Chapter 10: The Stars Above
Lucy/Layla
I kicked the message board that stood by the door of this shabby house which is actually a sorry excuse for a Guild. A house so pathetic it reflected how pathetic its members truly are.
"Not so tough now without all those Aces," I thought, my body seething in anger as the idea of their absence flooded by entire being, causing me to forget why I came here.
"How dare they?! After all those bad memories I have to reminiscence and was forced to remember just by coming here, they had the nerve to disappear and ruin everything!" I stomped my feet in anger, causing the ground beneath me to shake with the magic power I accidentally applied on it.
"Layla-sempai! Please, calm down!" Yukino-thy-naïve of an apprentice (and the only member of Sabertooth who seemed to fancy this pathetic Guild for Fairies) panicked as she massaged my back, hoping it would calm me down. It somehow did, as this girl really knows how to massage.
But then again…
"How would I fuckin' calm down if these good-for-nothing wannabe's decided that it was best to move away and escape my inevitable wrath of fury?!" I yelled in irritation. It's not that I came here just to pick a fight, but if they had the nerve to do this if all my intentions were semi-pure; then let us just say that what they did is something they'd regret.
I could feel my head heating up, my veins getting more evident and my whole body shaking, indicating how angry I came to be by the very second the passes by. Just as I said, I have anger issues.
"Look on the bright side Layla-sempai. It says here the location of where they are…Aquatica Resort, I think I know where the resort is actually located near…" I didn't let her finish her sentence as I literally dragged her to the train station and asked her to buy whatever ticket we may need to reach that said beach.
I know why they chose Aquatica, they chose it because it was private for mages (because its just a small part of a larger beach) and that it is truly made for training. But still…
'They're training against mages who evolved with time through the seven whole years that has passed and they chose to go to the beach…' I thought as the train moved. I sighed.
'What was I thinking when I joined the stupidest Guild in Fiore?'
3rd Person
"Natsu! What the heck are you doing in my room?!" Lucy tried to cover her chest when the said boy looked at her, placing his index on his lips. He mumbled under his breath how Lucy should stay quiet as he was being disturbed from his sleep.
She tried kicking him, but then, with a groan, she decided to put on her night clothes, write on her diary before calling it a night.
Hesitantly, she went by her side of the bed, something Natsu always saved for her. And as she slept, she couldn't help but smile at the fact that this stupid yet equally warm guy…is not really
'Darn it Lucy! Don't you dare think about this stupid guy like that!' A portion of her mind thought before the sand man lead her to her dream land. A paradise where everything is perfect.
…
"Erza, do you actually plan on stopping Gray and Natsu from fighting, I mean, I thought it was you duty to stop the guys from arguing like kids?!" Lucy said, massaging her temples to ease her headache. Their journey on the tower made Lucy tired and weary.
She sighed when Erza didn't respond and took pleasure on eating her cake, ignoring the world and all the noise in it. Sometimes, Lucy wished she was Erza. Because if she was, then she could easily zone out from the fire that she has to dodge, the ice shards that almost hit her, winds that made her hair look bad and chairs that looked dangerously close.
"Not really, a guild must have a friendly spar whenever necessary,' Erza mumbled after Lucy complained once more, easily taking another chunk of her strawberry cake. She looked so happy that Lucy felt fear when a healthy mixture of a roasted chair swept Erza's beloved cake.
'So much for healthy spars,' Lucy groaned as the noise simply got louder thanks to the Knight. She massaged her temples once more, trying to ease the pain.
….
"Happy! For the last time, I'm not fat!" Lucy said as she almost threw the butter knife towards the blue cat. Happy giggled childishly, before repeating what he just said causing Lucy to get even redder. Being 'fat' isn't one of the things Lucy wanted to be called upon.
"Why Lucy? I don't see anything wrong coming from gaining weight...I mean, you look better with wider cheeks…" Natsu said with complete sincerity that it made Lucy blush. But then, to cover this, she yelled at the Dragon Slayer, telling him that her cheeks never widened at all and that he must be dreaming.
"Yes Lucy-chan, you're kind of gaining weight," Levy, who came out of nowhere, said as she giggled rather suspiciously but then again, she succeeded on making the blonde look at a mirror and measure her so-called fattened cheeks.
And when she didn't see anything strange…
"I'll get you three! Come back here!"
"Lucy, are you running to reduce those extra pound of fats?" Lucy twitched and when she turned around, she saw the sexiest woman there is (except if she was compared with Erza), Mirajane Strauss standing innocently.
"For the last time, I'm not fat!" Lucy cried out in frustration before she ran out of the Guild's door, breaking it in the process. Behind her, the three mages (plus Happy) high fived each other from the prank they managed to pull out.
