16 Chapter 16
Natsu's POV
Lucy fell asleep holding all three of our babies as I hold her hand. They were beautiful I couldn't help but stare at the four of them. "How did I get so lucky?" I whisper to myself. Nashi was the only one to get my hair but the rest of her screamed Lucy. She was all but a copy of her mother. I could see that even as she was still just a baby.
Luke however looked so much like me only with Lucy's blond hair. I watched as he snuggled into his mother one hand gripping a small bit of her hair. In fact they each had a little grip of Lucy's hair. I smile at the thought, it was like they need to hold something of their mother to be sure she was always near. I couldn't help the smile on my face as I watched my family.
Luna was more of an even mix of Lucy and I. She had Lucy's blond hair my eyes and the rest of her features sort of just blended her mother and I. My grip on Lucy's hand gently squeezed her. I'm still on my knees on the floor next to the little fold out couch as I lay my head down on the bedding and close my eyes. The world around me forgotten as I fell asleep in Master's office.
Lucy's POV
I felt time move around me but it seemed to have passed by me without touching me. This was not like when I hibernated before where I could hear and feel things moving around me. I was just asleep, I could feel myself sleeping while holding my three babies in my arms. There was once that I felt someone try to pick up one of my babies but I felt my whole body cover in flames and not just mine either, I could feel Natsu's flames surround us. My grip tightened on my mates hand. It was the only part of him touching me but it was enough. No one ever tried to take my babies from us again though.
Natsu's POV
I have never felt so tired in my life it was like my very life had been drained from me. I could only feel my mate's hand in my own but it was enough I could also sense our babies in her arms as we rested. I feel a slight pain in my knees but it doesn't really bother me not with Luce here with me.
I felt someone try to pick up one of my babies and my flames acted almost on their own covering my family and I. I felt Lucy tighten her grip on my hand and slowly I drifted off into a deep slumber again our flames slowly putting themselves out.
Lucy's POV
Oh dear Mavis what happened? My head was spinning and my stomach was churning. Was I moving? I will never make fun of Natsu or the others for their motion sickness again! I could feel my skin turning green as I tried not to hurl. My arms tightened around my babies holding them close to protect them from what ever was causing this evil sensation.
I felt for Natsu's hand and realized that his arms were around me now. His body pressed tightly against my side our babies clinging to the two of us. I could feel that one was now laying on Natsu instead of me but whichever one it was still had a tight grip on a handful of my hair. Which relaxed me a bit. I passed out not being able to handle the motion.
Natsu's POV
I felt someone lift me up onto the edge of the couch. I released Lucy's hand and wrapped my arms around her, much more content now that my knees were no longer pressed into the hard floor. I felt as one of the babies crawled onto me making me sigh out content.
Suddenly I felt us moving onto a hard surface it was quick like we were on a blanket and they just slid it over onto a wooden plank or something. My stomach did a somersault before it settled. I thanked my lucky stars that it was only for a moment.
Then I felt us get lifted up, crap. my stomach churned and I held Lucy and our babies close trying to protect them from this unseen enemy. The jarring uneven movement made me want to croak but I had to be strong, for my family.
Lucy's POV
When I finally wake up the first thing I see is Natsu as his arms clutched around me and our three babies. I sigh as I look down at them; Nashi, Luke and Luna, they were beautiful. I guess I moved a little because I felt as Natsu started to stir next to me.
I smile and blew a gentle breath towards him. I watch as his hair sways in the little gust and his eyes pop open to meet mine. All I could do was smile and say, "Good morning."
He grinned back and stretched returning my greeting before kissing me sweetly on the lips. I felt his arms curl around me again and then I heard a gentle cry and we both, startled, looked down at our children. It was Luna who was sniffling while Nashi and Luke just watched us with wide eyes.
I can't help but smile at my children. I had three beautiful babies. They were so tiny in my arms. I looked around and found we were alone in the infirmary on a queen size bed that I don't recall ever being here before. I look down at the babies in my arms and slowly pulled my shirt off over my head trying not to disturb them.
When I was adjusted comfortably Nashi and Luke latched onto my breast sucking hungrily. I let out a silent sigh and Natsu distracted Luna while I fed her older brother and sister.
