~Do Fairies Have Tails?~

Song; Fairy Tail Theme

~I love to read comments from everyone telling how they felt and what's on their mind about these chapters. It makes me so happy and gives me more courage to write when I hear from you all~

The morning had started off rough for Lucy. She had gotten up in sync with the sun. But her mind and heart were still with the moon and stars. Last night had been magical and terrible. The discovery of both the magical thing, the glowing cherry blossom tree, and the terrible thing, Natsu's lost Nest Mates, the Dragon Slayers. Had left Natsu emotionally detached.

So, Lucy did all she could that morning to bring back Natsu's smile. First, she went down to the kitchen, and requested for MiraJane and Lissana to cook the best breakfast in the history of the morning meal. Lucy's exact words had been, "Please cook something that will bring tears to the eyes of a person with no taste buds."

Next, Lucy went to go see Scorpio, who was now recovered, and asked him if he was up to driving her and Natsu to Magnolia. Once he had agreed with an exclamation of, "We are!" She had thanked him and had headed back inside.

Lastly, Lucy had went to Levy's room and had woken the poor girl up. Once Lucy had explained the situation, her friend didn't wish to bash her head in with a book that much anymore.
Levy was not a morning person.

The Princess had given a description of the crystals that she had seen and had asked Levy to figure out a way to break into them to retrieve someone without killing that person or one's self. The bookworm had given her a thumbs up, her hazel eyes alight with curiosity and the sheer thrill of learning something new.

Now, all she had to do was find Gray...

🔥🌟

"What do you mean he's gone?!" Lucy yelled, her jaw slack with disbelief, her brown eyes wide as she stared at Juvia. "Gray-Sama hasn't been around for a few days now." The blue haired woman answered her Lady honestly. "Juvia has not been able to lay her eyes on Gray-Sama for too long." Her voice trembled and she placed her pale hands on her cheeks.

Lucy smiled sympathetically at the hysterical gardener, at the same time she was plotting Gray's death. Lucy had needed him to cover for her when she went on her adventure. With Loke still mysteriously gone, she only had to worry about her Father missing her. One in a million chances that he will even notice, Lucy thought with a pang of sadness.

"I am sure Gray will be back soon, Juvia," Lucy gently comforted her. "There is nothing to fret over." Juvia instantly smiled and nodded, her hair bouncing. "Juvia shouldn't be sad. Juvia should be happy, so that when Gray-Sama comes back, he will not worry!" Her cobalt blue eyes sparkled and she bid her Lady goodbye before going back to water her flowers.

Lucy smiled back but her smile quickly faded away when she turned away. She pursed her lips and stomped back to the castle. Now she was going to have to bother Levy again. But first...Lucy walked up the many stone steps, down multiple hallways, and finally found herself back at her room's door. She traced an engraving of a key on her door like she always did before she went inside.

Lucy's eyes fell upon her empty bed that was naked with no covers to be seen. With a quick sweep of her brown eyes, she confirmed that her room was Dragon-less. Not even Happy or Plue could be found. Where could he have gone? Lucy wondered, opening up her closet and peering inside. Cold sweat began to trickle down her legs and neck as an icy thought blossomed in her mind.

What if he had left?

"Without saying goodbye," Lucy uttered to herself, shaking her head. "I don't think he'd do that..." Even as she thought this, doubt began to stain her mind. Natsu had gotten so much stronger than when she had first found him. His wing that had been damaged twice had been healing handsomely and so had his other more serious wounds.

Another dark thought made its way into her head. What if he has gone back to the cavern? Lucy pondered this, her feet leading her to the balcony where she gazed up at the constellations when night fell. She couldn't believe how much she was worrying about Natsu leaving. The Princess knew that one day he would depart and say farewell to her.

A farewell that she had no interest in hearing.

Lucy groaned and gripped the railing. Her cheeks flared up a startling scarlet and she placed her chin down on the cool bar. "I do not wish to say goodbye." Her words were softer than the wind and truer than true.
Lucy would be lonely without him.

"Who're you saying goodbye to?"
The sudden voice that was not her own made her jump and whip around. Only for a hysterical laugh to shake her body. She held her stomach and pointed with her free hand at the upside down figure. "W-what are y-you doing!" She gasped through her laughter.

