Partial Return.
Chapter 1
Author: Nouchali
Disclaimer for Formality's sake: I know nothing. Own nothing.
Summary: She goes to the spirit's realm to save the moustachioed king, unknowing of the events she'll miss and the state of the guild she'll return to. How will she cope? Set in pre-timeskip, mostly.
"Mistress. The council has decided to let you go back to your world prior to this; the King has been showing remarkable speeds of recovery. Your magical assistance will no longer be required; data on the King's health have shown that his body will continue its speedy recuperation. Also, the Spirit King has requested your presence in the Light Gazebo. To reach it, proceed to the Star gardens, you will find an ivory lightspeed portal that will bring you directly to His Majesty. I shall be on my way, a stellar day to you, Miss Lucy."
The man, that I have identified to be Cronus, the personal butler of the Spirit King, entered the sphere blue portal he came out from to promptly return to god-knows-where location. In my stay here in the Spirit realm, I have learned that the inhibitors here used a much more efficient form of transport—portals. It has a wide array of colours, ranging from cool blues to hot reds. It also varies in shapes and forms, for quick teleportations, sphericals are used, however, for portals that act as doors, they take in the shape of gates, they look like one too, except more ephemeral and abstract. It has taken me quite some time to figure the portals out, they are not labelled or named, must have been from the fact that celestials are the most likely inhibitors here, not like me, an inlander or earthland-er, to be exact. Currently, I'm in the Brass room, located just outside The Library. It's a short walk to the gardens, where I'll find the gate portal Cronus mentioned. As I walked through the glass panes situated along the pathway, I found myself getting excited, ecstatic even to finally be able to return to Earthland, most importantly, to Fairytail. Thinking back, it has been almost a month since I have moved here in the Spirit's realm. I can still vividly remember how I came to be here.
It was mid-afternoon, as I lounge in the guild, watching, exasperated as Natsu and Gray was once again fight over something. I didn't even take effort to know, it was probably about something totally childish again, like who has the bigger biceps, or who was taller of which or who was…blegh. If you were to ask me, who's the least of an idiot between the two, I'd probably not have an answer to give to you. Even if I were to think about it for a hundred nights, the answer would still be inconclusive, they are just both equally moronic. They scramble, back and forth, exchanging blows and verbal blows, and taunts. Don't forget those too. What happened next was something I wouldn't want to divulge, in their haste to best each other, they accidentally knocked over the wooden table Erza was eating at… eating cake. The rest you'd surely be able to figure out. Sigh. These three, Erza isn't any better either, all three lot lacked common sense..and social etiquette. But I guess that's what Fairytail does to you, it makes you throw all social norms out the window to enjoy being free, the privilege of being the person you always wanted to be and so much more. It suddenly brings a smile to my face. If I hadn't joined this rowdy guild, then I wouldn't have been able to see all this, wouldn't have been able to experience this, and wouldn't have been able to be like this. I would've remained like before, withdrawn and drowning, from the pressure built and stacked so thick back in the manor. I wouldn't dare call it home, cause Fairytail is, and will always be my home.
"These brats..." I heard master mutter beside me as he chugged on a beer carelessly. He might be saying that, but you could just clearly see the small smile that graces his face at the sight of the guild. This man, beside me, has taught me and all of us so much. He to me, is much more than a master, than a guildmaster. Without knowing it, I have started considering him, seeing him, as my very own grandfather. I don't remember mine, or having one either. It's as if, all my life, all those sixteen lonesome years have been just the three of us… me, mom and Jude. To Fairytail, master has been like a rock, anchoring everyone in place. When sometimes we feel as if we are going astray, he pulls us back in to his side. In my stay here, he has been the one thing constant in my life. Not in a romantic sense mind you, that would have been… no, no just no, that line of thought should be considered illegal anywhere. It's just that, I feel as if we don't show our love for him as often. He says that just seeing as grow is a gift as it is, but sometimes, sometimes, I get that sudden urge to just hug him, his perverseness aside.
