Fragile Crystal Life
Chapter 35: It's never too Late
They all looked at her. "Is that even possible?" Lucy asked. "I'm not too sure…" Light answered, knowing that there might be a faint chance in that actually working. "Then what are we supposed to do when she's like this?" Dark whispered to herself where the chain began to glow again.
"Sakura?! Sakura?! Sakura-chan?!" Lucy cried out, shaking the frail body that remained silent and emotionless. Light and Dark looked away before looking back to each other with saddened faces. "Is there really no way into saving Sakura-sama?" Light asked, completely loyal to her mistress who was in trouble.
Dark looked up to the empty white sky before looking around again where nothing was seen. "Maybe Sakura-sama forgot?" Dark suggested, making Lucy's half turn to look at her in confusion. "Forgot? How…?" she questioned, curious about the suggestion of the crimson forgetting.
The demon spirit shrugged before pointing up to the sky. "Within every heart, holds a sky describing their magic, their lives, their stories… Let's take in an example, your heart. In Lucy's heart, it'll be filled with zodiac constellations, the night sky, the stars, the battles of life, the little specs of negative thoughts, the bright star containing many happy thoughts… It's like a life's story in one's heart. For Sakura…" "- If this is relating to her heart… Why aren't we there but here in her mind?" Lucy suddenly interrupted.
Light looked down to her feet, missing the lush grass under. "Aren't they almost the same?" she asked, not looking up. "A heart and a mind… Don't they work together?" she added before shooting her head up to face the others. "This place… Everyone's minds… Everything from the heart creates the things in one's mind!" she cried out.
Lucy's half tipped her weight over to one side and crossed her arms in disappointment. "You're not making too much sense there angel," she deadpanned where Light widened her eyes, trying to hold in her threatened tears. Dropping her head, she balled her fists before giving out a gullible laugh of shame. "I guess you're right… Nothing is making much –"
"- Okay… Enough with the bullcrap…" a voice interrupted, making everyone look around in fear and uncertainty. "Who's there?" Lucy roared, feeling like something bad was about to happen. A loud yelp from Lucy's half made everyone turn to look at her as she fell onto her bottom. "T-The chain…" she whispered in fear, pointing up to the floating chain which shone even more brightly than before.
"Are you sure that you're going to keep on with the silent treatment, Igneel?" a feminine voice questioned. Slowly, semi-transparent figures began to appear as the crystals unattached each other from the chain, floating on top the figures who looked around in sheer curiosity. "Who are you?!" Lucy questioned again, not liking the sudden appearance of other people in Sakura's mind.
"Hush child. Pay respects to your elders," a voice snapped, making the girls look over to the aqua-blue headed woman who seemed angry. "Now, now, Aquanta… We can't just go raging around when Sakura is in danger," the lady with bluish-silver hair cooed, earning a glare from the lady from before. "Seriously Grandeeney… You're just too… Kawaii!" the aqua-blue woman cheered, somehow throwing away her snappy attitude to replace it with a happy, energetic one.
The four looked at the large group of people in shock. "G-Grandeeney? I-Igneel?" Lucy stuttered, catching the attention of the bluish-silver and red-headed two who looked over at her. "That's our name… How do you know us?" Grandeeney asked. Igneel, the red-headed male raised a brow, not answering, but expecting an answer from the blonde in front of him. "My name is Lucy Heartfilia…" Lucy introduced. "A Heartfilia?!" a woman with long white hair questioned in shock.
Nodding, Lucy glanced at the entire group, now solving the question of who they were in her mind. "I'm friends with your adoptive children. Wendy and Natsu… I'm guessing that Metallicana are here… A-And… my dragon?" Lucy stuttered where a golden-haired figure came walking to the front. "Hello Lucy… I am the Dragon of the Stars. My name is Celestia," the woman greeted with a gentle smile. Awkwardly bowing her head, Dark interrupted their little greetings.
"Why are you all here? I thought you all vanished on that year…" she questioned where Aquanta, the previous snappy dragon, rolled her eyes with a slump sigh of exhaustion. "Gods…" she answered bluntly before smiling kindly at the four. "My name is Aquanta. I'm Sakura's first adoptive mother who taught her Water Dragon Slaying magic. The reason why we're here is because we all wanted to help our child for the last time," she replied where Lucy looked at them confusingly.
