Disclaimer: I do not own Hiro Mashima "Fairy Tail". However, original story line and any additional characters are mine.

Summary

Lucy and Natsu have returned from their intense honeymoon to begin their lives as man and wife. But when an unexpected surprise happens, Lucy is put into grave dangers from past enemies and new ones.

Fairy Ever After: Book 1

Fairy Baby

by

Magnafeana

Chapter One - Week 8

Girls Day Out

The place was dank and smelled like a monstrosity of vomit and other unsanitary scents. The dungeon chambers were made out a roughly cobblestone with leaks in the filling, and puddles of murky water the rats drank were splotched everywhere. There was no sunlight anywhere, not even in the cracks. The only lights were the torches at times, but even that was a stretch. Windows were not even considered. The point of the chambers was to isolate and commit suffering. If that meant obstructing their view from the real world and disconnecting them from time, so be it. The guards at every checkpoint were dumb creatures that understood the commands of their master, but no further. None had magical abilities. They were creatures built for submission, which wanted masters and wanted to have a purpose. They were the perfect soldiers.

The cells were quiet, save for the mutterings of madness. None of the guards were disturbed and kept their posts vigilantly.

There came a shrill scream.

None of them moved.

The scream that cell came from was occupied with a man of such high importance, his two highest and must trusted underlings and two rookie guards as well as the screamer—a blind woman with raggedy white hair, rags as clothes, and bad back problems. She was huddled in her corner, the corner she didn't use as her own toilet nor the corner she used for water. This was the corner they always shoved her in. It was her torture corner.

He smiled at her, cold. "Now now, we mustn't fight this Peramal," he soothed. "Didn't I promise you more food if you cooperated with me? I wouldn't want one of my trainees to have to, what do they say? 'Rough you up a bit'?"

"No!" she screamed, sounding like a tortured soul teetering on the cusp of madness. She was fighting it. She was fighting it within her to not give into his persuasive tongue. "Y-Y-You can't do this to me! I have been around for centuries! This shouldn't work on me!"

He tsked. "Times have changed, Aileen. You and I both know this. And you and I both know I need you to tell me more. You once gave my father a great prophecy. But I must ask you to explain. Can't you give us more?"

There came a slight chuckle. "I grow tired of this. Can I kill her now?" There was the sound of swords leaping out of their sheaths and their singing, ready for blood.

He looked back at one of his trainees. "Patience, my dear. Patience. Aileen was about to tell us something." He turned back to the old woman. "Weren't you?"

Aileen clutched her head in agony. The pain, the urge—it was all too much! She could feel a familiar force overwhelming her body as punishment for being held back. She felt it surge through her veins—something she thought would never happen again—and her eyes began to flicker into a silvery glow. She opened her mouth to let out another wail of anguish and defiance when words tumbled out of her mouth without her consent:

"There will come a day when the great fires of old will die,

And a phoenix shall be reborn from the ashes.

The stars and the light combine into one being,

And may the night sky guide them."

There came a derisive, interruptive snort. "We heard this part already," came a complain.

He glared at his other trainee. "Silence!" he hissed. "The Peramal is still speaking!" The attention turned back to the trembling old woman, her blind, glowing eyes terrified and tears leaking out of them as she spoke in poetic song:

"When blood meets blood, a feast shall commence

When darkness meets death, blood shall spill

History will be opened at the time of sacrifice

One may live while the other must die."

Aileen suddenly stopped, forcing her mouth to clamp shut as she fought tooth and nail to break from the spell. She trembled violently, her eyes glowing into a gold color, as she scrambled into the corner.

He grinned menacingly. "She's having it," he narrated. "She's gaining another part of the prophecy. This was what my father meant: there was always more to the prophecy, but she never knew when he tried to get it out of her. Broken prophecies are only told when the prophecy will be getting fulfilled soon." His eyes glow in sadistic glee. "That must the prophecy is getting fulfilled soon. Not much longer."

"Master, how much longer until she caves?" came the gentle voice.

He looked closely at Aileen. Her eyes were golden and shiny, and her lips were twitching, attempting to part open. He smiled. "Not much longer," he vowed.

Aileen's mouth shot open all of a sudden and a rush of voices joined her in song, some old, some young, some low and some high. Each contributed their part:

"Peace be unto the land of the united

As fire and stars are bound by fickle fate

Lest two lost souls joins to make one

One with the power of all ancestors in their hands

Bear they the Mark of Unity

May they carry peace in their hands."

All of a sudden, Aileen stopped. Her eyes continued to glow, but the glow manifested her body as well. She began to turn into a sapphire glow, her body still trembling and eyes streaming of tears.

The guards were on instant alert and the trainees were tense, readying their weapons. "What is this magic?" one of them roared, sounding angered and a bit frightened.

He smiled as he watched Aileen be consumed in cerulean light. "Peace," he ordered. "She has finished. She is now dismissed."