"Layla-sempa…Are you still with me? Hello?! Layla-sempai, are you even listening to what I'm saying?!" Yukino waved her hand in front of the older mage who seemed to have blanked off into her own world. She's been doing it a lot lately, which concerned the young Celestial Mage.
"Layla-sempai!" Yukino yelled as she slapped her senior, but the impact of her slap wasn't enough to release Layla from her trance. She was about to punch her this time, hoping her fist will be enough to bring her senior from her daze (though she forgot about the dangers that it brought)…
"I'm not fat!" Layla yelled before the fist reached her face, causing Yukino to quickly hide her hand behind her back, mentally preparing herself from whatever it is that was to come. Layla looked around, before feeling something, an itch, from her cheeks. Yukino sweat dropped, but at the same time, she was in relief and thankful for Layla's tough skin.
Only to face plant when Layla went on another daze.
After They Arrived in Magnolia…
"Are you okay Layla-sempai? You seem…off…" Yukino mumbled as they searched for any signs of the guild, which was hard considering that they cannot exactly ask anyone, especially when everyone seems to know her senior.
"Isn't that Layla from Team Sabertooth? What is she doing here?!"
"Cool! Mommy, can I go ask for her autograph?"
"No, you know full well that Layla is a dangerous person."
"But momma! She's one of the Light Guilds right?!"
"No buts—"
"Daddy is that who I think it is?"
"Who?"
"It is her! Layla-san can I get your autograph! Please!" the young child said bravely, causing Yukino to sweat heavily. This wasn't good.
"No. I don't sign stupid autographs. Sheesh, can't you just be contented that you saw me, I'm not even a celebrity," Which was a lie. Both Yukino and Layla know that Layla is actually a model.
"UWAAA!" the child cried after it received Layla's deadly glare. The child's father would have confronted Layla only to back away when Layla glared at him as well.
"Wait, that girl! She looks just like her, correct?" A man commented, making Layla turn her back.
"You're right! She does look like her! I mean, they can be sisters!" It was enough to stop Layla from her tracks.
'How can they recognize me in this new face of mine?' Yukino stopped, tilting her head slightly at the worried look on her face.
'Hmm. Let them know, who the hell cares?! It's not as if they could actually do anything about it.' Layla thought before continuing on the familiar streets of Magnolia City, noting the changes it underwent.
In Another Point Of View
"That girl with Layla, she looks just like Lisanna, right?" a woman with a fat stomach told the ferryman of one of the boats which constantly sailed in the rivers of Magnolia for tourists. She chose to ignore Layla, considering how arrogant she seemed.
"Wait, that girl! She looks just like her!" The man said, before he was slapped by the fat woman who told something about him repeating what he said. He rubbed his head and apologized, only to be surprised when Layla looked at him as if she saw a ghost before walking away. The man felt as if he knew her but then, he shook his head. 'I must be seeing things. It can't possibly be her.'
"Come to think of it, she does like her!" the friend of the ferryman said as they watched the two mages walk away.
"But I don't really think they are related," Concluded the fat woman.
After about an hour or so…
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
The sound of explosion surprised the whole town when suddenly, flames licked their skies and smoke covered the clouds. Everyone panicked when they saw the humongous Guild of Twilight Ogre explode consecutively, as the Guild Master of the said Guild couldn't help but watch in sorrow as his HQ was destroyed…
Just after it was recreated.
He was about to point his fingers on the rogues of Fairy Tail when out of nowhere, another set of explosions occurred and everyone couldn't help but stare in horror as smoke and flames also licked the atmosphere by the hills at the end of the town.
'It can't be!' The ferryman couldn't help but think as he remembered the two mages of Sabertooth. He then shook his head. It wasn't possible. But…who else would cause both Twilight Ogre and Fairy Tail? Then again, they truly do not have any evidence of them doing such crimes. Nor do they have the proper intent as to why they did so.
Far away from town, just by the forest, an old member of Fairy Tail looked at the hills.
"So she's back…" the pinkette said with a sigh before entering her tree house once more.
'Darn it! Then that means that that old good-for-nothing old man will send me a lot of his so-called injured children!' the old woman thought before the sound of crashing occurred inside of her home.
From a certain distance, the two members of Sabertooth watched as smokes appeared in the horizon. A different look came from each mages. While Yukino looked worried of Layla's actions (which she didn't notice because if she did, she would've stopped that, at least, that is what Sting told her), while Layla looked rather content, a satisfied smirk on her face.
"Yukino, I have a request that I want to make," Layla said out of nowhere, surprising the young Celestial Mage. What could her senior possibly ask of her?
"What is it Layla-sempai?" Yukino asked as a response, a mask of confusion appearing on her face.
