Chapter 1
(Lucy's POV)
The events of Tenrou Island had changed everyone in Fairy Tail. Though the ones that were on the island didn't age the ones that remained with the guild aged and when we returned we could tell. I guess I am getting ahead of myself, and you are probably wondering how we all survived that fateful encounter with acnologia and how we never aged. We had gone to Tenrou Island to have the s-class exams. Cana had succeeded in getting fairy glitter, but a dark guild, known as Grimoire Heart, were after Zeref the mysterious boy some of our members found wandering around the island. The attack had triggered another one from acnologia. In an attempt to spare or lives the first master Mavis sealed us in time barrier for 7 years. When I woke I found Laxus had shielded my body from a blow that was would have been caused by a boulder that now lay in rubble around us. I was shocked and from the look on his face he wasn't shocked but relieved that I was okay. Something inside me stirred and I was happy that Laxus was relieved at my safety, and I had quietly thanked him for it.
After that day things were different and people seen us differently. It took Erza, Mira, Master, and few other members to get Orge off our backs and stop demanding payments that were no longer required. Master made Gildarts the new master and Gildarts reinstated Laxus, but turned the guild back over to third Master. It's been 1 month since our return and now here I sit in the small guild hall that we were forced into, and I would catch Laxus giving me glance or two. After Laxus helped save me from the infinity clock by battling against the reborn Oración Seis, but it had been Natsu that saved me from the deadly fall. A lot of things had changed. Now that we sit here, I don't know what to say to him. I know that this man was someone important to me. Now the grand magic games were upon us and none of use were ready for this to happen. We all knew that we wanted to compete and prove that fairy tail was the best guild around.
"Lucy, are you alright?" Laxus came up to me and asked me with a concerned voice.
"Yeah I am fine, just thinking about things." I replied.
"Care to elaborate?" Laxus asked.
"I'm. To ready for the games. I need to train and team Natsu has decided to go to the beach to train." I replied.
"I don't really see how the last part could get you in such an uproar." Laxus said.
"Well that is just it, I need intense training." I said and looked at Laxus.
"Then why don't you let the Thunder Legion join you." Laxus said with a smile.
"Are you seriously saying that you would come with us and help us train?" I asked.
"I will help you train, I don't know about the others. Maybe my teammates will help them." He replied.
"Why are you only willing to train me?" I asked.
"Simple I like you Lucy, that and you have more potential then what most people give you credit for. As a Celestial Wizard your power knows no bonds. I can't teach you much, but I know that I can show you how to maintain your magic for longer periods of time." Laxus replied.
"You like me?" I asked. Laxus didn't say anything in response just started to walked away.
"I would be happy if you train me." I said and Laxus stopped in his tracks.
"When does team Natsu leave?" He asked.
"We leave today, and if the Thunder Legion is going to join us then you need to buy your own train tickets." Natsu said as he came up to me with Lisanna behind him holding his hand.
"You and Lisanna are together?" Me and Laxus asked at the same time.
"Yes, we just announced it, but I suppose that you weren't paying attention. We aren't just together, we are mates." Natsu said, and everything force.
I was hurt that Natsu would chose to be with Lisanna. In all honesty I thought that maybe he would want to be with me. I turned from him and tried to hold back. H tears. What I would give for someone to whisk me away at this very moment. I knew that Laxus liked, but probably not in that way. I couldn't hold back the tears anymore and they began to flow freely down my face.
"Not here you don't." Laxus said and scooped me up in his arms.
In a flash of lightening we were gone. I opened my eyes to see that we were outside my apartment. I wanted to cry more, but I wanted to be strong. I wanted Laxus to train me, and if I cried more than I already had then I risked losing him as my teacher.
"Thanks Laxus." I said.
"It's written on your face that you loved him." Laxus said simply.
"Yes but him and Lisanna are mates, and I could never come between them." I said to him.
"Pack your things, we need to be ready." Laxus said, changing the subject quickly.
"Yeah, Natsu is wanting to leave ASAP." I said with a grin.
"Alright see you at the train station." Laxus said.
"Thank you." I said, but he never heard me, because in a flash of lightening he was gone.
Typical for Laxus, he wasn't known for his talkative personality or caring for others. It's was just normal for to expect someone to walk her to the station. Normally Natsu would greet me and walk to the train station with me, but now that he had Lisanna he wouldn't have time for me now. I knew that nothing that I did at this point would change his feelings. I walked up the steps and into my apartment. We only had 3 months left until the grand magic games, and as you know we are going to beach of all places to go. I hope that we actually get something done. With the way that team Natsu has been going, we won't get much of anything done. I grabbed the things that I knew that I would need and put them inside my suitcase. I also packed a few nice outfits and some toiletries. With a nod of approval I headed back out my door. Once outside I saw Laxus was standing.
"Oi Blondie, you ready to go." He asked.
"You do realize that you are a blonde to." I said.
"At least it doesn't show with me." He said with a snort.
"Are you trying to say that I am dumb?" I asked.
"I never said that." He yelled, which surprised me.
"Let's go, I don't want to be late again." I huffed.
I walked past him, only for him to stop me and grab my suitcase and overnight bag from me. I was about to question him when he wrapped his arm around me and we disappeared in a flash of lightening and reappeared at the train station. Erza and everyone else but Natsu and Lisanna was shocked to see us together. Natsu and Lisanna looked more curious than ever.
"Are you and Laxus Dating?" Erza asked.
"No, he just stopped by my apartment to help me carry my things." I replied.
"That is is twice now that he has teleported you. He doesn't do that for just anyone." Natsu said.
