(A/N Yoh people who have eyes and are now reading my very first story! Yeah… I know this is crappy. But hey! No one's perfect! I hope you enjoy my first time! I'll accept any comments and critiques about this!)
Disclaimer: I don't get why I have to place a disclaimer since it's obvious that this is a fanfiction site. . .
Lucy's POV
I sighed as I watched Natsu and Gray fight and hit stuff randomly on their way. This was getting too old but without this two insulting and hitting each other, Fairytail won't be the same. That simple statement helped me ignore their antics and focus on picking a job. Rent… rent… rent… it kept repeating in my mind. I was currently standing infront of the request board searching for something easy and high-paying. If only there was… then, something caught my eye.
Retrieve an artifact stolen in our village. Reward: 400 000
My eyes widened "Yes! Mira-san! I'm going to take this job!" I handed the paper to the silver-haired barmaid. Mira gave me a smile and looked onto it.
Her eyebrows crunched "Lucy… don't you think this is odd? I mean… just for finding an artifact, you'll get this amount of money?"
I bit my lip. It was true but my only way to pay the rent was hanging on the line. "I know Mira… but please… I really need it!" I begged her.
"Are you going with your team or at least any of them? this might be dangerous." Concern lit in her eyes.
I shook my head "Gray and Erza have already taken a mission today."
Just as I spoke, Erza dragged Gray after he threw Natsu away and waved goodbye while choking the ice mage.
"And I heard Lisanna wants to take one with Natsu." I pointed at the take-over mage that was now approaching the battered Natsu as he jumped to his feet only to find his rival gone.
She let out a sigh "How about any other guild member?"
"Please Mira! Don't worry! I can take care of myself!" I gave her an assuring smile.
She forced her lips to curve and gave me the permission to go.
. . . . .
I walked in the seemingly deserted town and watched as a tumble weed pass by. Every building was covered with dust even though we weren't near any desert. Instead, this town was surrounded by a forest, so why would it look like an abandoned town in a Wild West movie?
Gerro was known for its nice people and joyous atmosphere; the only town in Fiore that had no mages in their population. Now, it looked like shit.
"I don't think anyone's here Lucy…" I heard the flying blue neko above me spoke.
"Let's just be sure…" I tried looking for any signs of life around us.
While I was packing, Happy came into my apartment and said that he wanted to give Lisanna and Natsu some time alone so he asked if he could tag along with me. at first I shook my head but then gave a yes. Some company would be really nice after all and if anything ever happened, not that I wish that there might, I could tell someone to get help.
"Hellloooooo! Is anybody there?" Happy called out.
I looked around. Not even a movement of any shadow…
"Come on Lucy. This town's starting to give me the creeps." He tugged on my shirt but I just kept walking.
I heard someone clear his throat. Happy and I turned to see a group of people surrounding our backs.
"You must be the Fairytail mages…" the man on the very front said in a rough voice.
Everyone had tattered clothes and sorrowful faces. What happened here?...
"Ms… umm…"
"Lucy. Just Lucy." I smiled warmly. Yet, he didn't return the gesture.
His tone was serious as he spoke "Lucy. The stolen artifact here is the only thing keeping this town alive. We were raided by bandits and they took it. Without the artifact, we are lost. Legends of this town stated that if it was removed within the Gerro's land, humans such as us living here would suffer great poverty and famine. We will not die until we find it. The funny thing though, we are not allowed to leave this land. That's why we asked a travelling mage to pin the request to any guild. We beg you… return our stolen treasure to us." After he said the last sentence, everyone at his back also begged.
I raised my arm to silence them "I took the job after all, so rest assured I'll do my best to retrieve your artifact. But first, can any of you give any info about the ones who stole it?"
One by one, they came and told me everything they knew.
The night came and I left the town with praying and hoping people at my backs. I have seen their grief and agony, their pain and sorrow. It was so unbearable. The whole town seems to mourn when the sun dawned though no one died, just their hopes.
