Chapter 1
The Game Begins
For some reason, everyone has been chattering a lot lately especially in my class. It all started two months ago where on a Wednesday morning, most of my classmates seemed tired and down. I could hear snores from my chair and others were wincing in pain as they moved reacting to their bandaged bruises. Some were even absent and others came in during the middle of the day. No one tells me why they were like that but sometimes I see some huddle in groups and whisper about something. I wonder what was wrong with my class and now the rest of the school was like this, all chattering and tired every Wednesday morning.
"Lu-chan!" A familiar short blue haired girl came running to me in the hallway.
"Oh Levy, what is it?" I smiled back as she waved her left arm endlessly at me.
"I can't hang out with you after school today, I've got to go home right away and rest. I'm sorry." She placed her hands together and bowed her head down at me.
"It's alright." I signed her to raise her head. "But isn't it Friday? Why do you have to rest since tomorrow is a Saturday?"
"That's exactly why. Tomorrow is a Saturday and I've got plans so early in the morning."
"Really, then I understand." I sighed.
"Thank you Lu-chan. I'll make it up to you, I promise." Giving me a tight hug, she scurried back away to her class as the bell rang.
Huddling my books back at my chest, I walked back to my classroom, with doors sliding close as I entered. Everyone chatted about something but became quiet when I walked going to my seat. I heard whispers in the background that may be directed to me or something but I ignored it as the stares that were gazing at me slowly lessened.
"Hi Luce!" A cheerful voice made me turn my head to the left as my seatmate grinned at me.
"Hey Natsu." I smiled back. He was resting his head on top of his desk as the white scarf around his collar covered his face a bit as he lied on the wooden table. "Are you by chance, sleeping?" I asked as he shot his eyes open in the sound of my voice.
"Yeah, I have to rest a lot before that." He scratched his head as he went back to lie down and sleep.
Letting him do it, I also wondered what 'that' or 'it' means. I've been continuously hearing those words in sentences about rankings, or the strategies, outcomes and so on. But I never heard anyone use a name but maybe they had and I just missed it by chance.
"You know Lucy, you're lucky you don't have to participate in that." Natsu mumbled as he drifted back to sleep.
"What?" My eyes widened not understanding by what he meant in being lucky.
The doors slid open and everyone rushed back to their seats and Natsu groggily sat up with his eyes still droopy. I chuckled a bit at his face all messed up from sleeping. The teacher, a tall man about in his 30's with dark blue hair combed neatly walked in as everyone died back to silence.
Tapping his books on the wooden table, he cleared his throat and began to speak in a moderate volume.
"Today, all of you will have a magic capability test." Everyone groaned at the announcement and I lumped back to my seat. I hated these kinds of things where they monitor your magic usage. If you go beyond the required magic to be tested, you have to train after the test to control your power to maximum level which should only be 40%. The other schools laugh at us saying we have weak magic power because of this stupid limit. Mine would only be until 15% since my magic is somewhat a summoning, and the highest I got was only 25% which it only happened once.
Others would muster up to 39%, trying their best to limit it, while I tried my best to bring it all out. The highest I seen so far from my class was 92% from Natsu Dragneel and Gray Fullbuster after their fight. They had to stay for a long time after the test just to reduce it back to 40%.
"Class 2-A be quiet and head to the gym." Macao-sensei picked up his books and walked out of the room.
Sluggishly standing up from my chair, I felt an arm around my shoulders and found Natsu by my side smiling again.
"Don't be down Luce! It's not like every day we get to use our magic."
"Yeah..." He was right; we weren't allowed to use our magic so freely especially on the school campus. We were somehow allowed to if it was outside, but if we get caught in a fight or breaking anything involving magic, then we would be severely punished. Somehow Gray and Natsu always managed to fight with no magic so they were only scolded.
The test was taking too long for the whole second years in high school. I would see a lot of people exceeding the limit while others barely exceeded it. Sighing as it was up for my turn, I stood in front of the Magic Power Finder (MPF), mustering all my magic to my palms. Yellow light flashed going to the crystal ball and it displayed a score.
