Chapter 37: Lucy's Tale
In another universe of another timeline. Lucy Heartfilia, a runaway heiress from the Heartfilia Conglomerate, was an above-average mage with the potential of being an S-Class. Confident with her looks but self-conscious of her skill, despite possessing three rare golden celestial keys. In that timeline, she would find herself in Harugeon Town during her journey to become a great mage and would get tricked into a slave boat and almost got sent away to Bosco. It was also where she met her fated partners, the Fire Dragon Slayer and his exceed, and took her hand while running off to join his guild.
In this timeline, not much has changed from what I told you. Other than certain details, of course, but that doesn't make Lucy's tale any less interesting to tell.
Well, it started just like our favorite story, in a small, unpopular magic shop in one of Fiore's port town. A blonde with a side pony-tailed was eyeing the few celestial keys they have. All of them were silver keys and are used mostly for common household spirits: The Dove, Columba. The Air Pump, Antlia. The Keel, Carina. They even have–
"Puppis? This shop even sells a joke spirit?" It was a first for Lucy in seeing the infamous key. Everyone who is a Celestial Spirit knows Puppis is a useless spirit used by mages who have a disgusting taste of humor. She felt a bit awe to find the rumored key of the spirit she heard much about.
Then she put the case back in its place and edged far away from it.
The owner noticed this (How could he not? It really is a small shop) and was not surprised by her behavior.
"This town lives off the fishing business instead of magic. Not even a tenth of the people in this town use magic, so this store specializes in selling to traveling wizards."
"Hmm, I know that… but I was hoping I might get lucky. You could surprisingly find rare and powerful magic that's often too obscure in small shops."
"Hohoho, you're funny Miss. Unlikely, those things only happen in stories."
Lucy had her back facing him so he couldn't see the enigmatic curve of her lips, "Probably, but aren't we all our own stories in the end?" Before the owner could sink in her profound words, Lucy squealed in delight after spotting a peculiar silver key. "The Canis Minor Key!"
"That's not strong at all though," the owner sweatdropped.
"It's fine, it's fine. I've been looking for it anyway. How much?"
He lifted two fingers, "20,000 jewels."
A beat passed, and Lucy asked again in a slight insisting note. However, the owner's answer did not change, his tone just as insistent.
Again, another beat passed where they were facing one another with strain smiles. The atmosphere was enough to put a spark between them.
Looks like I have to pull out my secret weapon.
The Celestial Mage raised her plump thigh on the side of the table, leaning forward to show off her impressive chest size, and looking up at him with her doe chocolate eyes. "Do you think you can lower it a bit more, terrific mister?" She pleaded in a higher than her usual pitch and winked at him while putting on her best charming smile.
"19,000 jewels." He responded with the same usual smile, but his tone had a note of finality in them. Heck, he doesn't seem at all affected by her cute yet sexy charm that fallen hundreds of men!
Okay, maybe it was five-ish. Most of which are perverts. Don't blame me, she likes to embellish.
"Tch." The blonde's face fell into an irritated look. It was clear he wasn't going to budge for any lower place than that, but Lucy wasn't going to give up from just that. She knows for a fact a silver key isn't worth that much, especially one used for a pet, so she's going to have that price lowered if it's the last thing she did. She is Goldie-freaking-locks! Lucy never stayed down for anything until she gets what she wants and she's gonna get it.
. . .
"Damn, that cheapskate old man. I managed to haggle for a discount for two keys in the end but needed to buy that useless key to convince him. Is my look only worth a merely 1,000 jewels?" She glared at her newest key as if it was the source of her misfortune.
Amused laughter interrupted her tirade, "Who cares? That Spirit is the best bargain you've got out of the two! How could anyone think it's useless?"
"I care! How could my sex appeal be lacking? Ugh, it pisses me off," she scoffed irritably.
"That old man is about to hit his 60s, I'm pretty sure he has a more mature taste. You would have more luck using the crying puppy dog eyes than the poor sexy lady bit."
Her eyebrows twitch, imagining the smirk that comes with the remark, "Excuse you, try saying that to my face Ro–" She turned to find no one at her side, her flushed look turned solemn quickly at the keen reminder of her surrogate brother's absence.
"...I did it again, didn't I?" She asked no one in particular.
It's been almost two years since he last saw his surrogate brother. In all those time, she had studied and work hard on her magic though it was limited when she had only Bero-jii as her magic tutor. Her mother's book had helped immensely in not just learning the various types of magic, including ancient and lost magic, and not only her own magic. Not to mention how to be a better celestial mage.
She didn't bother searching for any signs of him because once Roy wanted to hide, he could really hide. No need to waste effort. In the first place, she spent most of her time in her home without Roy, and only meet him when she went to her monthly visits or him sneaking into her room for a joint trip, so she was not unfamiliar with the feeling of loneliness in her own house. However, she tolerated that house because of her kind servants, and her's and Roy's adventures.
It took barely over a year before her patient drawn thin. Despite the cold shoulder given, the party she was thrown in, the loneliness within the confines of her mansion. For every time he forgot her birthday, Lucy persisted. Until one day, Spetto-san came and gave her a pile of files the maid claimed was a list of suitors she needed to pick. The man didn't even bother to tell she was getting an arranged marriage to her face.
That was the last straw that broke the camel's back. So on a random sunny day, Lucy thought, "Fuck that," packed her bags, and run away from her house for good. If Roy ever needs her, then he could go find her himself.
It wasn't an easy decision on her part, nor was it an impulsive one. She had long considered this plan for the past year, but she then looked over her mother's grave and the servants' support, then she would hesitate every time. Leaving only a hidden pink trunk within her wardrobe and fantasize her days of finally taking it out.
At first, it was exhilarating to finally be free of family obligation. To feel the wind against her face as she free run. To be out of the constrict of her dresses. All of it was liberating her.
That's when the voice, his voice, began to appear.
It crops out at the most mundane moment that she almost could brush it off. What outfit she chose to wear from her wardrobe or which town should she go next. Things she would ask herself if Roy wasn't there, but soft enough that she could easily mistake them like the wind. It became much harder to ignore the voice. I was like Roy was there, next to her like any other adventure they had together. More so during a hard fight, she would accidentally stumble and would search his voice for help.
