Life Beyond Fairy Tail; Without Natsu
Author's Note:
Konichiwa Minna~! Soooo? How'd you like the last chapter?! Ok, ok, ok. I have a few notes for my reviewers!
K MiKO12: Don't worry! I will get to that in this chapter! In fact, I think I'll have this whole chapter be a flashback on Lucy's memories from before the three month gap between her and Team Natsu. How bout it?
Pink Freckle: Thank You! I'm so happy you like it! What's your favorite chapter so far? Sorry, hipped up on sugar! HAHAHA!
yuyu-chama: Don't worry. I'ma be trying to update every week! That is, if I don't have any HUGE activities that need to be done first!
lucyheartfilia19: I don't know. I was planning on having a sequel with Natsu, but I don't know. Maybe... And yes, Troia is part of Wendy's magic, but I'm letting Lucy have it this time! YAY!
imedoughnut: I love your name! It's so *deece*! I'm so happy this story makes you laugh! Personally, I don't really find it that funny, but some scenes in here just make me want to die of laughter!
panhero: Slight StiLu. It won't last thought!
AmuletDragonSlayerFairy: Yes! You are correct! There are many different ways to say 'underwear'. Under garments, underwear, knickers... Need I say more?
*Deece* : Ok, for those who have absolutely no idea what 'Deece' means... You need to learn some Canadian! Deece is another word for 'awesome'. It's become a huge thing here where I live (Saskatchewan). Everyone in my city uses it. Well... not everyone, but you get the idea! If you have any questions about Canadians or Canada, feel free to ask!
Well, On with the show!
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail. Sadly, Hiro Mashima does. It is he, who owns the awesomeness...
Previously on Life Beyond Fairy Tail; Without Natsu:
"I'm going on a mission tomorrow!"
'Of course...'
"Mira, I want to go on this job!"
"I'm helping you pack for the job."
"It's not like your going or anything."
"That's where you're wrong,dear Lucy. You see, Rogue, Frosh, Lector and I have decided to join you!"
"Put all of Team Natsu down for this job. And Lisanna."
"Who knows which guild's gonna be there?"
"Fine, you can come!"
"Yo! We got a job!"
"Oi! We got news about Lucy!"
'What now Mama? What am I supposed to do? I still have feelings for Natsu, even if they are only just, but I think my relationship with Sting is starting to become stronger than I thought it would. What am I supposed to do?'
'Lucy's okay?'
"The joining guild will be Sabertooth!"
'You really do have something no one does, Sting.'
'She would never do that!'
'He's so funny sometimes.'
"You better get ready. We have a job to do today!"
"I...I'm a... I'm a Dragon Slayer..."
Now to the story...
(Normal P.O.V.-Lucy's P.O.V.)
(Ok, before we start ANYTHING, I want everyone to know that this chapter is gonna be Lucy's flashback. It will say flashback, and while the flashback is playing, she will be explaining to Sting everything that happening in this chapter! I might even end it with a Natsu P.O.V.!)
"L-Luce, why didn't you say anything sooner?" Sting asked me. I felt a lone tear slipping down my cheek. " Tell me everything!"
*FLASHBACK*
I was talking with Mirajane, Fairy Tail's barmaid and one of the best mages in the whole of Fairy Tail. I heard the screech of a stool from beside me as someone sat down. I side glanced at whoever was there. It was Natsu! I smiled lightly and opened my mouth to say something, but I was interrupted.
"Oi Gray! Have I ever told you how I hate how weak Lucy is?" Natsu began. I was shocked.
He... He thinks I'm... He think I'm weak? I thought. I turned back around, sipping my water as I listened into the boys' conversation.
"Now that you mention it Natsu, no. You haven't. And besides... Lucy's not weak!" I heard Gray's comeback. I was dreadfully cold at hearing Natsu' next opinion.
"Yes she is! C'mon Gray. We both know we only brought her here so she could replace Lisanna! She's such a weak mage! She only summons things to protect her instead of using her own strength!"
I heard the sound of flesh colliding with flesh as Gray punched Natsu, sending him flying across the guild. Natsu's body collided with the guild wall.
"You know what Natsu?! You are really missing the huge picture here! I wasn't the one who brought Lucy here, you were! I accepted her as a fresh new member of Fairy Tail! She never replaced anyone for me! You're such a dense idiot Natsu! How can you not realize these things?!" Gray yelled. I had heard enough. I pushed away from the bar, saying a quick goodbye to Mira, as I ran out of the guild teary-eyed. I didn't want to hear anything else. I ran and ran until I hit something hard and rough. I fell back and looked up at the thing blocking my path. I had hit the big Sakura tree just on the outer edge of Magnolia.
I'm this far already? I inquired. I stood up and dusted myself off. I heard the quick swish of branches as the wind blew. The air suddenly became cold, and my breath froze the minute I exhaled. I looked up at the cloudy sky and saw that snowflakes were falling. I slowly turned around in a circle. The whole plain was already turning white with snow and ice. I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn't dreaming, and I for sure wasn't. I looked behind me. I was surprised to see that the plains behind me were still green, not single snowflake touching the soil.
I stood there, dumbfounded.
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed. I jumped back as I saw a giant pair of ice blue eyes staring at me from behind the Sakura tree. I looked closely at it, and it's eyes narrowed.
"M-My name is Lucy Heartfilia." I stuttered. The creature came out from behind the Sakura tree, almost knocking the large tree over. I stared in awe at what my eyes beheld as a sight. I had to look up, for the large creature loomed over me like the Kardia Cathedral back in Magnolia.
"A... A Dragon!" I whispered in amazement.
"I am Kooji, the Frost Dragon." the voice boomed. I winced at how loud it was. When he stopped, I took a closer look at it. It had a pure white head, that faded to a light blue down it's neck. The scales on it's back shimmered a deep blue, as it faded back to white, reaching the tip of it's tail. The eyes were still that light shade of blue, but as I looked closer, I could see little fleck of white sparkling deep within the iris. The pupils resembled one's of a cat, giving the Dragon a mysterious look. I waved slightly. The Dragon gave a hefty laugh.
"Come now child. Surely you can do better than that?" It said.
"I-I am Lucy Heartfilia, mage of Fairy Tail and keeper of Keys to the Celestial Gates. It's a great pleasure to meet you, Kooji." I stumbled over my words as I gazed up at the Dragon. Kooji gave me a pat on the head.
"That's a bit better. Now Lucy, I understand that you're having some difficulty in your life?" he started. I gazed at him in surprise.
"How did you know?" I asked. Kooji smiled at tapped the side of his head with a claw.
"I just do. So, tell me about it."
I began to tell Kooji about my experience just recently; Lisanna's return, Natsu ignoring me, the guild not caring about me, Lisanna again. Kooji just listened attentively until I finished.
"So that's pretty much it..." I said. Kooji nodded slowly, letting the information seep through his scaly head.
"I see. Well, Lucy. You see, I need someone to take these powers from me, as I don't have very much time left to live here. Could you perhaps be my successor?" Kooji offered.
"Why me?" I asked shocked.
"You have the potential. You have a kind heart, and are very welcoming to others in need. You'd be the perfect Frost Dragon Slayer!" He commented. I was stunned. I mean, this Dragon was offering me a place as a Dragon Slayer! It was an honor, well according to what Natsu had told me anyway. I believed him. You've been entrusted with this powerful magic that only a Dragon can teach you, right? You've been placed on this world with huge responsibility! I gave a bow to the Dragon.
"I would be honored to!"
Then the training began. In a matter of weeks I had learned how to use the Iron Fist of the Frost Dragon, Wind Tunnel of the Snowy Dragon (Pause! Kooji is the holder of all 'winter' type Dragon magic. So he has ice, frost and snow magic. Resume!) , Roar of the Ice Dragon and the Claw of Winter, a move that combined all of the Frost Dragon's magic powers. Now to learn the rest. It had been over a month, and I rarely visited the guild. I only went to pick a mission to pay for my rent and to chat with Gray from time to time, just to let him know how I was doing. But he didn't know I was secretly training to be a Dragon Slayer.
"Kooji! What are we doing today?" I asked the Winter Dragon. He looked at me with expectant eyes.
"We won't be doing any training today. Instead, I have something planned for you. We are going to give you a way to increase your Dragon powers without any training." he explained the day's activities. I looked at him confused.
"What do you mean? Isn't the only way to get stronger by training?" I asked. Kooji shook his head.
"Not necessarily. You see, there are four different type of Dragon Slayers. There are fourth generation Dragon Slayers-" he was cut short.
"That are taught by Dragons, third generation that have had a lacrima dug into their body, second generation that have a bit of Dragon Slayer powers taught by the Dragons and a lacrima, then the first generation which have been fully trained by the Dragon and had a lacrima dug into their body. Why are you repeating this?" I recited the lesson Kooji taught me. Kooji inhaled and exhaled deeply before answering.
"We are going to make you a first generation Dragon Slayer." he announced. My eyes widened.
He's serious? No way can he be serious! I stared at Kooji. His facial expression had shown no sense of humor, just seriousness. So he really was serious about this. I nodded my head slowly.
"Whatever you wish, Kooji. I will go with whatever you think is right." I agreed. Kooji grunted in return. He pulled out one of his deep blue scales and molded it into a square shape. It was very small, but the magic energy that flowed from it was overpowering. It made me want to fall to my knees. Kooji placed a hand on the ground in front of me and I stepped into it. He lifted me up to his height and brought the lacrima closer to my chest. I closed my eyes and exhaled, puffing out my chest. I was ready.
I could feel the magic energy pass through my body as Kooji stuck it into my flesh. I inhaled sharply and then screamed. I hadn't expected it to be so painful. I clutched the sides of my skirt as I fought the pain. Tears started to quietly roll down my cheeks as I let out a earsplitting screech. I could feel the magic energy pulsing through my bloodstream as the pain slowly ebbed away. I sighed in relief once the pain was completely gone. I collapsed in Kooji's giant hand, snoring softly as I slept. I could feel the slight breeze as Kooji set me on the ground close to the Sakura tree.
"Well done, my dear Lucy." he whispered. I heard the soft swish of a tail as Kooji lay down next to me, his figure wrapped around mine protectively. A smile creeped onto my face as I let sleep wreath over me.
I woke up the next morning, excitedly waiting for Kooji. I waited, and waited, but no one came. The first thing that came to mind was that he was just late, but as I thought about it more and more, I realized that Kooji was gone for good. I stood up, a tear flowing from my eye as I walked up to the Sakura tree. I touched the bark of the flowering tree as I silently cried, praying for the Kooji's return. I waited by the tree for days, with no food or water. I just sat there, waiting for the day that Kooji would return. A week had eventually gone by and no Kooji. Just the silent wind blowing on my face, pushing my blonde hair back. (Remember that Lucy's hair was straight blonde before she met Sting.)
One day, I sat there by the Sakura tree, meditating, trying to remember what Kooji had taught me. I slowly opened my eyes when I heard a whoosh of wind from in front of me. I looked up at the land in front of me. It was turning with with snow.
"Lucy's a snow woman..." I mimicked Juvia. Only, her's was 'Drip drop, Juvia's a rain woman.' I laughed a little, remembering when Juvia thought that I was her love rival. I shook my head.
Classic Juvia. I closed my eyes again, concentrating on my relaxing. I pictured Kooji in my head, his blue and white scales shimmering in the light. I remembered him teaching me about Dragon Slayers from around the world and the different Dragons that used to live here. I remembered him teaching the Claw of Winter and the Roar of the Snow Dragon and of the Ice Dragon. I remembered everything. It was as clear as the ice that I made, as clear as the crystal blue scar I had on my chest from the lacrima incertation. As clear as the fact that Kooji was gone forever.
I started to cry, and I could feel the snow turn into ice. It started to fall all around Magnolia. I could hear the distant murmuring of civilians, wondering about where the snow and ice had come from right in the middle of summer. I sniffled and cried some more, the ice turning everything into frost. I lifted my face from my hands and wiped away my tears. I tried to calm myself down a little more. I couldn't mask the fact that Kooji was gone, but I could forever hold him in my memories.
I looked up into the branches of the Sakura tree, when I saw something glowing. I raised a curious eyebrow as I stood up. I grasped onto the closest branch from the ground as I started to climb the tree to the branch. I had reached the thick branch in a matter of minutes. I inched forwards until I saw the what was glowing was in fact a pair of snowflake earrings and a blue scale belt. I picked them up, inspecting them carefully. I was about to set the items back down when I noticed an inscription on the side of the belt.
'I will always be in your heart, Lucy.'It read. I stared at the belt, getting a better view of the scale pattern. It wasn't just straight blue after all. There were white scales on it as well, molding the shape into one of a Dragon. I covered my mouth with a hand as I grasped the belt. I brought it closer to my heart, tears pouring down my cheeks.
"Kooji..." I whispered. "I will cherish these forever."
I slowly climbed back down the pink Sakura tree and hit the white ground. I looked back towards Magnolia, and then back at the tree.
"I'm going back now Kooji, but I'll be back soon. I promise!" I decided. I walked back into Magnolia, the belt around my waist and the earrings in hand. I walked until I reached the front door to the guild. I sighed deeply and pushed the doors open.
"Hello Minna~!" I greeted. No one returned the greeting, except for Mirajane, Gray and Gramps. I slouched a bit, but made my way over to the bar. I walked past the table where Natsu and Lisanna were sitting at and growled as I did so.
"Whoops. Guess I'm hungrier than I thought!" Natsu exclaimed. I clenched my hands into fists. I was so tempted to punch him into the wall, but I ignored the temptation. I continued to walk to the bar. I sat down in my regular stool, Gray moving to sit in his regular stool on my right. Mirajane turned and looked at me. Her warm smile vanished in mere seconds when she saw my red and puffy eyes.
"What happened Lucy?" Mira inquired. I looked at her wild eyed.
"O-oh, uh, nothing important. I just didn't sleep well." I answered. Gray gave me a weird look, but then shrugged it off. Mira did the same.
"You can tell us you know. We won't hate you or anything." Gray offered. I shook my head.
"I'm fine. Really."
"Ok then..."
*FLASHBACK ENDS*
"So there you have it." I concluded. Sting was silent for what seemed like hours. I could fell the slight hesitation of words, but nothing came. I looked at him, a tear slipping down my cheek. Sting saw and immediately pulled me into a hug.
"I'm happy you left Fairy Tail. Other wise, we would never had become friends." Sting said. I gripped his shirt as I let my tears out.
"Me too."
So there you have it! Chapter 28? Or 29? I don't remember! Oh well, I hoped you enjoyed it! The longest one I have ever written in my life! If something didn't make sense, let me know and I'll get to you as soon as I can!
~Zaïde~