Chapter 6: Am I gonna swim, am I gonna sink?
Lucy groggily opened her eyes. She saw a lot of white and had the feeling she was in a hospital.
"Close enough dear." A white-haired lady said. "Welcome to Fairy Tail's infirmary."
Lucy sat up suddenly and groaned in pain. "The hell?"
"It seems Natsu cracked one of you ribs. But don't worry, you dealt him much worse."
Lucy tried to think back to the last thing she remembered. "Fight...hurt… wendy… WENDY!" She said, trying to get out of bed. "Is she ok? Where is she?"
The woman looked surprised. "Wendy's fine dear."
"Good. That's good." Lucy said, trying to think as she lowered herself back into her bed, the pain overwhelming her body.
"Why am I here?" She asked.
"You're in Fairy Tail because Master wants to question you. You're in the infirmary because Erza and Wendy insisted."
Before Lucy could respond, someone knocked on the door. A rather short man walked in.
"Speaking of him, this is the master."
"Hello, Grandeeney! Ah! You must be Lucy! I hear you have quite the story to tell."
Lucy's heart soared. He seemed nice.
"Laxus, throw her in the cell."
That flying heart plummeted.
"Cell?"
"Why of course! You didn't think we were gonna question you here now, did you? Don't worry. Laxus will be gentle."
The big blonde picked her up, cradling her.
She couldn't move. Why? Why were they doing this to her? All she had done was save Wendy.
"Relax girlie. This is just a formality. Wendy already told us everything. It's really only for Natsu." Laxus said.
Lucy was still on alert.
"My bag?"
"Safe. But I did have a cookie." The Master called back.
"So did I," Laxus admitted. "They were good, but next time bring some Somoas."
"Oh sure. Next time I plan on getting kidnapped by some lunatics like you who like to steal cookies, I'll make sure to pack Samoas."
Lucy was silent for the remainder of the walk to the "cells" which turned out just to be a classroom.
"Was this a school?" Lucy asked.
"Fairy Tail Academy. I used to be principal and most of these people were my students. I was hosting detention on the first day of the outbreak."
So that was why they called it Fairy Tail. And why the name was familiar. She was considering transferring to this school for Junior year of high school.
She was sat down and cuffed for show. She sat on one side of a conference table while Natsu, Makarov, Wendy, Gray, and Erza sat on the other side. Laxus stood by the door.
Natsu glared at Lucy and she glared right back. Observing the damage she did, she realized she had broken his nose and scratched him up pretty badly. His arm was also in a sling, so she assumed it was dislocated, but not by her doing. She saw the redhead glaring at him and deduced that it was her who did it.
"Good evening Miss Lucy." Makarov said. "So I hear." Lucy replied. "Though I beg to differ."
"We're just going to ask you a few questions." He explained. "Please answer them to the best of your ability."
Lucy nodded.
"How did you and Wendy meet?"
"I had just found a house with a working generator, so I zombie-proofed the house. I got the bath to work, so I bathed for a couple of hours. While the bath drained I put on a fire, had some dinner and accidentally took a nap. I woke to someone banging on the door.
"I was pretty sure it was a zombie, so I grabbed a knife. But, you see, I heard some shouting and it sounded oddly like a young girl, so I opened the door and saw Wendy. On pure instinct, I yanked her inside the house and threw my knife, nailing one of the two zombies behind her.
"I closed the door and ran to the kitchen where I got my gun. I think the door was already broken down at that point. Anyway, when the zombie got closer, I aimed and pulled the trigger. That little bastard went down like a brick. Don't worry Natsu. I made sure Wendy didn't get any blood on her.
"Of course, some of the local neighborhood zombies heard the shot, so I told Wendy to pack up while I got ready to blow the place. Once we were outside, we waited until the majority of zombies were inside and I blew the place up. The boom wasn't to big though.
"We had to hurry up out of there because zombies are attracted to the smell of burning zombies and that's when we really started talking. I decided to help her get back to her base. If only I'd known that this is how I'd be treated."
Makarov nodded. "Why did you help Wendy?"
Lucy shrugged. "Dunno. I guess I felt for her in that second. I mean, the zombies have already taken away so much. I wasn't gonna let them take an innocent girl's life. Or the last of my morality for that matter."
Natsu narrowed his eyes at here, but Erza whacked his head.
"Where were you at the beginning of all this?"
"All what?"
"The apocalypse."
Lucy hated that question. It brought back memories of the worst days of her life. Not that now was much better. As much as she tried to forget those horrid moments, her brain forced her to recall them, each one as clear as day. Of course, she didn't want to answer the question but she had no choice. She'd make it short and sweet.
"Home. I was watching TV with my cousin and parents when I saw the news."
"Are they…?"
Lucy understood what he was trying to ask.
"Nope. They died that day."
Makarov knew that he shouldn't prod anymore, but he had one final question.
"I've determined you not guilty of kidnapping Wendy."
"What about threatening Gray!" Natsu reminded the Master. Make that two questions.
"Ah yes. Please explain that."
"Master, it was no-" Erza tried to explain.
"Silence. Is your name Lucy? No. So let Lucy explain."
