"Erza, you shouldn't have!" exclaimed Lucy, looking down at the two tickets to Akane Resort in her hand. "Of course I should have. After our last mission, I think we both deserve a little pampering," affirmed Erza. "Besides, now that you've recovered, I'd like to spend some time with you outside of the guild."
Lucy felt excitement run through her body. Beaming, she leaned forward, giving her girlfriend a full and powerful kiss. Their eyes closed momentarily; as Lucy pulled her lips from Erza's, their gaze met one another's. "What was that for?" inquired Erza, her smile mirroring Lucy's. "It's for being an awesome girlfriend," giggled Lucy. "You sure know how to treat a girl right." "Do I now?" smirked Erza. "I'm glad you think so."
The two paused for a moment, gazing at one another. "You should pack, by the way," mentioned Erza, breaking the silence. "We'll be there overnight. The train doesn't leave for a little while, though. No need to rush." Lucy, eyes on Erza's, tilted her head slightly. "Romantic getaway for two?" she smiled coyly. "Something like that," grinned Erza.
...
"So Grey knows, and he's cool with it?" Lucy reclined against Erza, staring out into the aisle of the train. "That's a relief, honestly," she confessed, closing her eyes. "You seem so worried about what they think," commented Erza. "Let me ask you something. What's more important: being true to yourself or upholding a false image that others have of you?"
Lucy paused for a moment, her mind processing Erza's question. She had never thought about it that way before. "Being myself, of course," she responded. "I just worry that people won't like me if I don't match their image of me."
Erza ran her hand through Lucy's hair, twirling one of the blonde locks around her finger. "In that case," responded Erza, "they never liked you in the first place, only their image of you that they had constructed. I don't know about you, but I would find it hard to be friends with someone who didn't like me for me."
"I guess you're right," agreed Lucy somewhat flatly. She shifted her body slightly, trying to adjust herself. "The guild is just my family, is all. I can't exactly leave them." She inhaled deeply, sighing. "Though," she added, "If I'm not being the real me, how would I ever know how they felt about me?"
Erza grinned, excited that Lucy was piecing together her coming out process. "That's a good way to look at it," she affirmed, draping her arms around Lucy's shoulders and hugging her.
Lucy leaned back, looking up at Erza. "I'm glad I'm with you, you know," she admitted. "I'm still nervous, but I'm excited. Thanks for sharing your perspective with me." She closed her eyes, puckering her lips.
Erza leaned down, kissing an expectant Lucy. "It's no problem," she affirmed. "I thought a lot about this stuff when I was in the process of coming out. It may sound mean, but I took on the attitude that if someone didn't accept me for who I am, then they didn't have any business being around me." She looked down at Lucy, who was listening receptively. "Spoiler alert," she smirked. "I still have all of Fairy Tail by my side."
Lucy sat up, feeling reassured. She looked at Erza, noticing a deep blue ocean as far as the eye could see behind her. "Oh wow, we're almost there already," she murmured. Sure enough, the last patch of trees rolled past, giving rise to a beautiful white sand beach.
The train pulled into Akane Station. The two exited, making their way towards the resort. As Erza sat foot outside, she felt the sun beam down on her, warming her face. She closed her eyes and tilted her head upward; the refreshing smell of saltwater greeted her. She slowly opened her eyes once more, taking in her surroundings. Cobblestone streets ran between buildings made of stone; the rooftops, pink and conic, adorned each spiral structure; a large blue tower rose in the distance as a red track snaked through the resort.
Erza held out a hand for Lucy's as they walked. Lucy flipped her bag over her shoulder, freeing her hand and taking Erza's. "This place never ceases to amaze me," remarked Lucy, looking around at the attractions surrounding her. "And it's just the two of us this time!" she added, squeezing Erza's hand. "It will certainly be a welcome respite," commented Erza as they approached the entrance.
The lobby of the resort was bright and colorful, filled with eye-catching attractions. Many rooms branched off of it, leading to areas like the arcade and the buffet. "Welcome to Akane Resort!" chimed the receptionist cheerfully. "May I take your tickets, please?" she asked. "You got it!" replied Lucy, handing over the two passes. The receptionist stamped them enthusiastically, handing them back to Lucy. "Enjoy your stay! Your room is on the fourth floor."