"Hey LUCE! What you doing smiling on your own? Weirdo. Come join me and Ice freak! Prove to him that I have the sharper eyebrows!" Natsu all but shouted to me across the guild. That Idiot, does he have to be so unnecessarily loud all the time? I feel as if my ears are on perpetual ringing. Nevertheless, I stood up from my stool and started my slow descent to them. I was probably too slow for Natsu since he came jogging to me, his scarf flying outwards nonchalantly, and held my hand. Or rather crush it.
"Natsu! Stop tugging at my hand! and would you loosen up a bit? I can feel my hand losing its circulation." I half-shouted, half- whimpered at him. He was really holding on too tight. Can't he feel my hand coming off? And no, I am not being dramatic. Try being in my place and then say I'm being dramatic.
"But you're so slow Luce!" He said while simultaneously loosening his death grip on me, just a wee bit.
"Aye! Lucy walks so slow, must be because of all the fat she carries!" Happy cried irritatingly. That cat was so going to get it. Once I escaped from Natsu of course. Which will be anytime soon, seeing I just have to see their pointless argument. I don't know why, but Happy and Natsu seemed to have gotten the idea that I liked oily foods. Where did that come from? Seriously, they don't see me eating like ravished nomads. If it were anything, they were the ones that like eating oily foods.
"You shitty he-cat! Come back here you… You insufferable feline!" I huffed, trying to use my other hand, can't use the one Natsu is still dragging so.. clawing and reaching out to Happy, who was happily flying away from my reach.
"AAH! Natsu! Lucy's butthurt and mean again!"
Natsu rolled his eyes us. I scoffed. Like seriously?! You dare roll your eyes at us as if we were the unbearable ones? He was just with Gray fighting, rather, still fighting over which idiot has the sharper eyebrow and he rolls his eyes at me? I'll have you know Natsu that I-
I never got to finish my thought rant because suddenly Gray pulled my other arm and squished me between them. With determined eyes, they stared straight at me while wiggling their eyebrows. Oh god.
" Yo Lucy, so I have the sharper eyebrows right?" Gray asked while he came closer, as if his face is not already hairsbreadth away from my own. Oh gods, I can just feel Juvia shooting glare rays at me. I can already hear the far away calls and accusatory shouts of 'love rival, love rival!' a mile away.
"Uhh.." I intelligently answered. Really. What do they expect me to say? It practically looks the same. I backed away from Gray, enough to get Juvia off my case and for Gray not to feel offended. But it still hasn't subsided, Juvia's glares, I mean. I'm so sure that my beautiful pastel shirt has developed burn holes at the back.
"Come on Luce! Take a good look!" Natsu said as he too shoved his enthusiastic face at me.
"Eh.. Uhh, what do you know!..." I stuttered, mumbled and trailed all at the same time.
"Is it mine Luce?!"
"Mine right Lucy?"
Shit, if I say Natsu's, Gray would refuse it and instead say it's his and that will spark Natsu to fight Gray and it would be an unending battle of limbs with me included in the fray. I shuddered. I do not want to be included in their man If I say Natsu…
"Neither, my eyebrows are the sharpest." I settled with vanity. After all, I do have the better eyebrows. I stood there and crossed my arms under my chest for emphasis while they shout their indignation.
"But Luce-"
"Sigh, vain as always-"
They never got to finish because Loke suddenly appeared at my side looking grim, creases marring his face, as he took hold of me and poofed out of Fairytail.
I felt unbearable pain surge through my temples. It was like nails were being drilled into my head, continuously, over and over again. What seemed like seconds felt like hours, waiting for the pain to subside. I almost forgot I was holding Loke's hand if not for the worried shout he directed at me. He was holding me close, hand in his, while he muttered undeterminable words. He seemed to know the cause of this sudden pain surge. As I slowly looked up at him, I noticed, albeit with difficulty, that he wasn't affected, he wasn't in pain. Although his facial expressions was contorted in a way that showed worry and concern, probably from the screams and slight tears that leaked from my eyes, there was another emotion, similar to the face I have seen him wear before he had abruptly taken me away.
