In the dead of the night, one could see a single, solitary figure standing on the edge of the harbour, staring to the sea ahead. No one else was seen or heard in the darkness and the silence lit only by the stars above and the crescent moon. However, she listened to the nature, to the sound of waves, to the cracking of the boats in the water and… to the murmur coming from the sea. It was so faint that it pained her heart, but at the same time, it also was so peaceful, for it was like a lullaby meant to swap you to sleep.
Yet, she couldn't sleep.
She wouldn't allow herself to sleep.
Sorrowfully, she looked amidst the water, and reached out one hand to it, but she quickly retracted it.
Not yet… She couldn't awaken what was there now, when the city would have no means of defending.
She… could only keep guard, watching restlessly over the one she swore to protect.
"I know you're there. Why don't you join me, if you're so relentless?" She said, not even looking in the darkness where she felt his presence.
He frowned, hesitantly moving out of the shadows, making small steps towards the edge of the harbour, over the cracking of the wood.
"Do you… know what that is?" He asked, with a frustrated look. He didn't mean to follow her here. However, he couldn't help himself but do that, as he watched her leave the hotel from his window.
She nodded her head, but didn't say anything else, as she continued to stare.
The boy walked closer, until he reached the edge as well, and as he was standing on his feet, he followed her gaze, staring into the waves.
They stood like that for a while, listening to the murmur, without saying anything. However, he was never one to meditate, and so, his attention turned to her, watching her as she stood there, solemnly, with only the wind that swayed her hair to make her seem alive.
"Take a guess. What do you think it is?"
"It's because I don't know that I asked you." He said, frowning once more. Why was it that he felt wronged every time he talked with this woman? But he heard her laughing, surprising him with that crystal-like voice.
"I told you to guess. Or is it that you don't understand the meaning of this word? Haha! Very well. I'll tell you something interesting, but only if you'll amuse me. So? What do you think that is?" She asked, with a grin on her face, enjoying bullying the boy like this. He glared at her once more, but the fact was, he knew he had to give in, if he was to ever get his hands on any information about his father.
So, Natsu sighed, turning his attention to the waves again, listening for the sound that kept ringing in his head.
"Is that the sea monster the mayor was talking about?"
"Well enough. That is indeed so. However, tell me, how could both me and you hear it? The other two clearly couldn't, could they?" Lucy asked again, referring to Erza and Lisanna. Natsu blinked in confusion, taking his time thinking this through. But then, his eyes widened, and he quickly looked towards the water, as if searching for something.
"You don't mean-"
"I mean exactly that. That, Natsu, is most likely a dragon. That is why we, who were taught by dragons, can hear its cry, while no one else can."
"Then, why is a dragon there? You must know why, right? Tell me." He wanted to know, so he demanded. She, however, laughed again, tilting her head.
"My, my, I wonder if I should. What are you gonna do if you know? The truth is, Natsu, there is absolutely nothing you can do about this. You may think that this dragon's existence is a possible link to Igneel, but the harsh reality is, I'm your only link to Igneel. And guess what! I am never going to lead you to where he is." She smirked, looking at his disturbed eyes and feeling the wrath inside his heart.
That's right. Hate me more, till I won't feel any remorse that I hate you…
She took delight in witnessing that face, but the boy, with a praise-worthy maturity, turned his back on her, and walked away.
"Lucilla!" He, however, stopped to shout, glaring at her one last time. "Before, I've thought that you resembled the Lucy that I lost. However, someone as vile as you can never compare to her! You can never hope of taking her place!"
And so, he left, storming off to God knows where, to unleash his anger.
Lucy looked his way till she couldn't see his back anymore, then turned her eyes to the sea as well, but this time, to the horizon, where stars shone brightly, as if telling her that they were there with her.
"You have no idea how right you are, Natsu." She murmured, feeling nothing but emptiness in her heart, as she grasped on it, hoping to find her own, lost self. But, it wasn't there. "I can never return to being her…"
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