I don't own Fairy Tail
Song of the Chapter: Surface, San Holo.
Chapter 23: Determination
Narrator POV
A good night's rest really does wonders on one's mood and general health. It feels like a stupid observation to make but Lucy has not felt such pleasure in months. She's experienced the privilege of sleeping in a tree, on the ground, on the train, or the best one- on a rock. So waking up in a clean bed under warm sheets was heavenly, to say the least. The last thing she wanted to do was get out of it, but the clock on her nightstand indicated the Games to start in a couple of hours and she couldn't miss it over laziness.
Maybe it was the act of getting out of bed, but for some reason, Lucy felt more normal than usual. Today was another day and she was living it. She took a long-overdue shower, her hair reached far down her back once it was finally detangled and clean. She stepped out of the shower and toweled off in front of the mirror.
It had also been a while since she stood in front of a mirror. It fogged around the edges, but her image was still clear. Her scar was calm on her face, it had the look of something that happened a long time ago. In a way it did, she couldn't quite remember that pain that once felt like everything. Somehow, she felt that way about every scar across her body.
She looked fresh from a good night's sleep, but her body told the story of the harsh life she had been living for months. She was skinny- too much so- gaunt from days starving for the sake of work or lack of appetite. Her long hair hung limply across her shoulders and over her chest from neglect. There was no reason for her to purposely neglect herself now.
"I haven't called Cancer in a while," She mused to herself. She left the bathroom in search of her belt where his key hung.
"Open the Gate of the Giant Crab! Cancer!"
In a flash of golden like, Cancer appeared with a couple of snaps of dual-wielding scissors, "Nice to see you again. Ebi, ebi."
"I'm sorry it has been a while," She said, remembering her sadness. "I was wondering-"
He interrupted her, "No worries Master Lucy, you will be shining when I am done."
She smiled. No matter what happened, she would always have her spirits.
She said goodbye to Cancer as he disappeared into a shower of sparkles. He had given her a complete makeover. She now wore her freshly cut, blonde hair in a high ponytail, it hung all the way down her back and two tendrils of hair framed her face. It had been a while since she had really shown her scar in public without hiding behind her hair. It felt really good.
She twirled in a circle and her new full skirt, courtesy of cancer, spun up like the dress of princess. The white bottom was paired with her typical belt and black thigh high socks. On her feet, she wore chunky platform black combat boots to give the outfit a harder look that she loved nowadays. A long sleeve black crop top that exposed her midriff with a scoop neckline completed the look.
She smiled in the mirror, fiddling with the locket around her neck. As she did so, her smile faded abruptly, as if she was snapping out of a daze. She grabbed a cloak and strode out of her room quickly. I'm not allowed to be happy quite yet, soon, but not yet, she thought to herself.
"Loke, Draco," She calls. They both appear before her with a bow in the alleyway outside of the inn.
"How may I be of service?" Loke says graciously, eager to please.
Draco glares at him and Loke returns it. "How may we be of service?" Draco corrects.
Lucy giggles at their antics, sometimes she just felt like summoning them together just to see them fight like cats and dogs, or maybe snake would be a more accurate metaphor. The sparks of anger flew between their eyes, forgetting the master that they were "supposed to be of service" almost immediately. "Alright, guys let's not fight, alright?" She cooed.
"He started it!" They protested in unison, turning once again to each other in annoyance.
"Stop copying me!" "Stop copying me!"
"I'm not copying you!" "I'm not copying you!"
"Shut up!" "Shut up!"
Lucy burst out laughing as the two spirits clamped their mouths at the same time, ready to get at the other's throat. "You guys are really more similar than you think, huh?" She joked between tearful laughs.
They wanted to protest, but seeing their master so happy put a smile on both of their faces. There was really no denying that they both wanted to do anything to make Lucy smile.
"O.K. you guys, today is the first day of the Grand Magic Games. July 7th falls on the morning midnight of the 5th and final day of the Grand Magic Games. This means that a lot of people will be in Crocus, which makes our job a little harder," Lucy began to outline the plan she had been going over in her head for months. Every tortuous day, all the killing that haunts her will be for nothing if she can't stop Acnologia. This is what it all falls down to in the end.
Loke and Draco listened intently, both of them were in charge of relaying the plans to the rest of the spirits.
She continued, "Our top priority is destroying Acnologia, then a close second is making sure the people of Fiore are safe, do you guys understand?"
She fiddles with her dagger, looking down at her hands in shame, hands that have killed so many and were cold and uncaring. Loke's hand came to rest on hers, stopping her fidgeting.
"Lucy, you're doing the right thing," He reassured.
She breathed a shaky sigh, holding back tears of frustration for the lives she knows could be lost at the slightest of her mistakes. "Thank you Loke," She continues.
"In order to do this we need to temper Acnologia enough to go through with the plan. A positive of the Grand Magic Games is that all the strongest guilds will be present. If we can somehow warn them, or even better, convince them to switch to our side, then it could raise our success rate and lower casualties significantly."
Loke interjected, "You can leave the talking to guilds to me, I am familiar with a lot of the people here, maybe coming from me they can believe the impending threat. Also, you can stay hidden in the shadows this way."
"Good idea Loke, we'll attend the Grand Magic Games and start our campaign there."
Loke nods in agreement.
"Now this brings the question about what to do with the Magic Council and government. They won't believe any of us, Draco and I are wanted for murder and Loke, you are widely known as my spirit, I think that we shouldn't interact with them at all because they would never listen-"
Draco cuts in, "But Master, they could potentially stop the Grand Magic Games or even evacuate the city, this would help keep innocent people out of danger!"
Lucy furrows her brows, "I know, but if the council found out I was here, they could imprison me and potentially ruin all of our plans up until now, I just don't think I can take that risk. Remember our priorities, Draco."
"I'm sorry, you're right Master."
"No, every input you have is valid. I don't want to come off as harsh or uncaring in any step of this plan. I can't do this by myself, you guys are keeping truly keeping me whole," Lucy smiles and pulls them both into a hug. They squeeze her tight, everyone can feel the fear radiating off one another, they are all that's left between Fiore and its complete destruction. It was several moments before they pulled away from one another.
"Now Draco, you're job is one of the most important. You are the only one that will be able to sense Acnologia's upcoming presence. As soon as you feel it coming, you have to come alert me of its location so we can get to it as soon as possible, you're next priority is to inform Loke so he can pass the news on and then evacuate the area of people. Time is of the essence as soon as it happens, every move means life or death.
"Once the vicinity is evacuated, we can only wait for Acnologia to arrive. From there, you guys know the plan, it's up to me," Lucy states.
Loke gazes in awe at the look of determination that adorns her face, it's one that he's never seen before from her and he can't help but be struck by its beauty. Lucy has gone through so many unfair things in her short life, but she has blossomed into the most beautiful person he has ever seen in his long life. As a spirit, he couldn't be more proud of his righteous master.
"We have 5 days to go, we can do this."
"Aye!" "Aye!"
To be continued….
A/N: Once again, y'all have really inspired me re-reading your reviews. It makes me happy to know that people enjoy my ideas and writing. In this chapter I focused on Lucy's relationship with her spirits because I wanted to make sure I wasn't neglecting them and her strong relationship with all of them, I hope I got that point across even though there was no romance involved. As you can see, the groundwork for the final chapters are being laid down, I don't know when the next chapter will come out, but I have a hopefully exciting ended in my mind. Thanks for reading this far!
Song of the Chapter: Surface, San Holo.
~Pug