Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy tail but I sure wish I owned Gray…
(A/N: ~Happy Birthday to me~! Haha, so here's the story I've been working on and I've decided to publish it today in form of a treat :D Hope you all like it! PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE THE A/N AT THE END OF THIS CHAPTER!)
Hot or Cold, Night or Day, Good or Bad, Life or Death. The choices you make will deem your worth, choose correctly and the secret of life will reveal itself, choose wrongly and where a secret could have been a blessing, it shall be a curse.
It never made any sense… which choices were she meant to make that would deem her worthy or not? The secret of life… Immortality she thought. What other secret of life exists?
Lucy walked on the edge of the lake like she always did while hearing words of concern from sailors that she encountered every day but instead of replying to their warnings like she usually did, this time she just continued to walk, lost in her memories:
"Lucy Heartfilia… You have been chosen for the test of life – pass it and you shall encounter happiness, fail and sorrow will be your only path. Your life is going to take a turn soon… This turn, is what has brought me here to you." The angelic voice spoke to her from nowhere in particular. Normally in such a situation, Lucy would have panicked but the voice – so soothing like an endless song – kept her ears keen and kept her in a trance with awe evident in her chocolate glazed eyes.
Snapping out of her daze, Lucy began looking in all directions, searching for the owner of a voice so beautiful and despite finding no one she refused to give up.
"Lucy…" The voice spoke to her and Lucy remained still, listening to every word, "Do not try to seek me because your efforts shall be in vain. I am visible only to those who have found the secret of life and you may see me some day too if you succeed in the upcoming turn in events that shall unfold in your life." This time Lucy wasn't in a daze, rather intrigued at what the voice was telling her.
'The secret of life…' Lucy wondered. How glorious would it be to have been able to find it, right?
"So there are others who have been able to discover this secret?" Lucy asked keenly and the voice took a few seconds before replying,
"Yes. Your mother, Lucy, was among those who was very close to finding it but failed woefully. Speaking of which, this is exactly why failing this test would walk you on a path of sorrow."
Lucy was shocked upon hearing her mother's name… So even her mother was chosen? And she failed? What if Lucy failed as well? Would she…?
"What if a person refuses to take the test?" Lucy asked.
"That, my child, is not possible. The test will take place with agreement or refusal." The voice stated and Lucy found herself frowning a bit. Had her mother died because of this quest? She wouldn't let it kill herself too, if that was the case.
"The time has come for me to leave but before I do, there is one last thing you must know, to aid you in your quest: Hot or Cold, Good or Bad, Life or Death. The choices you make will deem your worth, choose correctly and the secret of life will reveal itself, choose wrongly and where a secret could have been a blessing, it shall be a curse." The voice said, fading away as it came to the ending.
(End of flashback!)
Was she chosen because she had a connection with the spirit world? There were just two Celestial mages left in this world – Lucy and Yukino from Saber tooth – and her mother who was supposed to have encountered this test, was a celestial spirit mage as well. Life revolved around the two worlds; the human world and the Celestial Spirit world. Something about this fact she had read before and there was just one place she would be able to find the answer – the guild archives, which was exactly where her feet were taking her so early.
"Lucy?" a masculine voice called to her and she turned her head to face the direction of the voice in acknowledgement, "What are you doing so early in the morning? The sun hasn't even risen as yet" He asked her.
"Um, I had some business at the guild." She replied casually, "What about you? Gray Fullbuster I'm sure, isn't an early riser either"
Gray smirked, "Well… I was thinking of picking a mission and leaving the guild today as soon as possible."
"What's the rush? We just went on a mission day before; we have enough jewels to pay for the next two weeks…" Lucy asked, a bit curious about the ice mage's sudden urge to work despite it not being the S-Class Wizard Competition time. Gray gave her a 'it's-obvious' look and she shrugged indicating she had no idea.
"Someone's returning today" Gray said, rubbing the back of his neck in nervousness as he thought of the blue haired mage who haunted him 24/7 while she had the chance.