Yet, every single time she turned, she would find nothing but empty air and disappointment would hit her like a ton of bricks.
Her thoughts were broken up by the squealing group of girls down from the bridge she stood. She edged closer inquisitively as she eyed the crowds, wondering who had garner that much attention.
"Hey, hey, did you hear? Salamander came to town!" Came her answer from one of the squealing passersby. Lucy's eyes widen, lighting the same kind of excitement as the other girl.
"Salamander, that famous mage who uses unique fire-type magic that can't be bought or learn anywhere?!" With that realization, she hastened her footsteps, in the hope of not only meeting him but maybe impressed him enough with her skill to be recommended to her dream guild — If the rumored of him to be a Fairy Tail Mage is right — and if that doesn't work, she could always try her sex appeal on him.
After all, it doesn't hurt easing Roy in finding me once I'm in Fairy Tail.
Spotting him went smoothly when you follow the shrieking sound of hysteric girls. So once she stood at the edge of the crowd, she tiptoed around the crowing fangirls until Lucy locked eyes with the main attraction, her heart leaped to her throat, she felt the heated flush under her cheeks, and the pounding drums in her chest.
She couldn't understand what this meant for her feelings while looking upon the slim ornate man that made him sparkle, his sharp, handsome feature, and his striking dark eyes that put her on the spot.
Wha… what is this? My heart is beating so fast. I never, I never felt this way before to anyone. A wink from him and Lucy thought she was done for. Her legs skipping on its own toward his embrace.
"Could it be... he is… the one–"
"IGNEEL!"
The unexpected voice silenced the rowdy fangirls as he became their sole intention. Yet out of those women, only Lucy felt the shaken off the spell in her mind. The haze she didn't know was there cleared out of sight until it dawned on her what just happen, replaced with the view of a boy with shocking pink hair and distinctive white scarf.
"Was that?"
"You got hit by a charm spell! Possibly because of that ring that he kept flashing it on the others. That disgusting scoundrel."
Agreed… GEH! Go back in my head!
As the others kept fawning over the scammer, Lucy was the only one glaring down at him. Taking a bit of amusement at seeing the pinkete bruised his ego without effort when he refused his autograph, but only to be assaulted by his mindless followers.
The scumbag managed to gain his bearing, "Now then, I have some business at the next port, so if you'll excuse me."
"Eh, you're leaving?!" Cried the disappointed lovesick girls. Lucy couldn't help but curled her lips at the sight.
"Red Carpet." Clicking his finger, a trail of purple flare elongated beneath his feet in a swirl, giving him flexible mobility in the air. "I'm having a party on my ship this evening! Everyone, please attend!" Then he went swanning off in the sky in a dramatic exit.
"...I do it better."
It's no time to compare theatrics Roy, now shoo!
"Who the heck was that guy?" The boy asked.
She turned her attention to the trashed boy and his talking blue cat, "Really, what a scumbag." Smiling in gratitude at them. "Thanks a lot for that."
""Huh?"" The two Fairy Tail mages arched their head at the newest company. Unbeknownst to them in that point, a great friendship was about to be born from this unlikely meeting in the small port town of Harugeon.
. . .
Lucy was regretting giving out food as a way to show her gratitude. Not only were they eating out the restaurant's menu, but were eating out her wallet as well. Don't even mention their horrid manners.
Still, Lucy, if nothing else, doesn't discriminate who she should be grateful to. She kept her voice kind and smile politely as the hundred of times she had done before, "So... I'm Lucy, nice to meet you." A stray bone hit her head, and her smile wavered. "You're Natsu and Happy, was it?"
Their tandem answer was muffled by their mouth filled with scrounging food.
"Aye!"
"You're… a reawwy... nice pershon."
"Sure, just take your time." Used up my remaining cash, why don't you?
Happy paused his eating and then curiously looked up at the young woman, "Neh, neh, Lucy~ Why are you so nice to us? We only just met, after all."
Lucy smiled at the cute cat and proceed to explain about the jerk, Salamander, who had used banned magic, Charm, to attract all the females around him. It was only because of Natsu and Happy did they manage to broke the spell for her to realize the truth. "He'd go that far just to be popular? What a creepy jerk," she huffed and growled at the nerve of the guy. But because of you barging in, the Charm was lifted and helped me out. This is my way of saying thanks."
"I see." Natsu doesn't see it at all.
"You know a lot about magic, don't you, Lucy?" Happy inquired.
"I know I don't seem like it, but I'm actually a wizard myself! I haven't joined a guild yet, though." Lucy pointed to herself, then she began rambling about mages, magic, and guilds for on and on. Filling the talks herself since her partners were too busy with their foods. "But as a mage, you obviously wanted to join the best of the best which is why it has been a big dreeeeaaamm of mine to join Fairy Tail since I was 10. Though there's also Phantom Lord to consider, I have a better feeling with Fairy Tail, you know?" Too swept up with her own words that she didn't realize she was giving out the same fangirl-vibe to 'Salamander,' only towards guilds this time until she caught herself.
Across the table, both Happy and Natsu were feeling a bit awkward throughout her gushing, being a Fairy Tail mage themselves. The girl was nice enough, though a bit of a weirdo, so they were more than happy to add another comrade for their guild. Unfortunately, because of the awkwardness, they weren't sure at which point should they reveal their mage status.
"Sorry, I blabbed on and on about mages and stuff, but I hadn't asked if you were one since you have an exceed and all."
The unfamiliar term piqued their interest and being a couple of one-track minds, their silent trouble was quickly forgotten in place of another. ""Exceed?"" Their inquiry resonated together.
"Eh, am I wrong? I completely thought only a talking cat would be an Exceed."
"Is that what I'm called? Natsu, Natsu, did you hear? I'm an Exceed."
"How do you know?" Natsu asked her in wonder, "I never really cared what he is, but no one I met never seemed to know his kind."
"Natsu is cruel! How do you not care what I am?" Cried the river teared Happy.
"Err… my brother has a friend who takes care of an Exceed. It was him who knows what she is and called her that." Now that I think about it, how did Roy know it was an Exceed?
"There's more of me?"
"There's more of Happy?"
