Chapter 37: Dreams and Cancelled Missions

Lucy woke up gasping from the dream she had just had and she couldn't believe the message that was sent to her through it. A message that had traversed from the time she had originally been from and soothed most of her fears. Yet even if it soothed her she knew there was still a lot left she had to accomplish before she could even consider her mission anywhere close to finished even if she had almost saved everyone at this point.

They had been back from the Grand Magic Games for two weeks now and most of the Tenrou team other than her, Master, and Laxus had been doing as many jobs as they could in that time. Needing to catch up with their rent as well as earning food money, so Lucy hadn't really seen much of the others. Instead she had been spending the last two weeks driving Laxus insane by innocently flirting with him when no one was around, and then acting like nothing had happened and that Laxus had taken what she said out of context. It was hilarious watching her best friend be so flustered and trying to hide his reactions, she was almost certain now that he had feelings for her as well, but until he actually told her it was still just speculation on her part.

A sense of foreboding made Lucy feel like she wouldn't have much time left as Luciana Redfox, yet she wasn't sure if that was because she would end up leaving Fairy Tail, or if she would finally be exposed for who she was. Fear gripped her heart as she thought of the possibility that she would never again be able to see Laxus. The words she spoke to him back after Lisanna had disappeared telling him she wasn't planning on leaving him yet, what if now was the time for her to leave him and the ones she loved behind? What if leaving them was the only way that she would be able to protect them?

Getting ready for the day Lucy shoved those thoughts into the deepest parts of her mind banishing them from her thoughts for the moment. Today she was supposed to be going on a quick mission with Levy, Cana, and Mira, although she didn't really know the particulars. Those three were very astute however and would notice if something was bothering her, so she would once again have to pull forward her mask. She was tired of making those she loved worry about her, yet she didn't know how to stop it.

Pausing as she caught her reflection in the mirror Lucy wondered if she really would be able to fool her friends. Perhaps they weren't as close as they had been before, since she pushed them away this time around afraid to let too many people close and revealing her secrets, but they still knew Luciana Redfox pretty well and with the look on her face she wasn't sure if she could fool them. There was a weary look seen by those you just know have seen too much pain and suffering in the world, a look that shouldn't be on her face. Mavis if anyone saw her right now they would think that she had been informed that she was going to die! At least that's what they would believe if they knew about her illness and saw this sort of look, or they might end up thinking that she was finally weakening and giving up on life. Yet she was just getting close to giving up on her pretenses, every day she lied to the people she loved, and it was tearing her apart inside.

Master and Laxus had already left, so she wasn't really bothered about the look on her face as she left the house. The two of them hadn't really been around much lately, Laxus probably because he didn't want to make a fool out of himself if he 'misunderstood' her in their home, and Master because of everything he had to catch up on. It gave her a little more time to try and get her facial expression under control, but it did make her feel lonely like she was living alone again.

"Are you alright Lucy?" Loke's voice coming from behind her made her squeal and grab her whip in fright. Probably so that it didn't make others suspicious Loke rarely popped up on his own only coming if he was summoned, only when she was in great emotional turmoil would he appear. Her spirits remembering everything made things easier in the long run.

"I just feel like everything's about to change, and I'm not sure if it will be in a good way or not," lying to Loke wouldn't get her anywhere. Well except that the one thing she hadn't confided in her spirits was what the price of her using that spell had been. It was the only secret she actually kept from them, her feelings for Laxus didn't count because they hadn't asked her outright about it, and she would tell them if they truly wanted to know.

Loke gave her a sad look pulling her into his embrace, "no matter what happens Lucy me, no all of your spirits, will stay by your side. Heck even if you became evil I don't think any of us would ever want to leave you, for most of us you are the best key holder we have ever known and been contracted to, we would do anything for you. Just ask and we will do anything in our power to help you. We love you Lucy."

"I love you all too," she told him, "but there isn't anything you guys can do just yet. I promise if I need you guys I will tell you."

"You better!" he told her his voice mock stern, but she knew that he was completely serious underneath all his teasing. Sometimes she wished that he would be the way he used to be before she had to come back, the flirty spirit who she knew had her back and no matter what he said that he was madly in love with Aries. Now he was just another overprotective brother figure who spent most of his time worrying that she would end up failing her mission and dying in the process.

"I better get going Loke, the girls are expecting me and I don't need them worrying Laxus or anyone else if I'm late."

"Be careful."

"Always," she said with a grin even though they both knew that wasn't true at all.

With a last wave Loke faded back into the Spirit World leaving Lucy to head towards the guild. Her feeling of dread wasn't at its peak yet, so she was almost positive whatever was coming wouldn't happen today, but it would someday soon and she feared she wouldn't be ready for whatever it was.

The walk to Fairy Tail was uneventful and nothing seemed overly wrong with the guild, other than the quietness she had gotten used to in the last few weeks. Although that only seemed wrong because she was used to the rowdy nature of her guild everyone was still on missions though, so the guild wasn't really full at the moment. For a second seeing her home made her feel at peace making all of those worrisome thoughts fly away. Only a moment though before the dread came creeping back, and Lucy headed into the guild hoping that the mission with the girls would distract her from this feeling.

Instead she was greeted with a nearly empty guild, none of the girls she was supposed to meet anywhere in sight. Really the only people she could see were Master, Nab, and Laxus who was at the bar chatting with Kinana already getting his first beer of the day. He actually looked a little confused and Lucy wondered if it was because of her on again and off again flirting with him, or if something else had happened that she didn't know about.

"Luciana-chan," Master called her waving bringing Laxus's eyes to her, and he gave her a look that made her feel like he was searching her very soul. At the same time there was a tinge of worry in his gaze, and Lucy wondered once again what was going on. Did the lack of people in the guild have something to do with his worry?

"Morning Master, where is everyone?"

"Oh you know them still on missions and the like," the way Master's eyes shifted however made her believe he was hiding something from her. "Mira-chan had a bit of an emergency and Gajeel-san dragged off Levy-chan, so I was asked to tell you that unfortunately they can't go on a mission with you today."

"What about Cana-chan?"

At that Master actually looked a little confused, "I actually have no idea I haven't seen Cana-chan since last night."

"Oh, well thanks anyway Master."

A hand clamped down on her shoulder before she could leave Master, and she knew without even looking up who it would be. "If you aren't busy Lulu would you mind helping me with the paperwork?" it actually sounded like he was truly asking her this time, and with no sign of Freed she doubted this was another one of those times where she would be locked in with Laxus until it was done.

"Sure I have nothing better to do Lax-kun," at least helping him with the paperwork would take her mind off of things.

Everything inside her was screaming that something wasn't right, and she feared what was coming. This time she felt like whatever was going to happen wouldn't be as easy to deal with as she was used to. This feeling was like what happened with Erza in the other timeline when she was certain Erza and Natsu were going to die in the Tower of Heaven, or when they went up against Tartaros and she was the only one who escaped. Yet she felt like this time Fairy Tail wouldn't come out victorious.

AN: Sorry that it's such a short chapter after a long wait. This is just to set the tone for my next story arc. The next chapter is going to be in someone other then Lucy's Point of View. Hope you guys enjoyed it :)