Playing With Fire Gets You Burned Chapter 12, a fairy tail fanfic

Okay so this is the last chapter that has anything to do with training, I'm writing this a bit late so it'll probably be Wednesday that you're reading this, it's been a bit busy.

~Chapter Twelve~

"Lucy!" Igneel was panting, out of breath from chasing the blonde around the castle. He was by the entrance now, leaning against the frame as he squinted into the distance. He searched for a sign of Lucy. Her hair. Her voice. Anything. The pouring rain masked her scent so he couldn't detect which direction she went. "Igneel, did you see where she went?" A wheezy voice asked behind him, limping towards him. "No Demeter, she's disappeared." A concerned sigh made Igneel turn to comfort his Queen.

"It'll be alright, she'll come back. In the time I've gotten to know her, I can tell you for certain that she'll come back." A bolt of lighting struck in the distance, the sound made Demeter's fragile heart tense. Demeter groaned, clutching at her chest. "Igneel, please find her. Alive. There's no time to spare." The fire dragon placed an arm around Demeter's torso, guiding her to the base of the stairs to sit down. He gently lowered her down, letting her grab onto the railing for support. "Stay here, Grandine will be here soon."

Demeter was too weak to say anything, just giving him a small nod. He backed away from her and turned towards the main door. "Please find her." He gave her a confident grin to mask his worry before he headed out into the heavy storm. Demeter followed him with her eyes, praying for the return of her successor. "May the gods watch over her." She whispered, feeling her eyelids becoming too much to keep open. Her hand slipped from the railing and she fell back, now laying across the base of the stairs.

Samael lead the pair of them inside the castle and up the stairs to the meeting rooms. "I have no doubt that they'll be in the same room as before." He spoke to Lucy but it was directed more to himself. "Am I allowed to be in the room?" Lucy's question made Samael stop abruptly. "No. So you'll have to hide outside the door to eavesdrop." Lucy smirked to herself, pleasantly surprised that Samael was letting her eavesdrop on an important meeting. Samael turned a corner and Lucy could hear talking ahead.

"Right, the room is just along this hall, you need to stay outside okay?" The blonde nodded silently. He glanced at her before walking ahead, entering the room with a short greeting. "Ah, Samael, where's Lucy?" Grandine asked her fellow dragon. "She's studying in the library." Demeter smiled, sat down in her chair. "Of course, she's a smart girl to be invested in her studies." Lucy was too confused to mentally thank Demeter's praise. She was happy that Samael was letting her eavesdrop but she wondered what the reason was for his sudden change of heart. Perhaps this meeting concerned her? Or maybe he didn't think it was going to be anything bad so he let her this one time so she would stop asking? She didn't know.

"Werner, Datura, the report please." Werner stepped forward. "We didn't make it in time to stop the attack..." His voice was filled with sorrow. Lucy had to bite down into her hand to hold back the urge to interfere. Did that mean they were dead? Did Acnologia kill them all? Her mind was so confused with a flood of emotions. She wanted to be angry at them for what they did but it was in her true nature to forgive. Instead of dwelling on the bad memories, all she could think of was the happy times she had spent in Fairy Tail and how they were all gone now.

"But we found one of their founders; Mavis Vermillion. She helped Fairy Tail perform a Fairy Sphere which saved them, but they are trapped frozen for seven years on Tenrou Island." Lucy felt a weight lifted from her chest. Thank god. She was unbelievably thankful that they had survived. Demeter nodded. "Well, there you have it. They are safe and out of trouble for seven years. I hope this information has put your minds at rest." She looked at Igneel, Metalicana and Grandine with a smile. Grandine smiled with a sigh. "It has."

"Good, I'm sorry that-" Demeter was interrupted by her own coughing fit. She grabbed a nearby tissue and held it over her mouth. Grandine rushed over to her side, comforting her. Demeter shook her head in protest. "I'm fine." She all but wheezed out, the tissue blotched with blood. Grandine frowned at Demeter. "It's getting worse, I'm afraid you won't make it until Lucy's-" "I will. I'll make sure I will. I won't miss that day." Grandine softened her face. "Of course, we'll do all we can to make sure you see her on her special day."

Demeter smiled fondly at Grandine and the other dragons in the room. "I remember my coronation. The moment the crown was placed upon my head and the sceptre in my hand... I felt like I was in a dream, a beautiful dream that I still see so clearly. My mother and father were sat down in the front row with the biggest smiles on their faces." Demeter grinned. "I want to be sat in the same seat as I watch Lucy take her crown." As Demeter spoke, the pitter patter of rain hit the window of the room, a storm making it's way over the castle.

