So, I've been wanting to publish this story for seriously the past two years. The reason why I never did was because I thought it may be best to focus on writing one story at a time...HA. What a joke. Impossible. Too many ideas inside of my head.
Anyhow...the style I write these first and last two chapters will be in this similar format. Starting from the next chapter and onward until the last two, will be the actual story. :) You'll understand in the end.
I hope you enjoy!
Prologue
Under the blazing sun that seems to be trying to set the world on fire, a blonde-haired girl, dressed in a two-piece swimsuit with a loose, milky pink tank top and some faded denim shorts over the water attire, now stands in front of the large, infamous mansion she had heard so much about. Sweat is dripping down all along her hairline, creating a mini waterfall of warm droplets, and the top of her feet that aren't shielded by the two small straps to her white flip-flops feel as though they can disintegrate and evaporate right up into thin air. She anxiously grabs the straps to her straw-woven beach tote. Despite her miserable current state, an awed look adorns her melting, red face as she takes in the breathtaking landscape presented before her as if it is a painted work of timeless art. Beyond the golden iron gates which block her path is an enormous botanical garden from heaven itself. This place…
While it is true that the grander things belonging to those in the upper class hardly ever fazes the blonde-haired girl anymore due to her own background carrying such a large heavy price, this place seems to be from a whole other world. The scenery she sees before her appears exactly like something she's only read about from her fantasy books that she loves so very much—all that is missing from this perfect sight is some beautiful, mystical creature—such as a fairy! Which is why she begins to wonder if she has actually passed out from heat exhaustion during her journey here and is dreaming when she sees something sparkle on one of the vibrant flowerbeds… But she knows the truth. Mostly. She knows that every step she has taken up until now is very real. That this most definitely has to be the place her newfound friends and colleagues have been gushing to her all about.
They said this mansion has the grandest, most majestic setup, customarily meant for occasions like this—celebrations, dances, etc.—or in this case, a welcoming swim party. To be more specific, her welcoming swim party. It is actually a little embarrassing: The party to officially welcome new "guildmate" and "family member," as well as "friend," Lucy Heartfilia. If this new workplace of hers was a normal business, then hearing those kinds of words to describe her barely budding relationship with everyone a part of this extraordinary organization would've really weirded her out. In fact, even bizarre businesses wouldn't describe her as such. They'd still use words simply such as "coworker" or "colleague." But she was quickly beginning to understand that this was the way they roll, and how they really view one another, the people here at Fairy Tail, her new workplace. Those words that represented care and closeness are just an engraved part of Fairy Tail, or so she had been told. Like a tradition, they had been used ever since the organization had been first founded, and they weren't going to stop using those words any time soon.
Guildmate. Family. Friend.
To be completely honest, despite how crazy the people of Fairy Tail seem (and freak her out), she loves it. Fairy Tail is truly a genuine place—that much she could tell right off the bat. The comfort she felt just being there with everyone that first day was incredible. She actually felt like she belonged there. It was just like home…and speaking of homes. Apparently this large mansion before her is the boss'—no, the present guild master's home. And his wife's home, of course. As well as his grandpa's, who apparently had given up his spot (quite early) to his grandson about two years ago. The guild master, his wife, and the grandpa are all powerful influences of Fairy Tail—that much she understands with the way everyone from Fairy Tail talks about them, as well as how much the outside world discusses about them in the newspapers. And all three of these great figures she still has yet to meet. It's been one week since she decided to join Fairy Tail and was accepted into their family, and six days since she received the official invitation for her welcoming swim party.
"So, this is Dreyar Manor…" the blonde-haired girl mumbles, still caught in her daze of the rainbow of colors that lives before her in the many flowers, trees, bushes, stones, mini streams, and decorations that give guidance for nature to reach absolute splendor.
