And thus, the filler begins! Trust me though, you guys will enjoy this!
Enjoy!
Nashi had an idea as to what fancy parties were like, and the one she was currently attended really reinforced the stereotype. The food was clearly expensive, the people there looked about as snotty as you could get, and Nashi felt extremely out of place.
Nashi didn't consider herself that bad, but standing in Mercurius in a fancy dress she'd bought the morning before reminded her she'd grown up in a booze soaked guild hall. She didn't know how to act in a situation like this.
"Ugh, this thing is so tight..." Nashi hissed, standing up a bit straighter as the dress squeezed her. "Really wasn't that bad when I bought it...Or I probably assumed the de-aging was farther along..." Nashi looked down, which made it obvious that she hadn't reverted back to the proper age yet. She and the others were on their way, but it wasn't done yet. Thank God they were at all, honestly. Being stuck at the age she'd gone too wouldn't have been very fun.
"Nashi?" Nashi made a face as she turned to find Ultear standing there. "You okay?" Nashi shrugged.
"Yeah." She said. "Really should have given this dress more thought..."
"You too then?" She asked, also shifting uncomfortably. "Looks like we forgot." This made them both laugh. "But really, this place is so not our style."
"I know." Nashi replied. "I'm more accustomed to people flipping tables and fighting over stupid shit."
"Yep." Ultear looked around the ball room with a smile. "At least everyone else is having fun." Nashi had to admit that as she looked around herself, the others guilds seemed to be having a lot of fun too. Which was good given the events that transpired at the end of the Games. Unwinding would be a good thing. For them especially.
"Well, let's stop complaining about it and...!" Nashi was cut off as an arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her away. The same body did it to Ultear as well. Looking up, Nashi recognized the maroon colored hair.
"What are you doing, Drake?" She asked as her friend pulled herself and Ultear along. Drake looked panicked.
"Shut up and look happy." he hissed. Neither girl had any idea what he was talking about, but they listened and did as asked. Drake steered them towards the tables with food, and they held that position for a few seconds.
"Drake, what are we..." Drake hushed Ultear and grimaced.
"Wait for it." He said. Nashi looked around in confusion, but she soon saw it. A literal wave of women were wandering around the dance floor, and they all seemed to be looking for someone. Nashi put the clues together fairly well after that.
"Aw, you poor bastard." Nashi teased, smirking at Drake as the girls moved on. "Getting hit on too much, boo?"
"Don't call me that." Drake said, releasing her and Ultear. "They won't leave me alone or take no for an answer. It's hell."
"I bet it is, you sap." Ultear said, investigating the table for food. "But hey, you brought me right to my favorite place so I won't complain." Nashi took a moment to look at the food, but decided the dress was tight enough as it was. She looked back at Drake and smiled as he looked around for his wave of admirers.
"I don't understand." She stated flatly. Drake laughed coldly.
"You think I do?" He demanded. "If I could prevent this from happening I'd do it in a heartbeat."
"I bet." Nashi looked around. "Why don't you find someone who'll act as your date?"
"That an offer?" He asked.
"Like hell I'm putting myself in that position." Nashi said, snorting. "Good luck." Drake sighed, but seemed to understand it was his problem alone. He walked off, albeit nervously, before sprinting towards Simon for cover. Nashi rolled her eyes as she turned back to Ultear to find the girl eating a slice of cheesecake.
"That any good?" She asked. Ultear nodded and put a bit on her fork for Nashi. Nashi accepted the bite happily, and hummed in satisfaction.
"Holy shit." She said as she swallowed. Ultear nodded.
"Right?" She asked. 'I may need to stop stripping publicly if they have food like this here. I'll be a sphere before the night ends." Nashi knew this went for her as well. She avoided looking at the cake for too long and looked back out towards the crowd. She could see her parents and the others competitors parents discussing thing all around as well, and they too seemed happy. Nashi was glad a fight hadn't erupted yet.
"You sure you don't want a slice, Nashi?"
It was going to be a long night.
"You really need to calm down, man." Simon said. Drake scoffed.
"Please tell me that when you get hunted by fangirls who want things ranging from your autograph to your children." The Poison Dragon's ears twitched again, and he relaxed a bit. "Anyway, why exactly did we come here?"
"Because Queen Hisui invited us." Simon replied, crossing his arms and looking around. "Saying no would be a little bit rude."
