When Natsu came back with a red shirt, Levy was placed on the stage besides Gajeel and Lily as everyone settled down to watch. "Here ya go." Natsu handed the shirt to Levy.
"This will do perfectly." Levy took the shirt and laid it down on the ground. She then stood up and stepped off the stage. She held both of her hands out and the shirt began to glow a bright green. Levy moved her hands out, waved her left hand in the air and back to the side she shouted "MIRROR."
The green light grew brighter, almost blinding the guild members, and then the shirt expanded into one large rectangular shape. The middle began to grow foggy before the image of a forest popped up.
"Did it work?" Wendy asked?
Levy put her hands down and clapped her hands. "Yes it did."
"Good job shrimp." Gajeel smiled at her, causing Levy to blush. "Thank you."
"But where's Lucy? All I see are trees." Happy asked.
"Oh, the magic only shows the location. We won't be able to see Lucy until she makes a…" "KKKYYYAAAA."
The guild jumped from the sudden shout and when they figured it was not from one of them, they looked back at the image to see it was showing Lucy up against a tree with a dazed look on her face as she tried to lift her head. Then Sara came into the image, laughing.
"That's not funny Sara." Lucy complained, rubbing her head. Sara, still laughing, walked over and helped her up. "It almost bit me."
"Bees don't bite, they sting." Sara pointed out.
Everyone in the guild was laughing. "Of course she would jump at that." Gray shook his head in amusement, feeling better now that he saw Sara.
Lucy looked to Gabriel, who was staring at a piece of paper. "Are we there yet?" And walked over to look at it.
"We are almost there." He said with uncertainty and Lucy put her hands on her hip. "Are we lost?"
"If we are then maybe I should take over on navigation." Sara said.
"No way." Gabriel and Lucy said together, looking back to give Sara a death glare.
Sara looked with disbelief. "What is with that look you two."
Lucy turned back, hands still on hip. "The last time you got to navigate we were lost for two hours and almost died."
"Wow, two hours." Romeo thought out loud.
"But we didn't, Cancer was able to cut us out of those branches."
"Then complained that we dulled out his scissors and I couldn't call him for three months. "
"Not my fault all your spirits are like you."
"What did you say?"
"You heard me." Just before they could start fighting Gabriel turned around and touched his glasses. "Can we please focus on getting out of these woods; we have a long way to go."
"Yes sir." They said, pulling apart. "But how could you guys get lost when you were there before?"
"The man took us up here in magical four wheel drive car. The treasure hunt starts at the entrance door but when we saw we couldn't get in he brought us back." Sara explained.
"So why didn't we go to him to take us."
"He had to go to a funeral this week and left us the map to get back."
Laxus walked over to the front. "Well it seems that Lucy is not in any trouble, we should stop…" "But what if something happened later on." Lisanna shouted. When she felt everyone staring at her she sat back down on the stool and her whole face went red. She just really wanted to see Gabriel some more.
Laxus turned to Levy. "How long does this last."
"It lasts as long as I am awake. It doesn't take a lot of my magic to do this but it is connected to me."
"And shrimp isn't staying up all night for three days just so you know." Gajeel spoke up, making Levy blush again.
"Just a few more hours then." Laxus said, going back to the bar to drink his beer. Everyone cheered and turned back to the screen.
Meanwhile…
When Lucy and the others got to Clover town, they stayed the night in a hotel before heading off the next morning. It was about three hours into walking when they had to stop after Sara swore she had seen the tree stump before. They stayed there as Gabriel looked at the map and that's when a bee flew in front of Lucy's face, causing her to scream and back up into a tree quite hard, hitting her head. Sara started laughing.
"That's not funny Sara. It almost bit me" Lucy complained, rubbing her head and wincing at the pain as Sara came to help her up. "Bees don't bite, they sting." Sara pointed out.
Glancing at Gabriel to still see him analyzing the map. "Are we there yet?" She asked, walking over to him.
"We are almost there." Lucy watched his eyes fluttered over the paper. Seeing this Lucy recognized it and glared, putting her hands on her hips. "Are we lost?" Gabriel didn't say anything when suddenly felt as if someone was watching them and looked up at the sky. Don't tell me.
"If we are then maybe I should take over on navigation." Sara said in her smug tone.
"No way." Gabriel and Lucy said together, looking back to give Sara a death glare. If they were lost then Sara would make it much, much worse.
Sara looked with disbelief, feeling a bit hurt. "What is with that look you two."
Lucy turned back, hands still on hip. "The last time you got to navigate we were lost for two hours and almost died."
Sara copied her. "But we didn't, Cancer was able to cut us out of those branches."
Lucy leaned in. "Then complained that we dulled out his scissors and I couldn't call him for three months. " Worst three months since whenever she was thrown in a fight she had to deal with pervy Taurus or angry Aquarius. Out of the three she would rather deal with Cancer.
"Not my fault all your spirits are like you."
"What did you say?"
"You heard me."