"Juvia is a nice person Gray. Why don't you give her a chance?" Lucy suggested. Juvia was a nightmare and even Lucy knew that but being a girl herself, she couldn't help but feel pity on the mage.
"Yeah… Let me give that a thought – NO." He said firmly and Lucy just left it at that.
"So you wanna come with me for a mission? We could secure next month's rent" Gray asked her while nudging her. It was a well-known fact that the monthly rent Lucy paid was considered a very big deal when it came to Lucy and if you were to bribe her into something, that would be the perfect bait.
"Um, Erza isn't back yet…" She said to him.
"Yeah I know. I was thinking just you and me?" He said coolly. She felt herself blushing quite a bit despite trying her best to control it. She knew he had that effect on her but who didn't? He WAS Gray Fullbuster after all. She had heard Mirajane speaking to Lisanna about how Gray was so popular with the girls and not just girls but guys too .Second to Loke of course.
"I don't know. Like I said, I have some business to attend to at the guild so we'll see…" She said, feeling a bit awkward about going on a mission alone with Gray. How would Natsu take that? Naah, he probably never even noticed she was a girl… Lucy had always liked Natsu or maybe it was after the phantom incident that she started liking him so much?
Then something clicked to her, 'should I tell Gray about that voice and what it told me? Would it be okay? I know I can trust him…'
"Gray?"
"Hm?"
"I…um – yesterday," She began and he stared at her curiously wondering what she was having such a hard time saying when he spotted a book and pulled it out of her bag thinking it was her diary.
"Interesting… I thought girls NEVER take their diaries out with them in fear of letting out their secrets. Mind if I…?" He teased and Lucy's eyes flapped thrice before she caught what he was saying and the moment she did, she began wrestling with him to get the book back, when it struck her, 'I never did bring my diary along… then, how?' she wondered and stopped struggling for the book.
Gray noticed this and stopped as well, "What's wrong?"
"Gray, I never brought any book with me… I don't know where that came from" she said in a voice that clearly stated 'I'm-lost-in-wonderland'.
"Chill… you must have forgotten that you brought this." He assured her and handed her the book back, not wanting her to worry further. But clearly his gesture wasn't enough because Lucy couldn't help but wonder how the book had ever gotten into her handbag. She slowly opened the book and beam of golden light was emitted, Gray being by her side, saw this and they both looked stunned. What on earth was with this book?
"What in…?" Gray wondered aloud and Lucy who was also having a similar expression, subconsciously answered, "I wonder…"
After the beam of light became dim, they both peered into the book curiously and watched in amazement as one after the other, letters began to form on the first page and it read:
Today shall be the first choice you make, Hot or Cold? Night or Day? The choice may not seem as hard to you but regret it you will if you are not shrewd. The secret you may search everywhere but you won't find it till you make this choice with care. The clue to the secret, you will find only in one place: Where the living and the dead collide, wherein lingers the soul without which you may not have come to be, will you find the first step to the path you must walk to find the next key.
"Hey, what in hell is this all about?" Gray asked her and she took time to explain the story that occurred twenty four hours ago, which Gray listened to with extreme interest.
"The secret of life I'm thinking is a way to achieve immortality…" Lucy stated.
"IMMORTALITY? Lucy do you even know what you're saying?! You have a chance to find the one secret with which you can live a life devoid of the fear of when life decides to take its leave! Every day, every moment, you'll be fearless!"
"But Gray… Like I said, in search for eternal life, it is highly possible to lose the little life that I already have! My mother… she lost it too." Lucy's head faced the ground as she recalled her mother's misfortune. Somewhere she could feel that her mother was never happy even while she was alive; maybe her death was a relief for her, but she somehow felt that this was connected to this secret.
"You should know it by now Lucy; Fairy tail has and never will lose, I've got your back. Let's find this secret together" He said smiling and stopping for her approval which she obviously gave. She knew fairy tail would always protect her, like they had when Phantom had threatened her safety.
"Yeah, I know. I think entrusting you with my life wouldn't be so bad huh?" She joked and he patted her head playfully.
