A/N:
Hi everyone! I'm pretty new to writing fanfiction (so new that I forgot an AN last chapter :3), and this idea just popped up randomly at some point earlier this year. I never got around to posting it until now. It would just make my day for someone to leave a review telling me what they think so far, and if the plot seems interesting enough, etc. Even just a few words would be greatly appreaciated! I'm still not 100% sure where I'm going with this book, but I'd love even just a few people to read it, and help me through. Weeeeell. My arms are really sore and I think they're going to go numbs so I'm going to keep this short now ;D
Please R&R if you liked it, and maybe give me a follow or favourite if i deem worthy. ;3
I need senpais to notice me */*
It was during the long and tiresome walk back to the campsite that Lucy saw the shape.
A huge dark shadow passed quickly overhead, the sound of rushing wind accompanying it as Lucy looked up in shock. It was too fast to make light of what exactly it was, and all too soon it had disappeared over the mountain on the horizon. Lucy stood still in shock and awe, not sure what to make of it as the tailwind ruffled her clothes. Staring idly into the distance, she pondered over what in Earthland that could've been.
Well, she probably wouldn't ever know unless it came back, which seemed unlikely considering she'd never seen anything like it in her life. At that moment she just desperately wanted to get back and rest, so she lightly shrugged it off, reminding herself to ask her teammates later on that night.
Lucy sat idly as she watches the flames from the campfire lick at the starry night sky. This campsite was a slight downgrade from their usual inn, and Erza's luggage was filling up one entire tent, leaving Natsu and Gray to sleep outside after the red-haired mage insisted that it was 'gentlemanly to leave the remaining shelter for the girls'. She expected someone to be back soon; her mind wandering to places it shouldn't have been in this situation.
What if she got ambushed? The blonde started to fret about all the situations that could occur, considering she was the only one there- in the dark, and all alone. She hopes that someone will come back soon!
A rustling sound came from a nearby bush, growing more violent by the second- until the bush was shaking viciously. Lucy's head snapped around, and she made a wild grab for her keys, her breathing becoming heavy as she started to hyperventilate. It's not so much being attacked she was worried about- I mean, sure, that does worry her- but not half as much as the idea of Erza's rage if her precious armour gets damaged in a raid.
Preparing to call out Taurus, the celestial mage raises her key into the air, words forming on her lips, only to be abruptly stopped when Gray comes tumbling out of the bush, holding a frozen leaf in his hand.
"Uhh.." He looks up at Lucy, as if only just realising where he was. "I…"
"Don't worry," Lucy let out a relieved sigh, letting out the breath she never noticed she was holding. "You don't have to explain." She couldn't care less what he was previously doing, as long as he was here now, and she wasn't by herself.
Gray sent her a grateful look. "Thanks." and she knew that whatever happened, he was either too embarrassed to talk about it, or had some other weird reason of being reluctant to share.
"None of my business anyway."
Extremely relieved by the company he provided, Lucy brushes her curiosity aside, and the celestial and ice make mages talk for what seems like hours on completely random matters. Their playful banter has made Lucy lose all thought about the strange flying object as she laughs at a lame joke Gray just cracked about guild halls and fences.
Erza speeds through the forest, determined not to fail in her mission. She needs to do this. For her honour! For her teammates! For her cake! She barrels into the campsite with a bag in hand, nearly rushing right through in her speed. Lucy and Gray, previously in conversation, both look up simultaneously, interested as to what's so important.
"My mission is complete." the fiery-haired mage seems to sparkle with an air of satisfaction. She drops the large bag onto the ground, and then starts rummaging through. "Aha!" she pulls a moderately sized box out, then places it on the ground near the fire. All this time Gray and Lucy have just stared in bewilderment, still completely and utterly confused. As Erza re-quips into normal clothes, grabbing the strawberry cake out of the box, and starting to eat contentedly. The blonde facepalms, while the ice make mage flops onto his back, letting out a sigh. Lucy walks over to the bag, finding something for her and Gray, then they sit in silence, ravenously eating the food they had been deprived of since breakfast.
The peaceful air is suddenly disrupted by Lucy's voice, which cuts through the silence like a knife. "Wait…. Where's Natsu?" The other mages slowly look up at her, confusion etched almost identically on their faces.
"He said that he'd go back to meet you," Erza said. "We'd assumed he'd gone out to get something when he wasn't here with you." Gray nods in agreement.
"I never saw him, and I was here since the end of the mission," the celestial mage added, unsure. As the stares of her guildmates burned holes into her, something inside of her clicked, and she couldn't control the words that started to rapidly pour from her mouth.
"Oh, sorry!" Lucy is panicking on the inside, since these words don't seem to even be coming from her. "Yeah, he did come by.. I just had a mind blank there. Haha!" Her insides are screaming as the battle for control over her body continues, but she is helpless against this unseen force, so powerful it is almost an instinct. "He told me that he'd decided to travel to Crocus with Happy, to check out a simple mission he'd seen on the board back in Magnolia."
"Really? That's weird.." Gray cut in. "The flamebrain never usually goes on missions without you Lucy. Maybe we should go over to help him. I'm sure the guild could manage without us for a whi-"
"No!" Lucy's sudden outburst surprised everyone, but maybe even herself more than others. She felt almost as if her privacy had been breached, even though she had complete control over her physical body. It felt so intimately breached that she couldn't control her growing nausea as the result of her strange actions "Uh.. I mean.. He said he would be fine. I can always go if he needs help."
"I insist Lucy, we're a tea-" Erza was yet again cut off by Lucy.
"He's fine." her voice was strong and firm. She felt so bad for snapping at her guildmates, even though she couldn't help it. For whatever reason, she- was it her at all?- did not want Natsu to be found.
"Hmm. Fine. But it's weird of him to just leave like that. I still suspect that something about him leaving isn't quite right," Erza exclaimed, "But I trust your judgement Lucy."
The celestial mage sent a bright smile her way, then is shocked to realise that control is back. She tries to mention what had just happened, but for whatever reason, she is physically unable to bring the subject up. In the deep, dark recesses of her mind, she is left to wonder what's going on, and just what could've happened to her best friend.
