And here is the first chapter of the re-write!
Special thanks to Bloody Amethyst and kurahieiritr JIO for their help in re-writing and plotting this version of the story.
I shall be updating once a week, hopefully. It may take a while to arrive to where we once were, but soon!
No One p.o.v.
Sipping her strawberry smoothie Lucy sat on a barstool, swinging legs between the bars as she observed those who were in the Guild at that moment; many of them were being entertained by Lisanna in one corner of the Guild, basking in the sun shine that beat down on their backs as Lisanna told them stories from the Edolas version of Fairy Tail. The tales were entertaining – and Lucy could not help but chuckle when Lisanna mentioned a particular story about Edo-Natsu crying when Edo-Levy had dragged him from his car. The Guild had been in this state of bliss for a couple of months, and really it did not seem as if it were about to change.
Lucy glanced away from the familiar scene to her glass, and sighed mockingly to herself when she realised it was empty. Lifting a hand, Lucy let it hover in the air as she observed the fond smile of Mirajane. "I'll just leave her be." Lucy twirled the base of her whip in her hand before flicking the whip to the jug to lug it over the counter. It was a startling thing to look up from the liquid to see an irritated Mirajane.
"What are you doing?"
Lucy parted her lips and took a second-long look at the smoothie and then to the jug. "I poured myself another glass of the strawberry smoothie; you looked like you were enjoying Lisanna's stories." Lucy let the smile re-grace her lips, "Would be a shame to pull you away from them, Mira." Though there was callous in the eye-roll that Mirajane gave, they were overshadowed with the smile as the barmaid wondered over to the edge of the bar to listen to the stories once more. Odd. Lucy pondered; I wonder if Mirajane is bi-polar? Well, as long as she still talks to me I don't mind. Unlike most everyone else.
Though, the more Lucy thought about it the less, she decided, it mattered. It was late, and thusly it was time that she left for the quiet abode with a view of the canal. There was a skip in Lucy's step as she moved past the group; all still entranced by their own little world. Laughter filtering into the air because of something Juvia had mumbled; catching Lisanna's eye as she walked Lucy could not help the smile and wink that she left in her wake.
Once out of the doors Lucy laughed into the pulsing late Spring air, the crisp heat weathering her skin as she, with absent motions, plucked a Key from her belt and circled it by her side. The words she spoke tedious and dull against the atmosphere, repetitious but overwhelmingly familiar. "Open. Gate of the Canis Minor." Golden Magic, mirroring only the woman's hair and the sunlight in the dying sky, glistened from the pores on the Mage's arm. "Plue!" A small creature, dressed in white fur with black eyes and orange nose, fizzed into being. "Hey Plue! Would you like to walk home with me?"
"Puuun pun!" Was the reply given by Plue, as his slightly-too-big head bobbled and his arms were balanced at his sides as he began to take the first few steps towards home. Lucy walked behind the creature for a stretch and when they cornered into a cobbled street Lucy hiked herself onto the flood-bank wall by the river. As Lucy walked the path the boats-men waved to her, calling friendly warnings across the water – Lucy never failed to wave back with a laugh on her cheeks, assuring them that she would be okay on her journey home. And for Maurice to say hello to the wife and kids for her.
Once the key was seated into the door of the housing complex and the hinges an inch open the Celestial Spirit wobbled up the stairs with Lucy holding one hand a little way back to catch him were he to fall, the Mage's mind distracted by thoughts of how cute he looked crawling up the stairs; one at a time, as that was all his height would allow for. When the door to her apartment crested over the bulk of the stairs Lucy gave small thanks to her little dog and let him close his gate with a wave. Once inside the day caught up to Lucy and she flopped down onto her desk, fingering a few of the coins that rested there before slowly meandering over the uncarpeted floors to her bed with a yawn. Lucy was far too tired to think of a shower and too caught up in self pity, having crushed her pinky toe against the couch.
Small memories drifted with sleep to Lucy, and she could not help but chuckle at the story she had heard only the tail end of as she had entered the Guild that mid-day. It was funny, how everyone in Edolas was so different to the people who lived in Earthland. It was hardly a surprise, if one gave it only a few moments thought. It was a parallel dimension; that would certainly be no fun if everyone was the same there as they were in Earthland. Though, Lucy could only ask herself in passing comment, Are there any other dimensions?
Lisanna p.o.v.
"…And then Juvia kicked him in the face!" I had missed this, I always had. So many new faces to smile with! So many new stories to cry over. Though, what was happening at the bar was a little odd: sister looked angry at the blonde woman who sat there. She was on her own, I realised with a pinch; it was such an odd thing to happen in Fairy Tail. But it could not be so bad; sister smiled again and began listening to me once more. I could only offer a fleeting smile, "Natsu just lay there whimpering saying stuff about her being nicer to Gray."