Lucy couldn't believe her ears. Coronation? Crown? Am I the next Queen? Why? Is Demeter dying? Why wouldn't she tell me? The questions pounded in her mind, vigorously searching for answers. She thought it was time to reveal herself now, unable to hide anymore. She moved to stand at the door, but nobody was looking at her, their backs facing her. "Is she ready Demeter?" Lucy kept quiet, interested in Demeter's answer. The Queen smiled sadly. "I don't know just yet." Igneel stepped forward. "Well, ready or not, I'd be honoured to be under her reign." Lucy could feel tears prickling at her eyes as the rest of the dragons agreed enthusiastically. They thought so much of her but she wasn't ready for such a huge responsibility.

"What if I don't want to be queen? What's happening to you that I'd have to take over?" All heads turned around to see their beloved Lucy looking up at them with a teary face. Demeter stared at the blonde with wide eyes. "Lucy... I didn't want you to find out this way." Her voice was low, guilt consuming Demeter from keeping secrets from Lucy. "Are you... dying?" Lucy's voice was choked from her disappointment. Nobody spoke, Metalicana gave everyone a certain look, one they understood was their cue to leave the room. It was clear this moment was for Lucy and Demeter only. Everyone left without so much as a sigh, shutting the door behind them before walking off in different directions.

Demeter pushed herself up, her hands using the table for support. She walked slowly towards Lucy. "I'm sorry Lucy." She held a hand out to touch Lucy's cheek, Lucy placed her own hand over the top. "Why didn't you tell me?" Both Lucy and Demeter's eyes were glossy from their sorrow. "I didn't want you to worry. You have such a big heart, I knew you'd put aside your training to help me." Lucy sniffled, leaning her head further into Demeter's hand. "But I'm worried now... I've already lost one mother, I cant lose you too." Demeter shook her head.

"You're not losing me. I'll still be around to watch over you." Lucy couldn't bring herself to respond, lowering her eyes to the floor. "Hey, don't be sad." Demeter used her other hand to gently lift up Lucy's chin, her eyes fluttering up to look at Demeter. "This is exactly how I wanted it to go. I knew I didn't have much time left and I cant even begin to express in words how glad I am to have met you and spent the time to know such a beautiful young girl, inside and out." Lucy's lips trembled. "How much time do you have left?"

Demeter frowned, averting her gaze. "That doesn't matter, you don't need to worry about that." Lucy felt an anger appear inside her. "But it does matter. I need to know how long I have left with you. So tell me, how long do you have left?" Lucy begged Demeter with her large eyes. Demeter sighed heavily. "Grandine thinks I might see the light of day for two more weeks." Lucy pulled away from Demeter, feeling overwhelmed with betrayal. "And you didn't think to tell me sooner? If you cared about me at all, you'd have told me!" Lucy began raising her voice, not able to control herself.

Demeter, in turn, was frustrated by how Lucy couldn't see her point of view. "I hid it from you to shield you. I needed you to focus on your studies, not fret over me all day." Lucy scoffed. "You think my training is more important to me than family?" Lucy felt offended by Demeter's assumption. "That's not what I'm saying Lucy! You're my only successor so I needed you to be ready for when the day called for you." Lucy's face scrunched up in anger. Their argument grew more heated by the second. "And what day is that?!" Demeter slammed her hand down on the table, enraged at Lucy's attitude. "The day of your coronation! Like it or not Lucy Heartfilia, you are next in line for the throne! You will be Queen of Dragons!"

In an outburst of anger, Lucy yelled her reply. "Well I don't want to be Queen!" Demeter scowled at Lucy. "It doesn't matter what you want! You were chosen and you will do as I say!" Lucy finally felt her limit break. "I will never be Queen! You cant make me! Not you or anybody!" Demeter gasped, her eyes staring at Lucy's face with nostalgia. The blonde then stormed out of the room, running along the halls before passing Igneel at the top of the stairs. "Lucy! Come back here!" Demeter's withering strength caused the woman to limp along the halls of her castle, unable to catch up to Lucy. "What's going on?" He asked, extremely confused. "Go after her Igneel!" Demeter ordered and Igneel quickly followed the direction of his pupil.

"Lucy?!" He only caught a glimpse of her blonde locks around a corner to follow her, but by the time he reached that spot, all trace of her was gone. "Lucy?!" He shouted louder, growing more hopeful that she would return to the sound of his voice. He tried to detect her scent, but she had been taught how to disguise it with a spell by Raghnall. "Damn it..." The red headed man groaned, pulling at his face in frustration. He had to admit, his senses had lost their touch over the past few decades.

