BlackLynx17: Back from my first day of college everyone! Oh my God is was so exciting. I couldn't go to sleep the night before because I was so nervous, but it turned out to be not that bad! It was fun in fact, though I only have three classes. I'm majoring in Professional Baking which is basically trying to become a pastry chef which is basically a chef who cooks sweets! I'm going to open up a pastry shop in the future with my money I make off my novel!... I need to finish my novel first...

I'm not going to respond to reviews in this chapter, sorry, though all of you are asking me if the guy was Igneel. You'll just have to wait and find out, sorry about that. Thanks for the reviews, hope you enjoy!

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Mythical Creatures

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Chapter 39

Truthful Ginger

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"Buckle up Lucy dear, we are heading straight for the hospital!" Ms. Scarlet cheered starting up her car.

I froze and released my seatbelt, letting it fall back. Uh oh.

"No! I mean, I don't need to go to the hospital Auntie Scarlet!" I covered.

"Nonsense, you heard what Nurse Strauss said. Days Lucy, you haven't been eating for days! I mean, I'm the chef at the house so you think I would notice but I haven't! I just, I just-" Auntie Scarlet's eyes started watering and I flinched, "I just feel so awful." She cried.

"Aw Auntie, please don't cry." I said reaching out to pat her on the back.

"Okay!" She said sitting up straight, "I'll stop, now let's take you to the hospital!" She cheered.

"Auntie! Listen, I've... I'm hungry! That's right! Nurse Strauss only said I had a slight fever, nothing I can't sleep off. Can we please make a deal? Here, you can take me home and make this grand lunch! Super big and I'll eat every last bit of it. If I can't, I'll go to the hospital, but if I can then that means I'm better right?" I asked.

Auntie Scarlet pursed her lips.

"Please?" I asked pouting slightly.

Not enough to look bratty but just enough to give off the puppy dog look.

"You'll be making up for... since Monday? That's about nine meals." She said.

"And I will force myself to eat every last morsel. I promise."

Auntie Scarlet sighed, "I really am to easy on your kids. Alright, if you finish your plate AND your temperature goes down, I won't take you."

"Alright, I'll eat then go straight to be-... actually I kind of needed to-," I paused once I saw her face, "never mind, I can do it tomorrow." I said putting my seatbelt on.

Auntie Scarlet smiled, "good. Now let's get you fed!"

"I'll be in my room, call me when it's ready!" I called out as I climbed up the stairs.

"Alright Lucy!"

I walked down the hallway to my room and closed the door after me. After locking it I waited... a minute passed. I emptied my bag out on the floor below me and looked for my keys. Keys, keys... found them! And attached to the keys was my little keychain of coke.

I walked up to my dresser and sat down at the chair in front of it. I can't remember the reason why I haven't been taking this stuff, I mean now I had a reason to preserve it since Cana... cut me off, but why before? I shook my head and stared at Slobster. His button eyes were just staring at me.

"Don't judge me." I glared tossing him over to my bed.

What did I just do to my now best friend?

"I'm sorry!" I whined as I unscrewed the cap.

I took out a spoonful and held it to my nose. I sniffed.

"Aaahhh." I groaned.

It's been too long, way too long. It hurts. I looked up at myself in the mirror and saw my nose start to bleed. I wasn't in the bathroom so I made due with a sock lying on the floor. When I looked back up at myself... I saw... I saw?...

What was that?! The beast curled its head around me, its eyes burning into my own. It opened its mouth, sharp daggers as teeth showing as it tried to speak to me.

"Twas brillig, and the slithy toves, did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, and the mome raths outgrabe," the beast chuckled.

Those words, they sounded familiar. But wha-...

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son. The jaws that bite, the claws that catch." I whispered.

Jabberwocky. A monstrous beast with bat-like wings, deadly claws, and burning eyes.

"Ginger."

Jabberwocky chuckled, it's tail swinging back and forth in the background as his claws reached out for my face. I gulped. This had to be the most fierce mythical creature I've seen so far. The Jabberwocky itself resembled a dragon of some sort or at least had a dragon-like appearance, but instead of scales there was wood and bark. It's grin was a mad one, some of his fangs sticking out as he did so, and that tail of his looked deadly. The beast itself was much too large to fit in my room; it's head was down and he was lying down on all fours as he was scrunched up against the walls.

"Are you going to kill me?" I asked.

Jabberwocky let out a crackle of a laugh, probably because I believed such a beast would have a laugh similar to Gazille's.

