"AAAAHHHH," I yelled. "DAMN CAT LET ME GO!" I wanted him to do as I said, but at the same time I didn't want him to. We were quite a ways up. I could see my whole house as well as some of the commotion. There were men in dark suits running into the house. I could hear some faint screaming as well.
.
It was an attack.
.
"Happy you have to let me go," I said. I squirmed but a huge blast went off. I could see the shockwave move the trees. Happy's hands, I mean paws, were trembling.
"No, Natsu said I have to get you away from here," he said. I shook myself to loosen the grip. He had a good hold on me. I knew I was loosening it but he had is claws in the fabric.
"DAMN, YOU, CAT," I yelled. Suddenly I didn't feel his han…I mean paws on me. But that also meant I was falling, and falling fast. I screamed until I hit a tree, softening my fall but also caused a few bruises and scrapes. I probably broke a few ribs as well. It wasn't pretty. My dress was all torn up. It appeared that my dress didn't have enough strength to hold all my weight.
I had to hurry before Happy could find me. I ripped off the tulle so it would be easier to run, as well as tossing my shoes. Now, the skirt only covered everything from my mid-thigh up. I ran towards the house. There was so much chaos and fire. There were servants and guest running everywhere. They didn't even notice me as I ran towards the house. There was some parts on fire (mostly the front) but the other half was in pieces. It was nothing but stones and broken fixtures.
"Dad! Dad!" I yelled. I couldn't find him. He was most likely in the ballroom still. "Andy! Andy!" I yelled both their names but I didn't get an answer. I ran in further. That was when I tripped.
"Owww," I said as I rubbed my head. I looked towards my feet to see what I tripped over.
.
.
It was a body.
.
.
I screamed. I covered my mouth with my hand, keeping me from gagging. I couldn't recognize the face.
They were dead. There wasn't a question in my mind.
What happened? I thought. Who did this? I crawled away from the body. I wasn't sure how to process all of this. I was in shock.
"Daddy," I cried to myself. "Dad please be ok," I felt blood running down my face. I must have hit a rock when I tripped. I looked up and around. There were more dead bodies and the smell was disgusting.
"I have to find him," I told myself. "I can't lose him," My mind raced with doubt and fear. Things I didn't need right now. I couldn't help but throw up.
Get it together Lucy. I just need to calm down. I whipped off the last bit of barf off my face. I have to keep going, I thought to myself, I have to.
As I crawled through the ruble I tried to find any landmarks that would key me to where I was. It wasn't till I saw my mother's chair that I figured where I was.
"No, it's all wrong" I said. "The fireplace isn't here, the blast must have moved everything." The chair was on its side. The books were ruined. All my work was scorched. My mother's book with her page was surrounded by flames. I just watched as the flames danced around it, tearing up the last bits of proof of my mother's existence in this house. That was when I remembered my keys.
"Shit, if I can't figure out where I am how the hell am I going to find my room." I said. I looked at the surroundings. I spent a lot of my time looking out windows, I could just use what I remembered as a reference point.
After finding the right angles of the horizon and mountain tops in the distance, I was able to figure out where my room would be. Luckily my safe box was still there and uncharred. I couldn't the same thing about the rest of my room. My bed was in shambles, my walls were on the ground and what was left of my ceiling was in the tree line.
"Open," I hovered my hand over the inscription on the safe box. The magic seal broke and I was able to open it. Along with my keys were photos of my family, my journal, and a few research notes from my mother.
I grabbed all of them as well as a bag that seemed to have survived the blast. I couldn't find any change of clothes. I don't have time to change. I need to find my father. I worked my way back to the hallway, or what was left of it. I walked over to the ballroom. I found the doors that only a few hours ago I was scared to walk through. I squeezed my arm as I chuckled to myself.
Funny, I'm scared now as well. I took a breath. It seems the explosion must have originated on the other end of the estate. The ballroom wasn't as damaged as the front of the house. Hopefully that means that my father is safe.
I pushed open the doors. I stood in shock. There was blood everywhere. They weren't burnt and I could identify all of their faces. I saw my servants and maids with their eyes open and yet no sign of life. The same shock and fear on their faces reflected my own.
"No, No, No, No," I repeated. "It can't be happening. This can't be happening," I moved forward. "This is just a nightmare, a really bad dream." I walked further in. "I'll wake up and Andy will lecture me, my father will get irritated that I slept in again. He'll say something about sleep the day away," I rambled on. I fell to my feet crying and smiling at the same time, and my eyes were to the ground. I still crawled forward.
"Right father?" I said. "Right father?" I raised my head and saw him. He was a little ways over. I crawled pathetically to him. "Father…dad?" I said as I reached out for him. "Say something, please," I got close enough to him to see the arrow in his head. His eyes and mouth were wide open.
