I don't own Fairy Tail
Song of the Chapter: Keep Holding On, Avril Lavigne & Wash Away, Joe Purdy
A/N: Hello everyone! Before you kill me for updating so late (it's like what? A month?) but I've be busy, and I know it's no excuse... I made this chapter semi-long just for you guys (about 5,000 words)! Another reason I'm so late is 'cause I wrote a one-shot (I shoudn't have but the idea was bugging me! It was about 3,500 words so it was worth a chapter!). The one-shot is on my bio and it's StiCy, so you can get some more awesome StiCy fluff ('cause this chapter doesn't have any, sorry). It's called Deer in the Headlights so make sure to support it for me! So enough of my rambling, enjoy the chapter! *The lullaby in this chapter is the first few verses of Close Your Eyes by Digital Daggers, so you can listen to it while reading.*
Chapter 14: Family
Lucy POV
It has been two months since I arrived in Lacey Town, and I think I've adjusted well here. I have been busy training every weekday, then working at the diner every weekend. I can feel myself getting stronger with Mars' intense workouts. Living with Ronan and Nan has been great, Ronan's so energetic and innocent, really a breath of fresh air. I lay in the flower fields with him, telling stories.
"Lucy, do you know what you remind me of?" Ronan asked, giggling as if his answer would be funny.
I turned to him, my head propped on my hand. "What?"
"A princess," he said. beaming. I blinked, and allowed a wide smile to spread across my face.
"Is that so?" I said, raising an eyebrow. He nodded vigorously.
"You have pretty princess hair and manners." The cute way he said princess and the way his face scrunched up when he said manners made me chuckle. "You must be a princess," Ronan stated positively.
"Why, thank you, Sir Ronan," I imitated, and stood up. I curtsied, lifting up an invisible skirt. In fact, I was wearing a pair of dull jeans and a t-shirt that was much too large for me, but hey, it's comfortable. I helped him stand daintily, and smiled brightly. "May I have this dance?" I asked politely.
"You may," he said, grinning, and allowed me to pull him up. I positioned his hand on my waist (which he could barely reach) and his other tiny hand was clasped in mine. My other hand lay on his shoulder. I started stepping back and forth rhythmically. Ronan, of course, was tripping over both his and my feet hopelessly. Once he got the hang of it, I decided to spice it up a little bit.
I grabbed him securely and spun him around. The world blurred around me, Ronan squealed in pure delight. After a few spins, I set him down and assumed the previous position. Ronan was comically dizzy, he stumbled around before falling down in a heap. I couldn't take it anymore! I collapsed shortly after the child, in a fit of laughter.
"LUUUUUuuuuCY~!" Ronan whined. Once I calmed down, I took a giant gulp of air.
"Sorry, sorry, you're just too adorable!" I ruffled his hair and he pouted, smacking away my hand.
He sat criss-cross, and I sprawled out next to him. A pout was still fixed on his face, so I did my best to think of ways to cheer up the ridiculous boy. "You know, if I'm the princess, that makes you a prince," I said matter-of-factly.
The scowl melted off his face and was replaced with a smug smile. "Really?"
I heard the loud slapping of bare feet on wood floor. I quickly walked up the stairs, taking each step two at a time. "Ready or not, here I come!" I called out, and quickly opened the door to Ronan's room to see if he was there. Toys littered the floor, clothes hung from corners of furniture, making his room looked like a bomb of things and whatnots just exploded. I sweatdropped before looking under the bed and in the closet. Slightly disappointed that he was nowhere to be seen, I headed down the hall.
I peeked into closets, looking in every room, even the bathroom. I saved the best for last, my room. I knew he was in there, I just loved to drag the game out. "I know where you are~!" I called out, and opened the door slightly, peering in.
I heard distinct giggling coming from behind the bed, and I smirked in victory. I played along, earning more giggles. "I wonder where he could be?" I had to suppress a giggle myself. I snuck over to the queen-sized bed, careful not to make any noise.
I looked over the bed and saw little Ronan, curled up tightly in a ball, his eyes squeezed tightly shut as giggles escaped his mouth. "BOO!" I yelled, making Ronan scream.