The invitation said to come a little early before the party so that she can meet all three of these important people of Fairy Tail and officially, really, truly become a member. Whatever that even means. She was told it was quite simple and nothing to be afraid of. If only her mind could coax the butterflies within her stomach that had woken up from their long slumber the night before back to sleep. No matter how calm she looks on the outside, she is a bundle of nerves on the inside. After all, along with scary, this is actually quite exciting—
The golden iron gates before her suddenly begin to groan with a loud creak. When her large brown eyes awaken from the daydream she has been in, she realizes the gates are opening, splitting in half a large symbol of what appears to be a tail of some sort—something she had noticed everyone from Fairy Tail has somewhere remarkably tattooed on them. Permanently inked into their skin. No one in this era typically gets tattoos unless they are insane or a part of some underworld business. Yet somehow, deep within her heart, she can't help but want one of her own—to have Fairy Tail's official organization mark on her body somewhere that she can show off proudly. Huh… She really is weird. She's already adjusted her closet to fit Fairy Tail's different dress-style, which was quite revealing and contrary to what is considered "normal"—but she loves their fashion! (Despite how many judgmental stares she has already received on her walk here in her first outfit from Fairy Tail's clothing selection…) And now, here she is, desiring a tattoo.
Her father would never have let her step outside of their mansion if he knew how much she was changing…but no. It's not that she is changing. She just could never really be herself in that past life of hers. A frown begins to drag her facial features down as the weight of her ultimate choice to depart from that place leaving behind everything and a letter of farewell surfaces back up like a haunting ghost from a grave. She abruptly slaps her cheeks with both her hands, burying those lonely, dark feelings back underneath her new, brighter life she is now embarking on.
"Well," the voluptuous, blonde-haired girl begins, confidently clenching her hands into fists, "here I come."
And with that, she takes that first step forward. One that countless of others had once done before her time even had begun.
By the time the blonde-haired girl makes it through the serene, floral-scented pathway, accompanied by the flowing water's humming voice, she finds herself standing at the base of the stairs that leads to the already open double doors of Dreyar Manor. With her body still dripping with sweat, as if she is a melting popsicle, she battles with the heat and continues to press forward up the dozen steps before her. The second she arrives to the top, she can feel the cool air that seeps out from the open mouth of the mansion licking at her skin. There's a slight hint of something sweet, fresh, and sensational laced in the cool air, reminding her of the expensive floral perfume her late mother used. The alluring aroma draws her in. Using the back of her hand, she wipes her sweat off as she walks on towards the nice, cool air, sighing in delight as more of it begins to encase her body in a hug. As she enters the grand mansion, peering around at the amazing craftsmanship throughout the mansion's architecture and interior, completely captivated by the floral patterns and carvings of mystical creatures, she nearly walks right into the stout old man who awaits her arrival inside, sitting smack in the center of the white marble floor with the world's largest grin on his face.
"Lucy Heartfilia! I've been waiting for you!" his elderly voice calls out to her gleefully.
"Gah—!" Lucy jumps back, staring down with wide eyes at the partly bald, spiky, white-haired old man, whose hand is raised up in greeting. He is sitting cross-legged on a red cushion before her, on the ground. Purposefully in the center. Aligned with the dangling tip of the sparkling chandelier above them, which the crystalized reflection from the sunlight hitting it somehow creates a halo of petals surrounding him. Perfectly. Wait. She blinks, overlooking the oddness in all of this when it finally clicks in her mind as to why her heart is pounding so fiercely with relief at the moment. However, horror quickly hovers over her very life, threatening her with its claws of premonition of what could have been had this old man not spoken up when he did. She really is grateful.
"I'm so glad you made it here safely," the old man continues saying, standing up with a lively grunt, showing no signs that he knows of his near pancake-future by her very feet. For whatever reason, Lucy can't help but notice how his height doesn't seem to change much from when he was sitting. "My name is Makarov. Makarov Dreyar."
Dreyar, Lucy immediately thinks, connecting some dots. While she was told a very brief description of who these three vital people of Fairy Tail are and how they are all connected together, nobody really actually told her anything about them. All they said was that she'd love them and that they were all nice, so she really shouldn't worry about meeting them for the first time—just make sure she doesn't anger any of them. Whatever that means.
