Fairy Tail: The Phoenix Prophecy [AU] [Discontinued]

Chapter Seven

    "Tell me again why I have to go?" Lucy muttered as Erza fastened the last of Lucy's new armor around her wrists. They were standing at the departure platform where all the other dragons were supposed to meet up, and since Erza was the first one done with packing and saying her goodbyes, she had shifted into her human form and helped Lucy get ready for the trip. Why she had to wear armor of all things was beyond her. 

    "Because," Erza said and roughly tightened the gauntlets around Lucy's wrists. "You're the first human who isn't afraid to associate with us, and therefor-" Erza dusted the human girl off and stepped away with a thoughtful look on her face. "-you are our best bet at assembling the four other riders. Give it a spin. How does it feel?"

     Lucy numbly complied and raised to flex her arms and legs out a bit, it was a tight fit but it had enough loose space for Lucy to move without much difficulty. "It's alright," Lucy answered. "But if I'm supposed to help out with stopping the apocalypse then what weapon do I use?"

    "Hm, good question." Erza turned and went to one of the many suitcases, shuffling around the cases until she eventually grabbed a large wooden crate with nails over the lid. As easy as opening a plastic container, Erza tore the lid off and it sailed right past Lucy's head with one of the nails scarily close to scratching her cheek. Erza rummaged around until she eventually found a large whip with titanium coils and a heart shaped end. She tapped the end before handing it to Lucy. "I think a whip would suit you fine."

    "Just a whip?" Lucy mumbled and examined the whip closely. "No sword or mace or..."

    "Yes, you don't seem to have much experience with weapons so I plan on teaching you that along the way."

    "I see, thank you. Oh and Erza-san, do you mind if I ask a personal question?"

    "I don't mind at all, and Erza is just fine."

    "H-hai. I know that the white dragon from before, Irene I think, is your mother. But why do you look similar to Gajeel and Metalicana?"

    "Ah, I get that question a lot. It's because my mother is a gem dragon and my biological father was a peasant metal dragon. They got into a relationship while my mother was still a princess, though they were forced to split up when they were found out so that mom could marry some dragon named Vatican. Me, Kagura, and my... brother, Simon... are hybrids."

    "Oh," was all Lucy could say about that. The way Erza mentioned Simon had great sadness in it and Lucy immediately knew that it was something best not to pry about.

     The two women stood in an awkward silence for a while, fidgeting with their armor while looking occasionally to the archway for the other dragons. Eventually, the other dragons entered the area in their human forms with their parents right behind (save for Laxus, Rogue, Sting, and Wendy). Gajeel was walking alongside his father in silence, Gray was arguing with Lyon, and Laxus was glowering at everyone with Rogue, Sting, and Wendy besides him. The three younger dragons were either talking or casting worried glances at everyone around them.

    "Hey Lucy!" Natsu said as he approached her with his stupid grin on his face.

    "Hi Natsu," Lucy responded with a smile and he slapped her back hard as Igneel approached them with a small smirk on his face. He backed away from her just as the Western Dragon King cuffed her shoulder lightly.

    "Are you ready to go?" Igneel asked them and they both nodded, though one was much more enthusiastic than the other. "Good." Igneel turned away from them and faced the other dragons, clearing his throat loudly. Once all attention was on him, he spoke, "So we have all been made aware that the phoenix prophecy is starting to reveal itself to us and that we've decided that the best course of action is to send eight dragons out to find four more riders to stop the Acnologia. This day, we've already found one. So dragons Natsu, Gray, Erza, Laxus and Gajeel, please return to your dragon forms and equip yourselves with the saddles to your left."