~Welcome to 'The Unison of Kinds'~
Chapter 2
She dodged in and out of the people in the streets. It's been a while since she had snuck out of the castle. The common folk didn't know what the princess looked like and with her hood shadowing her face, the people who did know couldn't see her face to recognize her. The city really was beautiful. The buildings were made from wood with patterns carved into the doorways and windows giving each building personality. People didn't treat her like royalty, they treated her like a person. She shook her head, remembering he reason she escaped the castle. She ran to the outer walls of Cor and climbed over with ease landing on her feet from a 30 foot jump. She swerved in and out of trees swinging round tree trunks to turn corners. She slowed down to a jog when she saw the inn of Vas. Lucy assumed that the 3 travelers would be there considering there would be no guides to take them out of the forest. She entered and headed straight to the bartender. She was a short woman, she could have easily have been mistaken for a half-ling if she wasn't well known.
"I'm looking for 3 travelers, one woman and two men," She asked.
"You're gunna have to be more specific than that, darlin'" The bartender grunted out as she looked her up and down.
"They broke into Cor." Lucy told her and the bartender narrowed her eyes at the girl.
"What business do you have w' them troublemakers?" She loudly placed the glass on the table causing the inn to go silence. They all looked towards her, some even wolf whistled at her.
"I want to guide them through the forest. As you know, Elves know the forest well," Lucy moved her hand towards her whip, ready to fight if necessary. However the inn just went back to how it was, with the exception of a few greasy human men who believed they actually had a chance with the elfish women staring at her assets.
"Look, lady, you're too late. They left into the forest. I warned 'em that they wouldn't make it out alive but they didn't listen. They're not my problem!" The bartender then moved on to other customers. Lucy pushed herself off of the bar and headed to the door.
A man stopped her by stepping in front of her, "C'on little elf, come play with us." Lucy raised her eyebrow before grabbing his wrist, jumping over his back and locking him into place. She went close to his ear and spoke, "You disgust me. If you see me again and try to cross me, you will regret it." She kicked him to the ground and walked out.
She ran back into the woods to search for the travellers. To think they went into the woods alone she thought while climbing a tree to gain higher ground. She swung from tree to tree until she eventually heard the 3 talking. She could really see them now. The woman, Erza, was obviously human. She wore a suit of armor so it wasn't hard to track them down. She had long flowing scarlet hair and she was the most beautiful human she had ever seen. The man to her left was obviously an ice dweller. Ice dwellers hail from the northern kingdoms they are immune to the cold which Lucy figured out was the reason for his toplessness. He had the dark raven hair, common to the ice dweller kind. Finally the pink haired man's kind wasn't so obvious. He had pink hair and, like the other man and Erza, he was extremely good looking. Lucy couldn't help but wonder what was in their water. She followed them from the treetops.
"You seriously couldn't wait til' morning, Ash brain. Happy now that we are lost." The Natsu or the other one complained.
"Look, I thought that I could smell my way out – turns out I can't! Whoopy!" The pink haired one sarcastically retorted. He held out his hand to signal to stop. The 3 went on guard and Lucy ran to a different tree hid behind its branch. She peeped out, and saw the pink haired one pointing up to the position she was just in. Out of thin air, hundreds of swords appears and pierced the tree. Lucy gasped, but quickly covered her mouth with her hands. Swords came hurdling her way. She ran from branch to branch, narrowly missing swords.
"Damn elves for being so quick!" Erza spat out. Lucy climbed higher and doubled back on herself. The 3 continued looking in the direction she ran away in.
"And for some reason my nose isn't working in this damn forest!" The pink haired on yelled. Lucy silently landed on a low branch and sat down.
"That's because the forest is enchanted. Only elves can navigate it!" Lucy spoke as the 3 snapped around. Again, hundreds of swords floating in the air in front of her. She coyly put her hands in the air, "You want me alive. I came here to guide you out." Lucy jumped off of her branch. The pink haired one walked up to her, and looked down at her.
"Why should we believe you?" He snarled. Lucy tried her hardest to not look intimidated.
"I'm impressed that you broke into the castle," Lucy decided that it was safe to take her hood off, considering that elves don't know that she looks like – let alone 3 travellers. "That's never been done before. Plus, you have been given the gift. Not many elves get given the gift." Lucy grinned at them. The swords disappeared.
"I'm Lucy!" She stuck her hand out, for them to shake but they just looked at it for a while. Erza was the first to shake it.
"…I'm Erza, and that's Gray and Natsu." The pointed that the boys who waved, "You'll escort us out?" Lucy nodded in reply.
"The forests tricks can't fool an elf!" Lucy smiled, but the 3 travellers glanced between themselves. Lucy turned towards to closest tree, placing her hand on it and closed her eyes.
"Chroí, please allow me to guide these 3 travellers out of your great forest," Lucy looked up and waited. Silence.
"What you doing, pointy?" Natsu asked, looking up too.
"Whose pointy?" She whispered, eyes not wavering.
"You!"
"Oh, well, I'm waiting for a reply," Lucy smiled softly, glancing to the man next to her. He felt frozen in her gaze, he felt whatever it was she was doing coursing through his veins.
"What the-"
"Shhh," She placed her finger over her lips and pointed up. The wind swirled around them, the trees rustled, there hair lifted and floated with the wind. Gray and Erza felt it true, looking at the blond in front of them. They elf that guided them in spoke to the forest as well, but he didn't get a reply. Who is this elf? They thought to themselves.
"A reply," Natsu whispered as the wind flowed around the trees whistled lightly to them. Lucy closed her eyes again and breathed in, stopping the wind. All 4 relaxed in the blissful silence.
"What the hell was that?" Gray broke the silence. Lucy went back to her cheery self.
"The forest said it's fine, let's go!" She pointed north. The 3 followed after her.
"Seriously, pointy, what was that?" Natsu grabbed her arm, twisted her round and made sure that she looked him in the eye. They paused for a second.
"Don't call me pointy!" She yanked her arm out of his grasp. She huffed and continued walking north.
"Come on, it's a good nickname, you know. The ears. I only just discovered that elves actually have pointy ear. Like I'm not going to use it!" Natsu laughed, catching up with her. While the other two walked closely behind.
"One, it's rude! And two, my name is Lucy! Use it!" She pouted, but continued to guide them out.
"You think she's a mage?" Erza whispered to Gray, making sure not to be heard by Lucy who was deep in conversation with Natsu.
"No clue, but she is handy to have around. Elves aren't natural fighters but she is light on her feet. She managed to get around barely being heard. She'll be useful to have around. One elf is better than none!" Gray whispered back.
"True, but elves don't like leaving their home. Not after what happened, there aren't many left." Erza frowned in thought, but then smirked, "But there is no harm in trying." Gray laughed and jogged up ahead with Natsu and Lucy.
A/N: So, chapter 2! What did you think?
They all met, whoop! I didn't want to wait too long until they met otherwise that would be boring! Also, if you haven't guessed already, I'm kinda a NaLu shipper, so I might make them get together yet! ;P
I still don't know how often to post, so I guess, until I figure that out I'll post whenever feels right! :)
Again, any questions and reviews welcome!
Thanks
ElfishMage ^.^