"After I finished talking with Fairy Tail, I want you to use Lok—I meant Leo—and sabotage them…" Yukino was now confused. What did she meant by sabotaging them?
"I don't think I completely…understand," Yukino murmured, loud enough for Layla to hear what the Celestial Mage said.
"To put it simple, I want you to ask the Leader of the Zodiac to send them to the Celestial world so that they won't be able to train in time for the Games." Layla confirmed, surprising the young Celestial Mage. No, she can't do that. She can't…she don't want to use such a method.
"But they'll di—" "Don't lie to me Yukino. I know full well that they won't even be hurt. The truth behind this thing you say that they cannot go into the Spirit World is nothing but a lie." Layla commented in a cold voice, something she rarely use.
Yukino Aguria is never the kind of girl to use tricks or use deceit, so what her senior is asking her is a very tough mission.
"I…I don't think I can do that," Yukino confessed, hoping that her sempai would understand. Instead, Layla's face remained unchanged. This sent fear to enter the whole body of Yukino. Especially when Layla began to spoke once more.
"I figured out that you would say that…" Layla mumbled under her breath before looking down on a ring placed on her finger.
"Wha—" Yukino was cut off when out of nowhere, a man with a huge dagger was holding Yukino by her neck.
"You see Yukino, its not just a request that you can't accept. Remember when I first trained you…" Yukino gulped. This was a side of Layla she wished she never met. She knew this side, a side so dangerous it could send anyone, even Sting and Rogue, and even Minerva, to their knees.
"I told you that I, Layla, never take no for an answer." Layla smirked evilly. ..
…
…
…
…
"I got you good didn't I?!" Layla laughed out of nowhere, surprising the young Celestial Mage before the man holding her neck disappeared into thin air. Yukino gasped, panting from the rush of blood she felt. That was dangerous, but choosing Layla and not Sting, nor Rogue or even Orga as her senior is truly dangerous.
"Please Layla-sempai…don't do that again," Yukino whispered as she try to catch her breath.
"Oh I won't promise you that. So now…what do you say? Will you help me sabotage the Fairies?" Layla smiled. Yukino internally sighed. There was no way she could say no, not after what happened.
"I…I will do my best Layla-sempai," Yukino said causing Layla to clap her hands.
"Perfect! Now summon Lo—I mean Leo and I'll tell him what to do!" Layla said happily as she almost took the key of the lion from Yukino.
And before they knew it, with a shimmer of gold, the Lion appeared, all with his glorious and mighty stance.
"What can I do for you, Yukino-sama?" Loke said as he bowed politely when she saw Layla.
"Oh…Layla-san, how do you fair today?" Loke asked, kissing Layla's hand only to earn him a slap in his cheek. A hard and painful one.
"Oh Leo! Stop that! You're making me blush!" and another slap, and another, and another.
"Remember! Sting-kun and Rogue-kun will kill you if they see you kissing my hand!" Layla said as her slaps punished the said lion from flirting with her.
"Uh…Layla-san, I don't think…" Yukino sweat dropped. It wasn't funny at all…it looked a bit morbid seeing that those slaps didn't looked gentle at all.
"Okay! Okay! I understand, I won't flirt with you anymore. Sheesh, I really hate how you became so uncharacteristically strong," Loke mumbled under his breath, earning yet another glare from Layla. Yukino know that Layla was the former user of Leo, who Layla sometimes call as Loke, but she didn't really know about their history together.
But only a stupid person wouldn't notice the bond between the two mages, and only a stupid person wouldn't see that they actually have some sort of relationship that exceeds friendship and can be possible lovers except the fact that it is an inevitable fact that Layla will someday die and that their relationship wouldn't work at all.
Layla is complex that way. She loves someone so much that she will sacrifice her own well-being for the well-being of others…
But Loke knew better. Layla…stopped trusting them, even if they are indeed, in better terms now. She do not entrust herself to the care of Celestial Spirits, even with Cappricio, to have the heart to use the same magic any longer. But they could not blame them. Not after what he did.
Not after when they choose to neglect her like she was some kind of replaceable mage.
Not after they left her to die.
Not after they left her to fall into that darkness.
But at the very least, Loke was thankful that Layla accepted them once more (as evident with Yukino) and that means he can use that as a leverage for his next step to regain Layla's complete forgiveness once more.
"Anyway, I have a reason why I ask Yukino-chan here to summon you. I know you may not like the idea of doing this but trust me when I say that this is for the best of all of us," Layla said, confusing the Stellar Spirit.
"What is it?" Loke inquired, intrigued that Layla or Lucy (its actually funny that Lucy chose her mother's name as her alias) would say such a thing.