Aileen suddenly shattered into a million blue pieces that automatically floated into the ceiling, passing above them. The whole room was in silent awe of what transpired in from of them, while he remained unaffected, swiftly standing up. He looked back at the corner. "Thank you, Peramal. The Dance of Two Souls prophecy has now been completely spoken," he announced to his trainees as they snapped their attention onto him. "She gave us the missing puzzle."

One of the trainees tilted their head. Her eyes were shut as normal, but he knew she was confused. "And that would be, Master?" she inquired.

He chuckled. It sounded wrong. It sounded off. "My dear, it means we have found the answer to ending this war. We know what we must get!" He swiftly marched out of the cell, opening the door with a flick of his wrist, cape swooshing behind him. His grin was downright maleficent. "We are going to find them. Just wait. We shall start the process now!"

Lucy hummed as she strode over to couch where a sleeping Exceed was, flank rising and falling in accordance to his breathing. Regardless that it was a Saturday, Natsu was tasked with an easy mission and would not be back home until later at night. Lucy smiled when she thought of him. It had been a good one and a half months since their honeymoon. When they returned home, the real world hit them and both returned back to their work. It was not much, however. The couple had planned on moving from Lucy's apartment to a new place closer to the guild. Natsu's home was still their property, but Lucy had refused to live in a house that was nearly falling in on itself. As they moved into their new flat, their work consisted of small solo missions or special requests. It was not much, but to them, it was fine.

Their life as husband and wife was never awkward. They easily accommodated to living in their spacious loft overlooking Magnolia City. Their dinners and nights together were full of conversation, matching smiles, and cuddling. When they returned from their honeymoon, of course the guild threw a celebration for the couple. It was lively with dancing and music and drinks and competitions—nothing short of a true Fairy Tail party. That night, Lucy and Natsu came home with Lucy slightly buzzed. But their night had not ended there. They made love in their new loft for the first time. It was not as tender as their first night of their honeymoon. It was rough and bruising and filled with screams and growls, all have which the neighbors complained about the next morning and a flustered Lucy apologized while Natsu stood beside her, triumphant. Ever since their first night, the next month and a half was filled spurts of sex. Sometimes tender and white-eyes bliss and others so loud that the neighbors would blush and glare at the couple the next morning.

Lucy turned on Lacrima-Vision with a simple wave of her hand and popped popcorn into her mouth. Even though they spent time together, sometimes it was not enough. Their jobs as mages were, at times, consuming. With them being partners, they would always team up for a mission. But sometimes, they would receive assignments meant as a solo mission or a mission specifically with someone else and they would not see each other for the next few days. It was truly tiresome, but neither would give it up for the world.

There came a knock on the door. Lucy did not even have to look when the door opened. "Hey guys," she helloed.

Levy was the first to greet Lucy as she walked over to the couch. "Hey Lu!"

Erza nodded, standing beside Levy. "It's great to see you again," she smiled.

Lucy laughed. "It's been three days. Miss me that much?" she teased.

Levy grinned. "Of course we have. And we are going out today," she announced.

"And where would we be going?" Lucy asked with an amused raised eyebrow.

Erza grabbed Lucy's hands and pulled her to her feet with a grin. "We are going to Pandora's Bread because it's about time you tell us about your honeymoon."

Lucy smiled and shook her head as she walked around her friends to grab her spirit keys and loft keys. As she slipped on an old pair of flip-flops, she said to them, "We all know we're going to Pandora's Bread because Erza knows the owner, and he gives her free strawberry cake."

Levy laughed while Erza blushed, both following Lucy out of the apartment. "What's wrong with strawberry cake?" Erza defended as the three of them headed out of the loft.

As Lucy locked her front door, Levy rounded on Erza. "Nothing's wrong with it, Erza, but we all know you'd give up your kids in a heartbeat for it," she joked.

Erza shrugged as the three made their way to the elevator. "I wouldn't give them up. They mean the world to me. I keep them around so they can learn to make me strawberry cake," she corrected proudly.

Levy shook her head in amusement. "They're like your own personal slaves, huh?"

Erza blinked. "Isn't that what having kids is all about?" she questioned.

The girls laughed as they took the stairs to the ground floor. The three walked through the lobby and stepped out with Erza and Levy flanking Lucy's side. As soon as the three took a step out into the world, Magnolia was spread before them. Magnolia was the stereotypical city in which everyone knew each other or at least knew of each other. The townspeople were friendly and fiercely protective of one another. When someone threatened one person, they threatened everyone. And Magnolia's people were not a force to be reckoned with. Especially when they were home to a guild like Fairy Tail.

It was a short walk to Pandora's Bread with it only being a few blocks away. They were seated in no time when Erza barged through the doors, demanding for her usual. Within minutes, the trio of friends was lounging outside with strawberry cake for Erza and coffee cake for Levy.

