Chap 13
Natsu climbed into Lucy's window, "Hey Lucy, wanna go on a mission?" The room was empty. Natsu and Happy searched for Lucy, "Hey Natsu look, Lucy left a letter and it has our names to it!"
Natsu,
I wrote this note since I know you and Happy will trespass my apartment again. (Hi Happy!). Anyway, I can't accompany you on the burglar mission with you, sorry. I'm with Jii-chan and Onii-chan, we're going to Acalypha to celebrate an important day, so we won't be back until later this afternoon. See you then :P
-Lucy
Natsu was surprised how did Lucy figured out that they were coming and the type of mission he took. He placed the letter in his pocket but before he left he saw something on Lucy's calendar. There was a blue circle on the date: June 3, and below it was a drawing of a cake. Natsu was processing, "Hmmm…" then it connected! "Oh no! Happy we need to go to the Guild pronto!" Natsu jumped out of Lucy's apartment and went straight to the Guild house.
It was a same old day in Fairy Tail. There was fight that Wakaba and Macao started. Suddenly, the doors of the guild opened revealing a panting pink haired dragonslayer and his flying blue cat. Everyone looked at the panting young man. Levy approached him, asking if he needed water, "TODAY"S LUCY'S BIRTHDAY!" Natsu shouted which made Levy squeaked. "WAAAAAH?!"
"Romeo more streamers. Rufus, help Laki hang the lights. Minerva put some back into your hammering," Erza was ordering the members to prepare for the party, they were going to celebrate Lucy's birthday. Minerva got annoyed with Erza, "Instead of you ordering us around why don't you help us? Or maybe the great Titania doesn't want to dirt on her hands?" that hit Erza.
"What did you say?"
"You heard me Scarlet. Why don't you help out to loosen up some of that cake you've been eating,"
"You wanna have a fight?"
"Let's!"
Erza and Minerva were fighting. Erza requipped into her Morning Star Armor, she pointed two swords aiming at Minerva, "Photon Slicer!" a bright beam went for Minerva, luckily the former Sabertooth mage jumped away. Unfortunately, it hit Orga and Gajeel who were arranging the cups on the table.
Minerva was doing her hand signals for "Ih Regado!" before the wave could envelope Erza she escaped but it hit a few decorations. "Stay still Scarlet!" Minerva yelled. "No can do Orlando! Photon Slicer!" The two kept on fighting and destroying the Guild House.
On the other hand, Gray, Natsu and the Twin Dragonslayers were out to buy Lucy's present. Natsu and Happy were in a toy shop. Happy was playing with the other toys while Natsu was searching for one. On his search he found a menacing-looking stuffed dragon. He showed it to Happy, who smacked Natsu's head in response. "Ow, Happy why'd you do that?"
"Do you think Lucy would like that present?" asked Happy.
"I know I would!"
Happy sighed at his clueless partner and flew to the girl at the counter. Happy whispered to the girl's ear, and the latter went to the front window and took the teddy bear with her. She gave it to Natsu, "Here you go, sir. This will definitely impress your girlfriend,". Natsu's blood rushed to his face and a puffed of smoke came out of his ears. "i-Its n-not for my g-g-girlfriend," he was stuttering.
The sales lady giggled and handed him the bear and went back to the counter. The sales lady pulled a few inches of the silky pink ribbon, then she cut the ribbon when it was at the right length. She handed the ribbon to Happy who gladly took it.
Happy flew to Natsu and left the shop. "Hey Happy who are you going to give that?" Natsu said, pointing at the ribbon around Happy's neck. He's using it like a scarf.
Gray Fullbuster was going through different stores, sighing each time he stepped out. When he went out of the last store he entered, he saw a blue flying cat and a grinning pink haired lad, carrying a stuffed bear. He cursed under his breath, Dang it! Dragon breath bought a gift already? I must find one fast!
Gray walked a little farther. The streets were crawling with more people today. It was difficult for him to look for a good shop with all these people. He squeezed form person to person until he stumbled in front of an old-bricked shack. The windows were stained with moist and dust, Gray had to peer inside to get a better view. The door was an ancient oak wood, with a gold door knob. Above the door was a sign that read, Ye Ol' Treasure Chest. The letters were ornate with delicate curves with dark and light lines. The building looked older that the style of writing on the sign.
The young mage twisted the door knob, before he entered, Gray scanned the area. It was very gloomy, the store wasn't well-lit. The only light that came in the store was from the small cracks on the ceiling and the walls. There were stacks of dusty boxes scattered, on the counter, on bookshelves, and on the floor. "Uh, Is anybody around?" Gray called out.
"Just a second!" said a voice then, suddenly a tower of boxes fell from the counter, Gray heard a loud hoarse "AAARRRGGGHH!"