In her own knowledge alone, from bits that she managed to pick up from reading the newspapers and small talk from the other members of Fairy Tail, all Lucy knows is that the current boss, Laxus Dreyar, is the youngest billionaire around and someone highly revered in the upper class world, holding an immense amount of power; Laxus' wife, Mirajane, is beyond beauty of any diamond, with the loveliest of voices and demeanors, and cannot be touched (literally); as well as that Fairy Tail, which once used to be run by Makarov Dreyar, another figure highly revered in the upper class world, who once held even more power than Laxus, is an amazing organization that's stopped a lot of worldwide famous criminals. The most infamous case that she remembers hearing about that even had her father talking is the case with DeLustria, three years ago. Lucy isn't sure of the details because a lot of the information relayed in the newspapers were very vague, almost as if they were trying to keep a secret about something—no doubt, this had to be a very private matter, and Laxus has reasons regarding protection—but rumors spread very easily, and the upper class aren't known for having meek tongues. She knows that DeLustria had been a group of notorious underworld gangsters who somehow managed to murder and steal from several billionaires over the past fifty years. She also knows that this case with DeLustria in some way heavily involved Laxus and put his life at risk. It sounds like he may have almost died. This all took place back when Laxus was running his own branched off organization of Fairy Tail, called, Thunder Dragon.
Based off of the puzzle pieces Lucy's managed to put together, Laxus had to have been the next target of DeLustria's, and how they managed to get close to him was by using or implanting someone within his own organization, Thunder Dragon. At least, that's just the theory she had come up with. All she really remembers is that this case was the biggest scandal ever, and news about it didn't stop for a few months straight. There was even an uproar that Laxus had some courtesan he took in and had an affair with who had also been heavily involved in the case. But in the end, nobody ever came out and spoke about it. There wasn't ever any valid proof, and all pictures were ridiculously too blurry. And because Laxus wasn't and still isn't known for his interest in women (despite the outrageous amount the opposite sex seems to swoon and admire him), always having been the serious-all-business type, eventually it was dubbed as a make-believe rumor and the stories moved on. But every now and then, she'll still see small columns about DeLustria and Laxus. And occasionally, this mysterious courtesan.
It was actually unheard news to Lucy when she heard about Mirajane from the members of Fairy Tail. She had never heard about Mirajane until she started personally associating with Fairy Tail.
There really is only so much that Lucy actually knows, and she isn't even sure what parts are true or not.
When it comes to public news about Fairy Tail, the only name ever disclosed is the boss'; for the other members, they are called just that. A "member." There aren't even descriptions about them. The press always is so discreet about it, and she could only guess that it's for identity safety demanded by Fairy Tail. The simple fact that Laxus is married was actually brand new news to Lucy when the people of Fairy Tail told her who she will meet. She knew about Laxus having a grandfather, and how he was the previous predecessor; she remembers occasionally reading about him in the newspaper. But Laxus having a wife was completely a surprise. Surely the big shot of Fairy Tail getting married would've been in the news somewhere, since Laxus held such a high position and wasn't exactly someone who typically had those types of affairs…
Just how much does Fairy Tail keep in the dark? Not that it bothers Lucy, though. She trusts the other guildmates. Also, for someone of Laxus' status and with the kind of job he does have at Fairy Tail, it only made sense for him to keep his personal life protected from outsiders who had no absolute business.
And that protection of identity is just what Lucy wants and needs. With her background ever becoming revealed, there can be trouble…but she is sure she can trust Fairy Tail. They are basically a big family, after all, and more than anything, she wants to believe that and be a part of it. She has always wanted to be a part of it ever since she was little.
Lucy blinks as she continues to stare at the short old man in front of her as her streaming thoughts bring her back to reality. So, Makarov Dreyar. This is….
"I am the third master of Fairy Tail," Makarov proudly says, as if having read her mind. "However, as of two years ago, I have passed on my position to my idiot grandson—"
"'Idiot grandson'?" Lucy can't help but quietly say in shock. "Is that really what you should be calling the person you passed on your position to?" she wonders in the background as Makarov seemingly continues obliviously on despite her comment which unknowingly to her hadn't gone unheard.
"—making him the fourth and current master. Or, if you prefer using nowadays words, he's the 'big shot' around here. In other words, the boss," he states, still wearing that large grin. "But feel free to still call me Master. Every other brat in this guild still does. Not that I mind." He shrugs. "Laxus doesn't like to be called 'Master' anyways. It doesn't suit him much, either," he snorts.
When Makarov finishes his small rant, Lucy is at a loss for words, startled by his straightforwardness. Or maybe it's the fact that she's beginning to realize how surprisingly laidback the previous boss of this organization is? Probably both. Either way, it brings her a little comfort. Maybe she doesn't need to be as nervous as she is to meet Laxus Dreyar.
"Well, now that I think about it, you're right, Lucy," Makarov ponders, catching said girl off-guard.