"The last time?" Lucy's half questioned as she walked over to Lucy's side. Aquanta nodded before pointing up to the tear-shaped crystals. "These crystals are our presents to Sakura. They're made from our tears, condensed and hardened to create such beautiful crystals to let her keep as a memento. They're also like a communication lacrima – Used to allow us to keep an eye over Sakura…" Aquanta stated before looking over to Celestia who took over with the explanation. "Sakura is an amazing mage… She's such a hard-worker and a dedicated little rascal, but because of her overwhelming capabilities, she's in threat of being targeted. We dragons were awfully worried about her sake, so we gave her those crystals…"
Celestia looked over to the long white-haired woman. "My name is Snolette… Anyways. Don't get us wrong. We're not picking favourites amongst our children. We know that it's wrong to give one thing to one person and not the others, but we were just too worried for her future… Our crystals is a only one-time use kind of thing. We can't look over her forever… So, since this is the most serious thing ever happening to her – We decided to help her," Snolette explained before looking up to the sky.
The celestial dragon followed and shook her head. "How did this ever happen… She was able to control a bit of her mind… but he took over," she asked before looking over to Lucy. "It all rests on you Lucy… We don't have much time since we're communicating through these crystals but please know this. Make a new heart for Sakura… Make a new world for her… Create all the good and erase all the bad," she added.
Lucy shook her head before slowly sinking to the ground. "How can I do that when I don't know a single thing?!" she cried out, making the dragons all sympathise for her. "Raise your head Lucy," a gruff voice instructed, making the blonde look over to Igneel who was looking away before turning to look at her with determined eyes. "I know that stupid, idiot son of mine made you cry – But I'm sure that Sakura has made you smile. Can't you see her in tears? She wiped yours… So aren't you going to wipe hers?" Igneel boldly said.
Slowly, Lucy's half closed her eyes where they slowly merged bodies. Smiling, Light and Dark skipped over to the dragons and turned their bodies to face her. "That's right Lucy-sama… You're someone special in Sakura-sama's heart. Are you going to lose that special place?" Light asked with a bright smile. "Don't get me wrong, she deserves to be in a better place, but, I guess having her being saved other than Takuto is a good thing," Dark mumbled.
"Let us oldies help you," Aquanta smiled, raising her hand to face her palm to the dragon. "The crimson dragon… The most feared, developing dragon… Scales that resemble shed blood, and the crimson eyes which shimmer in the darkness and under the moon – To think our child bears a dragon's heart as ferocious as this one…" Celestia recited where she followed Aquanta's movement. Lucy watching, she watched the many hands face the resting dragon.
She knew that that dragon was Sakura's dragon heart – But wouldn't destroying it kill Sakura herself. "Lucy… I would love to see your stars for the first and final time," Celestia whispered, making Lucy's heart make a leap up to her throat. "M-My stars?" she asked as she watched the woman nod her head.
Watching her head turn to look back at Sakura's useless state, she watched Celestia shed a tear. "I always wanted to see my adoptive child's true potential, but in this state, I won't be able to. But I guess, having the child born from Layla and the child taught from Sakura taking her place isn't such a bad idea. Can you accept the honour in being Sakura's replacement into using your magic to impress these old dragons?" she asked.
Lucy shook her head as she painfully smiled. Sakura was cherished, but she was always alone by herself. If she was asked to use Celestial Dragon Slaying magic for these people in replacement of Sakura, then she should've have guessed that they were testing her true potential in continuing to be by Sakura's side.
Taking a few steps, Lucy took a faithful jump up towards the white sky and opened her arms. 'Sakura… Please come back to us…' Lucy prayed before closing her eyes where she slowly folding her body into a ball where she sprung open, opening her crouched body where a powerful explosion emerged from her. "Celestial Dragon's Praying Night Sky!" she cried out where stars and galaxies slowly appeared around them as the night sky grew. Landing onto the ground, she noticed the lush green grass growing below her footing where slowly large embellishments of different elements started to appear all around them.
