Chapter 34: The Party

Normal POV

Location: Mercurius (Crocus)

Natsu sighed, his eyes staring up above the endless darkness painted across the sky as he leaned across the railings of the balcony. His eyes then wandered down and greeting him was a magnificent and ostentatious party that was filled with glamorous decorations and sorts. Even the food was served buffet style, and there were hundreds of dishes, from savoury to sweet, which covered the massive table that was to one side of the hall.

The people inside consisted of the royalties, who would regularly be seen in these sorts of events, as well as the mages who participated in the dragon attack and Natsu had to give the royal family some props for managing to prepare outfits for every one considering the sheer number of mages who are involved and in such a short amount of time.

Every one of them were garbed in fancy dressing and Natsu was no exception to it as he was currently wearing a white dress shirt, black trousers, white shoes and an ornate and a black jacket with a boutonnière. The outfit even came with grey gloves that seemed to be made of satin or velvet.

Melodious music could be heard from within the halls as the ravenette glanced at the vast number of people who were frolicking with one another, while the others were busy spending time with the food.

On a normal occasion he would have joined them and begin stuffing his face in order to satisfy his ever growing appetite. However, with what had occurred a few hours prior to the party, it was best to keep his distance away from the rest of his guild mates.

After all, it had been a very tense situation.

Flashback

A deafening silence filled the area after Natsu had dropped the large news onto them. No one made a single sound, not even Kei and Leila as they stared at the Dragon Prince in front of them with worry in their eyes. While they knew of his secret, they weren't sure how his friends might handle it.

Eventually, someone broke the silence, "H-hold on, if Acnologia was said to be the Dragon King, and Natsu's the Dragon Prince then that would mean…"

"That's right. Salamander's powers is on a whole new level compared to us." Gajeel finished the statement with his eyes closed, his face was neutral as if he was unaffected by the news.

"Grandeeney told me that there would always be a Dragon Prince who was chosen by the Dragon Kings of each element once in every millennium." Wendy added on and behind her, Sting and Rogue nodded their heads in agreement.

"Yeah, I remember Weisslogia mentioning about that too…"

"As did Skiadrum."

"How long was it when you first became the Dragon Prince? Days? Weeks?" Gray asked after hearing the statements coming from the other Dragon Slayers, his bangs covering his eyes, his fists clenching to supress the rage that was slowly building up within him.

"I first became the Dragon Prince way back when I was still with Igneel." He responded as he reverted back to his original form.

"Then that would mean you would have been capable of battling off all the tough enemies we battled in the past all by yourself!"

"I guess so, if you were to put it that way." Natsu responded with a shrug of his shoulders and the Dragon Prince's nonchalance began infuriating Gray even more.

He didn't know why the news was bothering him, but it was.

"Then why didn't you tell us about it? Aren't we your friends?!" Gray roared, and the other members of Team Natsu felt the same way. Were they not close enough for him to share his secret with them?

Upon seeing that the Dragon Prince had no intention of responding, the Ice Mage began stomping up to his childhood friend, only for him to be stopped by Makarov.

"Leave him be, Gray." The old man said without even glancing at him.

"But Gramps-"

"I said leave him be, Gray!" Makarov shouted, his tone without any hint of warmth in then which made the ravenette, and those around him, shudder in fear.

After all, it wasn't often the old man would use such a tone to anyone.

"Natsu is as any other person in the world and if believes that this is something he needed to remain hidden, then we should respect that." No one uttered a single word from that as Natsu bowed to his Guild Master in thanks before stepping forward.

"I will admit that it was wrong of me to keep such a secret from you guys, but I will also add that I'm not going to apologise for it." Natsu said with his eyes closed.

"What was that?!" Laxus growled but the Dragon Prince paid his rival no mind and slowly opened his eyes.

"Just know that if you really want me to apologise then-" a surge of magical power engulfed the ravenette as everyone who were standing around him, minus a few others, felt as if someone was strangling them, their eyes turned over to the source of the magical power, only to see the silhouette of a dragon behind him.