Nashi was the first to finish allowing me to hand her over to Natsu and replace her with Luna as he burped our little girl over his shoulder. When she was done he cradled her in his arms and rocked her to sleep laying her down on the bed beside me before taking Luke to repeat the process. When Luna was done I looked at Natsu who was eagerly waiting to take her from my arms and I silently giggled and let him take her, he can have this little moment with our babies.
I yawn and quickly pull my shirt back over my head and lay down beside our babies. My eyes fluttering again as I fight off sleep until Luna joined us. When Natsu laid her down and curled himself around them trapping the three of them between us. We laced our fingers together and held hands as we drifted off to sleep again.
Natsu's POV
My mate and I repeated the process of feeding our babies like that everytime we woke up. Her breast feeding them and I burped them, rocking them back to sleep. I have no idea how many days we did this. We simply hibernated between feedings not feeling a need to eat or drink just cuddle our babies and each other.
Once as I was laying down again next to Lucy my eyes were barely open when I say Gray and Levy walk in shouting our names as sleep stole over us again. Their voices but a distant memory as darkness took over.
When we woke up again this time there was food and water sitting beside us. I guess I didn't dream it then. Gray and Levy must have realized we had fed our babies before falling into a deep sleep again. I feed Lucy and myself as she nursed our babies and I entertained them. They seemed to have gotten so big since they were born. I wonder how long ago it was when we first fell asleep.
Lucy seemed to really enjoy the meal and I couldn't help the noises of approval I made as I ate. I made sure we both drank some water before falling back asleep this time a more natural sleep than before.
Lucy's POV
I woke up starving, this time Natsu and the kids stayed fast asleep and I looked around seeing there was more food nearby. I was lucky to find a whole table of food right next to the bed. I ate everything in sight but it wasn't enough and my babies were still asleep. I stood up careful not to wake them and left the room.
The guild hall was silent as I made my way to the kitchen ignoring everyone including Mira who stood in the way. I rubbed my eyes trying in vain to get the sleep out of them. I couldn't make sense of the noises that ignited around me it was like everyone forgot how to speak normally.
I proceeded to cook a large deep pot of strawberry pudding rice. I smile to myself it has been so long since I had any strawberries, I take a deep whiff before taking the deep, still hot, pot in my bare hands carrying it to the infirmary where my mate and babies were.
I returned just as Natsu began fidgeting. He must be hungry I thought to myself smiling. I can share but he will probably want something different. I proceed to eat my food next to the bed and he kisses me gently on the forehead before leaving the room. I assume to get himself something to eat.
When he came back he had a huge mountain of meat on a platter and a sack over his shoulders. I lift a single eyebrow in question as he handed me the sack kissing me in the lips this time. I breathe him in not worried and finished my food before opening it.
In the sack I found what I was sure was what was left of the frozen fire from our house. I smile and take one out taking a generous bite chewing happily. 'I love you my husband,' I tell him with my mouth still full. Our purrs so loud they could probably be heard all throughout the guild even if our words could not.
'And I love you my wife' he replied his own mouth full of meat. He offered me a chicken leg but I declined cleaning my face with a nearby rag and pitcher of water. I sigh out content with my meal.
I go over to the bed just as my babies start to wake and begin feeding them my shirt again removed for the process. Natsu took up his post again entertaining them, burping them and rocking them to sleep. "I love you," I say this time out loud.
"I love you too," came his reply and we wrapped our arms around each other again our babies safely between us as we fell back asleep.
Natsu's POV
This time when we woke up there was people in the room. Gray, Juvia, Levy and Gajeel to be exact. I groan, "Go away," I tell them and watch as Gajeel and Juvia fight the urge to leave the room. The King's commands can still be disobeyed where the Queen's could not. I groan again, "What do you want?" I sit up and reach an arm protectively over my mate and babies.
"It's time for you to wake up flame brain," came Gray's answer. I just hiss at him.
"How long do you plan to sleep for?" came Levy's curious reply.
"How long have we been asleep?" I ask.
"Well the other eggs are about to hatch we have another five babies to welcome into the world and the first three seem to only sleep with their parents." was her answer.
I groan, "Dragon babies tend to sleep and eat for the first year of life, while the parents tend to sleep with them unless something interferes." I glare at them realising for the first time that the Master was in the room with us.
