Deep inhale. Deep exhale. Deep inhale... YOU GUYS! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU RIGHT NOW?! A SUPER HUGE TON! YOUR REVIEWS ARE WAY TOO AWESOME! I'M SO FREAKING HAPPY I MIGHT CRY! But instead, how about I update? Lucy's a little different in this one, but bear with me. It's been three months away from Natsu and Fairy Tail. She's gonna be a little crazy. Anyway, this is a pretty good one. I think you'll like it. Reviews! Follows! Favorites! Follows! Come on people, get to clicking!
Dedicated to gwb620. Special thanks to melt0928 (love your pic!), WhiteWinterStar (of course I'm doing an epilogue – it wouldn't feel right without one!), DazzTugz, Mhilano, maxt2019 (I love you for being so amazingly nice – thank you SO MUCH!), LeahMineStar, and finally lilpumpkingirl, who as always gives me amazing feedback and fantastic advice. It's like, be my plot-creator. My life would be so much easier. Thanks so much to all of you awesome people. If you want your name up here, try being as awesome as these guys (it's easy – type something and click the button). AND NOW, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I GIVE YOU
LUCY
It had been three months. I'd traveled halfway across Fiore and ended up in a huge city called Cyprus. It reminded me painfully of Magnolia, what with the cherry trees and wide canal. I found myself walking right on the edge like I used on my way home from the guild. Before I knew it, I'd ended up in front of a small apartment building with a big sign stating that there was an apartment for rent. I stared at it for a while before giving up and walking inside. It wasn't like I had anywhere to be, after all. I could spend some time in Cyprus before moving on.
I followed the hallway on the ground floor to a spacious office in the back of the building. It was dim, and filled with gaudy plush furniture that looked ancient. Behind the wide mahogany desk was a hunched figure, scribbling away on a sheet of paper.
"Hello?" I said quietly, trying not to startle him or her – it? "Are you the land... Um, the landperson?" The figure glanced up, grunted, and snapped its fingers. Dozens of tiny lights embedded in the ceiling flicked on, making me blink in the sudden brightness.
"Yes," the person said, standing up. "I am the landlady. Are you here to ask about the vacant room?" I started to nod, but when I caught sight of the short, plump woman standing before me, my jaw dropped in shock and horror.
"The Landlady?" I exclaimed. "From Magnolia?" She looked exactly the same – small, round, with glasses, a purple coif, and a terrifying expression. She was scantily clad as usual, wearing a blouse that was barely buttoned and a skirt that looked more like a belt. "It's me, Lucy!" She sniffed.
"You must be thinking of my older sister. She rents an apartment building in Magnolia." I deflated.
"Oh. I see." What were you expecting? I scolded. It's not like she would leave Magnolia all of a sudden! I sighed. Truthfully, I had been so glad for a connection to my old life, no matter how small or rotund. Or badly dressed. "Well, I'd like to take a look at the apartment mentioned earlier. Could you show me?" The landlady nodded and bustled past me, all business.
"Come this way. It's on the top floor." We climbed two flights of stairs to the third floor, where there were two doors. The landlady unlocked the one on the left and gestured inside. "After you." I stepped inside and gasped.
"It's... the same." Everything – the carpets, desk, bed, paint color – it was all just the same as when I had walked into my Magnolia apartment for the first time. Even the floor had the same funny dip in the middle. I ran into the bathroom – the same there, too. The kitchen was identical as well. Finally, I stood panting in the middle of the main room, drinking in every detail. The landlady eyed me with distaste.
"Is it to your liking?"
"What's the rent?" She frowned at me, and I cringed. Man, was she creepy.
"It was listed on the sign out front." I smiled sheepishly, and she sighed. "80,000 jewel a month." I gaped at her.
"No way. My old apartment was only 70,000 and it was exactly the same! Are you kidding?" Her frown sharpened to a glare.
"Do you have a problem? The rent is 80,000." I crossed my arms.
"Make it 70,000 and we have a deal." She laughed, an obnoxious ear-splitting sound.
"You amuse me! 80,000, take it or leave it." I slammed my hand on the doorframe behind her and leaned way down into her pudgy face.
"This apartment is barely worth the 70,000 jewel. Charging 80,000 is practically robbery. Lower the rent." She shivered a little, but puffed up her chest bravely and looked me straight in the eye.
"Threats won't work on me!" she declared. I raised an eyebrow.
"Who said anything about threatening? I just thought you needed me to get a closer, since obviously you couldn't hear me from way down there." Air hissed between the landlady's teeth.
"75,000 is my final offer. I refuse to move from that point." I shrugged and straightened up.
"I can afford it. I'll take it." The woman humphed and tugged on the hem of her blouse. A button had popped off and was lying on my floor. "Can I have the key?" I held out my hand, and she dropped the key into my outstretched palm with a sigh of disgust. I wrapped my fingers around it and offered her a friendly smile. She stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind her. As soon as she couldn't see my face, the smile fell away and I heaved a long sigh, tucking the key into my pouch with my gate keys.
