A few weeks had gone by. Shaggy was a regular visitor and Lucy although she didn't realize it herself was slowly letting her guard down. The mystery man hung around the town always showing up at the diner. This raised some suspicion as he didn't look like the type of person to be interested in a small town. There was a reason for his arrival though and it was about to come to light.
The morning was cold as Lucy stepped out of her house. She walked quickly to the barn eager to complete her chores and go back inside. After completing everything she returned to the house. As she entered the kitchen she stopped frozen at the sight before her. Sitting at the table was the mystery man.
"How did you get in here?" Lucy demanded coldly.
"Lucy, Lucy, Lucy is that any way to greet me?" the man asked.
"Get out" Lucy ordered.
"You think I'm going to take orders from you how cute" the man laughed.
"Get out" Lucy repeated.
"You know I've been looking for you"
"Go away"
"Now that I've found you I'm taking you back to where you belong"
"No, you aren't"
"Who's going to stop me?"
"I will"
The two turned to the door and found Shaggy standing there. Lucy nearly fainted. She'd forgotten that Shaggy came whenever she was in trouble.
"Who are you exactly?" the man asked.
"I could ask you the same thing" Shaggy replied.
"Well if you must know this is a matter of business"
"What kind of business?"
"None of your concern"
"Anyone that causes Lucy distress is my concern"
"Is that so?"
Lucy stood frozen in place. She feared this would happen. He was back and because of her, they were all in danger. She should've left when she had the chance. It was too late now.
"Well, Lucy you didn't tell me you had a match" the man chuckled darkly.
"Just go away already"
"Why should I?"
"Because she told you to" Shaggy replied.
"My, My aren't we a brave match?"
"Leave him alone" Lucy demanded her eyes flashing pink.
"You don't scare me, Lucy"
"Get out of my house"
"Now is that any way to treat family?"
Shaggy looked at the man to Lucy in confusion.
"I see you haven't told him yet"
"Lucy, what's going on?"
Lucy took a deep breath. The time had come.
"Shaggy this is Cupid, my father"
"You're what?" Shaggy asked.
"I believe she said father" Cupid replied.
"Why didn't you tell me, Lucy?" Shaggy asked walking past Cupid to face Lucy.
"It's a long, long story" Lucy replied shamefully.
"That we don't have time for" Cupid cut in grabbing Lucy by the arm.
Lucy yelped in response sure that there was going to be a bruise there later. Shaggy at the sight of this charged Cupid and knocked him backward. Shaggy then turned to find Lucy cradling her arm. Shaggy only got angrier and by force alone managed to chase Cupid who was unprepared , off the property. Once Shaggy was sure he was gone he returned to the house to find Lucy packing her bags.
"I've got to leave" she muttered over and over.
"Whoa slow down Lucy," Shaggy said lightly grabbing Lucy by her shoulders.
"What?"
"I want an explanation"
"I don't have time Shaggy," Lucy said glancing around.
Then Shaggy realized she was scared. She was truly scared. Shaggy calmly took her by the arm and led her to the couch. Lucy was shaking.
"I need to go Shaggy I can't stay here" Lucy cried desperately.
"Lucy I won't let him anywhere near just tell me the truth please"
"It's horrible" Lucy started.
"What is?"
"What I was trained to do"
"What?"
…...
A very long time ago.
"Okay, Lucy do you know what this is?" Cupid asked bending down to meet Lucy's eye.
"Your bow" Lucy replied excitedly.
"Do you know what it's for?"
"You help people fall in love"
"Sort of" Cupid laughed.
"Why are you asking?"
"Because I'm going to show you how to use it"
"Really?" Lucy asked jumping up and down.
"Yes," Cupid said leading Lucy to the line of targets.
Cupid made Lucy train for several hours each day to the point of numbness in her arms but Lucy wanted to make her father proud. At the age of nine, she could hit a moving target 100 feet away. Then there came the day when Lucy finally got to go to work with her father. The morning was crisp as Lucy stepped outside that day merrily skipping behind her Father.
"Ready Lucy?" Cupid asked turning to his daughter.
"YES"
"Then you'll need a bow of your own"
"Really?"
"Yes now let's go we've got work to do"
Lucy loved working with her father. The first three months went by smoothly but over the course of a year, Lucy began to notice odd things. Sometimes couples would argue. Other times the matches seemed wrong. Whenever she brought these things up Cupid would brush hem off and tell her not to worry about it. There came a day where she couldn't stand it anymore.
"We need to talk," she said stomping into the kitchen.
"What is it?"
"Why do you make people fight?"
"Because that creates business"
"It's wrong"
"I know but it makes money"
"How?"
"Who do you think runs all those dating sites?"
"But that's wrong"
"You sound just like your mother"
"Because Mom didn't like the way you run things"
"No, but soon you will be running things"
"But I don't want to"
"There isn't a choice Lucy"
"There's always a choice"
"No there isn't"
"I HATE YOU"
Lucy proceeded to run outside to the fields where her Pegasus were grazing. The Pegasus was her last gift from her mother before she left. Lucy hadn't understood back then but she knew now. Cupid was a controlling creature who only thought of himself. He was using Lucy as a pawn.
…...
Present.
"He was training me to be just like him" Lucy sobbed.
"I promise I'll protect you, Lucy"