Lucy's P.O.V.
"This isn't right." I say to myself as I look around the room that I am in. I have no idea where I am. The walls, floor, even the things apart from the grandfather clock have changed completely. The whole room has changed.
"If I remember correctly, I fell asleep right after I finished reading the book in my room in the Celestial Spirit World, so why am I here then? And what's going on?"
As I talk to myself in confusion, someone knocks at the door. I flinch, afraid of whoever might be behind the closed door.
"W-who is it?" I say as I stagger towards the door.
"It's me, Aries." I release a sigh of relief and open the door.
"You scared me! Why am I here, Aries? I don't understand." I begin to ask questions at once.
"I'll explain everything to you later but right now I need you to dress yourself up. I'll be waiting here." I obey Aries and dress myself in a cherry blossom pink blouse and a rose color skirt. Aries and I stay side by side while walking in the hallway. After a while, we stop at an ordinary looking white door. She knocks on the door thrice, looks at me and smiles.
"Are you ready?" I nod when she asks even though I have no idea what is going on. She opens the door and a loud noise is heard from inside.
"Surprise!" I hear as I simultaneously see all of my celestial spirits there with party poppers in hand, which they have released while shouting. Loke comes from the side and says "Happy 19th Birthday Lucy."
I am confused for a while but I finally realize. I hadn't realized that it has already been a year due to all the things that have been running through my mind. I can't help but smile and say "Thank you."
After that, we continue celebrating. Eating cake, playing games, telling stories; everything is perfect. They make me feel like a princess. When it is night time, and everyone has gone back to the Celestial Spirit World, only Loke, Aries, Virgo and I stay in the living room to clean up.
"Virgo, can you take care all of this?" Loke asks as he clears away the dishes on the tables.
"Yes, I can." answers Virgo.
"Thank you." says Loke as he places the dishes in the sink.
"Lucy, Aries, we need to talk." Aries and I exchange looks. Aries makes sure that everything is okay, only then do we sit down at each other's sides while Loke sits across from us.
"What are we going to talk about?" I ask, curious about what he is going to say.
"I don't mean to alarm you but you are currently here in Fiore, not particularly in Magnolia but near there." Loke starts with a serious yet calm tone. I suddenly remember that I am in a different place and am confused about what was going on earlier, I guess I must have forgotten as a result of all the surprise a while ago.
"Aries and I have already talked about this and now we're going to tell you about everything that we have in store for you." Loke and Aries look at each other and nod.
"Starting tomorrow, you are going to train and study here until you are able to recognize everything from the history to the modern things and events coming in and out of the Celestial Spirit World. You are also going to train with Levy, Wendy, and Freed as they can help you in obtaining the crystal necklace, thus restoring the Celestial Spirit World. After all that is settled, you can then establish the rule in which you are going to change how the flow of time here and their will be the same, thus solving another issue. You must also be ready for unexpected problems or events such as the owners having problems with summoning their celestial spirits or something similar." Loke pauses to look at his watch, so that is the time I decide to ask something before he continues talking.
"But how many years will go by before I can restore the Celestial Spirit World back to normal?" I ask, getting worried somehow.
"Well, that's the only thing that we don't know. Somehow, Aries and I think that it will take you four to five years with the help of everyone but it really is uncertain. It might even take longer." I lower my head. I keep thinking of what could happen in the Celestial Spirit World within that span of time. I can't bear to see the celestial spirits weaken as their world falls apart. What if it gets worse?
"You can," I raise my head, anticipating his answer. Loke stands up.
"Although I didn't think of it earlier, train with Levy, Wendy, and Freed before you learn and train to become the Queen of the Celestial Spirits, but after we restore the Celestial Spirit World. If we all follow what I said earlier then you can restore the Celestial Spirit World in about a year or so."
"Really?" I hug Loke tightly. "Thank you!" I keep repeating that phrase until the grandfather clock chimed. I break the hug, stand up properly and look at the grandfather clock. It is already midnight.
