Chapter 9: A walk to the forest
It was broad daylight which was now the afternoon, the weather outside was great; it was windy and sunny.
Silence has fallen inside the mansion of the Heartfilias.
Ever since Jude left to the neighboring town for his business trip.
In order to prevent the day of the upcoming event that he had planned; The Winter Ball, from being delayed. Mr. Heartfilia decided to advance on his work early, the quicker he gets things done, the results of him arriving back in time will be in place.
The only ones who remained behind was Miss Layla, Lucy, and Laxus. Along with the servants that works under the Heartfilia's household.
The lady of the house; Mrs. Heartfilia would perpetually spend her time-being in her study room. Originally she would peacefully enjoy sipping on her cup of tea reading one of her logic books, but this time it was different.
The graceful woman was taking a stroll out of the mansion to her garden. The sudden announcement that she had heard from her daughter; Lucy, caught her off-guard. Her walk to the gardens was another term for her to take a breather. Every time she wanted to calm down she would quietly leave to cool off and ponder.
She took a deep breath and stood under the shades of a tree that block the sunlight from hitting her. "What is going to happen now?" She said to herself as a disappointed look came across her face.
Layla's POV
Layla couldn't get the thoughts of Lucy out of her head. During the time that the boys were told to meet up with Lucy in the gardens, something unexpected happened:
After the meeting with the boys were over, I was having a private dinner with Lucy and Jude. A family night together with only us three. We barely spoke a word to one another until suddenly Lucy had randomly brought up a certain someone…
"Father," she paused for a bit. "If I pick one of the boys, you'll send the others off, am I right?" Lucy asked.
"That is correct." Jude said plainly, as he took a bite out of his dinner.
Lucy did not say something after that, but as I was watching her poke onto her food, I could tell she was giving herself time to think.
"Well, than… I am not entirely sure about it yet, but I would like to know more about Laxus."
I remember clearly that I froze from eating the cut up steak that was served to us. It shocked me to hear such things. However, it was such great news for Jude…
I gazed throughout the scenario of the gardens of where I stand, the breeze was slowly blowing so gently. "Natsu… What is taking you so long?"
Loki's POV
I was looking for Layla Heartfilia all over the place. Until I finally spotted her under a tree of where Lucy once fell onto her deep slumbers before I carried her back to her chambers.
There was so much questions that I wanted to ask her, that I couldn't let go.
The sudden conversation that I had randomly jumped into with Natsu and Gray the other day, at school, had bothered me completely. I wasn't able to concentrate properly as I was on guard duty or in patrol. All these surprises I am finding about Natsu threw me off the edge that I wanted to hear the whole story from the mother who knew more about this complex situation than anyone else in the house.
"There you are," I said loud enough for her to hear me.
Layla gracefully turned her whole body to look at me. "Leo, what brings you here?" she asked with such generosity.
"There's something that I want to ask you in person."
"And what shall that be?" she tilted her head a little.
"I heard something from Natsu that caught me way of guard. It surprise me to hear that he was engaged to someone name Lisanna?" I took off my glasses as I looked at her, "Honestly madam, with all due with respect, I am quite uncertain what your scheme is. Since I am involved with such matters, I am curious to know exactly what is going on. I know for sure that you did gave me the job to bring the big treasure chest to Lucy. Without any explanations of why, only stating that it was her time capsule that she wanted to open it on her seventeenth birthday... Furthermore, I have not told Lucy that Natsu is the guy she has been looking for. But suddenly Laxus is somehow the mysterious boy and Mr. Heartfilia holds such hatred against Natsu for what reason actually?"
I waited for the Lady to answer the questions that I could not answer or fill in myself. She just stood there in silence as the wind continue to blow against us. She flicked her eyes down to the ground as she heaved a deep sigh that seem to be filled with guilt.
"Once I explain the story to you Loke, just promise me you will do one thing for me."
"It all depends on what I am devoting myself into, but I would like to know what it is." Leo glared at her.
"Don't tell Lucy any of this." She paused, "There is a reason to everything."
Lucy's POV
Lately, I been wondering and thinking about the hostile words that Gray told me.
[Referring back to Chapter 8:
"I may not know the whole entire thing of what is going on. But I surely do know, that you are about to make the biggest mistake of your life. Just do me a favor will yah, give it some time before you actually think of living your life with him!"]
I know for sure that Gray was always considerate about other people even though he doesn't want to admit it sometimes. But to think that he would say those words to me, it was like he knew for sure I would regret it as long as I live…
But, that's not the only thing I am wondering about too. Laxus and Rogue were childhood friends with Gray and Natsu. Then I found out that Natsu was actually part of a wealthy family?! Next, Laxus is the mysterious boy that I been searching for my entire life!?
"Geez! So many surprises after the next! What the heck is this?!" I shouted out.
Right next to me sat Laxus. He was eyeballing me as I covered my mouth immediately.
Today was our small little date. I wasn't sure where we were heading, but we were both inside of my limousine. We rarely spoke a word to each other, and I felt slightly awkward with the tense atmosphere I was receiving from him. The whole entire car ride, he had his arms cross and his eyes close. Not even giving me any eye contact or whatsoever.