Levy swallowed a portion of her coffee cake and pointed her fork at Lucy. "Alright, spill it," she demanded.

Lucy feigned an innocent look. "Spill what, dear Levy?" she asked in a pseudo light voice.

Levy rolled her eyes. "Don't play dumb, Lucy Dragneel! We want to know how your honeymoon was!"

"I already told you guys though," Lucy chuckled.

Erza swallowed the last of her second slice of strawberry cake and moved onto her third slice. Her dark brown eyes looked at Lucy with an arched eyebrow. "Saying it was 'fine' or 'nice' or 'romantic' isn't sufficient, Lucy," she chided. "We want details. If we do not get an explanation to our liking"—Erza smiled sadistically—"I suppose Mira will have better luck than we."

Lucy paled. "Oh please no," she begged.

Levy smirked in triumph, exchanging a smug look with Erza. "Now that you know we mean business, let's have it: how was it? Where'd you guys go? Am I going to be an aunt soon?" Levy asked, shooting off question after question without letting Lucy explain.

Erza began to add her own. "Did they have good strawberry cake there? Did Natsu force you into anything?"

Lucy cut them off with a raised hand. The two of them fell silent and looked at her, Levy with eager eyes akin to a child and Erza with anticipation as if she was waiting for her name to be called. Lucy sighed. "You guys ask too much," she muttered.

Levy shrugged. "Natural curiosity," she dismissed.

Lucy scoffed. "Yeah, yeah. How was it? It was truly amazing," she began explaining. "We went to Tenrou Island actually."

Erza looked surprised as she stopped eating her cake. "Really?" she breathed in inquiry.

Lucy nodded almost shyly. "Yeah. Master and Mira set it up for us. It was so beautiful over there."

Levy beamed after she finished the rest of her coffee cake. "Even though we only go there for S-Class trials, I've always wanted to go there for just a vacation."

"It was too good to be true," Lucy confessed. "And the cabin we stayed at was beautiful too…" She sighed dreamily. "I may tell you guys it was 'nice' and it may sound like I'm being vague, but it's hard for me to describe it."

Erza sighed along with her, eyes swimming in soft understanding as her lips curled into a smile at seeing her friend happy. "I understand," she said. Levy and Lucy turned to her with unguarded curiosity. However, when the Requip Mage refused to elaborate on her statement, the two let it be.

Lucy sighed. "It was just so incredible, guys! The cabin was amazing!"

"What happened in the cabin though?" Lucy looked to see Levy's eyes gleam in mischief and her smile turn into a knowing grin. Levy nudged Lucy. "Did your spirits' presents help in anyway?" she teased.

Lucy felt a heavy blush form on her face as Levy and Erza laughed at her abashed state. Lucy could still remember those nights of ardor and connection. The first night was when they made love to each other and consummated their marriage as man and wife. It was strange the first time, different. It was not how sex was described in books. There were no continuous seductive monologue or sexy begging. It was them being them. They were new to sex and the first experience of it would always be remembered as awkward, different, and momentous.

"I totally knew it!" Levy burst out. "You and Natsu…you know…" At a suggestive raise of her eyebrows, Lucy shoved her away, making Levy laugh.

Erza flicked hair over her shoulder. "It is okay, Lucy. It's perfectly normal for that to happen." Her grin turned into a menacing growl and her eyes flickered in malicious threat. "That being said, if Natsu pushed you too far, let me know. He can't force you into anything, even if you're married."

Lucy shook her head. "No, he didn't. But thanks, Erza." She averted her eyes to the table, a content smile forming on her lips. "He didn't force me into anything really. But I don't know how to describe it…"

A hand landed on Lucy's and Lucy looked up to see Erza nodding at her. "There aren't words to describe it," she explained, "but I know how you feel. And the feeling never stops."

Lucy's eyes widened. "Really?"

Erza nodded.

Lucy groaned. "Natsu is going to kill me for being too good to me then."

Levy huffed, puffing out her cheeks in irritation. "I'm starting to hate you," she muttered.

Lucy eyed Levy in mirth, nudging the petite woman with her shoulder. "Don't be like that, Levy! Gajeel will propose to you someday!"

Levy sighed, looking off to the side. One could see a little disappointment in her eyes when she bit her lip. "I hope so…"

Erza turned her attention to Levy. "You have been dating for two years," she reminded gently. "Give him time, Levy. You know he loves you with all his heart. But he doesn't want to go onto the next stage until you're ready."

Levy sniffed. "I am though," she insisted.

"But not according to Gajeel," Lucy said.

Levy let out a breath of irritated air. "Whatever," she grumbled.

"So, how's Juvia doing?" Erza asked Lucy. The change of topic seemed to alleviate some of the tension at the table, but not all of it.

Lucy gave a half-shrug, leaning back in her chair. "She seemed fine yesterday. Gray won't let her out of the house right now with Gary only four years old." Lucy tsked. "He's getting too protective."