Two of them had their eyes glazed up, imagining a bunch of Happy flying around and saying, "Aye Sir!" in their head.
"I don't know what you're imagining, but it's wrong." Lucy put on the straight-woman. "Oh yeah, you guys looked like you were searching for someone. Who is it? Is it for a job request? Are you really a mage then? If so, what kind of magic do you use?"
"You, you really talk a lot." It took Lucy a lot to keep her smile from his tactless remark.
"Aye. We're searching for Igneel here since we heard Salamander was in town, so we went and checked it out."
"Though it turned out to be someone else. He didn't look at all like a Salamander. He's a fire dragon, so I thought for sure it'd be Igneel." Natsu looked genuinely troubled.
"What kind of human looks like a dragon?'
The boy and his cat paused in their eating to look at her like she's strange, "He's not human. Igneel is a real-life dragon."
"Huh?!" Choc brown eyes widen at the casual bomb dropped statement the boy claim. She knew dragons existed, or to be exact had existed. Nick had mentioned about his mother before, no matter how absurd she thinks a dragon raising a child would be like, so the tales of a dragon is nothing more than a children's stories. She doubted anyone could find them anywhere any soon. Even so–
"There's no way something like that could be in the middle of the town!"
Her statement was followed by identical shocked 'Ah, now that you mention it' faces.
"Eeh… you only figured it, now?!" At that moment, Lucy was convinced who she had ended up dealing with the whole afternoon.
They were a pair of idiots.
Time for a retreat. "Well then," she began. As the two were stuck in deep life-questioning depression after the shock left them, Lucy decided it's time to bail and gave them her leftover money. "I have to get going, so take your time eating."
The waitress bowed in thanks for Lucy's patronage but made a troubled face at something behind, making her turn and jumping at the sight.
""Thank you for the food!"" They chorused together in a dogeza at the middle of a full restaurant. Customers and employees pointing and whispering in the background.
"Stop it!" A wave second-hand embarrassment hit Lucy as she tried to shake off their exaggeration, "It's fine, it's fine. You saved me before anyway, so let's call it even, 'kay?"
"But… it's not like we plan to save you or anything. So to accept gratitude like that is…" As a guild mage, Natsu has a principle to accept reward as per the parameter requested job. He doesn't take more or less even if it was cut because of property damage. It's less about money and more to keep the integrity of a Fairy Tail Mage.
"Aye." Happy nodded along.
"That's right!" He rummaged through his bag and proudly showed her an autograph frame like he genuinely believed she'd be happy with it, "You can have this."
"Who'd want that?!" She tossed the scumbag's autograph and running out of the establishment in a huff.
Both looked over her until she's out of sight before looking at each other, "What a weirdo."
"Aye."
"Hey, Happy… don't you feel like we're forgetting something?"
"Ah, now that you mention."
The two exchanged a silent stare at one another before they yelled out at one another. ""AAAAAHH, WE FORGOT TO INVITE LUCY!""
Needless to say, they ran out of the restaurant before they managed to get kicked out, but already they lost sight of her.
"Natsu, can you trace her smell!"
"It's harder in a town, and I didn't really focus on her smell or anything."
"Natsu, you idiot, you're hopeless. How does anyone forget someone's smell!"
"Shut it, Happy! People can forget faces, same thing for smells. Now let's go and search for Lu… Lu… Lugaaaah... I forgot her name!"
"It's Lucy. Anyway, we might still find her, so let's go quickly."
So the pair who had planned to take the first train home (or in Natsu's case, run back home), spent the whole day searching for their potential new family member until the sun sets on them.
. . .
In a bench, in a park, in the middle of Harugeon. A traveling mage could be seen lounging on a park bench with a weekly magazine, Sorcerer, on hand. "Hmm, Fairy Tail strikes again. The Devon thieves gang wiped out along with 7 residences. Man, they just went overboard!" Lucy barked out a laugh.
"You laugh now, but I bet you'd be crying once you're on the other side."
Lucy flipped a page, "Ooh, a photo spread of Mirajane!"
"Meh, she's alright."
"That's because you have a bad taste of women."
"There's nothing wrong in liking a strong, self-assured, independent woman who knows what they want in life rather than a pretty face."
"But how exactly does one join Fairy Tail?"
"You're ignoring me?!"
"I wonder if they have an interview or something."
"If they know what's good for them, they'll take you at the moment you walk their doors."
She flipped another page with a snort, "Flattery isn't getting you anywhere."
"No, but my 'ego' does, apparently."
Lucy froze at her next flip and cursed herself for the blunter, "You are a pain in the ass, you know that Roy–" She lost her words when finding no one on her side, gaping at it before her face hit the palm of her hand. "Not again."
"So you want to join Fairy Tail?" A voice from behind asked.
Startled, Lucy was quick on her feet. Pulling her whip and wrapped it around the person who had been behind her before she dragged him down to the side so he would eat dirt. It took a moment for her to register who she had about to scourge.
"Sa, Salamander? What are you doing? Don't sneak up from behind me like that!"
"Rather, what's the creep even doing sneaking up on you in the first place? Did he stalk you?"
"I was looking for you." He was quick to get and invade her personal space. Not at all fazed even when a trickle of blood oozed from his bruised nose. The mage who called himself Salamander flashed her a winning smile as he waved his ringed hand and the other around her shoulder. "I wanted to invite you personally to the party on my ship."
Lucy could only feel disgusted by his audacity and pushed him away, "Your stupid Charm won't work on me! That magic's weak point is awareness! It doesn't work on people who know it's being used! Also, you should try wiping the nosebleed before picking anyone else up." She pointed at him accusingly. Her own smile was smug as she thought he broke a peg or two on his ego.
"As I thought. I realized the moment I laid eyes on a beaut like you that you were a mage. No matter. As long as you come to the party."
"Err…, is it me, or is he a bit too eager for you to join him?"
Well, someone here actually appreciates my charm.
"Oh sure, be pleased you get a desperate oaf to like you. Hurra..."
"What did you say?!"
"Err... that I would like you to come to my party."
"Oh, no, not you. It's...urgh… anyway, there's no way I'd go! Not to a party thrown by a scumbag like you!
