Chapter One: With The Guidance of Stars, As There A Thing Called Fate, It Always Lead To An Encounter That Starts It All
I am both the beginning and the end of the story,
that has yet to be written
July 2nd, X784
Location: Town of Hargeon-Train Station
"Excuse me, Sir…?" Asked a train conductor with a worried face as he lightly touches his hat.
"Natsu, we're here! Hargeon!" Exclaimed a blue cat leaning over the very young boy with spiky salmon-colored hair, wearing a white, dragon scale-like a scarf around his neck, as he is carrying a rolled-up comforter on his back, as his face is slammed onto the wooden ground. He gently hit his head, as he repeats, "Get up! Get up!"
"I-is he okay?"Continued the train conductor as he can only sweatdrop at the situation.
"Aye!" the blue cat immediately replied, raising its left arm in the air. "He's always got like this."
"I-I can't handle it," said Natsu, with his voice expressing pain and sickness, as tiny sweat forming on his head. "I-I'll never take the train again…." Right after he finished, he felt something twist inside of him, as he puffs out his cheeks, preventing himself to throw up.
"If the info is correct, 'Salamander' should be in this town." The blue cat said as he is already standing at the train door. "Let's go!" As he turns to Natsu, who is hanging on the window.
"L-let me rest for a bit," Natsu answered back,
Meanwhile, inside the train, the furnace opened as a worker holding the shovel tossed several coals into the furnace as it closed. While the other work pulls on the lever as it lets out a roar.
Upon hearing the sound, the black cat turned around, finding himself looking at Natsu who was still inside the train, crying for help, as the figure of the train slowly gets smaller.
"It departed," said the blue cat as he can only watch his friend suffering another hell ride.
Location: Town of Hargeon- Hargeon Cafe
Her stomach did ecstatic cartwheels, as her blue eyes turned upon the chocolate ice cream sundae. A ruby cherry perched atop the inviting drizzle of gooey syrup and the colorful sprinkles were tauntingly scattered upon the chocolate mund of goodness. Her mouth-foaming uncontrollably, as she almost neglected to pick up her spoon as she eagerly reached for the delectable dessert.
A single bite, she ate. As the light, rich chocolate coats her tongue thickly before flowing down her throat. She couldn't help but feel blessed but sweet taste from the dessert, that she just have to smile.
"It's so delicious!" The blush of roses, peek of champagne pink infused her cheeks, dimpled with a blossoming smile and her eyes shine in a way that expresses in one word- happiness. "Are you sure you don't want some, Lucy-nee?"
Against the black silky cloak, the blond hair is almost white. It draped down softly curling along the ends, shining in the summer light. And the brown eyes that she bore represented a million hues, like a forest and the autumnal leaves, the soil in summer after the rain. Her beauty is enchanting to many eyes, but even with the most beautiful thing has a flaw- a scar on her right cheek that nearly touches her eye. Lucy smiles, as she shakes her head gently. "It's my treat anyway. After this, shall we go explore a little?"
Michelle happily nodded, as she stuffs more of the chocolate goodness in her mouth. "Thank you, Lucy-nee!"
Lucy smiles at her little sister's cheerfulness before she reaches out her right hand. The white creamy tone of Lucy's skin is like looking at whipped milk before her finger grazes upon the glass water before her. The ice falls against the glass, as her fingers sliding on the cooling sensation of the cup. Her handgrip on the cup, as she brought the water to her blossom lips.
A voice then babbled like a mountain river reaches Lucy's ear. Her eyes glance to the right, to where sits a group that seems to be Haregon citizen talking among themselves with a newspaper laying flat on the circular table.
"It was a massacre." The first that spoken, is a young man with his face is brown with small pale spaces, like the tips of grass struggling to show through the golden brown leaves. His hair is a perfect mop of red that would have been lion-like if he would not have been so skinny. " Around 300 royal soldiers were dead."
"Damn." The girl has a lovely voice, dulcet. She looked like a daisy bud with freckles sprinkled across her face, and her eyes were fern green, and cool. "Did they find out who did it?"
"It doesn't seem like it." The second boy is like a chestnut and an acorn, the seed of everything good to come. His hair is dark, and lustrous like a sheen of fine hardwood. "Rumor has it that the Princess was badly traumatized, and haven't said a single word."
"So, are you saying that the killer is still out there?" The girl lightly gasp. "Jesus, what are the Magic Council doing now? Shouldn't they be finding the culprit?"
"It's harder than it looks." The boy with the red hair continues. 'By the time backup was there, the culprit had already disappeared! Nobody knew where the person went."
Lucy listens as if their words are gold before she set back down the cup that she has been holding for a while. Michelle, on the other hand, was just about to take the last piece as her eyes traveled to Lucy's expression.