"So you plan to sleep for the remaining year?" Gramps asked me.
"How long have we been asleep?" I ask again yawning as I stretched.
"It's been four months since your babies hatched," Master replied, he froze everyone going silent as Lucy began to stir waking up.
I smile and send her the conversation I just had so she was up to date with us. "Four months huh?" she yawned stretching out and standing up. "That's not so bad, right Natsu?" I shake my head and help her get comfortable as the babies wake up. She pulled her shirt off over her head ignoring the three men in the room as she picked up Nashi and Luke and began feeding them.
Gray, Gajeel and Master all just ignore it, they didn't even flinch when she pulled her shirt off. Realizing it was a normal part of life to feed your babies I calmed back down again. Why did I get so protective just now? I shook my head and took Luna playing with her as she waited her turn. We had been taking turns with whom was fed first so it wasn't always Luna who was last.
"I think it is probably time for us to get up though," Lucy spoke as if there hadn't been an interruption at all.
"Oh?" I raise an eyebrow at her in question.
"Yeah, I want to see them as they grow not just sleep with them. The thought of missing their first year is terrible," I nod my head slowly as she spoke. Luna pulling on my hair getting impatient to be fed.
"I guess that's true and we still have Sting, Rogue, Yukino and Kagura to think about," I point out.
"What about them?" came Master's question.
Lucy and I ignore him and continue as if no one was there. "Your right, we have left them waiting four months already," Lucy sighed as she handed me Luke who finished first this time.
With Luna firmly latched onto my mate and Luke settled down to sleep again I continue, "I wonder if they are close? We could get them finished up quickly and when the first round is done we will be awake again, but I'm afraid you will need to hibernate between now and then," I give Lucy a sad smile as I burped Nashi and began rocking her to sleep.
She smiled back at me, "I know, but we did agree to help them."
"What is going on with the new members of Fairy Tail!?!" Master all but yelled at us.
"They joined the guild?" I ask him ignoring his question. Lucy seemed curious as well.
"They kind of merged Sabertooth with Fairy Tail saying that they needed to be close to their Queen and King," Gajeel supplied for us. "And Kagura left Mermaid's Heel to join us around the same time."
I nod in agreement, "That's good, I hope you two are doing okay with the babies so close to hatching?" I ask him as I cradled Nashi in my arms.
He nodded in response a small grin on his face, "I can feel them getting stronger everyday."
"Sure you do, your not the one getting iron rods stabbed into your ribs," I hear Levy complain. I raise an eyebrow at them and look at Lucy.
"Why don't you just turn off the pain then you could relax a little?" Lucy asked her concern evident in her face.
"Wait I can do that?" Levy squealed in excitement.
"Yeah, all natural dragon slayers should know that. And Master knows it as well you should have at least asked," I tell her eyeing Gajeel.
"I didn't know," he defended holding his hands up in surrender before Levy could beat him. Lucy then showed Levy how to do it and we asked if the other ladies were doing okay.
"They came to me when they needed help or were uncomfortable," Master eyed both Gajeel and Levy as he said this. "Now can you tell me what's going on with the former Sabertooth members?"
"Huh? Oh sorry that is dragon business only and personal so I would rather not." I tell him with a grin on my face. "No hard feelings?"
Master nodded, "Well they are all in the guild hall now do you want them sent in?" I look at Lucy as she put her shirt back on and yawned a little.
"Yes please, better hurry this all up or it will take forever," I nod agreeing with her. Our friends leave the room and I snuggle into Lucy as I hold her tight. My kisses grazing along her mark. I could feel through our minds that now the sensation just caused a sense of love or togetherness. Not the original white hot lust, I'm sure I'll miss it but for now I ease into it like a dream.
I cuddle my mate closer to me and kiss along her neck. The four mages walk in holding hands with their partners. Sting and Rogue displaying their marks happily although only another dragon slayers could see them as they all but cuddled as they did and Yukino and Kagura just stand near each other awkwardly as they tried not to watch.
"Are you ready?" Lucy asked them.
"Are you well enough to do this?" Yukino asked worried. I grin at this happy she is concerned for my mate.
"Yes, hibernating is a normal dragon instinct." Lucy replied giggling as I feathered more kisses down her mark.