"So, I'm sure you've used your pretty little head and made SOME sense out of these riddles" He enquired and of course, he was right. Twenty four hours of something like this going on in Lucy's mind? Surely she would have been able to solve, even if just a little part of it, given how logical she was.
"The answer to the first question is clear; the secret is about immortality. One more thought I couldn't help but consider is that the reason why I was chosen, would be because I'm a celestial spirit mage and even my mother… So probably that's the reason." She explained.
"Yeah that could be it… So you got any other leads?" He asked
"Um, there's this statement I've read somewhere and I'm sure it's somehow related to the secret – 'Life revolves around the two worlds; the human world and the spirit world'."
"Yeah that does make sense but Lucy, don't you think you should first of all concentrate on the riddles? The first one said that today is the day you make one of the big choices so you just need to be on the lookout for that and choose carefully. Next, where do the living and dead collide? Hospital?"
"Graveyard! That's a simple one… I mean that IS the only place where both the living AND the dead can be present at the same time. But the second part is a bit tricky… a soul without which I wouldn't come to be…"
"Wouldn't that be your parents' soul? Without them you couldn't have existed right?" Gray joked and Lucy gasped.
"GRAY THAT'S RIGHT!" She said excitedly and gave him a tight hug and later pulled away blushing as red as a tomato.
After a few moments of awkward silence, the two finally made their way into the guild and sat themselves on the bar counter. Mirajane of course was already there, all happy and dandy. Maybe coming in together was a bad idea…
"Oh, since when did THIS happen huh Gray?" Mira winked at them both and Lucy being all dense asked in a bewildered manner,
"What do you mean 'THIS'?"
"Well, you and Gray of course" Mira replied cheerfully and this was Gray's turn to blush.
"There is NO 'this'… we just met along the way" Gray explained. But of course the match-making, bartender/demon wouldn't buy that. So our Lucy and Gray just decided to let it go and did what was more important; discuss the clues they had.
-30 minutes later, Fairy Tail Guild, after the discussion-
(Lucy's POV)
I was so glad that Gray was here to help because honestly, figuring all this out would never have been possible without him and of course, he's always been the protective, sweet, not to mention exhibitionist friend and I don't know where to begin about how many times he's saved my obnoxiously large butt! – though Erza, Levy and Mira keep telling me my I've got a great figure, if compared to them, I guess I'm absolute trash!
~sigh~ maybe that's why Natsu never notices me? Butt – sorry! BUT, that's an entirely different story at the moment. So for now, here's what we've been able to figure out:
The secret of life = immortality
The reason I was among the chosen ones = because I'm a celestial Spirit mage (MAYBE)
Where the living and the dead collide = graveyard (Spooky!)
A soul without which I may not come to be = either mama or papa
Yeah, we haven't really got a lot of leads but we HAVE figured where to go to for the first clue! We're going to visit mama and papa's tombstones at the 'Love and Lucy' merchant guild's memorial graveyard. It'll be a long ride from Magnolia but Gray of course is glad that he'll be escaping Juvia for quite some time.
I'm guessing it's mama's tombstone because she seems more relative to this whole secret thingy. Oh great, Natsu just arrived and he wants to go on a mission with me. I'd really like to go on a mission – just me and Natsu but…
-9:45am, Fairy Tail Guild-
"LUCY! I found the PERFECT mission for us to go on! It's totally your type! And the reward too, it's 140,000 jewels; we can share it 50% each and it'll cover up your rent" Natsu said all excited and all as he normally is. I'm like so gonna die now!
"Hey Flame brain, she's already going with ME" Gray replied for me.
"Yeah but now she'll go with ME" Natsu retorted, looking at me expectantly while Gray's giving me this 'let's-go-already' look. Oh no! What am I going to do?! I've been wanting to go on a mission with just Natsu but then, what about Gray?! I already said I was going with him and he even supported me through all this mad stuff that's been happening with me! What would he think if I just decide to abandon him and go along with Natsu?
