Thank you, to everyone who reviewed! I was literally bouncing off the walls when I checked it and I already had 2 reviews! WooHoo! *Blushes* Anywho, I was actually worried that everyone was going to hate it! So, I decided to get to work on finishing this chapter right away :) I ended up staying up until 2 am. Okay so… on with the story
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I had trouble falling asleep that night. I kept thinking about Lisanna and Natsu and everyone else in the guild. And when I finally fell asleep I was haunted with dreams, no nightmares of the guild kicking me out or shunning me for not being like Lisanna, or they would forget that I even existed. When I woke up the next morning, I felt terrible. I found out that I didn't only feel terrible, I looked terrible too. Staring into the bathroom mirror, I saw the proof of my lack of sleep. I had huge bags under my eyes, my hair was sticking up in all different directions due to the fact that I was rolling around, and the little make-up that I had on had smudged, only aiding me in looking like a raccoon.
I sighed, taking this as a sign that this wasn't going to be a good day. Crap, I thought, and today's the day I'm going on that mission with Gazeille. As I went through my morning routine, I thought about what was to come. What would happen when I walked into the Guild? Would they say hello? Would they still be focused on Lisanna? And what about Natsu? How would he take this? He should be happy. But, I'm sure this'll be a shock for him. I mean he is still human, and Lisanna was his first love. Even if he didn't know it. Would he remember what today was? I think he will, he's one of my best friends. But, there was this little voice in the back of my head saying He won't remember! He'll forget you! Be careful!
I paused as I was about to open the door, all my senses on hyper alert. I took a deep breath, and let it out as I opened the door. And, where there would usually be a stream of 'Hello's' and 'Good Mornings' there was only noise. It was worse than I had thought. They were having a party to celebrate the homecoming of one of the most beloved members of Fairy Tail. They even had a banner that read, Welcome Home! I almost cried out of frustration, and despair. Nobody had remembered what today was. Of course not, why would they remember something like that when she was here? I was undeniably upset and hurt. I thought they were my friends.
I took a couple deep breaths, and slowly eased the door closed behind me. I decided that Erza would be my best bet for talking. So I looked around the Guild searching for her long, straight red hair, and caught sight of it by a table, off to the right in the back. I slowly walked through the crowd of people that I call my comrades, trying to stay out of sight. When I finally reached her I saw that she was alone. I frowned, wondering why she would be sitting here all by herself when one of her comrades had returned, seemingly, from the dead.
I sat down across from her, and in a quiet voice, asked "What's wrong?" She looked up at me, surprise lighting her features before she relaxed. She let out a long sigh. When she didn't answer right away, I decided to wait for explanation. After all she was one of my closest friends, and I would trust her even if the rest of the world didn't.
"Nothing really, I'm just concerned. I mean I want that to be Lisanna as much as anyone else, but she died. How can that really be her? She seems to have memories of all of us here, but I don't know. She could be the Lisanna from the other world, and somehow she got sent here with us and got the memories of our Lisanna. Or somehow the magic that Lisanna had, stayed with her body even after she died, and when everyone got sent to Edolas that magic was turned into lacrimya. When we got sent back and everyone returned to there original forms it's possible, I guess, that she came back to life. Though that sounds unlikely, there is one more option. She could be an imposter, she could be here to try to get information for someone, she could be trying to steal something, and she could even try to destroy the guild from the inside. There are tons of different ideas in my head. I just don't know what to do about them all." She spoke the words quickly and quietly, afraid, I guess, that someone might overhear.
I took my time considering the answer. I hadn't even thought of the fact the she might not be the real Lisanna. So when I did answer I'd thoroughly thought though my answer. I think it was pretty good advice.
"Erza, I think that what you're doing, even if it's for all of our comrades' safety, is a little overboard. For right now, all you need to do is listen to your heart. What do you want to do right now? You want to go talk to her right? Then you should get up, go over there and talk to her. The only way that you're going to find out, is if you get to know her, how she thinks and things like that. If she is an imposter, for now don't you think it would be better if she felt excepted by everyone? Anyway, the reason I came to talk to you was to tell you that I'm going on a mission." I paused, looking at the watch on my wrist. "I just wanted to let you know, so could you tell everyone for me? I don't really want to interrupt."
