"Here's your water Lucy," Mira says politely as she hands over to Lucy a glass filled with water. "Thank you," she replies to the barmaid with a small smile. If Mira noticed she doesn't mention it and for that I'm grateful.
It's almost a week since Lisanna came back from Edolas, and the guild has been all over her, Lucy honestly feels sorry for her. She hasn't gotten the chance to talk to Lisanna yet, but by what she see sees, she seems nice… It's just that Lucy needs the right timing to talk to- "Hey Lucy," Natsu cuts of the blondes' train of thought with his serious tone. The Celestial mage suddenly feels chills in the air, and a small feeling of dread pooling within her gut.
"Hey guys, what do you need all of a sudden?" She asks them curiously. It had been quite some time since she and the Dragon Slayer had talked, the boy would usually spend his time with Lisanna now that she's back.
"Umm, nothing serious much, it's just that when Lisanna was sucked into Edolas, it never gave us four the opportunity to bond as a group. And with her back we were thinking of going on a mission," and with that, Lucy smiled. She was finally going to be able to spend some time with Lisanna.
"Yeah, sure, when do we leave? Have you guys told Lisanna yet?" With her query Gray starts to glare at Natsu. The blonde started to feel chills rising through her arms. The air suddenly seemed thicker, she feels as if she's going to end up regretting the moment she asked that.
"Lucy, I meant that the mission is for the four of us, with Lisanna, not with you," Natsu's blunt words pierced through her heart like a newly forged knife. "It's not like we are replacing you or something, it's just that I want Lisanna a chance with us," And that without you, he finished his sentence with words unspoken.
"Oh…"
Lucy didn't think anyone could be this blunt, or be this harsh. She knew that he didn't mean to be this cruel but with how he is acting right now she feels that she has the right to be hurt.
She couldn't think of anything else. Her chest ached all over. Wow, I am being hurt by the one person who told me that I wouldn't be hurt again. How fucking ironic.
She steeled myself and agreed to his words. Natsu's grin when the blonde told him the okay was blinding and she had to force herself to not cry. When was the last time he smiled to me? A week seemed like a long time. I was so lost into my thoughts that I didn't notice he had already left.
He left me.
I feel pathetic. This is so cliché. It is like those rumors that had just started to spread. Those rumors saying with Lisanna around Natsu is going to kick me out of the group. Bullshit. Whoever started saying that is an idiot. Natsu might be dense but he isn't that dense. He cares for his nakama. He might be blunt most of the time but he means no harm. But this hurt…a lot.
"Lucy," the dark haired man started. I couldn't feel anything, I just stared blankly and he continued, "That pink haired idiot is really-" "Gray it's alright," I cut him off. I stared at my boots and I just felt the need to call Virgo so she could dig me a hole for me to hide in.
"No Lucy, it isn't-"
"Let's just say that it is"
"Lucy!" he snapped. I didn't notice that he had moved closer to me, his hands on my shoulders; he looks at me like how an older brother would do to his sister, and I broke down. Gray takes in mind that we were still at the guild and carried me to a secluded place at the back of the guild. "It's okay. You'll be fine. We'll be back before you know it," he comforts me, I could feel his hands behind me; one rubbing circles at my back and the other patting my golden tresses.
I feel so much pain right now.
…
Gray sees Juvia exit the guild and shakes his head. The Water mage must have followed them when she saw Gray carry the crying girl.
The Rain-Woman sighs, knowing that the reason for the golden haired woman's tears is due to a flame headed dragon slayer. She approaches the pair and pats Lucy's hair. "It's alright Lucy," Juvia reassured her. "If it makes you feel better, he hasn't told Lisanna and Erza, so most likely when they don't see you there, those two are going to beat him like a pulp," and with that she burst out giggling at the thought of it.
"Hey Juvia," Lucy greeted the rain woman who was patting her head.
"Hello," Juvia replied meekly.
"Is love-rival okay now?" The question brightened Lucy's features a bit, the knowledge that even though Juvia sees Lucy as her "Love Rival"- though she sees Gray as a brother- she still treats her like a sister. "I'm fine now Juvia thanks for asking," Lucy tells her with a nod. She takes a deep breath and sets her thoughts straight. She was going to fix herself and these weird feelings for the Dragon Slayer.
"I should probably go now; I'm going to need some rest. And maybe I could go on a solo mission," Lucy said as she gets off of Gray, not knowing how she got on his lap, but nonetheless she steels herself.
Gray gives her a concerned look and she shrugs him off, convincing him that she was fine, that a good cry was what she needed. Determination sets within her and she left the pair, waving them goodbye.
She needs some time to herself.
…
As Lucy left, the pair stared at her retreating back, the feeling of dread shadowing over them.
"Juvia is feeling something strange, Gray-sama. Juvia is most worried for Love Rival," the blue haired beauty whispered to the man, anxiety clouding her features. "Yeah, I feel it too, there's going to be big change happening soon," the Ice Make mage mumbled back. Gray grabs Juvia's hand and they both walk into the guild. Whispering back and forth that there's something weird going on.
Only Mira noticed the two walking in together. She looks behind them, wondering where the blonde went. As the pair walks over to her bar, she quickly asks them, "Where's Lucy? Why was she crying? What happened?" the white haired beauty bombarded the pair with questions without giving them some time to explain, "Lucy just went home, Mira," Gray interrupted her interrogation time. As he sat down on one of the barstools in front of Mira, he gestured for Juvia to sit beside him, "Natsu-san made her cry," Juvia whispered to the she-demons ear, aware of the heightened senses of the dragon slayers.