Aimlessly, he ran along a random corridor that lead to the entrance of the castle. During his wild goose chase, he couldn't help but become more aware of the thunder and lightning outside. He had an inkling of the conversation that took place between Lucy and Demeter, he could understand why Lucy felt the need to run out. She probably felt pressured into a position of overwhelming responsibility. Igneel, a free spirit himself, understood how difficult it would have been for Lucy to hear that she had to be a queen, with no warning either. Even though Demeter was his Queen, he had to agree with Lucy that she probably should have told her earlier.

Deep inside his thoughts, he almost didn't notice the blonde run out of the castle. He had managed to get himself on the third floor, so he already knew that she'd be long gone before he even reached the castle doors. "Lucy!" He still had hope that she would listen to him, if not Demeter. His legs were growing tired from running around after the teenager.

The storm had passed, the sun now rising for the start of the early morning. It's beams of light slowly inching towards the sleeping girl laying on the forest floor. The soft light tickled her cold skin. She welcomed the sudden warmth in her unconscious state, a small smile poking at her lips. It wasn't long before the light covered her whole body, exposing her from the night.

It wasn't long before creatures began to circle around her, curious of the blonde laying in the grass. The crowd of animals caught the attention of Gaia, who was taking her leisurely morning walk through the forest. She shook her head at the sight. "Lucy. Wake up dear." Gaia walked through the crowd of animals, gently shaking the freezing blonde awake. Lucy's eyes fluttered open before shutting again, wincing at the bright light of the sun. "Where am I?" Lucy asked, slowly standing up off the wet grass.

Gaia helped the girl. "You're in the forest, you probably got tired from running away all night and passed out on the grass." Lucy looked down. "Oh... I forgot." Her eyes snapped up at Gaia and she stepped away from the brunette. "You're not going to force me to go back now are you?" Gaia shook her head with a smile. "No, but I am hoping you'll join me on my walk?" Lucy took a few seconds of silence before nodding her head. Gaia's smile grew bigger. "Great." Gaia lead them onto a small path in the forest.

They walked in silence for a bit before Lucy felt like she was going to burst from keeping her questions contained inside her. "Why me? Why now? What's wrong with Demeter? Why didn't she tell me before? Did everyone know but me?" Lucy took a deep breath, losing oxygen from her mini rant. Gaia giggled at Lucy. "I was wondering how long it would be before you couldn't hold it anymore." Lucy stared at Gaia with confusion. She needed answers. Gaia sighed before answering Lucy's questions.

"Well, as you know, Demeter doesn't have any children of her own. It not for any reason in particular, she just never found that special someone for her happily ever after. She just spent her time alone, as lonely as it sounds I think she just preferred it that way. She never had a need to have a successor until she started to grow weaker. Then she had to venture out to find one before it was too late." Lucy listened intently, not wanting to miss a word. Gaia looked at Lucy with sorrow in her eyes. "Demeter is dying and fast. She doesn't have long."

Lucy looked to the ground, she felt sad and guilty for running out on Demeter like that. "We all understand how much pressure is on you right now, but you are our only hope." Lucy looked up at Gaia. "Why can't another dragon be King or Queen?" Gaia shook her head. "For the same reason she chose you; only a dragon of celestial magic can be heir." Lucy furrowed her brows in confusion. "But why?" Gaia shrugged. "I'm not too sure, it's just been that way ever since the beginning of dragons."

"So only I can be the next Queen?" Gaia gad a sad smile. "Yes. There isn't enough time to choose and train another successor." Gaia stopped in her tracks to place her hands on Lucy's shoulders. "I know this is a lot for you to think about. It's a huge choice, I know. But I want you to know that if you accept, you'll have all of us to help you out when you need it." Gaia smiled at Lucy. Lucy returned it but her eyes wandered to the floor. "What happens if I don't accept?" Gaia cleared her throat and her hands fell to her side. "Then chaos would consume our kind. Without a true heir, dragons would go power hungry and it'd be a bloodbath for the throne." Lucy bit the inside of her lip, guilt eating away at her.

"That sounds awful..." Gaia sighed once more. "I know it seems like a huge responsibility, like a shackle to chain you to this place, but it's not that bad. We'll always be by your side to support you. We all love you and would be honoured to serve you as our queen, but we would never force you to accept." Lucy took in a deep breath and nodded to herself. "If it means that much to all of you, then I accept. I don't want to be responsible for the death of so many for my own selfishness." Gaia all but crushed Lucy in a hug. "Oh thank you! You don't even know how happy I am right now, we have to tell everyone the good news!" Lucy laughed at Gaia's enthusiasm.

