Change of Fate

Lady Countryrose

Ch. 14

Lucy was in the Fairy Tail guild, waiting as she drank a strong drink in her hands. While Cana was sitting next to her reading her cards. The sky was still dark, knowing that the group that had been set out had been gone for a couple of days.

"Cheer up, Lucy," Cana spoke as she gave another glance at her cards. "It says that good fortune comes to you…" She let a hiccup to leave her lips before taking another swig from her tankard. "It also says a steam romance is coming your way."

Lucy sighed, "The only kind of romance I have… Is Natsu grabbing my hand before leaving for a mission." She took a sip of her own drink. "Face it Cana… Romance and I don't go hand and hand right not."

The guild happened to full, except for the ones that had to stop Nirvana from rising that was. The rest had found it in themselves to stay near Lucy, in order to prevent her from going after her cousin. Which nearly every one of them had prevented her from leaving at least a dozen times. It just happened that Lucy had given up trying after Cana sat next to her with her cards.

Everyone was too tired to talk to one another, always needing to keep an eye on the blonde. They all seemed to be interested in what Cana was saying and pulled up a betting pool on what would happen. Even another betting pool for Gajeel and Grace.

Cana glanced towards Lucy with raised eyebrows. "Girl, you must be joking. Hasn't Natsu ever tried anything before? Not even a kiss?"

"Nope," Lucy shook her head, as she looked into her drink. "The only thing he's ever done was sneak into my bed and giving me a death squeeze of a hug." She shivered. "I have Lucy-kicked him across my apartment more times than I can remember."

A dark chuckled sounded through the guild. Everyone turned to see that it was the only other blonde in the building. "Seriously Blondie, I've known the kid to be dense but I didn't know it was that bad. Hell, I might have to knock him around a bit."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Do you think that'll work or would he lose more brain cells than he has so far?"

Everyone was starting to realize that the more Lucy had drank the more open she was with her mind. They found that it wasn't all in the negative talk. But it was more open about her concerns for others than she had allow many to believe.

"Shit," called out Bickslow. "Cosplay has a point boss. Natsu may be as dense as doorknob but would it be worse if you start knocking his head in some more?"

"Love potion," squeaked Juvia from where she was sitting. "It hasn't worked for Juvia for Gray, but it might work on the fire-breather for love-ravel."

Lucy glared towards the blue haired woman water mage. "For the last time Juvia, I DON'T LIKE GRAY." She let out a huff as she crossed her arms over her chest. "As for the potion, I don't think it works on slayers. Their metabolism burns faster than most humans."

"A spell," called out Levy from her book piled table, while she was surrounded by her group. She placed a finger on her chin. "Then again, slayers liked to be knocked around by objects more than anything."

Mira smirked from the bar. "Why not from cupid's arrow?" She allowed a giggle to leave her lips as everyone gave her a glance. "No one could escape from an arrow from cupid."

Freed gave a dark look towards the barmaid. "If we happened to find him, do you think his arrows would be strong enough get into the hide of Dragneel?"

Macro laughed darkly from where he sat. "I almost feel sorry for the poor kid. All he sees is a life full of adventures that there isn't any room for a spark of love in that boy's eyes." He shook his head. "Poor Romeo, his idle isn't much of a role model."

Lucy laid her head on the table before her. "I bet you anything that Grace will allow Gajeel to claim her now after all this is said and done."

Cana was driven by what was said and shoveled her cards up before placing them in front of her. She whistled. "Wow… I knew that their romance may blossom from this kidnapping ordeal but I wasn't thinking that fast…"

Lucy pulled her head up to look at the brown haired girl next to her. "What is it Cana?"

The card mage gave her friend a worried look. "Do you really want to know?"

"Come on Cana, I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know."

Cana's cheeks brightened after seeing the look on Lucy's face. "They may be married before or planning on doing so after coming back…."

Mira growled from where she stood at the bar, nearly breaking a glass or two. "They better wait until after they come back... It's been too long since Fairy Tail had a wedding."

Master Makarov chuckled from where he sat. "Regardless Mira, you'll be happy for them. No matter the outcome."

"Of course master," she stated with a super sweet voice. "But if they want to live…"

At that moment the guild doors burst open with Erza, Natsu, and Gray. Along with a little blue haired girl with her white cat next to her. Lucy stood up and ran towards them. She glanced around, "Where's Grace?"