"I think he is doing something sweet for Juvia," Erza argued. "I am just shocked as it is that they are still dating."

Levy joined the conversation and said in a stiff voice, "He's probably waiting until Juvia's 'ready'."

Lucy shot Levy a sympathetic look, but continued the conversation about Juvia and Gray. "Well you know how they are right now. Juvia refuses to walk down the aisle until she's back to the weight she was before Gary. Remember when Gray tried proposing to her when she was just pregnant with Gary?"

An amused smile wove onto Levy's face. "How can anyone forget? I've never seen her so mad! Juvia has wanted Gray to marry her ever since they first met and then she yells at him for even bringing it up!"

"They were a little too young at the time," Erza recalled. "I wouldn't marry that young."

"But she nearly drowned the whole restaurant," Lucy protested. "And we were all there too! If it wasn't for Mira and Lisanna and me, everyone would have died from her tsunami!"

Erza shrugged, swallowing another mouthful of strawberry cake. "Perhaps that will teach Gray not to propose to a pregnant woman," she offered.

Levy snorted, and Lucy chuckled, shaking her head. "You're impossible," she decided.

Their waiter slipped to their table, looking debonair in his white dress shirt and black tie and windswept jade hair. He looked at them all with a large smile. "Can I get you ladies anything?" He turned his attention to Erza. "Anymore strawberry cake for you, Miss Scarlet?"

Erza nodded. "I want a larger cake this time," she ordered.

The waiter nodded and turned his smile onto Levy. "Miss McGarden? Anymore coffee cake?"

Levy shook her head. "No thanks. Just a check."

The waiter nodded at her and turned his attention to Lucy. "Do you want anything, Misses Dragneel? Your regular tea?"

Lucy tapped her chin. "No, I think I'm good."

"How about your usual cake with vanilla frosting?"

Lucy froze. She felt something shoot at her stomach before it gurgled. "What?"

The waiter repeated, "Would you like your usual cake with vanilla frosting?"

Lucy felt something rise in her throat and covered her mouth. "Vani—?" The urge to hunch over and allow whatever it was to spill out of her mouth was growing stronger. Lucy immediately stood from the table and made a dash for inside the restaurant.

"Lucy!" Erza and Levy shouted in concern.

"Misses Dragneel?" she heard the waiter call out.

Lucy ignored them as she darted inside, hand covering her mouth. However, she could smell the accented scent of creamy vanilla blanketing the air. The urge to vomit hurt her stomach as she tried to hold it down. She maneuvered her way through tables, waiters, hosts, and customers until she made it to the empty women's restroom. She rushed into a stall. However, with the urge too strong, she did not even bother to lock the door behind her. She hunched over the toilet and wretched. The feeling of vomiting disgusted her but she could not help it. She kept retching the contents of her breakfast.

"Lucy!"

Lucy heard two people barge into the bathroom and stop at her stall. Instantly, her hair was swept away from her and was placed into the hands of Levy while Erza rubbed her back in consolation, both with concern written on the faces. Lucy coughed when she finished, her throat dry and burning. She flushed the toilet with a shaky hand as she continued hacking and coughing. Her mouth was already ablaze and she could tell she was going to have to rinse out her mouth several times.

"You okay, Lucy?" Erza asked.

Lucy nodded. It was too painful to talk. She kept panting, trying hard to regain her breathing.

"You're clearly not if you threw up," Levy pointed out worriedly. "What's wrong? Are you sick?"

Lucy weakly shook her head. "Must've…eaten…something…bad," she managed to say intervals, followed by several ragged pants.

Erza and Levy shared a worried look. "Maybe we should get you home," Levy suggested. "We can stay inside and talk."

Lucy tried to shake her head. "I'm fine," she insisted when she regained her regular breathing. She reached over for toilet paper and wiped her face before tossing it into the stall's trashcan.

Erza shook her head. "No. We are taking you home and that's final. Can you stand?"

Lucy sighed. Once Erza made a decision, no one besides Mira could ever defy her. Trembling, Lucy got to her feet with the support of her friends on either side of her. The two of them guided a sickly-looking Lucy out of the restroom with matching concern on their faces.

Lucy sighed as she watched Lacrima-Vision from the living room couch. All Lacrima-Vision consisted was a lacrima ball that projected its contents on a screen it created. Jenny Realight had made it as a new movie star, featuring in a film about her and the male lead enduring the hard ships of a magic war together. Lucy wanted to enjoy the movie, but all she could do was curl into a half-ball while her stomach tried to settle. Erza and Levy had stayed with her for hours to keep her company and look out for her. Virgo had summoned herself into the human world after the two had left to make Lucy comfortable and had voiced the concern all of Lucy's spirits shared about her. Lucy had insisted multiple times she was fine and probably ate something bad and dismissed Virgo so the maiden could get some sleep. If only Lucy could sleep now.