Lucy glared and just as the two were about to get in another fight, Gabriel glanced back, not wanting to deal with them right this second. He lifted his hand and touched his glasses, "Can we please focus on getting out of these woods; we have a long way to go."
"Yes sir." They said, pulling apart in fear. Satisfied he let go of his glasses and turned back to the map. "But how could you guys get lost when you were there before?" Lucy wondered.
"The man took us up here in magical four wheel drive car. The treasure hunt starts at the entrance door but when we saw we couldn't get in he brought us back." Sara explained, looking at Gabriel for his approval. He nodded.
"So why didn't we go to him to take us."
"He had to go to a funeral this week and left us the map to get back." Gabriel added, trying to make the story more plausible. He could tell Lucy was growing suspicious but she hadn't said anything yet so he was going to keep up with it. Looking at the map he sighed. He hated to admit it but he was lost. He thought he found a shortcut to get there faster but now it turned out to be a big mistake. Now he was looking for a way to get to the original route. "Come on, it's this way."
The three set out again. They began talking about what had happened over the last 8 years. Sara and Gabriel had traveled around most of Fiore and even went to some other kingdoms such as Bosco, Iceberg, and back to the Pergrande Kingdom.
"Wow you really went there again? I thought you didn't like it the first time we went?"
Sara shrugged. "Not so bad now. It actually has changed a lot since the last time we went."
"Considering the last time we went we were nine then yes, it has changed." The girls chuckled at Gabriel's point.
"That was a fun time; we have to take you back there one day Lucy. You'll like the new changes."
Lucy smiled. "That sounds like fun."
Sara then turned the conversation to Lucy and she began talking about how she first came to Fairy Tail. "That disgusting mage using those powers, I'm just glad Natsu came when he did."
"Man Lucy, only who would find trouble the minute we turn our backs. Didn't we split up three days before you went to Hargeon."
Lucy chuckled, face red with embarrassment as Sara pointed that out. "Yeah..well..it all worked out in the end."
Gabriel rolled his eyes. "Aren't you lucky?" Lucy stuck her tongue out at him.
Back at the guild, Natsu was surprised by this information. "She had just barely left them when I met her."
"Sheesh, bunny girl sure finds bad luck when she's alone." Gajeel muttered, making everyone who heard him chuckle.
When nothing interesting was happening the guild went back to normal as the scene kept playing since Levy was not asleep. She went to reading another book as Gajeel watched her. Natsu, Lisanna, and Gray were the only ones still watching from their seats.
The walk was fun for Lucy. Even though she never spoke about them, she really did miss these two. Walking with them it seemed as if eight years had never passed by.
"We'll camp here for the night." Gabriel announced as they came upon a small clearing. Lucy slid down, leaning up against a tree. "Aw, it feels good to rest."
"I'm surprised Lucy. From what I heard from some of you guild members you complain all the time." Lucy glared, wondering who would say that. "But you haven't complained once here."
Thinking about it she just shrugged. "It's not like I don't like traveling with them, but with you guys it seems easier."
Sara smiled. "We're just better, that's all." Lucy giggled.
"Whatever." Natsu grumbled. Lucy was different around them then with him. Watching her today she seemed more at ease. Sure she always looked like she was having fun with him and the others but she just acted so different. It made him upset.
Levy then stood in front of them. "Hey guys, I'm getting tired and I think all they are going to fall asleep too so I am going to turn it off." She said while yawning.
"Wait…" "Hey Lucy, can you sing to us?" They heard Sara asked right as Levy lifted her hand.
Lucy looked back at her. "What?"
Sara sat down next to her. "I want to hear you sing."
Natsu looked back and forth between the ones at his table (Wendy, Gray, Juvia, Lisanna, Mirajane, Gajeel, Levy, and Erza). "Lucy can sing?" Everyone shrugged.
Lucy blinked. "I don't know."
Sara pouted. "Come on, I bet you sing all the time at Fairy Tail."
This made Lucy smile softly. "Actually no, I never really sung to them."
Sara's eyes went wide with shock. "Why not? You have a great voice Lucy."
Lucy chuckled, "Everything is so crazy at Fairy Tail, I guess I never got the chance. I remember one time I was trying to sing to get a reporter to look at me but Gajeel ended up doing a guitar solo." Her laugh grew softer. "I'm kind of glad though because I ended up putting on a bunny costume."
Sara laughed and Gabriel chuckled under his breath. "Well they are missing out. So will you, will you? Please." Sara had to take a deep breath before unleashing her puppy dog eyes.
Lucy looked into them, trying to fight it, but knew she was no match. Sighing she nodded. "Fine."
Sara cheered and made her seat right next to Lucy. Gabriel came and slid down the tree to be on Lucy's other side. The two waited patiently as Lucy began to feel nervous. She only sang in her house and even then her voice never got high enough for people to hear. "Don't be nervous Lucy," she turned her head to look at Gabriel. His eyes were gentle and matched his smile. "It's just us."