"It's about you abducting Fairy Tail to the Spirit World." And it was true. Loke wouldn't like it. Not one bit.
Then again, a Master's command will always come first. Especially if it's Lucy's, the one mage that Loke truly consider as his Master.
Aquatica Resorts
Third Person Point of View
"Natsu?!" Michelle Lobster exclaimed, surprised at the sudden appearance of Natsu Dragneel.
In her room.
While she was changing.
"Pervert!" though it didn't came from Natsu, but from Erza Scarlett who was trailing behind the unstoppable Fire Dragon Slayer who still doesn't accept what Romeo told him just a few moments ago.
Natsu believed that Lucy can never do such a thing as killing innocent people. And so he chose to ignore what Romeo said and decided to dash off to Michelle to ask her of her spirits. Only to end up being punched across a huge hotel.
Well, that is what happens of people who peaks other people in front of the Titania. But then again, Erza's perverted in her own way.
Michelle is the newest member of Fairy Tail, being the known to be the newest Celestial Mage (who can use Imitation Magic and wield the Rose Armor) of the Guild (which brought sadness to most of the members) and surprisingly, is the doll-friend of Lucy when she was younger and an ex-member of Oracion Seis.
The girl, just like Kinana, barely managed to escape the wrath of the Council thanks to the help of the newly changed Brain II (Midnight) who claims that the girl deserved a life of her own…
Except, Michelle never knew what truly happened to her so-called childhood friend…except the fact that she died and that Fairy Tail is the closest key person who can help her.
"Erza-san…?" Michelle asked in curiosity at Erza stared at her weirdly.
"You're bigger…" Erza said bluntly before averting her gaze towards her chest, causing the human-turned-doll mage to blush furiously before covering her chest out of embarrassment. Quickly putting on her clothes to stop and retain whatever pride she had in herself, Michelle went and put on her usual dress completed with a hood.
"Anyway, do you need something from me?" Michelle asked the Knight as she sat before offering tea, which the Requipped mage happily accepted.
"Actually, we have something to ask from you," Gray said as he entered the room with both Juvia, Wendy, Romeo and Natsu with Happy carrying him.
"Huh?" the Celestial Mage asked in confusion. 'What could they possibly need from me?'
"Oh yes. Michelle, I believe that I've seen you wield a few Celestial Keys, correct?" Erza Scarlett said as she took a sip of her cup, remembering how the woman used Caelum (which was actually lent to her by Angel who still got it for some reason even if she was put it prison), Ursa Major (a giant teddy bear which she got from a shop) and Ursa Minor (a smaller version of Ursa Major who looked so cuddly that he's practically indestructible).
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. But excuse me if I inquire but why does it concern of you, Erza-san?" Michelle asked in her lady-like voice, something she got from being a doll of a princess and having to act as Lucy's high classed cousin to infiltrate Fairy Tail to initiate the mission in getting the clock pieces.
Her main reason for doing so was so that she may use the machinery to give rebirth to her best friend, Lucy, even if it meant sacrificing herself (which almost happened if Natsu haven't saved her).
"Well, we actually want to ask you if you have a Golden Key in your side and if you can summon him…" "Or her!" "Or it!" Happy and Natsu gained a punch in their head for interrupting Wendy.
"…as soon as possible. Like right now." Wendy continued, confusing Michelle once more, but then, Michelle simply nodded her head in agreement.
"I do have three Golden Keys, which I got from Brain-sama who got it from some church that we…" Michelle trailed off as she winced at the memory of having to kill someone just for their goals. Erza, Juvia and Wendy tried to go and comfort her when Michelle brought her hand up and told everyone she's okay.
"Are you sure?" Erza asked, knowing that it must've been very painful for the innocent girl, especially when she learned how young Michelle truly was (barely five years old).
"Yeah…I'm sure," Michelle said before going into a drawer and taking out three Golden keys.
The first one is the key of the Maid, one of the most loyal keys there was which gave them trouble, considering that Virgo was in some sort of Fairy form because her wielder was…just an innocent child.
The second one has the symbol of an arrow, indicating it as the key of the Archer, another one who caused them trouble. It too, was protecting the innocent child who they were forced to abduct…but ended up dead in the long run.
The third one came from a girl who managed to escape with the help of her spirit, the Twins, who copied their master to protect her even if they have to face the wrath of Angel, one of the people they fear the most.
"This is Virgo, Sagittarius and Gemini, I…uh…yeah…but the only one I can summon today is Virgo because Sagittarius is on his check-up and today is Gemini's rest day," Michelle shyly said as she laid the keys on the table.