I came to the nearest village and stayed in an inn.
"According to what they said, this bandits sound like they were mages." I contemplated.
Happy sat on my lap and lifted a dirty rag "Neh Lucy… I found this while we searched the village."
I unfolded it making my eyes widen. I gasped "Happy! Those weren't bandits! They belong in a dark guild!" the rag that Happy gave me was actually a flag that held the sign of Incubus. It was a known and wanted dark guild that steals powerful objects to acquire more power.
"This is going to be hard…" I whispered and laid the cat on the bed then followed after.
I sunk my head on a pillow and faced the blue fur beside me. "Happy… how am I going to deal with this when I need to fight against a dark guild? And how the hell will I even defeat them?"
He shrugged "If only we had Natsu with us." He slowly closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.
I yawned and looked out the window. If only indeed.
I felt something warm around my waist and infront my face. It was rather comfortable. I snuggled closer to it. This was weird. When my hand made contact to 'it', I felt hot skin. What was beside me was a feline not a human. My eyes shot open only to find tanned skin infront of me.
"BLOODY MURDER!" I screamed and punched whatever 'it' was.
The 'it' groaned on the floor where he landed. "Lucy? What was that for?" 'it' said in a very familiar voice.
I looked at 'it' to find that 'it' was Natsu. I gave him a confused look. "Why are you here Natsu?"
He stood up and groggily sat beside me. Suddenly, he put an arm around my waist and pushed me down making both of our heads fall on the pillows. I felt my face flush. Who wouldn't? His face was inches from mine that I could smell and feel his warm breath. He even pulled me closer that the only thing separating us was my arms that laid on his chest.
I tried to push but didn't even budge him. "Natsu!" I started to complain but gave up. I sighed "Answer the question idiot. I thought you were with Lisanna…"
He opened one sleepy eye and grinned his infamous grin "Does this mean its fine for me to do this anytime?"
"Natsu, as much as I want to punch you right now, I can't. Since, my arms are trapped between us. So, can you just answer the question? I'll let this pass but I'm going to make sure there won't be a next time…"
He chuckled "Then, expect more to come…" now that, made my face turn to a tomato. "I am here with Lisanna but I didn't have enough money to pay a room. When she suggested that we stay in one room, I refused and told her that I could smell Happy and you. She said she understood and went." His hold tightened and I could feel him lift his nose to my hair.
I tried to calm myself. Damn! Why am I feeling so nervous? "What was your job request?" I asked.
He breathed in "We were supposed to destroy a dark guild or something."
I pushed him with all my strength and made him face me. "You mean Incubus?"
He nodded. My face brightened up and I hugged him tight. "Natsu! Your timing is so perfect!" I let him go and looked at him. "You see… I was supposed to get an artifact they stole and the only way to retrieve it was to defeat the guild coz I know they won't back down without a fight. You really know when to show up!"
He grinned again "I'm sure glad I chose this job…" I just nodded in agreement. "I am too…"
Then, I slowly closed my eyes and let sleep take over again… Forgetting the fact that I was still in the idiot dragonslayers arms.
So the next day, the four of us started marching to where we could find the dark guild. It was just a little north from Gerro. Natsu of course being Natsu just charged in and started attacking. While he and Lisanna did their job, Happy and I did ours. We searched their guild for any room that contained the stolen artifacts while fighting on our way.
"Lucy, look!" Happy had found a secret entrance that my intuition told me led to what I was looking for. We both entered and found out that it was a slide that ended on a dark chamber. I got a torch and looked around while Happy watched my back.
Deepening in the dark parts of the chamber, I heard heavy panting and headed to it. A pained scream echoed around us. I found 3 mages, each of them holding an artifact, and a beautiful badly injured man in chains infront of them. His ocean-blue colored hair covered most of his bruised and cut face, his apex was bare revealing the pale and muscular upper-body which was seriously injured and bleeding. A beautiful mark of a dark blue dragon travelled from below his right collar bone running and making loops around his right breast (weird…). I felt a blush creep to my creamy skin, when the guy looked up I saw sad, lonely, and forlorn silver eyes. I felt her heart clench in pity and unknown recognition.
"Get her!" one of the mages shouted, snapping me out of my intimate gaze towards the man before me.
I lifted a golden key "Gate of the goat! I open thee! Capricorn!" he appeared in a circle of glowing golden light just to my right as I have called him. "Help me defeat them," I requested.
"Yes master! Meh!" he started fighting with the 3 mages. Happy and I went to the man they seemed to have been beating up badly.
"Are you okay?" I asked and tried to find the keys to the chains. I heard a loud groan behind me, and saw a man get thrown to the wall infront of me.
Capricorn tossed something that looked like a silver key in my direction. I caught it, and gave him my thanks. I unlocked the man and let him fall onto my lap before he fell to the hard, cobalt floor.
"Master… I have accomplished the given task, they are now all decapitated and chained to the pillars." Capricorn bowed, holding the three artifacts they stole, and laying it gently in front of me.
I asked him to help me carry the man and we all found a way out, the artifacts safely inside the bag I brought with me. Natsu and Lisanna, as expected, were outside with all the tied mages.
"Yoh Lucy! Who's that guy?" Natsu came to me.
I shook my head "No idea." We went back to the town. I called a doctor to tend the man's wounds and everything. "Happy. Can you watch him for a sec? I need to return this to Gerro." I asked the neko and pointed at the stranger at my bed in the hotel.
He nodded and went beside the man.
When I exited the room, Lisanna asked "How is he?"
I smiled "Doctor said he'll be fine. Just some rest is needed."
She nodded and smiled also "We'll be going then…" Natsu looked at me for a moment, like he was sad to leave… it was actually adorable…
"I don't wanna go…" He whined like a little lost puppy. Awww… I thought, patting his absurd pink hair. Lisanna eyed us for a moment, before walking towards the gates leaving the village.
"Natsu, you came with Lisanna, you need to leave with her too… Okay?" I smiled at him, he frowned but nodded his head. "Don't worry, Happy is with me." I gave him a reassuring look. He sighed, pulled me in for a short friendly hug, and sauntered towards Lisanna. Happy flew over to my side.
"He's awoken master…" He imitated Capricorn, with the same hard look, and a bow. He was even wearing shades! Where'd he get that anyway? I ended up laughing on our way to the small room I rented. When I opened the door, A gush of water fell on me, much like the times when Juvia would cry about her Gray-sama. Ugh.
"What the hell?" I exclaimed, getting all soaked up. Honestly! I walked into the room and saw the guy I helped out panting and seemingly afraid and bewildered. His silver eyes were now glowing gray, looking quite confused. He was pitiful.
"Hey, no need to get riled up… I won't hurt you." I said, trying to calm him down. He stared at me for a moment, and then suddenly I was on the ground being squished to death by this maniac.
"Lean! (liyan)" The guy exclaimed, and nuzzled the crook of my neck like a cat. My eyes widened. "eh…" I felt his thigh on mine. "Eh?" I could feel his warm breath tickling my neck.
"EH!" I screamed, kicking him off me. "What the hell do you think you're doing, ya pervert?"
"He llllllikes you…" Happy purred out of nowhere, his eyes big and round with that crazy wide grin on his blue stupid face. I gave him a glare, that might have probably rivaled Erza's. he turned pale as a ghost, and fainted. I turned my head to face the now coughing guy, and I remembered he was still injured.
"Oh God! I didn't mean to… It was just a little ol habit of mine, ehehehe…" I laughed nervously, helping him up. I saw a light tint of blood on his bandages, and I looked at him, pleading for him to forgive me. He just gave me a heartwarming smile.