Erza gave a sigh before moving aside to let Gajeel come in with Grace in his arms. Lucy was about to say something but Gajeel rumbled. "Save it Bunny, she's asleep. She used way too much of her magical energy to fight back those bastards that held her." He shivered from where he stood. "She fought with everything she had…" He glanced towards the new girl. "Do you think you could heal her?"

"Not until morning," the little blue haired girl spoke softly. "I want her to build enough of her energy before I try to do anything…"

Natsu sighed, "I never would believe to see the day that I would fear someone other than Erza." He shivered from where he stood as he glanced at the woman in the other slayer's arms. "She fought like no other warrior that I have ever seen." He closed his eyes. "I can still see her taken out Brain like she did."

Lucy walked towards the new girl. "Hi, I'm Lucy…"

The new girl squeaked, "Hi, I'm Wendy… I am a Sky Dragon Slayer…"

"Another slayer..," stated most of the guild in wonder.

The elder man, the master of the guild made his way towards the group. "Gajeel, take Grace up to the infirmary." He then glanced at Wendy. "So child, what other things can you do?"

"My strengths are healing and support magic, sir."

The elder man chuckled. "I should have you meet an old friend of mine. She might teach you other ways to heal people. So you wouldn't always burning yourself up from using just your healing magic."

Wendy smiled, "I would like that, sir."

Gajeel made his way across the guild with Grace in his arms, while Lucy ran after him. Once upstairs, he laid Grace into one of the empty beds. He took a chair and sat next to her, while Lucy sat across from him in her own chair.

"Gajeel," Lucy called to him softly, making the dark haired slayer to look up. "Is there anything I should know?"

The man before her sighed, "Yeah I guess there is." He took a deep breath. "I was worried for your sister, Bunny. Enough to not really thinking things through…" He glanced towards Grace. "Before she passed out from the energy drain, I bit her. Marking her as my mate… My inner dragon took over and wanted me to do it." He shook his head. "I just can't live another day like that again, knowing she was out there but not able to find her. With the mark, I'm able to find her."

Lucy sighed, "I guess that makes sense…" She took a breath before looking up to see him looking at her. "I'm not mad, Gajeel. I know how much you care for Grace." She gave a smile. "Thank you for bringing her back."

He gave a short nod. He was kind of surprised that she hadn't gotten angry with him. Then again, he found himself explaining things more than he would have with anything else. He didn't have to explain anything to the others, knowing that Natsu would have told them anyway.

Lucy stood onto her feet, "Please let me know when she wakes…" She left the room and made her way downstairs. Seeing that the whole guild was looking at her. When she noticed that everyone was looking at her, she raised her eyebrow. "What's going on?"

"You're not upset Blondie," stated Laxus from his seat. "Natsu explained what the metal head did to your sister."

She let a breath leave her lips. "I really can't be angry with him with what he did. He explained it enough to where I could see where he's coming from." She glanced towards Mira, who had a worried look in her eyes. "Don't worry Mira, I think once Grace is well, she may be talking to you soon."

Natsu came walking towards Lucy with an arm wrapped around her shoulder. "Good to see that you're on board for tin can and Grace." His lips pulled wide in his goofy grin. "How about we take a mission soon?"

The whole guild let out a worried sigh. They could see what Lucy had told them to be true. There was no romance in her future with Natsu being who he was. This caused Laxus to get upon his feet and grabbed a hold of the pink haired slayer by the neck. Before making his way towards the back.

"Hey Laxus, if you wanted to fight… you could have asked." A moment later they heard an "ouch," from the wild minded slayer.

Lucy closed her eyes, allowing her hands to rub her face. "Great, I really didn't need this right now…"

After a few moments had passed, Laxus came back with an unreadable look on his face. It was enough to cause many to worry about his sanity from him talking with Natsu for some time. "Lucy," which shocked everyone that he used her name and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I owe you an apology."

"Really," she squeaked out. "Why?"

Evergreen came up towards them and looked into Laxus' eyes. "Is it like what Lucy said. Is he that bad that he is too dense to see reason?" The blonde male just nodded. Causing many within the guild to groan. Evergreen huffed, "Where is he now?"

"Laying on the floor of the training yard," his eyes not really focusing on anything. But managed to get back to his seat.