Lucy and Erza made their way to their room, passing through arrays of flashing neon lights on the way. They arrived to find a stark contrast to anything they had seen in the past five minutes. Their room's hardwood floors matched the oak paneling lining the walls. Across from the door was a large window with a clear view of the seascape stretching to the horizon. A heavily pillowed bed sat against the right wall. Two chairs and a loveseat surrounded a table bearing a complimentary box of chocolates.
"Oh wow," uttered Lucy, her eyes widening. "It's not what I was expecting, but this is really nice." She surveyed the room, walking slowly. "What do you say we hit up the beach while the sun is still up?" she inquired, turning to Erza. "Sounds good to me," affirmed Erza, requipping into her black two piece bikini in a flash. Lucy blushed, turning away to stop herself from eyeing Erza. "I. That's not fair! I'm gonna go change," she stuttered, moving towards the bathroom as Erza smirked.
Lucy stripped, fishing her bathing suit from her bag. "That girl makes me lose my composure so easily sometimes, I swear," she thought, sliding on the bottom of her light pink bikini. "She knows it, too. At least she gets a kick out of it," she reasoned, reaching behind her back to tie her top in place. She paused to look in the mirror. The red tinge of her cheeks was mostly faded; she exhaled and shook her head as she straightened her bathing suit.
"You ready?" questioned Lucy, opening the bathroom door. It was now Erza's turn to blush. She averted her gaze, briefly collecting herself before turning her attention back to Lucy. "Ready as I'll ever be," she replied, feeling her quickened pulse as it coursed through her body.
The two made their way to the beach area. The pristine sand seemed to shine, illuminated by the sun's rays. Erza felt the sand between her toes and the ocean breeze on her skin. She caught sight of Lucy smiling and looking around the beach, causing her to think about how these were the moments of happiness she desired to bring her. Memories of carrying an unconscious Lucy came back to her; the contrast of the present made the joy she felt all the greater. "This is amazing, Erza," remarked Lucy, walking towards the ocean. "It truly is," agreed Erza.
Lucy entered the clear blue waters, waves gently splashing against her. She felt the push and pull of the tides, watching the schools of small fish swimming inquisitively about their new visitor. A couple of particularly bold fish nipped at her legs, causing her to giggle. She reclined, floating on her back and closing her eyes. Soft arms wrapped under her body, pulling her close. She opened her eyes to find Erza gazing down at her. Resting her eyes once more, she basked in the experience.
After a time, Lucy stood up. "Do you want to go lay out on the beach?" she asked. "Sure, but you may fry like a lobster in this sun," joked Erza, moving out of the waters. "Very funny! They have umbrellas, thank you very much," snapped Lucy, feigning offense.
They made their way towards the lounge chairs hand in hand. "Hey there pretty ladies!" called a voice. Lucy, the first to turn around, noticed two men walking towards them. One was tall with shoulder-length black hair; the other, a shorter blonde with a crew cut. "You look like you could use some company," continued the blonde, smirking. "We're not interested, thanks," replied Erza, continuing to walk towards their destination. "I don't see your boyfriends," pressed the taller man. "Two of you, two of us. We should get to know each other."
Erza turned, locking eyes with him. "I said we're not interested," she responded, hostility in her voice. She began to march away, leading Lucy by the hand. As Lucy turned away, she felt a hand on her shoulder, preventing her movement. "What about you, little blondie?"
Lucy felt a rush of anxiety, freezing in her tracks. Before she could muster a response, Erza had a blade against the blonde's throat, his hand still on Lucy's shoulder. "She's mine," growled Erza, "and I suggest you back off if you value your life."
He relinquished his grasp on Lucy's shoulder, his face a mixture of fear and disgust. "Fuckin' freaks," he spat, walking away. The other man turned to follow him. "Don't worry about 'em man. They just never met the right guy is all," he snickered.