"Yes, of course I can, but are you really going by yourself?" She asked, concern dripping from her words.
"I'll be fine, I'm not going alone. I'm going wi-" Someone chose that moment to start yelling loudly, and I had to raise my voice to be heard, "I'm going with someone! Don't worry!"
"Then who are you going with?" Erza asked, shouting to be heard over the noise. Apparently, there was a disagreement with the partygoers.
"I'M GOING WITH GAZEILLE!" I shouted, as loudly as I could. Of course, whoever had been arguing had chosen that moment to come to an agreement, and I ended up shouting 'Gazeille' at the entire guild. My face reddened with embarrassment and I tried to make myself smaller by sliding down in my seat, as the whole guild turned in my direction.
"YOU'RE GOING ON A MISSION WITH GAZEILLE?" Erza, yelled loudly.
"WHY ARE YOU YELLING?" I yelled right back at her. I think she got the message, because she seemed to calm down.
"I was just surprised. I didn't think you would feel comfortable being alone with him. Are you sure you want to go?" She asked, a bit doubtful of my choice.
"Ya, I need the money. The last mission I went on, Natsu ended up destroying half the town so we didn't get paid. And I figured that I should give you guys some time here, to sort everything out. Besides, I think actually getting money instead of pleading for more time from my landlord will be nice." I replied. Then looked at my watch again, and stood up quickly, running through the crowd of people that were still watching us closely. "Crap!" I yelled, "Move! I'm late! God, can you guys please MOVE!"
I effectively pushed everyone out of the way, only to run face to chest, into the very person that I'd been trying to avoid. I landed with a thud, on the ground.
"Ow." I said, in a surprised sort of voice. I looked up from the ground to see a surprised looking Natsu.
"Lucy? What are you doing? Running into me like that, did you even watch where you going? Where are you going anyway?" He asked, unable to keep from asking questions. I just sat there stupidly for a couple of seconds, staring at him.
"Umm, I'm going on a mission. And I was just leaving to go meet up with Ga-" The door behind Natsu burst open and in walked Gazeille, looking somewhat... Angered.
"Lucy! There you are! What were you doing? I've been waiting for fifteen minutes! FIFTEEN MINUTES! What's taking you so long? And why are sitting on the floor?" He asked, still yelling. I grimaced, standing up and brushing myself off.
"Sorry, I was talking to Erza, and then when I was about leave when I literally ran into Natsu, and then being the person he is, started asking questions. When I started to answer, you barged in yelling like a drunken fool!" I told him. To tell you the truth, I felt bad I mean I was pretty much yelling at him for being on time. I sighed, trying to calm my breathing, as I stood up and brushed off my clothes off, and looked up only to find everyone staring at me.
"What?" I growled out, through clenched teeth. Everyone turned away, feigning conversations to the person closest to them. I sighed again, and started rubbing my temples, feeling the start of a headache coming on. I walked slowly and calmly to the nearest table, and sat down. I looked over at where Natsu and Gazeille stood only to see both of them just standing there. Standing there and staring at me with surprised looks on their faces. In fact, there faces were so similar, eyes wide open and jaw practically hitting the floor that I burst out laughing. I clutched my stomach as I doubled over in my seat, tears streaming out of my eyes.
"Oh my god! Y-you two should have s-seen y-your f-f-fa-" I broke off into another laughing fit as I pictured it in my head, once I had calmed down I started again, "You should have seen your face, it was soooo funny." I giggled again thinking about it, as I wiped the tears from my eyes. When I looked at them again, they both seemed to be pouting, both looking in opposite directions. I burst out laughing again, they just looked so similar. Not that I would tell them, they would probably start yelling at me.
"Thank you. Seriously, that was the most hilarious thing I've seen for a long time." I smiled, glancing around the room, when I saw someone looking very concerned, "Well, we should be going. Have a good time at the party. Oh, and Natsu? There's someone looking for you."
"Hmm? Who would be looking for m-" He paused as he glanced around the room to locate her, "Oh! Okay, but just one more thing. Make sure you're careful. Who knows what this guy will be like when you are out in the middle of nowhere!"
"I promise." I told him. "Now shoo! Lisanna is waiting for you"
The words tasted like poison in my mouth. I didn't want him to go over there, but I didn't have any right to stop him. Even if he did forget my birthday.