"Still, this is so not our style." Simon had to agree. He really didn't like the whole atmosphere they were in but regardless, they had to sit through it. Besides, the music was good, food even better, and company not so bad. They'd be fine.
"Scarlet!" Simon and Drake turned to find Nami standing there.
"Nami." Simon greeted as the girl walked up to them. "What's up?"
"You sure did a number on that guy the other day." She said. "Really impressive."
"Thanks." Simon replied. "He had it coming."
"Sure did." Nami observed their surroundings. "Have you seen my antisocial jackass of a brother? He said he'd show but I haven't seen him."
"He's probably with Michael." Drake said. "You barely have one without the other." Nami sighed.
"Too true." She agreed. "Well, I'd better go and make sure I bless his night with my presence. See ya!" Nami walked off to terrorize her brother, and Simon sighed.
"I can't help but feel a bit bad for Keita."
"I know right?"
Damien knew he was exuding a rather angry aura, but he was doing it on purpose. He really didn't want to talk to anyone at the moment. He'd been dragged to the castle for this royal ball against his will. He;d wanted to go straight to the village he'd left Steph at and make sure he'd changed history, but his father was having none of his vague excuses.
She'd better be okay...
Damien reached into his picket and felt his hand graze the note. It was the note his sister had left with her caregiver twenty years into an alternate timeline. The fact that the paper had not disappeared yet made him nervous. Had he been to late? He couldn't have been, if she'd watched him and the others disappear during the Games, she'd have seen them reappear in the altered timeline. And subsequently, stay where she was and wait for him. Whatever, he could leave at the end of the night. No big deal.
"Damien!" Who the hell was actually bothering him?
"What?" Damien asked, looking up. "I don't want...!" He froze.
Bella stood in front of him, looking drop dead gorgeous as usual. Her hair was up in a bun, and her sparkly blue dress covered every curve of her perfect body perfectly. Damien couldn't help but stare at her as...
Wait.
Damien growled and grabbed is head.
"Fuck off with that seduction shit, woman." He snapped. "I'm not in the mood." Bella's smiled faltered.
"Sorry." She murmured. "I...I didn't realize you were in a bad mood." Damien looked up to find Bella looking slightly hurt by his outburst, and he sighed. He knew she didn't mean him any harm, but he really didn't want to take any of her shit.
"Hey, look, I'm sorry." he said. "I shouldn't have been so rude." Bella's smile bounced right back and she clapped her hands together.
"There's the Damien I know! Such a gentlemen."
"Right..."
"Anyway, now that you're not under my spell, how do I look?" Damien made a face at this.
"Is it even a question?" He asked, making Bella raise an eyebrow. "You can't possibly look anything short of perfect." At first his response seemed to stun her, but she smiled coyly.
"My my Damien. Here now I'm the one being seduced." Damien rolled his eyes, but her appreciated her attempt at humor. "You don't look so bad yourself."
"No?" Damien asked, looking down at the suit Simon and Drake had thrust on him. "I don't really give a shit regardless, so..."
"REALIGHT!" The shout startled Damien, apparently Bella as well give her reaction. She jumped into Damien's lap and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing herself right up against him.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Damien demanded. Bella snorted.
"Wait for it." She said. Sure enough, Terra stormed through the crowd towards them, and now Damien saw what the crafty demon had in store. He tried to free himself, but it was to no avail. Bella's grip was iron. When Terra got close enough to see them, her angry gaze turned icy cold.
"What am I walking into?" She asked.
"It's nothing like you're thinking." Damien reassured, glaring at the side of Bella's head. "She's trying to fuck with you." Terra sighed.
"I should have known that." She said Bella turned stuck her tongue out at Damien.
"Poor sport." She said flatly. "What do you want Terra?" She asked, looking back at Terra. Terra crossed her arms.
"I want you to stop saying all that shit to me." She said. "I don't care."
"Now if that were true, you would not have stormed over here to tell me that." Bella quipped, making Terra's face light up. Now Damien had to wonder what it was the girls had been talking about. "So I think I know you better than yourself."
"No you don't."
"Yeah I think I do."
"No, you don't.
"Mm hm."
"Realight..."
"Yes, sweet cakes?" Terra made a series of livid hand motions before she growled under her breath and stormed off. Damien watched before he looked at Bella.
"What was that?" He asked. Bella laughed.
"Nothing, sweetie."
"Now that a lie." Bella laughed as she got off of Damien's lap and stood in front of him. she turned and winked at him before she walked away. Damien watched her go- as he loved to because she was...Fucking Bella.