I couldn't stop staring at him as I wondered why didn't he just told me directly from the beginning he was the mysterious boy I was looking for. Even though I was still figuring out the small pieces of Quatoria and other helpful resources I came across at that time when he showed up with the other bachelors.
Once we arrived to our destination, I was surprised to see that our small date would be taking place at the forest that would abruptly show up in my dreams. Now that I think about it, I have not been getting those sort of dreams for a while now.
"Finally we are here," Laxus said as he stretch out his arms into the air feeling a bit cramped. "They just recently build a store around here that lets you rent out boats at the lakes. Why don't you wait here while I go get us something to eat and pay for one of the boat?"
I watched as Laxus left to the stores by himself, as I stand alone in solitude. My head rotated to the side as I eyeballed the forest before me, giving me a nostalgic feeling.
Without me realizing it until a few minutes of time past, I was automatically walking deeper into the woods. My legs continued on with that walk, without me knowing where in the world was I actually going…
Inside of me, something was calling out, that I should take this path and continue on, something awaits me, but I really don't know what. I couldn't quite tell what was going on, but I listened.
The feeling of what I once felt in my dreams was coming back to my senses. Anxiety and overwhelming fear of being lost in the dark. Simply, I just ignored it. Not allowing such emotions to get to me.
I was now seeing a small dim of light ahead. The particular scene that I once witness before, like it was all déjà vu all over again. Quickly I rushed into the light that was rapidly getting brighter, and just like that I had found myself in a different area. The lake in front of me was sparkling. A beautiful scene that could capture any artists' attention to paint the very image.
"…Is this?" I uttered out in surprise. "The scene I saw in my dreams?"
"Lucy?" someone suddenly called out. My eyes widened as I turned to the person who said my name.
"Natsu…?"
"Lucy, what're you doing here?" He questioned.
Right before my eyes, I was seeing another vision next to him; the little boy of Natsu…
My heart suddenly ache as I flinched as I put my palms on my temple. Natsu recognized the pain on my face immediately and came to my assistant.
"Hey Lucy!"
"Lucy!"
"Lucy, why are you here alone?!"
"Are you okay?!"
I was seeing an image of a car coming closer to me, and hearing the voices of my own father and mother screaming in horror. The voices were echoing inside my head. All the scenes were moving in slow-motion and I could see the younger version of Natsu shouting out to my name. His face was mortified and scared….
Then, I was receiving pictures of him wearing a familiar blue cap that rightfully owned by Gray. But that was the end of my flashback...
Natsu's POV
Once again I was seeing the golden hair beauty suffering in pain. It frightened me to see her in such condition. As I was the only one who was there standing by her and giving her support through the process.
I didn't know exactly what to do.
But as the time flew by, I watched as she regain back her calm composure as her heavy breathing slowly become to ease in a normal pace.
Her face didn't look terrified as it was just seconds ago.
"Lucy, are you alright?" I asked her.
I waited for my fellow classmate to speak to me, I heard her gulped, and watching her slowly take a small peek at me.
"Natsu…" she whispered. "Are you-?"
Before I was able to manage to hear her say something, someone's voice, far in the distance interrupted us.
"Hey Lucy?! Where'd you go?!"
I was already familiar to who that voice belong to. Laxus.
I turn around to Lucy who was just deeply gazing up at me. I extended my hands out to her as she slowly place her palms on top of it. Just like before, she questioned where we were heading, "Where are we going?"
I turned my head to look at her, "We are taking you back, where else?" I grinned.
Her eyes seem to widen as we both entered the forest and walk together in the darkness. She was pretty quiet throughout the way, so I thought of something that might gladly bring back the good memories of before, "When's the next time we could meet?"
I wasn't really expecting a respond at all from her, but little did I know she was sobbing in tears.
Lissana's POV
"So this is the school that Natsu is attending right?" I asked Elfman and Mirajane.
The three of us where standing inside of the school's campus as they explained the changes during my absences when I was attending Edolas Academy. I was surprise to see how Fairy Tail had connections with other school campus, but that was not what I was focus on mainly.
"I can't wait to see you, Natsu." Lisanna snickered.
[Author's note: Hey readers! For those of you who have not voted on my poll yet. Please check it out it's on my page! The poll has something to do with my story, so don't ignore this note!
I am happy to say that I finally made it this far onto the plot! Thank goodness I have written how the plot would go, but I had to make a lot of arrangements and shuffle some parts plus editing! Holy crap, sometimes I would literally get bored writing since I already wanted to reach the climax and the ending already! But I am almost there! OMG I don't know how many more chapters left, but I would like to thank you readers for reading my first story. There was so many times that I felt like stopping since I thought my story was a total fail! But I been gaining followers and favorites slowly as the days goes. It made me felt bad for those who are curious to read to the very end, and left hanging. So I am doing these for you! I would like to thank you for the virtual support. I am actually pretty embarrass to ask to leave a review, but I would really appreciate a review of what you readers thought of the story so far. If it is getting too annoying or I don't know, you tell me lol. Thank you! –Jobe]
