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February 18th, X779

This reminds me of when we went to see Igneel," commented Wendy. Her voice echoed around them, carrying through the tunnels. Rather than walking ahead as she had been previously, Wendy stuck close, clutching Charle to her chest. The feline had apparently forgiven her for her misdoings. "Those tunnels were really dark, too, until we got to the temple."

"'Temple?'" echoed Lucy, wishing more than ever that she'd been able to go with them. She ensured Natsu's flashlight, which she'd been carrying, remained firmly on the track at their feet a few feet ahead. It was old and rusted, which in itself interested her. How old were these tunnels?

"There's an underground temple, sitting over this pool of magma." Lucy could hear the warmth and excitement in Wendy's voice. "It was beautiful."

Natsu added, "Those of us who followed Igneel were told it was protected by some ancient priestess's spell."

Jealousy coiled in Lucy's gut. How wonderful it must have been to see such a thing. Even better, the temple was a part of Natsu's past. She knew so little about it that when he offered such breadcrumbs, she wanted to gather every single one. Then again…Lucy supposed she'd not shared much about her past either. Not that it was as extensive as Natsu's. He knew her mother was dead, but–

Lucy stopped dead in her tracks, breath catching, and Natsu forgot the conversation at hand instantly. "Luce?" It was a little eerie how his eyes literally glowed in the dark.

She whirled on him, nearly frantic. "My necklace," she breathed.

She expected an apology, perhaps for Natsu to explain that they'd buried it with her body, wherever that might be. It wasn't something Lucy liked to think about – if her body was still out there, that is. Instead, however, she was met with a startled grin.

"I kept it," Natsu said, pausing to unwind his scarf from his throat. He passed it to Wendy, who looked stunned that she'd been allowed to hold such a precious item, and then reached behind his neck to unclasp the silver jewelry hidden beneath his coat. He admitted, "I couldn't… I knew the necklace meant a lot to you, so I kept it."

Lucy swallowed the lump in her throat as he faltered before passing it over. Lucy gratefully took it, exchanging the flashlight for her necklace. She cradled the silver moon and stars in her palm. Natsu was kind enough to shine the light in her direction without being asked. The necklace was a little beat up, but she wasn't the least bit upset about it. She cared only that it was there in front of her. "Thank you," she croaked, pressing her lips fondly to the metal.

Natsu cracked a small half-smile, but said nothing. Lucy clasped the necklace around her neck as Wendy passed Natsu his scarf back, and Natsu threw it casually around his throat as if it weren't the most valuable thing he carried. Without another word, they set off.

For the first time, Lucy was certain that what she felt for Natsu was love.

"This is ridiculous," complained Lucy some time later, and Natsu rolled his eyes. She'd said the same thing several times before, and it had gotten to a point that Wendy was beginning to mock her a little by echoing the same thing under breath.

With exaggerated patience, Natsu said, "You've said that, Luce. At least four times. I'm starting to lose count. Believe me, we're aware."

Lucy threw him a glare. She put her hands on her hips, tapping a toe thoughtfully on the wooden track they'd been following. None of them could recall how long they'd been walking, but it was long enough that they'd stopped some time ago so Lucy and Wendy could eat something. Lucy had commented that she suspected they were nearing evening, though she'd not said how she'd come to that conclusion. Natsu had elected not to question her. He didn't really care, to be honest; he just wanted to know how much longer it would be before he could see open skies again.

"How much longer should we try this route? Lucy gestured in the direction they'd been going. "Should we try the other way? Wendy, has Grandeeney spoken to you at all?"

Wendy looked troubled as she admitted aloud, "No. She was telling me to be careful before I jumped down, but that's the last time I heard her."

Natsu whipped around to stare at her. "Why didn't you say that sooner?" He hated the way his voice cracked. They weren't even near fresh air, and the last time Wendy hadn't been able to hear her mother, they'd been in a cursed area! That didn't bode well for the pressure building in his chest, crafting a particularly anxious hum that filled the air.

Wendy scuffed her heel on the ground, smiling sheepishly. "I didn't think much of it. We're underground. I should have, I suppose."

Natsu gawked at her. How had she not thought about it?! She'd been able to hear Grandeeney in the caverns they'd found her in! Rather than scolding her, because it wouldn't make him feel better and it wouldn't help them, Natsu scrubbed a hand down his face and considered what they ought to do. Lucy seemed inclined to go back in the direction they'd come from, but pushing back further beneath the earth… Natsu wasn't going to do it.