Natsu was hanging upside down and his tail was the only thing holding him up. The scaly limb was wrapped around a part of the roof that had become unhinged a bit, leaving him some space for him to hook his tail through. Lucy's missing pink blanket was wrapped snugly around him with only his eyes peeking through.

Around her crying laughter she managed to get out, "You look like a bat!" Natsu bared his fangs and hissed, "Knew you'd figure it out eventually." They were both silent for only a second before they were both howling with laughter.

There, Lucy wiped away her happy tears, there's your smile. She had been worried about him. Worried about his sanity and what he was planning to do next. Now, she was just happy to hear his laughter. Once the joyful sound died down, Natsu unhooked his tail and twisted his body so he landed correctly.

He jumped up from his crouch and brought the covers closer to himself. "What were ya doing so early in the morning?" Natsu questioned her, tilting his horned head so the blanket slid of his head. "I was making preparations," was her smirked reply. "Huh," Natsu's eyes stilted curiously, "Preparations for what?"

Lucy's eyes glittered with barely controlled excitement, "Today, Dragon, you are taking me to Fairy Tail." Natsu's mouth dropped open and Happy popped his head out from the covers underneath the Dragon Slayer's chin. "Y-You're seriously serious?" Was his hyped reply, green leaking into his eyes.
Lucy nodded firmly, "Aye."

With that one word, Natsu seemed to glow, which-Lucy realized-he was. Fire outlined his profile and with a happy roar, smoke billowed out of his mouth. "Let's go then, Lucy!" Before Lucy could take her next breath, he had scooped her up in his arms, and the covers fell away to reveal his wings. "H-hold on! The carriage is waiting for us!" Lucy rapidly explained.

Natsu scoffed, "Don't be silly, Lucy! We aren't riding"-his face turned a bit green-"all the way. We're flying!" He even gave his wings a little flap to emphasize his point.

"What about the wound that your wing received?" Lucy was thinking quickly now. She was thinking of anything at all to make her body stay where it belonged; on the ground. Natsu shrugged uncaringly, "As long as I'm careful with it, nothing should happen." Happy clawed up onto his Dragon Slayer's shoulders and his own white wings materialized with a shimmer of Magic.

"Wait!" Lucy tried one last time. This was her ace, her saving grace. "I told Mira to cook you the most beautiful, mouthwatering food on EarthLand!" Natsu groaned and shuffled his feet, "Your making this hard, Luce."
Lucy grinned, she had won-
"We'll just eat at the Guild."

Oh-

"Ready, buddy?" Natsu asked giddily.
The little Exceed meowed in agreement and that's all it took.
Lucy was up in the air in the next second. She couldn't find her voice to make even a sound as Natsu continued to rise up and up. The wind blew through her blond locks, sending them into a wild dance. Lucy slammed her eyes closed and buried her face into the Dragon Slayer's scarf when she saw her Father's castle getting smaller and smaller as they flew higher and higher.

Her fingers were twisted and firmly buried into Natsu's cloth covered shoulders. Even with her death grip, Lucy was sure that the thin cloth would tear, or Natsu would loose his grip on her and she would plummet to Earth! Or Natsu's wing would give out due to the damage it took and they would both go splat!

Oh, Mavis, please don't let us go splat! Lucy begged. Suddenly the wind that had been screaming in her ears became an airy whisper. The cold element that had previously been whipping her skin, now gave her feather soft kisses instead. "Lucy," a warmth puff of air tickled her ear. "You can open your eyes now."

Part of her wanted to shake her head and continue to hide, however, she already found herself carefully lifting her head. Lucy's eyes fluttered open with the help of the gently caresses of the wind. Her brown eyes were filled with the blue sky, the harsh golden light of the sun, and the lush green of the ground below them.

Her eyes widened to take in everything and her breath was stolen by the sheer marvelous view.

"Pretty, eh?" Natsu grinned, taking in the warmth that the sun gifted them. Lucy could only nod wordlessly, her eyes taking in everything she could. Happy flew beside them, almost blending in with the sky itself.

