Happy comforted natsu as the effects of motion sickness kicked in. Happy realised, however, he was dealing with it better than usual. In fact, he didn't even look sick, he was just quiet on the journey.
They at last arrived just before a mountain, the stagecoach driver looking at them before explaining, "I can't get the stagecoach over the mountain. However, if you cross over it, there's a town just ahead. I'm sure there are stagecoaches there, sir."
"Thankyou," Natsu said quietly, tossing some jewel over to the driver. He nodded at Happy before he started to hike up the mountain.
Happy flew aside him, eyebrow raised, "you haven't eaten yet. You gonna eat?" Happy asked him.
"I'm not hungry."
"Yes you are, Natsu!" Happy insisted. "I can hear your stomach rumbling!"
"I said," Natsu said sharply. "I'm not hungry."
"Alright, alright," Happy said, a little taken aback.
Natsu sighed, "sorry Happy," he began. "I've just lost my appetite."
"It's okay, Natsu." Happy re-assured him.
They walked for a few more hours, reaching the peak of the mountain. Happy looked down, knowing it wouldn't be an easy feat to climb the way down. "Natsu, let me rest here for a while, and then I'll fly you down!"
"You don't have to, Happy."
"The faster we get there, the faster you get to kick Tortura's ass, remember?"
"You're right," Natsu said, nodidng. "We'll camp here for the night."
"Aye Sir!"
Erza shook with anger at the news of Natsu's and Happy's disappearance. "That idiot!" Erza half screamed, shocking all the quiet readers among the guild.
It was day two of the researching, and no luck had arisen yet. However, Levy had commented that perhaps Lucy's stolen magic could be given back to Lucy.
"Is that why Natsu and Happy have gone to the council?" Erza said, examining the note left by the Fire Dragon Slayer.
"Probably," Gray commented. "You know how much of a fool he is, going alone."
"We should follow him," Erza suggested.
"Probably," Wendy said quietly.
Erza looked at Wendy, smiling at her, "Why don't you tag along?"
"I can?" Wendy beamed back. "Yay! I want to feel like I'm doing something useful!"
Erza nodded at her, the smile fading. Everyone had commented on how quiet Wendy had become since the incident. She blames herself, Erza thought bitterly. Because Lucy was taken in her place. I wonder if Wendy understands that Lucy is the only one who could have survived this.
Because her magic may be celestial, but I am sure it is something else, too. Something that we all have deep down. Hope.
Yes, she has alot of hope.
The snow crunched beneath Lucy's feet as she looked around. She was at the guild, and she strolled inside. She sat at the bar,before drinking some egg nog as Mira was pairing up people within the guild.
Lucy praised Erza in her mind as she strolled up to the bar, sititng beside Lucy as Mira stopped her pairings right before Lucy and whoever was "suited" to her came up. Erza then turned dramatically to Lucy, before asking her, "Lucy. You do realize it's the Guild Ball tomorrow?"
"What?!" Lucy demanded, spitting her eggnog out in shock.
Erza quickly picked up a book lounging on the bar, using it to shield her face. The eggnog-spitting didn't seem to affect her much. "Yes. To mark the start of the Winter Festive, there is a ball. You have to find a partner."
"Oh. Who are you partnering with?"
Erza smiled, "Oh, a wizard from another guild who dropped by."
"Ooh, exciting," Lucy grinned, sipping the remainder of her eggnog.
"The question is, who will you partner with?" Erza asked, her eyes lit up in curiosity.
"Err," Lucy began, placing her eggnog down slowly. "I guess I'll have to pass then. I don't have anybody to go with."
Just at that moment, Mira leaned on the bar, butting into the conversation. "I heard Natsu can't find a partner either."
"But I heard Lisanna had asked him," Lucy said softly.
"No," Mira smiled, starting to wipe a bar glass. "She's attending with Freed."
"Really?" Lucy asked curiously. "And who are you going with, Mira?"
"Well, Max asked me," Mira smiled. "So I'm going with him."
"It's tradition the male asks though, isn't it?" Lucy asked sadly. "You know what Natsu is like. He won't even want to go to the ball."
"I'll ask him myself," Erza announced, standing up. "I heard he's at the hut with Lisanna."
"I sent Gray there an hour ago to see if they wanted any refreshments taking," Mira said, frowning slightly.
"He still hasn't come back yet. I hope he's okay."
"He's an idiot, but not that much of an idiot," Lucy said with a laughed, nodding.
Lucy felt herself arise from the darkness. She tried to open her eyes, but still couldn't.
I see, Lucy thought. I sustain my energy while reliving a memory. I guess it's all I can do to buy myself some time.
And with that, she plunged back down into darkness.
Natsu awoke to a sharp pain in his leg. He gave a small yell of alarm, before looking up to see Erza, who had presumably just kicked him.
"Fool," she spoke, a hint of viciousness in her voice.
"We're a team, remember?" Gray reminded him boredly. "You're not the only one who wants to help Lucy."
Natsu nodded, feeling slightly ashamed before looking past Erza. "You...you aren't carrying any luggage."
"Ofcourse not. We need to be quick. Now get up, and let's get moving."
Natsu saw Wendy rush towards him, outstretching her palm, "let me help you up!"
He took her hand, before turning to each of them, "how is Lucy doing?"
"She hasn't changed from the last time you saw her," Erza told him quietly. "But this method may work, as you said."