"Me? I'm, I'm a scumbag?" he asked himself like he couldn't believe it's a word associated with him.
"You'd go so far as to use a Charm. Do you want to be popular so much that you do something so low?"
"Come on, Baby, don't be a stuck-up, it's just a ceremony. I just wanted to feel like a celebrity during the party."
Lucy felt disbelief of the words coming out of his mouth, "How can a stupid guy like you be a famous mage? Keep that up on top of your boat, but don't drag me into your little dreams." She started walking off, away from the disgusting man.
"You wanted to join Fairy Tail, yes?" Lucy halted her steps without looking back. "Haven't you heard of Fairy Tail's Salamander?
So the rumored Salamander really is a Fairy Tail Member, "I know, what about it?"
"If you want to join, I'll put a word in with the Guild Master. Even if you do like to talk to yourself."
Lucy turned to him, arching an eyebrow at the offer. On the one hand, it would help herself to smooth things out in getting a membership with them. On the other hand, she definitely doesn't want to owe that slimy bastard anything.
"What's in it for you?"
"Ah, so the thing here, Signora. While my Charm has its perks, using it does put me on the spot of the legal kind. So in return, I would very much appreciate your silence regarding my ring."
Lucy turned her head away to hide the smirk threatened to break. So that's his game, she thought. She was about to tell him exactly where he could stick his party up to his–
"Go to the party!"
What? No!
"He was about to give you a sucker's deal, which by the way is an insult itself to you. I say we go there and expose him in front of his 'ladies friends' what kind of man he really is and enjoying this nibbles and champagne he bought with his money as we humiliate him."
...you have my attention.
A bright, eager smile crossed her face, as she now pushed his own boundary space, fawning at him, "It's going to be such a magnificent party, isn't?"
"A, ah, you're a pretty easy girl, aren't you?"
Lucy was 'this' close drawing out her key for that comment.
He summoned his Red Carpet, "We shall meet again at the party then, ciao!"
"Yes, Sir!" She saluted his retreating back. Her cheerful smile turned into a winning smirk. "Huhuhu, I'm going to have fun playing that dumb oaf, and now I have reason to use that dress I've been saving for the occasion."
. . .
At the port of Harugeon, Saturn Moon shone under the dark night from the lights of the party and laughter. Tens of girls from the town had come in their best. Excitement and thrills charged the air of the usually silent dock as more guests filled the deck as the party progresses.
Lucy had dressed in her mulberry velvet sleeve cut dress that had a split leg for easy reach on her keys, back stiletto heels that are not too high and easy to run in, and her usual side ponytail with matching color ribbon. She considered wearing a bun, but it reminded her too much of how she looked back home and scrapped the idea.
"Looking good Lucy."
"I always look good."
"Fine, you look fabulous tonight. There, happy?"
"You got that right." She sashayed her way through the deck, mingling with the rest of the girls so to keep her occupied, establishing herself within their cliche group to make herself trustworthy if she needed some backing when she destroys him publicly, and she's going to have fun doing it.
Oh God, I'm turning into you.
"You don't have me in your head without picking up some habits, Goldie."
Bad habits, more like it. Which speaking of… you've noticed anything odd?
She wanted to curse Roy — or her own head, she's not sure which either — from giving her a bad feeling. She examined the whole deck; the girls were laughing among themselves, and the guards were standing at the edge.
Looking around of anything amiss until she caught of the guards' eyes. No matter how much they tried to look professional even in their lousy attire, it was the eyes that give it away. A typical guard would have never left their sight on the guests. While this case is true, their eyes were more greedily focused on the girls rather than cautionary. Usually, that sort of thing would be reasonable for one or two guards, all of them at the same time makes it suspicious.
The blazing music stopped and halt her thoughts, a swirl of purple flame appeared in the middle of the deck. With a twist of flair, Salamander was there in his tacky glory self. Purple cape, jewelry, and all.
"Welcome ladies, it is nice for you all to join us on top my private ship, my beloved Saturn Moon. I hope you all enjoyed the party together on this beautiful night."
The girls clapped, cheered, and cried 'his' name while Lucy took immense effort to not roll her eyes. Salamander's swept gaze was locked on hers, and he smiled charmingly as he strutted over to her group of girls. He took her hand and gave a gentlemen kiss, giving her goosebumps all over.
"Ah, Miss Mage just the girl I'm looking for–
"You forgot my name, didn't you?" Not like I've given it to you, she mockingly thought.
His face faltered for a moment, "No, no, I remember your name it's...it's...Margaret, right?"
"Lucy."
"LUCY! Yes, Lucy, sorry baby. I was… too captivated on your stunningly deep brown eyes to remember anything else." Lucy heard the vexing cry and the cheering finger in the background when being faced with personal attention from the captain of the ship.
"Oh, that was good. Guess he knows how to charm without a Charm after all."
Not enough to hook me in though.
The fire mage casually had his hand around her waist, pulling her in close and she let him. She put a hand on his chest, enough to look intimate but enough to give a safe distance between, "Now I'm glad you seem to enjoy in one of my parties, but what do we say we discuss more of our 'arrangement' in a more private setting, hmm?"
She giggled in amusement even as her eyes lack mirth, "Oh, I think…" she pulled his hands away, "...we could talk our way here just fine, Mister Salamander."
The ever flashing grin he had frozen, and there was a slight clench of his teeth. "Haha, Baby, Lucy-chwan, what are you doing? I thought we could talk more about, you know, the Fairy Tail-thing."
The so-called Famous Mage's tone came out of gritted teeth, futilely trying to rein her in by reminding of her deal. She pretended to mull over his remark, tilting her head while she strolled around the deck in loud, steady steps. "Ah, yes, the one you're willing to talk with the Master for me. Yeah, no, I think I'm good." Her words came out slow and deliberate, yet managed to be loud for the whole spectator.
"Hehe, what are you doing Lucy-chan?" Frustration laced through his gritted teeth.
"Exposing you for who you are," She couldn't help her smirk this time and had to hide it behind her glass of champagne, "Ladies, this man is not who he said, he–" The blonde mage froze at the whiff of familiar smell and the tingling magic within her fingertips. She dropped the glass, the loud shatter resounded through the deck since her words had silenced the commotion beforehand when she captivated the people there, so no one could mistake her next words.