"23%" a teacher called.
I sighed as it was another low one, but I managed to get out of 15 at least. I walked back to my seat and saw Natsu taking his turn at the MPF. Breathing in slowly, his chest expanded and blew fire out of his mouth to the crystal ball.
"78%" the teacher called.
"Looks like he'll be staying here again to train his limits..." I stared at him as a teacher went over and sent him outside with the others.
Finally, the day was over and I lazily carried my bag on my shoulder. Everyone was in a hurry to go home as so were the ones who had to train. I saw Natsu walking in the distance and he waited for me to catch up.
"You're done limiting your power?" I touched his shoulder as we began to walk.
"Yeah, they decided to let us go early since it's a Friday." He had his arms up, stretching and yawned.
I smiled at him and we talked about some stuff until our ways had to separate. I finally got to my house and of course, no one else was there. I lived separately with my father who was back at a manor in another city, while my mom died when I was still young. I was currently renting an apartment and I would get my monthly allowance and expenses from him time to time.
Slowly falling back to my bed, I saw a square white card lying on my pink comforter. Picking it up, my eyebrows arched as I read the short content.
"Been selected to play in Midnight Circus?" My voice was a bit of surprised and questioning about the invitation or note. "A game that starts at midnight... that's peculiar."
I placed the card on my desk and took a shower. Through the whole night, the message on the card kept bothering me about this game. I opened my computer and searched for Midnight Circus, but no such game existed so giving up, I went back to my bed staring at the card. Something told me not to change into my pyjamas so I wore casual clothes instead. A red hoodie and an emerald mini skirt which was paired with brown fur boots.
With the card in my hand, I sat up and looked at the clock. It was 11:44 p.m.; minutes away until midnight. Just sitting there and waiting for the clock to strike 12, the card glowed and a wave of light surrounded me, blinding me of my surroundings. With the white fading away, I noticed I was at the park but with everything a bit shade of blue with it. Looking around, I found I was alone.
The card glowed again and an image of a person with a violet hood covering his/her face appeared at thin air. The image was only up to his/her shoulders and it was enlarged many times. With me staring at the hooded person, he/she spoke with a deep voice so I presumed he was a man.
"Welcome to Midnight Circus, Lucy Heartfilia." He greeted but looking at his face, it was a black shadow, not seeing a tiny bit of his skin. "I am the Game Master, and the game has started two months ago with the selected students of Fairy Academy and other schools. Most of the students at your school are already playing while some have yet to be invited like you." He paused as I continued on staring at endless blackness through his hood.
"The rules of this game are simple. No. 1; you must not reveal this game to anyone who is not participating in it or a punishment shall await you. No. 2; you have to do the given tasks for you or any goal. Problems may come up along the way but there is no time limit in accomplishing it. No. 3; you are allowed to use magic how much you want even destroy the buildings here. You won't get caught by your school or anyone who's not a player here. No. 4; you're allowed to have any affiliates here whether you want to form a team or just a pair is fine. No. 5; you have the freedom to choose if you want to become a villain or a hero here. You may also change your side but do not continuously keep changing or you shall have a consequence. And No. 6; try your best not to lose here."
He was quiet again as the image just floated right there above the stone path. It seemed he rested a bit until his voice spoke again.
"The objectives of this game are like an online game where there are tasks, quests but this game has lesser things like those troublesome online ones. You have only one grand quest here and that is to find the forbidden room where you shall defeat three dragons. But the time here in the game world is until dawn only then you are transported back to the real world, so make the most in finding the room. Once you get to do that, a prize shall be granted to the winner, a wish or so. But if you lose here then a punishment shall be given to you."
It took a long time for him to continue so I spoke up. "What's the punishment?"
"Oh it's something that you fear the most. Others fear death while others have such extraordinary fears which I can make it happen."
"How can you lose here anyway?" My mind snapped as the punishment rang into my head. He knows everyone's fears including mine.