"Huh? Me?" she confusedly says, pointing to herself. Just to make sure he's talking to her, she dumbly looks around. What is she right about? Has she said something out loud without knowing it?
"To call Laxus an idiot is something of the past now," Makarov says in a thoughtful pose. In response, Lucy gapes on in shock. So he had heard her earlier comment. "Hmm," the old man hums. Then he looks up at Lucy, really for the first time actually looking at her with his dark eyes, and as if suddenly realizing something fantastic, his face takes on an exceptionally delightful expression while his cheeks dust red. "Ooooohhhh! I didn't realize we get to add another beauty to our growing family! We certainly are lucky and blessed!"
Are those stars in his eyes?! The blonde-haired girl blinks. Once. Twice. And then her jaw drops, strange amusement twisting up her features. So his eyes had been closed this whole time?! "Umm…" she begins, unsure of how to react. What is okay to say? What isn't? It wasn't harassment she just received, right? She doesn't know how to respond. And now, she is beginning to question her own sanity for wanting to join Fair Tail, the organization full of peculiar people who help those asking for it. However, people do always call her weird. And she wants to help people. So maybe this is meant to be. A perfect match.
A small, kind hand suddenly takes grasp of Lucy's right hand. Upon looking down, she finds Makarov holding her hand with an uplifting, reassuring grin on his face. It's an expression that is clearly well-known to his face; raw proof is evident in the etched lines that naturally set themselves around his eyes and mouth. In several ways, it reminds her of a loving father. "Come," he says, picking up the red cushion he had been sitting on and pulls her along to follow him up the grand staircase that is behind him. "It's about time you meet Laxus."
"Laxus?" Lucy repeats, anxiety quickly taking hold of her other hand. She really is going to be meeting that person today, isn't she? Now this might actually be news that her father could be proud of her for…maybe.
"It'll be just a quick interview," Makarov assures. "You'll just be signing some papers to make it official and legal for you to be working as a Fairy Tail member, " he begins to explain, "and then after that, you get to meet my beloved daughter-in-law, Mirajane!" This time, she is sure he has hearts in his eyes. "With her, you'll be able to get your guild mark. And after that, the other members will arrive and the welcoming party will officially start. You'll have the chance to meet everyone a part of this family of ours, and learn what it really means to be a part of Fairy Tail from today onwards."
At this, a warm smile grows on Lucy's face. "Right," she agrees. She knows she's making the right decision to join here. So, today she'll be able to get her tattoo, too?—well, guild mark? The idea thrills her. It seems like the other members of Fairy Tail have different colors, so she probably could choose the color she wants, right? What color should she choose? She looks around at the carvings on the ceiling as she contemplates over it as if she'd find the color she wants there.
"Well, we're here!" Makarov suddenly declares, letting go of her hand.
Lucy blinks. What? She looks around, noticing how they are already in a completely different area, somewhere on the second floor. At the moment, they now stand in front of another pair of wooden double doors, more regular-sized than the larger ones at the front entrance, with white dragon carvings outlining the doors. If she looks to her right, the hallway they now stand in leads to some glass balcony doors, which she presumes leads to the large, roundabout balcony she had seen that encircles the entire house. If she looks to her left, she'll see several doors lining the hallway on the left and balcony railings on the right, with a mirror at the very end which reflects everything beyond it into perspective; near the mirror on the right side of the hallway, there is an opening that leads down another hall, which she can see is the one where the staircase opens up to.
"Are you ready?" Makarov asks.
Lucy looks at the small old man. Then she looks at the doors before them. It is strange to think that beyond these doors is the head leader of this organization, the youngest billionaire around, someone who in fact is actually above her own social status, someone who potentially holds the most power in the world—someone she actually will meet. Wait—she really isn't mentally ready for this! She has been too busy thinking about what color she wants her guild mark to be and—
Makarov knocks on the door, shouting: "Laxus! It's the new member, Lucy, who's here to meet you and sign those papers!"
The blonde-haired girl looks over at the old man with alarmed eyes. Her heart is now beginning to pound in her chest, and she looks back at the door with restless anticipation. A second passes by. Followed by another. And another. Lucy quickly begins to fix her hair a little, realizing how this is far from an ideal state for her to be in to actually meet the head boss. She is sweaty, gross, and dressed in her swimsuit!—things she'd probably get fired for in the blink of an eye had this been any other business! When she hears the sound of the doorknob turning, she quickly fixes her poise, allowing her hands to grip tightly onto the straps of her beach tote while she fixes an odd smile on her face.