Cana groaned from her seat. "Well, my cards are hardly wrong. At least with Grace and Gajeel, things are going the right way." She glanced at her cards again with a finger on her chin. "But with Natsu and Lucy, I don't see where I'm missing?"

Mira came walking towards Cana with her hand open towards her. "Give me the cards…" Cana gave her a worried look but gave her the cards anyway. Mira took them and went through the doors of the training yard. Where everyone heard a yelp of Natsu before Mira came back with a smirk on her face. She then gave the cards back to Cana. "Try again…"

Cana shoveled her cards before laying them back out again. "Hmmm." She gave a chuckle. "That sly dog!" She gave a chuckle that turned into a full out laugh. "I would never give that dumb weirdo any credit. Hahaha… Oh, this is too good."

Lucy walked over to the crazy looking card mage with worry in her eyes. "Cana, what's going on?"

"How long have you known Natsu," Cana asked with a smirk on her face.

Lucy shrugged, "I guess…. six months in a few days…."

"Exactly…" Cana laughed, "Oh, I would never have pictured this… At least of all, him." Her eyes became dark with a knowing look. "He has plans coming up for the two of you and that is all I have to say."

Bickslow laughed from where he sat. "Oh, man, who knew the guy being a dumb ass romantic?" He shook his head. "Wonder where he got that idea from."

"Me," stated a voice from upstairs, where they found Gajeel standing there with his arms crossed. "Since Bunny gave me a book to read. I gave some tips to the flame-brain some pointers." His red eyes found Lucy, who gave a deep blush. "Your welcome, Bunny." He then turned back to where he had left Grace.

Lucy then turned towards Gray and Ezra, who was still standing by the door. Each one of them was sporting red cheeks. "You knew about this..?"

Gray stuttered, "Only… that he was… talking to Gajeel." He shook his head. "He had plans Lucy and that is all we know."

Erza nodded, "Natsu was really listening for once…" She placing a hand on her cheek and then glanced towards Gray. "Isn't it the only time he ever has?"

"About that," stated Gray.

Lucy sighed, "Well, now that I know Grace is home. I'm going home and believe that all of this is nothing but a dream." She turned to the guild. "Night everyone."

"Night Lucy!"

Master Makarov sighed, "Poor child, not believing anything until it happens." He shook his head. "I guess that it one way to not get your heart broken…. Again."

Mira grumbled, "I blame her father for that…"

The master nodded, "I blame Jude as well. He shouldn't push his daughters away when they had just lost their mother. His healing was working the business." He shook his head. "Not a way to live."

Natsu came back into the guild from out back with a worried look on his face. "Why is everyone hitting me tonight?" He glanced around for a moment. "Great, I missed seeing Lucy off." He gave a growl towards Laxus and Mira. "Why did the two of you went after me, anyway?"

"Don't worry about it Natsu," stated Laxus from his seat. "Just that Lucy thought you didn't care for her, so I hit you with it."

Natsu gave him a thoughtful look. "I guess that explains why she looked downhearted when we walked in." He placed a hand on his chin. "I just hope my surprise will be enough to make her happy again."

The guild looked towards Natsu with hope in their eyes. They wanted to see Lucy happy and to see that fire-breather calmer if he had found love in his life. It would sure help the guild knowing that he might lessen his destructional issues. If he had only had someone to love. At least that was the massive belief with the guild, something that the master had wished very openly.

Gray walked towards Natsu with a worried look in his eyes. "I for one, hope that this surprise that you have for Lucy would be enough for you to value your life in a new way."

Natsu gave him a harsh look. "What about you, when are you going to stop tangoing with someone's heart and let her know how you truly feel?"

Gray gave a gaping look, he couldn't find it in himself to answer for his actions. He could see for himself that Natsu was willing to live life, but what about himself? Was he willing to let his past go and let someone else into his heart? He really wasn't ready, at least not at that time.

"Figures," stated Natsu as he let a sigh leave his lips. "Don't get after me for my feelings when you're not even ready to face yours." He made his way across the guild and left, leaving a dumbfounded guild behind.

"When did he become logical," asked Bickslow. He glanced around for a moment, "Now I'm worried."

Laxus sighed heavily, "Why?"

"If the big goof ball of the guild becomes logical. What does that leave me, the guild's jokester?"

Freed smirked, "It would be interesting to see a change in you, old friend."