"However," I return my focus to Loke "You may have to postpone establishing the rule about synchronising the flow of time here and there. Is that alright?" I don't answer. Not that I am unsure of what I will say, I just felt like I don't need to answer it anymore. He knows what I am going to say and that's that.
"It's already midnight." Loke said. "You better go to sleep Lucy, you have a big day ahead of you." He smirks, knowing that it'll be hard for me to train, especially with Celestial Spirits. I don't mind it. Somehow, I don't care that it's going to be hard because I already know that it will be terribly difficult for me. I say "Goodnight" to them and go straight to my room. I bring my clothes and towel to the bathroom and have a warm and bubbly bath.
I sigh heavily; everything that I went through ever since Loke offered me to become the Celestial Spirit Queen up to this day has been like a rollercoaster; an extreme one too. It feels like I am about to fully understand one thing, but then another comes up and it really baffles me all in all. As each day passes, up until today, I feel stronger somehow. Yet I am more afraid because I know that they rely on me and if I make a mistake, even if it's a small one, then I'll never forget about it. This is not something that a simple solution can fix, although when you look at it, it isn't very complex either. The more I think about the situation, the less I can focus on what's really important and start to think about negative things. Good thing that I have quite a positive attitude because if I always keep thinking about negative things, I will never have reached this point. I will have said no to Loke's offer and the Celestial Spirit World will be doomed forever; I will never be able to fix it anymore.
After I take a bath, I put on lemon colored pajamas and lay on my bed. I stare at the plain ceiling for a few seconds before I fall into a deep sleep.
'I am afraid of something, something I cannot see or hear. I just feel this heavy, eerie atmosphere around me. Everything is pitch black, I can't see anything besides my own body.
"Where am I?"I say to myself. I hear glass shattering yet there were no glass to be seen, just the sounds.
"I found you." Right there, where I am standing, a huge 'creature' with a red silhouette slowly starts to form in front of me. I start to tremble in fear, I try to run but my legs won't obey me.
"Lucy~" it calls me in a long and sinister tone. I try to shout but there is no use, no one's there to hear. Finally, with all the strength left in my body, I move my legs and run as fast as I can.
"Lucy~ come back here~ Lucy~" it calls me repeatedly. I keep running until I start to see trees. I run faster, hoping to hide from that 'creature' in the forest.
"Lucy~" I look back and there it is, so close yet so far. It tries to grab me but I dodge it, running in another direction whilst blending in with all the trees.
"Lucy~" It keep repeating. I am able to stop and hide behind a group of trees were clumped together. It stops calling me, I become even more afraid. I look sideways but there is nothing there. Just then, I notice that the ground has grown darker. I realize that that is its shadow. I slowly look up, hoping to see nothing but leaves on top of the trees but I am wrong. I see the creature, smiling at me. I scream in terror.'
I sit straight up, panting really hard, heart beating fast and loud, trembling in fear. I look everywhere but there is nothing, only the usual furniture that I have in my room. Neither any person nor shadow besides mine. I then realize that it has only been a dream. I try to breathe normally and make myself calm down. I slowly lay down again, thinking about what had happened.
"It is only a dream Lucy, it is only a dream." I say to myself. I close my eyes and place my hand over my heart. After a while, I finally calm down. I inhale deeply, open my eyes, and exhale.
"What time is it anyway?" I look at the grandfather's clock and see that it is already 7:00 o'clock. I get up, gather the things that I need, go to the bathroom, and take a shower. I selected a burgundy colored blouse with puff sleeves, and a pair of copper shorts (the shorts that I usually wear). I tie my hair up in a bun and walk to the living room.
I twist the door knob and push the door open, entering the room and seeing no one.
"I guess they're still sleeping." I open the door which connects the living room to the kitchen and see Aries setting up the table.
"Good morning Lucy."
"Good morning Aries, where's Loke?"
"Cooking breakfast with Virgo." I close the door and help her set up the table. We hear the door open and we see Loke wearing a frilly pink apron. Aries and I try not to laugh but ended up laughing anyway.