Erza felt her face and upper body flush with anger. Her heart pounded. She had never felt this strongly protective before; it took everything in her power to not send a volley of swords after them. She struggled to repress venomous retorts. This wasn't a reality she wanted Lucy to experience. She closed her eyes, focusing on inhalations and exhalations. With difficulty, she was able to get her emotions under control after a moment.
"I'm sorry Lucy," she said dejectedly. "I promise they're not all like that." Lucy looked crestfallen, staring at the sand blankly. "I know, I just didn't expect it is all," she replied, distractedly tracing patterns with her foot. "Why do people have to be jerks like that?"
Erza sighed, collecting her thoughts. "Quite honestly, we were threats to their fragile masculinity," she remarked. "What do you mean?" inquired Lucy, glancing at Erza. "Well," began Erza, "our romantic expressions towards one another indicate that we're both happy without being involved with men. The culture we're in has a tendency to revere masculinity, so a relationship such as ours challenges the pedestal upon which it is placed. Comments like 'They haven't met the right guy' reflect their belief that men are inherently greater than women, and we contradict that belief."
"Sorry," Erza added. "I've spent a lot of time thinking about this before." Lucy smiled reassuringly. "It's okay," she said. "This is all just new to me. I appreciate your input. I feel like I'm an apprentice sometimes or something," she giggled. "I've never really had to think about all this stuff before, you know?"
Erza suppressed a grimace. "Welcome to it. It's not all rainbows, but it's certainly eye opening," she admitted. "I wouldn't trade it, though." She leaned forward, pulling Lucy close and closing her eyes. She kissed her passionately; Lucy felt electricity run through her, the spark emanating from her lips. She inhaled quickly, opening her eyes to meet Erza's. "I wouldn't trade this for anything," proclaimed Erza, fire in her eyes. "I see what you mean," agreed Lucy, her pulse surging.
The strange sensation of déjà vu returned. Erza's intensity, the beach, this moment – it seemed so familiar. The feeling was fleeting and faded quickly, though it left Lucy particularly cognizant. She looked at Erza with a mystified expression; Erza responded by slightly raising her eyebrows and giving a knowing half-smile.
"Did you still want to lay out on the beach?" inquired Erza. Lucy looked around, noticing people dispersed across the sands. "On second thought, let's go do something a little more private," she answered. "Perhaps this way I won't fry like a lobster," she added sarcastically. Erza smirked. "I was thinking massages would do us some good," she mentioned. "Does that sound alright to you?" Lucy grinned in response. "That sounds great."
...
"Harder, ma'am?" asked the masseuse. "That's good, thanks," rasped Lucy. The masseuse's powerful hands had rendered her putty-like. Deep and intense, the massage had Lucy both tensing her muscles and consciously attempting to relax them. The sensation was welcomed, but its intensity was nearly overwhelming.
Lucy's thoughts ran over the earlier encounter. What Erza said had made sense, though it didn't particularly alleviate her worries. In fact, she was now expecting outward resistance to her identity. The thought made her uneasy. Logically, she knew that Fairy Tail was her family and that they would be supportive; however, her ambivalent emotions combatted one another. She felt strongly for Erza and wanted to openly be with her; on the other hand, she felt fear of rejection over who she was by the ones she cared about. She remembered her conversation with Erza on the ride to the resort and attempted to ease her concerns by allowing Erza's logic to win out in her own mind.
Massaging a particularly sore spot, Lucy's masseuse brought her attention back to the present. Lucy winced momentarily. She wondered at how Erza could withstand her own massage. Erza had opted for deep-tissue. She was completely at ease, grateful for the opportunity to unwind in a way she wasn't usually able to. Erza's muscles were toned, her physique impeccable; still, she often pushed her body more than she cared to admit. Long-standing tensions in places she didn't know she had were being worked out one by one. She exhaled slowly, slipping off into a state of reflection.
She thought about all that she had encountered with Lucy and how she came to learn these lessons firsthand. She remembered overhearing lesbians being trash-talked, confronting the person, and receiving a response that left her bitter even still. "All women need a man, little lady. Women simply can't do what a man can. If a woman wants another woman over a man, then she's sick. It's just not natural."