Gaia didn't waste any time and teleported the two of them to the castle doors. "It's morning so everyone will be at breakfast now, come on. You worried everyone when you ran off last night, they'll be so happy to see you safe again." Gaia nearly dragged Lucy into the castle, too excited to notice how hard she was pulling Lucy. Lucy managed to keep up with Gaia's pace so it didn't hurt too much against her wrist. "Everyone! We have great news!" She yelled as they were only inches away from the dinning room.

Gaia entered the room with Lucy tucked by her side. The pair of them had smiles on their faces, Gaia's almost twice as big as Lucy's. "Lucy! You're safe!" Everyone practically jumped up at the sight of their beloved Lucy, thankful for her safe return. Igneel had pushed passed everyone else to give Lucy a tight hug. "Don't you run away again!" He scolded, holding Lucy snug against him. "I'm sorry for making you and everyone worry. I promise it wont happen again." After Igneel, reluctantly, let Lucy go, Grandine was next to squeeze Lucy's cheeks and kiss her forehead. "I'm so glad you're back home and safe. Who knows what could have happened to you?"

Lucy felt tears well up in her eyes at the sheer amount of love she was experiencing. Everyone took turns to hug her and tell her how worried they were that she ran off and/or how thankful they were that she was back. It had been a long time since she had felt this important to anyone. "I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to worry anyone... my emotions got the better of me." Igneel waved off Lucy's apology. "We've all been there, it's alright. We're all just glad you're back."

"Where's Demeter?" Lucy asked, wiping away her tears. Igneel blew out a heavy sigh, the room suddenly going quiet. "Well, last night I tried to find you out in the woods but I couldn't. When I came back, Demeter had took a turn for the worse." Lucy felt her heart sink. "She's resting now but I have no doubt that she'd want to see you. She was the most worried out of all of us, she kept trying to escape out of her bed to find you." Igneel laughed slightly, trying to lift the atmosphere. Lucy frowned. "I need to see her." She excused herself from the room to go to Demeter.

She was consumed with guilt from her petty actions last night. She had acted so childish, speaking out of hatred. She wished that it wasn't too late to take everything back. She didn't want Demeter to see her like that. Lucy kept moving between a walk and a jog, anxious to see Demeter. It wasn't long before she made it to her bedroom door. She knocked but gave no time for an answer before opening the door.

"Demeter? Are you awake?" Lucy whispered as she peered her head in the room. She saw Demeter laying on her bed, her eyes shut in her slumber. "Demeter?" She spoke a little louder this time, walking slowly over to her. Part of her thought she should leave her to rest but another wanted to clear the air and put both of their minds at rest. Lucy's voice managed to wake Demeter, who couldn't register who was stood in front of her at first. "Lucy? Is that you?" Lucy reached out to Demeter, sitting down on the side of her bed.

"It's me." Demeter's eyes widened instantly and she grabbed Lucy's hand. "If I had the strength to hug you, I would. I'm so glad you're back dear." Demeter brought Lucy's hand up to her lips and gave her a gentle kiss on her knuckles. Lucy smiled sadly, leaning forward to hug her. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean anything. I don't hate you at all. I'm sorry for running away. I was being selfish and childish. I was just scared." Lucy cried onto Demeter's shoulder. Demeter stroked Lucy's back, shushing her. "I know dear, I know. I'm just happy you're safe." Lucy pulled away from Demeter, sniffling.

"I'm sorry." Demeter shushed Lucy again, stroking her cheek. "It's alright dear, you didn't do anything wrong." Demeter smiled weakly at Lucy. There was a few moments without words as Lucy composed herself. "I want you to know that I'm going to accept the position." Demeter's smile grew larger. "I cant tell you how happy that makes me, I'm so proud of you." Lucy felt just as happy to hear those words and to see the look in Demeter's eyes that only strengthened her words. "Lay with me." Demeter patted the space beside her and Lucy lay down with Demeter, facing the dying queen.

"I have no doubt that you'll make a brilliant queen." Lucy could sense that Demeter was forcing herself to stay awake, too weak at the moment. "You need to rest." Lucy ordered, tucking a loose strand of grey hair behind Demeter's ear. The woman chuckled. "Well look who's giving the orders now." That was all she said before her eyes fell shut, returning to her peaceful slumber. It wasn't long before Lucy joined Demeter to sleep, not leaving her side.

Grandine shortly appeared at the door to check up on Demeter but could only stand and smile at the scene before her. "How sweet..." She whispered to herself, deciding to leave the two alone for a while.