"Loke?" I whispered weakly. The pressure was thick, and seemed to have affected my control over my vocal chords.
"Lucy! Are you okay?" He asked me while he shifted his body to support more of my weight. My legs were also losing stability, as I feel them shake and tremble, seemingly unable to hold me up.
"Loke", I rasped. The pain slowly ebbed away, leaving me with the feeling of instability. "Where..Why are we here?" I looked around, I was clearly not in Earthland anymore. There was this primal instinct, a guts instinct perhaps, that tells me Loke has somehow brought me into their world, the Spirit Realm. The sky, was black, atmosphere thick and heavy to breathe in, I was still struggling to hold myself up, and is now experiencing slight asphyxia.. The sky, which was pitch black, was littered with millions of stars, brightly lighting up the whole place. I could see the celestial's divisions, each being represented by their respective celestial inhabitant.
"Lucy, I.. we are in dire need of your help. The-"
I cut him off, "What?" I said as I turned my head to look at him. My difficulties finally registering to him, he lit up his hand to create a sort of sphere. It was about an inch in diameter, and very bright. He spun it in his hand and pushed it towards my chest, the ball of light diffusing through me. My body instantly felt warm, and the difficulties I had moments before were gone. I was able to breathe properly and have resumed feeling in my legs.
"Thanks Loke. So, explain?" I asked quietly, trying to hold the array of questions that would spill any minute. I had so many questions, so many queries, on where I was, why he have brought me here, why he looked so grim…
"I.." he hesitated. He looked over my shoulder, I turned, trying to see what or who he was looking at.
"Princess," I saw Virgo, who was similarly sporting the same expression on Loke.
"His Majesty, he needs you."
My eyes widened marginally at Virgo. What could she possibly mean by that? The Spirit king.. what could have happened to him to need my help? Was he in danger? If so, what could I possibly do to help? Why would they even need me in the first place? I have never read any article before that record a time wherein the king's life was in jeopardy. The spirit realm, as I thought of, was a world at peace. Confusion marred my features as I finally faced Virgo.
"Virgo.. what do you mean?"
"It is exactly as I said princess. Certain circumstances prior to your appearance have led His Majesty in an almost catatonic state. The medic, including spirit Phoenix, have tried, but without avail to heal His Majesty. We shall tell you more of it later. Right now, it is with dire urgency that you must go to His Majesty at once." Virgo said while she looked straight at me. I could tell, that even though she was in her usual stoic appearance, she was affected, if not bothered by the sudden events. Her usual monotonous voice has seemed to take a higher note, and she spoke faster, quicker than before. Probably because of the urgency of the matter at hand. I made no double thinking, if the Spirit King was indeed in such a state, I would do my utmost best to help him. In what way, I don't know, I'm not sure if I would be of any help. But I will not disappoint. If my spirits think that it is within my power to help the Spirit king then I would've to trust them and give it a try.
"Lead me to him then, Loke, Virgo. Let's not waste any more time here, you can tell me all of it in detail later, I expect a very detailed explanation later." I said as I looked at Loke, as confirmation. I may not know what're going on here now, but I will soon.. Im their master, as well as their friend, so if there were anything that bothers them.. then I'll do my best to provide. I smiled. All my worries I shall set aside for the matter at hand. The king is the top priority, Fairytail… Natsu.. I'll see you in a little while.
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Unbeta-ed. Cause I have no need for one.
Nah kidding. I really need a co-conspirator here. I'm so prone to blocks and disinterests. This plot bunny came out while I was trying to study orgo. So yea, if you'd like, pm me? No plot outline yea! Real men think along the way. Kekeke. Pairings? Help me decide. I have a poll! Check my profile. Personally, I'd hit on Laxus. Just so you know. Multiple selects (2) allowed. True to the title, If you're partial to any, then pick both. So, review sweeties. Reviews equates loves.