"I think we should keep going," he told Lucy, who furrowed her brow, clearly disagreeing. "We're already this far, Luce. We might as well see what's at the end of this tunnel."

He knew she didn't necessarily disagree when her face twisted into a weird expression. "Fine," Lucy sighed. "Wendy, are you okay with that?"

Wendy nodded, hefting Charle up and hugging her tightly. "Yes, but…there's another tunnel now, isn't there?" They stared at her, bewildered, and she pointed to the wall to their left, a couple dozen feet back. "I can't hear Grandeeney, but I know there's a breeze over there. Can't you feel it?"

Natsu had never reacted so quickly to such words. He made a beeline for the spot she'd pointed out. Sure enough, as Wendy claimed, there was certainly the feeling of something brushing over his face. Unfortunately, it was less of a tunnel and more of a crack in the wall, not unlike the one Wendy had used to hide in the caverns they'd originally found her in.

"I don't know if we can fit in there," admitted Natsu, stomach churning at the idea. Lucy might be able to, but he wasn't even sure what they'd been squeezing through to. There was a good chance Lucy might get stuck, too.

Determined, Wendy peered into the crack in the wall as Natsu shone his light into it, squinting. "I'll check it out!" she declared, dropping Charle gently.

"That's not a good idea," warned Lucy as she snagged Wendy's wrist, preventing her from sliding into the crack. "We don't know what's on the other side, and if you get stuck, we can't help you."

Wendy beamed at her. "I'll be okay, Lucy! I used to do this kind of thing all the time when I was alone. Grandeeney usually guided me, and she's not doing that right now, but I've got Charle to help me. And if I think I'm going to get stuck, I'll come back."

Natsu pushed a hand through his pink hair, tugging irritably at the strands. He didn't like this, but it wasn't like they'd had anything better show up. So, grudgingly, he said, "You promise you'll come back if you think you're going to get stuck?"

"I promise." She beamed at Natsu, bouncing excitedly.

Natsu glanced at Lucy, who seemed as excited about this as he was. Regardless, she instructed with a heavy sigh, "Keep your flashlight on, okay? Flash it at us if you think you're in trouble, and I want you to talk to Charle the entire time."

"I will." Wendy was oddly confident about what she was doing. She dropped her bag and began the process of squirming her way into the crack. She had plenty of space at first; the crack was wide enough that she could walk squarely through with room to spare on either side of her. It didn't take long for her to have to twist sideways, however, edging along until all they could see was the flash of her light. Natsu shuddered at the idea of creeping through such a tight space, knowing how much earth rested overhead.

"What's with the phobia?"

Lucy's question was unexpected and entirely confusing. Natsu's gaze darted to her. "'Phobia?'" he echoed, the word strange on his tongue. He'd not heard of it before.

Lucy's dark eyes, barely visible in the light of Natsu's flashlight, lit with some humor before growing serious again. "Phobia," she repeated. "It means you're scared of something – but far worse than most would be. I'm not thrilled to be stuck here in the mineshafts, but I'm not too scared. You, on the other hand, look like you're ready to crawl out of your skin over there."

There was a long, long pause in which Natsu considered whether he actually wanted to explain himself. It was Lucy; she'd drop the topic if he told her to. It wasn't that he didn't want to tell her either. Once, he'd turned away from doing so. Now, he knew Lucy far better. He knew how she'd likely react, that she wouldn't make remarks like Gray might have. Not that even Gray was likely to make a mockery of his ascent to immortality.

Most gods kept that to themselves. Not many of them were keen on sharing what had created the circumstances in which they could ascend. He knew of Gray's tale, since he'd shared it. He knew bits and pieces of Jellal's story since it had affected him, and since Jellal had mentioned being sick like Lucy once. He even had suspicions about Gajeel, who was often pulling shrapnel from his flesh, and Levy, who'd kept that sacrificial blade like it was some kind of precious treasure.

But he'd never really told anyone who didn't know his past already about what had happened so long ago.

"You don't have to tell me," said Lucy, interrupting his thoughts.

But it was Lucy, and he was lucky enough to have gotten her back when he thought he'd never see her again. So, Natsu let out a large sigh and ignored the way his hands shook as he spoke.

"I was one of Igneel's followers, back when I was human. My people…we picked patron gods. Igneel was the one I chose to follow. There were a couple others, like Grandeeney. She was the patron god of healing and families."

"Half of which is not your strong suit," commented Lucy drily.

Natsu couldn't stop the brief grin that split over his face. At least she'd make this easier on him as they watched Wendy wiggle further and further away.

