6. Chapter 6 (1/2)
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dedicated to
secret a
stranger1999
magicalfoxinthewilderness
and
meow orbit
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the deep chime of a grandfather clock startles me as i open my eyes to a
ight world.
"it's been a while since i've had this dream," i muse while taking in my surroundings once my eyes have adjusted to the change in light.
around me the familiar landscape of mine and lucy's clearing surrounds me in that mystical way my dream caused the place to appear. with the sky lighting up and darkening constantly with the sun and moon chasing one another across the sky making days pass in only the span of an hour. the calm water of the nearby lake changes color along with the sky while dandelion seeds drift through the air and land on the table situated before me.
when i was younger, i had always dreamed of this place and more so when i grew up and both igneel and lisanna passed. it had always been a comforting place in my subconscious and i never understood why until i regained my memories.
this was where my childhood took place.
after story 6
toll of the bells
pov: natsu; lucy; aquarius
disclaimer: i do not own fairy tail
"it's always so pretty here," someone beside me sighs, and i turn to find lisanna sitting next to me with her elbows resting on the table while her head is held up by her hands. a dreamy look swims through the deep sapphire that match our daughter's, "the children will really like it here," she then sighs happily before directing her gaze toward me, "make sure to
ing them here soon."
"i promise," i say before i feel myself get choked up at the sight of lisanna beside me, tears streaming down my face making it hard to see.
"what? you had all your childhood and you're going to start crying now?!" a booming voice from across the table jokes as i glare at igneel who gives me shit-eating grin. his knee hits the bottom of the table causing the tea set and vase filled with purple hyacinths to clatter without falling or
eaking as he continues to laugh.
"just missed you 's all," i sniff while wiping my nose with the sleeve of my jacket and feeling ridiculous for crying. what would lis think of me?
"leave him alone, he's happy," lis scolds the older male while reaching out with a handkerchief to help wipe my face as tears continue to fall while i blubber and nod.
i felt childish and strange because i had never cried like this when i was younger. not with lucy, or lisanna, or even igneel. it was the sort of crying that one let out of relief and happiness that i hadn't felt since i had married lisanna and witnessed the birth of both my children, but even then i hadn't cried. tears of joy weren't something i was used to, instead it was tears of anguish and sadness that had plagued me my whole life until now.
"lis, dad, i'm sorry," i then croak when my tears have finally begun to subside, "i was such a horrible and lousy father to our kids, and i was a real shitty king," i tell the two who both give me gentle smiles.
"you made my kids cry!" lisanna smiles way too sweetly before pinching my cheek fiercely without dropping her smile as i wince at the pain, "and you made my poor sister worry her head off for you, no wonder she still isn't married yet!"
"and who'da thunk that young girl would agree to marry you after everything you made her go through," igneel agrees while shaking his head with a show of disappointment that is lost through the smile he tries to hold back, "she should have just torn you a new one and moved on with her life."
"well at least we know she'll keep him in place," lisanna says while finally releasing my cheek, "and she adores my beautiful children so there is nothing more i can ask for." turning to give me a warning look, lisanna points a finger at me that makes me flinch for fear that she'll pinch my cheek again as she warns me to, "keep her happy and do whatever she tells you to, got it?"
"she's got a better head on her shoulders than this old oaf. well, at least we know that the kingdom is safe in her hands," igneel agrees with a big hearty laugh at my glare.
"the first time you two ever speak in my dreams and it's only to make fun of me," i growl at the unaffected pair while rubbing my sore cheek, "glad to see nothing's changed."
both lisanna and igneel laugh, allowing the soft
eeze to carry the merry sound through the trees and echo over the clear water of the lake. the sound fills me with warmth as i close my eyes to absorb as much of their presence as i can, feeling complete as they continue to make fun of me. i actually welcome the teasing, not realizing how much i had missed it.
if we had been back at the castle, everyone else would have joined in to make fun of me and at the moment i would have really welcomed it.
"tomorrow's the big day," igneel then says,
inging me back to the pair staring at me happily, "are you excited?" he then asks while lisanna takes my hand in hers and squeezes it encouragingly, her own eyes shining with excitement.
"i am," i agree as i feel the nerves begin to set in at the thought that tomorrow lucy and i were finally going to get married.
after years of hardship and obstacles in our way we were finally going to be together how we had promised one another when we were younger. my fairy wish was finally coming true at the cost of so much heart
eak.
"i'm so happy for you both," lisanna beams and it hurts me because she and igneel are stuck here while the rest of us get to move on with our lives. i felt like i had betrayed her for moving on… "when we were little you always seemed so incomplete," lis murmurs while rubbing her thumb over the back of my hand, "even when we were married you never quite seemed whole, but now i don't see a single piece missing."
"what about the places where you and igneel belong?" i ask her, not able to believe that i was completely whole. i actually believed that even with this new happiness i'd never be complete no matter how hard i tried to be.
"don't be stupid. we aren't missing," igneel grumbles heartily while reaching over the small table to poke at my chest, "we're right here where we've always been and where we'll always remain," he says while lisanna nods her head affectionately.
"so long as you and my children are happy, we're happy," lis says while reaching over and planting a soft kiss on my temple, "i can't ask for anything more, so don't be afraid to finally take hold of what has always been out of your reach."
nodding, i sniffle back a fresh wave of tears that threaten to spill just as the sound of the chiming grandfather clock begins to resonate through the wide space.
"it's time for you to go back," igneel says while looking off towards the lake, "if you stay any longer you're going to miss your big day, and we wouldn't want that."
reluctantly agreeing, i stand and hug two of the most important people in my life before turning to walk around the edge of the lake towards my destiny. i only stop when i hear my name being called out and turn to find a group of people standing on the other side of the lake all waving at me.
from the group i only recognize one person being jude standing beside a woman who looked almost identical to lucy. beside them three people, a woman and young boy with jet-black hair and a man with hair the same color as my own, waving at me. i wave back only before i'm enveloped in a whirlwind of dandelion seeds, realizing too late who those people were.
"look! someone just got married!"
grabbing natsu by the hand, i drag him all the way towards kardia cathedral where the church bell was ringing and people were gathered near the entrance. everyone was dressed nicely and throwing rice up into the air while a couple walked down the steps smiling from ear to ear. no one seemed to be bothered by the summer heat and
ight sun glaring down at them.
from where natsu and i were watching through the bars of the fence that surrounded the cathedral, we marveled at the show of love and adoration the newly wedded couple showed one another. looking into each other's eyes lovingly and kissing one another passionately. it reminded me of how in love my parents had always been with one another until my mother's passing.
"i'm going to marry you one day luce," natsu says without warning as i turn to look at him.
he's looking at the couple with a determined look on his face, one that i knew too well that told me he was serious.
"when we're both older and i can give you the whole wide world i'm going to marry you and make you the happiest girl!" he states while turning to look at me to show me that he meant every word, "i promise luce, so don't you go around giving your heart to anyone else!"
"idiot," i laugh while shaking my head, "as if anyone could have said no to that," i then murmur softly while catching my companion's attention.
"did you say something princess?" loke asks while looking down at me curiously.
"just remembering something from when we were kids. a promise that natsu made and is finally making it come true," i tell him while linking our arms together when i hear music begin to play.
taking in a deep
eath, i let out a deep exhale while i clutch my partner's arm even tighter. this only causes loke to chuckle while placing his large hand over mine to comfort me as we continue to wait inside the small cottage that leads out to where everyone is waiting for us.
before me the procession of
idesmaids is being led by our ring bearers, gem and happy, followed their sister who were two gorgeous flower girls scattering cherry blossoms down the aisle. behind them the