A cool breeze brushed through her golden hair. Slowly, she opened her eyes. The bright sun beamed on her face. It had been a while since she'd last felt the suns warm embrace. A sweat scent tickled her nose. Looking out from where she stood on a high hill, she saw it. Magnolia city. Lucy felt her breath escape her as she looked upon the town which she thought she'd never see again. A small smile tugged at her lips. "I'm home." She muttered a small joke to herself. She let out a nostalgic giggle. The sweat scent came from a small shrub to her left. The stellar mage bent down to pluck a white rose from the lush shrub. It smelt of sweat vanilla. She pulled it up to her nose, breathing in the tranquil smell. She rose again, scanning the city. The overlooking hill made the village look so warm and friendly with its midday glow. It hummed with excitement and happiness. But the thing that wrench at her stomach was Fairy tail. The guild lay perched on a far hill just under the sky line. The banner of the guild mark proudly swayed in the breeze. The celestial wizard glanced down at her hand. She still had it. Her guild mark was now gone. But I suppose that's what happens when a mage…dies. A long deep sigh of exasperation came from her mouth. She already felt the emotional exhaustion creeping up on her. All these past memories shredding her heart. But she came here for one reason alone, which she still felt wary off. Anyway, she headed down into the village pulling her silky hood over her face.
She walked cautiously through the village. She adored the market shop owners; they were always so kind to her. But now they could be possible danger. The blond mage couldn't allow anyone to recognise her. Avoiding eye contact she brushed passed everyone body. She didn't allow herself even to peak at her homey village. Until, she came to a familiar village. There was no mistaking where she was. Her soft fingers clenched lightly around the rose's stalk. Big brown orbs, nervously, followed from the paved street upwards. She was unable to look down at her feet, it was too late. Her apartment. Lucy's eyes almost bulged out of her sockets in shock. A beautiful collection of flowers piled up against her wall. Candles flickered in the air and cards placed with her name written on the front, with detailed handwriting, embedded in the flowers. Her heart crashed against her ribs. It was desperately trying to run, far, far away. But she couldn't. Her feet were rooted to the spot. Her body frozen, watching the wind gently pull loose petals into its breeze. Salty tears trickled down her cheeks. Big brown eyes empty, and crying. She felt her heart ache. Aching to go find everyone and tell them she was okay. But she couldn't. Because she still didn't know If she was okay. Nimble and soft, her pale fingers stoked the feathered white petals of the rose in her clammy palms. She felt a cool tear roll over her cheeks. It dripped. Splashing against the white petals. As if it had fallen in slow motion luce was lost for words. Instead, she leant down, carefully placing the rose under a picture from her day at the guild a few month before hand, laughing with Natsu and happy. Natsu and Happy… the guild…It all felt so surreal now. Like a dream.
Suddenly, a clay roof tile crumbled from the rooftop. Her big brown eyes went straight into awareness. It smashes against the floor crumbling into several pieces. She watched the broken tile, smashed onto the warm yellow pavement. The big brown eyes shot upwards. Deep black onyx eyes watched her, pink hair rustled in the wind. He was perched up on her roof watching her. His look penetrating her soul. The one reason she came here to do, seemed so unimportant at that moment. But hidden in the darkness of his eyes, was the hurt and the pain…and the hope. "Lucy?" His soft voice murmured in shock. No she couldn't do it. Her mission would only hurt him more. And her.
Quickly, she leapt from the spot. Pushing herself into a run. She darted into the dark alley ways. She needed to lose him fast. Even without looking back she knew. He was chasing after her. He always would, and she knew that. Luckily, her training was paying off, her stamina was withholding. It was like she was able to run a marathon. Cold sweat still trickled down her pale face. The thundering pounding of her heart inside her chest felt like it could explode. Her feet crashed against the floor. She was running for her life. She needed to lose her tail and fast.
She caught sight of the green forestation in the distance. A dense forest would be the best place to lose the dragon slayer. Her feet pushed her forward until green surrounded her on all sides.
She had been running for five minutes now with no sign of the fire mage. Slowly, her pace decreased. Lightly jogging, weaving in and out of the towering tree trunks. Small waist high shrubs brush past her sides.
A flash of pink darted through the trees. The stellar mage's pace sped up again. Pushing as hard as she could, running as fast as she can. Right on her heals.