When both the doors open, a spring green-haired man stands at the center entrance. He is a little taller than Lucy, wears a long, maroon double-breasted coat over a white dress shirt and cravat tie; his pants are black while his boots are white. As Lucy's brown eyes take in the man before her, her eyes are immediately drawn to his left hand where his Fairy Tail emblem is. It is green, like the color of his hair. She looks back up to his face, which is partly covered by bangs that are brushed to the side. Somehow, with the way his facial expression naturally falls, it gives him a mysterious look. Lucy briefly looks down at Makarov, taking in his happy expression. Then she looks back at the man before her.
He doesn't really resemble Makarov, but she supposes people normally don't resemble their grandparents too much anyways.
"Hello, Master," the young man acknowledges, allowing a subtle smile to shift his features. "And it's a pleasure to meet you, Lucy," he says, opening the doors wider and stepping aside to allow them to come in.
"Yes, it's nice to meet you, too," Lucy says with a bright smile, immediately falling into her princess polite-mode out of habit from her past life. She really is overreacting, isn't she? She has nothing to be afraid of! Laxus seems perfectly respectable and easy to talk to. Although, she doesn't doubt he probably has some crazy combat skills.
"Oh, I didn't know you came in for work today, Freed," Makarov says. "You know it's everyone's day off to celebrate Lucy's joining."
Lucy freezes. Wait. Freed?
"Well, knowing Laxus was still working this morning, there was no way I could let him do it alone. We're a team, after all," the spring green-haired man—Freed—states candidly.
Lucy simply stares at the young man in front of her. This isn't Laxus? Her face immediately begins to heat up. She could've really embarrassed herself had she said the wrong things!—but either way, she is still embarrassed at herself for thinking falsely! She should have known better, too! Of course this isn't Laxus! She has seen his image in the newspapers! What kind of idiot is she? This man before them looks absolutely nothing like the stoic, formidable man she has seen so many times making the front headlines.
"You're a really good friend, Freed! But you do know that Laxus is the master now, therefore, it's only natural for him to work on days when everyone else doesn't," Makarov says, folding his arms. His face now takes on a serious look. "Being the master takes a lot of responsibility. It's definitely not something you can ever take a break from. No matter when you're on duty or off, you always remain the master. Like a parent. But, well, that's what it means to be the master here at Fairy Tail."
"Yes, of course," Freed agrees. "And I think Laxus has done a wonderful job being the master. And I believe he'll continue becoming greater."
"Well, I wouldn't have passed on my position if I knew he wasn't ready," Makarov says with a humble sigh.
Throughout the conversation, Lucy becomes distracted by another presence she has sensed in the room. When she turns to look around at their vast surroundings, she finds that it's mainly a large personal office of some sort. All along the walls are large book shelves that hold several books, but mostly they consist of black binders with what appears to be case names and their dates on the spines. In the center of the room is a large, rectangular table with a huge map of Fiore on it; currently, there are little figurines the size of chess pieces on it that mark certain areas. Beyond the table, placed in front of the window wall at the very end of the room is a large, black work desk and chair, and in the chair, there is an immense figure sitting there with his eyes piercing straight through them.
Lucy freezes.
She isn't sure if his intimidating aura is natural or on purpose, but the perceptibly muscular young man who currently resides across the room from them is definitely someone no creature would purposefully mess with. He is dressed formally in a black suit and has a sharp look, with somewhat long blonde hair on the top that is stylized in a wind-blown back look, and if she compares his facial structure to Makarov's, she can actually see the resemblance they share. She definitely couldn't be wrong this time. That striking young man over there—he has to be the current master: Laxus Dreyar.
As Lucy's brain involuntarily engrains Laxus' overpowering image inside her head, she can't help but immediately notice the lightning-like scar that strikes through his right eye. Blinking once, she realizes he is now staring at her—is he glaring or just naturally fierce-looking?—she quickly tears her gaze away and looks to the ground in submission. With that strong of an existence, there is no way she'd ever forget him. Even if she desperately wants to. He seems too overpowering. If she didn't have Makarov or Freed present with her, this feeling she feels…she isn't sure if she'd be able to last a minute in here. Whoever Laxus' wife is…she definitely has to be an incredible woman. For Lucy, it could never matter how incredibly attractive Laxus is or how much money he makes—she's too scared to approach someone like him, let alone be able to speak to him properly if he was to approach her first. She might just die on the spot. This overwhelming feeling…there is no mistaking it—he is too terrifying. Seeing him once already explains everything she's heard about him.