Kagura stepped forward, "If you are ready then yes I am ready." Her back was straight and she stood tall. I watched as Lucy motioned for her, Sting and Rogue to come forward. I watched as Lucy's body began to glow as she has Sting and Rogue hold onto her arms as she put her hands directly on Kagura's belly under her shirt. I watched as the room lit up so bright that everyone had to close their eyes.
When she was done the light faded until it was gone and Lucy began to breathe heavily even panting a little bit. I held up my hand lighting it on fire so that she could eat a little before we ran to get food.
She slumped against me instead not taking the fire. I start to panic when I realize she is looking at me with lustful eyes. I swallow hard. "It's time for you all to go now," I say my voice harsh and husky as I felt need begin to drive me.
They thanked us and left the room closing the door firmly behind them before I could ravage my queen. Only a couple hours passed before someone knocked on the door. The door opened as Lucy was screaming out my name, "N-Nat-sssuuuuuu!" and quickly shut again. The red stone on the bedside table had been protecting their ears up until then.
After a few more hours had passed I heard another knock on the door. Lucy had fallen asleep a while ago and I had made sure to heal our little love marks before she did.
I walked over to the door and cracked it open, "Are you trying to wake them?" My whisper tone harsh as I see Laxus on the other side of the door.
He rolled his eyes at me and huffed, "Levy and Gajeel's eggs are hatching." He turned around and walked away.
Lucy was by my side instantly, "Let's go, they are safe." She grabbed my hand and dragged me to our friends. Luce and I help them as best as we can and just as Lucy and I had done they named them as they came out of their shells; Gale and Steel. I thought they were strange names but who am I to say?
Gale the little girl was a spitting image of Gajeel only a girl and she had golden eyes; Steel although had red eyes like his father looked too much like his mother with matching blue hair.
We helped them to Master's office to rest and Lucy and I cleaned the infirmary ready to move our own babies home for the first time. Master stopped us and instead had us help carry in three more queen size beds and help set them up.
It dawned on me that Mira and Juvia would not be far behind another month or two but they would be around the same time. What would Fairy Tail do with all their heavy hitters out of commission? I guess that since Sabertooth was now apart of Fairy Tail we had a few more but still. I look to Lucy and send her my thoughts.
Lucy's POV
Natsu's thoughts were concerning to say the least. In fact I realized that our friends wouldn't be able to afford basic supplies due to their hibernation cycles. We could always take them to the Dragon Realm they would be safe there and we wouldn't need to worry about anything happening to the babies while we were there. Many of the slayers had been going there helping to build onto the palace and even set up a small town/market like area just like Magnolia had.
I pull Natsu with me and confront Master with our thoughts. When he heard everything we had to say he rubbed his chin frowning. "It would be okay after the babies hatch to move them all there so they could hibernate in peace but what to do about supplies?" Master continued to frown.
"What if we had some clothes made there like the celestial realm then we should be able to invite guest there too." Natsu asked looking at me. I call out Loki to ask. He didn't have an immediate answer and promised to ask the Celestial King and return. We decided to carry our friends to the infirmary and we learned this is how we were taken as well. Natsu and I made faces but did as we were told sliding them off of the board using the blanket they were on onto a fresh clean bed.
Loki returned as I was checking in on our babies. They were still fast asleep and no where near ready to get up. I tuck them in as Loki spoke. "The Celestial King says that if you make the time lapse there faster then it can be done. But you need to keep in mind that you, the dragon slayers, will not age while you are there. Only the time surrounding the egg shells."
I frown, "So going there after they hatch would be useless?"
"That is correct my Queen. But supplies would be more easily available and crops would grow much faster as well as life stock." Loki answered for me.
I slowly nod, "Well if nothing else it would be a great way to earn a small treasury for the palace." I sigh when I was being raised an heiress I did not think I would actually use these lessons after I ran away to become a mage.
"I love you Luce," Natsu gently wraps his arms around me snuggling into my neck. I already feel the heat rising in me.
"Well I will have to think about it but is the process hard?" I ask him.
"No in fact all you have to do is will it and it will be done. Since you are the Queen the land will bend itself to you." I nod as he spoke and bid him farewell when it was time for him to leave.