The brown eyes moved slower, and more downcast upon the icy cold water. Her expression is blank like a piece of paper. But Michelle sees pain those eyes. Forever trapped in a way that she barely knew, but even Michelle wanted Lucy to understand that she is not alone. She reached out her left hand and wrapped around Lucy's right. Brown eyes glanced at her ocean blues.
Michelle only smiled and replied. "Let's go!"
The way that her lips lifted upward, expresses a warm glow of happiness that she gives to Lucy. Her smile is a ray of sunshine, that Lucy needs.
"Shall we then?" Lucy answered back, with a smile on her tiny lips as well.
Location: Town of Hargeon-Somewhere within the Town
"Eeeh?!" Exclaimed a blonde girl, "There's only one magic store in this entire town?" Her tone of voice was filled with shock as if she couldn't believe her ears.
"Yes," said a male shopkeeper as he continues, "This town is more prosperous in fishing than magic, to begin with. Not even a tenth of the people in this town uses magic, so this store specializes in selling to traveling wizards."
The blonde girl sigh, as she placed both of her hands on her hips, "I guess this was a total bust, then." Showing a disappointment in her tone.
"Now, now, don't say that. Please, have a look." said the shopkeeper as he starts searching behind his counter to impress the girl. "I have a lot of merchandise, you know."
He then pulled out a pink rectangular device and said, "How about this teleportation device?" He continues, "As long you just need to think of the place, you are immediately teleported there!"
The blonde girl raised an eyebrow and grab the device. "So, how does it work?"
"All you have to do is touch the middle panel while thinking of a place." The shopkeeper explained.
The blonde girl was interested in how it works, as she tried it out. Yet when the shopkeeper saw that, he immediately shouted, "Wait do-"
And before he can do anything, the blonde girl in front of her disappear along with the device, leaving only several keys attached by a metal hoop where her original place is.
Location: Town of Hargeon- Somewhere within the Town
"Man...I wound up riding the train twice." Natsu complained with waves of nausea adding to his misery. He nearly stumbled upon his walk, with each step his stomach tightened and ached all the more.
"Well, you don't do well when it comes to moving vehicles." Happy stated straightforwardly, walking beside his wobbly companion.
"Not to mention I'm hungry…"
"And we don't have any money." Happy once more straightforwardly, stated the desperate situation that they are currently in.
"Hey Happy," started Natsu, "They probably meant Igneel when they said Salamander, right?" Having a scowl on his face as he said those words.
"Yup," replied Happy, "I can only think of Igneel when I hear 'Dragon of Fire'."
"That's what I thought too." agreeing with Natsu. "I finally found him!" He then raised two of his arms in the air as his voice turns cheerful, "I feel a bit better now!"
"Aye!" Said Happy.
"Salamander-sama!"
And just in time, a commotion of several girls screaming and fawning caught the ears of the pink-haired boy.
"See! Speak of the devil!" exclaim Natsu as his face is brimming with life and joy.
"Aye!" As Happy follows a suit.
Michelle clasps her hands together, upon the awe of the town she's currently in. The town is a maze of narrow winding streets, as complex as the heart. The streets were the veins, paved with dark red stones, and the people were the blood. The sound of the smiths; beating the swords, and the breastplates into shape, are the consistent and dull pounding that let her and her sister know that the town is alive.
Not to mention the ocean breeze whispers like a lover, placing salty kisses on the girl's cheek, as it tousled Michelle's golden hair, and the hoodie from Lucy's. Then, came the sound of playful frills of the sails on the harbor boats, fluttering their flags and pushes along the clouds. While on the other hand, there's wind driving the waves to crash as far towards the rocks, sending white spray high into the air.
"Don't wander off." Lucy committed, watching her little sister's eyes shine like a million jewel whatever her eyes laid upon.
"Yes, Lucy-nee!"
Lucy and Michelle continued with their walk until she felt a surge of familiar magic that stopped dead in her tracks. She turned to her left and found herself staring at a magic shop.
"Isn't this…?" Lucy mumbled with a tone of shock, as she didn't hesitate and opened the door, revealing a room filled with items and magic.
"Lucy-nee?" Michelle questioned, before trailing behind her big sister and into a magic shop.
"Welcome!" exclaimed the shopkeeper as he has a wicked smile on his face, and his hands rubbing together.
Lucy immediately went straight towards the shopkeeper and asked, "Keys."
"Huh?"
"The celestial keys." Lucy clarified. "I sense several celestial keys within this store."
"Oh! Keys!" Stated the shopkeeper, he then pointed to the glass counter in front of him. "This thre-"
"Not these," Lucy quickly stated, cutting off the shopkeepers words. "A different one."
"Huh?"
"I sense other keys within this store." Lucy continues as she lifted her head a bit, as it reveals her deep chocolate eyes, piercing towards the shopkeeper, causing him to quiver. "Show. Them."