"You'll just have to try and make me do so."

"Natsu, you shouldn't scare your friends like that." The ravenette instantly dropped the immense magical power as he turned back to face the owner of the voice. Those who had been affected immediately dropped to their knees and began panting heavily.

"Sorry about that, guess I've just been on edge since this whole things started." The Dragon Prince responded sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Mou, you really need to be more careful, most people aren't able to shrug off your insane magical powers, you know?" Kei sighed, getting an awkward chuckle from her mate in response.

"Excuse me, but who are you?" Erza asked as she looked at the female ravenette, trying to recall a time when she had seen her before. Everyone, more specifically the girls, all stared at the ravenette who was clearly close to Natsu and even seemed unaffected by the news of him being the Dragon Prince.

Kei turned to all of them and smiled, "My name is Kei Lumina, and I'm Natsu's friend. It's nice to meet you all." She bowed politely, while she would have loved to introduce herself as Natsu's mate, especially when she realised that some of his guild mates had feelings for her mate, it was decided that it was best to keeping it a secret. Especially with Leila having a crush on Natsu, not that the Dragon Prince was aware of it.

Feeling everyone's gaze on her, Leila shrugged and decided that there was nothing wrong with introducing herself. However, before she could even utter a single word,

"Hold on a minute…aren't you the world's first Angel Slayer, Leila Lumina?!" someone exclaimed loudly, and Leila immediately sighed, already expecting about what's to come while Natsu and the others merely chuckled at her misfortune as everyone had an awestruck expression on their faces when they looked at her.

Flashback End

Natsu couldn't help but let out another chuckle after seeing the shocked expressions on his guild mate's faces after finding out that both he and Leila were good friends, if only he had a Lacrima to snap a picture of the moment. Perhaps it would even compete with the secret photos which were hidden in the central of Magnolia.

Even now, he could see the defeated look on the white haired mage's face as a large crowd of people swarm her. He could have sworn he heard her cry for help, but surely she was alright…right?

"Are you not going to partake in this event?" a gentle and familiar reached the Dragon Prince's ears as he turned his head towards the direction of the sound and what greeted him was a mop of golden hair.

"After all, they could only have this party because of you." Mavis smiled.

"Nah, I'd probably ruin everyone's mood if I decided to head in there." Natsu responded with a shrug as Mavis decided to stand beside him.

If anyone, without the Fairy Tail mark, were to look at him now, they would assume that the ravenette was speaking to himself. The thought of there being a spirit, who was one of the founding members of his guild, while also having the appearance of a fourteen year old girl standing beside him, would never have crossed any of their minds.

"So are you going to lecture me about what I did too? I don't think my ears would be able to take it any longer." Natsu joked, and he wasn't wrong either. Hours before the party started, he got lectured by the scarlet haired knight and blonde Celestial mage about needing to trust them more and what not.

However, to his surprise, she shook her head.

"Well you should always stick to what you believe in, and if you feel like it was right of you to hide your secret from the others then you may do so. However, always remember that each and every one of you who has this mark are connected by a special bond." Mavis explained with a soft smile on her face, gently touching Natsu's right arm, the location of his guild mark.

The bonds she had made with her dearest friends all came from the mark they made together, a bond that would never be severed even in death. And that was the reason why she felt the need to speak with Natsu. For all his strength, she didn't want him to walk astray from the path he was on all because of one minor mistake. After all, whenever she looked at him, she couldn't help but be reminded by her former comrades who helped her make the guild decades ago.

Natsu, guessing her intentions, returned the smile with one of his own as he closed his eyes, "Thanks First Master, I appreciate it."

"Think nothing of it, as a member of Fairy Tail, it's only natural for us to help one another." Natsu couldn't help but chuckle when he heard that when he noticed the spirit began floating in the air.

"You're heading back already?"