"So you can summon all of them?" Natsu said, amazed at the power of Michelle. Of course Michelle can summon all of them easily, she have enough Magic Capacity to do so, considering that she was a member of Oracion Seis and that Midnight gave most of his power to her as his repentant gift.
Midnight. The boy, just like all of them, was just simply off the track, growing up at the wrong side of the planet. All of the could have been members of kind Guilds where they will be treated as people, not some slaves…but no…not all of them are as lucky as Erza…not all of them could escape the darkness that constantly looms the planet.
"Uh…yeah, I can," Michelle blushed as she noticed herself flying away in her own imaginary world and knowing what would come next, Michelle stood up.
"I open the gate of the Virgin! Virgo!" Michelle casted as a golden colored Magic Circle surrounded the land in front of her where a female maid with long, curly hair, pale skin and wearing a maid's clothes complemented by shackles appeared, bowing politely.
"What can I do for you, your highness?" Virgo asked with a bow, surprising all of them at the change of Virgo. Not only was the fact that her hair changed and became longer, the Maid Spirit's hair became longer and her body became much more voluptuous.
"You sure changed a lot…" Natsu stupidly said as he looked at the maid in surprise.
"Well, I take the form of my Master if you could remember correctly," Virgo said, causing the other mages to turn their gaze to the newest mage of the Guild.
"So Michelle-san isn't as innocent as Juvia thinks, Juvia has to keep her eye on her…" Juvia mumbled to herself, causing Michelle to blush even further.
"J-just tell me what I have to do or what she has to do…" Michelle said causing everyone to remember their agenda.
"Oh. Right. Virgo, have you heard something about Lucy from Loke? Is she really dead?" Natsu's face was serious, directing his point without beating around the bush, something everyone truly appreciated. Though the question truly surprised Michelle, as she never expected her to use Virgo as a way to search for Lucy, something she never thought of as possible.
The Spirit of the Virgin looked at them silently, her face was very serious and made both Michelle and her friends nervous. Whatever it was that Virgo will say will answer their question: Is Lucy the survivor of the train accident?
"Lucy-hime is…" Virgo trailed. This made the mages' hearts to beat fast, their anticipation reaching its climax.
"Alive." It was enough to change everyone's expressions.
Erza looked as if a huge weight was lifted from her shoulder. The fist she had out of tension loosened and a small ray of hope entered her eyes. She could correct her mistakes and redeem herself.
Juvia looked as if she was about to cry from happiness—abefore looking at Gray who seemed to be too shocked he didn't bother to hide it.
Wendy almost jumped out of joy that is before she noticed Romeo's serious demeanor before she realized that there's still the possibility of Lucy being that woman who terrorized town after town and killed most of the creatures in the train (that, or maybe Lucy was saved by that man or managed to escape before the man got to her?)
Michelle was at a loss of words, just like everyone, and couldn't express the mixture of emotions that dwells inside of her. That is when tears started to fall uncontrollably from her eyes, causing her to sob which surprised almost all of them. Michelle was never the one to control her tears, but her cries from before were simply acting to get to Fairy Tail's side, because this time, her
'Lucy-san is alive. There's still hope…she's really alive….' Michelle thought, knowing full well that right now, her never ceasing hope being flared up again, knowing no for sure that her efforts wouldn't go in vain.
Natsu, on the other hand, had this look he only has whenever he was thinking, something he rarely does.
Happy, who had tears on his eyes, looked at Natsu in surprise. Knowing his best friend, there must be something that Natsu knew that he doesn't or he was worried. The latter seemed true but it could be both.
"Are you okay Natsu?" Happy asked his best friend, he didn't respond. And when Happy was finally able to see through the shadow that was casted upon Natsu's face, a look of shock entered his face…
Natsu's eyes were as wide as saucers; in it were a mixture of happiness and at the same time, sadness and anger. His emotions were so intense it was enough to make Happy afraid.
Wendy was about to ask further about Lucy when Virgo cut in.
"That is all I could say. Saying that she is alive is enough betrayal and felony as it is, I do not want to leak further information on my former master even if you requested it, I hope you understand this Lady Michelle," Virgo, the ever-so-loyal Spirit said with a bow. When Michelle nodded, Virgo seemed to be relieved.
"So do you have any other job for me? You can punish me if you want," a whip appeared out of nowhere as Virgo posed in a rather awkward position, readying herself for her 'punishment'.
'So her obsession to punishment never did disappeared,' Happy thought before turning his worried gaze back to the still shell-shocked Natsu.
A Few Moments Ago *
Celestial Spirit World
"I am sure that by now, they will ask about Lucy when she summons you. If they ask if she is alive, tell them she is. But other than that, keep everything as a secret and excuse yourself as fast as you can to avoid them inquiring further. Cut them off if you must," Loke, Virgo's 'brother' said.