I let the giggles escape my mouth. Ronan pouted, and I finished the fit of laughter soon after. "Found you!" I sang, a smug expression on my face. Ronan was still pouting, obviously still upset that he had been found. "Aw, don't give me that look!" I whined, pulling him into a hug.
Ronan returned the hug and I smiled. Now I understood why Nan was always smiling, because what wasn't there to smile about when Ronan was here?
"How 'bout you be the seeker now?" I offered, pulling away, but keeping both hands on his shoulders.
"Yeah!" Ronan answered enthusiastically, and he bounded away quickly. I watched as he retreated with a feeling of fondness in my chest, causing my cheeks to hurt from so much smiling.
Today was Sunday, and the diner was peaceful for a change. It was about nine in the morning, and apparently everyone in Lacey were late risers. There were only a few customers loitering, sipping on coffee or munching on pancakes. I was able to take a break, so I sat at the bar, sipping on a glass of orange juice.
"Lucy help unload the food truck, will ya?" Nan called from the back door. Sometimes I wondered how she got her voice to boom so loudly.
So much for my break, I thought. I yelled back, "I'll be back there in a sec!" I slurped up the last of my orange juice before quickly walking to the loading dock, placing the glass in the sink for the busboy to deal with on my way through the kitchen.
I walked through the back door, meeting with Nan and various other co-workers that were hard at work unloading the food trunk. I got the gist of what to do, and started by moving the boxes into the pantry. Mars' training had really helped me build muscle, so I could move the big boxes of pickle jars with ease.
Narrator POV
After a couple boxes were lugged to the pantry, Lucy walked back to the truck, which was almost empty, to carry another box. When she made eye contact with the man who handed her another box, she realized this wasn't just any delivery man.
"Papa?!" the Celestial mage asked in shock. He looked at her and smiled widely, tears of happiness brimming in his warm eyes.
"Lucy," Jude Heartfilia said, dropping his box and pulled her into a hug. Lucy hadn't seen her father since she saved the Love & Lucky merchant guild long ago, after the Heartfilia Konzern went under and he had swallowed his pride and asked to borrow money from her.
Lucy buried her face into her father's currently long hair, feeling the tickle of his slight stubble. "It's good to see you again," Lucy said, her voice muffled because her face was pressed against his shoulder.
She pulled away from the hug, her eyes meeting his sad ones. "How have you been, Lucy?" he asked sincerely. Lucy smiled, happy she could talk to her father like he was her actual father. Lucy had learned to forgive him, there was no point of holding on to her past. Now, she was just happy to be with the last of her family.
"I've been doing great, really," Lucy answered honestly. Living in Lacey Town has been wonderful, it's the sort of simple family life that she could only dream of having. "How has your time been in Love & Lucky?" She asked in turn.
"It has been great also, working to make a living and managing my money, it's been on big learning experience," he answered before a sickening cough ripped through his throat. Lucy looked at him worriedly and patted his back comfortingly.
"Are you okay?" Lucy asked, her voice lined with concern. He did not sound good at all, it sounded more serious than a simple cold or cough.
"I'm fine," he croaked and gave her a half-hearted smile. Lucy looked at him doubtfully, but decided to drop it. "But where are all of your friends from that guild of yours, Fairy Tail?" he asked. Lucy couldn't tell if he was trying to divert the conversation, but answered anyway.
"Oh... I, uh, left the guild. I'm just here by myself." Lucy said, slightly nervous. She scratched the back of her head and swallowed.
A look of confusion and concern crossed her father's face. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," he replied uncomfortably. Sure he was her father, but they had only been on speaking terms just recently.
"It's fine, things didn't work out there," Lucy replied, equally awkward. Despite the slight tension in the air, it was good to finally have what seemed to be a real father-daughter talk. "I'm really happy to see you," Lucy restated. Tears shone in her chocolate brown eyes and Jude immediately bounded to her aid.
"Lucy?! Why are you crying? Are you okay?!" he asked with concern. Lucy just smiled and a small chuckle escaped her lips, followed by a hiccup.
"It's just"-hiccup-"I have always wanted to be able to talk to you like this. I'm so happy," Lucy declared before tackling her father with another hug.
"I'm delighted to see you again, too," Lucy's father replied with a chuckle, but Lucy could swear she saw the small tears of happiness falling from his eyes.