Lucy heard the window unlock and someone perch themselves on the windowsill. "Hey Lucy," Natsu greeted.

Lucy smiled, tearing her eyes from the lacrima screen to look at her husband. "Hey," she weakly called. "I didn't get around to cooking dinner. Sorry."

Natsu shook his head as he jumped inside and closed the window. He padded closer to Lucy. "Nah, it's fine. Had dinner at that bar while I watched for the people I was searching for."

Natsu slipped himself underneath Lucy's blanket and placed an arm around her shoulder to pull her close. Lucy sighed as she leaned against him. "How was the mission?" she asked.

Natsu sighed. "It was so boring," he said bluntly. "No action or anything! All I did was stay at the bar and those people didn't even show up! It was totally pointless!"

Lucy laughed. "Hey! Not every mission has to be about fighting."

"Yeah, but all the good missions have some fighting." Natsu paused and looked at Lucy in disquiet. "You okay? You look like you haven't slept."

Lucy exhaled through her nose. "It's nothing. I went out with Erza and Levy today. I got a little sick so we came back here."

Natsu observed her worriedly. He threaded her hair with a hand and brought her closer to him. "Do you want me to get Wendy for you?"

Lucy shook her head. "I'm fine. It was probably some bad food or something anyways."

Natsu's worry did not waver and his frown was still present, but he pulled her tighter and kissed her temple. "If you say so. I don't want you getting sick or anything."

"I'm sure it won't happen again," Lucy soothed, putting a hand on Natsu's thigh. Natsu sighed at the contact and snuggled closer to her. Lucy moved her hand to his chest and rested her head against his shoulder comfortably, trying to watch the movie.

Lucy was sure throwing up was a one time-thing. However, it was strange that she would throw up. She rarely got sick and when she did it was on important events like Christmas last year and Easter a year before that. She brushed off the nagging sense of foreboding and watched Lacrima-vision. She had nothing to worry about. It was just a one-time thing.

The library was the most sacred places for Fairy Tail's residential bookworms. Genres from nonfiction to fiction and, inside fiction, from adventurous to Yuri. Spines of new and old font were packed together, roommates within shelves. Knowledgeable silence hung in the air with the occasion quite chuckle or murmur or page turn. Books magically re-shelved themselves, leaving librarians to guide lost individuals find the perfect book. The Magnolia Library was quite a sight to behold, with three floors of books of the past and books of alternate universes. Levy and Lucy loved to visit there together when life needed some relaxation. However, today, the library was void of a bubbling blunette and her shining blonde friend. Instead, they were in a place that was similar to the Magnolia Library with shelves of book after book: Levy's apartment.

Once Gajeel and Levy began seeing each other, Lucy convinced her best friend to find an apartment so she and Gajeel could continue their love affair without an irritated housemother kicking out Gajeel before the two could start anything. Levy had acquired her apartment seven months into her relationship with Gajeel. Actually, she bought two apartments on the second floor to an apartment building, the whole guild pitching in to remodel her knew home. Her home was her own personal library with rare books of every kind, ranging from magical creatures to magic itself. There were even magazines and comic books somewhere shelved in Levy's library.

So that was where Lucy was two days after her incident. With Natsu taking Happy on a fishing trip, and Gajeel and Pantherlily away for a training day, Levy and Lucy decided to have a day to them catching up on books and movies on Lacrima-Vision. Already it was three in the afternoon and books were scattered about them as well as two cups filled with herbal tea and some half-eaten sandwiches. Lucy was lying on the couch, reading about a type of Take-Over Magic, while Levy went off in search of a book.

"Found it!" Levy called.

Lucy smiled as she heard Levy padding back into the living room. "About time! I thought even you had gotten lost in your own library!" Lucy joked, not even glancing up from her book.

Levy plopped onto the love-seat with the book. Lucy peaked at it, only to frown when she saw it. The book was tattered and poorly leather-bound with some type of inscription on it binding, but nothing on its front. "What is that?" Lucy asked curiously, setting down her own book. "It looks so ancient."

Levy's hazel eyes went solemn as she stared at the book, making Lucy's curiosity further. "Look, Lu, there's things I never told you about the dragons before you left on your trip," Levy admitted quietly. "I wish I did, and I've been waiting for the right time."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "For what?" she prompted.

Levy released a long sigh. "Before you and Natsu left for your honeymoon, you should know that Natsu wanted to officially make you his 'mate' or a dragon bride."

Lucy nodded, even though it was unnecessary.

"This books" Levy continued, "contains about the mating process. And I should have told you about this all before you two left." Levy looked at her remorsefully. "There aren't enough sorries for me to have, right now, I know that, but I am. I'm so sorry, Lucy! I should have told you before you left!"