She remembered her first crush, her first girlfriend. They would meet in secret, fearful of how others would react. An inability to openly express their feelings for one another was the primary reason for their break-up.
She remembered feelings of self-loathing and brokenness that took years to overcome. She hadn't always been open and proud of who she was. Those years of turmoil were years that she didn't want Lucy to experience. She hoped that she could help Lucy by teaching her what had cost her so much to learn.
After a time, the candles lighting the room began to burn low. Fragrant oils worked diligently into skin and muscle perfumed the air, which was also inundated with a sense of tranquility. The session drew to a close. Lucy and Erza gave great thanks to their masseuses. Lucy put on her clothes in a stupor; Erza, as usual, requipped.
The two wandered outside the massage parlor, the bright sun a harsh contrast to the dimly lit environment to which they had become accustomed. Lucy squinted, allowing her eyes time to readjust. "That was incredible," she murmured. "Great suggestion, Erza."
She felt a rumbling in her stomach. "I feel weak. Do you want to get something to eat?" she inquired, glancing over at the redhead. Sunlight shone through her hair, creating a glow around her. "I could certainly go for a meal," replied Erza. "To be so relaxing, massages can really take it out of you."
Lucy and Erza wandered into the main entrance of the resort. The warmth of natural light was left behind as they made their way through the garish neons of the entrance hall. They made their way towards the buffet. A sight to behold, the dining hall was extraordinarily lengthy. Sections for entrées, side dishes, produce, and desserts were all illuminated brightly. The walls were white with wood paneling along the bottom half, a modest contrast to the fluorescent barrage behind them. The ceiling was high with many light fixtures adorning it.
"Hello ladies! Welcome to Akane Buffet. It's all you care to eat!" greeted the hostess, gesturing behind her. "If you have any dietary restrictions, please don't hesitate to let us know. We know all of our dishes quite well. Enjoy your meal!"
As Lucy walked towards the entrées, she found the sheer amount to be astounding. "Natsu would be in heaven," she commented to Erza. "He would be after he died from overeating," Erza chortled. Ramen, haunches of chicken, steaks, seafood, and countless other dishes filled this section of the buffet. Lucy turned around and saw that the other sections were as diverse as the first. Her depleting energy getting the best of her, she grabbed what seemed the most appealing from each section and sat down.
Looking down at her plate, Lucy realized her choices didn't exactly complement one another. Shrimp, macaroni and cheese, fruit salad, and chocolate cake turned out to be the meal of choice. She began to eat, pausing when she saw Erza sit down.
"Sorry," Lucy said, putting her fork down. "It's alright," smirked Erza. "You must be quite hungry," she added teasingly, noticing at Lucy's plate. "Yeah, you got that right," confirmed Lucy, glancing at Erza's meal. A combination of grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, and asparagus was arranged neatly on her plate. "Look at you, being responsible," commented Lucy, slightly embarrassed. "Nonsense," laughed Erza. "Just wait until I get up for the strawberry cake."
The two ate in relative silence, both replenishing their tired bodies. Sure enough, Erza got up for strawberry cake and returned with a sizeable serving. "Hey Erza, can I ask you something?" prompted Lucy, glancing expectantly across the table. "Of course. What would you like to know?" she asked, directing her attention towards Lucy. "Have you had to deal with situations like the one we encountered earlier a lot?"
Erza didn't answer immediately. She cut a bite from her cake, chewing it carefully. "More than I would like to admit," she responded. "Oh," said Lucy. She felt the pain in Erza's words weigh on her heart. Erza continued to distractedly eat her cake. "Do you think that's something we're going to experience frequently?"
Erza covered her mouth, swallowing her bite of food. "It's not so much the frequency," she began, "as it is the degree to which you become aware of it." She put her utensils down, sighing. "Stuff like that is rare. Other, smaller things? Not so much. In my experience, I've encountered a lot of people assuming I'm straight, more jokes about lesbians than I care to remember, and many other small displays that made me feel alienated from everyone else."
