Fairy Tail: An Aqaurius Quest

Ancient Village Ruins

We turn over every shack, and find nothing. I knew scouring the entire world for one tiny key would be no easy feat, but it still doesn't take the sting out of failing for another day.

Natsu doesn't act different around me. In fact, actually, he's acting as if nothing happened. Which makes me question, did anything happen? He doesn't even acknowledge last night when we wake up. Just back to regular scheduled programming for him.

No it happened. I can recall every detail in perfect vivid memory. I can still taste him on my lips, that's how real it was.

It annoys me a little that he hasn't tried anything.

There is no rhyme or reason as to why I do this. I just do it. Maybe just to get a reaction out of him.

On our way to Lamia Scale, I pull Natsu against me and kiss him.

While he doesn't pull away from me, he doesn't really kiss me back either.

My embarrassment flushes through me and I pull back. I don't even know what to say.

"What was that for?" He asks me, confused.

Isn't this what couples do? Kiss each other.

"I, well, I don't know..." I start stammering but he cuts me off.

"You're weird," he says matter of factly before pivoting on his heel and walking towards Lamia Scale again.

"I'm weird?!?" I'm annoyed now. This is just like Natsu. He does these super sweet gestures and then, he'll revert back to his factory settings.

I tread behind him and just as suddenly as I stupidly threw myself on to him, he's stopped in his tracks and placed himself protectively in front of me, arms out and nose in the air sniffing.

"Who's there?" He asks a loud. I don't see anyone but he's convinced someone is lurking.

As if to answer, foam starts pooling rapidly around us.

On my guard I summon Loke.

Natsu tries blasting the foam but the foam just extinguishes it.

A man emerges from the white foam with long curly purple hair and a long purple robe. His face seems neutral.

"Lucy Heartfilia," he licks his lips.

"Who are you?" Natsu asks bursting into flames.

"Effervescence," he answers cooly as he approaches us slowly.

"Funny, and what do you want with Lucy?"

Natsu's flames burn even hotter but the enemy is not deterred.

"I've come to collect a debt. Since Jude Heartfilia is no longer able to pay, his spawn will just have to do."

"Well how much is it?" I ask. I'm nervous. This guy's magic power is through the roof.

"Not that kind of debt I'm afraid," he answers.

"Fire Dragon Iron Fist," Natsu bellows as he strikes the enemy.

Effervescence is quicker, he sprouts foam and Natsu's fire is extinguished and his punch is ultimately cushioned by it.

"Leo Star dress!" I yell, as me and Loke deliver blow after blow to our attacker.

He deftly glides out of the way and attacks us head on. Natsu gets back up on his feet and directly attacks him with a fire dragon roar. But it's useless. The foam absorbs his fire.

Me, Natsu, and Loke attack him all at once in rapid succession but he's barely left with a scratch.

"You're wasting your energy Lucy Heartfilia, just surrender so we can be done with this," he says in an unwavering and bored voice.

"You want Lucy? You're going to have to go through me! I'll cremate you before I let you touch her! I'm all fired up!"  Natsu uses his Fire Dragon lightning roar and it knocks Effervescence off his feet, ultimately electrocuting him. Before he gets a chance to quell Natsu's fire, Natsu is coming down hard on him with hit after hit.

Loke stands guard on my side ready.

Before Natsu can land a final blow, the ground beneath us is flooding in foam and we are swimming in it.

"Natsu!" I scream. Effervescence attacks him and Natsu's body flies and hits a tree. Loke is after him and his Regulas light is quelled by the foam too.

I tug on Scorpios key and summon him, "Open, Gate of the Scorpion!"

Scorpio's sand smothers the foam and just like that, we are back on even fighting terms.

"Open Gate of the Golden Bull!"

Taurus appears before me.

"Oh my lovely Lucy, it's so good to see your booootiful boooody," his eyes and heart pound as he looks at me.

Natsu is standing upright again, "Tch" he grumbles.

"Uh Taurus, the bad guy. Right there!" I yell to get him back into action.

Taurus, Scorpio, and Loke give him a good thrashing but having three gates open at the same time and star dress drains my magic power and their gates close.

Natsu has made his way back to a rough looking pulp of Effervescence. He finishes him off with Fire Dragon Talon. Before his body can hit the ground, Natsu has a fistful of his robe and glares vehemently into his eyes, "that is what happens when you mess with a member of Fairy Tail!"

My body finally collapses at the same time as Effervescence's.

By the time I come to Natsu is carrying me with one arm under my knees and the other cradling my neck.

"Natsu," I whisper weakly.

He sets me down and inspects me, "you okay Luce?" He asks.

I nod and he pulls me against him tightly hugging me. He was worried. That's so cute, he actually cares.

"You scared me back there," he says after a moment.

"Sorry," I mumble. I can only imagine what he was thinking about. Brings me back to his nightmare the other night. The time he thought I was dead when time stopped. He turned into a full on Demon then.

I guess none of us will be the same after that war with Zeref and the Alvarez Empire. Not even Natsu.