"Silly girl, if I wanted to kill you you'd already be dead."

He had a point. I stared into the beasts eyes again, they didn't scare me this time. He didn't kill me, but he didn't say that he won't kill me. Friend or foe? This has never happened before. I've never imagined up a creature that would want harm to come to me, let alone one this...

"Don't finish." He spoke.

I gulped. What had changed? I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, centering myself. I found the answer behind closed eyes. Fear.

"I do not fear you."

His crackle laughter filled the room, sounding less like Gazille's and more like eggs being thrown against a wall.

"But still feel fear all the same. How can I protect you if I don't think your worth protecting? Pitiful really, hiding behind all these walls, letting this drug control you. How can you look me in the eye and say your worthy?" Jabberwocky spat out.

I turned around in my chair and faced the beast.

"The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, came whiffling through the tulgey wood, and burbled as it came-"

"I know my own poem woman! I do not need you to recite to towards me!"

"One, two! One, two! and through and through. The vorpal blade went snicker-snack! He left it dead, and with its head he went galumphing back. The question is what am I? The knight who went galumphing back or the jabberwocky with it's head cut off?" I asked.

"I am the jabberwocky!" He yelled, raising up its head as far as my ceiling would let it.

"I guess I'm the knight then. I do not fear you, nor anything else as long as I have you with me." I said straightening up my chest.

"But how long can you hide in your forest? If you haven't noticed by now it's started to burn. Someone's doing it-"

"I won't let anyone in."

"Someone's already in though."

I held my tongue, staring down at my hands. The drug was doing wonders, I felt so much better than I had before. I wasn't feeling dizzy, or nauseous, or getting headaches. I actually felt hungry and was ready to eat nine meals back to back. I stood and walked over to my closet.

"You're trying to protect yourself, what other reason would we exist? To help you. But what if you don't want our protection anymore? What if you want someone t-"

"That won't happen!"

"Good."

I blinked and looked back at the beast.

"Build up those walls, if you don't want to face reality then lean back on us. We are you, we'll become whatever you want us to be and protect whatever you have hidden behind those walls, behind the thorns and trees around your heart."

I felt the ground fall under me and fell on my knees. Was I crazy? I put myself in this situation, I conjured up all these things in my head. The mythical creatures, the scenarios, the ideas, this very conversation. This was all in my head, I was imagining this all up. From the very beginning, I chose this.

"I just didn't want to be alone." I whispered.

"You were always alone Lucy, from the very beginning. You chose that though, you created th-"

"Enough!"

I was hyperventilating, looking back up I saw that my room was empty. My mythical creature was gone and I was left with my own peace of mind. These creatures, they've made me happy up until now. It was different this time though, I felt it in my bones. Something was happening, my life was in danger somehow and was that how I subconsciously reacted? Imagining that beast to protect me? For me to protect myself? I picked myself up off the floor and supported myself against the closet.

One question came to mind.

"Hey Jabberwocky, are you related to Dragon?" I asked.

I heard the crackle laughter echo through my room, I was laughing with it though. There it was, the happy feeling. I thought I lost it for a second. Pushing my fear back behinds the walls, I reached for the light in the closet and turned it own.

Now I didn't know what kids were suppose to wear to a high school dance, or to be more precise, to a poor commoners high school dance. Although most of my clothes were back at my mansion, I did bring a couple of dresses. And here I was about to ask Auntie Scarlet if she could buy me a dress when she picked me up from school today. I walked into the back of my closet and pulled apart the hangers, shoving them all aside as I looked for my fine dresses.

I had only brought three with me. A ball gown, a evening dress and a cocktail dress.

... Where the hell was I planning on going in Magnolia with these outfits? The ball gown was an immediate out being too fancy and all. That left the evening dress or the cocktail. I pulled out both of them and held them up to me in the mirror. The evening dress was a gift from my Mother, a silly pink frilly thing with jewels embroidered around the neckline. The dress itself went all the way down to my ankles and would require me to wear my hair down and straight.

The cocktail was more simple. It was a shining pale cerulean color that came down to my knees. If I remembered correctly it was tight around my breasts (since I've had the dress since middle school and had a growth spurt since then) and looked best with gold accessories and my hair in a bun... I would look like a hooker in this though, wouldn't I?

I sighed putting the two dresses back onto it's racks. I guess I'll have to ask Natsu what kind of dress I should wear next time I see him... or I could just call him right now. I walked out my closet and towards the door where my school supplies laid sprawled out on the floor where I left them. My phone was easy enough to find.