"Your ass is not that great." He called out, and Bella cackled loudly as she continued to walk away.
"Keep telling yourself that, hun."
"How did you talk me into that?" Nashi demanded. Ultear shrugged weakly.
"You didn't try to stop after a few." She shot back.
Both girls had devoured the entire cake. It was pretty big. They just couldn't stop.
Nashi felt like she weighed a million pounds. Now all she wanted to do was fall asleep.
"You okay, Nashi?" A voice asked. Nashi mumbled her response, but she looked up to see how had called out to her.
Michael and Keita were both giving her a bemused look. She shot up in her seat and wiped her mouth to make sure any excess frosting was gone.
"H-Hey guys!" She said weakly. "What's up?"
"Besides your weight?" Michael asked teasingly. "Not much. Looking good Ultear."
"Fuck off Michael." Ultear replied. Michael looked back at Nashi.
"Anyway, just wanted to see if you'd survived the cake." Nashi laughed weakly at this.
"It was good, but I think I got it." She said.
"How's Elise?" Keita asked. Nashi slowly looked over at the Shadow Dragon, unsure as to what to say. Elise was okay, of course, but had neglected to come. That, however, was not what Nashi was thinking about.
She knew about Lana.
Nashi wasn't sure as to the exact circumstances that had led to most of what happened twenty years later, but she knew that Elise and Keita had a very serious thing going on. So much so they'd had a daughter.
"Why are you staring at me?" Nashi jumped back to reality as Keita asked this, and she looked down.
"She's good." She answered. "Talked to us, so that's good. We'll try to move past it as best we can, but..." She trailed off, but Keita nodded.
"That's good." He replied. The four grew silent, before Michael sighed.
"Let's stay in our good spirits, how about?" He asked. "None of this depressing shit. That's for later." Nashi nodded and did her best to perk up.
"You've got a point." She said. Michael then smiled at her.
"I wanted to ask you something, Nashi." Nashi didn't really know why her heart jumped.
"Yes?"
"I've seen you eat, but how well can you hold your liquor?" Nashi raised an eyebrow.
"Are you trying to challenge me?" She demanded. Michael shrugged.
"Maybe I am, maybe I ain't." Nashi smirked as she stood.
"This'l be the second time you've lost to me, Eucliffe."
"And the second you to me, Dragneel."
Drake had successfully avoided the fangirls, and he was doing his best to relax. He had found himself a nice corner where he didn't have to worry about them, or anyone really, and he had a source of liquor right near by. All was right in the world.
"Drake-sama?" Drake flinched at this and shielded his face, but nothing happened. He looked up to find Azzie standing there in front of him, looking confused at his reaction.
"Oh thank god." He said, breathing a sigh of relief. "It's just you, Azzie."
"Who else is looking for you?" She asked.
"No one I want to see." he replied, before growing confused. "How'd you get in here? I thought you had to be some higher up in the city of a member of a competing guild to get in here."
"Terra-sama and Winter-sama snuck us in." She replied. "One look from them and the guards let us in." Drake smiled at this and leaned back.
"Nice." He said. Azzie nodded before growing serious.
"Drake-sama, about the other day..."
"Hm?"
"What exactly happened?" Drake made a face but maintained eye contact.
"With Kronos?"
"Yeah." Drake looked down at the floor and did his best to assemble a decent train of thought.
"If I told you all the details you'd never believe me, but..." Drake looked back up at her and frowned.
"Azzie's dead. Kronos ordered her killed and...They followed through."
These words returned to haunt Drake's mind once more. Now that Kronos was behind bars, presumably for the rest of his life, Azzie's death had been averted. At least, he hoped so.
"The most I can say is that it doesn't matter anymore." He said. "Kronos is defeated, and behind bars. We're good." Azzie nodded at this.
"Very true." Just then, the tone of the music changed. It became a very slow tone, and people began to couple up. Drake got a sense of nausea as a fangirl from across the room spotted him. He jumped to his feet and grabbed Azzie's hand, dragging her towards the dance floor.
"D-Drake-sama...?"
"Shut up and dance, please." He said. Azzie did as she was told, albeit red faced and shaking, but Drake kept his eyes on the fangirls who were fuming in the background. As long as he was safe.
Azzie at least kept her composure.
Damien heard the beat of the song change, and he sighed.
"Three, two, one..." he said.
"Damien!"