Natsu's POV
"What if they just stayed at our house?" I ask her. "We have plenty of room and the babies won't need to move out of the nursery until after they turn three anyway," I point out to Lucy. "It won't be forever but those who are not S class and couldn't save up like we were able to could stay until they get stable again."
I watch as her eyes grow huge and I could practically see them sparkle at the thought. I did good I didn't even have to wait for her to speak before Master patted me on the back and Lucy began squealing in delight at the thought.
Lucy's POV
Time became hard to keep track of as it passed. Between the Dragon Realm having time sped up. We had decided on doing the reverse of the Celestial Realm where one day there was three months on Earthland. One day on Earthland was 3 months in the Dragon Realm. So one day in the Celestial Realm would be 6 months in the Dragon Realm. I tried not to make it any harder than it already was.
Mira and Juvia both wanted to move to the Dragon Realm until it was time for their eggs to hatch meaning in less than a day on Earthland they came back with hatching eggs. But I pointed out that all five babies would then have the same birthday and they quickly changed their minds. Juvia and Gray named their two boys Storm and Tempest; I kind of agree with Natsu about their names being weird although I would never tell them that. Both boys were identical and looked just like their father Gray. Only their eyes matched their mothers much to both parents relief.
Mira and Laxus named their little girl Emma she was a sweet baby looking much more like Mira than her father until she started crying. She is going to be just as stubborn as her father and mother when she grows up. Emma is Master's great granddaughter and yet as much as he doted on her he did so equally with all the others.
The three sets of new parents all settled into the infirmary the two newest ones before passing out not wanting to deal with the motion sickness.
Natsu and I decided too corner Sting, Rogue, Kagura and Yukino. It was decided to give the girls clothes made in the Dragon Realm to see if they could pass safely so as to help quicken the process.
I was still very tired but I could finish this before hibernating again. Natsu fed me some left over frozen fire and the girls were in fact able to enter the Dragon Realm. In the span of what would have been just more than a day on Earthland Kagura laid the dragon slayer's eggs. There was two, one was a sparkly white and the other was a deep pitch black.
They remained there for the remainder of the second day so that Kagura could heal properly before I used my magic to impregnate her using Yukino's DNA just as I had done with Sting's and Rogue's before.
They then had to leave because the extended stay was simply to much for their bodies to handle. Sting and Rogue also decided to go back to Earthland. Because they didn't want their babies to be any more different than the others than they already were. I did however remind them that the babies were actually brothers or sisters by blood, no different than any of the other sets of siblings born naturally.
Both Sting and Rogue hugged Natsu and I like we were childhood friends without the twisted dangerous past that we actually shared. I smiled anyway as I pulled away feigning sleepiness to get away. Natsu and I had set up 'Walls' in the infirmary and I was able to get more red stones having enlisted the mage who created them by turning her into a water dragon slayer.
She was so happy about it she immediately moved to the Dragon Realm to stay setting up a work shop. She had many other magic items that she made with simple titles like her green stone, it turned any area it was in into a warm sunny like day, even in winter the room would be nice and warm. Her yellow stone would attract honey bees and butterflies, which worked amazingly to gather them up and bring them to the Dragon Realm to help pollinate the flowers and other vegetation there.
As well as many other useful items all of which did not seem to have an actual name but was just called what it was. For now though Natsu and I had two and we each kept one on us at all times.
The other dragon slayers slowly came to Natsu and I asking for permission to mate. I had written a single novel like book too help all the new dragon slayers. It detailed the history and customs as well as outlined the need to know processes that came with them. Each new Slayer received a copy and were ordered to study it and keep it in their homes.
I didn't really like bossing people around but the book was to important to let even one of them go without studying it. They also were enchanted so that only a dragon slayer could read it. Almost all the dragon slayers were members of Fairy Tail now that Sabertooth dismantled and joined us.
The entrance to the Dragon Realm was there in the Guild Hall. A door that led no where for a normal person went directly to the Dragon Realm by the palace entrance when a slayer opened it.
Natsu and I hadn't meant to drag Fairy Tail into it. It just kind of happened that working mages joined Fairy Tail. Honestly we had discussed making the Fairy Tail insignia our Crest or Coat of Arms. We had discussed it with Master and he was fine with the idea but insisted that Fairy Tail mages did not have to be dragon slayers to which we agreed.