8 UNREAD MESSAGES

Eight? That didn't sound right. I clicked on my inbox and scrolled through them. One was from Sting, another from Juvia, one from every Slob I had listed in my phone while the rest was unknown numbers.

You take your dose yet? Did it work? Are you better? - Gazille

Yo! Lu-C! I heard you passed out at lunch, you alright? -Your one and only love Sting

Hey this is Loke, just checking in if you're alright. Natsu's worried, reply to him. -Loke

Hey Lucy, sorry to bother you. Just wanted to know if you went to the doctor or not. Well... did yeah? -Gray

Feel better. -Jellal

Erza's pretty shaken up, I'm doing my best for you. In the meantime how are you doing? -Juvia

Are you feeling better? Text me back, I'm worried. -Natsu

Lucy?! Why haven't you replied yet? I understand, no wait I don't. I can only assume you've passed out if you're not replying. You enjoy me suffering don't you? Reply back if you do. -Natsu

I blinked, my phone vibrated in my hand again.

LUCY?! ARE YOU ALIVE?! IF YOU DON'T RESPOND I'LL HAVE THE SLOBS EACH SEND TWENTY TEXTS TO YOU BLOWING UP YOUR PHONE... Are you at home? Are you with someone? I can't know if you don't tell me. -Your very worried boyfriend.

My phone slipped from my fingers as I stumbled my ways towards my bed. Everyone, the Slobs I mean... they, they were all worried about me... I didn't understand. I crawled back for my phone and checked over my messages again. They were here, they were really here.

"You're happy."

"And you're back."

Jabberwocky was back in the room, gazing at me.

"Never before have you had someone worry over you, not like this, not this many, but you don't understand it."

"Why? I'm just their friend and yet-"

"They love you."

I scoffed, "impossible."

"Think about it, I wouldn't have said anything if you hadn't thought it up first. Natsu's the Slobs leader, he loves and adores you. You're together, you're one of them now. You're a Slob."

I shivered, "ew! I don't want to be a Slob."

"And yet they treat you like one. They treat you like family, they care. You are the leader's girl, you are their friend, of course they would love you."

"Juvi-"

"Loves you also as you love her. You may have a easier time loving females as friends, but males are harder are they not? You can't trust them becau-"

"Enough."

Jabberwocky smirked.

"You're happy, you're not alone currently. What did I tell you? I can see the trees burning now, see the smoke rising up in the air and yet you are glad."

I was. I opening my phone back up and replied to each and everyone of them, telling them I was fine and safe in my home and thanking them for caring.

"You wanted what Natsu had, true friends. Do you believe you have them now?"

Thank goodness, I wasn't worried at all! Next time reply back immediately or else I'll have to punish you!... I love you Lucy. -Natsu

"Only for as long as I'm Natsu's." I replied.

"You'd be surprised, people aren't as shallow as we believe."

"LUCY! YOUR LUNCH IS READY! GET DOWN HERE ASAP!"

I sighed and closed my phone, deciding to read the rest of my texts later. I walked over to my door and opened it, pausing once one foot was out.

"Wish me luck?" I asked.

"We don't believe in luck, where has it ever gotten us?"

The smile stayed on my face as I giggled, "you're right. Silly me."

"I'm impressed Lucy, you've convinced me. If you can keep this all down and feel better tomorrow, you can go to school." Auntie Scarlet said.

I burped, "great. May I go to sleep now?"

"Of course. Erza should be coming home soon, I better get started on her snack."

I felt tiny pricks on my heart; they didn't hurt but they did bother me. I pulled myself out my seat and crawled (walked very slowly) back to my room.

Good thinking about dumping those soups in the flower plant Jabberwocky.

"Of course."

I kicked opened my door and fell onto my bed, not even bothering to close it. My hand reached for my phone and I read my new messages. Everyone had replied back, happy and glad that I was better. Damn it. Why was I still in my uniform? I pulled the covers over me and started to strip, throwing my clothes on the floor. I'm sure they'd be less wrinkled there then me sleeping in them.

I replied back one more time then placed the phone on my nightstand. The clock said four, Erza was late home. More prickles, I sighed and pulled the covers over me again.

"Going to bed so soon?"

If I don't I'll explode.

"Good night then."

They were watching me. They were always watching me. Those harsh eyes, staring down at me with curiosity, disbelief, anger, something twisted in the mix. I tried running, tried hiding but they saw all.

What do you what?

