The Salamander's Sister

Chapter 108: A Celebration To Remember!

Natsume's pov

I was nervous to say the least about going to the Celestial world, I had never been there but I assumed that it would be very interesting. Chase looked very excited and I had to guess that he was excited, because he would be able to see celestial spirits for the first time. We didn't take long to get to the Celestial World either, Virgo managed to take all of us that were going. When we got there, I couldn't believe how everything looked. That's when I noticed that we were standing in front of a giant archway, it looked so pretty and very fancy. "Wow, this is not what I pictured the Celestial World to look like at all." Satoru said, his eyes flitting everywhere. "Guys, our clothes!" I looked down, finally taking notice that all of our outfits had changed. I was now wearing a sleeveless, strapless blue shirt and a short white leather jacket, my stomach was showing as the shirt and the jacket were crop tops. Along with this new blue crop top, I was wearing a matching skirt with white undertones, it was short and reminded me of the same style as some of Lucy's outfits. "Wow, Natsume.. You look hot." Kosuke said, as I noticed his outfit. I blushed lightly hearing that compliment come out of Kosuke's mouth, "Thank you, Kosuke. You don't look too bad yourself." I looked around the group, noting that everyone's outfits were unique to their body type. When I looked at Gray, I couldn't stop oogling over my boyfriend's outfit. He looked really good and his abs were showing as the shirt wasn't too long, "Wow, Natsume. I, for once, agree with Kosuke. You look hot in that outfit." I blushed darker at Gray's words, "Well, I can say the same for you, Gray. You look really good in that outfit." I complimented, "Thank you," Gray pulled me into him, his arms wrapped around my waist.

"Hey, don't get touchy with her like that droopy eyes!" Natsu shouted, Gray only ignored him.

"Natsume, you look beautiful." Satoru blushed, "Thank you, Satoru. You look handsome." His blush only deepened as he rubbed the back of his head and smiled at me, "T-Thanks, Natsume." He stammered, "Why are you flirting with my girlfriend?" Gray stared at Satoru with an intimidating look on his face, his eyes silently threatening to kill him if he said the wrong thing. "No, I wasn't flirting- I just wanted to compliment Natsume." He waved his hand nervously, "Gray, stop flustering him like that. He was only complimenting me. Jeez." I slapped Gray's chest, "Fine. But he shouldn't be so flustered to even say a compliment to you." Gray retorted, Satoru only looked away and struck up a conversation with Juvia. "Welcome, Lucy and Lucy's friends." I stared up at the Celestial Spirit King in awe, he was so tall. "Whoa!" Satoru and Kosuke shouted, looking up at the Celestial Spirit King. "Who is that? And why is he so huge?" Ezra looked over at Lucy, "He's the Celestial Spirit King." Chase spoke up, the look in his eyes were nothing short of awe and wonder. "That's the Celestial Spirit King?!! He's freaking huge!!" Kosuke shouted, I smacked him over the back of the head for saying such negative things while in front of someone of high importance. "Ow, what was that for?!" Kosuke held the back of his head, glaring at me with angry eyes. "You can't say such negative and rude things to someone you just met!!" I snapped, he crossed back slightly and rubbed his head, turning his face away from me.

"What is the crisis that Virgo mentioned? Is something the matter?" Lucy stepped forward, instead of answering her question the Celestial Spirit King chuckled. "No, Lucy. There is nothing wrong here. Everything is going well in fact. We just wanted to welcome you all back from your seven year sleep. With that, I say let the party begin." Everyone stood dumbfounded, not even Lucy, the Celestial Mage of our group anticipated something like this. I let out a chuckle in disbelief, shaking my head as the Celestial Spirits welcomed all of us. "The crisis was all a ruse to give us an excuse to summon all of you to the Celestial Spirit World. It's not everyday that something like this can happen. It was a once in a lifetime chance to bring you all here." With that, we all joined in on the festivities.

"Leo!!!" I practically screamed when I saw the ginger, he immediately turned around and smiled when he saw Wendy, Gray and I standing together. "Hey, Natsume. It's been a while since I last saw you." He greeted me as I pulled him into a hug, "Yeah, it's been too long. I miss your witty comebacks, my friend." I said, smiling as I pulled back from him. While the four of us struck up a conversation I noticed that Juvia is approached by Aquarius, who begins to belittle her for not having a boyfriend. I shook my head in amusement, watching their interaction. Happy, Lucky and Carla are approached by Plue and numerous other Nicola Spirits and to be honest, it was the cutest thing I had ever seen. At this point, I noticed that Satomi was standing with one of the other Celestial Spirits. Chase and Satoru were striking up a conversation with Scorpio, I was surprised that he was even here. According to Natsu and Gray, Scorpio and Aquarius were always leaving Lucy in the middle of a battle when she needed them the most. The last time it happened was when they were fighting on Tenrou Island, I never understood why they thought that leaving Lucy high and dry in the middle of a battle was okay with them. I guess they just had a feeling that she would be okay and that she would do just fine without them. Erza was being admired by Taurus for her beautiful body, I honestly don't know how she was putting up with Taurus and his comments. I looked away from them, my eyes roaming around the place and that's when I saw the full table of food. Gray and I headed over to it, sitting with Natsu and started eating.