Lucy smiled softly when she remembered the week she and Natsu spent on Tenrou Island, blocking out Levy's ranting apology. Those wild nights of Natsu and her finding knew places to make love out. She could still remember he was so desperate to take her one-day that he made love to her on their porch. Natsu blushed profusely afterwards, apologizing for his strong feelings, but Lucy could only laugh and tell him she didn't mind. She would never mind.

Lucy tuned back in to hear Levy's continuous apology. "Levy, it's okay!" Lucy promised. "I'm fine. Natsu's fine. Everything is fine. It's all okay."

Levy slowly blinked, her words no longer rushed and sorry. She looked at Lucy in remorse and relief. "Are you sure?" she checked.

Lucy nodded, amused. "Well, yeah! Everything is okay. You shouldn't blame yourself. Besides, I'm glad Natsu told me about the mating process. It made it feel more real and personal. If he wanted me to be his mate, he should tell me about it, you know?"

Levy nodded in understanding. "I get it, Lu. I'm glad he told you everything. But"—Lucy knew that look on Levy's face: the look of dying curiosity—"how was it? What was it like? What did you do? Were you hurt? Do you feel any different? Did you t—?"

"Whoa!" Lucy shouted, causing Levy to stop. Lucy shot Levy a half-amused, half-exasperated look. "Let me answer them one at a time!"

Levy offered a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry."

Lucy rolled her eyes, all in good fun. "The experience wasn't as bad as you would think. Porlyusica told me I couldn't exactly tell anyone about the whole mating ritual." She gave Levy an apologetic look.

Levy shook her head. "No, it's okay. I shouldn't expect answers to this. Gajeel told me stuff like this was sacred between dragons and their mates," she explained.

Lucy nodded, slightly relieved. She was glad she didn't have to tell anymore than that. Honestly, she didn't know the words to explain what happened on Tenrou Island. It was so magical and passionate and just so… There were no others words to describe it. Lucy knew all she would have to rely on was remembering those intense feelings for that week of paradise. And those feelings would never go away.

"Lucy… That's not the actual reason why I called you over…"

Lucy looked at Levy's solemn eyes to know something was wrong. She frowned immediately. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Is it about Gajeel?"

Levy shook her head. "No, we're doing fine. But it's—… It's about you, actually," she confessed, almost guilty.

Lucy felt her heart rate quicken a little. "What about me?" she demanded.

Levy sighed, not at all easing Lucy's nerves. "After the Dragon King Festival, I wanted to do some investigating about what exactly you and your mom were." She shot Lucy a guilt-ridden look. "I'm sorry I did this without telling you, by the way. If I didn't come up with anything, I didn't want you to be disappointed."

Lucy dismissed the apology with a flick of her wrist. "Don't be sorry, Levy. It's fine. But I want to know what you found."

Levy gave her a teasing smile. "Well, I was getting to that, Miss Impatient." She paused. "Or should I say Misses Impatient…"

"Levy!"

"Right, right, I'm getting back to the topic!" Levy promised, raising a hand in surrender. "It was given First Master would know more about you and your family than I, so I went to her first. And she actually told me to go into the caves in Joya."

Lucy's eyes widened in alarm. "'Joya'?" she repeated in an almost shout. "That's so far away from here!"

Levy nodded. "I know. That was when I was gone for a month without Gajeel. First Master said I should visit the caves alone." She sighed. "When I got there, I only spoke the basics of Joyzaarian, but not enough to get me by. Thankfully, First Master somehow gave me a guide who spoke Fioren and helped me get to the caves. He led me to this place within the caves to this shrine that happened to be buried underneath." Levy's eyes sparkled in a way Lucy knew the Solid Script Mage had found something fascinating. "Lu, the place was beautiful. It was ruins of a shrine, yes, but I could feel old magic there. It was incredible!"

"Levy!" Lucy chuckled. "You're about to get carried away."

Levy blushed a little and sighed. "Sorry. Anyways, I walked inside the shrine and checked it out. There were a bunch of hieroglyphs."

That got Lucy's eyes to widen. "'Hieroglyphs in Joya? I knew Joya had a few historical ruins, but hieroglyphs are more in Bosco and Desierto and Midi."

"I know," Levy agreed, "but I swear there were hieroglyphs in these walls. Most of them I had never seen, which is weird because if I don't know a language perfectly, I at least know how to decipher it. My guide confessed to me he didn't know how to understand it either. So I decided I wouldn't leave until I could crack it."

Lucy raised her eyebrows. "Did Gajeel know you did that?"

Levy smiled and nodded. "He wasn't too happy with me when I got home, but yeah, he knew. Anyways, I camped in the old shrine and spent days going through books I brought with me to see if I could find something to help me. I ended up cracking some of it a week and a half later."

Lucy was taken back. It took Levy this long to figure out another language?

"Lucy, I, uh…" Levy gulped, suddenly nervous. "The hieroglyphs told of a prophecy, I think," she explained. "It was an old prophecy if I'm not mistaken. Most likely, the shrine belonged to an oracle, because all I could really make out were prophecies along the walls on floors."