"Dad…Daddy…DAD!" I yelled as I rushed over to his body. I held him close to me. "Please don't die, don't leave me daddy," I said.
"OVER HERE," I heard. There were people here. I didn't care.
"I'm alone again," I said through my tears. "I'm alone again," I heard footsteps and blood splashing. Whoever they were they weren't friendly.
"Found the girl," one of them said. Suddenly I was surrounded by men in suits. The same suits that I saw outside. "Any last words Heartfilia?" One of the men said. They readied their weapons. Mostly guns but some had fire balls.
I clenched to my father's body. "I don't want to die," whispered said. "I don't want to be alone but…" I paused and looked up at the stars. My tears turn into a stream down my cheeks.
.
.
"I DON'T WANT TO DIE," I yelled.
.
.
The wizards released their fireballs and the others shot their guns. I closed my eyes and waited for the impact.
.
.
But none of them hit.
.
.
I opened my eyes and saw…ice walls.
.
"Nice try, but you ain't gonna lay a finger on her," said a man's voice.
"If any of you value your lives, this would be the time to run," A woman's voice shouted.
"Because we won't go easy on you" the same man's voice said. I looked over and it was the same shirtless man who fought with Natsu. The woman next to him was the one with red hair. Both of them were badly injured. It was obvious they have been fighting the whole night.
"It's those wizards from before," one of the suits said. "I thought they were killed in the explosion!" another one of the suits said.
"You think a little bomb will kill us?" the shirtless man said. "We're Fairy Tail wizards, it will take a hell of a lot more than that to kill us!" he slammed a fist into his palm.
"ICE MAKE: LANCE," he shouted and then large icicles sprouted from his hands. All of them hit at least one suit, shoving them to the ground.
"REQUIP: BLACK WING ARMOR," the woman's clothes changed and She charged at them with her sword. She was able to dodge all of their attacks, even the bullets.
"LUCY!" it was Happy who flew straight towards me. "I'm glad you're alright," he said with a smile and a few tears. "We were looking everywhere for you. Erza and Gray were the only ones I could find, and…" he looked at my father's body. "Who is that?" he asked. I started crying again.
"It's…It's my father," I said.
"I'm sorry Lucy, but we have to go. If we stay here we will only get in the way," Happy said. He pulled at me but I shoved him away.
"NO, I WON'T LEAVE HIM," I screamed. Happy gave me a sad look.
"Lucy," he said. There was pity in his voice. It pissed me off.
"I'm staying," I said through my teeth.
"Like hell you are!" It was a voice I knew. It was Natsu. I looked up at him. "You're coming with us," he said.
"No," I shook my head. "I'm not going anywhere," I said.
"And why not," he said. I couldn't leave, I just wouldn't know what to do.
"I don't want to be alone," I whispered. "I already lost my mother, and now my father," my tears fell onto my father's face. "I'm alone, not even my servants are alive," my tears just flowed like a river. I couldn't stop it. "I don't want to be alone, but I don't want to die either," I said.
I felt hands around my face. Natsu turned my face towards his. He was so close to me. I could feel my heart race.
.
.
I could feel the warmth in his hands on my cheeks.
.
.
He was just so close to me.
.
.
Suddenly he pushed my face away as he moved his further away from me. Then he rapidly forced our foreheads together.
.
.
That's right.
This jerk head-butted me. And it hurt like hell. I grabbed my forehead and whimpered in pain. Blood was still falling out of the wound. I'm lucky he didn't knock me unconscious.
"What the hell was that," I said.
"THEN LIVE," he yelled at me. I was startled at first. I didn't break eye contact with him. His eyes were intense and saw straight through me. I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared. I could hear the other two fighting the rest of the suits. They were yelling but I couldn't make out what they were saying.
"Live, you're still alive, keep moving," he told me. His hand reached out and closed my father's eyes and mouth. My father looked calmer. He looked peaceful.
"That's what he would have wanted," Natsu said quietly. I nodded. I stood up but my legs were weak. It wasn't till then I looked and saw that they were torn up and burnt.
"I'll carry you," Happy grabbed what was left of my dress but it ripped.
"Natsu! Get her out of here!" the woman, I'm assuming to be Erza yelled while fending off the suits.
"Looks like I'll have to carry you," Natsu said. He had me jump on his back. My legs wrapped around his waist and his hands were on my thighs. It was uncomfortable to say the least. I burrowed my face into his neck as I kept crying.
"Lets go Gray," Erza said.
"Right behind ya," Gray responded. Suddenly they were running right beside Natsu and me.
"Do you know where everyone is?" Gray asked.
"No but I can smell them," Natsu responded. "Don't worry, you're safe," Natsu reinsured me.