I ended up staring out the window, watching the traffic go by. None of the people passing were familiar in the least. It made me homesick to be in this place without my friends. I rested my cheek on top of my hands on the sill and turned my thoughts to my monetary situation. True, I could afford rent and food, but I would need to check out the guilds here for work. I'd found that guilds all over were pretty nice about sharing their jobs with traveling wizards, as long as the guild wasn't too big or stuck-up. For example, Blue Pegasus and Lamia Scale had been more than glad to let me take some of their requests, but others like Astral Sphere, the ones that were getting bigger and high on their power, were really unfriendly, especially to members of threats like Fairy Tail. My shoulder still ached from the rock a guy with telekinesis had chucked at me. It had felt good to beat him up.
"So," Loki said over my shoulder. "What are you going to do now?" I jumped.
"Damn it, how many times have I told you not to do that?" I turned to face him. He smiled brightly at me and adjusted his shades.
"Sorry. But anyway, what's the plan?" I shrugged and glanced over my shoulder, back out the window.
"We're staying here for a while, until I decide it's time to move on." I didn't have to look to know Loki was looking at me pityingly.
"It is a lot like Magnolia, isn't it?" I sighed and faced him agian. He knew me too well.
"Yeah. This... probably isn't healthy." Loki shrugged.
"Maybe not. Or maybe this is exactly what you need. We won't know until we stay for a bit." I smiled gratefully at him and nodded, moving away from the window and heading towards the door. "The third floor, huh?" the Celestial Spirit commented behind me. "I don't think even he could jump that high." I hunched my shoulders and opened the door.
"I don't know what you're talking about." I stepped into the hall and locked the door behind me. Somehow, Loki was already next to me.
"Yeah, yeah. I know you don't."
Out in the street, I stopped a couple of kids about Romeo and Wendy's age and asked them what guilds were based in Cyprus. They gave me funny looks.
"Well, duh," one said snarkily. "Sabertooth." Loki gave him the eye and he flinched. His friend stepped forward curiously.
"Hey, are you a guild wizard?" I smiled and held up my right hand.
"Sure am." The kid gasped.
"Awesome, you're from Fairy Tail!" The other one looked up at me suspiciously.
"Aren't you that chick with the big boobs who's always hangin' around Natsu Dragneel and Erza Scarlet and Gray Fullbuster?" My smile slipped a little.
"No." The second kid gasped.
"Yeah, you are! You're Lucy Heartfilia! I saw you fight at the Grand Magic Games in Crocus. It was super cool. And I heard, about how Flare from Raven Tail totally cheated to beat you by threatening Asca! And, and–" I held up a hand.
"Okay, okay. Thanks. Look, can you guys take me to Saber? I don't know my way around town yet." The second kid nodded enthusiastically, while the first glowered at the ground and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Thanks a lot."
The two boys led the way down the canal, past shops and fishing boats. Their names, I learned, were Sam and Holland. Holland was the irritable one, and Sam was the one talking at light speed. "And, and, Natsu Dragneel is SO COOL! I mean, he totally beat up Sting and Rogue ALL BY HIMSELF! Not that Sting and Rogue aren't cool, but I mean, you know. Right?" Loki nodded, a forced smile on his face. I'd delegated him to walk next to Sam, while I followed behind next to Holland. He didn't say anything, just scuffed his shoes on the ground and grunted every time I asked him a question.
"Are you a Sabertooth fan?" I asked him eventually. At first, I thought he was going to ignore me again, but instead he nodded.
"Yeah." I smiled. Finally, I was getting somewhere.
"They're all really strong, aren't they?" He nodded again, this time a little more willingly. "Who's your favorite?"
"Umm, I guess Sting, if I really had to pick. But I think Rufus' magic is definitely the coolest. And Orga is super strong, you know? And then you can't count out Rogue, of course." I laughed.
"They're all pretty awesome, I guess." Thinking about Saber brought me back to the Grand Magic Games. "Watching them fight was something else. And fighting alongside them was even better. It was such a rush." Still, the best rush of all was fighting with Fairy Tail. They were on a whole other world. "I remember back during the Games, there were so many amazing battles, it's hard to count. Gray versus Rufus was one of the best, I think." Holland actually smiled a little at that.
"That one was awesome for sure. Gray Fullbuster's Ice-Make magic is incredible. I liked Gajeel versus Rogue, too. I mean, Shadow-Steel Dragon? Come on, that was awesome." I nodded.
"No doubt. Do you like Fairy Tail, too?" He looked up at me, his gray eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I love them!" Is this what I looked like, talking to Natsu about wanting to join Fairy Tail years ago? "Hey," Holland said suddenly, furrowing his brows. I raised my eyebrows.
"What is it?"
