Chapter Text
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. This is based off the Anime Series not the Manga Series. No copyright intended. I do own the story line, because I made that all up with my brain.
Jellal’s P.O.V
The breaking of dawn bathed the horizon in a soft light that warmed the earth. A sight so peaceful I almost forgot what I was about to do. I sighed as I tightened the belts to saddle up my horse. It is not the journey that makes me weary as I have traveled between kingdoms on official business before but rather the company I am bringing. Two of my men behind me, Brennan and Gabriel, do the same as Gajeel is standing between them looking bored as ever in fresh new shackles. These ones are made from Dark Steel, a very old and strong primordial mineral found within nature’s very essence that has been infused with magic, to make it unbreakable and harmful to Drakekin. Her Majesty provided Gajeel with a fresh bath and clothes as we readied to leave. Displaying more of her kindness that he did not deserve.
Gray had told me what he called her and the very thought of her being used and disrespected in such a way is enough to fully convince me that this Drakekin is not to be trusted. My guard will be on him this whole journey. A trip to King Igneel’s palace is a two day ride from here which will give me plenty of time to prepare for an audience with His Majesty. My horse, Artex, neighs and snorts letting me know someone is coming near. I turn to see Gray walking over to me. Already in armor and looking every bit of the brave knight he is. A man worthy of his title as guard to Her Majesty. I bow my head to show my respect and smile.
“Sir Gray, here to see me off?”
Gray smiled then chuckled, “More like here to see if our new friend causes an issue before you leave.”
I smiled back, “He’s behaved thus far.”
Gray nodded then held up an envelope. Her Majesty’s seal closing the contents written inside. I grabbed it then felt another letter hidden under it. I furrowed my brow and took them.
“One is for King Igneel and the other is for him. Seek out Erza Scarlet when you are there and she will make sure it gets delivered to him.” Gray said, voice low.
My jaw clenched. I have known about the young royals affair for years but have always made it clear that I wanted no part in it. My loyalty and duty is to the Crown, so I have looked the other way but what Gray is asking me to do, what Lucy is asking me to do crosses that line. Her relationship with him is forbidden, her father made it so, it is treason to even suggest it openly.
“I cannot accept-”
“Jellal, you are all she has. I cannot do it. My place is by her side and if I am absent, my father would sooner see me hanged than let that happen. The Celestial Spirits are vulnerable when Her Highness is, there is no one else. She trusts you and only you.”
My jaw clenched again along with my chest because at the end of the day she really is just a girl in love and not just a royal. My protective instincts over her only heighten at the confession from Gray of how deeply she trusts me. I don’t want to let her down.
“Can she not magically transport the message?” I asked.
Gray’s jaw clenched and a blush dusted his cheeks for a moment, “She has not been herself lately.”
I sighed, defeated, knowing I had lost this argument. No matter how much I want to stay out of this, it seems, I am very well in the middle of it. Whatever he meant by that I knew he was not going to tell me the answers out here in the open. I took the letters and hid them in the inside pocket of my jacket.
“Very well.”
“Oh and don’t forget this.” Gray said then got something out of his pants pocket.
There in his hand was a polished light pink tinted marble plaque that had a gold and pink tassel tied into it. Lucy’s script was carved into the stone so delicately and purposefully to make it as important as it is. It was her official document, her royal seal that legitimizes orders or duties carried out by the palace, often used for diplomatic purposes.
“Does she not think her royal seal on the letter is not enough to get past Igneel’s guards?”
Gray chuckled, “She just wants there to be no trouble for you.”
I smiled, “Now there won’t be.” I then tied it to my satchel securely then mounted my horse.
Gray smiled then patted my horse, a good luck gesture, for this journey.
“Just don’t lose it.” He said, chuckling.
End of Jellal’s P.O.V
Flashback
A strange feeling in my lower belly began to wake me before I was ready to be awake. An annoying feeling, much like the feeling of having to relieve yourself but this was worse. It was an ache I tried to ignore but only grew more intense. My brow began to sweat and I felt my body heating up. Then the burning started. My eyelids flew open and I was fully awake. I tossed my blankets aside to let some air around me, only it did nothing. Frustrated, I opened my windows to let the fresh air in and the breeze barely touched me. The ache between my legs intensified so I quickly ran to my bathroom to relieve myself. Even peeing felt hot coming out. After cleaning myself up I cried out in pain. The slightest touch down there felt like pin pricks as the heat became unbearable. Suddenly Gray stormed into my bedroom and looked around frantically for me. Finding me in a fetal position on my bathroom floor kicked some protective nerve in him as he hollered for someone to find Mira. Gray tried to sit me up and I only collapsed in his arms. Tears blurred my vision as I gripped his sleeves.
“It burns, Gray. Make it stop. Make it. Stop.” I pleaded.
Gray’s brow furrows, “Lucy, I don’t understand what-”
I groaned and grabbed his hand then placed it over my lower stomach, “Cool me.”
Gray’s face flushed and he gulped, his eyes staring into mine and I nodded. His hesitation made the pain grow. I held his hand in mine.
“Please.”