"'Oracle'?" Lucy repeated. Oracles had long since died out. It was once said they were powerful beings forced into exile due to their knowledge about the past, present and future. No more than twenty of them lived in Earth Land back then. All of them had fled to mountainous areas. There was time when the great leaders of Earth Land went to the mighty oracles in order to gain some sort of wisdom or prophecy. Lucy knew in Pergrande, a legendary oracle would visit the kingdom on the new heir's christening to bless the child. Nowadays, Oracles were dead to the world. Rumor had it a few oracles existed, some whose powers remained dormant and others who were active and in hiding. The Pergrande Oracle was rumored to be alive as was on in Minstrel. There was a rumor of a third oracle that had vanished from the world, presumed dead.

"Lucy, I am telling you this was home to an oracle," Levy firmly believed.

"I never said I doubted you," Lucy soothed, "but it's just weird. How did you find this shrine? No one was ever able to find the living places of oracles even if they had magic to help them. Legend has it oracles put strong protection magic on their shrines."

"Remember, I never found it. First Master did," Levy pointed out.

"And what about the guide?" Lucy asked.

Levy shrugged. "First Master had told me he was a dear friend to her. He could be trust," she assured.

Lucy nodded, still a little uneasy. "Well, okay, if you say so. But did you find out any of the prophecies?" she wondered.

Levy tipped her head to one side, biting her lip. "I'm not so sure what I found," she confessed honestly. All the hieroglyphs were jumbled and I could barely understand a quarter of them. But two hieroglyphs stood out to me. One looked like some type of strange dragon and the other looked like what I thought was a star."

"A star and dragon," Lucy murmured.

Levy nodded. "Actually, those two pictures were famous in Joya," she said slowly, watching Lucy carefully. "There was a story Joyzaarians told their kids. It was a story about an orphaned dragon who found comfort in the North Star who had also been abandoned."

Lucy's eyes widened.

"The dragon and the star apparently fell in-love, according to the fairy tale," Levy continued, eyeing Lucy. "The dragon one day wished the North Star and he were humans so they could live happily ever after. And the wish worked. The North Star fell unto the earth as a human and the dragon was transformed into a human. And they lived happily ever after."

Something dropped in Lucy's stomach.

The North Star?

"You're my North Star, Lucy."

A dragon?

"You're no Princess Charming. You're a dragon."

No. Maybe Lucy was letting her active imagination take over. That story didn't mean her and Natsu. It could have just been an old folklore. That was it. Just a fairytale. But when Lucy looked into Levy's eyes, Lucy felt her hope plummet.

"But that's not possible," Lucy whispered.

Levy gently shook her head. "You know that's not true," she told her. "You and I both know that if what books say is true, oracles were able to tell about prophecies about the future before the people it was about were born. Lucy, Natsu was Zeref's brother. He was the Fire Dragon King's son. I may be no oracle, but someone as powerful as that would most definitely have a prophecy. And with you—"

"I know," Lucy interrupted softly. "If oracles existed now, my family would have had an oracle at my christening, I guess." She looked at Levy expectantly. "Were you able to decode the prophecy?"

Levy shook her head. "I didn't have enough time. It was hard as it was to decipher individual glyphs, but to string them together? I would have been gone for three months."

Lucy sighed, a bit disappointed. "Understood."

Silence consumed the apartment quickly. Levy had gotten up and excused herself to retrieve food for them in the kitchen, but Lucy remained where she was, thoughts buzzing in her head. A prophecy about her and Natsu was something she wanted to believe, but wanted it to be untrue. The fairy tale about the dragon and North Star living happily ever after had been fulfilled. But if anyone knew anything about prophecies was that they were never easy affairs. They were often told in nonsensical riddles and took years to complete. They always told about the hardships that would happen and the result. Olden time philosophers were able to read an oracle's prophecy and decipher them into tons of different possibilities of the meaning. But the philosophers of now were not trained in prophecies, nor did they believe in oracles. Most of Earth Land did not believe in oracles.

Lucy ran a hand down her face. What was she to do? Tell Natsu about a prophecy that could be about them, but not have answers onto what the prophecy was about? She knew what he would do. He would blow it off, not thinking anything of it. And by the off chance he believed her, he would always be by her side, worried something would happen. She couldn't let Natsu worry. He had enough going on with special missions Master Makarov sent him on. She would be bothering him.

"I'm back with food in effort to lighten the mood!" Levy announced brightly.

Lucy chuckled, her worries vanishing momentarily. "Thank God! I thought you weren't going to feed me!" she chastised.

Levy rounded the corner with a tray in hand and a playful glint in her hazel eyes. "Don't even give me that. I always feed you. You're just lucky we're best friends," Levy teased.