Lucy glared down at the white sheet of paper. It seemed like it was out to get her! She bit the end of her ballpoint pen nervously. Why am I stressing out so much about this?! Lucy thought to herself, perplexed. She lowered her pen to write something, then lifted it again deciding against whatever she was about to do. "Grr!" she cried out in frustration. The mage snatched up the blank of paper and crumpled it up, throwing it into the waste bin beside the desk she currently sat at.
"Why can't I just do this?! It's simple enough!" Lucy asked herself, clutching her hair in frustration, and groaned.
Her current mood was caused by Lucy's sudden need to write Sting a letter. She hasn't seen in about four months, so he'd like to hear from her, right? What if he loathes my very existence? she wondered. Lucy was definitely way overthinking it. Pulling out another blank paper, Lucy glared once again at it. She found this situation quite familiar. How many blank sheets of paper had the blonde thrown out? I don't even want to know, Lucy thought bitterly. The paper mocked her, and a scowl found its way to her pretty face.
Lucy slowly lowered her pen, letting it hover not even an inch above the page. She readied herself to write the introduction until bright light flooded the dim room once lit by a single desk lamp.
"SIS, TIME FOR DINNER!" yelled Ronan, despite the fact that he was only a few feet away. She groaned softly, so that the pesky little blonde at the doorway wouldn't hear. I was just about to write something, Lucy thought with disdain.
"COMING!" she yelled back with equal volume. Lucy crumpled up yet another paper before flicking off the lamp and hurrying out the door. The mage slid out into the hallway, her feet adorned with comfy fuzzy socks. She ran down the hallway, following a giggling Ronan. "Bet I can beat you to the table!" Lucy called to him. Ronan looked over his shoulder at me and blew a raspberry, an obvious acceptance of her challenge.
They raced down the hall, and practically flew down the stairs. The two blondes were neck-and-neck as they ran the last stretch to the dining room table. Suddenly, Lucy stepped on something spiky, causing her to land flat on her face with a hoarse groan.
"Ow, ow, ow!" she cried and looked down to spot the culprit. Still impaled into her foot was a plastic dinosaur with spikes along its spine. Seriously?! What toy has such sharp spikes?! Lucy thought angrily, and then finally noticed a certain little boy finding her situation all too funny.
Ronan was laughing at her, he didn't even bother to run the rest of the way to the dining room table. "He is insufferable," Lucy muttered under her breath. He was obviously the reason for Lucy's current pain. If only he put away his toys like she constantly urged him to do!
Lucy plucked the little dino off the floor and chucked it playfully at the giggling boy. She pulled herself to her feet and limped over the the table with Ronan by her side. She ruffled his hair lovingly. After all, Lucy could never stay mad at that boy for too long.
Lucy POV
It has been days since I decided against sending Sting a letter. Instead, the topic of when I'll visit him floats around my mind. But now was not the time for that. I have to focus on work.
"Table six!" Nan called to me, and I nodded quick yes. I readied my pen and note pad and strode over to the table in question to take their order. "Hello, I'm Lucy and I'll be waitress today. Can I start you off with some drinks?" I said in my perky-waitress voice and smile before finally glancing up at my customers.
"Lucy?!" I heard two familiar voices cry in unison. I was surprised to Bisca and Alzack seated at the booth!
"B-Bisca! Alzack! Long time no see!" I greeted somewhat awkwardly. I couldn't really remember where Bisca and Alzack were when I fled the guild, but it seemed that they found the situation just as awkward as I did. "How has everything been?" I asked out of politeness. I had never expected that someone of Fairy Tail would ever travel as far as Lacey, the town was practically isolated from all of Fiore.
"It's been wonderful! Actually, Alzack and I are engaged!" Bisca answered proudly, and held out her hand to show off the diamond ring that adorned her left ring finger.
"That's great, congratulations!" I said with a cheery smile. Maybe this isn't so bad, I thought. "So how's everyone at the guild?" I decided to ask, and I really was wondering how Wendy, Juvia, Gajeel, and the Exceeds were doing.
The couple's faces darkened, and I wondered what I had said wrong. As quickly as their faces darkened, they turned sympathetic. "You haven't heard, have you?" Alzack said with pity.