Juvia leant forward with a frown, "And was Edo-Juvia nicer to Edo-Gray-sama?" My only reply could be a squawk, because that thought was ridiculous. "And why not! She should be thankful for the love of Gray-sama!" There were sounds of laughter from all around as people took in the sight of a paling Gray with a groan in his throat. As this happened I watched the blonde haired girl walk past our group and I caught her chocolate eyes – Lucy! "Why did you all laugh? Juvia was right, no?"
Erza gave a laugh and I could only admire how the armour stretched. "Juvia was, of course, correct." Ah Erza, always so formal. I watched as this version of Lucy walked past the group; she was giggling at everyone as they picked on Juvia, but mainly Gray. And I must admit I could only giggle myself, this relationship was still so strange to me. My eyes did not stray from this version of Lucy and I could only grin when she smiled to me.
I did not know this version of Lucy, but like in Edolas she seemed close to Natsu. I had asked brother about it, and Elfman had told me that she was a part of Team Natsu – that she had in fact been one of the founding members. And that was where I got confused. I had been on missions with Team Natsu and Lucy had never once gone with us, in fact as far as I remember she spent a lot of time on solo missions. A Celestial Mage, I saw that in Edolas and now I could see her with a little... Snowman? Outside the door. A little thing with a huge white head and a cone for a nose. She was talking to it, and it seemed to reply to her. How quaint.
It was as I watched the woman leave did I notice how the sun had dropped in the sky, and could not stifle the yawn that came. "Hey, it's getting late so I think I'll just head back to Fairy Hills." I managed to cover my mouth to hide a second yawn as I walked away from the group with a wave. "Animal Soul: Wings." I felt the Magic swirl around my arms as I stood in the dying light. Flying over the city towards the complex I could not help but lament the ruggedness of life with Edolas' Fairy Tail. As I flung myself through the doors of the complex I paused in the door of the manager's office, "Hello and goodnight Mister Ruchio!" I only listened to a grunt as I tripped down the corridor.
I hovered in the doorway to the rooms I rented with sister. It was a shame that Elfman had to live somewhere else because it would have been so much fun for us to live together akin to the time before. But tomorrow is another day, I though as I stretched over the covers on my bed. "Almost midnight?" There was still some light outside, it really was almost summer. Flipping the pillow to the cooler side I thought about the time drinking and talking and could only wonder if that is where the day went.
No One p.o.v.
The thing that woke Lucy in the morning was a sneeze created by something soft rolling around her nose. Opening her eyes she saw Happy curled on her shoulder, or close to her shoulder. Her bicep, shoulder and chest were covered in blue fur and a tail flicking around the nose. There was a soft breeze brushing over her face, meaning that Happy had crawled through the window. Happy seemed to be the only person on the Team who still acknowledged Lucy; apart from the not-so-official Lisanna, she thought as she closed her eyes against the morning sun. Lucy sighed in contentment as she felt it pool onto her features as the wind ruffled through her hair. The pale hand strayed to languidly pet the cat in a practised motion.
"Good Morning, Lucy!" Happy purred as he woke from slumber to flop himself onto his stomach to perch his face on his front paws, feet and tail flicking behind him. "I wanted to talk with you, but you left last night." Rubbing his nose Happy bobbed his head in thought. "But now I can't remember." In a sudden flurry of motion Happy was zipping around the room on his feathered wings, looping around the light fixtures. "Do you have any fish for your favourite Exceed?"
Stretching her arms above her head with a satisfying 'pop' Lucy dragged her legs to a standing position. "Go play with the lacrima vision, I'm having a shower first." There was a loud 'thank you' thrown towards her before Happy collapsed onto a seat and she entered the bathroom. Stripping, Lucy turned on the water and fiddled with the dials. Letting the water fall over her back for a few minutes to get rid of the scent of sweat she began to plan the finances. "I'll be out soon Happy!" Lucy threw on the clothes she had managed to pull from the drawers and then left the room to see a groaning Happy who clutched his stomach. "Do you want the fish cooked? Really?"
Pulling a large salmon, purchased for the Exceed, from the larder Lucy dangled it by the fins. "You're right!" Happy sped past and gripped the fish between his paws and jaws. "Iw'd lwke it rahw." Happy swallowed half the fish in one gulp with a content look to his face as he continued to maul the flesh. Throwing a match onto the stacked fire Lucy watched the small flames lick up the wood as they sprung into life. As she did so her fingers massaged butter into the base of a frying pan before letting it bubble on the flames. Next came the sugar, and the pre-mixed pancake batter from the larder. "What's that Lushy?"