"–enchanted the drinks. You put magic that knocks out people, Sleep, in them!"
Scandalous gasped echoed around the ship, some were a more of disbelief, but that was wiped by the next words their host had said.
"You're pretty sharp." A click of his finger and the men thought to be security guards surrounded them, even grabbing them into hand lock. Screams filled the dark air, but with an action trained hundred times, Salamander had turned their drinks into small balls and forced them to the struggling ladies to swallow, knocking them out quick. Leaving them helpless in the arms of leering men.
Lucy was reaching out for her keys when one of the goons had sneaked up behind and grabbed her wrists.
"Hey! Let me go, what's the meaning of this?!"
"Give it up, you're our merchandise now."
"Merchandise… are you saying… you're a slave trader?"
"Hahaha, see what I mean." cackled the self-claimed Salamander. He stepped before her, chest puffed and chin raised, oozing with superiority that's just asking to be hit in the face. "I told you she was sharp. I do quite like my woman to be intelligent. Otherwise, it wouldn't be much fun messing with you."
She growled to bite out his finger, which the Bastard Mage was quick to pull out, laughing at her act.
"I am not your woman, and I have no intention to ever be yours!"
"Tut, tut, tut. You're not? Are you sure? Then you wouldn't mind me taking your bounty off from Caelum..." There was nothing amiss from his beat, Lucy had almost taken a double-take at his cheer. Instead, she had been turned into a fish out of water as he pulled out a wanted poster with her face on it and a 100 million jewels bounty under it. "...Goldilocks."
The moniker that had been a source of strength to her now gave her chills because she was Lucy now, not Goldilocks. Goldilocks always have the Captain on her back. Goldilocks was never truly alone. Lucy was.
She felt her blood boil as the scoundrel waved her name on the poster around. Using it as a tool to put her down when it represents her best. Of the times she went out her journey and actually made a difference, and not being the Lucky Lucy of the Heartfilia Conglomerate.
"Salamander-san," One of the grunts had a shine of her keys, grubby hands grabbed and tossed her pouch to his boss, "Here are the keys."
"Why, you sick bastard..." her teeth showed in her growl, but Salamander did not
"Ah, yes. They did mention in the poster you are a Celestial Wizard. Not a common type of mage and these keys would definitely catch quite a price."
"Ha! Suck for you. Gate Keys can only be used by the contract holders."
Her captor waited for those exact words, causing a winning smirk split his lips, "Hmm, you're right. Which mean these are useless to me." Lucy felt her heart stopped as she watched helplessly when the Scoundrel threw her precious keys, her beloved friends overboard like wasting a half-eaten sandwich.
That's it!
Her patient run out, Lucy stumped the grunt's feet using her heel. Then hit his face with the back of her head. The hit loosened his hold on her, so she finished it with an elbow to the solar plexus.
"You're not tall Lucy, so the easiest way to take down your opponent is to hit their solar plexus or their balls. That way, they'd stay down."
One of the minions, faster than the other, acted to hold her down but Lucy was faster. She surprised him by getting close and blocked his hands, and use that distance to kneed him in the sensitive spot once, twice, and thrice. By the time she moved out of the way, he was writhing on the ground with a girlish whimper.
"Make sure to keep your arms inside while their arms outside. Use your elbows to block their arms from holding on to you. Get in close and use your knee to strike them down."
Two other men, a twig-looking goth and a scruffy black man, were edging closer from each side of hers. She took on the faster one. Redirecting the Goth's weak punch before taking hold of his wrist and elbow. Then pulling him down to block the other guy, they crashed and stumble to the ground. When Scruffy got up, an angry vein on his head, she roundhoused a kick across his temple to knock him out. She realized she had been pushed to the bar. Thinking quickly, she grabbed one of the abandoned bottles and strike the other's head before he could fully get up.
"Redirecting punch doesn't need strength, it needs timing. When a punch comes in, hit them on the side and it'll miss. So if you can't overpower them, make sure you don't get hit. Also, anything can be a weapon. Anything. Use any means to keep yourself alive, okay?"
"All of you are useless, Prominence Snare!"
Lucy cursed the hell out of the mastermind as a long strand of his purple flare began to ensnare her like a living snake. The more she wiggled, the more she felt the burns from fighting it. Things were becoming a jit hopeless; her keys drown and her whip left at the hotel carelessly, all she had was a broken bottle on hand and her memories of Roy's lesson guiding her. The rest of the crew laughed as they crept the deck, circling her with no way out.
"You might be in trouble."
Ya think? If you're going to hound me in my head. Be useful and think of something like the real one, will you?
"I'm just a figment of your imagination! I can't think what I think without you thinking about it!"
That doesn't make any sense.
"What I'm saying is I can't help you, I'm sorry but what you need right now is a miracle."
"GUUUAAAAAA!"
CRASH!
All the waking occupants of the ship turned to the source of the noise. In the middle of the deck was one of goon's head digging through the floorboard, and over him was a familiar boy — Pink hair. White scarf — who appeared in their midst. Looking utterly, undeniably pissed.
"There's your miracle."
"Natsu?!" Lucy called out his name in shock.
"What the–"
"Where the hell did he come from?"
Natsu heaved a sigh after bracing for a superhero landing, but then he slumped down with a bloated green face and the hugged his stomach from the urge to puke his gut out. "As I thought, I can't–"
"On second thought, you might be screwed."
It's… the thought that counts, right?
"Lucy, what are you doing?" The celestial mage looked up at the flying blue cat.
"Happy! These people are actually slave traders. They're planning to sell off all the girls here!"
"Wha– uuuuuugh." Natsu was angry enough to look up, but face plant again from his one weakness.
"Now that you know my face, I'm going to have brought in your little friends as a package deal. Prominence Whip!"
Happy acted on instinct and was swift to grab hold of Lucy before taking her away off the ship. He maneuvered around the poorly aimed attack, Happy would have blown a raspberry if he wasn't too focused carrying a passenger around.
"Happy, what about Natsu? He looked sick back there."
"Two people is impossible, besides Natsu can take care of himself. When he's not on the boat at least."
