A/N
~Dark~ We don't own Fairy Tail! Just the OCs so don't steal!
~Light~ Also thanks for the reviews! And enjoy the long chapter!
Once we reached the train station and paid for our tickets I followed Erza and the others into a slightly empty cart with two of the six booths occupied. I let the others sit down before I decided to set down in the back by the window near the door and could see Happy and Natsu from my spot along with the people on the other side of the cart near me. We had only been riding for maybe an half hour and still had an hour left till we reached Rose Garden, everyone was relaxed and enjoying the ride. Well everyone except Natsu.
"As usual you look horrible," Gray muttered as Natsu bent over clutching his stomach with his face a shade of green I thought looked funny on him.
"Wendy, can't you use you magic?" Happy asked pleadingly while he patted his friend on the back comfortingly.
"He said not to help him since it'll lose it's effectiveness if it's used to often." Wendy said in a way of apology. I shrugged and turned away from the sight feeling a little nauseous from looking at the Dragon Slayer.
"You'll have to bear with it till we reach Rose Garden." Erza said calmly as Natsu groaned loudly.
"I hate my stomach!" Natsu moaned and I got the feeling Gray was enjoying his friends pain when I heard him laugh lowly. I ignored him and looked out the window as Rain curled up in my lap mumbling in her sleep about tears. I gently laid my hand on her back wanting to offer some comfort without waking her and was rewarded with a content sigh.
"So where are you from Eclair?" I heard Lucy ask and looked up to see the top of her blond hair from the seat in front of me.
"I don't remember. It seems I'm missing parts of my memory." Eclair said in a neutral voice as I focused my hearing on their conversation.
"Huh? You have amnesia? So does Ashley," Lucy said her curiosity written clearly in her voice. "Sure mention me, Lucy!" I thought a little angry at the blond mage.
"Partial amnesia." Eclair said correcting her and not seeming to care about the second part of her statement. "There are some things I remember. For example I don't like mages. I also like nosy people even less." Eclair said and I couldn't help but laugh a little as I heard Lucy huff in frustration.
"You mustn't say that, Eclair! Sorry about that. Eclair is just bad at interacting with people. She's actually a nice kid." I heard Momon say, apologizing for the other girl.
"You talk to much," I heard Eclair mutter as the train continued on.
"What's her problem?" I heard Lucy whisper a bit miffed at the girls attitude. After awhile I felt my eyes begin to close and laid my head against the window feeling the sun's warm rays as my eyes grew heavy. Slowly I felt the seat shift as someone sat down next to me but I was already half asleep so as an arm pulled me close I relaxed and fell asleep.
...
"Wake up, sleepy." I heard someone say and slowly opened my eyes to see the cart's lights were on and the others were already grabbing their things to get off. I blinked a little and looked over to see Erza right next to me smiling a little. I blinked at her for a second before I realized her arm was around me, jerking to my feet I stood up knocking the sleeping Rain out of my lap in the process.
"Ow!" I heard Rain say as my face began to burn. As Erza stood up I looked away and reached for my bag without looking only to find it missing. Startled I looked at the spot I thought I had placed it only to find it missing.
"Need this?" I heard Erza ask and turned around to see her holding my bag in one hand and giving me a teasing smile. I glared at her and yanked the bag out of her hand and slipped it over my shoulder.
"Thanks, come on Rain." I muttered and turned to Rain as she flew up and landed on my shoulder yawning. Following the others off the train we entered the crowded streets of Rose Garden.
"This is amazing! The whole city is overflowing with magic!" Gray said in wonder as we all walked down a street looking around at everything.
"Happy! First, we gotta find food!" Natsu said turning to look at Happy with his signature grin.
"Aye sir!" Happy yelled and sprouting his wings flew after Natsu who was chanting food as he ran towards a nearby resturaunt.
"Is there a time when he isn't thinking about food?" I asked Wendy who laughed as Gray mumbled something.
"Well...why don't we check into a hotel and enjoy ourselves tonight." Erza said and after deciding what hotel we were going to meet up at we all seperated and walked around the city.
"Rain, earlier when we were about to leave the dorm you looked upset. Why?" I asked Rain as we walked down a street with various shops lining it.
"Well, Carla told me something." Rain said flying along side me and I saw her frown a little.
"What did she say? Are you okay?" I asked as we continued to walk catching sight of Gray's jacket lying discarded nearby. Walking towards it I grabbed it with a sigh and looked around for him.