But he is loved by everyone in Fairy Tail. And while she did remember hearing some of the other members saying how scary he could be (as well as "incredibly cool," courtesy to that pink-haired boy), he is supposedly pretty kind at heart…right? Maybe this is one of those cases of looks-can-be-deceiving and he is really just a great big teddy bear on the inside...
"Gramps, Freed," comes a low, rumbling voice from the other side of the room.
Maybe a great big grizzly bear is better to say…
Slowly, Lucy fixes her gaze back onto Laxus when she sees how undeterred Makarov and Freed are to give their attention to the one that requested it. When she looks, she finds Laxus is now standing, and to say the least…he is huge. He has to be Heracles' reincarnation. I take it all back, she thinks helplessly, lest he has some mind-reading super powers. He is neither teddy bear nor some grizzly bear. He has the makings to bring down Zeus' reign of the skies. And perhaps, maybe he already has achieved that. He does have that lightning bolt scar over his eye that can attest that much.
"I can take it from here," Laxus says.
Lucy's heart stops and she looks at Freed and Makarov. Don't leave me! Freed simply nods his head while Makarov gives her a happy smile before leaving the room and closing the doors. That was fast! she frantically thinks. She isn't ready! And now…now she is alone. She swallows. There is nothing to be afraid of—
"Lucy Heartfilia…" Laxus starts, causing Lucy to jump and look over in his direction. The tall, muscular young man is currently picking out a folder from one of the upper, middle sections of the shelves on the left side of the room. "Right?" he questions, glancing over in her direction briefly while he takes out some papers from the folder before putting it away and walking back over to sit in his seat at the large desk.
"Yes!" the blonde-haired girl yelps, who is now nothing but a human-shaped vessel full of fears and jelly.
"If you would, please," he says, indicating to a chair placed in front of his desk, facing him.
"Oh, r-right!" Lucy salutes, rushing over to take a seat on the black-cushioned chair. At this close proximity, she can now smell the light scent of musk and pomade.
Laxus silently sorts through the papers as Lucy squirms in her seat, pulling down her denim shorts. When he is done going through the papers, he straitens them out on the desk and clears his throat. "As you may have already figured out, I am Laxus Dreyar, the current master of Fairy Tail. As you may already have learned, Fairy Tail is more than just people working together to get a job done. Here, we work towards having a bond stronger than teammates—in other words, we're like family. We care about one another, we protect one another, and we trust one another. The job requests you are asked to go on are sometimes simple and easy, while others are dangerous. You will more oftentimes than not work as a pair with another guildmate or in a small group. You are required to get our guild mark imprinted on your body; it serves as a license of sorts and proof of identification. For starters, we're going to set you up to have some of the members train you to help prepare you for the more serious missions. It will be vigorous training and you will have to be sure to put in your own sweat and blood. Do you feel like this is something you can do?"
"Yes!" Lucy says, a little too eagerly for her liking. Is she a kid? She knows her face looks like a tomato now.
A small, vague smile softens Laxus' features. After the blonde-haired girl blinks, just to reassure her eyesight is true, there is no denying that her new boss is smiling. Even though it is just a little, his relaxed face helps boost Lucy's confidence in believing that everything will be okay and that she can make it through this with flying colors. She almost even begins to question what she is so afraid of. Almost. She still feels incredibly nervous. Her heart...how many beats can pound in one single second?
"All right. Then let's start this. So these documents here…" Laxus begins, and so the process to becoming an official member of Fairy Tail continues.
It isn't long before Lucy steps out of Laxus' office, smiling and heart still pounding in her chest. Her legs are slightly trembling. All Laxus went over with her were the basics every company normally goes over before hiring a new employee, requiring them to sign some papers and show legal proof of their identity, along with going over personal privacy information and the few extra laws the government is flexible with when it comes to Fairy Tail and how it's absolutely essential for members to have Fairy Tail's guild mark. For security purposes, members must be willing to get the tattoo, and they must go through this entire process of meeting with all three vital members of Fairy Tail in order for validation of becoming an actual member. Apparently, the tattoo works as an ID badge as well as eligibility to have the "limitless" boundaries granted to Fairy Tail, and the ink and design they use here is special; therefore, one can't get away with fraudulence.
