At the mere mention of their name, she froze. Lucy stood in the doorway wide eyed. Two years later and someone had found them, there was no way this could be a joke. Baffled, the blonde responded,"W-What?"
The woman just stood there with a smirk, fulfilling her request,"Yes, Crime Sorciere has found the Crimson Raiders." Once she got word of her adopted brother's death, their guild was always on the lookout for them, and they had finally gotten a lead. Finding this destructive and barbaric dark guild would finally atone for all of her previously committed sins. Dispelling her from the great burden weighing on her.
Lucy opened the door all the way, beckoning the jet black haired woman inside. The blonde didn't want to let the cool air in any longer as the winter season was hitting hard this year. She closed it, gesturing to the living room as she walked inside.
Eager to get the details, the heiress could not forget her manners,"Please have a seat and make yourself as comfortable as possible. But before we get into the specifics, would you like anything to eat or drink, Ultear?" The blonde found her way to the kitchen already grabbing a kettle and tea bags.
The room held an aroma of smoke, and something Ultear could not put her finger on. The scent was oddly comforting in a way. "I'm going to have to decline your offer. We ate just before we got into town." Ultear seated herself in a dark lounge chair, throwing her legs over the side as she leaned her back against the arm. If this wasn't comfortable, then what else could be. "I am fairly tired. Our journeys are always filled with great difficulty. Our work is not for the faint of heart." The time mage smirked as she said the comment, condescension dripping in her voice.
She stiffened and shook off the comment as she put everything back, grabbing the pack of cigarettes and a lighter as she made her way to the living room. "This may be a small lead, but don't get too excited or antsy about it. But we are confident enough to pursue it."
Lucy sighed and turned the lights on, as the light from outside was fading. Amber and pink dancing together as the sun set. The cold wind whirling around outside, howling as the snow began to fall harder.
Ultear looked upon Lucy with concern, sighing as a response to hers. "You don't have to worry about this. We are capable of finding them, Makarov let me know that it was ok for us to complete this task."
Lucy stopped, turning toward Ultear with irritation in her eyes and voice,"This should be Fairy Tail's job, not yours." Anger boiled within her, they should not have been entitled to finish this. Ending it once and for all was the guild's entitlement as he was a dearly loved member. Gray was a part of their family. Not theirs. She felt sorrow as she realized the decision her guild master made.
Ultear shot her the same look in return. "You didn't let me finish." She sat up, crossing her legs as she gave Lucy a haughty smile. "Crime Sorciere would like to extend an invitation to you. We would like you to join our guild as a temporary member as we continue our search for this guild. Consider this offer as I give you the details of this lead."
Lucy nodded as she pulled out a cigarette, pausing before she lit it. Even if Ultear's first impression wasn't the best, the blonde certainly didn't want to make her guest uncomfortable,"Do you mind if I smoke?" She took a seat on the couch closest to Ultear.
The white bows on her head flittered as she shook her head. "Don't worry about it, Cobra and Racer have eased me into it. You mind if I have one?" Surprised, Lucy handed one to her, lighting it too.
They both seemed to take a drag simultaneously. Their exhales leaving a cloud of smoke in front of them. A sheer gray screen forming in front of the women, unhurried, it disappeared leaving its own dark smell. Lucy leaned back, the nicotine buzzing around in her brain. Some of the edge she felt taken off by the chemical rummaging around her brain. Everytime she inhaled, she understood why Gray smoked. It was calming. "I didn't take you for a smoker."
"Only every once in a while. The situation we're putting ourselves in is going to be extremely stressful. I'm going to take this time as we're preparing to relax. You should too." Lucy nodded leaning on the arm of the chair as she listened to her speak. They would have a lot to prepare for if they are following this guild. The only time she faced them, things went to hell. Not that she put up much of a fight in the first place. Going against them again was not going to be all shits and giggles. They were merciless as they took towns, even cities in their stead.
Her red eyes oozing seriousness as she started to explain the situation they were going to put themselves in if they were to go looking for this guild. Her words made it seem like Lucy didn't already know. Ultear cleared her throat, stamping out her cigarette. "Our lead has come from the Magic Council. They have exclusively ordered us to find this guild and destroy them. They're not concerned on them being dead or alive. If we complete this mission, the Council has decided to pardon everyone in the guild of our misdeeds." Now Lucy understood why this lead was more significant than she thought previously.
Ultear paused as she stamped out her cigarette, placing the butt in the ashtray. "We were informed by the council's agents that they were to be raiding the small town of Luna in the next couple of weeks. We are to meet with the mayor of this town as soon as we get there."
Lucy gave a small nod as the council's agents were much like the government's except they were mages. The Central Magic Agency, CMA, was created in the Council's reconstruction so that an accident like Tartaros could be stopped. This organization is the equivalent of the law enforcement to her own guild. They were to protecting the citizens as the agents were to protect whatever higher power they worked for.
Ultear continued, "If you choose to come with us, we would leave within the next day or so. If we were to be transported it would take a week, but since we're on foot it's going to take twice as long. Maybe even longer due to the unforgiving winter we're having this year." Lucy gave her an odd look. Ultear sighed, "We don't normally take trains or cars so that we're not easy to track especially now that we have added members."
