A/N: Ahh, so, hi. Sorry this is so late *scratches head*. Every time I tried to write this chapter, something went wrong. It didn't save, I ran out of inspiration, my computer broke, so it faded into the back of my mind. Sorry about that! If it's any consolation though, I now have the entire story planned, and it shouldn't take any more than one, possibly two chapters to complete which I should hopefully get up shortly. I've even got the final scene written - I'm in one of my writing moods :)
Lucy growled to herself. "What a stupid book!" She yelled into her empty room. "What type of book doesn't tell you how to fix a problem they know about?! Argh! I mean, I know it's my fault, but come on!" Lucy trailed off, ending her rant as she yanked on her hair. I need help. But who can I ask? Levy hasn't been seen since Gajeel kissed her, Erza doesn't have the smarts - here Lucy winced, as if imagining Erza's reaction if she could hear her thoughts - and she'd be furious if she knew I drugged Gray anyway.. Who can I tell that can help, but won't beat me to a pulp... Mira!
Mind made up, Lucy left her home, and made her way to the Guild. She kept an eye out for both Natsu and Gray as she walked, but neither of them interrupted the walk, which worried her greatly.
As always, Lucy saw upon entering that Mira was polishing glasses behind the bar, and made to sit on her usual stool, before remaining standing. Mira was more rational than Erza, but she was still damn scary.
"Uh, so Mira.. You know Gray's been all.. weird?"
"Hmmm, yes, I do. I still need to work out how to punish him for how he's been treating us since he got together with Juvia", Mira replied with a rather unholy glint in her eye.
"Ah, no! No, uhm, see, it's not exactly Gray's fault." Lucy said desperately, waving her hands and trying to protect her friend from the certain death a scorned Mira entailed.
"Oh.. and why might that be?" Mira asked, her glinty eyes now staring at Lucy.
Lucy gulped. Here goes nothing. "He was fed a botched love potion".
Before Lucy could even blink, Mira was in her demon take-over form, and the glint had turned to sheer fury. "When I catch Juvia -"
"No no no it wasn't Juvia!" Lucy yelled desperately. What are you doing?! Now she's going to kill you!. Lucy ignored her subconscious.
Mira looked at her curiously, and slowly returned to normal. "And how do you know this?"
"Well, see, I know about the potion, and it went wrong, and I was really hoping you'd be able to help me fix Gray. Preferably before he sees Natsu."
"It's okay Lucy, I'll help you," Mira purred ,"we'll make sure whoever did this pays. Now, who was it?.. And why do you know so much about it?"
"Aha, well, see that's a funny story. Uh, I mean... It was an accident! I gave Natsu a potion the other day that made him show his passions and it turns out he likes Gray and I just wanted to get Gray to act on what I thought were his emotions as well only I messed up the potion and the side-effects include personality change and emotion switches and I think now he might love Juvia because he used to be indifferent to her and now it's all ruined for Natsu and I don't know how to fix it!" Lucy wailed without pausing for breath, before running out of steam and collapsing on the bar stool behind her, breathing deeply.
Oh God oh God oh God oh God oh God she's going to kill me. I'm so dead. I can't believe I thought Mira was safer than Erza. Oh God, she's even laughing, I can hear her now.. I'm so dea- wait, laughing?
Lucy looked up at Mira, and almost fell of her chair when she saw Mira wiping tears away from her face, she'd been laughing so hard.
"I don't.. I don't understand. Why are you laughing? I thought you'd be mad I drugged Gray?" she asked incredulously.
"Oh trust me," Mira said, wiping away the final tear, "I am mad at you... But, it would be entirely hypocritical of me to punish you more than your guilt already has for it."
"What do you mean, hypocritical?" Lucy asked suspiciously.
"You got this potion from a bright red book, called 'Potions of Passion', didn't you?"
"How did you know that?!"
"Well, as you know, I was a much different person when I was younger. And, well. I found this book, and decided to test it out on Erza."
"... On Erza."
"Like I said, I was a completely different person. And she loves her strawberry cake to an unholy degree."
"You spiked her cake!"
"Oh hush, or I'll tell her you drugged Gray." Mira threatened, effectively shutting up Lucy.
"Now here's the deal. I'll need to do some searching to find the exact recipe, but I've made the cure before. It's a 'negate all potions' kind of potion, and it takes about an hour to brew. I happen to agree with you about Natsu and Gray. They're totally perfect for each other, and besides I've had a bet on them getting together for years, so we need to fix this. What I want you to do, while I'm brewing the cure, is keep Natsu away from Gray until he's fixed. Natsu's strong, but I don't know if he could handle this, especially not on the day Igneel disappeared."
"Oh God, is that today?!" Lucy exclaimed, horrified that she hadn't remembered. No wonder she hadn't seen him on her way to the guild!
"Yes. Yes it is, and we all know how he gets. So, you'd best go find him now, and make sure nothing happens to upset him further." Mira commanded sternly, the concern for Natsu evident in her tone.
Not wanting to upset the take-over mage in her precarious position, and worried about Natsu herself, Lucy barelled out of the guild faster than Cana could drink a pint.
If there is one thing you can count on Natsu for, it's predictability. Lucy sighed with relief as she spotted Natsu sitting alone by the stream, and made her way down to him.
"Hey Natsu," Lucy said, faking cheerfullness, "how are you?"
"Today's the day Igneel left", he replied in a monotone.
Lucy sighed, and sat down with a thump next to him. "Yeah, I know. I didn't know if you'd want to talk about it though. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine", Natsu replied, scratching his head sheepishly, "I almost feel bad for not missing him more. I mean, I miss him, so much, but you and Gray and Erza and Happy and all my nakama here make me forget about him most of the time."
"That's the nature of grief Natsu," Lucy said kindly, "you guys help me forget my father most of the time too. It doesn't mean you're a bad person."
Natsu looked at her with equal measures horror and sheepishness. "Ugh, sorry Lucy, I forgot your father's gone too."
"I know Natsu, it's okay." Lucy smiled, ignoring the twinge of pain remembering her father always brought.
Lucy and Natsu both turned to look at the river, as a comfortable silence descended upon them.
And then Gray arrived.
The dreaded "I've hit a certain amount of words and can go no further" limit has arrived, so here's your chapter. Like I mentioned, I've got the final scene written, I just need to work on the bits in the middle. It's almost done, and hopefully I'll have it to you soon! Enjoy 3