"I know but I can't stop crying," I said. He's gone, he's really gone. I turned my head to look at what used to be my house. I couldn't see any of the suits. I just saw the large fire. "Everything is gone," I said. I turned my head forward. I could only see Natsu's pink hair and trees.
"But you're alive, and that's all that matters," Natsu said.
"Yes, as long as you're alive, everything will work out," Gray said. He was smiling as he casted a large wall of ice behind us.
"And we will be right by your side," Erza said as she changed into a different suit of armor that only covered her top half with a skirt and boots.
"Aye Sir!" Happy exclaimed, flying close to us.
"You're not alone Lucy," Natsu said. "Fairy Tail will be here for you," I clenched his vest in my fist.
I'm not alone. I told myself as I drifted into unconsciousness.
As I awoke, I heard people talking.
"Get me some more bandages," said a female voice. I opened my eyes to see where I was.
That's right, my house exploded and my father is dead. I remembered. Part of me didn't even want to open my eyes. But his words repeated in my head, 'You're alive, and that's all that matters'. So I opened them all the way.
There was a girl, with dark blue hair. As well as woman with long white hair. Both were wearing dresses and had medical equipment in their hands. The looked at me and realized I was awake.
"Lucy, Lucy do you remember where you are?" the woman with white hair asked.
"My house, it burnt down," I answered. She nodded with a frown.
"Tha-that's right," she said. The girl also frowned and looked towards the ground.
"And my father is dead," I said. I turned my head and faced the ceiling. The ceiling was made of cloth, I was in a tent. There were shadows from the trees dancing on the ceiling. I was on a cot. There was a blanket on top of me.
I moved my arm to my forehead, which still ached. I was in different clothes. I was wearing a long sleeved shirt.
"Becareful, there's a large bruise on your forehead," the girl said.
"I know, Natsu head-butted me," I said as I sat up. I pulled my hand away to look at the damage. It was all bandaged up. Really, there wasn't much of my body not bandaged. I must have had more burns that I thought I did.
"He did?" the girl said in shock.
"He can be a bit rough," the woman with white hair explained. "By the way, my name is Mira, and this is Wendy," I faintly smiled at both of them.
"Nice to meet you, would you please tell me where I am?" I asked.
"Well, we are a ways from your estate, we had to move somewhere so they wouldn't find us. So we stopped near a lake," Mira explained. "Since you've been asleep for a whole day we had time to create distance between us and the intruders."
"Yeah, we should be safe for a while, we had a few of our clan members create magical barriers to protect us," Wendy said. "And I've been tending most of your wounds. You only had some minor scrapes and burns on your legs, most of the damage was the large cut on your head. But we bandaged that up for you," she smiled.
"Well thank you Wendy," I said. I swung my feet to the ground. Both of them reached for me. I pushed their hands away.
"You should really get more rest," Mira said. "You haven't eaten and you're still wounded."
"I'll be fine," I said. I moved to stand and I felt a large amount of pain. My body was shaking but I stood up. "I'm stronger than I look,"
"This is no time to be stubborn," Mira replied. I just walked towards the door. "Lucy you should really rest," I had problems with the first few steps but the pain stopped once I kept moving. It gave me enough confidence to quicken my pace.
I ran. I could hear Wendy and Mira shouting at me but I didn't care. I couldn't stop. There was just so much to process. The pain was coming back, I knew I was pushing my body but I wanted to run. Where? I didn't know. I wasn't going to run back home, there wasn't a home to go back to. I didn't want to run back to school, I didn't really like the place to begin with, why go there. No I just wanted to run.
It wasn't long before my legs gave out. I made it a good bit through the camp. I was at the edge when I fell to the ground. I was frustrated and tired. I had only just gotten up and I already felt like I wanted to go back to bed.
I turned over to look up at the sky. It was so blue, it wasn't long ago when it was black and filled with smoke. The air was fresh but I could still remember the smell of flesh and blood. I remember the fear I felt. I won't forget it. I was helpless and scared. I couldn't do anything, I was just so worthless.
My thoughts stopped when I heard people talking and walking my way. I managed to sit up to get a better look at them. It was Gray and Natsu, they seemed to be arguing over something. They were carrying some large things. My eye sight was foggy since I hadn't used them for a whole day. The only reason I recognized them was their hair and voices.
"Mine's bigger!" Natsu said. He was agitated. I was taken back but the statement. I wasn't sure what they were talking about but I was sure that I didn't want to hear it.
"Whatever, I caught more than you did. Just because you caught something bigger doesn't mean you win, the bet was on how many you can catch not…" Gray stopped. He looked straight at me and Natsu did as well. I then realized what they were talking about.
They were out hunting. They walked up close enough where I could see them clearly. They were carrying dead animals. Not only that but they had some blood on them.
.
.
I screamed. I could smell the blood and I just had flashbacks.
"Lucy calm down," Natsu said but I backed away from him.