"Wanna touch a cloud?" Natsu's voice reached her humming ears again. She looked at him with big eyes and nodded again. A silly grin came to his scaled face as he craned his neck to search for one. His sharp eyes spotted one further up and he flapped his wings harder to rise higher.

Once he was flying next to the puffy white mass, Natsu tilted his wings a fraction to the side, to bring them even closer. The Princess warily began to unhook her nails and oh so slowly, reached out into the blue abyss that was the sky to touch the billowing cloud. Lucy's fingers brushed the fluff and then she put her hand inside. It parted around her hand like mist.

It was so soft that she barely felt anything. It was softer than a sheep's wool and slightly damp. It chilled her fingers and a shiver made her shoulders quiver. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw something within the cloud...and it was moving.
Happy burst from the top of the cloud with a caterwaul. Sending the cloud fluff in multiple directions and making some parts fade away.

Natsu laughed as Lucy jerked back. "Happy! Mavis!" The rattled Princess exclaimed. "Hehehe, nice scare!" The Dragon Slayer praised his kitten, who was busy shaking the cloud fluff from his fur. With another hard flap that sliced through the air, Natsu zoomed away from the cloud with Lucy tightly in his hold. From then on until they got to their destination, Dragon and Exceed raced each other, and did deadly flips and tricks to out impress the other.

All while the Princess of the Celestial Kingdom hung on with an iron grip.

The sun was their backdrop and the sky was their sea.

🔥🌟

"Fairy Tail's a bar?" Lucy asked, surprised, as she looked up at the tall building before her. It was an elegant building that towered over her, blocking out the sun, and casted a large shadow over everything. A large bell hung from up top and an orange flag hung from the front of the large bar.

Painted onto the fabric was the same symbol that Natsu bore on his shoulder.

"Aye!" Natsu grinned down at her, folding his tired wings. "I told ya they had the best food and adventure stories!" Lucy shuffled her feet and looked up at him nervously. "What kind of people are they?" If they are people at all. "Do-" she looked down-"Do you think that they will enjoy my company?" Or will they sneer at my fancy clothes and roll their hated eyes when they learn of my title?

"Well," Natsu raised his leg and set his heel on fire. "Only one way to find out!" With a hard kick that splintered the wood on the double doors, Natsu strolled right in, shouting, "Yo! I'm back!" Lucy was so shell shocked and unprepared that she could only stand in the ruined door way, staring.

Multiple pairs of eyes swung or squinted at the source of the noise. All at once, everyone's eyes either widened, or someone spit out their liquor, when they took in Natsu's Dragon like form. Lucy could have face palmed. He has forgotten to hide his scales and such.

Only, instead of the cursed screaming and scrambling for weapons that Lucy was expecting, the whole group of about thirty people, leaped up from their stools, and came running over to Natsu with open arms. When the horde of people crashed into him, crying out things like, "Where the hell have ya been?!"
"We were so worried!"
"Ya damned brat!"
"We were gonna storm the castle!"

Natsu took it all in with a pretend grimace that didn't reach his eyes that shone brightly with glee. "Alright! Alright!" The Dragon Slayer barked, "I want you all to meet someone!"

"Oh?" A woman with dark brown hair hummed quite drunkenly, slinging her arm, that held a glass full of some kind of equally dark liquid, around Natsu's neck. "Is it a chick? If so, she better have great measurements." A pink eyebrow was raised, "Cana, you know how you get when you've had too much." The woman, Cana, raised her glass high in the air with a giggle, "Pah-lease, there is never enough for this girl! Now," she looked deeply into Natsu's dark eyes with a scary smile, "Where's this chick?"

Lucy, along with Happy, who had already fled do to being too shy-traitorous cat!-had already begun to make her escape, when she heard her name.

"That's Lucy!" Maybe it would have been better if she had gone splat.
She froze and carefully turned to face the expecting faces of Natsu's family. Her lips were suddenly so dry they felt like sandpaper as she croaked out an, "Hello."

There was nothing but silence for a beat. Oh my Mavis, they are judging me so hard right now.

Then the whole bar exploded.

"Oi! Look! Natsu brought a girl home!"

"I can't believe it!"