With panic, the shopkeeper quickly pulls out several keys attached by a metal hoop and placed it on the counter. Lucy's eyes widen, as she reached out her right hand. She gently touched the keys before asked another question, "Where is she? The girl that once owned these keys?"
Location: Town of Hargeon- Somewhere within the Town
Igneel! Igneel!" exclaimed Natsu as he is trying to push through the girls, and tried to reach the center person. "Igneel!"
Yet, the moment he did, he came across a relatively tall and slim man with mildly short, spiky hair jutting outwards, with a long fringe left hanging over the upper left part of his face. It was a person that he never met.
"Who the heck are you?"
The spiky-haired man was stoned to a shock of the blunt question, but quickly recomposed himself and said, "Maybe you know me as 'Salamander'."
Location: Town of Hargeon- Magic Shop
"Disappeared?" Lucy questioned as her eyes narrowed, and her tone of voice is filled with confusion.
"Yes!" Answered the shopkeeper, "The girl was playing around with a newly-com device and transported away, only leaving her keys behind. I was gonna waited for her to return, and but so far, there's no luck."
Why? Why is this happening? Lucy lowered her head, deep in thought as Michelle calls out to her. "Lucy-nee?"
"Huh?"
"Are you alright?" Michelle question, as she couldn't help but touch her sister's shoulder. "What's wrong?"
Lucy shakes her head, as she regains her composure. "It's nothing."
"Ummm," said the shopkeeper, catching Lucy's and Michelle's attention. "I want to ask, are you a friend of the girl?"
Lucy then snapped back her gaze at the shopkeeper, but at this time, showing warmth.
"Well, I guess you can say that." Lucy then took the keys and put hang it beneath her cloak, near her waist. As the shopkeeper caught a glimpse of shorts that the girl is wearing, with her pale thighs trapped by something. "I would also like to apologize for my friend's behalf of teleporting away with your merchandise. And to repay it, I would like to pay this particular silver key."Lucy using her right hand pointed at a silver key that is concealed away from her touch by the glass.
"Ah, why of course." said the shopkeeper as he took out the key and placed it in front of his customers. "It is a total of 20,000 jewels. Which it also covers the fee from the teleportation device." He smiled as he closed his eyes and rubbing his hands together.
Location: Town of Hargeon- Somewhere within the Town
The moment Natsu and Happy walked away from 'Salamander' introduction, he was chased and beaten to a blimp by the fangirls, as Happy was flying overhead, with pairs of feathery wings attached to his back, avoiding the situation.
"That's enough girls," said the 'Salamander' giving the girls a wink, "He didn't mean it either."
"You're so kind~~~" Squeak one of the girls, with hearts in her eyes.
The 'Salamander' then got a board and a pen and begin writing something. Once he's done, he handed the board and said, "I'll give you my signature. You can show it off to your friends."
"I envy him~~" complained one of the girls, as others were squeaking and fawning over the 'Salamander'.
"I don't want it." Natsu puts it bluntly as he sweats drops, on the floor looking at the unknown, unnecessary person in front of him.
Yet, the moment Natsu said those words, he was then beaten and toss to the ground by the fangirls being angrily at him.
"It wasn't him," said Happy standing beside Natsu, as his face is eating the dirt and dust from the concrete ground.
"I appreciate your enthusiastic welcome," said the 'Salamander', giving the girls a smirk that made them squeak once again. "But I have some errands to run at the port. So please excuse me." And right after those words, he snapped his fingers, as a purple flames came out from the ground near his feet as it was gently placed under his black shoes as he is levitating as he said his final words to the girls, "We're having a party on the ship tonight. Please come."
All the girls surrounded Natsu and Happy have hearts in their eyes as they agreed that they will come, as the 'Salamander' soared into the distant sky.
"What is he?" asked Natsu as he sits on the floor cross-legged with a confused face, as Happy just stared at the sky where the 'Salamander' left.
The keys lay in the palm of her hand, metal, and skin together. On this summer's day, there is a warmth to it, and the light played over the curves. With a tiny spark of joy, Lucy let her fingers curled around it.
"You seemed very happy Lucy-nee," Michelle commented, watching a smiling place on Lucy's lips.
"Is that so?"
Michelle nodded. "I didn't know that you have a friend that's also a celestial wizard, just like you!"
Lucy nearly stopped at her track, as her smile falters slightly before looking up at the sky. "Guess you can say that."
Michelle tilted her head to the side, confuse. "Where are we going now, Lucy-nee?"
Chocolate eyes smiled at Michelle, as Lucy answered. "Meeting an old friend."
"I'm so hungry…"
"Aye…"
Natsu and Happy are leaning against an alley wall, as their body slumps down to the ground with the vibe of depression arising. Natsu's stomach growls like a dragon, unable to control the hunger and demands for food.