"Get away from me," I said. "Don't touch me,"
"LUCY," a familiar voice shouted. It was Mira, and Wendy and Erza were with her. Erza looked over at Gray and Natsu. Her aura darkened and she kicked both of them off into the distance.
"Lucy are you ok? Did something happen?" Wendy asked, short of breath. I shook my head.
"No it's just, I saw blood on them and I lost it," I said. "It's my fault, they didn't do anything,"
"It's only natural," Erza said. "After what you've been through, I understand that seeing blood…"
"It wasn't just seeing it!" I cut her off. "I could smell it. I saw the rabbits and deer's eyes wide open, the shock on their face. Just like…just like my father's eyes were," I said. Again, I was crying. "Why can't I stop crying?"
"It's alright to cry," Erza said. "We are here for you," She kneeled before me and placed her hand on my face. It went behind my head and she pulled me towards her chest.
.
.
Well she yanked my head into her armored chest.
.
I was knocked unconscious.
When I woke up, Erza, Natsu, and Gray apologized to me. I waved it off like it was nothing but my head would say otherwise. Mira convinced me that I should wait a few days before I started running off again. I reluctantly agreed.
"You just woke up after being a sleep for a whole day," Mira ranted. "You could have fallen down a ledge or ran into a wild beast." I knew I deserved this but it didn't make it easier to hear.
"And you Natsu!" He sat straight up when Mira pointed at him. "You should have known that she had a large head wound, what possessed you to head-butt her!" he didn't know what to say.
"Well, it was a heat of the moment kind of thing," he said.
"You're an idiot," Gray said.
"What was that Ice Princess!" Natsu replied.
"I said you were an idiot, idiot," Gray said. Natsu and him were about to butt heads when Erza stood up behind them and slammed them together.
"Shut it, both of you!" Erza yelled. Both of them just sat up straight.
"Yes mam" they said in unison.
"Don't act all high and mighty Erza," Mira said. "You did the same thing as Natsu. I could understand Natsu not looking in the middle of a battle, but you did it when she was still in bandages," Erza looked a bit depressed by Mira's statement.
"There you go Lucy, all patched up." Wendy said. She had been wrapping me up with new bandages since my old ones were dirty.
"Thanks again Wendy," I replied. While Erza and Mira argued, Natsu walked over to me.
"I'm sorry Lucy for scaring you like that," Natsu said. I smiled and waved it off.
"It's alright," I said. "I shouldn't have been wandering off like that anyway," He was frowning.
"Mira, Erza please don't fight!" Wendy said as she ran over to the two loud women. Gray must have slipped out during the commotion.
"Hey Natsu," I said. "Thank you, for saving me," he gave me a big toothy grin.
"Don't mention it, just protecting a friend," he said.
Friend huh? That's nice to hear. I thought. I looked around at the Erza and Mira fighting while Wendy is trying to calm them down, ultimately failing.
"Yeah there's never a dull moment around here," Natsu said. I giggled.
I have strange friends. I felt happy again. Watching my new friends fight over stupid things and talking normally. But my happiness quickly faded and it seemed Natsu noticed.
"Hey what's wrong?" he asked.
"I feel guilty," I said. "It hasn't been two days since my father's death and here I am, smiling and giggling as if nothing happened." I placed my head on the back of my hands while my elbows rested on my knees. "God, I must be a horrible daughter." Natsu sat right next to me on my cot. He leaned back on the makeshift wall.
"I don't think so," he said. I didn't move nor did I respond. "Everybody grieves in different ways, you know?" he said. "I don't think you'll ever not feel sad about what happened but that doesn't mean you'll never feel happy."
"I guess," I said. I really didn't know what to think or how to feel. I guess I just lost so much that it didn't even matter anymore.
"You'll be happy again, around here, you can't help it!" He sat up and looked at me. I turned to face him.
"Everyone here has a past, a story," he said. "But it doesn't keep them from walking forward with a smile," he smiled at me. I had to admit that it was contagious.
"And what's yours Natsu?" I asked. "What is your story?" he stood up and looked down at me. He was still smiling.
"Once you're better I'll tell you," he said. "Okay?" I nodded.
"Okay," I said. "I can't wait," I smiled back.
"What are you guys talking about?" Mira asked. All three of them just looked at us.
"None of your business," Natsu replied. He lifted his hands behind his head.
"What, making plans to run away together?" Mira said. "I know Lucy was set on finding a husband but I didn't think she would be so desperate," she said. I blushed at her statement.
"NO! You got it all wrong," I said.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN DESPERATE!" Natsu yelled. Wendy, Erza, and Mira laughed.
It was a joke Lucy. They were joking. I sighed at my reaction but giggled nonetheless. The next few days were going to be interesting for sure. I just hope I can rest my head before any more excitement pops up.