Closing her eyes, Lucy could feel the fresh air blowing passed her where the eruption of a volcano was heard in the distance. Behind her was an icy chill of the presence of ice where in front of her, she opened her eyes to see rolling waves of water rushing passed her and up to the sky like a silky piece of cloth. In the air, a large star levitated, slowly spinning as smaller stars playfully flew around it in circles. Iron pillars were seen far in the distance, where a yellow light was seen shinning brightly in the middle.
"Welcome to Sakura's true heart and mind," Light welcomed where slowly the place dimmed down to slowly wither away. "We cannot save this place, but you can…" a silver-haired male stated. "The only thing we can do…" Aquanta whispered.
"… Is to destroy this dragon heart!" they all cried out as their palms began to glow to their corresponding colour. "Come fourth!" Igneel roared, taking the lead. "Unison Raid: Dragon's Raid!" they all bellowed where a heavily concentrated beam was shot towards the resting dragon where Lucy quickly closed her eyes to block out the heavy brightness of pure energy.
"Good night, Fairy Tai- Kyaaaaaah!" Sakura let out a high-pitched wail which completely shocked everyone around her. "Ara?" she whispered where her eyes slowly regained its radiance. Dropping to the floor, she slowly closed her eyes where she caught a glimpse of countless coloured dragons flying up to the sky. "Where are you all going, minna?" she weakly asked before completely closing them.
Lucy stood there amongst the withered place. Light and Dark returned back to their world because they knew that their place there was in no need from the blonde. Sighing, she dropped to the ground in shock. She had no idea what to do after that sudden burst in magic from the dragons. Her mind was blank after seeing them slowly fading away as the crystals all shattered into tiny pieces. "W-What am I supposed to do when I'm all alone?" she asked herself before a faint sound of a child sobbing was heard in the distance.
"I'm cold… I'm so lonely… mamma… papa… Where have you all gone?" the faint voice sobbed. "That voice…" Lucy whispered as she slowly got up to find the very faint figures of large coloured dragons flying to a specific direction. "The dragons…" she gasped before breaking out a sprint where she followed the herd of dragons which lead to a small Sakura crying in the middle of a large pond.
Stopping, Lucy watched the dragons slowly land to surround the young child, looking at her with eyes filled with pity, and sorrow. "Sakura… chan?" Lucy asked, catching the young crimson's attention where she slowly turned to look at her with heartbroken orbs. "W-Who are…" Sakura widened her eyes as she froze in her spot, her tears stopping as she stared at the blonde in front of her. "Lucy?" Sakura gasped, watching the blonde nod her head.
"Let's all go home, Sakura…" Lucy smiled, giving a hand to the crimson over the ledge of the water which rippled to Sakura's movement of getting up to completely turn to face her. "Why are you here?" Sakura questioned where her real body appeared behind the younger child. Slowly, the young Sakura faded away, leaving the eighteen-year old teen there. Smiling, Lucy pouted cutely before digging her hands onto her waist. "Seriously Sakura. How much trouble can you caus-" As Lucy took a step forward to Sakura, she watched the girl flinch and take a step back. Stopping, she looked at Sakura with concerned eyes.
In silence, Lucy observed Sakura stand there for a while before screaming out her name as she watched the bright eyes immediately fade into nothing. "Sakura!" she cried out, watching Sakura fall onto the surface of the water where it suddenly shattered like glass, allowing Sakura to drop down into a pitch-black hole. Quickly taking a step back to avoid falling, Lucy hastily pointed to the falling teen where a large star swooped her up.
Pointing over to her side, Lucy commanded the star to gently place Sakura onto the withered floor. "Sakura! Enough is enough! Please! Just wake up!" Lucy pleaded, shaking her body where she refused to look at her with bright warm eyes like before. "Sakura! Are you seriously going to leave Takuto behind?! Are you going to leave your family behind?!" Lucy cried out. "Ne! Sakura! Didn't you plan to protect me from those bad guys?! What are you doing Sakura?! You're supposed to be jumping around with a smile on your face! Are you going to let me be in danger forever? For the rest of my life?!" Lucy begged where tears continued on falling down to the crimson's clothes, soaking up the salty tears where wet patches were slowly increasing in size.
"Sakura! You can't leave us!" Lucy screamed, digging her face into Sakura's stomach where she cried even louder. "No… No! Sakura! Ne! Would you wake up if I confess everything?!" Lucy asked with small whimpers as her body shook furiously. Bending back again, Lucy looked down to Sakura's emotionless eyes.