The days and weeks turned into months and years. Sting and Rogue's eggs hatched and they had beautiful little girls. Yes they were both girls and funny enough they were the opposite of their fathers. Sage who looked almost identical to Rogue had light dragon slayer powers like Sting and Crystal who looked almost identical to Sting had shadow dragon slayer powers like Rogue. Yukino and Kagura had a little boy who was a little to uptight like Kagura but had a heart of gold just like Yukino and an equal balance of their features. It was almost impossible to tell who he looked like more, they named him Jade.
Other mages also settled down like Jellal and Erza they had a little red headed boy with an identical tattoo to his father only in blue instead of red. Yes he was born with it no one put a needle to his skin it is just a little bit weird but considering we are Fairy Tail; which brings up the fact that Jellal did actually join the guild.
The kids all grew into their powers, once a month for one day on Earthland we took them all to the Dragon Realm for additional training and lessons but really we just wanted to spend more time with them as kids. My old ancestor Anna even became another forest dragon slayer so she could teach them.
Nashi turned out to have Fire Dragon Slayer magic, Luke had Sun Dragon Slayer magic and Luna had Celestial Dragon Slayer magic. It really surprised us that they did not all have fire dragon slayer magic but I guess it made sense that they would get a little magic from each of us. Luna was the only one who could summon spirits though she enjoyed their company.
Gale and Steel had Iron Dragon Slayer magic, I guess Levy's solid script magic didn't really effect Gajeel's Iron. While Gray and Juvia twins ended up very different. Storm ended up having Ice Dragon Slayer magic and Tempest had Water Dragon Slayer magic although it was always ice cold. Emma, Mira and Laxus' little girl had Lightening Dragon Slayer magic although her mother's demons seemed to influence her a lot.
The ten little dragon slayers played with each other a lot and Natsu and I to let them grow up, it was just so hard. We would regularly take Nashi, Luke and Luna to the Dragon Realm for 'vacations' on top of the additional training so needless to say they would run away from us to study and train with each other letting them pull ahead of the others. Refusing most fishing trips with their father or learning to cook from me. If I'm honest though Luna probably could cook better than I can.
When our little slayers turned five we decided it was time to have another one praying that we didn't get three again one or two would be just fine. Natsu and I ended up have two; a boy and a girl. We named the boy Igneel and the girl Layla. It just seemed fitting. The other slayers didn't really seem interested in having more kids but Mira and Laxus ended up having another one, a boy they name Alex. Wendy did eventually mate with Romeo and they had two eggs together. They had two girls one a Air Dragon Slayer like their mother, Grace and one a Fire Dragon Slayer, Rose. I guess Romeo's fire magic was to strong not to influence their magic.
A grand total of 14 baby slayers no more were born from us although plenty were born from the other dragon slayers. Earthland once only had 7 dragon slayers and now there was so many that I didn't care to count even though I was their Queen.
When Master was finally ready to retire he actually picked Natsu and I to succeed him much to our surprise. He insisted stating that most of the members were dragon slayers and therefore bound to us anyway. Although he did have us agree not to grant any more dragon slayer powers to anyone unless they were at least S class mages to which we agreed, of course excluding those who mated.
Master or I guess I should call him Gramps now retired and turned into an old dragon slayer moving to the Dragon Realm to enjoy his retirement. He was so old by then that he couldn't really do magic anymore though so we never really figured out what kind he was. He simply fished all day enjoyed his life.
I guess I forgot to mention that Igneel's magic was just like his name's sake, Fire Dragon Slayer while Layla also had Celestial Dragon Slayer magic but she could not summon the spirits like her older sister Luna could.
Natsu and I just sat back watching the now crowded guild hall snuggled into each other arms as the now teenagers fought and horsed around like we used to do. I sigh out content with our lives, I reach over and pull Natsu's chin towards me so that I could kiss him. He deepened the kiss and slowly stood up leading me to our office and the hidden bedroom it contained.
"To think this all started thanks to our accidental mating," I giggle to my mate.
He purred while pulling me closer, "There is nothing accidental about love." He stripped me of my clothes and proceeded to make sweet love to me not bothering to close the secret door behind us. The office door was wired so that if the office door opened while this one was already open it would shut automatically. "I love you," we purred together.
The end!