Erza saw the concern in Lucy's eyes and decided to continue explaining. "Between you and me, I don't mind it." She clasped her hands, her gaze meeting Lucy's. "I think I've begun to understand the reasons for it." Lucy felt a resonance in the core of her being. Her attention became acute; it was as if she was prepared to see a deeper truth in Erza's words.
"This adversity we face exists for two reasons," Erza stated. "The first is to help us grow as beings. Quite simply, because we're at a disadvantage socially, we see what everyone else overlooks because they aren't in our position. Because we see more than they do, we have a greater opportunity to learn from what we encounter."
Lucy's brow furrowed. "What do we learn from this?" she asked, hanging onto Erza's words. "We learn to love ourselves fully, I think," answered Erza. "We also learn to love others regardless of how different they are from us. We know how it feels to be discriminated against. Tell me, would you do that to another person because of who they are?"
"No," denied Lucy. She looked as if she was placing puzzle pieces together to form a cohesive image; Erza smiled. "That's the point. How long do you think it would take someone who didn't have to go through what we did to figure that out?"
Click. The idea suddenly made sense to Lucy. She felt her apprehensions about the uncertainties of the future begin to dissipate. "What's the other reason?" she questioned, her eyes still firmly fixed to Erza's.
"That one is simple," replied Erza. "Once you find someone who validates the parts of you you've always had to question, you appreciate both those parts and that person more than you ever thought you could." She broke into a grin. "I see," said Lucy softly, absorbing her exchange with Erza.
Erza resumed eating her cake, savoring the flavor. "I'm glad you see," she mentioned between bites. "You don't have to write every story yourself. Sometimes you can just read them." She finished off her dessert, sighing with satisfaction. "This turned out to be a wonderful meal. What else would you like to do?"
"I always like to look at the stars," smiled Lucy. "We have a while before the sun sets though. Do you have anything in mind?" she asked. "We could go to the amusement park and ride the roller coaster," suggested Erza, stacking her dishes together. "Oh, sure. I um. I've never actually ridden a roller coaster," mentioned Lucy shyly. "Well, except that one time in Edolas, but that wasn't exactly planned nor was it fun." Erza looked surprised. "Never? Really?" she responded, incredulous. "I didn't have the opportunity to do stuff like that before I joined Fairy Tail. Come to think of it, I didn't have much of a life at all before I left my father's estate." Lucy shrugged. "Come on, then," grinned Erza. "You're in for a wild ride."
...
"I can't believe I let you talk me into this," said Lucy nervously. The two were moments from boarding, standing at the front of the line. "I did no such thing. You're here of your own free will," laughed Erza. "Maybe so. I'm still anxious though," confessed Lucy, diverting her attention away from the shiny scarlet tracks snaked around them.
Erza grabbed Lucy's hands. "I know you're worried. Don't be. Your first time will be great," teased Erza, biting her lower lip in an attempt to suppress a grin. Lucy turned bright red, averting her gaze. "Geez, thanks Erza," she replied sarcastically, feeling a flutter in her heart.
The sound of rolling wheels on metal mixed with excited screams, filling the air. The roller coaster came to a screeching halt. Wide-eyed customers, hair blown back, exited the ride in a daze, smiles plastered across their faces. "Looks like we're up," gestured Erza, nodding towards the now open gate in front of them. She led Lucy by the hand towards a pair of seats. "The front?" cried Lucy, staring at her awaiting seat with apprehension. "Of course!" chirped Erza, climbing in. "You're getting the full experience."
Lucy reluctantly followed Erza's lead. Her legs dangling, the firmly locking body restraint lowered into place and clicked. She gulped. "Erza, I swear if we die, I'm going to kill you," she shouted towards the seat beside her.
The cart lurched forward, beginning to move. It travelled slowly upward. Blood pumping, Lucy looked outward as they rose. She could see the entire resort from this height. The beach looked so small; the ocean, vast. She almost forgot she was on a roller coaster as the beauty struck her.
Suddenly, she felt weightless. Before she could question the sensation, the coaster began plummeting towards the earth. She closed her eyes, screaming in surprise. She then felt herself soaring upward, causing her to open her eyes once more. The cart was rocketing along the tracks, traveling into a loop. She felt her sense of reality warp as she was suspended upside down. A powerful joy came over her, contrary to her expectations. As the coaster looped, dove, twisted, and turned, she understood why such things were called thrill rides.
