Chapter 25: The Future Came Back to the Wrong Past!?
A/N: You can infer just what this chapter will hold by the title. Enjoy! Also, I have a three day weekend, and Thursday will be the first day of my Summer Break! So, 10 reviews will mean another chapter this weekend. But of course I'll update the next one no matter what, just not as early as by Monday. Even though it'll be Summer Break, I'll still update weekly. I have a lot of summer assignments for honors classes!
"Wha-me?" Lucy steps towards, well, herself. They take a moment, analyzing each other, before Natsu speaks up.
"What is the meaning of this?" He stands, taking a step forward. The Lucy look-alike takes a step back from him, eyes wide.
"I found her in the crowd today. She was emitting the dark magic I felt earlier but... she isn't anymore." Everyone soaks in the information, and Natsu walks right up to her as she obliviously looks back at Jellal. Turning her head she sees she's just a foot away from the larger pinkette, making her squeal in frieght.
"Wh-who're you?!" This catches them off-guard, and Lucy steps up beside her best male friend.
"I should be asking you that." Their similar doe eyes meet, and neither can deny that they are the same person. Although the newer one has a few scars on her, she's still 'Lucy'.
"I... am Lucy Heartfillia." Raising her hand she shows the pink Fairy Tail mark, and their Lucys' eyes flick down to her own. "There's no way I can tell you this without you guys freaking out, so..." she takes in a big breath, lowering her hand. "I'll just come out and say it. I'm from the future."
Nobody moves.
Nobody speaks.
Well, it would be nobody, but Natsu breaks that rather quickly.
"I can't say time travel is impossible in this world we live in, with its magic and all. But it would come at a heavy price, would it not?" Future Lucy looks into the guild masters eyes, and sighs. "But, I can't deny you smell exactly like her." Natsu points his thumb at the blond beside her. "So I believe you." A small smile graces the girls lips upon hearing this, while some guild members begin to protest. "Now, let's skip to the important part."
"Why I'm here?"
"No." He looks at her as if it was the dumbest thing she could've said. "What are we supposed to call you. Cause she's Lucy." Natsu finishes, placing his hand on their times Lucys' head.
"A-ah..." Everyone sweatdrops at this, and future Lucy gives a small giggle, tears pricking at her eyes.
"You can call me..."
"Ms. Heartfilia?" A random quild member, who neither Lucy's recognize, speaks up.
"How about Lucky?" Normal Lucy voices, a small smile on her face.
"Ah, from Love and Lucky... I like it. Lucky it is." They both share a moment, looking into each others eyes, before newly named 'Lucky' becomes more serious.
"Now to what everyone other than... you thinks is most important." She points at the pinkette, eyes having a glint of confusion. "I came here to warn the past, but..." She drones off, looking around the crowd, eyes landing and remaining on Sting and Rogue for a few moments.
"But what?" Erza steps up to the person claiming to be one of her closest friends from the future.
"But... this isn't the past I remember."
"What do you mean?" Gray asks, having lost the clothes he had just put back on.
"Well... In my time, Wendy and Chellia tied... and, are Sting and Rogue in Fairy Tail now?" They all nod, seeing Lucky's face be filled with shock. "A-and the guild is so big even after the whole S-Class trials thing... I'm so confused."
"Why?" Sting asks, brows creased slightly.
"Something must have happened differently in this world for everything to be this way." Lucy concludes, and both of them get to work on the problem.
"Wait, I forgot to ask... Where's Natsu? I thought I'd seem him by now..." She looks through the crowd, moving around the pinkette to get a better look. A few people giggle as said man raises his brow.
"Um... hi?" He raises his hand, Lucky moving so she's looking right into Natsu's face,"Natsu Dragneel, at your service." The shock shown on her face is unparalleled. She takes a step back, and goes to take another only to trip on air and begin to fall back. Jellal catches her, but the shock shown on her face doesn't leave.
"N-Natsu? What's going on? Weren't you stuck on Tenrou with us?" He looks around the crowd before returning a look of confusion.