I wish the floor would just open up right now and swallow me! Just then, that voice! It came back! Only that it wasn't exactly there… it was like the words we had read in the diary were just echoing, well, a part of them at least, 'Today shall be the first choice you make, Hot or Cold? Night or Day? The choice may not seem as hard to you but regret it you will if you are not shrewd"
Natsu just shoved the flyer of the mission in my hand and right now, I'm just reading it and here's what it says:
Two children gone missing from Love and Lucky Guild. Please report to Tsumiki-san URGENTLY! Reward: 140,000 jewels.
Love and Lucky Guild? Who am I kidding! This is PERFECT! If I go with Natsu then I get to go on a mission with him ALONE and also, I get to find the clue to this secret of life as well! And if I go with Gray, then I miss out on the solo mission with Natsu… So then the choice is pretty simple huh?
"Um, Gray… I –"
"Don't sweat it… I'll just go on a solo. You guys carry on" He interrupted and I could tell from his voice, he was disappointed. I felt soooo terrible! I'm a HORRIBLE person! I should rot in hell fire! But I'll make it up to him somehow.
"Ok then! Let's GO!" Natsu said all cheerfully. I nodded and smiled as I followed him to the station knowing that the grin he has plastered all over won't last very wrong due to his dejecting motion sickness. But somewhere I don't know why, but I wondered, 'Was this the right decision?'
-10:45am, Train-
"Natsu don't you DARE puke on me!" I shouted on the salmon head huffing in anger. If there was ONE thing I didn't like about Natsu Dragneel, it was his motion sickness. I mean how am I expected to pass a four hour ride with no one to talk to and no entertainment? Just me, Natsu and his whining plus puking due to his motion sickness. Had I come with Gray, it would have definitely been different. Maybe I should have asked him to tag along? But then wouldn't that have ruined my opportunity with Natsu?
Ugh… Maybe this IS the right choice and the better parts are yet to come. Lucy, think positive.
-The next day, 9pm, Love and Lucky Guild-
"Here's the promised reward for a job well done." Tsumiki-san smiled widely as she handed us the reward. The mission was probably the best thing that ever happened to me! You won't believe it! Natsu protected me all the time like he always does and then at the end of it all, on our way back here to collect the reward, he actually CONFESSED to me!
"Lucy… Um, I don't know how to say this really but, I really like you – and please don't misunderstand, I like you way more than as a friend." He had said and of course I told him that I felt the same way! Now, I am officially dating Natsu ~dream come true~ Haha!
Now for the most important part, "Natsu, I just want to visit Mama and Papa's grave. It's right here in this guild's memorial graveyard." I said and Natsu nodded, looking a bit eager to follow me but I insisted I go alone.
I don't think I really need to say this but graveyards spook me to NO END! And yet, here I am, walking without hesitation into this living and dead colliding place and why? Well, for some secret of life that might kill me if I don't find it. Really lucky I am huh? NOT. And suddenly, LUCKY Lucy Heartfilia has started sounding ironical… Maybe mama and papa didn't know how truly UNLUCKY their kid was gonna be.
Every sound that was made just left me jumping about. I felt like I was walking in a minefield! With every step I was taking, I felt as though there was something dead right under me and anytime now, it was gonna pull me – pull me down into the depths of hell.
I squated down in front of the two tombstones kept right next to each other that read: JUDE HEARTFILIA and LAYLA HEARTFILIA. Originally, mama's tombstone was located in the Heartfilia residence but after papa died and the mansion got auctioned out to some creep, mama's tombstone was moved here.
Then it occurred to me… How was I supposed to find the secret now that I was here? Then my eyes caught onto an object within my backpack that I had discarded on the ground beside me – the book. I thought maybe I would find the answer to what I was meant to do next and so I opened it. It didn't glow this time but the message I had read yesterday morning was no longer on the pages.
Then, I didn't know why but I just picked up a pen and began writing on the book:
What do I do next?
And to my utter surprise and extreme shock, the words I wrote began to disappear as though they were melting into the pages while new letters began to form once again on the book as though it were answering me:
Today was the first choice you made, Hot or Cold? The choice may have not seemed as hard to you but regret it you will since you were not shrewd. The secret you may search everywhere but you won't find it till you correct this mistake with care.