"Oh that's simple. If you die in this game you're out and no possibility to come back again to play, but to win this thing, you have to kill if you want to gain more power and strength. Every stab you make transfers the victim's magic power to you by 5%, and if you kill him/her, then you get to keep his power strength to yourself even in the real world. That's how it is; any questions?"
"Yeah, what if I don't want to participate?" I crossed my arms over my chest.
"You have no choice. Once the clock strikes twelve on a Wednesday or a Saturday, you'll be automatically transported to the game zone and the game begins. If you don't want to play then you can just stand there and do nothing but others take this seriously and go by far to killing. Oh and the wounds you get here are also implied to real life, except for death that is. You're punishment for losing is your worst fear and whether or not you're aware of losing; you'll still get it no matter what."
I gulped down my throat as this game seems to be scarier by every second. I felt sweat sliding down my face as I waited any more announcements.
The bell of the clock echoed throughout the game zone, and the card suddenly went to my right hand, embedding the sign of our school. I had a pink mark on my hand that looked like wings and a tail.
"It's midnight. The game begins!" The Game Master disappeared and I heard weird sounds coming after one another as if something was dropping.
Figures came after another and some were familiar ones. A scream resounded and in the distant, I saw a girl being chased by a guy with something maybe magic perhaps? I saw blood drip down from her arm as his magic hit her and a whitish yellow smoke came out from her going into him. I stood there shocked as she continued running with an attempt to use magic. Soon they were gone from sight, entering the city.
A sudden boom landed at my side and I rolled away just in time before it hit me.
"Aw, too bad. I missed." A woman who wore glasses and a green dress with flowing brown hair stood on top of a tree. "But not this time; I'll kill you for sure!" With a wave of her fan, something flew towards me and I managed to dodge it but it grazed my left arm. Again the whitish yellow smoke appeared from me going to her. I ran away as she was distracted by someone else on the other side, making him her prey.
I held my arm which continued to bleed until I managed to find an empty alleyway where I decided to rest. Breathing heavily, this game freaked me out more than ever and I can't imagine surviving with my weak magic power. I'll die here.
I heard footsteps nearing and I began to panic again. I wasn't able to grab my keys or whip before so I was helpless right now. Maybe on my first time here, I'll die instantly. Closing my eyes and clenching hand around my wound, I heard a tin can clatter nearby and the footsteps stop. Just I was prepared to feel pain stabbing me, a familiar voice called out.
"Lucy?" I shot my eyes open and looked above me.
"Natsu?" He had his scarf wrapped around his neck as he wore a simple maroon shirt over black jeans and sneakers. He was blinking in surprise and confusion as he stared at me in disbelief.
"What are you doing here and what happened?" He came over to me and removed my hand on my bleeding wound.
"I received a card when I got home saying I was selected to play in Midnight Circus. Then as just the Game Master disappeared when the game began, a woman attacked me but I managed to get away. I can't use any magic now since I wasn't able to bring my keys so I'm completely defenceless right now." I felt tears gather at my eyes as I was glad that I manage to stumble upon Natsu.
"Shit, why were you chosen?" He cursed under his breath and took a look at my wound. Ripping a piece of his shirt, he tied my cut and then securely knotted it to stop the bleeding.
"Thanks..." I mumbled.
"Don't mention it and come on." He offered his hand to me. "I'll protect you so don't worry about dying here now. I'm here and I won't let anyone hurt you okay?"
I grabbed his hand, feeling my face blush up. My heart thumped a bit faster than normal but I was happy that I had someone that I can depend on.
"Thank you and I'm sorry I'll be a burden for you. Defending yourself is hard enough already." I stood up and I felt his hand tightened the grip on my hand.
"You're not a burden so don't say such things. I chose to protect you so count on me."
Surely I can count on Natsu to protect me in this crazy game.
-To be continued-
A/N: So how was the first chapter? If this isn't doing so well, then I'll be forced to delete it and make another story in the future I guess.
More Natsu and Lucy moments in the next chapter!
Please review on your thoughts. ^^