Lucy rolled her eyes, smiling. "Yeah, yeah, whate—" A scent was what stopped Lucy. It was light, barely there, but it intensified with each step Levy took. It smelled freshly sweet with a fairy-like sugar taste about it. It was so sickening.

Lucy felt something in the back of her throat and felt her stomach lurch. Quickly, she leapt up from the couch and rushed past a surprised Levy who called out to her in worry. Lucy ignored her and ran down the hall and into the guest bathroom. Without thinking, Lucy hunched over the toilet and wretched, knowing all the contents of her lunch prior was leaving her.

She vaguely heard Levy's hurried footsteps. "Lu?" she called into the bathroom. "Oh, Lucy!"

Lucy hacked and coughed as she stopped vomiting, knowing drool was coming out of her mouth. Her stomach felt empty and was hurting like Hell. Her throat felt raw already as though she had yelled for hours on end. Shakily, Lucy flushed the toilet and grabbed toilet paper to wipe her face. She could feel strength—both magical and physical—ebbing away from her as she threw away the used toilet paper into the trash bin. It like all that energy she had left her as she threw up.

"Lucy, are you okay?" Levy worried as she helped Lucy stand.

Lucy shot Levy a feeble smile. "I'm okay, Levy. Must have eaten something bad again," she attempted to explain.

Levy frowned, obviously not convinced. "Second time in a row? Are you sure you haven't caught something?" she inquired.

Lucy nodded sharply. "I know I haven't. Like I said, maybe the lobster pasta didn't agree with me last night and is making me suffer now. It's okay," she insisted.

Levy sighed, deciding to drop the argument. A stubborn Lucy was an argumentative Lucy. "Fine," she conceded. "How about we get you home? I'll stay with you until Natsu comes, and tomorrow we can have Wendy or Porlyusica look at you."

"No!" Lucy instantly disagreed. "You can't!"

Suspicion flashed in Levy's eyes as she frowned at her best friend. "Why not?" she asked.

"Firstly, Wendy's off on a mission. And I don't want Natsu to worry about me. He's gotten enough to worry about with Master sending him off on missions. I don't want to bother him or Porlyusica on something so minor." At Levy's unconvinced look, Lucy pleaded, "C'mon, Levy, please! If I get a fever or anything, I will go to Porlyusica to get checked out. But you have to promise me you won't tell Natsu."

"But—"

"Promise me, Levy!"

"Alright, I promise!" Levy agreed in defeat. "But you know how Natsu will get if he finds out," she warned. "He hates it when you don't tell him about this type of stuff. Remember when you were sick during the week of Saint Patrick's Day and hid at Mira's house so he wouldn't find out?"

Oh, Lucy remembered that instance all right. Natsu stormed into the Dreyar household under Laxus and Mira's consent and carried Lucy home, giving her the silent treatment. Lucy tried to explain herself several times, but Natsu wouldn't listen. Instead, he held her captive in her bedroom and forced—more like begged—Levy to put a spell on Lucy's bedroom door that only allowed those who didn't have the name Lucy Heartfilia to enter and exit. Natsu had Wendy heal Lucy and he became Lucy's feeder, silent all the while. Natsu finally accepted her apology once Wendy cleared her to be cured. But boy, was Natsu hurt when she told him she didn't want him to worry.

Lucy bit her lip, looking down at the tile. "I remember," she said softly. "But I just don't want him stressing himself with this. If it gets serious, I'll let him know. But he needs to focus on his missions."

Levy looked unhappy with Lucy's decision, but respect. "Fine then. I'll take you home and make you some soup once we get back. You'll need all the rest you can get until Natsu comes home."

"Actually," Lucy interrupted with a sheepish smile, "can I stay here? You and I know Dragon Slayers have sensitive noses. I don't want Natsu to smell any sickness if I have any."

"Okay," Levy consented. "The guest bedroom is all-set. I'll bring you up and then make you some soup. You're going to be fine, Lu. I'll take care of you for Natsu."

"Thanks, Levy," Lucy appreciated.

Levy shrugged, grinning. "It's what best friends do," was all she said.

Levy helped Lucy walk down the hall and find the guest bedroom. Once Lucy was under the covers and settled down, Levy promised to return with soup and drink and a few books for Lucy to read. All Lucy could do was turn on Lacrima-Vision and think to herself. She hoped this accursed stomach virus would go away. And she hoped that this alleged prophecy involved another dragon and star.

A/N:

I have to apologize to all of you. I promised upload on October 31, and it is now Election Day. I send my deepest apologies to all of you. However, college homework, marching band, orchestra and Halloween and family took up so much of my time that I'd fall asleep trying to get to my study. Nevertheless, my Saturdays are no longer band filled—thank the lord—so I can do regular updates. But as a peace offering, check out The Fairy Mini-Shorts and From Fairy Small to Fairy Big. I hope you enjoy them!

Next update will be this coming Saturday, as well!

Magnafeana