The eyes never said anything, they didn't have a mouth to say anything. I sat still and stared back into them. They were confused, something flickered in them though. The gaze... it became less harsh. The eyes... became kinder, the black pits become more grayish. It looked like the eyes were smiling at me instead of glaring... I felt better.

Why was I ever scared of such kind eyes in the first place?

The first thing I noticed when I woke up. Breathing on my neck. Slowly, I turned around.

I let out a shrill.

Natsu's eyes widened opened and he jumped back, falling off of my bed. My room shook when he landed, followed by some ow's and groans. What the hell was he doing here?!

...

Did I hear that? I didn't have time to think, I tossed the covers over Natsu... only to realize I was in my underwear! Dam-

"Lucy?! I heard you scream, is everything alright?!" Auntie Scarlet said rushing in my room.

I gulped and nodded, thankful it was a girl.

"Yes. I woke up and there was a spider right in front of my face... not a very pleasant way to wake up." I told her.

Auntie Scarlet sighed in relief then looked passed me.

"There's your probably, your window's wide opened. The little critter might have crawled in from there."

I looked at my window and saw that in fact it was wide open.

"Thanks Auntie Scarlet, I'll remember to close it from now own.

Auntie Scarlet smiled, "okay dear. Try not to scare us like that again, Uncle Scarlet fell off the bed and bumped his head against our nightstand. That's the reason I was here before him, good thing to seeing the outfit you're in. I'll make sure to wash clothes today, breakfast will be ready in fifteen minutes." Auntie Scarlet said before closing the door after her.

I jumped off the bed and locked it, "Natsu?"

The blankets started moving on the floor, Natsu stood up and stretched.

"What's up?" He asked.

I rushed over to him and poked his chest.

"What are you doing over her?!"

"I... missed you... and just... I couldn't go to sleep again okay?" He asked.

I sighed and sat on my bed.

"You were almost caught this morning." I moaned.

"Only because you screamed or else we would have been good."

"What else was I suppose to do waking up to find myself in someone's arms?"

"Who's arms do you think you'd wake up in?"

Natsu was speaking to me, but his gaze didn't hold mine. Instead they focused on something... lower. I looked down and saw... my undergarments. I couldn't yell, I couldn't pulverize or hit him, at least not now. Instead I wrapped my covers around me tightly.

"And here I thought you didn't sleep in your underwear, I've rubbed off on you haven't I?" Natsu asked.

"Really Natsu? Breaking into my house?"

"The window was open."

"Creeping into my bed?"

"The covers were inviting."

"Sleeping beside me?"

"Best sleep of my life, you weren't sleeping peacefully either. Once you were in my arms though, you smiled and slept like a baby."

I felt a blush creeping to my face.

"Next time, please tell me before coming over or wake me up before creeping in my bed."

"Alright... can I hug you?" Natsu asked.

It was weird, asking to be hugged by your boyfriend.

"No."

Natsu smirked, "knew you'd say that."

"Well this is a nice chat we are having but I must be getting ready for school. Get out." I said.

"Fine, I'm all dressed for school anyway. Maybe I'll come back through the front door and join you for breakfast?" He asked.

"Please, don't. Bye." I said pushing him towards the window.

"Wait, my bag!" He said.

I picked up the discarded bag on the floor and threw it out the window.

"That was cruel."

"And I am nearly naked, out."

"You're lucky I love you. I let you get away with everything." Natsu said sticking his head out the window.

His body followed after that. I was closing the window down until his hands pulled it back up.

"You talk in your sleep." He said.

My heart started racing but I kept a cool face.

"And?"

"You said I love you."

My cool face fell, I stared at Natsu but his face was serious. I licked my lips before biting them, taking a small breath.

"I, I thought you knew I was there, somehow. You said it again right after, in my arms. I love you but the word Mother came after it... I was disappointed." Natsu pouted.

I slammed the window shut.

"Tell me that first next time! You had me worrying for nothing!" I yelled.

Natsu's face turned shocked, "worried? What did you have to be worried ab-"

His voice drowned out as I walked away from the window and towards my discarder uniform. I picked them up then left my room, going for the showers.

I love you Mother. I didn't have a dream about my Mom so why would I say such a thing? I felt embarrassed since Natsu heard me say such a thing? I knew I talked in my sleep, but not very often. What made me talk to him? In fact, what made him want to tell me that? He knew... he knows... I don't have a mother. Why would he bring it up?

"Payback?" I whispered.

No. I didn't know. Instead of worrying about it I just let the water wash away everything.