"You never changed, Lean. So cute and innocent, just like when we were kids." He chuckled. I noticed his gray eyes turn a warm Azure. I was getting confused.
"Wh-why do you keep calling me Lean? I'm Lucy, Lucy Heartfilia." I introduced myself, as I led him to the bed. He gave me a shocked and pained look, before turning his gaze to the floor.
"How come you don't remember me? Don't you recognize me? Azure Sky? You used to call me Tah, (chuckling) it was your short cut for water…" He grinned, but the sad glint in his eyes never left. Suddenly, I had a flashback.
There was a little girl with short blond hair, with big bright brown eyes. I recognized her… She was me when I was maybe three years old.
Little me ran towards a small gazebo, where my mom and dad were sitting with some of their friends. There was this huge guy, that looked a lot like Gajeel, but less grumpy and more smiley but still he had the same delinquent look. Beside him stood a very pretty woman, with long silver hair that looked a lot like the sky when it was covered with clouds. She reminded me of Wendy. And again, beside her was a tall, and built pink haired man. Natsu? No, he was more mature, and probably older. But he had the same wide goofy grin as that idiot. Standing beside the pink haired man, was a handsome Juvia haired man. He resembled Azure, a lot. And standing pleasantly in front of him, was a small boy with Azure eyes, and ocean blue hair.
"Momma!" I reached them and jumped in to my father's embrace. Aahh… it was when he used to be more loveable. "Who aw they?"
All my parent's friends grinned "We're very majestic creatures…"
My eyes widened in curiosity and excitement "Aw you wunicons? Yey! Aw dey fow me mommy?"
All the adults laughed and the Azure eyed boy giggled "Is she serious? Or is she really an idiot?" he snickered.
Papa put me down and I pouted at him. Awww… and I was so CUTE! Little beads of water started forming on my eyes.
The boy panicked and started making faces infront of me "Hey! Don't cry! Look! Funny faces!"
I giggled "hihihi, and you we (were) da wan cawing me idgiot…"
The adults roared and laughed. The Juvia haired man at his back patted the boy's head "Well my son… I never thought that a 3 year old could outwit you..."
The boy grumbled under his breath and looked away from the still giggling me.
"Anyway… Lucy… why don't you play with Azure on the garden while we talk?" my mother patted my head and I nodded obediently.
"Come on! Idgiot! Let go to da gawden!" I grabbed his arm and ran out of the gazebo leaving all the adults behind.
"Hey! Slow down squirt!" he called but I didn't. I led him in the middle of the garden where a spring was flowing.
"Jis ish my fayborit spot!" I spread my arm open and welcomed him to my own little heaven. "I'm Lushy…"
He was panting. Was I really that fast? He raised a finger "Give me… hah… a second…" he inhaled a large amount of air and breathed out. He gazed at me.
Little me was wearing a blue dress with a blue ribbon tied awkwardly on my hair. He tilted his head "You remind me of the color Cerulean" he clipped his chin between his forefinger and thumb then continued staring at me.
"Lean?" I asked, confused about the foreign word that he just said.
His fingers snapped "I know! I'll call you that! Lean!" he grinned at me.
I smiled back "Owkay!"
"Want to see something cool?" he lifted his two arms then he motioned me to look behind me.
Little me did what he asked and saw shapes being formed from the water in the spring. My face brightened and I clapped my hands. Then, they turned to ice. The sun shining on it created a kaleidoscope of colors. My claps grew louder. The ice busted to little floating snowflakes.
I caught one in my little arms and I squealed "Dew (They're) so pwitty! Again! Again!" I jumped up and down infront of him.
He smirked and patted my head "Next time again Lean…"
And that was it… the very first time we met.
"Y-you're-!" I was unable to continue my sentence. I was loss for words. Instead, I embrace him. He returned it happily.
"Tah!" I screamed remembering my precious childhood friend "Tah!"
Oh well, there goes a crappy first story… I hope ya like it though… O.O