"That's right, I've overstayed my visit here, but I will definitely say that I hadn't regretted my trip here whatsoever." Mavis smiled before she disappeared into thin air, as if she hadn't even been there.

"I wonder how she's able to do that…" He mused as leaned back on the railings once more.

"You can come out now…Acnologia." Natsu said and not a second later, the girl emerged from behind the pillars, a small smile on her face.

"Sorry about that, but you looked like you were in a serious conversation, so I didn't want to interrupt."

Much like everyone else, she was wearing an elegant black dress that left her shoulders fully exposed while also hugging her hourglass her figure.

"I guess you could call it serious. Though, I must ask, why are you looking for me?"

"I wanted to continue what we were talking about earlier today…What's going to happen to me now?" Acnologia asked, however she got no response from the Dragon Prince, so she decided to carry on speaking,

"I know that the Dragon Council would want my head after all that I've done in the past, but-"

"Well, you're right that the entire Dragon Council that wants your head." Natsu interrupted, finally looking down to stare at the woman in front of him, a determined look plastered on his face.

"But no matter what they say or try, I'll make sure to keep you safe from them. Not that they have any rights anyways."

"I don't understand, why are you going so far for me after everything I've done?" Acnologia asked, confusion laced in her tone and Natsu closed his eyes, not saying anything for a while and just when the girl was about to open her mouth and ask,

"Well, I can't say for sure, but…I have this feeling we have known each other for a long time." He responded in a nostalgic tone and her eyes widened in surprise after hearing that before it softened.

"So you're willing to lose the trust of the other dragons only because of a gut feeling? Are you an idiot?" She joked and Natsu hadn't appreciated said joke as he glared at her.

"Well, it'd be good for you to remember that this 'idiot' is the one that's saving your life, Acnologia."

"Ashley."

"What?" Natsu raised an eyebrow at the girl who smiled at him as she placed a hand on her chest.

"I said my name is Ashley. The Dragon of Apocalypse, Acnologia is nothing more but a title I gave myself in order to hide my true identity. So I'd prefer if you'd call me by that name from now on."

"Do I have a choice in the matter?" Natsu shook he said but he couldn't help but release a chuckle as he extended his hand out to her and she stared at the aforementioned limb in confusion.

"Well since I'm not going to refer you as Acnologia anymore, then I guess we should start anew, no?" Acno-, no, Ashley, nodded her head enthusiastically as she extended her own hand out, grasping the ravenette's hands as a bright smile found its way to her face.

While things hadn't played out perfectly for the Dragon King, but she would definitely agree that it had been for the better.

"So, what do you intend to do now? Do you plan on dancing? I know a ton of people are dying to dance with you." Natsu teased with a smile and the girl couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Well, right now I think it'd be better if I could get some rest before anything were to happen, especially since you sealed up majority of my magical power."

'Besides, I only want to dance with you…' she added in her mind, but shook it off. Now wasn't the time for such thoughts.

With that, she waved goodbye at the Dragon Prince as the girl then walked off, most likely to the hotel room he had rented out for her.

Natsu couldn't help but release a sigh. To think so much had happened in only a single day.

All he wanted to do now was return back to his hotel room and to spend time with his beloved mate for the rest of the night.

'Speaking of which, where's Kei?' Natsu thought, realising that he had yet to see her at the party at all, before deciding to use his enhanced smell in order to find her.

Upon catching the scent of his mate that was lingering around the garden below, the Dragon Prince decided that it was best to jump off the balcony in order to reach her faster.

Location: Mercurius Garden

Like Natsu had expected, Kei was currently in the garden, staring at the flower beds which were on display in awe. Normally she would have been accompanied by Sachi, but the Exceed decided she wanted to spend her time alongside Happy before they left, which was reasonable of course.

Even she would love to get the chance to spend time with Natsu before they eventually returned back to their daily routine.

"Yo!" As if someone had answered her wish, Kei jolted up in shock before turning her head towards the source of the voice and her eyes softened when she caught upon a familiar mop of black hair, leaning across the hedges.