I stared horrified at what it said. So I had made a wrong choice? What was it? Was coming to the graveyard a wrong choice? How would I correct this mistake? I quickly scribbled
What happens now since I made a wrong choice?
And again my handwriting faded and new letters began to form:
You get a second chance. You will keep making choices and the more wrong choices you make, the closer you get to the path of sorrow. But every wrong choice can be altered if done with care and alacrity. Your time is short Lucy, You have two weeks till your fate is decided. Await the day the heavens cry next. On that day, you shall return here but only if you have altered your mistake will you find what you must seek.
My fate was to be decided in two WEEKS? I had just TWO WEEKS to correct a mistake I made – a mistake I have no idea about. Great… Lucky Lucy Heartfilia – now THAT is the joke of the century.
-2pm, Fairy tail Guild-
The day the heavens cry next… She (the voice was a female's) probably meant the next time it rained. But that could happen anytime! Oh no I need to ask Gray to help! I haven't yet told him all that happened.
(Normal POV)
Lucy had decided to break into Gray's house just like he always did to her and wait for him there, till he returned from his mission which she had absolutely no idea about how long that would take. Nonetheless, she would wait.
-2:30pm, Gray's House-
The house was quite neat for a guy and if you saw it without knowing it belonged to Gray, you really wouldn't think the owner was an exhibitionist – victim to an unbelievable habit of stripping subconsciously. Other than it being strange that it was so organized, just being in the house gave a feeling like Gray was around – like Gray was everywhere. It felt so safe, so warm in there just like Lucy did while she was around Gray. He was one person she trusted with her life, just as much as she trusted Natsu.
She wouldn't deny the fact that she had teensy weensy crush on Gray but that was to be expected of the Fullbuster and his cool personality. But for where love was concerned, Lucy believed Natsu was the only one.
She took a seat on the soft sofa and slowly, slowly fell into the embrace of a deep slumber. It almost felt as if Gray himself were embracing her and she couldn't help but smile subconsciously.
-3pm, Gray's House-
Gray had only just arrived at his little apartment and oh was he shocked when he saw the beauty of a trespasser breathing softly, obviously asleep, on his sofa. He walked over to her and brushed a few strands of blonde from her rosy cheeks and just stared at her. He had never seen Lucy asleep like this before. She looked so much in bliss.
He would never deny it, but just at that moment, he felt a sort of attraction towards her. Like as though a magnet was placed between them, drawing him closer and closer to her. She looked like an angel; so serene, so beautiful. He didn't know what was going on in his mind at that moment and nor did he know the reason but he knew one thing; right now, he just wanted to protect Lucy with every ounce of his life.
Snapping Gray back to reality, Lucy's eyes suddenly shot open in a really abnormal manner and she didn't even move an inch like she was frozen.
"L-ucy?" He asked hesitant. She didn't turn to look at him, nor did she show any signs of acknowledgement. She just began speaking words in the most angelic, soothing voice he had ever heard and as though caught in a trance, he listened. It was the same voice Lucy had heard. The only difference was that this time, the voice was using her body to communicate with Gray.
"The girl you wish to save with your life has only two weeks till her fate we decide. The choice she has wronged, she must correct and you shall be the one to guide her step."
Gray's jaw fell open and he stared in fright as though he had just seen a ghost!
"Why is it that I have to be the one to guide her step?"
"The answer to question you put to me, lies in that confused heart of thee. Until the day you understand every beat that your heart speaks, you shall not be able to comprehend with me. Worry not as this is just the beginning to the day the heavens cry once again and the first clue to the secret shall lie in your hands"
Confused heart? What confused heart? He wondered.
"What is not enough for one, just right for two but too much for three? The secret of life…"
The voice had faded away and Lucy just fell flat on the couch, unmoving.
-5pm, Gray's House-
Lucy's eyes slowly fluttered open and gradually, she began taking in her surroundings and as she did so, she saw a worried-looking raven head, deep in thought. She reached for her forehead and felt a damp, cold napkin – 'what happened?' she thought.
"Gray…?" She asked hazily and immediately he snapped out of it and rushed over to her side,
"Lucy! You okay now? You gave quite a scare there! Your temperature was BOILING!"