"I hope so."
"Lucy will be back on her feet in no time," Gray assured him. "That's how Lucy is, hm? She'll probably lecture us about taking so long to find her. Then she'll moan about her dress getting all dirty."
Erza grinned, nodding, before joining in, "then she'll sigh. She'll sit down and explain how she's going to be unable to afford her rent due to inactivity. Then, Natsu," she turns to him, smiling. "Then you'll arrive with a stupid or dangerous job. And we'll all agree to go on it."
Natsu smiled at them, wiping his eyes with his sleeve, "let's get going then."
"Aye, sir!"
Mira sat by Lucy's bedside for a little while longer, before she heard the door open. She saw Loke, who then walked up to Mira, sliding a chair beside her and sitting down. He watched over Lucy, his eyes tired. "Loke, you really don't look so well. It's nearing the third day of you being here."
"I stayed here for much longer last time, hm?"
"That was different. You're supporting more celestial spirits, as they are not used to being here for so long themselves."
He grinned at her, "how did you know?"
"I know alot," Mira said, smiling at him.
"I can't believe I didn't protect her," he said bitterly. Mira rested a hand on his shoulder, her eyes looking into his.
"It is not your fault. It is no-ones. You'd know how Lucy would react if she heard you saying this."
"I know. She'd yell at me for taking the blame."
Mira nodded. "You're not alone though, Loke. Natsu reacted the same as you."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Loke paused, before turning to her, smirking, "does he like her?"
Mira nodded, returning his smirk with a smile, "it's obvious. Same with the other way around, too. Natsu is just a little too much of a whirlwind to chase after them. Lucy, on the otherhand, has kept them quiet in risk of getting hurt."
Loke nodded, before standing, "you're right Mira. I'm not feeling so well. I better go rest up a little. We'll continue work tomorrow evening."
Loke then vanished, leaving Mira alone, yet again, by Lucy's bedside. Mira didn't mind at all though. She looked at Lucy, before closing her eyes and trying to drift asleep. I know you don't like being alone, Lucy, Mira thought. So I will stay with you until you wake up.
It was a busy day the next day. It was early in the morning, just as the shops opened, and Lucy rushed from her apartment, Plue trying his best to keep up. She ran along the edge of the river, the usual men in the boat calling out to her to be careful. Lucy grinned in response, rushing into the town square. She looked around at the clothes shops, and her expression turned to despair.
They'll all be sold out, she thought bitterly. All the nice dresses will be taken. She then suddenly had an idea, walking into an usused alleyway and summoning Virgo. "Time for punishment, princess?"
"What? No! I need a dress. A ballgown."
"I will get you a few choices, princess. Go back to your apartment, so we can assess them privately."
"Good idea, Virgo!" Lucy said as she vanished. She then skipped home, greeted by the sight of ballgowns littering the floor and being draped across every possible surface.
"I couldn't bring much choice, princess. I apologise. I am ready for punishment."
"I SAID I DON'T WANT TO PUNISH YOU!"
"Alright, princess," Virgo said, nodding.
It was a few hours before Lucy found the perfect dress. It was long, and pink too, and flowed to the ground. It was big, but not too big, and Lucy felt like a princess in it.
"I know I don't miss most of my clothes from back home," Lucy said to Virgo. "But it is really nice to get dressed up in a dress again!"
"You look beautiful, Princess," Virgo stated, her eyes shining. "I shall take my leave now!"
"Thankyou Virgo!" Lucy called just as she vanished. Lucy then grabbed the key for Cancer, and smiled as he appeared. He glanced at her, smiling, before taking out his scissors from the holsters at his sides.
"A ball, ebi?"
"Yes!" Lucy said, giggling.
"Who's your partner?"
"Well," Lucy began, before her tone became sad. "No-one. I'm mostly going so Wendy has someone to talk to."
"Isn't she paired up with the Romeo boy, ebi?"
"Ehh?!" Lucy shrieked. "How do you know so much?!"
"Loke told me, ebi," he said, shrugging.
"Ah, you've all been pretty close since I was at Tenroujima," Lucy then grinned, before a smirk played across her features. "Did you miiiiiss me?"
Lucy jumped at the sound of a voice, "well, you were gone for seven years. Luckily, that time isn't so long for spirits such as ourselves."
"Ehh?!" Lucy shrieked again. "Loke! What are you doing?! I could have been changing!"
"I know you weren't, you were changing earlier," and, before Lucy had a chance to scream at him for being a pervert, he carried on. "I was asked to walk you to the ball, so you may meet up with your partner."
"That explains the suit you're wearin-. Wait. What?! Partner? I don't have one."
"It has been arranged. You have half an hour until the ball starts. I'll come back here at that time."
"Wait, who's my partner?!" Lucy demanded, just as he vanished. "Damnit!" She cursed, before she felt Cancer lift her, and place her in a seat.
"We don't have long, ebi," Cancer said, beginning to work on her hair.
"You're right," she said, relaxing slightly. "Let's get ready in time for my mystery partner!"
I wanted to be able to give people the chance to see certain memories I thought would be a good way to show how they got closer to eachother. Yes, it's obvious who the mystery partner is, but I'm not going to ruin the surprise twist!
Thankyou guys for supporting me in this writing. Going to do 15-20 chapters or so. Depends how it flows!