"I wasn't stuck on it, no." Lucks eyes widen before they narrow, and Lucy's own become the same way. "I had to slow Acnologia's breath attack and it kinda... threw me out of Fairy Sphere's radius."
"But why? You didn't in my time and we lived."
"That wouldn't have been possible in mine. We were too slow." Suddenly both Lucky and Lucy snap their fingers in a moment of truth.
"That's it!" They exclaim, before giving each other a knowing look.
"They really are both Lucy!"
"Aye!" Happy agrees with whoever had said that.
"Because Natsu had to slow the attack and stayed, everything had changed!"
"So what happened in your time that didn't in mine?" Lucky adds on, looking at Natsu with a gleam in her eyes. The pinkette raises his brow and sighs, looking around the crowd he closes his eyes for a moment.
"I say we talk about this later. Don't we have a victory to celebrate?" Everyone agrees with this statement with cheering, and Lucky is once again fighting against tears. They're all the same... "Speaking of victories, Wendy!" The blue haired girl looks up in shock and slight fear at this, Sting and Rogue giving each other a knowing look.
"Wendy," Sting leans over to her and whispers,"you should start running."
"Wha-"
"Come 'ere!" He scoups her up and puts her up on his shoulders. "Lets have a party just for Wendy here's first solo battle! Her victory! And her first battle in Dragon Force!" He then gives a sly grin, looking towards Sting and Rogue specifically. "And you two know what that means!" They groan and hit their heads on the table, remembering the first day they had fought a battle and won using dragon force.
"Wha-what exactly are you gonna do?" Wendy looks down at the person she thought of as an older brother.
"Oh, you know, the usual." He smiles up at her, an evil glint in his eyes.
Later that night, after everything had calmed down and Wendy was still worrying about what Natsu had planned for her after the games, the current guild master had forced everyone off to bed. But before 'Lucky' could go, he grabbed her wrist.
"We have to talk." One look at his serious expression tells her she's not getting out of it, so she just nods. The two leaving the building together for a midnight walk. Once they get a good distance away, the conversation begins. "So, why did you come to the past? Even if it's the wrong one..."
"I came to warn everyone." This piques the pinkettes interest, and he narrows his eyes as the other continues. "On the final day of the games... A hoard of dragons will destroy Fiore." Natsu freezes at this, and Lucky takes a few steps before realizing her partner is now behind her.
"How?" He speaks up, a shadow covering his eyes.
"The princess... she doesn't know, but when the Eclipse Gate is opened... 1000 dragons will come to us from the past." He nods, looking up into the starry sky, Lucky doing the same.
"What happened in your time?" She stays silent for a moment. Biting her lip, before looking into Natsu's hard expression.
"When the dragon's came-"
"That's not what I'm asking..." he sighs, stepping beside the blond. "During... No, after Tenrou. What happened?"
"Oh..." She matches Natsu's pace as they begin their walk again, and begins her tale of coming back to a nearly destroyed guild. Entering the games without support from anyone. Sting and Rogue and their part in the mental torture. A seven year younger Natsu and his show of power. "...and on the fourth day you-"
"Don't tell me!" He screeches, shocking her silent. "I don't wanna know what will happen! What's the fun in that?" She smiles at him, a tear escapes her eye, and Natsu is quick to pull her into a hug.
"O-oh, Natsu... Even if you aren't the Natsu I know... You are the person he would have become..." She sniffles, and Natsu just rubs her back in comforting circles.
"It's okay..." He begins to speak in a soft tone, words of comfort, not even knowing what he's saying anymore. If she came from a future with 1000 dragons, people died... and if it was old Natsu, I probably died... Gajeel, too, all the brash dragon slayers... I smell a different Levy on her, so she must be alive, but it's an older scent.
"I'm sorry... I need your strength... I need Fairy Tail..." She wipes her tears and looks into the face of the person she hardly recognizes. "Even if I didn't come here with a plan. I just... I don't know..."
"You don't have to worry about it." He holds her, trying to calm her as he feels shakes wrack her body. He then moves her away just enough so he can lean down and press their foreheads together. "But thank you for protecting our future." She looks up through her tears and he looks back at her with a smile.