Minutes that felt longer passed before I felt the tingling sensation of his ice magic covering my body. His hand placed firmly on my lower belly and my back as he held me in his arms. I practically moaned in relief as the burning died down and I began to feel more normal. His hand brushed his ice magic like a personal freezer over my body then got lower to my legs and hovered over the root of my problem. His eyes flicked to mine briefly, asking for permission. I hesitated. I had never dreamed this was the way I was to be touched by a man. In agony over a mate mark I had no control over. My mind wandered to Natsu and my face flushed all over again. Only this time it was different. What would he say? What would he think if he knew Gray was about to-
The door slammed open and in came running was Mira and Lisanna. Gray quickly removed his hand and turned to face Mira.
Mira took deep breaths, “Your Grace! Your-”
Lisanna carried a medical bag with her and was taking deep breaths to calm herself from running all over the palace with her sister. Mira’s eyes grew wide at the scene. She then caught on pretty quickly and stomped over to us.
She thumped Gray on the head, “What are you doing?!”
Gray rubbed the back of his head and she swatted at Gray to get away from me then ordered Lisanna to find me ice to bathe in. Tears welled in my eyes as I looked up at Mira, now in the place Gray was moments ago. The heat slowly returned with the absence of Gray’s ice magic over my body. My bottom lip quivered.
“I’m sorry, Mira. I- didn’t know what to do-”
“Shh. I’m here now and I will take care of you. Gray, you can go.”
Gray was hesitant to leave. Mira stood up and sighed as she looked at him.
“Gray-”
“My magic helps her, Mira. I’m not going anywhere when she needs me.”
Mira frowned at him, “Gray, do you not understand what a Drakekin’s mating Mark means?”
“I know enough.”
“Then you know it will only get worse for her and she will become desperate to get relief from the mark. Are you really willing to cross that line? To let her compromise her virtue like this. Yes, your magic helps her because it counteracts with fire but it is only temporary for her. She needs to mate with Natsu or it could literally kill her.”
My eyes grow wide and I gasp, “What?”
Mira looked back at me and sighed, “It’s what I didn’t get a chance to tell you yet. Drakekin mate for life, some mates are fated and others find one another, being mated is a soul-binding connection. If Marked and unfulfilled, you could become weak in both physical health and magical health. The longer the separation the more risk there is to becoming sick, to suffer from their mate’s element until you can’t stand it anymore. Either going mad or dying.”
I didn’t know what to say so I said nothing at all. That is until the burning feeling came back more intense than before and I screamed in pain. Mira immediately came to my side as a flickering golden light appeared beside us. It was Loke but for some reason he could not get through. Lisanna came in just in time and poured the ice into the empty bath. Mira motioned for Gray to help her lift me into the bath. I cried out at the sudden jolt of cold as my body settled in the bath, my skin hot enough that I could hear my skin sizzle as I became more covered with ice. Lisanna then poured in some lukewarm water and I could feel the tension from my muscles relax. The rays of sunlight began to peek into my bedroom and I groaned a bit. I looked over at Gray, who still wore that worry on his face.
“I’m fine now, Gray. Mira knows what to do. Take the letters from my desk and give them to Jellal. He should be at the stables now preparing for his journey.”
Gray hesitated and Mira sighed, “Go do as Her Majesty asked, Gray. She will be fine, just a nice ice bath to cool her down and a dip in the Star Pool will be just the thing to reboost her magical energy. All is well. Go.”
Gray’s jaw clenched then he straightened up then bowed, “Your Highness.”
End of Flashback
Natsu’s P.O.V
“.... Wesslogia will be overseeing our warriors return home during this stalemate between the kingdoms. It could be the perfect opportunity for me to- Natsu?”
I stopped chewing my breakfast, the egg still caught between my teeth, as a sudden and sharp pain started in my head. The pain was so much that for a moment my vision became blurry and my hearing turned into a sharp ringing sound instead of my father’s voice. My utensils clatter to the floor as I push my chair back to stand. My father quickly comes to my side and I see him shouting for someone, reading his lips I knew he was calling for Grandeeny, that was all I saw then my vision went dark.
Time Skip
A feeling of calm surrounded me as I stirred awake. My mind was no longer at war with itself and everything was quiet. Well mostly everything. I could hear the sound of my father breathing and next to me was Wendy, exerting her magic to heal me. My father was standing next to my bedside, looking out the window as Wendy sat next to me with her hands glowing a light green and a small bead of sweat running across her brow.
“Wendy.” I said, my voice still weak.
Wendy stopped and sighed in relief, “Thank goodness. You’re finally awake, Your Highness, I was getting worried. You’re in the palace infirmary after collapsing this morning from a migraine.”
I groaned and moved to sit up. Wendy came right to my aid and helped me then placed an extra pillow behind me for support.
“H-how long was I-”
“You lost half the day, Your Highness. Grandeeney is still working on a remedy for your… illness.” Wendy explained, trailing off at the end as she struggled to find the right word.