She nodded, lighting another cigarette. She drew in some more, the end glowing red, slowly exhaling the smoke. The cold made it visible, the white puff swirling around in the air as it slowly dissipated in the room. Lucy stared at it in awe. "Have you made a decision yet?"
Lucy turned back to Ultear, flicking the ash into the tray. That wasn't a question she could refuse, but why did she want to? Sure, the Crimson Raiders were dangerous, but she had been up against that same danger before. Lucy took another puff as she thought about it, propping her elbows up on her knees. The ash falling to the floor as she did so.
There were only two options: one being the most favorable, the other possibly saving her. She didn't care about the second one, this was for him. Lucy, looked over at Ultear her words barely coming out as a whisper, her answer becoming entirely different, "Would you like to stay the night? It's getting late." Why didn't she give her original answer, she doubted herself.
The corner of Ultear's mouth quirked up when she stood, "I better have an answer by the morning."
"I'll show you to your room then. Though it wouldn't be hard to tell which one it would be", Lucy smiled as she got up, "there's only two rooms." She stuck her unfinished cigarette in the tray, leading Ultear to the guest bedroom. "I can give you some night clothes." They both seemed to be the same size, Ultear's bust appearing to be a bit bigger. Her clothes would fit her just fine.
The woman in question nodded as she stepped inside the room, slipping her cloak off. "That's very generous of you. Leave them on my bed, I'm going to hop into the shower." With that, she closed the door.
She turned, her brown eyes unsettled as they gazed upon the door in front of her. She put her hand on the handle, the coldness seeping through her skin. She crossed the threshold, going through her bed clothes to find something modest for Ultear to wear. Nothing seemed to fit that criteria as she did so.
She laid the clothes on her guest's bed as requested, starting to leave the room as Ultear came out of the bathroom. The time mage began to speak, knowing she was there, "That was quite refreshing. We don't get indoor plumbing as we travel most of the time. It's nice when or if we do." Lucy thought she would be in there for longer than she expected, or the dark haired woman just took quick showers.
"I hope they're to your liking. I couldn't find anything that was very… modest." Well, she could have used Gray's pajamas, but they were hers. Ultear laid them out, nodding. She replied,"It'll do for now. I'm leaving tomorrow, anyways." It was as if she didn't expect Lucy to come along.
Without looking at her she continued, "Good night Lucy. I'll see you tomorrow." She dismissed her, in her own home. If she were to go, hopefully, she could get over the time mage's attitude. She was very commandeering, similar to Erza's personality, but this was different. Much more condescending than her favorite redhead
"Sleep well." Lucy chirped as she left the room, closing the door behind her. That woman might be the end of her if they were to work together. At this point, she definitely would not trust her with her own life.
She made her way back into her own room. Lucy stared at the bed, standing close enough that her knees were touching the bedside. Could she do it tonight, if not now then would she ever be able to. She hadn't slept in the bed for two years, it was theirs not just hers.
She sat on it, laying back as a sob spilled from her. She started to think about the nights they spent here. They told each other their deepest secrets here through their pillow talks, played their favorite board games, and made love all on this bed. She couldn't stand to be there without him. Another sob spilled from her, the tears slipped down her face to fall onto the bed. She lay there crying exhaustion taking over when she passed out. Failing to notice the faint golden glow of her keys that were placed on her bed stand.
She awoke, except this wasn't a real awakening. She stood in a field of light, the grass grazing lightly upon her legs. Everywhere she looked was the same golden grass, she appeared to be in a ephemeral field. She began to walk, and walk, and walk; it didn't seem like she was getting anywhere.
A deep voice came from behind her,"You look as beautiful as ever, Lucy." At this she turned to come eye to eye with the person she was looking for the entire time.
"Gray…," she didn't know what to say. This didn't matter as he put his finger to her lips, silencing her.
"Don't worry, princess. You don't have to look for me any longer." As he said this, his body started to fade. Lucy grasped his hand as he started to leave, tears forming in her eyes.
"D-Don't leave! I can't be without you!" She pleaded, trying to pull him back. A single tear fell down her face.
Gray pet her hair assuringly, his voice soft as his body finally left,"But you've been without me this whole time."
Lucy stood there her toes curling in the soft dirt, the ground all around her started to fade too. Panicking, she did not know where to go. She stood as she braced herself for the worst, until another bright light showed.
In front appeared Natsu and Yukino, ghosts floating in front of her. A brilliant light glowed from their intertwined hands. It seemed as if she was going to get a visit from everyone who was lost. Natsu spoke first with a bright smile,"What are you doing there, Luce? Ya have places to go." The tears really started to fall, as she shook her head.
Yukino smiled softly as she spoke, "Follow you heart. He will be there if you do."
Lucy was tired of the cryptic way they were speaking, "What do you mean? You are all dead. No one is going to be there besides them! I can die."
The spirits in question gave each other a knowing look, beginning to fade. Empathetically they looked at her as they vanished, leaving the celestial maiden alone in the dark.
Then she fell.
So here's another chappie! These first couple chapters might be boring, but they are an introduction for all the action that will be happening later. I promise there will be more action and laughs to come. Leave a review if you liked it, and thanks to my amazing beta Lady SVI. She's a big help! ((: