What just happened?" Happy translated.
"Sorry. Our friends landed their shuttle on top of our Magi-Hover and then the shuttle got off. See, we have more friends in here." Lucy said and waved her hands at the newcomers. Sting waved awkwardly as the dark eyes settled on them. Rouge turned and looked at Sting with a look of questioning disbelief on his face.
"They're friends…we should wave and greet them." Sting defended himself. The little Draconic chirped and moved its head side to side.
"I don't understand this waving thing is but thank you new friend." It stopped moving its head and then grunted. "Ugh my head hurts now."
The larger one growled and nudged it with its head, pushing it out of sight. It turned and looked at Lucy. It opened it's mouth and its large blue tongue unfurled and licked her face. It startled everyone but Lucy didn't move. It growled again.
"Thank you for telling us what happened. We will guard the nest when the storm settles. Don't worry." Happy scrunched up his face.
"What Happy?" Natsu asked as the larger draconic growled again lowly and then lowered its head out of sight.
"I don't understand what it means."
"Happy?" Natsu asked again. Lucy was still looking into the opening.
"It said, the rain on Lucy's face tasted bad."
"Luce." Natsu was up and turning her to face him. He saw that she was crying and he pulled her close. He hadn't felt anything and sighed heavily. Worried about what that meant. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She hiccuped and shook her head against his chest. She titled her her head back and smiled through the tears. He felt relief wash through him, and joy. Her joy and relief. He knew the difference between hers and his.
"She's happy." Erza guessed and Lucy looked over at her and the redhead smiled at her. "She tends to cry when she's overly happy."
"Don't you mock my Lucy now Erzie." Cana's voice made Erza jump and she looked around.
"Alfie, faking Cana's voice isn't funny." Erza growled; her expression grim.
"That was not me." Alfie defended herself and hummed at a pitch that screamed annoyance.
"I'm on the table." Cana said and Erza and the others looked over and bent to look at the card. Cana smiled and waved. "I see General hottie made it. Hey!"
"Cana!" Lucy and Erza chided in unison; which had everyone laughing. Natsu hugged Lucy and they turned to watch as Jellal looked at the card and then to them.
"I thought she perished with the rest of the Guild Station in the attack." He looked at them for an answer.
"I thought I perished too." Cana said pulling his attention back to her. "But after the white light; I was in this card. Just like the others."
"Others?" Romeo's voice broke and her expression softened.
"Everyone else from the Guild Station is in a card. They're all asleep." She said and he sank to the floor, his breathing ragged. Meredy dropped down and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. He started crying and Cana looked up, waving a hand at her face.
"You okay Cana?"
"Shut up Lucy." Cana said and blinked repeatedly. "I got something in my eye is all."
"Softie." Erza mocked and Cana flipped her off and shook her head gently and looked at Jellal whose brows were furrowed.
"What are you thinking?"
"I've heard of something like this before." He said and crossed his arms over his chest, his right hand going to his chin. "I just can't remember what it is."
"Something like what?" Erza asked and he waved his hand at the cards on the table and Cana.
"People being put into cards. I just can't remember why it sounds familiar."
"Wasn't there a story about that?" Meredy asked looking up at Ultear and she shrugged.
"Mother wasn't the best about telling me stories as a kid."
"I wasn't raised on stories other than Earth ones." Lucy shook her head when people looked at her. She sniffed and pulled away from Natsu and as his arms dropped; her hand caught his and she entwined her fingers with his. "But let's not worry about it for now. We should rest. In the morning we can talk; and plan."
"Plan?" Ultear asked and looked at the blonde in front of her.
"We need to return and join up with the others. Break out and figure out what we need to do. Lisanna, Loke and Bixlow are doing reconnaissance. Gajeel, Levy, Wendy and Aries are reuniting with Guildmates who were away from the Guild Station when it was attacked. Trying to gather forces. Mira, Elfman, Evergreen and Aquarius are on the Blue Pegasus ship to get help from that Guild and any that may not be under Mard Geer's influence. Laxus, Freed and Capricorn have been on planning detail and securing any survivors we find get placed somewhere safe."
"Sounds like you all have been busy." Jellal said and uncrossed his arms.
"We can't sit idle in this war." Lucy said and sighed heavily. "But tonight; we can rest."
"It may be longer than the night." Alfie said and Lucy tilted her head and waited. "My scans and studies of the weather makes it appear that their is a high percentage chance of this storm staying this strong well into tomorrow."
"Oh joys." Erza shook her head. "At least this Magi-Hover is soundproofed."
"Yeah." Lucy nodded and wrapped her arms around Natsu and looked up at him. He looked down at her and smiled while gently brushing hair away from her face. He lowered his forehead to hers and they stood there in silence.
"Gag. Why are you two doing that?" Sting asked and Natsu slowly turned and glared at him. Rouge smacked the back of his head.
"Leave the Dragis and his growlkin alone."
"What? They're just standing there head to head."
"They're having a moment you dumb Dragis." Rouge's shadow flared up and slapped Sting in the back of the head again.