"HE WHAT!" she shouted. The pair was quick to shush her before she exclaimed any more. Both of them had one hand on Mira's mouth to keep her from shouting anymore. "Hush Mira, I don't think Lucy would want the whole world to know that she cried for an idiot," said the raven haired mage, rolling his eyes. As they continued on with their topic, none of them noticed the scarlet haired reequip mage behind Gray.
"Who cried for an idiot?" Erza suddenly said, dropping in on the conversation.
"AHH!" the trio screamed in surprise. Amused by their reaction, she sat on one of the unoccupied barstools beside Juvia and gestured for them to continue with their conversation. "Well? Who cried for an idiot? And who is that idiot that I have to beat up senseless?"
"Natsu" "Natsu-san"
"What did that idiot do?" Erza questioned. It was no question that Lucy was the victim to the Dragon Slayers denseness. However, she was quite stunned to hear that Natsu made Lucy cry, knowing how protective Natsu was for the Blonde and how he promised that with him, she would never draw tears.
The three were hesitant. If she were to know about Natsu's plan before they went on a mission, then she would be more than just furious. "I think it's better to wait till after the mission," Gray said. He turned away from Erza's stare and did his very best to ignore her. Better said than done, the Ice Make mage thinks, when her stare is literally swords piercing through you. The skin at his back started to burn. And he knew that it wasn't due to the temperature in the guildhall.
"What mission?" the Re-Equip mage asked. She furrows her brows, not recalling that the group was taking a mission. Her glare on the boy in front of her hardens with resolve. "Gray."
This time Juvia and Mira were worried for the Ice Make mage, they knew for a fact that if Erza asks you something, you give it to her.
"Umm-" Gray stutters. Sweat was falling from his forehead. What to say, he thought.
"Hey Ice Princess, Erza! Pack up; we're going on a mission!" The salmon haired dragon slayer shouted from where he was staying beside Lisanna. The white haired woman beside him wore a worried face, her eyes quickly scanning for a golden haired mage that seems to be not around.
"Oh…" and with Natsu's statement, everything seems to become clear now.
Erza didn't know what emotions that were coursing through her, whether it is rage, disappointment or worry, she didn't know. Her emotions were everywhere. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to relax. This isn't about her emotions. Right now, she could feel only worry for the blonde. Erza, along with a few others, were aware of the Celestial Mage's feelings for the Dragon Slayer. Well…feelings that not even the blonde were aware of. She knows what it's like to be abandoned. Erza herself was an expert of that feeling.
"C'mon guys! Mission!" Natsu said, screeching from wherever he was. Rolling her eyes at Natsu's eccentric mood, Erza assumed he was near the doors. She hears Gray sigh beside Juvia, "That idiot will get it someday, and I for one, hope that Lucy will be the one to give it to him." The scarlet haired warrior faced her team mate and agreed, along with Juvia and Mirajane, Lucy should be the one to give the punishment that dense slayer deserved.
…
Lucy felt better after her cry at the back of the guild. It had also felt good to have your close friends with you to give you comfort. It's just a pity that Levy wasn't around; she needed her best friend to talk to. Natsu was your best friend too, and look what happened. With that thought, she felt that sinking feeling in her chest again. The familiar feeling of tears prickling at her ducts weakens her resolve and makes her sob softly. "Oh stars, why this is happening, he could have just left without telling me," Lucy whispered to herself as she approaches her homey apartment.
"He didn't have to ask permission that he was going to take a mission without me, he should have just ignored me…"
As Lucy closes her door, she remembers the times that Natsu and Happy were around; they were usually the first ones to be at her apartment. Seeing no salmon haired man, or a blue furred exceed, she gets that sinking feeling again. Loneliness, that's what Lucy is feeling.
Lucy feels numb as she walks over to her bathroom; she turns on the water and waits in silence. "I wish I never complained so much, maybe that's why they don't talk to me anymore." And in silence, Lucy contemplates. She needs time to herself, by herself.
Quite pathetic really. Allowing herself to sink so low. She shouldn't feel bothered if Natsu wanted his space, even the closest of friends needed space from each other. She should woman up and move on.
"I don't need this, I can't keep whining to myself and to others about my situation," she contemplates, "I'm going to have to take some time off…from everything," the mage decided. As she thought more on what she was going to do, the stars above her have come upon an agreement that would change her and everything she knows.
…
"What are we going to do? We can't just take her away for this," the lion argued. As the Leader of the Twelve Zodiacs and one of the contracted spirits of his princess, he felt the need to consider her feelings on their current debate.
This is quite unfair on the unsuspecting Celestial Mage. She was one of the last born with the ability to summon the spirits from the Celestial Realm, the ability having been passed on from one of her Greatest Grandmother, Anna. Most Celestial mages in this generation had studied the art of summoning celestial beings.
"We should make her choose, knowing that brat, she's going to give her all if it were to help the people she cares about," Aquarius was quite adamant that her Celestial Wizard be given a choice. If she were to be forced upon, the whole thing would backfire and everything will fall into the hands of darkness. If Lucy should ever be corrupted with the darkness, then all of EarthLand be damned.
"Ah, but my oldest friends, she is of Anna Heartfilia's blood, it is written in the stars that she and her companions will shine light from within the darkness…" the Celestial King added, "For she is one with the stars, and she will not be alone-yes?" and with that, the argument was nulled. The King has made his choice, and it's up to Lucy and her Fairy Tail family to side along with the light. But of course, it is without a question to what side Fairy Tail will be on; after all, Fairies shine light to those in the dark.
Things are changing, and Fairy Tail is caught within the crossroads. Lucy, however, decides to become independent and goes on to wherever life may take her. But just where can it? And what can she unlick within herself as she goes?