"Heard what?" I replied, confused. I glanced between the two of them, searching their faces for an answer.
"It happened only a few months ago!" Bisca said sadly. "Many of the strongest members in the guild went off to take the S-Class exams. They didn't come back. According to the official magic council report, the entire island where the trials were being held was obliterated."
I gasped, my hand flew to my mouth in shock. Fairy Tail's strongest mages, gone… "Who was there?!" I asked urgently. What if Juvia, Wendy, Gajeel, Levy, and the exceeds were on the island?
Alzack started to list names, a list of the dead. The very thought was sickening. Master, Erza, Mirajane, Freed, Bickslow, Lisanna, Juvia, Natsu, Happy, Gajeel, Levy, Cana, Gray, Wendy, and Mest. I stood there, frozen in shock, I was unable to speak. Finally, I found my voice. "I-I-I can't believe it…" I whispered hoarsely.
Bisca looked at me with compassion shining in her eyes, "I know, it was hard for us to deal with, too." I remembered their smiling faces, in the locket that seemed so cold around my neck. How can they be gone? It seem like only days ago we were chatting and laughing, without a care in the world.
"Will you please excuse me?" I asked, my voice wavering dangerously. They both nodded quickly and stuck their heads back into the menu. I walked robotically to the bathroom, laying my pad and pen on an empty table. I entered the employees-only bathroom, no stalls, just a toilet and a sink.
I slunk into the corner and sank to the ground. I pulled my knees to my chest, hiccuping and sniffling. I lay my head on my knees, feeling the cold walls and floor closing in on me. All of my friends in Fairy Tail, gone, dead. Full sobs now racked my body, angry tears streaming down my face.
Why does this always happen to me?! I cursed the universe, crying pathetically in the restroom.
For the first time since I came to Lacey, I really cried.
I was jerked away by the sound of muffled crying. I quickly scanned the room and realized that the crying was coming from the room next door. Ronan was crying.
I padded quietly out of my room, shutting the door softly behind me with a click. The floor was cool beneath my feet, I was slightly chilled because the only thing I wore was a large t-shirt that ended mid-thigh.
I peeked inside Ronan's dark room. The hushed sobs were still rolling off the little blonde. I walked over to him and gently put a comforting hand on his shoulder. His head, which was previously buried in his pillow, jerked up and looked at me with scared, puffy eyes.
"Everything's okay, I'm here." I whispered, careful not to wake Nan. Ronan hiccuped and tackled me with a hug.
"Lucy, I had a scary nightmare!" he confessed, though it was a little muted because his face was in my hair. I stroked his back and whispered comforting nothings.
"You're fine, I'm here," I repeated and pulled away gently from his embrace. He sniffed as tears streamed down his face. I wiped them away and tucked him under his down comforters. "Don't worry, I'll always be here for you," I consoled and slipped under the sheets holding the boy close to me.
"Sis, can you sing me a lullaby?" Ronan asked, his eyes shut tightly. I smile and a certain tune came immediately to mind.
"Of course," I answered and opened my mouth to sing a soft tune.
"'ll keep you safe, as safe as I can
When all the elements around us
Have other plans
I pray we don't break in unsteady hands
I swear if you call I will come
So quick, I am at your command
As long as I live
As long as I'm breathing
You will be safe
As long as we're dreaming
Just close your eyes
Everything's gonna be just fine
You can peek on the other side
Say you'll keep still
As still as can be
Don't get caught in the chaos surrounding us
Trust that we're coming out clean
'Cause I'm on your side
It's still you and me
When everything's falling to pieces
And nothing is quite as it seems
We will be safe
As long as we're dreaming
Just close your eyes
Everything's gonna be just fine
You can peek on the other side"
I opened my eyes once I had finished singing to find Ronan snoring softly with a small smile. I smiled in turn, curling close to the little boy and soon I, too, fell into a dreamless slumber.
It's been more than a month since I heard the dreadful news of Fairy Tail, and I haven't told anybody except for Mama. I didn't want to have Nan and Ronan worrying about me. Just like when you lose a loved one, you have to move on.