"Quit hitting me!" Sting growled and everyone started to laugh as the two started to fight. Natsu shook his head and looked back down at Lucy. Her brown eyes were already staring at him and his smile grew.
"Your eyes are like a beacon calling me home." He whispered and her lips quivered and a tear escaped from the corner of her eye. He stopped it with the pad of his thumb. He cupped her head and tilted it up more. He lowered his head and quickly brushed his lips over hers. Lucy's hands shot to his hair and pulled him back for a deeper kiss. He smiled into the kiss and felt her smile too.
"Woohoo! Get it girl!" Cana screamed and the laughter died down and everyone looked over and the two Dragis tilted their heads to the left while Erza blushed. Natsu and Lucy slowly pulled apart.
"Cana…you are about to see if your card is fire proof." Natsu jokingly threatened and Lucy giggled and snuggled into his chest. Cana wiggled her fingers and blew him a kiss.
"Cana you are incorrigible." Erza chided and looked at her friend who shrugged.
"You love me for it."
"What was that?" Sting asked and Natsu flushed and looked at Lucy who was shaking her head against him.
"It's how humans show affection. I can't bite like if she was another Dragis."
"Oh…I hadn't thought of that." Rouge said and nodded. "Is it actually enjoyable?'
"Rouge you can't ask that!" Gray shouted and got up and started to advance on the other two Dragis. Natsu was laughing and Erza shook her head. Jellal leaned close.
"Shouldn't we do something about them?" He asked jerking his head to the three fighting Dragis.
"Nah…let them have their fun. War steals that enough, we shouldn't steal it too." She said and shook her head. Alfie erected a wall between the Dragis and the rest of the group and Lucy sighed. Erza looked over and smiled softly.
"Feeling better over there?'
"Yeah. I'm happy you all made it okay." She said and closed her eyes as she rested her head on Natsu's chest. "It's also nice to hear the chaos."
"It is. I didn't realize how much I started to get used to it." Erza sat down in Gray's abandoned seat. "The quiet gets…"
"Unnerving?" Lucy filled in and her friend nodded.
"Well Fairy Tail does tend to be loud." Happy smiled and walked over and crawled into Erza's lap and snuggled close to hug her. She returned the hug as well.
"Loud and lively." Jellal said and sat down and looked at Natsu. "A part of me always envied the liveliness I'd hear or see while on calls with General Makarov."
"It did always look fun." Meredy admittted and she dropped to the floor, crossing her legs and resting her elbows on the sides of her knees.
"Maybe someday we can regrow our guild and have that." Ultear murmured and Meredy smiled up at her. Jellal nodded and Erza shifted and looked at them.
"Or you all could just join Fairy Tail. The more the merrier."
"You think that would be possible?"
"Meredy, calm down." Ultear said and the younger female nodded but there was a wistful sparkle in her eyes. Natsu smiled at Jellal and his guild. He was sure that Gramps wouldn't mind, but he didn't want to speak for him.
"Could…Juvia join Fairy Tail?" The Aquaterran asked and everyone looked at her. She had been so still and quiet, they had forgotten she was still there. Lucy looked up at Natsu and urged him with her eyes.
"Of course." He said and her smiled beamed, transforming her form an almost gloomy expression to a bright one.
"Woohoo! Another member of the family." Cana cheered and Juvia blushed softly. She smiled happily and wrapped her arms around herself. Lucy pulled free of Natsu and wrapped her arms around Juvia who started and then relaxed.
"Yeah…get used to the hugs. Lisanna and Mirajean are big huggers." She joked and Juvia nodded.
"Juvia…likes this."
"Good. Because you wouldn't have a choice." Lucy laughed and Juvia giggled. Erza nodded.
"Yeah…if you rebuked a hug from Mira, Laxus might lose his mind a bit."
"Oh you have no idea. Ever since the awakening of her magic, he's been even more protective."
"Ooh." She said softly and shook her head. Erza thought about that; considering how he had watched over Mira on the station when they'd been there. She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Is she his growklin?"
"It's crossed my mind." Natsu said and shrugged. "But not my place to make that call."
"I think they're a cute pair." Lucy said and pulled away from Juvia.
"I think it would be funny. Big angry Laxus and cute calm Mira. Such an opposites attract troupe." Cana murmured and everyone laughed.
"Well more growlkins aren't a bad thing." Jellal said softly.
"Agreed." Ultear murmured and leaned on a panel. "More love and joy are always good in the dark times."
"For sure." Natsu agreed. "Alfie, can you notify the others that the Solarium shuttle has arrived safely?"
"Of course. Should I mention the cards?"
"Not for now." Lucy said and everyone looked surprised. "Until we can figure out how get Cana out or wake the others up; the less who know the better. No sense getting their hopes up and distract them."
"That's a point I hadn't thought about." Erza said and nodded. "Alfie, for now; tell them that Lucy hasn't found what called her to this point."
"Understood." Alfie hummed and then there was silence.