“Wh-”
My father cleared his throat ending any further conversation. His cloak moved with him as an extended form of finality as he turned around to us. The cloak was red with a golden dragon embedded on the back and a golden border of an intricate design all around it. White fur decorated the collar of it. It was the King’s cloak, a symbol of nobility and strength of the Fire Clan’s line for centuries and worn by every King that came before and every King after. It was everything I ever wanted to be worthy of. To wear that cloak and make my father proud. But by the look on his face, he was anything but proud and I felt myself shrinking away at his disappointment. I looked away from him.
“Thank you, Wendy. You may go now and get some rest. I wish to speak to my son alone.”
Wendy bowed her head, “Of course, Your Majesty. Please, excuse me, Your Highness.”
Wendy stood up, curtsied to the both of us then left the infirmary. Possibly to get the rest she needed or to help Grandeeny. My father took off my cloak and draped it over his arm. I shifted uncomfortably in the bed as my father sighed and sat down in the now empty seat. He rested his head in his hand and took a few moments to gather his thoughts. I dared not speak. Finally, his amber eyes flicked over to me then he sat up and ran a hand through his red hair and down his face, wrapping his fingers around his chin to scratch his stubble. But instead of saying anything, he just looked down at the piece of paper in his other hand then reached over and set it on my lap. It was a letter from Lucy. An old letter but still. Evidence of our affair was written within.
I swallowed a lump in my throat. Yes, my father knows about my feelings for Lucy but what he didn’t know is how far I have acted on them behind his back. He never forbade me from loving her, he just wanted me to have restraint and love her from a distance. I’m even sure at one point he hoped my feelings for Lucy would subside as time passed but instead it only did the opposite. I closed my eyes and took a breath.
“Father-”
My father sighed deeply, “I have been patient and understanding, Natsu. And at times I have admired your loyalty and determination to those you love but this, my son, you are not ready for this. Perhaps fault lies with me, I was too soft with you-”
“Father, what are you talking about?”
He turned to me, a seriousness in his eyes I rarely saw.
“How long have you and the princess been having an affair?”
“We haven’t been having an affair, father. Lucy is still a virgin.”
“Don’t talk back to me, boy. Sneaking around is just the same.”
I sighed, “Then you have your answer, father.”
My father scoffed, “Foolish boy. Do you not realize the position you have put me in? Put Lucy in? If Jude ever found out about this he would have your head. I should have your head for being so reckless! Natsu, I may have never forbidden your love for her but I had hoped that with your expansive education that you would have been smarter about this.”
“I am, father. It’s why we’ve met in secret all these years.”
He shook his head, “It is pointless of me to do anything about it now since it is clear that you will not heed my warnings. If that is so, then tell me about Jude’s visions. Lucy mentions being afraid for him as she has witnessed him talking to the shadows. She also writes of Acnologia-”
I furrowed my brow, “You read my letters?! Father, you had no right. Those were private-”
“And you had no right putting yourself, putting me and this kingdom in danger because of your love for our enemy! Jude has made her that way despite everything else, that is the reality, son. We are at war with her people and unless you start telling me the truth and the whole truth then I cannot help either of you when the time comes to face Jude. One way or another, he will find out about your affair with his daughter and he will not have such a forgiving heart.”
I laid back in bed and looked away from my father. I couldn’t think right now. My head still hurt and I wasn’t up for much talking. He sighed and put a hand on my shoulder.
“I understand how hard this is, son, but it is for your own good. Get your rest, Natsu. We will continue this conversation when you are well and best believe we will be having a conversation.”
A moment later I heard his footsteps walking across the wooden floor. “Erza, keep an eye on him and report to me when he is up to talk.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” She said then walked over to my beside to stand guard.
A long silence fell over us and I had stubbornly wiped at my tears. Feeling like every bit of the fool my father thinks I am. He is right. I have put everything in danger just for love. Maybe I really am the selfish one. Erza sighed.
“He is only looking out for you. It must be hard watching your son in pain and there is nothing you can do about it.”
I scoffed, “Making excuses for him now, Erza?”
She shrugged, “I am just saying. It can’t be easy.”
I shift in the bed and groan a little at the jolt of pain as I move too quickly.
“Grandeeny is working on a solution right now. I just saw her and Wendy working on it.”
I nodded, “Does Grandeeny know the cause of the migraine?”
Erza shook her head, “She thinks it was too much stress on you but I think we both know what really happened. It’s the reaction to Marking Lucy.”
“Erza!”
Erza sighed, “Relax Natsu, it is only us two in here and think about it. It is the only thing that makes sense. Lucy’s Celestial power is spiritual, all about mind connection, it makes sense why you would be starting to get migraines now. The larger the separation the more suffering on either mate. You both suffer the effects of your magic.”
I blanched, “Which means that Lucy must have been suffering effects as well.”
Erza frowned and nodded in agreement. “That very well may be. Her suffering may have sparked your Bond with her into suffering as well. I mean the Bond isn’t fully complete yet and with the distance between you right now it is hard to tell but it is the only thing that makes sense.”
“Then we can’t waste anymore time. I don’t want her to suffer anymore because of me, if we are going to do this, we have to do this now. Give word to Wendy and we leave tomorrow night. The Dragon Kingdom will have a new princess by nightfall.”