"Knew it." Damien looked up to find Bella standing there. "I suppose you want to dance?"
"Aw, you want to as well?" She asked. Damien rolled his eyes, but stood.
"Let's get this over with." He said, taking Bella in his arm and walking towards the dance floor.
Nashi slammed the shot glass down, and Michael did the same.
"Damn, you're good." he said.
"You too." Nashi said. Just before Michael refilled the glass, Nami appeared out of nowhere and put Keita in a headlock.
"What's up, little bro?" She asked as Keita tried to free himself.
"Let me go, Nami!" He said irritably. Nami laughed and released him, making Keita jerk back in surprise and fall on his ass. The girl laughed at her brothers expense, before she looked over to Nashi, Michael and Ultear.
"Drinking contest?" She asked, and Nashi nodded. "Cool. Not surprised Keita's just watching."
"Shut up." Keita hissed. Just as Nashi went to take her glass and down it, the beat of the music changed. It became slower, and Mia smirked.
"Wanna dance, Keita?" She asked him, and Keita scoffed.
"No." He answered.
Apprently his opinion didn't matter, because Nami dragged him to the dance floor. Michael laughed at this.
"Poor guy." He said. "Nami gives him such a hard time."
"I can see that." Nashi said. After a few seconds of silence, Michael looked over at Nashi and outstretched a hand.
"Wanna dance?" He asked. Nashi stared at him as her cheeks heated up.
"I-I guess." She said. She reached out and took Michael's hand. They got up and he led her to the dance floor, where they danced with everyone else. Michael seemed a little more comfortable, but Nashi couldn't place why she felt so excited.
"Hey." It was Michael, and Nashi looked up at him. "I wanted you to know something."
"What?" He smiled down at her.
"If some shit like yesterday ever happens again, don't hesitate to ask the others and I for help. We won't even hesitate." Nashi stared at him in surprise.
"Michael..."
"I know you'll say some shit about how it's dangerous and stuff, but I don't care. And I guarantee no one else does. You need us, you call for us. We'll come running." He winked at her. "'Kay?" Nashi stared at him for a while before she smiled widely and nodded.
"Of course..." She said, voice cracking with emotion. She didn't know why she felt so happy. "I'll remember that next time we're in trouble."
"And don't you lie to me. Next time you're in danger I want in. We all do. Why do you think we all jumped in to protect you?" Nashi nodded and looked down as they continued to waltz around.
"I know. Next time we end up with our lives in danger, I'll make sure to involve you and the others."
"Damn right you will."
"Oh stop Natsu, it's cute!"
"He's getting way to handsy."
"As if you've never gotten handsy."
"Like when?"
"Do I really need to name a specific instance?" Natsu rolled his eyes as Lucy proved her point. He just didn't like Michael so close to his daughter. Nothing wrong with that, right? He was her dad, after all.
"Still..."
"It's the first time she's gotten to do that, let her be." Natsu gave up at this and sat back like an angry child, crossing his arms and sinking into his seat.
"That's not a very becoming look for you, Natsu." Natsu perked up at this, turning to find Hisui standing behind him with a smile on her face. He smiled for her.
"Hey." he said. "It's good to see you."
"You as well." She said, before looking at Lucy." You're looking good too, Lucy. How far along are you?"
"Seven months, just about." Lucy replied. "You okay from the other day, your majesty?"
"I'll be fine. His target was clearly not me." The aura from the three changed at this, and Natsu looked down at the ground. "However it all turned out okay."
Natsu felt something was off. Nashi and the others had been awfully vague about what exactly had happened to them. They'd clearly aged, and they still wouldn't say more. It was strange, and yet everything was going back to normal. They started to return to their normal age, and all seemed right.
And Nashi had still not lost control.
"Let's hope it stays like this." He said. "I really don't want them to have t deal with anything more."
Zeus tapped his fingers against the fabric of his chair, watching the waves crash against the mountain side. As he watched them, he contemplated the Oracle's words.
"When the King rises, Humanity will find salvation in the end."
In the end.
Zeus was no fool. He knew a double entendre when he heard one.
"What she said makes it painfully clear." he said. "All the stars are aligning."
He turned back to his desk, where the lacrima vision displayed Nashi Dragneel dancing with Michael Eucliffe.
"She must be ready...Hades better be right about this. Losing her means there will be no salvation. Only the death of the world."
And this is only the beginning of the filler! I hope you enjoyed, leave a review! Let's try to get five!