"Now tell me about your seven years."
"Hm... A lot happened. But to sum it up, I became guild master, a Wizard Saint, and so far have defeated four of Zerefs demon lords, not including Deliora." She stares at him, mouth dropped in awe upon gaining the news.
"No way! That must've been hard!"
"Yeah, it was. One even destroyed Magnolia, but it's fixed now." She gave a sigh of relief upon receiving the final part of the news. "Well, I say we get back to the inn."
"What?" She stares at him in shock for a moment before he shows her his classic grin and continues.
"You're staying with Fairy Tail until you leave. We'll take care of you, don't worry." Placing his hands on her shoulders he guides the girl back to where they stay for the games.
When they reach the Honey Bone Lodge, Natsu opens the doors to see many passed out mages. With a sighs he breezes past them, Lucky on his tail.
"Aren't you gonna do something about them?" Lucky finally speaks up.
"Not my problem." He strides through, not batting an eye.
"But you're the-"
"Nope, not my problem." He states again, and Lucky sweatdrops at this. He's in denial... Getting upstairs, he walks to a door and creaks it open. "Lucy?" He whispers, said mage stirring. He sneaks in, walking on his toes, beconing for Lucky to follow. "Luce." He pokes her shoulder.
"Natsu..." She mumbles, opening one bleary eye. He gives a smile and a wave, but tired Lucy is still halfway stuck in dreamland. "What... ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE!" She screams out, upper-cutting Natsu in the jaw. This catches him off-guard, and he goes flying into Erza's bed. Wow, this hasn't happened in seven years... The scarlet mage wakes up at this, and brings a sword to the pinkettes throat.
"Who dares to wake me up." Her tone is cold, and Natsu trembles beneath her glare. Flipping the light on, Grey rubs his eyes and looks at his teammates grumpily.
"What the hell...?" Natsu backs away from Erza, and moves behind Lucky, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"I was wondering if Lucky here could stay here with you guys." He states, giving Lucky a reassuring smile.
"Where would she sleep." Now awake Wendy asks, to which Natsu quickly replies.
"I thought she could just sleep with Lucy." If it were anyone else, the blond would have quickly objected. But, since it is herself...
"Sure, I'm okay with that." She smiles, patting the spot on the bed beside her.
"Humph." Grey groans, throwing the covers over his head.
"Oh, Natsu-san!" Wendy speaks up, and Natsu turns to the dragonslayer.
"Yes?"
"Now will you let me see if I can heal your hand?" He pauses at this, before giving a small, warm smile.
"If you want." She smiles and nods, moving a chair over beside her bed. Natsu oblidges and sits on the old wood. She reaches her hand out and he gives her his left hand. Looking at it, she swallows and prepares herself. I've seen it before... I can do this... With a shaky hand, she slowly grabs the tip of the glove, and gently pulls it off like Aki had.
Sitting on Lucy's bed, holding a bundle of pj's she had lent her, Lucky looks at the two with curiosity.
"What's so special about his hand?" She whispers to her younger self. This catches Lucy of guard. Oh yeah, Lucky doesn't know...
"Ah, well, do you know about how a demon attacked Magnolia?" She nods. "Well... when Natsu was fighting it, it hit him with a fire roar and hit his left hand. Permanently scarring it, and making it so he feels the pain of it hitting him constantly." Lucky looks towards Natsu with a look of sorrow, and pity flashes in her eyes for a brief moment. No, Natsu doesn't want my pity... He wouldn't before, at least.
"Oh." Is all she can manage out.
To Wendy, seeing Aki hold his hand is different then actually holding it. The red, scarred tissue seems inflamed. She could feel the wrinkles on the skin, and his flinch when she had touched it. I have to... at least try. Setting her lips in a firm line, she puts the hand above both hands, activating her magic. Feeling him relax as the teal aura surrounds the wound.
Sweat begins to bead her forehead as she goes on for who knows how long. And she sees no improvement. I... I...