"Pancakes." Lucy flipped the bubbling batter, and breathed in the smell of crystallising sugar. "With caramel!" The batter made four pancakes in total, all stacked happily on a plate. "I think with lemon juice." Lemon zest gave a pleasing sizzling sound as it hit the still molten sugar tops.
"Can I have one?" Happy was jumping up and down on the table, his pouch flailing about wildly at his back. "Please? Please? Please? Pretty, pretty please?" A finger to the lips was all it took to shush him, and he nodded with a whispered 'Aye miss!' The Exceed stared at the pile of pancakes and a manically grin flushed from his face when Lucy set one onto a place at his feet. "Thank you, Lushy!"
"You can have another when that one is done." What a strong stomached Exceed, to eat so much in the morning. Though, Lucy herself managed to fit half on one into her mouth. "Nothing like fresh pancakes the morning of a mission!" Because one surely would not get such food while out. Happy seemed to frown at me, his mouth overflowing with the food. "What's up happy?" Lucy did not stop eating as she asked the question, why he seemed upset with the truth; Lucy would be leaving for another mission. She supposed she did not yet know which she would take, but she would take one none the less.
The Exceed pouted about the food, "Can I go too?" And suddenly there were no more pancakes on his plate. "Missions ain't not fun without you, Lushy!" There was a loud cry as Happy dove forward into Lucy's chest, "Please let me come!" Lucy gave a fond laugh and stroked the cat's ears as she nodded. "Good!"
Lucy gave a short bark of laughter as Happy disappeared with a grin, and appeared seconds later with a large plastic sack – filled with fish. "I have everything I need."
"Then let's go." Lucy giggled as she shouldered the pre-packed back from the door side – it was really just a Celestial bag, meaning that she could take anything from her home that she could ever possibly want. Talk about packing light. "Hey Happy, you want pick the mission?" Happy's eyes lit up, and Lucy could only remember with a small smile that Natsu never let anyone pick the missions. "But not too hard, there are only the two of us."
"Aye miss!" Happy called from his perch on her shoulder, and as he hummed about the fish in his sack Lucy tried not to gag on the stench. As they entered the Guild there was dust settling in the air – meaning that everyone had had a late night. Happy left with his foodstuffs to pursue something from the request board and Lucy walked through the Guild benches to the bar where the Strauss siblings were sitting.
"Heya Mira! Elfman! Lisanna!" Lucy let her legs collapse as she sat in the seat next to Elfman and unenergetic greetings echoed back to her. It was fairly early in the morning, so it was only that group of four, Gajeel and the Raijinshuu with their esteemed leader. "How y'all doing?" Lucy watched as a frown formed on Lisanna's face and chuckled, "Silly me. Hey there, I'm Lucy Heartphilia." Reaching her hand across Elfman, Lucy gave her fingers a little wave.
Lisanna smiled as she grasped the hand in front of her, "Heyo Lucy, I'm Lisanna Strauss." Lisanna's siblings smiled as the two of them interacted, "I don't think we've talked before. I'm an Animal Take-Over Mage, a bit like my brother and sister." Lisanna leaned further onto the counter to look at Lucy; her wide blue eyes so innocent. "What Magic do you use?"
Lucy gave a wink to Mirajane as she passed Lucy her morning smoothie, "I'm a Celestial Mage." The Keys on Lucy's belt seemed to rise at their name. Lucy gave a small smile to Mirajane as she tasted the subtle flavour of the apples Mirajane had added to the drink. "Sorry 'bout yesterday Mira, I know you like to control the bar." She said nothing, but Lucy could see the small redness to her cheeks.
"Oh it's just..." There was a pause in her speech and Lisanna seemed to evaluate Lucy in her motions. "Are you sure? It's just I..." Glancing into her glass Lucy laughed breathily when Elfman hit Lisanna's shoulder in a sort of reparation. "Brother! Why'd you do that?" Lisanna groaned as she rubbed the reddened spot on her skin.
"'Tisn't Manly to ask someone if they know what their Magic is!" Elfman gave a slap to the table and a long look to the glass that sat in front of Lucy and then to the small porcelain cup that sat at his fingers. "Neither is coffee. Coffee isn't Manly!" Pushing the cup to the point it would tip if Mirajane did not catch it Elfman barked his order for her loudly, to everyone's annoyance. "Give me some smoothie like Lucy's! Strawberries are Manly." Although his older sister gave him a withering look Elfman proudly kept his head high.