"But are you sure it's a girl?"

"I can check!"

"The world is ending! Grab your shit everyone!"

"She's so pretty!"

"Oi! That's Princess Lucy!"

"A Princess?!"

"Oho, classy!" Cana crowed, raising her glass to Lucy who was blushing crimson.

"Wow, your really stepping up your game, aren't ya?"

"Natsu had game?" One of the men said with a howl of laughter.

Natsu turned to him with a glare and laughed sarcastically. "Oh, ha ha ha, you're a dick."

"Least I'm not a-"
Natsu wrapped his tail around the man's stool leg, and yanked. With an embarrassing yelp the man tumbled from his stool and to the floor.
"Dammit, Natsu! You made me spill my beer!" Natsu roared with laughter as the man spluttered angrily.

Suddenly, a glass shattered and a shout of denial rose up along with the scrape of a chair being roughly shoved back.
"You!"
Natsu and Lucy, with the rest of the people in the bar, turned to face the person who had shouted.
Natsu's jaw went slack when he recognized the person. He was quick to recover though, he wrinkled his nose at the person, and shouted at the same time Lucy said,

"Ice Princess?!"

"Gray?"

The young man with black hair was glaring at the Dragon Slayer from where he was standing a few feet away. "I can't believe this," he said with a roll of his dark blue eyes. "I can't either," Natsu snapped back with a smirk. "Can't believe Gramps would allow a stripper in his bar."

That was all it took for Gray to run down and bang his forehead against his rival's. "I've been waitin' for you to recover enough for you to actually be good enough to fight me." Gray growled. "Hehehe, thanks for being so patient for your ass whooping." Natsu snarled right back.

"I think you got that backwards, Flame Brain," Gray shot back. "I'm gonna win this."

Natsu raised a eyebrow, a challenging fire had been lit in his eyes. "Then go ahead and show me."

"Shouldn't someone stop them?" Lucy whispered to Cana who was at her side, watching the two boys with interested eyes. "Nah," she muttered right back, "This is my time to make me some moola." Lucy sweatdropped when she saw Cana beginning to take bets. "Mama gotta pay for her liquor somehow!" Cana smiled when Jewels began to drop into her greedy fingers.

Oh, they are going to kill each other! Lucy thought, worriedly running her hand through her hair. It's not like she could run in there and stop them. Not now at least! I'll be burned to a crisp!

Just as Natsu and Gray raised their fists, an all too familiar commanding voice broke through the cheers, completely silencing everyone. Lucy's heart lodged in her throat as the group parted away from the figure walking towards the frozen forms of Natsu and Gray. How did she find me? Lucy thought frantically. Did my Father send her? Did he find out about my leaving with Natsu? A cold chill ran its icy fingers down her spine.

Does Father know about the Dragon living in his castle?

Lucy's thoughts completely halted and faded away along with her breath, when the face that belonged to the voice came into view. Her scarlet hair was pulled into a tight pony tail, her sword rested at her side, and her expression was a harsh one as she stared down her nose at Natsu and Gray.

Lucy's heart was thundering in her chest as she fought through the crowd to get to Natsu. Oh, no, no, no! She's going to kill him! Cold sweat along with heart stopping fear ate away at the Princess. She's going to-

Then, Captain Scarlet, grabbed the back of Natsu's head, and banged his face into her chest plate with a hollow bang that made Lucy flinch. Her steps faltered and she came to a halt, shock flowing through her as she realized Captain Scarlet, was hugging him.
Not killing.
Hugging.
Lucy could have fallen to her knees with the relief she felt.

"I have missed you, Natsu," Erza told him. "As has the rest of Fairy Tail."
Natsu grunted and tapped the tip of his tail on her metaled shoulder. "Can't-breath-Erza-"
The red headed warrior let go of the back of his head and the Dragon stumbled back. Even as he rubbed at his sore neck, Natsu grinned, "Missed ya too, Erza." He chuckled, "Not so much your hugs, though."

Captain Scarlet nodded with closed eyes, "Apologies." Her eyes snapped open, "Princess Lucy." I'm dead. Was the only thought that made it into Lucy's jumbled mind. Lucy took a staggering step forward till she was facing her Father's Captain of the Guard.