"You do know that it would mean disobeying my new Master's orders," Virgo said, her eyes clearly stating that she doesn't want to do such a thing. Since Celestial Spirit's pride is measured by their loyalty, Virgo is in fact, the most prideful Spirit in the realm and will go to extreme methods just to save and do her Master's commandments, even if it causes a change in her appearance.
That is why Loke understood how painful this may seem for her. "Consider this as following our old Master's commands," Loke said, hoping he maid would understand. For a moment, he saw the hesitation and sadness in Virgo's eyes, before she sighed and nodded her head.
"If that is what you and Lucy-hime truly wish, then I should comply. But please Loke-nii, please don't make me regret this action." Virgo looked restless, never has she done a thing such as disobeying her master. And Loke knew how hard this seemingly trivial sacrifice was for his comrade. "Thank you for understanding, Virgo."
"Don't thank me. I have a sin to repent to, a lot of them, and I believe this is the proper punishment." Virgo said before disappearing in a flash of light. Slowly after, Loke himself disappeared in a flash of light.
Celestial Spirit World
After Virgo Returned
"It is done," Virgo said, closing her eyes as she returned to the Celestial World.
"Thank you Virgo," Virgo simply nodded as she went to her castle to rest. It took her all to do that, even if it was indirectly disobeying two of her masters: both Lucy and Michelle.
She disobeyed Lucy by saying that she was alive, even if she knows that Lucy didn't want them knowing and she indirectly disobeyed Michelle by saying that she cannot say anything, even if she really can leak information just like Cruz.
"Are you sure she'd be okay?" the mermaid spirit, Aquarius, said as she looked at the hole Virgo dug back to her palace which was located in one of the lower stars in the Stellar World.
"She'll be, now let us continue preparing for this feasts," Loke sighed and Aquarius nodded her head.
Most of the spirits were present at this 'celebration' and 'apology' party that Loke started. They do not know what his agenda was but what Loke said was enough to make all of the Spirits do what he requested them to do. Even the Celestial King himself, who gave them venue.
Because Lucy was that special to the spirits…
As everyone, even the Celestial King himself, had sinned against the young Celestial Mage.
'For failing her,' All spirits thought, though most of them had a great way to hide it. Like the Zodiac spirits of the month of May and June…
"Gemi is excited for this party, eh?" Mini, who was in a form of some Cupid, said as he flew and placed the banners with Gemi who was in a form of another Cupid.
"Mini is excited as well, eh?" Gemi responded and the two spirits laughed at their nonsense joke.
"So, they're coming here huh?" It was the youngest spirit, Aries, who voiced this out, her timid nature concealing the bitterness in her statement.
But all of them were also bitter at what they were doing.
Welcoming Fairy Tail in the Celestial World was one thing. Being all happy with them after what they did to their Master is another.
Aquatica Resorts' Entrance
"We're here!" Yukino knows that she shouldn't be cheerful but hey, why not be a little optimistic if you've been living a life of bad luck? At least, that's what her sempai once told her.
"I know. I know, no need to attract unwanted attention on us now do we?" Layla mumbled as she was almost blinded by the bright sun ahead of her.
'Oh come on! Now my perfect artificial skin will get sun burned! Minerva will hate me for this…' Layla thought as she shuddered at the memory when one of the world's greatest make-up artist, none other than Minerva, once scolded her for ruining her magical potions when she forgot to apply make-up.
'Now Layla. You have to always be careful! It's not easy rearranging someone's face with Magic,' Minerva told her when she first saw her distorted sad excuse for a face. But she has to admit, when the scary woman (who, by the way, loves seeing people suffer much like Layla) was done with her work, Layla became the star she hoped she'd be.
'Then again, if she heard me sabotaging their plans, she'd be pleased…' Layla added as an afterthought before finding Yukino gone.
'Now where did that idiot of an apprentice went off t—' Layla stopped still when in front of her…
"Oh Come. On!" And it was enough to make a certain someone look into her whereabouts, having a look of both alarm and surprise.
Layla
Of all the Fairies there was to encounter first, it was this bloody, two-faced, good-for-nothing, traitorous, treacherous, lying scoundrel who I get to meet.
My blood boiled as I watched him, looking rather carefree around her. Looking as if he didn't sin, as if he wasn't one of the bad guys.
'Then again, he did help save the day from the villain,' I thought as I stared at him, gritting my teeth.
'Talk about bad timing.' I thought bitterly as I tried controlling my breath, balling my hands into fist to try and stop the pressure building up in me. A pressure that wants to kill and hurt.
'Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out.' I thought, remembering what Rogue told me whenever I get angered. But it wasn't helping, because as long as he has that cocky smirk, I won't be satisfied.