She couldn't understand… she had come to Gray's house to tell him all that had happened when she had tried to retrieve the first clue to the secret of life but instead of finding a clue, she found out that her days were numbered and that she had made a wrong choice somewhere – till there, it all made sense… But how did she end up in this state? That part remained a mystery to her; but of course Gray took time to tell her all that had happened and she was quite shocked that the voice had actually taken possession of her body.
"So… the day the heavens cry again – meaning the day it rains next, we have to go back to those tombstones?" Gray asked and Lucy nodded. It only made sense that they were meant to do that.
"And… the supposed mistake you made before was going alone?" He asked again and she nodded once again. It only made sense that the wrong she had to correct was that she had to go with someone and that someone was Gray because seemingly, he was now involved. The reason why they had come to such a conclusion was that little riddle the voice had spoken: What is not enough for one, just right for two but too much for three? The secret of life…
'Not enough for one', that meant, that she couldn't go alone – 'just right for two' meant she had to go with someone. But the riddle also implied one more thing – she couldn't tell anyone else other than Gray, 'too much for three'.
"So what do you propose we do till then?" She asked randomly and he just gave her that 'isn't-it-obvious?' look again and just as always, she shrugged and he had to explain.
"We don't know when it'll rain next… It could as well be today – tomorrow – whenever. So we need to be around that area of the graveyard. Fiore is in rainy season and you know that. We can't take a chance by sitting around Magnolia, this concerns your life Lucy." He said in a somewhat irate tone but Lucy didn't take offence, instead, she felt touched that her life actually mattered to him a lot.
"So we leave now?"
"Yeah"
With that, our two secret partners departed from Magnolia to Succubus wherein lies the memorial graveyard of the guild 'Love and Lucky' without saying a word to any one of their fellow guild members in fear of putting the lives of others in danger. For now, Gray and Lucy were to only ones who were to be aware of this secret as per what they were able to decipher from the off-beat, vintage style riddles that the angelic voice supplied them with.
It was of course a pleasant deal for Lucy that she had someone at her side who truly wanted to protect her and she appreciated it a lot. This was her fight which Gray had decided to aid her in – there was no way she would allow her life to be ruined just for the sake of a secret that had as well ruined her mother's life. Immortality might have been the reason Gray was so enthusiastic about it all before, but after knowing Lucy's life depended on it, he was even more determined.
This was war, life or death… it all depended on how well these two would work together and the choices Lucy made. One wrong could be corrected with another right but many wrongs couldn't be corrected even with a million rights, such was the law of the secret and such was the predicament of our two Fairy Tail mages.
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE (A/N) BELOW AND DO NOT IGNORE IT, THANKYOU.
Would this little adventure bring Gray and Lucy closer together or will Lucy lose her life even before that is possible? Read on and find out!
(A/N: And… CUT! Great job Lucy, Gray… your acting skills are flawless, just like my writing skills huh? *wink* Just kidding, I am NOT boasting and I do not intend to do so today, tomorrow or day after.
Now this was a little treat I prepared for my lovely readers who've been waiting for another story after 'Mystery Lovers'. This one may be quite different from Mystery Lovers but trust me, it'll be a good GrayLu. After all, we all need variety isn't it?
Now since I've done my part by using just one week to prepare this LONG chapter, not to mention all the brainstorming and the schoolwork, you lovely, awesome, amazing (yes, I am bribing/sweet-talking you) PLEASE READ, REVIEW, FOLLOW/FAVORITE.
If this wasn't your type or you want a story similar to Mystery Lovers or you just want more GrayLu, look out for the high school fanfic that I'll be posting soon. It's a cute romance/friendship.
Follow me on twitter – Sahaita_DQueen
The awards for most flattering review will of course be mentioned.
Let's all spread the GrayLu love right? ~GO GRAYLU~ )
NEXT CHAPTER: Coming soon! This one will be a good one, better than this chapter 1, I promise. Why? Because that's where all the GrayLu truly begins
Until Next time,
Ja'ne!