"Igneel was the patron god of protection and loyalty, and I decided that he was the one I believed in most – just like my mother. She was one of Igneel's followers, too." His gaze softened. He might not have been able to remember much about her. He couldn't recall her voice or face, but Natsu remembered the things that truly mattered: her teachings, the things she'd done to make him laugh, and her ferocious temper that had usually only come out when her family was at risk.

Natsu continued, "My brother decided to follow a different god: Acnologia, a god of chaos. Acnologia's followers believed in a lot of things the others didn't, and there weren't many of them because of it. Most of the other gods' followers didn't like them. They were hunted down fairly often.

"My brother," Natsu's voice trembled a bit at the mention of his brother, and he dropped his head back to stare at the dark ceiling above, hating that it wasn't a dark night sky filled with stars, "was involved with the darker side of things. He and a few others decided to imprison Acnologia with his own spells and prayers. Some wanted to give him a mortal body. Others wanted him for some selfish reasons. Some thought he could make them live forever. They fought amongst themselves, and spirits aren't meant to be trapped like that. They destroyed their own god."

Lucy sucked in a sharp breath. "You can do that?"

"It upset Igneel," continued Natsu, ignoring her question and answering it simultaneously. Yes, it was possible – if you had the right spells, prayers, and people. "He didn't want them to go after another spirit and upset the balance of things any more than they had. So, he eliminated the threat.

"One day, while my mother and I were bringing offerings to one of Igneel's temples, the mountain began to smoke." Natsu swallowed thickly, heart racing in his chest as he recalled looking at that smoke, puzzling over it. It hadn't done so in his lifetime, though he'd heard of it happening in the past. "Three days later, I was helping some younger followers, teaching them some stuff. There was this big crack. It hurt their ears and made them cry. It hurt my ears." Natsu made a face.

"When I went outside to check it out, there was smoke just…" He threw his hands up, unable to explain what it had been like – how the smoke had poured into the sky, darkening it so it looked like the middle of the night in the middle of the day. "The next thing I knew, there were these hot embers falling out of the sky." His stomach churned, the taste of ash lingering on his tongue as those very embers puffed from his lips.

"And then," he continued, taking a deep breath, "there was a massive wall. It was huge. It came down the side of Igneel's mountain. I could tell it was going to hit us. There was no way we were going to get away. So, while everyone else tried to run, I went back inside to the kids, and – Luce," Natsu broke off, alarmed when he spotted the tears glistening in her eyes. They hadn't fallen quite yet, but they were certainly close.

"I'm fine," she insisted. "I'm fine. Keep going."

He wasn't even sure he wanted to finish, but decided to anyway. It wasn't like there was much left to it. "There's not much left to tell. I tried to help the kids feel better, but you can't really do much when a wall of burning ash takes out the temple. One moment, I was with the kids, the next it was like I was being swallowed by fire and smoke and ash." He coughed, clearing his lungs of the very ash he spoke of. "We were all buried. I don't remember much after that – don't think I want to. I just remember worrying about the kids. Next thing I knew, I was looking at Mavis, and Igneel was there."

A half-grin curved over his lips. "Mavis didn't want me. Igneel convinced her. Something about hearing my prayers and claiming they fit whatever criteria she supposedly has. He gave me my scarf 'cause I didn't have anything else to use as a diale." His smile slowly vanished as he turned his head to study the crack that Wendy had vanished through. From where he stood, he could see her light still. It flashed this way and that. Natsu eyed that flickering light, watching it closely. "I didn't find out until Igneel told me – that my brother helped trap Acnologia. He helped destroy everything. It's…that day isn't my favorite memory."

Natsu was expecting Lucy to speak, perhaps even take his hand as she was prone to doing. Instead, arms encircled him from behind, wrapping around him in a tight hug. Natsu craned his head to look over his shoulder at Lucy as she mumbled against his back, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. You've told me you didn't like talking about it."

Natsu snorted. "S'fine. Not like you knew it was gonna be connected to why I don't like all…this." He gestured to the ceiling above them. "It was a long time ago anyways."

"It doesn't make it any easier." She squeezed him once before stepping back. "Thank you for sharing it, Natsu."

Natsu opened his mouth to speak, though he wasn't sure what he planned to say. He was interrupted when Happy suddenly yowled into the crevice Wendy had crept through. Clearly, Happy was tired of just waiting around. Lucy pressed in close to peer over his shoulder into it. "How's it going, Wendy?" Lucy called when there was no flicker of light in response.

Silence met their ears, and they exchanged a grim, nervous look.