Today, I was happy, a bright smile plastered on my face. My heart pounded with excitement and nerves. This day marks six months since I have started my training, meaning I can finally learn the magic that has been lying dormant within me. So I let my fears wash away, and for once I let myself be happy. Today is the day I can start the journey on to becoming a Dragon Slayer!
But the thing that caused my nerves was how in the world could I unlock these hidden powers? I mean, how does one magically unlock epic Dragon Slaying moves?
I pondered this as I walked to our usual meeting place, Nancy's Diner. Sitting down at the bench just outside the entrance, I crossed my legs and opened the book that Mars had assigned me to read a few days ago. As Mars put it, the book was about "the perks of being a Dragon Slayer". It discussed everything that came with being a Dragon Slayer, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Some of the things I read I already knew, such as the motion sickness and the ability to eat the element of power to gain magical power. Other things were entirely new to me, like the mating process of a Dragon Slayer. Reading about the details it entailed made me squirm uncomfortably. I could understand why Mars chose assigning the book rather than explaining it himself.
I was engrossed in the book before me when Mars shook my shoulder. "Time to get going." I only slightly jumped before nodding and placing the book in my bag. Mars was already ten meters away as I ran to catch up with him.
"So today's the day, isn't it?" I asked. I couldn't keep the eager smile of my face.
Mars glanced over at me and smiled. "Today's the day," he replied, and looked forward again. I wondered why he sounded so worried.
"Where are we headed?" I asked, and for some reason, he seemed slightly irate.
"The place where you'll officially become a Dragon Slayer," he said, and I grinned excitedly, more questions popping into my head.
"So how does it work?" I asked, eager to learn more. Mars didn't seem to be as eager as I was, but he must of decided on telling me the full story because he took a big breath and started to talk.
"You're gonna have a Lacrima implanted," he said. He dug his hand into the deep pocket of his dark jeans and pulled out a faintly glowing crystal.
"This is the Celestial Dragon Slaying Lacrima," he said, holding out the item in question. "It's incredibly rare, and I have been holding onto it for decades," he added as an afterthought, and dropped the crystal into my waiting hand. I held it tenderly. The crystal was a beautiful golden color, and slightly opaque. It was sphere-shaped and slightly warm to the touch, as if it were alive, and pulsing with active magic. The most amazing thing, however, was the fact that it seemed as if a galaxy of its own was contained within, swirling with celestial magic.
"It's been a while since a powerful Celestial mage like you has come along," Mars stated with rosy cheeks, and my cheeks grew warm, too. I never really considered myself powerful at all.
"But, there is high risk to this operation. Some people don't even make it through, let alone absorb the high amount of magic at once," Mars said on a more negative note. I now understood why he wasn't jumping for joy like me. I never thought there would be risks….
"Oh," I said quietly.
"Are you going to quit?" Mars asked with a frown, seeming genuinely worried.
I shook my head and gave my best determined smile. "There's no way I'm backing out now." Mars smiled back at me softly, letting out a barely noticeable sigh of relief.
"That's reassuring to hear." Slight humor lined his voice. "Though I'm positive you'll come out of this stronger than you were before, and then the real training will begin," he declared, with a slightly-worrying glint in his golden eyes.
"Right…." I answered with little enthusiasm. His 'training' was hard enough as it was. More like torture, I thought snidely, and we proceeded to walk in a peaceful silence.
Narrator POV
Lucy looked up from the dirt road finally to see where they were heading. It seemed that Mars was leading them into the outskirts of town, because there weren't as many shops and houses here, and she couldn't recall ever being in this area of town in the six months she'd resided in Lacey. It was not as nice as the main part of town where Lucy was used to being in. There were many abandoned buildings, and few people dared to wander these streets.
She was slightly surprised when he walked toward a run-down medical office. It looked more than a little shady in her opinion. The brick wall was covered in graffiti that no one had bothered to clean, the windows were stained to much that you could scarcely see inside, overall, the establishment aired a haunted mood.
Mars walked right in without a second thought and I followed more hesitantly behind him. I'm getting a life-threatening procedure in a place like this? I thought.
They walked in and the doorbell rang a long, sorrowful tune. Lucy glanced around, noting that the interior was just as appealing as the exterior. It looked like your average doctor's office down-graded by a lot.