Lucy sighs, exhaling out his presence from her system. She survived! Now all that's left is meeting with Laxus' wife and getting her tattoo…or so Laxus had instructed for her to do. After having heard so much about Laxus' wife, Lucy really does want to meet her—she even looks forward to it. Everyone seems to love her, and she wants to know what kind of woman it takes to match Laxus' wave length. Lucy blinks. Laxus had said that Freed would be awaiting for her out here…
"Lucy," comes Freed's voice from her left. That's the direction where the hallway leads to the glass balcony doors. Looking over in that direction, she finds the spring green-haired young man. "How did it go?" he asks.
"It was a little scary, to be honest," Lucy confesses. "But it went really well!" she exclaims happily. Now that she is free from that intense atmosphere, she feels all giddy. She did loosen up at the end once she realized Laxus may actually be just as nice as everyone had said. But that didn't calm her nerves. He definitely is an intimidating person, but she supposes that's what makes him pretty amazing. To have such an aura…it certainly has its upsides. However, it has plenty of downsides, too. She isn't sure if she'd ever be able to feel comfortable around him. Perhaps over time, she will.
"That's great," Freed grins. "Now, I shall take you to the lovely Mirajane. You're now on your way to finishing the process to becoming an official member of Fairy Tail." He steps to the side, inviting Lucy to walk beside him before he begins to guide her further down the hallway, towards the balcony.
Lucy complies, still finding it hard to believe that she actually made it through that meeting with the master of Fairy Tail, Laxus. "Ah, my legs feel like jelly now," she lightly laughs. "Man, Laxus sure is intense. I really thought my heart would burst out of my chest!" she laughs uneasily with a hand over her chest. Her heart is returning to its natural rhythm.
"Really?" Freed asks, appearing confused as he watches her flustered movements to express herself. "How funny. I don't think Laxus is that intense at all."
"Of course not," the blonde mutters off to the side with a grim smile.
"Believe it or not," Freed begins, "he used to not be this mellow. Laxus. He's changed quite a bit from the way he used to be a few years ago..."
"No way," Lucy gawks. That was mellow? "You mean to tell me…"
"Yes," Freed confirms. "If you think Laxus is intense now, then he was a thousand times worse back then. Enough to the point to where you probably would've died. The way he is now…I couldn't have seen any better development than this. And I used to think the way Laxus was back then was the best version of him there was, even though I, one of his closest friends, feared him just as much as everyone else did..." Freed's face becomes solemn, as if his heart has started to ache. "One of the only two people who could stand with him on normal grounds back then and not quake in his presence was his grandfather, our previous master," he states. "The other one...took us all completely by surprise. She was…well…is…" He grows quiet.
"'She'?" Lucy questions—is it her, Mirajane? Her eyebrows furrow and she wants to ask further about it, but she has a feeling Freed isn't quite done speaking, so she remains quiet and simply follows him.
As they approach the balcony doors, Freed opens both doors, guiding Lucy out onto the large, white cement balcony platform with rainbow, glittery floral patterns carved delicately into its surface. The second they walk outside the mansion, it feels as if they have not walked into the outside world, but into a sauna. Lucy brings her hand up to shade her eyes from the bright sun. There's a slight hint of a floral smell in the air, and it almost makes her wonder if the carved flowers below them are the source of it.
"A few years back, Laxus was completely unstoppable," Freed starts to say in all seriousness. "He was strong, courageous, brave, and undefeatable." He pauses, and his facial expression falls a little. "He was also ruthless, harsh, and feared among everyone, even those who should've had seniority over him. As you may have heard or been aware of, he became the world's youngest billionaire at the age of nineteen," he explains while walking over towards the smooth white cement railing. "Naturally, he would've eventually become rich with old money, but back then, his only aim was for ultimate greatness. He wanted to become something like a god and only listened to those who stood on the same ground as him, which was few. Nothing and no one could deter him from that path for a while. And while I admit it may not have been in the best way…he really was amazing. He managed to build himself up all on his own, and before we all knew it, he had become Fairy Tail's strongest member, as well as incredibly prosperous..."