"Wendy?" shouted Natsu. His voice echoed around them. When there was still no response, Natsu dragged in a ragged breath, ash flecking the air as he mentally began preparing himself for the fact that he'd have to shove himself through his worst nightmare.

"It's going really, really well, actually."

Lucy squeaked and even Natsu jumped as he whipped around to gawk at the beaming girl behind them. Wendy's dark eyes glittered with excitement. The fact that she'd gotten there told Natsu she'd found something on the other side of that crack in the wall.

Grumbling about Wendy throwing her into an early grave, Lucy scolded, "You were supposed to check in!"

"You two were too busy talking, so I just kept going." Wendy shrugged and then spun on her heel. "Come on!" she called over her shoulder. "Wait until you see what I found!"

Natsu was quick to step towards her, eager to get out of this hellhole they'd fallen into. The fact that she might have found fresh air had him gathering her bag faster than he expected to. Lucy adjusted the straps of her backpack to ensure it was in place before gathering an unhappy Happy into her arms. He writhed to try and free himself, tail lashing.

It took a mere step for Natsu to realize Lucy had stopped dead. He looked back at her, taken aback by the fear creeping onto her face. "Luce?" he checked, and Wendy stopped, too, looking back with dark, questioning eyes.

Quietly, Lucy asked Wendy, "Where's Charle?"

Natsu blinked, then snapped his attention back onto Wendy. She didn't move for a moment. A heavy sigh burst from her as if she were disappointed. "You're no fun," she grumbled, and Natsu narrowed his eyes, an echo of a hum filling the tunnel they'd been following. He did his best to get a good guess at what was happening, but he'd never been the best at "feeling out" others like him. "Wendy" spun on her heel, a childish pout on her lips as she stamped her foot. "Actual people come down here for once, and you won't even play along!"

Something dropped in his gut. Natsu instinctively took a step closer to Lucy. He ought to have noticed something was off far quicker than he had. "Where's Wendy?" he barked. "Where's our friend?"

"Wendy, Wendy," mocked the false Wendy, rolling her eyes. "Back in my time, the gods were much more…well, godly. Your lot has become quite pathetic, haven't you? Not that you're a proper god, I suppose," she added, wrinkling her nose as she sneered at Lucy.

Natsu began checking boxes. Not a god, not a spirit, not Wendy. Perhaps their Wendy had been possessed? But then…Charle would be there, wouldn't she?

The false Wendy wound a lock of blue hair around her finger, gaze flashing in the darkness of the mineshaft. "Sometimes, I'm glad to be here, where your ilk don't travel."

Likely something from closer to Levy's time, before he'd even been born.

"Where's Wendy?" snapped Lucy, and something jingled in her hands. The keys were clenched tightly in her grip, ready to be used – and entirely the worst thing to display before the ancient thing before them, who lit up like the night sky.

Natsu knew immediately that it was a mistake. He felt it in his bones. The wicked joy in the false Wendy's eyes told him exactly what they were probably looking at, and he was grateful Loke wasn't with them.

There had been old whispers, long ago, of a creature thrown from the starry night sky. Mavis had mistakenly crafted it from a dying star, unlike the other minor gods. In the end, its dark cravings had drawn the ire of too many gods and spirits, who'd banished it to a prison of its own making: a never-ending labyrinth beneath the earth, crafted by its own power.

A prison, even, that could only be opened with the keys Lucy now held.

Natsu reached back and curled his hands around Lucy's, hiding those keys. "That's not Wendy, Luce," he rasped, and Lucy threw him a glare as if to tell him she already knew that.

"Most certainly not," chirped the false Wendy, smiling widely. His stomach churned as the tunnel seemed to press in closer – no, it didn't seem to. It was.

"Give me those keys, sun god," she breathed.

Once, Natsu could have fended off the neglected, discarded god-like creature with no problem.

Now, he spun on his heels and pushed Lucy into a dead run.

Natsu's background's finally come about! To those who've been guessing and suggesting...it is absolutely based on Pompeii and the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. ;)

I have, unfortunately, decided to forgo my update schedule for the time being. :( Things have been happening in life that just aren't leaving me much time to write, so I've decided SF will have to change to an "update when I can" story. It will definitely be more often than my other pieces though! If I can, I'd like to return to a schedule eventually, too!

On another more exciting note...SF has been nominated for The Guild Awards in the Best AU/AR category! I'm very excited and grateful to whoever nominated it! Thank you!

Thanks to reviewers (DREAMCHASING, InWonderl4nd, the-celestial-fairy, galactiaconstella, BurstingDragons, & Camanime) as well as those who followed and favorited!