"Natsu he just being a good friend, that's all that he is doing." I said.
"That's what you say, but he is going to want more." Natsu said, slightly irate.
"Natsu we are not dating and don't plan to either." I said, and Laxus Grunted at my response.
"Lucy just be careful around Laxus, he is a dangerous person." Erza said.
"I am not that bad anymore you know." Laxus said in an aggravated tone.
"Yes, but you are still womanizer." Erza shot back.
"Whatever." He grumbled and walked onto the train.
"Guys you could be a little nicer to him." I said.
"We are just looking out for you." Gray said.
"I know, but I doubt Laxus is after anything other than a friendship." I said, and saw the Thunder Legion approach. They nodded and then got on the train.
"So I guess they will be joining us as well?" Wendy asked.
"Yes he insisted that they would join us." I replied.
"Great, just what we need." Natsu grumbled.
"Love rival will be occupied with Gray so I don't have to worry about her stealing Gray." Juvia said from behind Gray.
"I'm not a love rival Juvia, you have nothing to worry about." I said.
A look crossed her face that I hadn't seen before, but I shrugged it off. I stepped onto the train and walked into the closet open compartment. I wasn't sure where Laxus had disappeared to, but I am sure that he wasn't far off. I am not sure what he did while he was excommunicated, but it certainly did change him for the better, that's for sure.
"Lucy, have you thought about how you were going to train when we get to the beach?" Erza asked.
"Actually Laxus was going to help me learn how to control my power for longer periods of times without getting drained right away." I replied.
"What, Laxus is going to train you?" They all yelled together.
"Yes, but he said that it was only me that he was going to train and no one else." I replied.
"Are you sure that there is nothing going on between you and Laxus?" Wendy asked.
"I think I would know if Laxus and myself were involved." I said.
"I just thought that since he was beginning so nice to you and all, that the two of you were together." Wendy said shyly.
"No Laxus doesn't like me that way, we are just friends and he just do what any friend would do by helping me get stronger. Besides I still ain't over my first heartbreak." I said.
"First heartbreak?" Natsu questioned.
"Noting to worry about, I promise." I replied.
"If you say so." Natsu huffed.
After that everyone went quiet and just enjoyed the ride. Natsu laid his head on Lisanna's lap, which hurt. In many ways I still longed to be with Natsu, but that would never happen. I wanted to say something to Natsu, but Lisanna might get angry. I knew that he had feelings for her, even if he did deny them. They grew up together and it was only a matter of time, after her return, that they would end up together. I sighed and leaned my head against the chair and feel asleep.
(Laxus's POV)
What is wrong with me lately. I seem to want to be closer to Lucy, but I don't like her. I saved her on Tenrou because I didn't want her die, because I was sure that Natsu would be devastated. After learning that him and Lisanna were together I was beyond shocked, because I was sure that he was into Lucy. I made a mental note in my head to go talk to master before the games began. Maybe he would know what was up. I sighed and this caught the attention of my teammates.
"Is everything alright Laxus?" Freed asked.
"Yeah, I guess that I was just thinking about Blondie, but I am not really sure why though." I replied.
"You haven't developed feelings for her have you?" Evergreen asked in a kind voice.
"No it is nothing like that." I replied.
"It is just that we have noticed you watching her a lot lately." Evergreen stated
"I haven't been watching her, I have merely observed so that I can help her train." I stated.
"So you have intended to train her from the beginning?" Bickslow asked.
"Yes I had every intention of training her. She has the potential to be great she just need some help. Her team is all to happy to help save her, but they are not willing to train her and make her a better person." I said.
"Yes that is true, but 3 months of training won't be enough." Bickslow stated.
"I know that. I plan to train her even after the games. She needs that much so that she can defend herself." I said.
"Normally you wouldn't want to train anyone." Freed laughed.
"I am honestly tired of her always needing to be saved." I said.
"Now that sounds more like you Laxus." Evergreen said with a Laugh.
"No matter tough, I will start with building her magic power reserves, and ways to control it for longer periods of time. She seems to run of out of magic at the worst times in a fight." I said.
"That is to true." They all said at the same time.
We fell back into a comfortable silence that didn't brother any of us. I looked out the window and wished that I was off this train already. I didn't show it like the other dragon slayers but I did get motion sickness. Wendy seemed to be the only one that didn't get sick from it. I saw that the ocean was coming into view which meant that I could finally get of this awful train.
(Lucy's POV)
The train screeched to a halt, and I looked out the window and could see the beach off in the distance. Natsu happily dragged Lisanna off the train and I ended up beginning the last one to exit the train. I looked to my left and saw that Laxus was waiting and he had my luggage.
"You ready to go blonde?" He asked.
"As ready as I will ever be." I replied and we began walking.
"We will start off with the basics and go from there. I will teach you to build your magic power reserves and then I will teach you how to make your magic last for longer periods of time." He said.
"Can we really get that done in 3 months?" I asked.
"No, but I intend to keep training you till you are able to accomplish it, then I will train you in hand to hand combat and how use weapons." Laxus responded.
"Why are you helping me?" I asked.
"I am tired of your weak ass always needing rescued. No offense, but your team wants to always save you, they don't want to help you grow your power." Laxus huffed.
"I am not as weak as you think that I am Laxus." I said.
"I won't know that till we start training." Laxus said.
We made our way to the hotel where we were staying. Since it was already late, we decided to start our training in the morning. Once we arrived I collapsed on the bed in my shared room with Wendy and Erza. They were not here yet but then again they may have decided to go ahead and train. Me on the other was fast asleep.