"What kind of magic do you use?" I laughed, mostly out of surprise. "What's so funny?" I waved my hand in the air, swallowing my laughter.
"No, nothing." I jerked my chin at Loki, who was still gamely trying to listen to Sam. "See Loki up there? He's my magic." Holland was obviously confused. "I'm a Celestial Spirit wizard. Loki's actual name is Leo the Lion. He's a Celestial Spirit of the Zodiac." Holland pointed at me. I blinked.
"You're like Yukino!" he exclaimed. I relaxed and grinned.
"Yeah, we're good friends." He folded his arms and nodded sagely.
"Ah, I see, I see." I tilted my head in confusion, but chose not to comment.
"Lucy, we're here," Loki said. I realized he and Sam had stopped and were waiting for us. I glanced to the left, where a big stone building stood, isolated from the rest of the structures. A banner announced that htis was, indeed, the Sabertooth guild.
"Oh, alright. Thanks for everything, guys," I said to Sam and Holland. They nodded. "Loki, I think it's about time you went back." He grinned and blew me a kiss.
"See you then, Lucy. Call me if you need me." He vanished into a shower of gold. Sam and Holland stared in amazement.
"Cool..." I smiled and patted my key pouch.
"Well then, bye, you two." I waved and turned to the big double doors of on of Fiore's best guilds. As I put my hands on the doors and pushed, I heard Holland shout.
"See you later, Lucy!" I glanced back with a last wave and a smile before stepping into the guild hall.
The first thing I registered about Sabertooth was how many people were in there. I mean, there had to be a hundred, at least, just sitting around at the tables. And don't even get me started on the crowd at the request board. The second thing I noticed was how ordinary it was. I'd expected the legendary Sabertooth guild hall to be more extravagant, but it was pretty plain. Wooden tables, a small bar to the side, a rickety staircase in the back.
As I walked past more and more tables on my way to the stairs, the chatter filling the hall died and curious or hostile gazes were directed at me. I ignored them and continued on my way until a familiar white-haired wizard blocked my way at the foot of the stairs.
"Only wizards approved by Master Sting may go upstairs," Yukino said, just as official as always.
"Yukino!" I grabbed her in a tight hug, then held her out at arm's length. "How've you been? I missed you!" She blinked at me in surprise.
"Lucy? What are you doing here?" I let her go and smiled.
"I'm traveling for training." She glanced around expectantly.
"Where are Natsu and the others? Are they getting something to eat?" My easy smile faltered at that. Is it that weird to see me alone? Will I never be free of this?
"Actually, I'm by myself." Before she could say anything, I hurried on. "So, anyway, can I go talk to Sting for a minute? I'm planning on staying a while, so I'll need to borrow some job requests." She smiled and nodded.
"Of course. I'm sure Master Sting will be glad to give you some assistance." She started up the stairs. "I'll take you to him." I followed her to a small room that was crowded to capacity with four people and two cats. Sting lounged across his desk, examining a board game on the floor idly. Lector sat on his hip, munching on something. Sting and Frosch stood to the side, while Rufus and Orga sat on the floor, also intent on the board game. Yukino knocked softly on the doorframe. "Master? You have a visitor from Fairy Tail." His head shot up so fast, I thought he'd give himself whiplash.
"Is it Natsu?" His face fell considerably when he saw that I wasn't, in fact, Natsu. "Oh. Who are you?" Yukino grimaced.
"Master, she is a good friend of Natsu's. Lucy Heartfilia, remember?" He rested his cheek on his palm and stared at me for a few long seconds.
"Mmm... Nope. Not at all." I just laughed, while Yukino looked at me like I was crazy for not being mad. I didn't particularly care though. Sadly, I was used to people not remembering me by now.
"Well, it doesn't really matter. I'm here to ask you a favor." One blond eyebrow lifted, urging me to continue. "Would you mind if I took some job requests here? I'm traveling around Fiore, and I need some jewel for rent here." Sting shrugged.
"Doesn't matter to me. We have plenty, anyway. And if you're a friend of Natsu's... How is he, by the way?" I tried not to flinch. At Blue Pegasus and Lamia Scale too, everyone wanted to know how Natsu was doing. Leave me alone already.
I turned casually and held up my hand over my shoulder. "How should I know? Haven't seen him in months. Thanks for the help." I bit my lip as I descended the stairs, willing the image of Natsu's carefree grin from my mind. Get out of my head, damn idiot. No one wants you here anymore.
Caught up in my confused fog, I didn't see the purple-haired guy in front of me as I elbowed my way to the request board. I slammed right into his back, sending him crashing into the board. "Hey!" he grumbled, rubbing his shoulder. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Sorry," I mumbled, snatching up the first three requests I saw and slipping back through the crowd.
I heard him call again from behind me, but I was already out the doors and running down the road to my apartment.
OK, let's have it. Thoughts! Fangirl moments! Hate (WITHIN REASON)! Suggestions! Come on people, don't keep me waiting!