'Fucking hell I can't stop it!' My blood began boiling inside of me as everything in my past seemed to return at a high speed that can defeat the fastest dragon here on earth (I think its Acnologia, him being the only Dragon I know of).
'You understand me don't you?'
' Of course I understand you…' That voice, which became my conscience of some sort (a darker and meaner version).
Then that's it! I'm going to kill this Fairy and get the revenge I've always been dreaming for the passed 7 seven years!
"No Layla. Don't forget about the fact that you shouldn't kill anyone. You don't want to start a war and hurt Sting, Rogue, Yukino, Frosch and even Lector, right?'
'But I wanna kill someone! Just this one liar…please let me kill him!'
'Now. Now. Think first before you act. What would Sting and Rogue think if you misbehave? They would be hurt when they see that you lied and broke your promise. Especially Rogue who is doing his best to save you from the darkness that resides in us. And Sting who did his best to illuminate the path for us.'
'You think I don't know that?! But I think they'd understand.'
'I know they'd understand Lucy-chan, but what will happen if we fall back to the darkness they fought so hard to keep at bay? They will understand but they'd be hurt, and you might end up hurting them as well. Remember when you almost killed them four years ago when you first met them? Or that second time when that darkness filled you when you were—'
'Okay! I understand but still!' I stomped my foot, causing the ground to shake slightly. It was enough to earn the attention from the surrounding crowd.
'Look what you did. You took attention, you see, if you let your emotions get to you, you might explode. That is what we're stopping Lucy-chan, you can never let yourself explode. Remember, it's not for Fairy Tail, its for you new family now.'
Images of Sting and Rogue, of Frosch and Yukino…oh and Lector, and of them being hurt at my hands. I don't want that. That was the reason I was here. To avoid them being hurt, by me of all people
"Do I know you? You smell familiar…" this liar said, taking a sniff off of me.
But I really want to get my revenge. That's what fuelling my battle style, the image of my revenge, but what use am I if I don't get that?
'It is your choice Lucy-chan. Get your revenge and lose yourself into the darkness, or stay subtle and have the family you've always wanted in your newfound friends,' the only person who calls me Lucy (aside from my Teammates (we call ourselves Team Layla), told me in my mind.
It was my choice. But then, isn't there a third option.
"Hey little girl, I asked you, do I know you?" I turned my gaze. When did he become so tall? I though they weren't supposed to gr—
Oh right. I almost forgot that I shrunk. I'm shorter that Yukino for crying out loud.
"Maybe. I am one of the strongest mage in Fiore," I said dismissively, doing my best to keep my face as stoic as possible before walking passed by him. That was when he touched my shoulder, stopping me from my tracks.
"Strongest mage, huh? So you sayin' you one of those Saints?" He asked, his smirk growing wider. I almost forgot, this idiot was a sadist. Wait…is he thinking that I am one of the Ten Wizard Saints?
I laughed. Did he really think that I am one of those keepers of peace? Like that Jura and Makarov? Hell no! I'll always be the bad and naughty girl, besides, those guy do not stand a chance against me.
'That is, if you take them by surprise,' my mind mocked me. Okay, I admit that some of them are stronger than me, but last time I checked, I was stronger than Jura (using my magical tricks of course).
"Hey what's funny little girl?" this sadist said. I looked at him and continued laughing.
"You are funny!" I said and continued laughing. Me, a wizard saint? Okay, I admit it isn't that funny sounding but this guy actually thought…! If he only knew who I was! Seriously, they do not have a clue of Sabertooth huh?
'Here I thought they'll know the people who they'll fight off for the games…'
The girl with the boy, who was barely as tall as me as I'd hate to admit it, looked alarmed as she went closer to us.
"I don't think you should pick a fight. Calm down, she's not as weak as she seems," the girl said in a whisper. Smart girl, well, she was always smart back then when I was in Fairy Tail. Until she decided that I was wrong and it was Lisanna who was right.
"That makes the fight more exciting—" he was cut off when a huge iron pillar slammed him from above. I laughed once more as the girl scolded him, telling things about not getting in trouble as he was only visiting and as such.
"Who you laughin' at little girl?!" He was getting angrier.
"You're pathetic, and here I thought you were some tough guy," I said mockingly. If I couldn't hurt them physically, why stop myself from mocking them. Yukino's not here anyways so I better maximize the opportunity. Besides this guy did serious damage on me back then, it's just a small payback if you use math on it.
"Why, it's not as if someone like "That makes the fight more exciting—" he was cut off when a huge iron pillar slammed him from above. I laughed once more as the girl scolded him, telling things about not getting in trouble as he was only visiting and as such.
