"Get back here you!" Lucy gave chase, even though her lungs were burning. she had been chasing the short pink haired midget for the past hour. As the burning increased, so did her determination to catch the little fucker.
"Did you honestly think I was going to make this easy for you lass? As sure as my name is Natsu Dragneel, you will never... Umph!" Just as the last words were muttered out of his mouth, Natsu saw black after running right into a low branch and knocking his head backwards on a rock.
Natsu tried prying his eyes open. His head hurt, his body hurt, everything pretty much hurt. a few moments later he was able to successfully open his eyes half way to see that he was in a bedroom, the color of a pastel purple and blue. He assumed there was a fireplace inside the room, because he could smell and hear the firewood, though he couldn't tell exactly where yet. He stared at the ceiling for a few moments to be able to open his eyes a bit more.
Now that his eyes were open, he could see a little better in the room. It did have a fireplace, as well as a white ornate dresser, a closet door (or what he supposed was a closet door) on the far left of the room, a white ornate desk to match the dresser, and the bed also matched in the ornate design. It was a charming little room, but he knew it wasn't his, and that it belonged to his capture.
"I see you've finally awaken. You must be hungry." That couldn't be her. The girl who chased him around the deepest part of the woods, who stood up to all the dangers of that forest. THIS most certainly can not be Her! She had the voice of an angel. If he had to really describe it, it was as smooth as pure honey. The purest honey you can find in the world. And that angel, with her heavenly voice, was staring him down. It was almost as if she could see straight into his soul with those doe like chocolate brown eyes. And if he wasn't mistaken, there were hints of gold within those gorgeous orbs.
"Should I come back in a bit then? Truth be told, I may pass out if you wait any longer. It has been a trying Day." Without waiting for an answer, his angel turned to go, but just before leaving the doorway, she turned and stated "By the way, you can try all you might to leave, but what you may have failed to notice yet, is that you are chained to that bed. I have no intention of letting you go as of yet."
"What is it that you want? The whole pot of gold thing doesn't seem to be you, considering this posh style bedroom."
"Actually, you're quite right. I'm not looking for a pot of gold. I'm looking for the three wishes you grant."
"Listen lass, I ain't a genie. That would be Alladin you're looking for."
Lucy's face turned red. "I know for a fact that you grant three wishes. My mother caught a leprechaun years ago. After she saved his life, he told her that if she needed him again and they saw each other, he would grant her three wishes. And that the leprechaun was special with pink hair...and a fake accent. So cut the Irish crap out, cause you don't look Irish at all to me."
"Ok, since you're so smart, I'll cut the accent. But what makes you so sure that I'm the leprechaun you're looking for?"
Lucy thought about that for a moment. Her mother told her stories about the pink haired leprechaun and how nice he was after she had saved him, but there was something she was supposed to mention. After a moment, she had it. "Does the name Layla the Great mean anything to you?" That certainly got his attention, or so she thought with the way that his eyes shown recognition in them. "Guess that's a yes. Listen, it's pretty simple what I'm looking for. In all honesty, I just want my mother back."
Natsu's eyes went from recognition from hearing the familiar name, to question. "What do you mean you want her back? Did she go somewhere?"
Tears began to swim in Lucy's eyes and Natsu instantly regretted asking such a question. After a moment to recompose herself, Lucy gave him her answer. "She died. A few weeks ago. But she spoke so highly of you. You were the nicest leprechaun she had met and that if I ever got into any trouble, to look for you. She even mentioned that you both spoke about having children and how family was most important to you."
"I'm sorry blondie. First thing's first. I can grant you those three wishes, however, I can't bring back from the afterlife. Mavis knows I wish I could ease your pain on that one. From what I've heard, Layla the Great was a wonderful witch who was kind to all creatures. Which brings me to my next issue. I'm not the leprechaun you were seeking. That would be my father, Igneel Dragneel. He was the one your mother saved. And just like you, I have heard many a story about it and how we leprechauns should seek the good in all. But if we should cross Layla the Great's path, then we should help her in any way we can." Natsu gave this information with great regret and sorrow. However, he told her the truth, for that was in his nature to not lie. Lucy let the information seep into her mind for a few minutes. During his confession, she had moved closer to the bed and sat next to her new found friend/prisoner.
Sigh. "I thought as much. No matter how much I tried to tell myself that no amount of magic could bring her back. Then, as long as you are willing to grant me those wishes, I would be appreciative of what you could do." Lucy looked to him with pleading in her eyes.
"I will do what I can, however, if you are Layla the Great's daughter, you should have magic yourself, am I wrong?"
"I did. My magic was sealed away by my father after my mother's passing. It's been a challenge to be a 'normal' human, but I've survived. You know, the usual, 'true love's first kiss' will break the spell. I ran away from him in search of you to help with that. Some way to break the spell without having to result to living my life alone. It's not easy to just go up to someone and say 'hey, can you kiss me to see if you're my true love?" Lucy gave a small laugh, which resulted in Natsu joining in and both laughing at their predicament.
"So is this the home of your father you ran away from?" Natsu asked. Lucy nodded. "I still have secret doors in and out of this mansion to come and go as I please. Not that my father really has anything to do with me anymore."
For the next several hours, Lucy and Natsu sat talking about nothing and yet everything. They learned that they both have situations where their parents weren't around much, and about each other's lives that they lived every day. Lucy started getting a bit of a crush on her new friend (now that she really looked at him, he was handsome and built for a midget). She kind of felt bad that she wanted him to be a bit taller for her, but hey, he was still nice looking, and she didn't really have any male friends, so she could look and dream, right? At the same time, Natsu was looking at his non-magical friend in a new light. He learned about the hardship of losing her mother and how her father treated her horribly after her death because she looked just like her mother and he didn't want to be reminded. It made Natsu want to protect her from such a person for as long as he could. And if he could get a bit of a thank you by being able to be near the beautiful bombshell of a blonde, who he just learned her name was Lucy, who could blame him?
As the hours drew on, so did the phases of the sky. It was getting dark and the only light around the two was the glow of the fire in the fireplace. "Wow, I can't believe we have been talking this who time. I guess, I should ask for my wishes and let you go. Or how does it work?"
Natsu thought about this. He could take advantage of the situation, since she didn't know that the wishes would only be granted if he were still captive and didn't have a choice. But Natsu actually liked this girl and wanted to gain her trust. "Well, normally I would have to remain your prisoner until all the wishes were granted, but, for you, if you don't know what you want now, I'll return each day to ask what it is you wish."
"Thank you Natsu. You truly are a good person. And I hope, good friend?" Natsu nodded and they shook on it. Lucy unchained Natsu and waited for him to take leave. He said his goodbyes, saying he would return in the morning and ask if she thought of a wish. She bid goodbye and went to bed, dreaming of dragons, witches, leprechauns, and love that couldn't possibly exist.
Ok guys! New short story submission here. I have to thank Wordsaremyspells131 and ShanaHollows for this wonderful idea when I was on some good drugs from the hospital. I have recovered from my surgery, and plan on finishing this and my first story Let's Play A Love Game. As always, I appreciate all of you and love hearing from you in the reviews. Let me know what you think. I think I am bad at one shots, which is why I broke this up a bit. More to come...I already have 3/4's of it written. Muah!