"Do you have any more fish, Happy?" said Natsu weakly, looking at his partner sitting beside him, who is in the same state as him.
Happy shook his head, "We ate it all on the way here."
Natsu sighed in sadness as his stomach growls once more, as he slides down towards the floor and closing his eyes.
"I'm gonna die." cry Natsu.
Lucy stopped her track, as her eyes roam around anxiously. Where is he? In the past, I meet him here with that 'faker', and now he's nowhere to be seen. Did I miss him?
Michelle standing beside Lucy watching her every move, tilted her head confuse. Lucy moves around almost without end, as an electrical storm brews in her brain, giving her pain that is the same as an intense sorrow; perhaps as a sort of frozen panic with nowhere to go, nowhere to seek.
[Song: Fairy Tail- 'Snow Fairy']
[Fairy, where' you going?
We'll gather the light along the way
And make it shine upon a brand new day]
Lucy looked around for any sign. She looked side to side, and even behind her. Where are you?
Lucy begins walking ahead towards the street, as desperation arises from her. Where are you?! She bit her lower lip in frustration.
"Lucy-nee? Where are you going?"
[Oh yeah, can you hear the voice that's calling you yet?
Oh yeah, it's raw and hoarse from screaming out to you,
Oh yeah, but it won't give up until you can answer it,
Oh yeah, Oh yeah]
Natsu! Happy! Lucy shouted inside her mind, as her pace quickens. Where are you two?!
"Lucy-nee, wait a second. Please slow down, your health-" Michelle's words failed to reach her big sister, as she couldn't help but question her sister's action. She's never like this, what's wrong?
Lucy ran passed several stores and several sharp turns. But the sight of the people she loved the most is nowhere to be seen. Her breathing deepens. As she kept looking around.
[Though all this time has passed, I still remember,
the sun and moon and how they shine together.
It feels so strange when you are not here with me,
I need your smile just keeps me going.]
Lucy squatted down to her knees. Please, just, please! Where are you?! Water starts to form in her eyes. As she felt like her hope was shattered, as everything becomes hard to breathe. Her head is pounding, as every cell in her body is screaming for oxygen. She keeps fighting until she feels like her head is about to explode.
"Lucy!" Michelle screams from behind her. Immediately, she rushes to her sister's side, bringing her arms around Lucy's shoulder. "Breathe, breathe."
Michelle desperately calls out. "Who you looking for? Tell me and I'll help. But please don't push your body any further!"
[In my heart, it's snowing. I'm trying my best to smile.
Slowly it's warming,
As fate is linking your heart with mine]
Just as Lucy lost her hope, as she continues to take several steps within the town as the sunsets. A sound journey to her ears. A sound that she is always familiar with that stopped in her tracks. A sound of a stomach growling, followed by a voice.
[Where' you going, we'll gather the light along the way,
And make it shine upon a brand new day.
Oh yeah, breaking like a wave on the shore of the ocean, all my feelings ebb and flow away.
The orange sunset fades to white and grey
Oh yeah, cherishing that rainbow we saw together, all the colors in my memory are turning into snow every day.]
Immediately, Lucy ran towards where the sound is. As every single, every minute, and every distance that she goes towards the sound, her heart starts to pound uncontrollably.
"Lucy-nee, please wait!"
[It's strange when you smile, I feel much stronger.
But when you laugh, it lifts me so much higher.
In my heart, it's snowing I'm trembling
But now you're here, tightly you hold me
and it's warming me right down my core]
As she continues running, she soon found herself in an alleyway, where two figures were laying on the ground. She stopped as her lips parted a bit, trembles. But yet, even so, she put a small smile on her face. And continues to walk towards the figure.
[Fairy, slowly but surely, you're walking your way
Just hang in there.
I've forgotten how it goes teach me how to laugh,
Because your smile is like a magic spell.
You could change the world I know,
Cause you've surely changed mine,
And that's why...]
With her footsteps, as it sings beneath with lovely sounds, it perks the ears of the pink-haired boy. As he pushes himself to a sitting position and eyed the figure walking towards him, raising an eyebrow.
Lucy stopped in front of the pink-haired boy and the blue cat. She pulls down her hood, as it reveals a marvelous beauty in front of Natsu, as her dark chocolate eyes meet the onyx eyes. She reached out her right hand, and let out a beautiful, heartwarming smiled, as Natsu's eyes widen, and Happy entranced by her. Michelle finally caught up, as she too couldn't help but entrance by the scene as well.
"Need any help?"
[You are my fairy]
Next Chapter: As There Is An Encounter That Starts It All, As There Is A Remembrance Of The Past, The Journey Still Continues
A/N: I'm back! This is going to be a redo of the unfinished fanfic from last year! I hope that this fanfic, still suits your taste!