"I'd ask how you managed to find me, but that'd be like asking why people eat food." Natsu couldn't help but chuckle at her words as he began walking over towards her.

"I just wanted to see you is all. Is that wrong of me to do so?" Natsu faked a pout and the girl couldn't help but shake her head in amusement before she finally got the chance to examine her mate's current appearance.

"Well I have to say, you look very handsome." Kei smiled with a blush adorning on her face, as she desperately tried to avert her gaze away from him, but ultimately failed.

"Is that so? Then I guess I'd have to tell you that you look like a Goddess descending down to Earthland." Natsu said and his tone suggested that he wasn't exaggerating and meant every word.

"Are you sure? This is actually my first time in a dress, so I wasn't sure how I'd look like in one."

No matter how hard she tried to shield herself from the eyes of the Dragon Prince merely out of her own embarrassment, Natsu's gaze wouldn't leave her whatsoever as he imprinted the image of his mate in a dress in his mind. The woman in front of him was wearing a beautiful, pure white dress that opened up at the shoulders and was decorated with a mountain of frills. She even had done her hair up in a ponytail, which she had fastened with a flower-shaped hair ornament.

Natsu then wordlessly walked over towards her before proceeding to gently embrace his mate, the blush on her face deepening by his actions but she wrapped her arms around him regardless.

"You know, I'm going to miss these moments where we get to see each other regularly…" Kei whispered softly and with his enhanced hearing, the Dragon Prince was able to pick it up.

"What do you mean by that?" Natsu asked, tilting his head in confusion.

"Since you'll be stuck doing missions again, I guess that'll mean we won't be able to meet each other as regularly anymore." Kei stated, trying her best to remain neutral about it, but even she couldn't completely coat her sadness.

"Why do you say that? I could always meet you after I'm done with my missions."

"But what about the rest of your team? Won't they stop you or something?" The Dragon Prince couldn't help but shake his head. He really wished his mate would value herself a bit more highly.

"Listen to me Kei, it doesn't matter what anyone tells me, even if they happen to be my friends or guild mates, because to me, you'll always be my top priority."

His passionate words were quickly rewarded by a kiss from the girl, one which the Dragon Prince responded wholeheartedly.

After parting due to the lack of oxygen, the two could hear cheering from inside the castle and recalled that the party was still going on.

"Well, should we head over to the castle? I'm sure your friends are looking for you." Kei said, already prepared to walk off, only to be stopped by her mate, much to her confusion.

"Well, I don't really feel like meeting with any of them right now. Besides, since the music is still playing and I'm looking rather dashing." Natsu joked, he then got on one knee and extended a hand out to Kei,

"May I have this dance, my fair lady?"

Kei was surprised by the sudden request, but it was short lived as a smile graced her lips, before she grabbed the hem of her dress and bowed down, "With pleasure." Before placing a hand atop of his.

The Dragon Prince guided her over to the centre and with their eyes locked on to each other, they began waltzing through the garden as they tried their best to follow the flow of the music played behind them.

"To think so much things has changed over the course of a few months…"

"Yeah, never would I have imagined holding such a perfect woman in my arms." Natsu whispered in her ear, and

"You have no idea how you're making me feel…" The woman grumbled underneath her breath as the Dragon Prince couldn't help but release a chuckle after hearing that.

"Hey Natsu…" Kei said as she leaned her head on her mate's chest, enjoying the warmth he was emitting.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think we'll be able to live like this forever?"

It took a while for the Dragon Prince to come up with an answer, but when he did,

"I can't say for certain, but I can promise you this…" The Dragon Prince placed his hands on the ravenette's cheeks and guided her face so that she was facing him.

"…No matter what happens, I'll protect you and we'll be together forever." The answer seemed to have pleased the girl who placed her head back on his chest as the two continued to sway elegantly back and forth under the clear night sky, embracing each other passionately.

End Chapter

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