Hey everybody...soooo sorry guys. i hope your HAPPY (wink, wink) with this chapter
Disclaimer: Why rub it in?
Lucy sat on a cold metal table in nothing but a thin patient garb. The past hour had been completely torturous as the plucked every visible hair from her body except for her head and some of her eyebrows. She had to argue with them for quite some while about her glove saying she had a horrible scar until they finally relented. After they took her to what looked like a shower room and washed every part of her body until she was completely dirt-free. Lucy shivered from the coldness of the room. She rubbed her bare arms trying to make the goose bumps disappear.
Was that fun for you? Masa laughed inside her head. Lucy frowned.
I wish you were really here so I could slap you.
Masa chuckled and said nothing else as the door slid open revealing a dark skinned man with gold eyeliner. He actually looked normal since he didn't dress in vibrant colors and his hair was simply black and cut short to his head.
"Hello, Lucy, I'm your stylist. My name's Cinna." He said as he examined Lucy. Lucy opened her mouth before spotting a long blue tail with a white tip from behind the man.
"Umm, what's that?" Lucy asked pointing to the tail. Cinna looked behind him then pulled out a blue cat with a white underbelly and large black eyes. The cat's head and body were rectangular in shape. Lucy noticed the light blue cheek marks next to his two tiny whiskers on either side of his face. His mouth was in in excited smile below his triangle shaped nose and his pink ears swiveled back and forth.
"Ah, this is my assistant." Lucy's eyes went back and forth between the cat and Cinna.
"Your assistant is a cat?" She asked. The cat smiled.
"My name's Happy. Do you have any fish?"
Lucy smiled widely then jumped from the table to get a closer look at the cat. "Are you an Exceed from Extalia?"
The blue cat leaped in the air exposing his white angel wings. "Aye!" He shouted happily leading back on the ground. Lucy laughed. "I've never seen one in person before." She said looking up at Cinna who was still studying her.
"Why don't you sit so we can talk, Lucy?" He said casually then made is way to the metal table. Lucy nodded before following him.
"Lucy, do you know what my job is?" Cinna asked. Lucy shrugged.
"To make me look pretty." Cinna nodded. "Not only that. I'm here to help you make an impression, Fairy Key."
Lucy shot up eyes wide. "Don't worry I'm on your side." Cinna stood also then placed his hands on Lucy's shoulders. "I'm going to make sure they never forget you." Lucy gave a slight smile at his words.
"Now what's your magic?" Cinna asked walking towards the door.
"I'm a Celestial Mage." Lucy said timidly. Cinna paused them looked at her with excited eyes.
"Perfect."
Three hours later, Lucy stood next to a black chariot petting one of the horses hooked up to it. She looked down at her outfit for the twelfth time since she put it on an hour ago. A white band was wrapped around her neck. Attached to the front was a large white bow with a gold key that had a heart shape top with a green jeweled center.
Her shirt was royal blue completely sleeveless with gold line patterns. The shirt ended in a four-leaf shapes. The back of her shirt was out and another bow was placed on her lower back. Lucy wore a dark blue short skirt that ended with one ruffle. She wore blue tights that came up past her knees and ended with white ruffles with a blue band tied around thigh. Her shoes were dark blue like her skirt with gold trim and a two-inch gold heel. Her hands were covered by dark blue gloves similar to the one Karen had given her. Her blonde hair was tied in pigtails with two light green stars that matched her star earrings.
"Oi, Lucy."
The Celestial Mage turned to see her partner behind her looking miserable in his outfit. He wore a close nit dark red full body suit. The designs on the suit was as if they had taken dragon's skin and sewn it together. Natsu wore boots to blend in with the suit. His sleeves went down to the base of his fingers. His salmon colored hair was in it's normally spiked position with gold flakes speckled in his hair. The only thing that was similar was the white dragon scarf. Lucy almost laughed at the grimace on his face.
"What's wrong Natsu?" She asked biting back a smile. Natsu lowered his head and crossed his arms. "It's different." He muttered unhappily. Lucy grinned and put his hand on his shoulder.
"It'll be over soon Natsu."
The Dragon Slayer mumbled something before looking behind Lucy. Suddenly He burst into a full out sprint. Lucy blinked then turned to see Cinna approaching her with Happy flying beside him.
"Happy!" Natsu yelled at the blue Exceed. Happy smiled widely. "Natsu." The two met and hugged each other. Lucy walked over to Cinna as she stared at the two.
"Cinna, how does Natsu know Happy?" She asked still watching Natsu and Happy dancing together.
"Natsu found Happy as a kid. He thought he was a dragon egg before he hatched. The Council ordered all Exceeds were to be used only in the Capital."
Lucy nodded remembering when the rule was made. "So the Council found Happy?"
Cinna sighed. "Yes, it took them a while but they eventually found him. Anyways the people involving the Fairy Key contacted Natsu saying they would protect Happy if he would enter the games under a different name until the Fairy Key was found."
Lucy looked to the ground then smiled. "At least they found each other again." Cinna nodded once before pulling a golden key from his pants pocket. He handed it to Lucy.
"Wave this around while on the chariot. They people will love it and it just might get you sponsors." Lucy stared at the star handle with a levitating diamond in the middle. The end of the key was crafted as if it was a shooting star. Before she could ask what the key could do she was tackled by a flying cat and dragon slayer.
"Sorry, Lucy." Happy said staring at the wide-eyed girl. Natsu lifted himself off and smiled widely down at her. Lucy couldn't help but let out a short laugh. As she got to her feet a horn sounded throughout the building. Many people started to rush to their chariots or out of the building. Cinna ushered Natsu and Lucy toward their chariot.
"Okay, Natsu you know what to do right?" The dragon slayer smiled and nodded his head. Lucy lifted an eyebrow at the mischievous spark in his eyes. Cinna gave the horses a smack on the rear and set the off. Lucy tightened her grip on the star key as their chariot followed behind many other chariots. She felt something grab her hand. Lucy looked down to see Natsu's hand over hers.
"Trust me they'll love it." He whispered then straightened up. Lucy blushed sightly then turned her head. She heard the echo of the cheering crowds. Lucy felt a sudden warmth behind her. She looked back and saw a wall of flames trailing behind them. Lucy would have jumped if Natsu hadn't gripped her hand tighter.
"It's okay, It's my fire." Lucy calmed herself and focused on the light of the tunnel. Natsu squeezed her hand. "Use the key." Lucy lifted the star key and waved it in the air. The key glowed then released tiny gold dust particles the fell to the ground making it look as if she summoned a meteor shower. Amazed she waved the key again and this time different colored dust fell to the ground.
"Get ready." Natsu said lifting their joined their hands in the air as they came out of the tunnel and into a stadium filled with people from the Capital. Lucy heard her and Natsu names being screamed and she looked at the lacrima screen on one of the polls. She gasped as she looked at her reflection. With the fire and shooting it made her look like a celestial being. She turned to Natsu who looked more like a dragon than a human as he waved his hand and sent fire to the excited crowd.
Lucy slowly followed his example by lifting her hand and waving to the people. The Capital screamed even louder as they neared the end of the chariot ride. The magic stopped once they reached the building where President Precht stood at his podium.
"Welcome, tributes." He said glancing down at them. Lucy noticed that he wore a black eye patch over one of his eyes and his white long beard, "We welcome you." The crowd cheered giving him a chance to pause.
"And we wish you, a Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds ever be in your favor."
There is no favor in these games, Lucy. Remember that.