"I want to fall in love! I want to have a romantic life like you and Takuto! I want to continue life together with you like an older sister – Ne? Don't you want an older sister in your family?! Did you know that Natsu kissed me when you weren't there to protect me? Sakura! I enjoy you by my side! Why? Why aren't you waking up? Don't you want to be together like a family?!" Lucy screamed. "Damn it Sakura! Everyone's in danger right now – there's no time to dilly-dally!" she bellowed.
Suddenly the stars began to shake where a twinkling sound was heard. Looking up, she saw the small, yellow glitter particles flutter down to sprinkle itself all over the place. Then, something caught her eye, making her look down to see the countless coloured fragments of crystals brightly glowing in front of her. "T-The crystals? I thought I had left them behind when I was following the dragons…" Lucy muttered where she finally thought of a possible solution.
Reaching out, she used the sides of her hands to gather the crystals together into a large bunch in front of her where she let out a soft sigh. Picking them up, she held the fragments close to her heart, feeling the warm heat radiating from them as they continue to brightly glow within her palms. "I want her to live… To continue smiling, and to protect her precious ones – Her heart is like mine. We want to protect all of our dearest ones, and we want to continue to live amongst our families…"
As she closed her eyes, she gathered up as much of her magic into the palms of her hands. "I for once, want to be the heroine for Sakura…" Lucy whispered before separating her hands away from each other with her eyes slowly opening.
"So what are we going to do Aki-kun?" Taira asked as she looked at him with innocent eyes. Frowning, she watched her adoptive brother furrow his brows in anger before standing up furiously. "What are we going to do? Kill them all of course. Fuck them all – They're ruining everything. Look at the state that my precious dragon is in," Akira snarled.
He walked away from his table and passed Sakura who was the floor, stopping in front of the semi-conscious Takuto and Natsu who snarled at his presence. "What's this? Coming out from your den so soon?" Takuto mocked where he received a punch in the gut, making him cough out blood. "Asshole," Natsu cussed, chuckling before watching Akira turn to angrily glare at him. "You guys are seriously asking for dea-"
"Aki-kun! Sakura-sama… She's –"
Akira abruptly turned around to widened his eyes to see different colored fragments of crystals slowly connect to each other brightly as Sakura's body slowly lifted to stand on both legs with eyes closed. "We're not going to lose Akira," a voice deadpanned, making Akira turn to face Lucy who was smirking at him victoriously. "Now… Who ever wanted to see an angry female dragon? Hmm?" Lucy mocked.
She cocked her head over to Sakura's direction where Akira turned back to see Sakura's clothes transforming back to her usual kimono-styled outfit where the crystals brightly shone, now in the shape of a heart where it changed into a pure white crystal. Slowly, the heart merged into Sakura's body where the glowing faded away to leave Sakura slowly opening her eyes to look around before looking passed him where she widened her eyes. "Ara? H-How?" Sakura asked before glaring hard on towards Akira.
Closing her eyes, she smirked. "I heard everything Lucy… Dilly-dallying? Me? Seriously – Now that I'm back in control…" She opened her eyes to reveal furious crimson eyes where water and flames slowly appeared waltzing around her. Snarling, Sakura bend her body down, eyes leering over to the boy, "I have a few things I'd like to sort out – But first of all."
With a blink of an eye, all of the black vines and hands were found shredded and torn apart, where a flash of the crimson was seen, collecting to the two injured boys where she appeared in front of Lucy. "I'd like to heal my fighters…" she said before looking at Akira with a firm glare. "You can run, you can hide, you can even call for backup – But let me tell you this, within twenty-four hours, we'll be back to kill you both," Sakura stated before turning to face her back to the two.
Looking back with a snarl, Sakura stuck up her rude finger at them where she turned to face the front where Lucy had a teleportation star ready for them. "Remember these words. You're fucked," she chuckled before flying away.
I just noticed this... I remembered that I told you all that there were only a few chapters left till this series is done. Wow - Now that's completely wrong. Anyways. I'm not dead so don't think that way. I've been busy with cosplay so... yea. Good to be back guys.
- CelestialSakuraa
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