Suddenly, she smelled something familiar. The cool scent of the wild white roses gently soothed her. She began to slow down.
Something jerked at her arm. Her body tugged backwards. Turning round to face the boy with the sorrowful onyx eyes now full of shock and hope. Natsu. "Lucy?" His voice muttered under his rasp breath. Those eyes studied her hopefully. She sighed. It's no use now. Hesitantly, she rose her hands to her hood. Drawing a deep breathe she pulled the hood backwards. Gentle blond hair fell gently over her silk covered shoulders.
"Hello Natsu." She smiled. Warm, salty tears poured down her cheeks in joy. She really did miss him. Strong warm arms pulled her into rough embrace. Weakly, the two's knees buckled beneath them. But they both held on to eahc other, never wanting to ever let go. Lucy laughed through her sobbing of overwhelming happiness. "Natsu," she cried. His warm breath breathing into her neck. The slightly burnt smoke smell that always radiated of the dragon slayer filled her nose. That familiar feeling she always had around him now engraved into her heart. She would never forget what it was like to be in his arms.
"Lucy...You're alive!" The fire mage exclaimed. Pulling back, with a reluctant Lucy, he looked deep into her eyes. Dark onyx pupils studied her softly. His eye brows furred. "But how?" he now seemed concerned with the logics of her return. Lucy's hand held his soft face. His pulse raced under his skin. Along with it, hers raced, just to be near to be touching him. Caresing, his cheek gently. Running her fingers tips across his jaw.
"It doesn't matter now Natsu," Lucy sighed. And it didn't all she wanted to do was be near him. Forever and never let go. Glancing at her hand, she saw it. It was fading. Revelation the dragon slayers pink skin through her own pale hand. She wasn't surprised. It would be too good to be true, if she could stay like this. But no it was only temporary. Soon she would have to return to Etoilé and her mother back in the spirit relm. The spell would ware off completely soon enough. Now, she ahd to do what she came here to do. "Look Natsu, I don't have much time but i need you to promise me something." Lucy spoke quickly towards the overwhelmed pink-haired mage. A sad confusion reined over Natsu's innocent face.
"What are you on about Luce?" He asked. The way he always said her cute nickname, would always cause her stomach to flip and a warmth race through her heart.
"Just promise me something," Lucy repeated. There would be no time to explain the circumstances. Not that she actually would. For her to be able to acomplish her task, she would have to keep Natsu at bay. There would be no doubting that he would stop her in any way possible if she tried to fight that dragon, especially with promise light. Her skin was fading more and more. Her skin was now opaque.
"Sure anything," Natsu replied. Watchign her face intently, trying to read her.
"Promise you won't ever go fight Acnologia. Not for my sake, not for anyone's. Please. Just don't go looking for it Natsu." Lucy asked rapidly. Time was shortening. A slight flash of confusion wrestled on his face again. At last, he finally replied.
"Okay," He agreed. But that wasn't good enough for the blond girl.
"Promise me Natsu!" Lucy pleaded. He needed to say it. She needed to hear him say it.
"I promise. What's happening Luce?" Natsu finally saw the light blurring through lucy's glass skin. The stellar mage let out a small sigh. Pressing her forehead against Natsu, closing her eyes. Absorbing the last moments she would spend with the boy. Slowly, she wrapped her hands around the back of his neck. The heat radiating from his body was massive. Entising her hands in more to clasp over he warmth. "Luce...?" His voice shook almost breaking at the emotional tearing through his body. He knew she was leaving him again.
"Goodbye Natsu," she whispered softly in his ear. His jaw tensed and his lips opened ready to ask more questions to unravel his confusion. But she didn't want to hear it. She just wanted to end it like this. A finally memory of her for him to remeber forever.
"Lu-" He was cut off by her lips gently pressing against Natsu's. Caught of by surprise, his whole body tenes. Then like cutting a tight string, his body relaxed. All his muscules relaxed, his arms wrapping tightly around her waist. A bright white light emniated from her body. Coating everything in bright white light. Then it all ended.
As Lucy's eyes cracked open, she was home again. The dark stone walls, large wooden door with the black iron handle, candles lit around the room. The candles which formed a circle around the girl were all blown out. Actually, they were melted puddles of wax on the floor. The girl laid down on the cold floor looking up at the rafters in the ceiling. She let out a long sigh of exasperation. Her hand gently stoked her soft lips with a small smile.