"Well, it was another spur of the moment decision. I mean, I'm trying to get Wendy here when I notice a very complicated trap laid out in the middle of the street. Suddenly an arrow shoots at us and I'm barely able to protect Wendy. So, as per usual, I try to take cover, but low and behold I nearly run straight into, Gray was it? He's wearing a headlight, so I can barely see, but I can make out the gun.
"Please keep in mind that I have no idea who any of these people are and I thought they were trying to kidnap us. Now I know they just wanted me. Anyway, I hear Erza and Natsu coming from behind, so I pretend to get one of my guns as an excuse to signal to Wendy about those two when he threatens to shoot.
"Now that Wendy is aware of the threat, I wait for them to come up to us until I simply disarmed Gray and knocked him out. I used him as a bargaining chip. Nothing less nothing more."
Master sent a hard look at the three who seemed to shrink under his gaze. They hadn't told him about threatening her which he would deal with later.
"Well then, you are definitely innocent and I beg you to accept my apology on behalf of these three. I understand you also eliminated the zombie version of Jet and Droy. I thank you. It would break my heart to know that they were out there, suffering."
"So can I go now?"
The master looked very sad as he told her the answer.
"I am afraid you may not leave."
"WHAT!?" Lucy shouted.
"You have seen our base, something very few outsiders ever get to do. Most who come in uninvited are put to death. But, due to the fact that you risked your life to save one of our own, I personally invite you to join Fairy Tail."
Everyone, including Laxus, was shocked.
"Join...Fairy Tail?" Lucy questioned.
Wendy practically jumped out her seat.
"Now I understand that this is a big adjustment from your usual antics, but from what Wendy told me, you are an excellent hunter and would really benefit from this."
Wendy was pleading to Lucy with her eyes, which Lucy looked right at and fell for it. Damn those Puppy eyes.
"Fine. But I want all my weapons. And my current food. The rest that I find may go into whatever system you use."
"Done." Master said and promptly dismissed everyone from the room as he mourned the loss of the cookies Lucy brought with her.
"Wendy, please show Lucy to her bag and then to room 777. You and Lucy will now be bunking there, but Erza will stay there for the next couple of nights to help you settle in."
When they left, Laxus turned to his grandfather and raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"What?" Makarov asked innocently. "She's just what Natsu and the rest of Fairy Tail need. Besides, her mother would be proud."
Laxus had to agree on that.
"Still though... ," Laxus said and tried to mimic his grandfather. "Most who come in uninvited are put to death."
Makarov just chuckled and went back to work.
Meanwhile...
Lucy, Erza, and Wendy had finally settled into their own room and Lucy was showing Erza and Wendy her full weapon collection. She owned 5 knives, 3 guns, and a whip along with a set of brass knuckles, but those were more for show rather than fighting.
Erza seemed amazed by the collection and apologized for her behavior once more to which Lucy just chuckled.
"I know how you must have felt, thinking Wendy was kidnapped. I don't blame any of you for what you did. I would have done the same if it were me."
Erza smiled.
"Although I must say…"
Erza tensed as all the possible outcomes of that sentence flowed through her head.
"You did a good job teaching Wendy how to throw a knife. That's what really saved her life."
Erza's eyes widened as she flushed.
"I-uh-eh?"
"I'm serious. Without it, she would've been a zombie by now and it made teaching her the rest super easy." Lucy said.
"You taught her how to fight?" Erza asked incredulously. Oh boy... To think Natsu was angry before...
"Yeah. It's foolish to live in a world like this and not know how. I think the past few days should serve as proof."
Erza just hoped Natsu wouldn't kill her. No. He wouldn't. Erza realized that Lucy and Wendy would kill him first.
Suddenly a loud knock interrupted both of their thoughts and two men barged in.
"What are you doing here?" Erza asked, a little angry.
"I'm just following Flame Brain so he doesn't so something stupid." Gray said.
"Too late." Erza narrowed her eyes.
"I'm here for Lucy. We need to talk. In private." The pinkette said angrily.
Lucy nodded at Erza who was a little worried, but she finally gave in and decided to visit Wendy and her mother. Gray followed Erza.
"Well… What do you want? I'm all ears." Lucy said cooly.
"I…"
(1883)
Well, I hope you all enjoyed yet another chapter. As always, every single review makes me smile and motivates me to not only write well but to do well in school.
My Awesome Replies to my Awesome Readers:
Angelfusion15: Honestly, I feel that this was a major benchmark for Wendy because as Dumbledore says: "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends." I think it shows how much her time with Lucy changed her from being that little sister who couldn't take care of herself to a strong woman who is ready to take on the world, no matter how many people (both intentionally and unintentionally) want to keep her at a low level.
Ushindeshi: Only a little, but things definitely clear up in chapter 7. I think its important to show the transition between hatred and love and how thin that line is, especially with misunderstandings.
Kalessia04: First things first: lol don't regret it. it was fun for me and I ended up emailing my mom in spanish (google translator of course) to which she replied very confused, but it was awesome. I'm glad you like the course of my story. Also, the plot really picks up at around chapter 17, so please give all opinions.