"You know, Wendy." He speaks up. "It's okay if you don't heal it. I can deal with it just fine." The girl doesn't let up, and Natsu sighs, waiting for her to become magically exhausted. It didn't take to long for her to begin to slump over, and the magic began to slowly shrink in size, shaking as it does so.
"I-I'm sorry... Natsu-san. I can't do much else." He catches her as she falls asleep from fatigue, smiling slightly as he feels his hands pain is slightly weaker.
"You did just enough." He lays her in the bed, tucking her in. Looking around he notices everyone had already fallen asleep, and soon goes around getting them all under their covers. Even if it's just a few small things... I'll do all I can.
-x-
The crowd goes crazy upon seeing the large ball of water floating in the middle of the arena, a purple ring around it and a magic circle of the same color below it. Chapati, with a fancy blond wig on, begins the commentary.
"And... We've started! Day four, game part. One participant per team!"
"It almost seems like a water sumo match."
"It looks fun. Thank you very much." Today's guest; Rabian, the Sherzad Theater Group chairman adds onto what Yajima said.
"Team after team, they're diving right in!"
"I'm going to give it my all!" Chellia swims around.
"I'm not losing this time!" Jenny announces.
"Never underestimate a mermaid!" Risley looks around with a smirk at her opponents.
"If it's water, then it's Juvia. This is Juvia's expertise." Said girl swims in, being her teams 'extra' she decided to come out in the water event.
"Haha. Sabertooth's Minerva... Has arrived." She looks at her opponents as if they are below her, eyes seeming to pierce into their souls.
"She shows herself, Minerva! This heavy wave of cheering!"
"She is one of the top five in Sabertooth."
"THANK YOU VERY MUCH!"
"I can't lose either." Lucy gives a look of determination. "I have to make up for the first day's shame!" She looks at Minerva with a gleam in her eye. So she's Saberooth's participant...
"LUCY! Do your best!"
"She can use Aquarius in the water." Gray smiles at the assured victory.
"This is a good match for her."
"Yes!" Wendy agrees with the ex-quip mage.
"This has become quite the beautiful picture. A girl from every team here with their swimsuits!"
"THANK YOU VERY MUCH! XD!"
"Um... I'm also here with a kind of wild..." Rocker of Quatro Cer-Puppy speaks up.
"The rules are simple! If you leave the water, you lose! Naval Battle commence!"
"Right off the bat but... SORRY EVERYONE!" Lucy pulls a golden key from her waist. "OPEN! GATE OF AQUARIUS! AQUARIUS!" Said mermaid comes out with a face of fury, jar held overhead.
"AGHHHH! THE WATER IS MY PLAYGROUND!" Everyone except a select few look in shock. Except Minerva who holds a small smirk at the sight of the spirit.
"I won't let you!" Juvia announces. "WATER CYCLONE!" With the movement of her hands she makes a tornado of water race towards and collide with the spirits attack.
"Juvia!" Lucy's face goes harder at her rival being from her guild.
"Searing love!" The water mage continues.
"What is this...!?" Risley voices as the attacks flip everyone around.
"We're even!?" Aquarius is in shock at Juvia having power over her in the water.
"This is the perfect time to..." Jenny begins to swim around,"TAKE THE SINGLE ONE OUT!" She kicks Rockers face making him plop out of the bubble.
"WILD! GAHH! Nughhh..." He lands on the sand, giving his team no points.
"Quatro Puppy has dropped out!"
"While she's doing that..." Chellia gathers her magic, aiming for Risley. As she swings the black wind, the Mermaid Heel mage becomes thin, and avoids the attack with ease.
"Never underestimate the chubby!" Hearts form in the men's eyes at this transformation from the fat contender to the beauty.
"This isn't going well," Aquarius announces,"so I'm gonna return now."
"EH!? WHY!? You're the best in the water, I have to depend on you!"
"I have a date." The spirit replies, turning to give Lucy the face of someone in love.
"WAIT A MINUTE!"
"YOU'RE OPEN!" Juvia torpedo's over and knocks Lucy so she flies near the edge.