He came rushing behind the counter, peeling away the boxes, revealing a short man. His ears stretched from each side, while his nose was long and curved at the end like a beak of an eagle. Gray helped the man to stand. The goblin dusted off his sleeves with his long bony fingers. "Thanks, laddy. So what brings you here to this fine shop?" the goblin said. Fine?
Gray explained that he needed to find a gift for his friend before the sun sets. "Oh I see, so this friend is it a girl?" the goblin eyeing his stuttering customer, "If you don't tell me laddy, we wouldn't be able to find the perfect gift," He had no choice but to say it, even if his pride got wounded. He averted the ore-like eyes of the shop owner. He inhaled deeply, "It's… a girl…" Gray exhaled heavily, as if a boulder was rolled out off his chest. "There we go, it isn't that hard was it?" chuckled the goblin, Yeah right Gray rolled his eyes, still blushing.
The goblin pushed the ladder to one of the shelf lined on the center of the shop. He traced his fingers to every box. His finger halted to a dirty cream box and pulled it away from the heap. Surprisingly, they didn't avalanche on the floor or on the poor bruised goblin. The goblin opens the box in front of Gray. Inside was a simple silver chained necklace. Gray's brows furrowed, "Is there something more than, this?"
The goblin, shoved the box to Gray, and rummaged through mountains of boxes. Big and small boxes were flying across the room, Gray had to dodge each one. Unfortunately, he missed one and it went straight for his face. He groaned at the throbbing pain on his face.
He sat up, and then glanced at the box that hit him. It was a small square box, he grabbed the box. He lifted the velvety cover and was amazed. Resting on the soft cottony cloth was a heart shape pendant "I see you found the Jade Heart," the goblin said.
"Jade Heart?" Gray asked
"A long time ago, a young lad asked for me to keep the pendant while he was away. A fine looking fellow, he was a mage, though. He said that that was a supposed to be a gift for also a girl, however he never came back to get it," the old goblin's head was bowed.
Gray looked at the Jade Heart. It wasn't too much of a gift. It didn't glimmer like the stars. It wasn't shiny as a crystal. And it wasn't vibrant like ruby. It was… simple like the girl he would give it to. "I'll take it, how much for both?"
The goblin thought for a moment. Gray was nervous he had 600 jewels in his pocket if it cost more than that, he'll have to search another present for Lucy, and he wasn't planning to give a bouquet of poesies. After a while the goblin lifted his head, "If it's for a girl you can have it for free," the goblin said.
Gray's eyes widened, "A-are you sure, sir?"
The goblin nodded. Gray shook the goblin's hand and thanked him. as he was about to leave he gave the crystal sword necklace he wore, "A little something from me," he winked and ran out the store to the guild.
The goblin watched the ice mage ran, "I hope that necklace gets to her," he sighed and walked inside the shop.
"AAARRGGGHH!" Sting was messing his hair in the middle of the street, he was being looked at weirdly by the people of Magnolia, "How can it be difficult to find a gift to that blonie?" Sting was talking loudly which made his partner strode a few steps away from him.
While Sting was ranting, Rogue coolly thought of the times Lucy had spend with them. He was calculating the things she mentioned she liked and adored but the only one he could remember was a person. It irritated him slightly, Sting is right. It is difficult, Lucy had not said what she wants or what she likes only 'him'. He sighed.
Rogue glimpsed at his exceed, skipping merrily beside him, humming some kind of tune. Lector on the other hand was lying on Sting's shoulder and pointing each store they passed. Though, one store had caught Rogue's and Sting's attention. A bakery.
The Twin Dragonslayer looked at each other, they gave each other a slight nod then entered the shop. Cling. Cling. The bell sounded.
"WOAAAAHHH!" the exceeds were drooling over the glass counter where different kinds of cakes were lined. The two exceeds were pointing at every cake they wanted- practically they liked everything.
A bushy faced man greeted the two exceeds and their partners, "What can I get you?" he asked. Sting went over the counter deciding which one to get as Lector tugging on his pants giving him suggestions. On the other hand, Rogue walked up to the baker, "Umm, sir, we are mages from Fairy Tail we came here to find a present for our friend, if it may be fine with you, would you teach us to bake one?" Rogue said non-chalanantly. Sting was shocked. "Wiat hold on a minute, Rogue why can't we just buy the blondie one?"
"If my memory serves me right, I heard one of her conversations with Erza that she likes men who would give her something handmade,"
At that Sting, blushed and stomped his way to –wherever the kitchen was, "Please take care of us," Rogue bowed.
For the past thirty minutes, the Twin Dragonslayers were causing chaos in the baker's kitchen. White snow covered the walls and the table. Creamy batter was all over the floor. The egg shells were all over the place. The baker was scolding the two mages.