"Greetings, Captain." Lucy greeted timidly.

Captain Scarlet only lowered her chin before stating. "So, you have located Fairy Tail, my Lady?" The Princess titled her head yes. "Ah," Erza's harsh expression melted into a soft smile. "Your Mother always knew you would." Lucy's head snapped up at the mention of her Mother. "My...Mom, knew about Fairy Tail?" It did not make any sense. "Why would my Mother know of such a place?"

"Because your Mother was the one who helped create this place."

A new, low, gravelly voice echoed throughout the room. Lucy turned and sitting on the bar counter was a small, old man with a staff, and a funny hat. The old man looked up at Lucy with kind eyes, "Layla Heartfilia, the Queen of the Celestial Kingdom, your Mother, created this place," he tipped his staff to indicate the bar. "To aid her fellow Mages in protecting their lives."

The old man with wisdom in his eyes, smiled at Lucy, "Princess Lucy, this is a safe haven for people blessed with the gift of Magic. This is a Guild."

🔥🌟

Hours later, along with many questions, explanations, and a whole lot of screaming, laughter, yelling, things being broken, spilled liquor, cursing, and stories filled with adventures later. Lucy and Natsu were waving goodbye to the Magic Guild known as Fairy Tail. Lucy had found out many things about her Mother and had uncovered many secrets surrounding her.

Her Mother had been a savior to the Mages of Fiore.

Lucy's heart swelled with pride.

There had been another surprise when none other than Loke, her personally Guard, that had missing for days, had been revealed to have been at the Guild all along. He was actually a long time member. Lucy had also found out that Gray, who was an Ice Mage-maybe that's why Natsu and him hate each other-had also just joined. Lucy had learned that most of the castle's staff were also connected to Fairy Tail. The Strauss siblings, Scorpio, Taurus, her helpers, and even Levy!

Lucy could not wait to talk with Levy about her Magic and her home.

During all of this, Natsu had excitingly told everyone how he was in fact no longer the last Dragon Slayer. But that there were more hidden beneath King Jude's castle. Locked away from Natsu and the world in crystals. It was then, after the cheers had died down, that Natsu had asked for his family's help.

They had agreed without so much as a pause.

Now, Natsu, with a wide smile on his face, lifted up his arm, and stuck out his pointer finger and thumb to the sky. Lucy watched with curiosity, as everyone from the Guild copied him.

"What was that?" Lucy couldn't help but ask once they were in the air.

The bright smile on Natsu's face never went away when he told her, "It's sorta of a signal that we all do. It means that no matter where one of us is, the Fairy Tail family will always be looking their way."

Lucy smiled at that, "Won't you miss them?"

Natsu looked at her then, "Lucy, Fairy Tail will always be right here," he managed to tap his chest-where his heart was located-with his tail, "And it always will be." Lucy looked to the sky with eyes shining brightly.

So, that was your home, Natsu. Your safe haven. Where your heart lies. A happy place for you. A place filled with wild stories of adventures, howling laughter, chaos, and a family who loves you...

Lucy smiled softly, sadly. She was glad that she had one last day filled with happiness, and adventure...
Ah, that is what it means to be a Fairy Tail Mage...

🔥🌟

"You know, there is a story that goes along with this Guild and it's name." The Master of Fairy Tail had said to the Princess cryptically.

"What is it?" The Princess, being the sucker she was for stories, had asked excitedly.

"It is said that a Fairy helped your Mother build this Guild. In return, Layla, named this Guild in honer of that very Fairy. You may have noticed that there is a tail that the Fairy on our Guild Marks have."

"Do Fairies have tails?" The Princess had asked, her eyes bright with the images of Fairies flying by.

"I do not know, Princess. No one besides the Queen has said to have seen one. So, there is no knowing if they possess one or not. In a way, this Guild is like them. In fact, that is precisely what Fairy Tail is about...

An eternal mystery and an never ending adventure."

Now, the Princess smiled down at the pink Emblem on the back of her hand.

A Fairy baring a tail.

Let the Adventure Continue!

This Chapter is for

Sapphireship2
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tashey50