"I'm fine, she told me that Happy and her were going to go see a village of exceeds with Pantherlilly when all this was over. She asked if I wanted to go," Rain said softly as we continued on our way.
"Well are you going to go?" I asked her spotting a familiar blue shirt with a leather best on it.
"No, I mean I want to but I don't think I can," Rain said trying to explain what she meant as I grabbed Gray's shirt and placed it in my bag beside his folded jacket and looked around for him only to spot his shoes and socks a few feet away.
"Why not? I mean if you want to you should go." I told her without looking up at her while I grabbed the large shoes and socks and tied them together.
"What about you? Who's going to help you on missions?" Rain asked trying to find a reason, I laughed and looked up at her as she flew down to eye level. I looked her in the eye and noticed the worry there and smiled confidently at her before wrapping my arms around her and setting her on my shoulders.
"Don't worry about me. I'm a member of Fairy Tail, besides if it makes you feel better I'll do whatever you want when you get back." I said making her laugh as we walked past a few carnival games. We stopped talking about that and began to enjoy ourselves, playing a few games and watching a puppet show before finding Gray's pants shortly after seeing Gray being escorted out of a building wearing only his boxers.
"Gray!" I yelled and walked over to him pulling his clothes out as a look of happy relief filled his face.
"Ashley! Am I glad to see you," Gray exclaimed as the officers let him go and I handed him his clothes while Rain laughed above us.
"I see you know this young man. Is he your brother?" An officer asked us.
"No way! I'd never be a sibling of a stripper! We don't even look alike!" I exclaimed as Gray laughed before slapping the back of my head while Rain fell to the ground laughing at my red face.
"Sorry officer," Gray said sheepishly as I rubbed the back of my head and glared at him. "We should head to the hotel and meet with the others. It's getting late and a little girl like you should be in bed." Gray said teasing me as we walked away from the officers with him fully clothed.
"Shut up stripper, at least I didn't get arrested." I said back as Rain flew ahead of us looking for Hills Hotel. Gray laughed at my statement and we continued to argue until we reached the hotel and walked in where Gray proceeded to slump onto a couch beside Natsu.
"Your room key? Wait one moment, please." A man told Erza as I sat down on a couch beside Eclair and Momon.
"Why does she look so happy?" Natsu asked tiredly as Gray closed his eyes.
"I saw her buy a wedding dress at a store..." Wendy said softly making the others jerk their attention over to her.
"What?" Lucy, Happy, Natsu, and Gray all asked incredulously as Erza turned around to look at us.
"What is it?" she asked immediately making the four pull away from Wendy and Carla.
"Nothing!" The all said at the same time making Rain laugh as she laid down on my head tiredly. After a few minutes we were all in our respective room and I was laying on the bed across from Wendy and beside Rain. The light was out but I could still see the glow from the active city lights seeping into our window. Sighing softly I turned over and tried to go to sleep listening to Wendy, Carla, and Rain's even breathing until I was beginning to fall asleep.
"Natsu!" I heard Lucy scream and jerked up along with the others. Without a word I jumped out of the bed and dashed over to the window. Pushing it open I looked down into the street just in time to see Lucy and Eclair with Momon beginning running from a man above them.
"What's going on?" Wendy asked fully alert as I ran past her and towards the door.
"Come on!" I heard Gray yell followed by running feet as I jerked our door open and rushed out into the hallway followed by Rain and the others.
"Erza! What happened? Why did Lucy scream?" Wendy asked as I ran into Lucy and Eclair's room to see what had happened.
"The light," I said as I carefully walked into the room. With a click the room was lit up to reveal knives buried deep into the bed and floor.
"Ashley, get out of there." I heard Erza command but I ignored her as I yanked a small knife out of the bed and looked at it. The blade was in the shape of a kite and had a small circle at the top of the grip with a red ribbon tied around it.
"What is this?" I muttered testing the weight in my hand before gripping it and running the edge against my left finger tips drawing blood.
"Ashley!" Erza yelled right in my ear making me jump as she ripped the knife from me and grabbed my hand glaring at me. "Never do that! For all you know the blade is poisoned or something." Erza said angrily as blood ran down my fingers to meet her hand. I looked away from her and looked around the room as Wendy came in with Carla.
"She has a point," Rain said lowly in my ear as Wendy pulled out a small pouch and Erza pulled me over to the slightly older girl. I didn't say a word as Wendy carefully cleaned the small cut on each finger tip, only hissing as she applied disinfectant.