So they had to redo everything again, from scratch, this time with the watchful eye of the baker. In a few minutes they seemed to get the hang of baking! after they had finished the batter they placed it inside the oven. As they wait, the sweet aroma permeated the air. Frosch and Lector were drooling on the floor. And with a ding, the cake was out and the smell was divine! The two partners asked their exceeds to help them to cover the cake with the frosting and the decorations. When the cake was finished, Sting and Rogue thanked the baker and left, since the sun was setting.
Everyone was done arranging the decorations, with the help of Fried casting runes on Erza and Minerva to stop them from destroying the guild. The two women were struggling out the barrier runes, when the Natsu burst into the guild. "Minna We're baa-arrgh!" he was psuddenly pushed away by a speeding Gray.
"Hey ice prick I was standing there!" Natsu yelled then he stopped when he saw the weird expression that Gray made. His team mate was acting like a girl who bought a new pari of shoes to put in her collection. He was smiling at the small box with tinge of red streak on his cheeks. Natsu was about to speak when he trampled by the twin dragonslayers.
The two seemed to be skipping their way to the bar. Sting was dreaming away to lala land while his partner was gazing out the window with a smiling face with a ray of light glittering to his face.
Natsu thought for a moment, he was looking at the box near Rogue and the small box that Gray was gazing at. As if tow wires suddenly connected in Natsu's brain, he rushed over to Happy who was having a conversation with Lector and Charles. "Happy! We got a problem I think I got the wrong gift!" Natsu was moving his eyes towards the direction of the love-strucked young men at the bar. Natsu was chewing on the scarf that his father gave him, tearing up.
"Don't worry Natsu, Lucy will love your gift! I know she will," Happy encouraged him.
Natsu's eyes sparkled and hugged his buddy. While everybody was having their little chit-chat Bixlow and Evergreen were running to the guild, they were panting hard, "La… sus… n.. Lu… zey… coming" was what they said between their pants.
The guild and the guests, understood, they quickly shifted to their position and waited for the Dreyar's to come home.
Lucy and Laxus walked side-by-side. The trees were shedding their leaves. The wind blew a song for Lucy. It's a very special day, their singing to you. Can you hear it? The rustling of the leaves and the chirp of the birds flying over her head, made such beautiful symphony that it made Lucy tear.
Laxus wrapped an arm around his sister's shoulders. It was painful for her to see their mother in this fine day. It would have been better that the sky was gloom with thundering clouds, and cry as his sister cried in the train. Although the pain she showed wasn't the full extent of the real devastating hurt she feels, hidden away from the deepest and darkest part in her heart.
Laxus comforted Lucy as their grandfather watched them, breathing in the fresh air. He was thinking of the exact same day when his granddaughter started to feel the stab in her heart. It was the same day when she found out that he was never to come back to the guild, to her.
The Dreyar's walked to their home, Lucy had calmed down a little, and tiny sobs from time to time. "Lucy wipe that snot off your face. It's embarrassing," Laxus said. He reached for his handkerchief and wiped it. Out of the blue a blinding light popped out and emerged a well-suited young man with green tinted glasses. Laxus was pushed away and Loki was wiping his masters nose while wagging his tail.
"I didn't know that the kitten also wanted to wipe his master's snot?" Laxus was teasing, Lucy realized the awkward situation she was in and lightly, told the lion spirit to stop what he was doing. Disappointed Loki ceased rubbing his matser's nose and threw the snot-filled hanky to Laxus. The lighnting scarred man was infuriated and chased after the orange mane cat. "You get back here LOKI!"
The ran into the streets that headed to the guild house, when the building was in sight, Loki thrust the doors open. Pop, Pop. "Surprise! Happy Birthday!" Loki was covered with streamers and confetti. "Uhhh, who?" Loki asked as soon as Laxus tackled him. Lucy called out to her older brother to stop hurting her spirit at the same time she saw the whole guild was covered in colorful streamers and a banner on the railing of the second floor that read: HAPPY BIRTDAY!
She could feel her heart starting to race. A warm feeling filling her entire body, Lucy's tongue was numb. "What is all this? " Master Mackarov entered the hall. Erza stepped forward, "We prepared this for Lucy,"
Lucy was just staring at the decorations. A few stremers hanging here and there and balloons flaot on the ceiling. The surroundings were all beautiful, very colorful, yet her eyes only see the dull schemes of the guild. Then she snapped out of her trance when Natsu shoved a soft fluffy thing to her.
"Ah, Nastu?"
"J-Just open it," Natsu was covering his red face. Lucy did she was told. She unwrapped the gift and a cute teddy bear sat on her hand. It was light brown in color, and wore a blue ribbon around its neck. Lucy could feel the warmth coming from Natsu's gift that melting her frozen hands. She was touched and gave Natsu a huge hug. Natsu went stiff, "Thank you Natsu. I love it," Lucy whispered. Her warm breath tickled Natsu's shoulder.