"Oh for the love of–" Lucy felt the urge to pull her hair, "Then let me down, quick! I have an idea of how we can help him."
"Eh? Lucy, are you an idiot? You'll fall to the sea if you do that."
"That's exactly my point, you stupid cat. My keys are around here somewhere, and I need them if I'm going to help Natsu."
"Then, you won't have to worry, Lucy."
"Why's that?"
On cue, Happy wings retracted, "Because my magic wore off," before they both went plummeting down unceremoniously.
"YOU DAMN CAT!"
She hit the water hard, but Lucy wasn't deterred much with her spirits on the line. The purple coil was gone the moment she hit the water, making it easier for her to swim her way through the dark, murky sea with only the magic of her keys to guide her.
Once she spotted the glow of the three gold and seven silver keys. She snatched them quickly before she swam up for some air, ready to enact her full-scale revenge. Which means, using her most powerful spirit, "Here I go, open the gate of the water bearer: Aquarius!"
She thrust her golden key to the water and with an unlocking motion, open the passageway for a beautiful blue-haired mermaid with a water bearer coming out and levitate on air. For a spirit that needs water, she doesn't actually need to be in the water to use it.
"A fish?!" A drooling Happy exclaimed
"No, she is not!" The Mage denied, but the hungry look in his eyes still zeroed upon her spirit, even as the Exceed expressed his awe.
"I am a Celestial Mage, after all. I can summon Spirits from the Spirit World by using Gate Keys." Lucy proudly explained before her angry eyes narrowed at the floating ship she pointed. "Aquarius, use your power and push that ship back to the port!"
"Tss."
"Did you just say "tss" me? Did you just clicked your tongue at me?!"
"You shouldn't care about something this trivial," Happy reprimanded.
"Noisy little girl, let me tell you something. If you drop my key again, I will kill you."
The spirit hadn't meant it. Of course not. It would be as good as a death sentence for her if she did. But Aquarius was the kind of spirit who respect the power of her beholder — As a strong spirit, she is entitled to pick her contractor to her choice, whether the mage is good or bad. Spirits don't have the luxury to choose their alignment. The only reason she agreed with Lucy's contract was because of her former master's will (and maybe she has a bit of sentiment for the brat).
Doesn't make the mermaid any less murderous, making both of the soaked pair apologize instinctively from her glare.
And so Aquarius gracefully raised her urn above her head…
...then throw a massive wave of water with a wrathful battle cry.
She swept the boat — including Lucy and helpless Happy — to the shore. The occupants of the ship were collectively shouting as they were unwilling dragged into a roller coaster ride. Not Natsu though, he's too busy emptying his stomach to do that.
Once the mini-tsunami was done. The people of Harugeon would witness a wrecked ship stranded past the port at the edge of the beach, out of reach from the ocean, and the running girls pouring out from said ship.
Lucy, on the other hand, was curing her dizziness while Happy had his head stuck within the beach sand.
"Every time, this happens every single time I summoned you, and I can't help but ask ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?! What were you thinking?"
"I made a mistake. I ended up washing away the ship as well."
"Don't give me that! You would have done differently had Roy been with me."
"Because unlike you, Brat. He knows how to appreciate a woman's looks and skill. Plus, it helps that the Brat-2 is growing up to be an arm candy."
"Stop! TMI, TMI! I soo do not want to know that from my own spirit."
"Don't summon me for a while. I'm going on a trip with my boyfriend for a week. With my boyfriend."
"Don't say it twice!" but her words were left in the wind as she disappeared, "... Just watch me until I get a boyfriend you arrogant, jerk, self-centered–"
"Hey, Lucy. I think I shouldn't have apologized back then!" Happy addressed her after pulling himself out, and Lucy felt 100% done with him.
"This little cat is so stupid, being his straight-woman is really hard."
Putting aside the cat, her eyes were drawn to the big freaking ship stranded in town she had technically put there, and winced at the destruction of it all. The shadows of the crew emerge from the rubble, reminding her of their missing friend.
"Natsu! Natsu! Nats–" She paused her running steps and the call out of his names when she looked upon her pink-haired friend. Struck by the sight of his visage, standing on top of the rubble with murder in his eyes.
"Are you a mage of Fairy Tail?" He asked like someone who had a grudge against the infamous guild when it couldn't have been far more than the truth.
"W-W-Wha-What if I am?!" The slave-trader stuttered, his feet subconsciously backing away at the murderous aura his assailant was giving. "All of you finish him off!"
They reacted to his order and jumped on him, grinning confidently all the while their fist raised to knock the punk down as if he was any other opponent they met.
Natsu didn't even need to use magic before the pair were eating dirt on the ground. "Let me take a good look at your face!" He demanded in low gravel tone as he slowly made his way to the Captain of the Saturn Moon while shedding his red jacket to reveal a prominent mark.
"Natsu!" Lucy was about to run ahead and assist him from the outnumbering goons, but Happy was quick to wave off her concern.
"Don't worry." Happy said by her shoulder, munching fish he fished from his green bag, "I failed to mention it, but Natsu is not just a mage, he is a Fairy Tail mage."
Lucy froze, her mind began to reel back like an old movie film at her gushing over her favorite guild like a lovestruck weirdo at said guild's member's face, making her face flushed redder and redder. "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHH?!"
"Wow, Lucy, I didn't know anyone could open their mouth so wide when they're not eating."
"Shut it, you shitty cat!"
"That crest." A fat mook pointed the revelation the unmistakable Fairy Tail mark on Natsu's right upper arm. "He is the real deal, Bora-san!"
"Idiot!" The man now known as Bora squawked, "Don't call me by that name!"
"Bora. Bora of Prominence." The blue cat stated with a serious tone that did not match his cute face. "Years ago, he was banned from a guild named Titan Nose."
"I don't care if you are a villain or a good person," the Fairy Tail mage proclaimed with every step he took that left literal fiery footsteps on his wake, "but I can't forgive anyone who pretends to be from Fairy Tail!"
His intimidation was working so well, leading to Bora attacking like a scared kid throwing a tantrum, "So what are you gonna do about it, you little brat?! Prominence Typhoon!" A whirlwind of purple flare came at him, enveloping the young mage in its flame. The giant fire made Lucy closed her mouth, muffling her horror gasp. She would have gone to check up on him if Happy hadn't held her back.