"But…?" Lucy goes on, slowly coming up beside Freed, sensing there was a downfall. In all the stories she's read, there always is a loss hidden among great success somewhere. Plus, she knew...because she's witnessed it herself.
"But…" Freed nods his head, taking on another serious expression. "Despite all that, Master didn't think he was ready to take the position yet—he said there was one thing Laxus still didn't understand—something that's critical to know in order to become Fairy Tail's guild master and sole protector. And that's when the issue over the renowned gangster group, one I'm sure you've heard of, DeLustria, arose. Everyone knows of the story...but not all of it. Because that was when he met her."
Her. Is that Mirajane?—or… Lucy's eyes widen a little. That rumored courtesan? This courtesan... No, that's silly. How did Laxus even meet Mirajane? Was she from Fiore? Who is Laxus' wife? Who exactly is Mirajane to Laxus? Gah!—she isn't sure about anything anymore! Despite how many good things she's heard about Mirajane, could it be that maybe...?
Lucy understood this well in the upper-class world: Not every marriage is out of love. And back then, after DeLustria was overthrown, something the press had suggested was that Laxus actually had fallen for a courtesan; something she knows people would definitely have disgraced him for. In the upper-class world, men and women normally marry those who match their same status, and it isn't necessarily all because it is out of love. They need a successor and to improve their status, and what could happen to their reputation if they fall for anyone lower than themselves? Upper-class people aren't always graceful people. Sometimes, marriage is just a cover-up to hide their secret affairs. As much as everyone in the upper class tries to ignore it, for it is taboo, they all know infidelity isn't uncommon.
Lust. Greed. The two went hand in hand, wreaking havoc. And once brought together, the sin they bear is almost inescapable. A man's lust…a woman's greed…it sounds terrifying. While Lucy's never witnessed or lived it, she's heard about it. Lucy stares off in the distance from their view up high. Far off beyond the trees that surrounded the large property, she can see the whole city of Magnolia, and just beyond it, the sparkling ocean.
"After that, for the greater good, Laxus resolved to change without even knowing it," Freed humbly finishes.
Oh? So it was a good thing then? Is she overthinking this? "So…what exactly changed him?" Lucy questions. Her curiosity always speaks for her first, before she can even think about it.
"Love."
Lucy looks over at the young man beside her. Somehow, the answer shocks her. It's almost even a little corny, yet at the same time, it isn't. For some odd reason, hearing that pulls on her heartstrings. There was something so incredibly emotional about it when Freed spoke that one word. Is it pain? Or something so moving that it can make someone cry? She can't tell, and it makes her a little anxious about the truth. What is the story? What if…it's not actually a happy ending? What if…it's a tragedy?
But Freed now has a small smile on his face, and he is looking somewhere else, other than at Magnolia. Or maybe he never was looking at Magnolia to begin with. Lucy follows his gaze, finding that in this large property, there is a huge, decorated swimming pool outlined by lounge chairs and patio tables shaded by large pastel yellow umbrellas. There also appears to be some sort of outdoor stage nearby, as well as a food and drink bar of some sort. The place is all ready for her welcome party with festive lights and balloons. Who decorated it? She can't help but wonder because she's never had something like this done for her before.
Freed chuckles, catching Lucy's attention. "I think we've stalled up here long enough. It's about time you met her," he says. And with that, he guides Lucy down the stairs that lead down to the pool area, but right before the balcony view disappears from her sight as she walks down the stairs, her chocolate brown eyes suddenly catch a glimpse of her.
She is a starlight-haired girl, dressed in a strappy white sun dress, wearing a beige, floppy sun hat that has a large white bow tied around the crown with its long ribbons dangling off the edge. She is sitting in one of the nearby lounge chairs surrounding the pool, partly shaded under an umbrella. Without even having seen this girl's face, Lucy already knows. This girl has a very rare beauty. It is one that can haunt you forever.
And even though it is very faint at the moment, she can hear it. Lucy shudders, somehow receiving the chills on such a hot sunny day. A dark, beautiful melody that can shake even the devil's soul...the starlight-haired girl is singing that song.
And little does Lucy know, it is the same song that started it all.
Long, I know. Next chapter is where the story officially begins! :D
Thanks so so so so much for reading! :)