Mars strided confidently to the receptionist's desk, which lacked a receptionist, and rung the little bell sitting atop the counter. The ding rang through the seemingly-empty room, and Lucy shifted uncomfortably.
Running out of patience, she opened her mouth to utter a complaint, but at the same time, a figure graced them with his presence. She shut it immediately, not wanting to sound bratty or rude for a first impression.
The man she saw before her must be in his early- to mid-forties, and you could tell by the many flecks of gray that could be found in his jet-black hair. He was tan and had warm brown eyes, and looked as if he didn't have a care in the world, like someone you could trust.
He gave the two a toothy grin on his face and greeted them cheerfully. "Hello! Welcome to-" He cut himself off, giving them a good look before frowning. "Oh, it's you," he said sourly, eying Mars. Lucy sweat-dropped after hearing what this rude man had greeted them with. This was the person she was putting her faith into?
Mars scratched the back of his head and let out a good-natured laugh. "Yeah… It's me." The man had a serious expression on his face, making Lucy nervous. What was his relationship with Mars? Then, his frown cracked into a grin, and he held out his hand and shook Mars' good-naturedly.
"Long time no see! It's nice to see you even though you aren't a customer!" The man greeted humorously, she sweat-dropped again. What's with these weird mood swings? she thought.
"Nice to see you again too. I hope you know why I'm here today," Mars said back just as cheerily, though in Lucy's opinion, it sounded serious, contrary to his tone. She glanced between the two men. It was impossible to read them! Lucy felt unmistakably out-of-the-loop.
"No time to dilly-dally, I suppose. !e can start the procedure right away!" The man walked briskly away into the back hall and Mars followed behind, and so did Lucy.
The duo was lead into a plain white room, where a somewhat-ominous operating table was set in the center. Next to the table, a rolling stand held a dozen sharp scalpels, making Lucy gulp. They glinted in the bright light of the room, and it wasn't hard for Lucy to imagine the blades slicing through her skin like butter.
Lucy was jerked back into reality when the man handed her a simple hospital gown. She grabbed it and thanked him quietly.
"Oh, excuse my manners! My name is Dr. Sam Martinez," he said greatly and held out his hand. She shook it timidly, but he had a firm handshake and scarred, calloused hands.
"I'm Lucy," she introduced, and with a slight bow and smile, hurried out to the bathroom to switch into the gown.
It took only a minute for her to change into the baggy hospital gown. Lucy walked quickly back into the operating room to find Mars and Dr. Martinez discussing something in quiet, hissing voices.
"—want her to go through with this?" Dr. Martinez asked, and she decided to hang around behind the door, unnoticed. It wasn't exactly eavesdropping when the conversation was about her anyway.
"I'm positive she can make it through," Mars answered surely. Is the operation that serious? Lucy started to wonder, and doubt started to form in her mind. Dr. Martinez finally seemed to notice Lucy at the door, because he didn't reply, so she inched in quietly. He and Mars seemed to be forced an innocent smile.
"Ah, Lucy, please lay right here." Dr. Martinez gestured to the table and Lucy hesitantly climbed atop the cold surface. She lay flat on the table, facing the bright white light of the room. "I'm going to strap you down because the anesthetic we use can sometimes trigger vivid dreams," Dr. Martinez said. He seemed to be a whole new person, a surgeon now. Lucy was strapped down and a mask was put over her nose and mouth.
"Just breathe normally, Lucy," the doctor instructed.
Lucy did as she was and she felt her eyelids get heavy. She only faintly heard the slapping sound of latex on skin as she started to drift out of consciousness. "Let the operation begin," Dr. Martinez said before Lucy succumbed to anesthesia.
To be continued….
A/N: Did you like? To explain the drabblness of the chapter, it was to show that this story will follow some of the cannon. I also want to emphasize Lucy's strong relationship with Ronan. And if you couldn't tell, Lucy's dad will die, just like in the cannon. It was also a set-up for next chapter, as you can see from the cliff-hanger (sorry). If you have any questions, feel free to review, I love your thoughts (seriously review please)! Also follow, favorite, review, and check out my one-shot.
E/N: Flyleaf is one of the most amazing bands known to man. Jus' sayin'.
Song of the Chapter: Keep Holding On, Avril Lavigne & Wash Away, Joe Purdy
~Pug