Thinking he had done his job, Bora calmed down and turn his back on the destruction, showing no guilt to his action. "A big mouth won't get you far."
He walked away until he heard an impossible voice coming from the flames. "Gross. Are you really a Fire Mage? I can't believe such disgusting flames exist." The fact Natsu had commented not unlike a bitter judge in a cooking channel while slurping all the flame in one fell swoop as one does with a strand of spaghetti. "Thank you for the food," A sly smirk gave an edge to his lips.
"Fire won't work on Natsu." Happy lightly commented, even as his wide blank eyes and terrifying smile promised at the gawking spectators a world of pain was waiting for them.
However, among those witnesses, only one was gawking not out of shock, but out of the disbelief. Previous dots began to connect in Lucy's mind.
A talking cat, I could have brushed that off as coincidence, but searching a dragon–
"Now that I've eaten I'm all fired up!" Natsu cried out. He heaved in a breath that expanded his chest further until it bulged abnormally before he began to blow a jet stream of flame, blowing away most of the week goons out of the way, "Here I go! Fire Dragon's Breath!"
A stream of red-orange fire shoot out unlike anything they've ever seen and fully setting fire to their precious wooden ship. The fire nonetheless, as if having sentience, once spread exploded until there was nothing but pieces. You would think the fire would have kept burning after the explosion, yet there was nothing but a few burned wood and charcoal.
–breathing attack–
Most of the goons were left hurting or consciousness, the blowback of the explosion enough to render them down. Bora, after years of running and evading from law enforcement, was quick to use his Red Carpet to dodge the attack.
"B-Bora, I've seen that guy before." One of his minions shakingly pointed out, "Pink hair and a scale-skin scarf. There is no doubt! He is the real Salamander!"
–motion sickness–
Natsu took one step forward, then two, then three, before pulling a run with a fiery fist this time, "Remember this! This is what a Fairy Tail mage is!"
The closer Natsu gets with full-on rage on his face, the more panic Bora gets as he flung another fire magic at him despite the apparent sign of Natsu's immunity of fire. "Red Shower!" Several fierce, purple flames rain down upon Natsu, but it was easy for him to dodge nor was he afraid to get hit anyway. The battle was over the moment Bora used fire magic on him. Natsu used his fire underneath his feet to propel him upward, reaching up to Bora and punching him across town.
–eating fire and fighting with it, could it be...he's…
"Natsu's a Dragon Slayer?!"
"Aye, Igneel taught Natsu that by the way."
"Oh my…"
Bora, despite his arrogance nature, was a leader for a reason. He pulled himself out of the rubble, still raring to go. Yet, had he been in his right mind, the slave trader should have run when he had the chance. Instead, Bora stubbornly called out his strongest magic from his arsenal, Hell Prominence. Purple blaze builds up at one point before Bora aimed at him, firing like a laser that pushed Natsu. But despite the force that managed to push him back, there wasn't a single burn on him as he ate more of the fire. "Damn you!"
"I could eat this the whole day!" Natsu mockingly yelled out. "Hey, you jerk! I'm going to smoke you into a smoldering crisp." Enfolding his arm in fire, Natsu jumped once more and gave Bora a fiery right hook with Fire Dragon's Iron Fist. Sending the slave trader flying straight toward the bell tower.
"Natsu, you smoke him using smoke, not fire." Happy tried being a smartass.
"Amazing. It's amazing but…" Lucy took in the scene of the fishing town now being licked by the flames of ruin that light up the sky into a starless night, people screaming and running from the buildings that started falling apart, and well...anyway the picture was a total disaster.
"HE IS OVERDOING IT!"
"Aye!"
"Don't just say "Aye!""
"Watch out!"
"Well, I did say not to say "aye," but I didn't expect–" Multiple presences surrounded her, and found Bora's men to be armed and looking over her like a prized treasure, which in this scenario, isn't so far from the truth.
"With all the commotion, the military is surely not far from behind by now."
"And Bora-san is out of the count now, meaning we'll have to quickly hightail it out of here."
"But first, we're going to need some quick cash, and I remember you have a considerable amount of bounty on your head, Blondie."
"Hehehe, we're gonna make some good money out of ye."
"You…you disgusting bastards." She glared at them with a hand on her key pouch, ready to fight, kick, scratch, punch her way out of them. "Happy, can you fly us out?"
"Impossible, I just exhausted my magic!"
Lucy clicked her tongue, her eyes never looking away from any sign of further aggressiveness. But being surrounded means her eyes had to keep rolling side to side like an 8-ball. It was only when her ears were the first one to pick up the tell-tale metallic footsteps that she decided the best way to leave them a parting gift before booking out of here.
"Keh, I didn't want to resort to this, but you guys leave me no choice."
"LUCY! HAPPY!" Natsu came kicking into the scene with a cry.
No, I mean, he literally came kicking to the scene. Giving a good bash at the baldie's head, then skidding past the dirt before he made a cool pose right in front of his two friends — One knee and a fist on the ground, his head lowered with his bang shadowing the gleaming fight in their eyes. — Lucy had to quell rolling her eyes, seriously is it a guy thing to be this overly dramatic when they try to rescue someone or does this just came naturally for them?
A lightning bolt struck as an idea came upon her. Wait a minute… now that Natsu's here… couldn't he manage to scare them off without fighting them then?
"Great timing Natsu, show them the ferocity of a Fairy Tail Mage!" She gave him a thumbs-up before addressing the thugs around her in a boastful puff of her lungs, "Hehe, try and come get me. This guy will easily bake you into burned pie until there's nothing you can taste."
"Lucy, you're pretty shameless, aren't you?!" Happy took straight to the point.
"I like to think of myself as an opportunist. Kick their asses, Natsu!"
"I don't know why, but getting told to do things kind of gets me irritated."
Being faced with the sole guy who managed to defeat their boss single-handedly, the boys would reasonably hesitate to go against him. It would have been smarter and reasonable for them to make a tactical retreat, and in the original timeline, they would have run from the first sign of the military coming.
"Hey, should we really go up against him. Not even Bora-san could defeat him."