The cart pulled into the station, the ride over as quickly as it began. The body restraint lifted. She stood up and exited the cart, feeling like she was floating. She looked at Erza; they both were grinning ear to ear.
"That was amazing!" she exclaimed, only vaguely aware that she was walking away from the ride. "I told you it would be great," beamed Erza. "I quite enjoy rides like that." Lucy looked around, eyeing more attractions. "Are the other rides like that one?" she asked, eager to experience more of the amusement park. "There's nothing quite like a roller coaster, but there's some other fun stuff to do," answered Erza, extending her hand for Lucy's. "Shall we?"
...
"That was so much fun!" bubbled Lucy, a spring in her step as she and Erza walked from the amusement park. As the glowing neon of the attractions dimmed, the twinkling stars became more visible. Without conscious effort, the two made their way towards the beach. Lucy felt as if she had walked this path, rehearsed these steps. She became aware that she was moving towards something. The motion seemed automatic, and though her heart began to race, she dared not stop.
Erza flared her nostrils, taking in the salty sea air. The familiarity of the scent resonated with her. She looked at Lucy deeply, taking in the details of her appearance. Even though she had only met her when Lucy joined Fairy Tail, she felt as if she had always known her. A sense of tranquility permeated her being. She surrendered to the moment's flow, wherever it led.
"I always feel such a connection with the stars, and I think it's more than being a celestial wizard," commented Lucy, the shining starlight reflecting in her eyes. Erza took Lucy's hands in her own, their eyes meeting. The sense of déjà vu in Lucy intensified, feeling as if was building towards a climax.
"What is our business together?" asked Lucy. Her own voice sounded foreign to her; it was as if she wasn't the one speaking. "Beyond that of being soulmates?" responded Erza. "We've come here to learn lessons together. We're here to experience love. We're here to write the story."
Lucy began to feel a vibration in the core of her being. It surged outward, causing her body to shake. "The story?" she inquired. Eyes wide, she was attempting to grasp Erza's meaning. "The story," echoed Erza, nodding towards the stars. Lucy gazed upward; though it wasn't through words, Lucy felt like she understood what Erza meant. "The story we're all a part of," continued Erza. "Our unique experience. Two lovers incarnated together in Earthland, living the lives of wizards bringing light to this dark world."
"I see," replied Lucy, nearly unable to speak. Erza gently squeezed Lucy's hands, running her thumbs soothingly across them. She looked up at the expansive heavens as well, taking in the seemingly infinite points of light filling the sky. She smiled. "In that way, we're like the stars. We help others to find their way with our brightness. Our story is but one telling of the story. One unique yet invaluable light alongside the others, helping everyone to see."
Lucy began to cry, the emotions overwhelming. "It's so beautiful," she wept. "So sad, so powerful, so beautiful – words fail." Erza held her close, hugging her tightly. "I know, darling. I know." She continued to cradle Lucy in her arms, slowly rocking her.
As Lucy's crying calmed, Erza held her by the shoulders. "Are you okay?" she asked concernedly. "Yeah," answered Lucy, smiling. "It's just overwhelming, you know?" She wiped the tears from her face. "I know. I just have to make sure," responded Erza, returning her smile.
Lucy's pulse pounded, though the intense vibrations had lessened after the emotional surge had run its course. She leaned in, pressing her soft, full lips against Erza's. Her lips tingled like she had never felt before; it was like her soul was kissing Erza's. The totality of the kiss filled her with a deep understanding.
"I love you," said Lucy as she pulled her lips from Erza's. "Our time together has been so short, but I feel like I've known you forever and I've never been more sure of anything in my life." Erza returned her kiss in full, feeling energy surge through her being. "I love you too," she responded, her gaze filled with passionate intensity.
Lucy took Erza by the hand and led her away from the beach. The two walked in silence towards their hotel room, feeling as if they were actors on a stage walking towards the next scene.