"VIRGO! ARIES!" She calls, and the two come to her aid. Aries making a cloud to stop her, both of them holding her back. Both in their bikini's, making hearts form in the men's eyes.
"Sexy guard! Princess!"
"I'm sorry it's so fluffy~."
"Wahh! That was close." Lucy sighs, seeing how a part of the pink cloud is out in the open air.
"The fierce battle continues in the water! Do your best! Chellia-tan!" Chapati screams out to the girl he still holds as one of his favorites. "Fairy Tail A, why didn't you put Wendy-tan out!?"
"Quiet!" Lucy screams out to the speaker.
"I'll throw them all out at once! THERE IS NOBODY WHO CAN WIN AGAINST JUVIA IN THE WATER!" She moves her hands up and above her, controlling the water in the ball. "The unleashing of second origin is a unique spell I acquired..." Sending out the heart-filled waters she finishes up. "GO FORWARD! WINGS OF LOVER! GRAY-SAMA LOVE!"
"QUIT IT!" Gray cries out upon hearing the spell name. Soon Jenny, Risley and Chellia are thrown out of the ball. Minerva uses her magic to cancel it out, while Virgo and Aries hold onto Lucy to keep her in.
"Princess! Hang on!"
"Fluffy guard is at max power!"
"Incredible!" Chapati shouts out, and Juvia raises her hands in minor victory. "Juvia's strength is unrivaled in the waters!"
"Ahh, as I thought, I couldn't unleash my powers in the water." Chellia sits down with a sigh. While Wendy up in the stands comments;
"Chellia did her best, too." In the water, Juvia turns her head to look at her love with a slight blush. Did you get hot from watching Juvia? Gray-sama? He just has a dark look, eyes sunken in and mouth hanging open. HE'S DISGUSTED! Juvia's mouth drops and her eyes become balls at the sight.
"Eh?" She looks around with wide eyes as she realizes she is no longer in the water, but floating on air.
"Juvia!" Lucy shouts out to her guildmate. Up on the balcony with Fairy Tail team B, they're throwing comments around.
"That idiot." Gajeel says through gritted teeth.
"She fell out..." Rogue adds on.
"Why?" Mira questions.
"Grr... Minerva..." Sting hisses between his teeth, while Laxus just stares on, arms crossed in front of his chest in thought.
"Ouchieee!"
"What a pity! After all that effort. She's out! Even so, she's rank 3, that's six points!"
"Huhu." Minerva puts her hand out, grin still in place.
"The miss is quite the devil." A female Sabertooth member, who wears a red kimono with white flower designs on the bottom rim, says. But her most noticeable feature is probably her narrow, bright red eyes, pale skin and long, curly silver hair like Mira's, put up in a high ponytail. Two small clumps coming down to frame her face.
"Certainly." Rufus nods.
"With her magic power she could've easily thrown them all out." Orga looks down into the ball with only two participants inside. The Dark Knight remains silent through it all, watching the battle with an unseeable expression.
"The only two left are Minerva and Lucy! Now... Who will be the victor? Sabertooth? Or Fairy Tail? We have applied the five minute rule. During these five minutes, if one of the falls out of the water, they will get the least amount of points from this event."
"What's the purpose of this rule?"
"IT'S SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO CREATE A HIGH LEVEL OF TENSION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!"
"With my magic power I could throw you out of the water in a flash, however..." Minerva begins,"That wouldn't be very satisfying..." Collecting her magic in her hand she continues,"Let's see how long you last. Fairy Tail." Looking to her left, Lucy sees an odd little bubble of sorts, identical to the magic Minerva had just created.
"What's this...! KYAA!" It explodes, and Erza leans forward.
"Heat!? In the water..." Another explosion occurs on her back, as the blond takes in the pain.
A/N: It's begun! I fucking hate this scene where Minerva tortures Lucy... but I also love it. I makes the rival between Sabertooth and Fairy Tail grow. But here's a question to grow on during the week... What will Lucy-*cough* ahem, I mean-what will Lucky being here do to what happens in this battle? Remember, reviews are appreciated, but not needed for another update! Til next time, see ya!