Hearing that, Lucy could feel the nervousness go away and smiled back, nodded her head. Closing her eyes she began to sing.
Everyone in Fairy Tail's eyes was wide with amazement. Even Carla, who had the vision of Lucy singing. This voice was nothing like she saw. She had a silvery voice, matching all the keys right. Gabriel and Sara's eyes widen with recognition and relaxed.
"So pretty." Happy said, eyes glued to Lucy. No one could believe this was Lucy who was singing. Listening Erza could feel a slight pain in her chest. Such a beautiful voice, and we never gave it a chance to come out. Just thinking that for the time she was here she never let this out.
Natsu could feel his stomach churn. He felt bad to admit it but this voice was much better than Mirajane's.
"Don't stop," Sara said suddenly and crawled in front of the two. Lifting her hands three blue flat screens popped up with runes. As a keyboard appeared under her hands, Sara began typing. When one large screen appeared Sara touched her forehead and then the screen. Three kids popped up in the screen and Fairy Tail recognized them as Lucy, Sara, and Gabriel as kids.
"Lucy did say that Sara's Archive magic could take people's past memories and project them." Natsu said. Gray watched in awe, admiring her power.
Now Fairy Tail was watching Lucy sing and scenes of their childhood. Lucy's hair was short and she wore a pink dress. Sara still had her pigtails but they were shorter and she wore a blue dress. Gabriel had his glasses and his hair was the exact same way but shorter and neater and he wore a small black suit. As Lucy sang the three younger ones were running around in a garden. Lucy was holding Michelle as she and Sara were making what looked like outfits for her as Gabriel was reading next to him.
The screen changed to see Lucy and Sara arguing before they began fighting, making Lucy, Sara, and Gabriel laugh. Natsu saw Lucy's eyes grow watery as a woman that looked exactly like Lucy laughing at the children. Then the three young ones ran up as Lucy jumped into her arms.
Watching her childhood thanks to Sara, Lucy could not help but feel tranquil. She had forgotten this feeling long ago and being with her two childhood friends seemed to make everything right. She could remember all the times they would stay with her. The three were inseparable.
When Lucy finished singing Sara turned off the screen. "I almost forgot about those times." Lucy sighed, laying her head on Gabriel's shoulder as a small tear rolled down her eye. Sara smiled at Lucy and snuggled herself up against Gabriel's arm that slung over Lucy and was able to go behind Sara.
"They were great times," Sara said. "They make me regret every leaving you Lucy."
Lucy looked back at her and smiled. "Same here. I wonder how things would be if we stayed together."
"It doesn't matter," Gabriel chimed in. "We're all here now."
The two girls smiled at him before resting their heads again and slowly fell asleep. Gabriel sighed when he looked up at the sky. Hope you enjoyed the show. He then closed his eyes but did not fall asleep.
When they saw Gabriel's eyes closed Levy deactivated the spell, leaving the guild full of different emotions. Hurt, regret, sorrow, and fear were the biggest emotions.
Natsu was filled with the most fear. Just hearing the conversation and seeing Lucy's childhood memories, had him thinking just how happy Lucy was. After this job, will she leave us to go traveling with them? But she couldn't. She loved Fairy Tail. She couldn't leave. Happy was glancing at Natsu with worry, thinking the same thing.
Levy was re-evaluating their friendship. Even if she allowed me to read her stories, Lucy never spoke about her childhood other than it was bad when her mom died. Maybe we weren't as close as I thought we were.
Laxus could see the sad expressions on his guild mates and did not like it. He stood up. "Alright, it's getting late. Everyone go home and get some rest. If we want to continue this then it will be discussed tomorrow. Goodnight."
With that one by one everyone began leaving, leaving Mirajane to close the place down and Laxus helped her. He could see Mirajane was deep in thought. "Thinking about Lucy?" He guessed.
She sighed. "After everything that has happened, I wonder how life would be if Lucy decided to stay with those two."
Laxus shrugged, "she didn't. She came here and became a part of team Natsu and went on all our adventures and helped us all out. "
Mirajane smiled softly. "I wonder, when they are done, if she will leave us."
"I don't think you're the only one who thought that. For now we just let everything happen as they should." Agreeing with him, the two finished closing down in silence.
Natsu and Happy found themselves back at Lucy's place. "Ne Natsu, you think Lucy will forget about us after this?" Happy asked.
"Of course not, Lucy loves Fairy Tail." Natsu said, trying to convince himself.
"I hope so, team Natsu will be broken up if she left."
Not to mention we would never see her again. Natsu sighed as he laid down on her bed. It could be just their imagination. Maybe these two weren't as bad as they thought. Natsu could not believe it but the way Lucy is with them makes him not want to dislike them. He didn't want to stop spying though, no, he wanted to know if Lucy would stay or leave before she came back.
What am I feeling? He wondered as he felt an ache in his heart. He looked to ask Happy but he was fast asleep next to him. Sighing, he closed his eyes and fell asleep to Lucy's scent.