"This is really good food. What is it?" Natsu asked, "Crab pescatora with stardust butter." Cancer said, "And that's lamb steak with Hamal sauce!" Aries smiled, I stopped eating along with Natsu when both Aries and Cancer told us that we were eating crab and lamb dishes in front of both Celestial Spirits who represent animals. "Now, I don't wanna even eat anymore." I pushed my plate away, "I'll eat it." Gray took my plate, finishing off my dish much to the dismay of Natsu and I. "How can you eat that?!" Natsu cried tears, I patted Natsu on the shoulder for comfort. Lyra began to play her harp and started singing, while we bonded with the other Celestial Spirits. Aries was a complete sweetheart and I could tell that she and Leo might have feelings for one another.

"I can see you, old friend,
You're right there,
Old friend, I swear to you,
that our bond will never break.
As you travel across the never-ending wasteland,
You fight back tears and,
move toward tomorrow.
I'm your star, though.
So I'll shine brightly for you,
I'm your song, though.
So show me a smile."

"Thank you..." Lucy got all emotional and I didn't blame her, this was the first time that everyone was having a genuinely happy time after they got back from Tenrou Island. I know that it was tough for them, Natsu doesn't talk about it much and neither does Gray or Erza. "I... love you all!" Lucy cried, "Aww, Lucy. We love you too." I hugged Lucy tightly, the two of us feeling genuinely happy. "Mm. I've never eaten such tasty food!" Gray patted his stomach, he looked so happy and I couldn't help but fawn over it. He is just too cute, "You ate it?! You actually ate it?!" Natsu cried in disbelief, "I didn't think he wouldn't. It was good food though it was crab and lamb, Natsu." Gray, Lucy and I sat on some soft cushions on the floor, we were surrounded by some of the Nicola spirits, one was sitting directly in my lap and I couldn't help but fawn over how cute they really were.

"I wonder which is my Plue." Lucy said, "That's only natural. They all look almost exactly the same." Gray said, "I know. They all are so cute.." I smiled as two Nicola spirits played in front of Lucy and I, "Though you may be an old friend, you are the first I have invited here." The Celestial Spirit King said to Lucy, I was shocked with the fact that we were the first to be here. "Guess that shows how much he acknowledges you!" Gray reached over and ruffled Lucy's hair, "Hey!" I chuckled at her reaction, "You know, this place is really pretty." Lucy said, I sat in between Lucy and Gray as we just enjoyed how beautiful and amazing the Celestial Spirit World looked. "Yeah, it is." I agreed, "I think it's amazing how all the Celestial Spirits who live here get along with one another." I held up one of the Nicola in my hands, smiling and cooing at it. I placed it back down onto the cushion that I was sitting on, watching the Nicola run off and trip right in front of Chase. He let out a small chuckle, picking the Nicola up, who seemed to really like him. I watched him laugh as the Nicola cuddled up to him, both Satomi and Satoru also being bombarded with some of the other Nicola spirits.

"It's really peaceful here." Gray spoke, Lucy and I looked over at him and I nearly had a heart attack. Gray was literally surrounded by the Nicola spirits and they seemed to really love him, most of them were crawling all over him. Gray had this look of just pure joy and happiness on his face, something that I don't often see because we are always busy battling something or someone. "Oh my gosh... So cute." I stared at my boyfriend in complete awe, gushing over how well he got along with the Nicola Spirits. "She looks like she's going to explode." Chase commented, noticing the look on my face. He held a Nicola Spirit away from his face, another one crawling up his back. Satomi watched Natsume's reaction, standing beside her brothers as they watched Gray and the Nicola spirits crawl all over him. "Yeah, she's gonna explode from all the cuteness of the Nicola spirits who really love her handsome boyfriend." Satomi said, smiling as she watched her best friend. She had never seen this emotion in her before, it seemed that only Gray was able to get this kind of emotion and reaction out of her. "I don't know how much more of this my heart can take." I let out a squeal and tackled Gray, who didn't see it coming. He fell onto his back, his hands going to my waist as I started peppering kisses all over his face which only made him laugh.

"I wish she would do that to me when she called me cute." Satoru sighed, "At least she called you cute." Chase retorted, "You guys are idiots." Satomi said, looking at her brothers and shook her head. She walked away from them, heading over to Juvia and Aquarius. We were all having fun, Juvia and Satomi were having a great time with some of the other spirits. I think it was a good thing that the Celestial Spirits decided to do this for Lucy, it showed me that I didn't have to worry about her. I could trust them to take care of her if she wasn't with us, they would doll everything they can to help and protect her.