"Who you laughin' at little girl?!" He was getting angrier.
"You're pathetic, and here I thought you were some tough guy," I said mockingly. If I couldn't hurt them physically, why stop myself from mocking them. Yukino's not here anyways so I better maximize the opportunity. Besides this guy did serious damage on me back then, it's just a small payback if you use math on it.
"Why, it's not as if someone as small like you can actually defeat me. Besides, I only let her do that because—" "You like her, is that it?" I almost laughed when he and the girl blushed and looked away from each other, hiding their face.
"No, of course I don't," he said in a denial tone. I shrugged my shoulder. It's obvious but if they don't want to say it, then it would be their loss. But the girl did look hurt. Poor her.
But then again, I saved her from the pain of this funny thing called love.
'But Lucy-chan, you're in love!' Oh shut up. Yes, I'm in love, but at least I know that the one I love loves me more that if I left them, they'd be the one in more pain than I…unlike when I loved…
'Lucy I love you.'
'Really Natsu?'I winced as I did my best and snapped out of that. I looked at them, and my blood boiled uncontrollably once more.
These people hurt me more than I could hurt them. They took my life from me, they took my freedom, my conscience and my humanity. They turned me into a murderer and I will never forgive them.
'If only there was a way…'I brightened up at the idea.
"Do you want to spar, I mean, if you're as tough as you claim, why don't you stop babbling and start fighting?" I offered, hiding my smirk with a taunting smile. He looked at me, and the girl looked at him.
"Gajeel…"
"It's okay, I could take her. Teach this girl never to mess with us," he said and told her to go to the sidelines. Her look of worry never disappeared.
I jumped and gave us distance. I know that the beach isn't really a great place to duel but I couldn't help it. If I don't release this anger, I may end up hurting Yukino, something I wouldn't let to happen.
"The first attack is yours, show me what you got tough guy," I said, and without further words, he lunged at me with an iron turned fist. I smirked, knowing the attack full well.
I jumped high into the sky, surprising him but he smirked when his hand turned into an iron bar before stretching itself towards me. I spin slightly to avoid it before grabbing with my hands.
He looked surprised and I smirked as I tightened my grip. Tighter and tighter, causing it to crack and forcing him to slam me into the ground.
The dusts formed around me at the soft impact but once I reached the ground, I used the momentum to send him into the air, like a seesaw. When one goes down, the other goes up.
"Like the view up there?" I said, never releasing the grip. He looked in pain but I was enjoying this too much to care.
Casting some spell, three red magic circles surrounded him.
"Shit," I heard him mumble as the flames erupted, burning his so-called scales. But as expected, he was still hanging in the air with my hand on him, his scales slightly burned.
"You'll have to do better than that little girl," he said but then, I pulled on the bar quickly which surprised him.
"Oh you'll know better than calling me little girl, junk," I said before punching him, causing a dent in his precious iron skin and sending him to the air. I got to admit, it would leave a bruise but who cares. It has been a while since I last battled, considering that Minerva's in some tough mission and that Sting and Rogue had been very busy.
"Now where is, there he is!" I said as I shifted position and jumping towards him. I used the speed of his fall to my advantage and punched him on his jaw before twisting him so that he was in front of me and rode him down back to the ground, with me landing at the top of him.
"You see, seven years made you rusty, tough shot," I whispered before I stepped on him once more, this time, using my magic to create a mini-earthquake on his back, completely destroying his armor he took pride of.
"Please stop it!" I heard Levy, the blunette who was my best friend cried. Oh, I want to see her cry alright. And I want to see her beg as well.
"Oh, why? I accepted this sparring to test his strength. Now I am doing my job to test how long he'll live," I smirked evilly and I enjoyed the horror that masked her face as I threatened to throw Gajeel in the air, my arm changing into a huge sword.
"Say goodbye to Gajeel, Le-vy-chan," I said and smirked at her surprise when I knew her name before I threw Gajeel in the air and prepared to capture him with my sword to impale him.
"Gajeel!" Levy cried out as Gajeel fall into my arms, her tears cascading down my cheeks.
That was when I laughed and as soon as Gajeel touched the point of my sword-turned hand, I let it change into vines which caught him and slammed him into the ground just in front of Levy.
"You see, Le-vy-chan, you have to teach Gajeel never to take challenges from people he do not know. Because sometimes, they may not be as kind as me," I said before walking towards them.
"Don't," Levy said as she threatened me and sent Fire and Iron and other scripts at me. I sighed as I easily crushed them. Levy then fell to Gajeel, hiding him with her little body. I knelt down and touched Levy before…
Let us just say that I do not want what I did and that Levy was surprised by it as well.
~ End ~