"Yeah, but… the money…"
"100 million, just within our grasp."
"There's more of us, and one of him. Surely we can handle him."
"I'll take my chances with a snot-nosed punk like him."
"I have water magic anyway, I'll try countering his magic while you all finish him."
However, the normal timeline didn't have 100 million jewels right under their nose, and money can make men do stupid, desperate, irrational, and suicidal things.
Lucy shifted back and forth on the brazen men still eyeing her with money eyes, "Are~ they're not backing down."
"What do you think they'll do once you goad them, Lucy, you Idiot!"
"I… I have no excuse."
"Doesn't matter, I'll just blow them away anyway."
"Don't. The military is close, and these guys are too blinded with greed to make a run for it now."
"Why would you care if the military comes?"
"Because I literally threw a yacht at the town and I don't have money to reimburse them! The best thing to do is to hold them up here while we make a run for it."
""How?""
"Leave that to me," she pulled out one of the lines of her keys, ready to rock and roll. "Let's see what you got, my newest spirit. Open the gate of the Pier Dung: Puppis!"
Appeared from thin air from the gate of the celestial dimension was a small chocolate swirl on the ground with nose scrunching smell. The spirit's round boggled eyes opened, glancing past the dumbfounded men, from enemies and allies alike, who were struck speechless by the appearance of what we would call a living poop emoji.
"Puppi!" Cried the small spirit, breaking the shocked silence.
The cut-throat men began to double over in laughter at the sight of the objectively pathetic-looking spirit. Natsu and Happy were still left in perpetual shock, hand still pointing at it and looked questionably at Lucy with a reasonable 'what the fuck?' look in their eyes.
Lucy's eyes twinkled mischievously as she pronounced grandly, "While they're all distracted as plan. Puppis, I know we haven't signed a contract, but please hit them with your best shot!"
"Pup, pup, puppiiiii!" Puppis jumped excitedly before puffing its cheek, looking constipated as it grew little by little until it was the size of an elephant.
The men who watched this receded their laughing, and once they were face to face with a smiling giant poop — Which was a surreal statement in itself — before Puppis exploded and covered the clearing around him with brown gooey stuff that stinks exactly like what it was supposed to be.
"Aw, God, what the hell is this shit?"
"It is shit, you numbskull."
"Mother of Celestials, the smell! The terrible smell!"
"It's everywhere, it's everywhere! Somebody get rid of it!"
As chaos descended on the former crew of Saturn Moon, Happy and Natsu were looking dumbfounded over the great turmoil with a pinched nose, all the while Lucy was still smiling in satisfaction after a good day's work.
"Good work, Puppis. You can go back for now, and we'll sign the contract later."
"Puppi!" The spirit jumped in agreement before disappearing back into its home.
"Uuuh… Lucy, what was that?"
"Puppis. It's a spirit that's quite infamous in the celestial community for it's known the power of doing one thing only."
"Wha, what's that?" Natsu asked, even though he had suspicion already for what it was.
"It's sole ability to give shits to anyone." Lucy looked so proud and smug at her plan. Natsu wasn't sure how to appropriately respond to that. But then he noticed how she's quivering all over and her face was turning a paler shade of blue.
"You're secretly holding your breath, aren't you?" He deadpanned.
"The smell is disgusting enough that I almost regret using him," she finally admitted.
Happy, who had been flying far from the ground zero, saw from the high point in the sky the ever closing soldiers getting close to them and immediately went to warn his partner. "Natsu, we better hurry, the military is coming."
"Didn't you say you exhausted your magic, damn cat?" Lucy glared at the winged cat.
"That's bad." Without much consent, Natsu grabbed Lucy's left hand and started fleeing from the crime scene before she could protest, "Let's run for it!"
"Why are you dragging me for?"
"But you said you wanted to join Fairy Tail, right?"
The world seemed to slow from those words, she searched his face for any signs of jokes but was left breathless by the blinding smile and sincere gaze he had. Telling her three words. Just three words.
"Come with us."
There was only one answer she could have answered, but no words came out of her mouth. Hesitation struck her unexpectedly that she drowned under a panic pressure, leaving her mind in a tangled mess not knowing what was right or left or where she should go.
Then for an unknown reason, a nudge at the back of her mind made her look back. She was just as afraid to turn as she was to answer the unexpected meeting of the Fire Dragon Slayer, but she did.
Roy was there, standing nonchalantly in the middle of the street. His usual cocky smirk in place while showing off his burned scar like a badge above his left eye. Lucy would have mistakenly called out to him if his translucent figure wasn't cluing enough that he's not real.
Yet it did not stop the prickling tears as once again she was hit with a heavier reminder of how much she misses him these two long years. How much she wanted him to be real, by her side, running from trouble and to the magical red phone box where she's taken to places far and wide, hand in hand, all the while they were laughing through it even as she outwardly complained.
She became keen to the warmth around her hand. It wasn't the kind of grip Lucy was familiar with, but it wasn't bad just… different. But holding on to her long-time dream might mean forgetting what his grip felt like.
Roy's figure did not say anything, he only mouthed one word. A word he used so often, she knew what he said without a shred of doubt.
"Go."
Chains to her soul broke to pieces, and she felt like soaring. So she answered Natsu's previous prompt with a big fat, "OKAY!" and ended up running side by side, no longer alone.
Running from the military and the fiery destructions behind.
Running to new adventures.
Running to her new home — FAIRY TAIL.
AN: I have finally touched cannon, PRAISE ME!
I'm joking, but what do you think of my Lucy? After a lot of brainstorming, I decided to make her magical prowess the same as canon but with more keys, has kick-ass martial art training on her belt, a strategic yet still petty mindset, and the confidence she would have after the 1-year time skip.
FYI, the Pier Dung Spirit? Is not real, but it is based on an actual constellation called Poop Deck, Puppis, and because I'm not an English Native, you can guess where my mind went to when I read the name. After reading its wiki throughly, I realized it was named after a part of a ship, but I couldn't let go of the idea of a joke spirit based on it, so I thought "What the hell, it's my story anyway" and went with it. I can say with confidence that I have NO REGRETS! I've been dying to use that joke at last.
Well, tune in on the next chapter ;)
Thanks for reading and don't forget to review!