"That should do it," Wendy said proudly as Erza let go of my hand and crossed her arms, sending a glare down at me. "Umm...Erza, we should probably get all these knives up." Wendy said trying to break the tension as I stared down at the floor slightly ashamed of what was happening.
"Alright, but be careful." Erza said and began carefully pulling them out of the floor behind the bed.
"Erza, what kind of knife are these?" Rain asked as she lifted up the one I had cut myself with.
"There called shurikans, a lot of people use them." Erza said as she yanked one out of the wall while Wendy and I each pulled one out of the bed. I heard her make an 'oh' sound before placing it in the small pile in the center of the bed. After a few minutes we heard angry muttering followed by a sharp crack as the door flew open to reveal Lucy wrapped up in a towel followed by Natsu who had a red hand print on his face. Without a word Lucy grabbed a bag and stomped into the bathroom, slamming the door angrily as Natsu sighed.
"Pervert!" I heard Lucy yell and I turned to look at Natsu who was shaking slightly.
"Natsu..." Erza said lowly and I turned to see a demonic aura around her. I gulped and leaned backwards as she chased a screaming Natsu out of the room with a sword.
...
"In Boundary Forest, there is a mage named Kalard. Once I'm there, I must give this stone to him. I think this stone is the reason why someone is after me." Eclair said as we all sat around Gray and Natsu's room with Eclair and Lucy sitting on the bed as Eclair held up a small blue stone that looked like it had some kind of design on it but I couldn't tell what it was.
"This stone?" Lucy asked curiously as we all looked at Eclair.
"I do sense some strange power from it." Carla said calmly from Wendy's arms.
"I've never heard of a magician named Kalard." Erza said in thought as she stared off into space.
"Eclair, what is that stone?" Natsu asked calmly but Eclair only shakes her head in response.
"Eclair doesn't know either. But she's had it with her all this time." Momon says as he flies up to sit next to her.
"I don't have any memories of my childhood. I don't know where I came from, who I am, or even why I'm alive. But lately, I've started to remember parts of it. I'm sure this stone is a clue." Eclair says lowly and stares at the stone intensely as if waiting for an answer.
"If we find this Kalard person, we might find out more." Natsu said and we all nod.
"Eclair, do you know where this Kalard lives?" Happy asks as Erza turns her head to look at me.
"I do. Although I don't remember who Kalard is. Even if I never meet him, I must go there." Eclair says placing the stone back on the necklace and staring at us. After discussing some things we split up to sleep; Natsu, Gray, Happy, Lucy, Eclair, and Momon in one room and Erza, Wendy, Carla, Rain, and I in another. I sigh as I pull a spare blanket off of the edge of a bed and move over to the couch to sleep so Wendy, Carla, and Rain can sleep a little more comfortably. After awhile I hear Erza slip into the room and walk over to the other bed, I listen to her lay down and then her breath evening out before settling deeper against the back of the couch to sleep.
"Friends with you?" A boy with short spiky blond hair asked me with a laugh as a bunch of faceless people laughed at me.
"I would never be friends with a freak like you. It's no wonder people stay away from you. I mean seriously you smell!" They boy said waving his hand at me as more laughter erupts.
"But...But I thought..." I started as tears pricked the corners of my eyes and my stomach filled with lead.
"Oh, you thought I was serious about being a friend? Let me tell you a secret. I pitied you," the boy said loudly before he walked over to me and smiled brightly making his eyes crinkle and dimples form.
"I pitied the girl who had no friends and no family. But now I see how worthless and pathetic you are." The boy said in my ear before pushing me down and laughing before walking away with a bunch of faceless people. I looked at his fading figure and slowly stood up as whispered insult were passed to me.
"Look at her, she's so thin it's disgusting." "Yeah, I heard she doesn't eat and she beats herself up all the time." "I heard she said her parents are abusive but no one believes her because her parents are so nice."
"Freak."
"Worthless."
"Ugly." The insults kept going and now I could no longer move, all I could do was stand there in the middle of the circle of faceless people as tears coursed down my face. Suddenly I felt something hit me on the head followed by more hits until I was curled up on the ground, my head covered by my bruised arms as the people continued to throw rocks at me.
I jerked up with a start, gasping for breath and looked around. Someone had moved me from the couch and onto the spare bed. I looked beside me to see Erza still asleep as the sun began to peak over the horizon. Taking a deep breath I carefully moved out of the bed and padded over to the bathroom wanting to take a shower and get into some clean clothes before the day started.
"That dream was so real. And that boy look familiar too...Come on Ashley, forget it. It's just a dream." I thought as I slipped into the shower and began washing my hair.