"It's Aries' apron!" Loke defends himself while turning red. After everything has been set on the table, we sit down and eat.
"Lucy, we are going to go to Magnolia and fetch Wendy, Levy, and Freed." Loke says out of the blue. I feel a sting of happiness passing through me. I am finally able to see them again. And not just that, I get to train with them too! When everyone is finished and ready to go, we hop onto a train and depart for Magnolia. The bell rings, so we get off and go to fetch Levy first.
Levy's house
I ring the doorbell and we hear a girl's scream along with a loud crash.
"I'll get it." A girl's voice said, she opened the door and we see Wendy.
"Lucy?" her expression has surprise with a mix of confusion at first, then she shows happiness and hugs me.
"You came back!" she says. She looks at me and smiles, I smile back.
"Is that Lucy?" a voice asks from the inside. We look inside and see Levy surrounded by a pile of books. We break our hug and we all go inside to help her. I help Levy stand up. When she got her balance, she hugs me tightly.
"Oh, how I've missed you!" she pushes me a little with her hands on my arms and asks "Where have you been all this time?"
"Well…" I look at Loke and he smirks back at me.
I explain to them what had happened. Starting from the day Loke offered me to become the Celestial Spirit Queen up to yesterday when the plan was discussed.
"I see," Levy says. "But I'm confused. If we are going to train side by side and help you after that, won't the guild be curious?" We all wear confused looks.
"I mean, if they found out that we three, meaning Wendy, Freed, and I were to go missing out of the blue for a long time, won't the guild be curious and start to ask questions? Then if we suddenly came back, they will be even more suspicious. And if we're to go and say that we went on a mission, they wouldn't believe us because we don't usually go on missions together. It's an unusual group if you think about it. Plus, if they found out that you were gone, they'd be even more suspicious."
"What do you mean they don't know that I'm gone?" I ask, curious and confused at the same time.
"Well-" Levy is cut off by Loke.
"Tell them that you went to visit a friend who was sick and decided to bring Wendy and Freed with you." The room is filled with silence for a moment until Levy snaps her fingers and says "I have a plan. I'll discuss it later. But it's definitely going to work, I promise."
"I'll take your word for it." Loke stands up, "We just need to get Freed then we will proceed to training. Levy, Wendy, please pack your bags."
While Levy and Wendy are packing their luggage, Loke, Aries, and I stay in the living room. Later, when they have finished packing, we go straight to Freed's house.
"Lucy?" he is surprised like the other two had been earlier. After explaining the events and the plan, Freed agrees and gathers his luggage. When he has finished, the three of them leave for the guild while we stayed outside, peeking through the window. When we see that they are believed and the three have said their goodbyes to their guild mates, we go to the train station and head for home.
On the way, I wait until Loke has fallen asleep before nudging Levy and whispering to her "Do you still remember my asking about what you mean by them not knowing that I'm gone?"
"Hm?" Levy, noticing that the reason why I am whispering is because Loke might hear the conversation, whispers instead of talking at a normal volume.
"Well, I saw you leaving the guild after Natsu and Lisanna announced that they were a couple. I knew you were heartbroken so I followed you. I was about to call your name since I was about fifteen feet away but then you fell and Loke appeared. I saw you two went to your apartment so I waited outside. I went search for a place where I could see through your window. Good thing you didn't close your curtains because if you did, I wouldn't see you faint and went through a portal of some sort. I got down and waited to follow Loke since I saw that he stayed in your apartment."
"After waiting for a while, he went down with a letter in hand. I followed him up to the market where he approached a girl and gave her the letter. I didn't hear their conversation since it was kind of noisy and crowded."
"When the girl had taken off, he went into the portal. I tried to follow the girl but then I lost track of her. So I decided to go back and celebrate with them while discussing what I'd seen with someone. After almost three days of your absence, I decided to visit your apartment. I saw that your closet was still full of clothes; I thought that you went on a mission, but then again you wouldn't leave without taking any clothes. I started to investigate Loke but there was no use since I didn't have any connections. Mirajane was also starting to notice that you weren't coming to the guild. I told her that you had gone to your relatives' house because one of your relatives had fallen ill."