Suddenly, Loki pushed Lucy away from Natsu. The lion spirit pat Lucy's head, "A princess must never approach a stinky old dragon, ok?" "Hey!" Natsu yelled.
Gray was about to approach Lucy when Sting pushed him out with Rogue. The Twin Dragonslayers were excited to give their gift, "Open ours! Open ours!" Lucy chuckled and gladly took the box from them. A sweet smell of vanilla permeated the air. Lucy waft the smell, she opened the box. A vanilla chiffon cake! The smell got stronger that made Erza rushed to the young mage's side. "It looks delicious," Erza and Lucy said in unison.
"Can I have a try?"
"Go ahead," Rogue said.
Lucy slid her finger onto the icing, and licked her finger. The subtle sweet taste of vanilla ran in her mouth. It warmed her throat and her tongue with its sweetness. She slid her fingers again and offered some to Erza which the Titania gladly agreed. Lucy covered the cake, "Thank you Sting, Rogue. It was really delicious!" the young mage walked towards the table.
Gray saw Lucy walking by herself, this was his chance to give his present to her. He brskly walked to her, he was about to grab his hands when Levy and Juvia grabbed her out of the way to give their gifts. Every single time Gray will approach Lucy someone would just grab her or he will be pushed away. Gray had enough, he slumped down on the bar. Mirajane gave him a mug of rootbeer, "One tip Gary, give it her at the right timing," Mirajane winked and grabbed the orders of beer. Mirajane's advice pumped Gray, he will give it to her at the right timing. The question is when?
Lucy was stunned at the towering cake in front of her. Everyone was singing her a happy birthday and she felt uneasy. She tried to speak up but her guildmates would be popping from her side shaking her hand and wishing her all the best. When her guildmates forced her to make a speech, Lucy blurted the truth out: "Ano… Minna-san, I'm really glad that you made so much effort for this day but my birthday is two months from now."
"WHAT?!" Everyone was shocked.
"What do you mean it's not your birthday? I went to your room and I saw your calendar-" Nastu said.
"Oh you mean that! I just put that to remember something,"
Lucy noticed the irritated look on her guildmates to Natsu, "Minna, I'm sorry for misleading you as well, it was also my fault. Today was actually-"
Lucy was disturbed with the sound of the doors being opened and the sound of 'Men'. Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale and Crime Sorcei came to Fairy Tail. Lucy's eyes widened when she saw Master Bob, standing by the door. She rushed to him, followed by Mackarov and Laxus to welcome them. Lucy on the other hand couldn't control herself and hugged the Blue Pegasus master. "I'm happy to see you too, Lucy-chan," Master Bob embraced her too.
Night came quickly for the celebration. Lucy met new people that were affiliated with the guil like the Trimen from Blue Pegasus. Hibiki instantly liked Lucy when he first laid his eyes on her. He kept flirting with Lucy that didn't get missed by Loki. Everytime Hibiki will be near his precious princess, the lion spirit will immediately be right next to his master.
Lucy also met Lamia Scale, she was laughing at Lyon's stories about Gray when they were kids. Sherry and Chelia met Lucy too. Lucy left an impression on Chelia. When the godslayer shook hands with Lucy the same surge of power that Loki felt, it ran through Chelia's body like static. Since then Chelia observed Lucy from afar.
After the party, Lucy was outside watching the stars alone. Gray noticed it and this was his chance.
"Hey Lucy,"
"Hi Gray,"
Gray was feeling nervous, his hand shaking behind his back. He started towards Lucy, "T-Turn around," Lucy was confused bit did what she was told. As she turned away gray put on the pendant around her neck that surprised Lucy. She lift her hand to touch the pendant. Smooth and it was shaped like a heart. Lucy didn't know that Gray's gift warmed her heart that was frozen since the time her eyes opened that day.
She saw Gray walking inside the guild house, "Gray!" the ice mage stopped, "Thank you! I really love your gift. I mean that!" Gray waved at her, and ran inside the guild with his face red and his heart racing.
Master Bob glanced at Gray as he passed him, he saw the young man's face. My, my. Hibiki-kun will have a difficult year. He thought.
Master Bob, sat next to Lucy and gazed upon the stars. "How was your day my dear?"
"You know already what I felt, master. I was numb when I woke up. I couldn't feel anything; I wanted to stay in bed the whole day and not to celebrate it,"
"Yes, I figured. Today was the death anniversary of our beloved Layla and dear old Gale's birthday,"
Silence hovered on Lucy and Master Bob. Blue Pegasus' master wrapped his arm around Lucy who was crying and holding onto the pendant for dear life to control her emotions. "I miss eating Vanilla Chiffon with him. I miss surprising him with gifts. I miss Gale. I miss him so much Master Bob," Lucy cried. Master Bob, consoling her, soothing her. "I know dear. We miss him too,"
June three, the birth of Lucy's beloved friend and the start of their connection will begin.