"It's okay, Elfman. Lisanna is right." Lucy waved her hand slowly at Lisanna, who looked ready to apologise. "I am a Celestial Mage primarily but I do have the ability to use water Magic." Smiling, Lucy stuck her finger into the mulched fruit. "It's not very strong, though," Lucy watched as Happy gave a shout from the board and ripped a piece of paper from the cork base. "It works well enough when I need it. But please," Zipping her lip Lucy looked Mirajane in the eye and the woman gave a hesitant nod. "Don't let anyone know."
When Happy finally managed to get to the counter, because he was lugging the fish behind him, he shoved a piece of paper into Lucy's face. "I found one Lushy!"
Help wanted – from Udnia.
This request requires a Mage to care for my store, Audis Magic, for three days,
As I am out of town. There has been a spate of burglaries in Udnia - in particular at
stores that specialise in Magic equipment.
Mission begins: June 18th.
Mission ends: June 21st.
Location: Audis Magic, Udina, Fiore
Report to: Wilhem Audis
Reward: 200,000Jewels and one Animatic Key.
"Animatic," Lucy let the word hang in the air, tangibly excited. "Does he mean Arbol-hru? The planets." Looking up at Happy, Lucy gave a grin that showed the pointed tips of a few of her teeth. "Oh hell yeah." Turning to Mirajane, Lucy leaned across the counter after straightening her back. "Mira, me and Happy are going on this one." Animatic Keys were rare, more like a story. There were only several of them – or so the story went.
Reading over the request Mirajane nodded her head, "Alright. It isn't too difficult so Happy should be okay." Mirajane disappeared around the kitchen with a shout over her shoulder. "I'll call the shop keeper." Lucy finished her smoothie with a happy buzz and managed to beat Elfman in a slurping contest. "It's half a day in train ride away. So we'll see you in a couple days."
"See you then." Spinning herself down from the chair, Lucy managed to walk into Evergreen as she approached the counter. "Ah, sorry Evergreen." As Lucy continued to walk towards the door Evergreen made a sound like 'hmph' at her back. "Bye Strauss'." As Lucy hurried her pace to keep up with the Exceed who was hovering in the door calling for her to hurry. "Bye Gajeel, tell Levy where I am!"
There was a sharp grunt as Gajeel tore his attention away from the pile of scrap metal on his table, tearing the end off of an old pipe as he regarded the retreating figure of the blonde. "Sure thing, Bunny." Lucy gave a whine as she walked out the door, one that had Gajeel laughing for a few minutes. He really would never stop calling her that, because it was just so amusing.
Once Lucy had left the Guild Lisanna turned to her siblings and frowned, "I thought Lucy was on Team Natsu?"
For the anon on the last version and anyone who was curious:
Guest: I haven't read all of the chapters, because it bothered me so much. Why is Mary-Lou/Geni such a Mary Sue? Was it your intention? I absolutely hate the almighty OC that's in so many fics.
Me: Now I know whoever you are that you probably won't get to read this but for any of the rest of you who wonder, it was part of my intention. Perhaps the way in which I went about the concept was not ideal, but I am not the best writer. The idea behind it was more that she was - is - an idealised character in the eyes of the others - because she is hiding something and does not want any of them to find out about it because her plan is to fool them so completely, to wrap them around her little finger as it were, so that at a time when her actual motivation is revealed they don't hate her for it - attack her as we all know they would to anyone else.
I know the 'almighty OC' is in so many fics and can get annoying; however, the one I created was designed specifically to be a Mary Sue - t'was no accident. She is this girl who appears from nowhere, at the right time and place; an impossibly high level Mage with knowledge beyond her years, becoming a creature very few have the opportunity to become, or even witness - a creature that is immortal for the most part and therefore has access to things she would not have had previously.
She is someone who very deliberately makes herself a person who is trusted by her peers by making it appear that she is not lying to them because she seems to be, up to a point, honest to a fault. Those who know who she 'really' is, are hiding secrets for her already, it would be so easy for her to get them to keep any other secrets; because she has taken their loyalty to an abusive point (subtly and unseen, of course). She is graceful; she is smart; she is powerful in a very humble way and the others don't see her faults because she does not want them to. She forces them to idealise her - now, when I wrote the first few chapters I had no idea where I was going but now I have a better idea I have discovered things about each character in the way I have written them and their intention.
Mary-Lou, or Geni as she is often dubbed, is written as a Mary Sue with intention - and I know my story is not the best, for I am not the best writer. But, most of what is written was written the way it was for a purpose. She is this impossibly idealised character because she has secrets that she wants to keep hidden. It is cringey, yes, I know. But as it is, it is for a reason. I'm sorry that this bothered you.