"After that, I immediately went to Master Makarov's office and told him that you had a relative who is sick. He didn't believe me at first since he knows that you wouldn't go without asking, or even telling him what was happening, but after a while he finally accepted that reason." She pauses for a while, I mean to ask her something but she continues talking.
"Also, about the plan I was talking about earlier, I told our guildmates that you sent a letter to me to go and stay with you, along with Wendy and Freed, until your relative is back to perfect health. At first, they didn't accept it, like Master Makarov did, so I said that you had told us that we might really be of help since your 'relative's illness' might be connected with the magic Dark Ecriture which Freed uses. Since I can understand different languages and symbols, Freed might be able to heal your 'relative's illness', and Wendy can use her healing powers, they believed it. Thus, making my plan a success." I silently clap, astonished by Levy.
We hear the bell ring, which awakens the others, including Loke. We get off and head home. By the time we reach the house, Virgo is already done setting up and placing the food on the table. We let Virgo take care of their luggage since she said she has already eaten. When we finish eating, I go to Levy and Wendy's room while Freed left for his room right next door. Levy and Wendy share a room, but it's a large room and they have two queen-sized beds.
"How is it like to be the Celestial Spirit Queen?" asks Levy as they place their clothes on the cabinet.
"It's not really fun." I say, "It should not be fun since there are tons of duties that await you. Plus, I am technically not the Celestial Spirit Queen yet but it's really stressful. I can't really explain how I feel exactly since a lot of things are still going on. I'll be really surprised if I ever be a successful Celestial Spirit Queen."
"Don't think you can't do it. Have faith in yourself." Levy looks at me and smiles, I smile back "Besides, it will be really exciting if you are already the Celestial Spirit Queen."
"I hope it would be exciting. I still manage to stay positive. And now that you guys are here to help me, I really feel happy and am sure that we can do this."
After that, we spend the whole day laughing and telling stories of what has happened in our lives. Loke says that we are supposed to be training but he hasn't called or come by the room to get us. I don't mind it because I am too busy talking and laughing with them.
"If I may ask, are you okay with Lisanna and Natsu being together?" asks Levy.
"Well, I don't feel anything anymore." I chuckle.
"I guess it wasn't love after all, the romantic kind I mean. I guess it was just me trying to explain how I really feel about him, but that doesn't mean that I am in love with him. It's more of a friend kind of love."
"I see. Well, if you're looking for someone, we can go to Lamia Scale if you want." Levy gives me a nudge and smiles at me while Wendy giggles.
The time passes by quickly and I don't notice that it is already late. Finally, I bid them good night and go off to my room. I take a bath and afterwards go to sleep.
Hello everyone! As you can see I haven't posted a chapter in about five months or so because things happened, things that I never really expected to happen; but now, everything is alright.
Big thanks to Lilith Jae for helping with the grammar here (or proofreading the chapter as you guys call it). She not only help me with the fanfic but she help me figure out what was wrong with a fraction of me (I don't know how to place what I am thinking in words but I'll just leave it at that and I hope you guys comprehend what I am saying. Note: the fraction that I am talking about was another fraction of my personality. Basically I'm a mix of sadness, happiness, and possibly other things but I can definitely tell you guys that everything is alright now. You guys are probably confused right now so I'm just going to stop).
Also big thanks to cmjfire14 for letting me incorporate his/ her ideas with mine to make an incredible story.
If you have the time, please check their profiles as they are writers too and are lovely people.
Hope you guys stick with me until the very end.
I almost forgot to mention, if you have any problems with understanding how the flow of the story goes then don't hesitate to ask me via PM or post it in the reviews. I'll be posting the following chapters every month so that it doesn't have to take almost five months to post just a short chapter like this.
I'll see you guys in the next chapter!
~nekoXloliXneko