11 | It's Been So Long

Lucy

"Oi Lucy!" Natsu shouts to my right, "You ready?" He asks, smiling.

I nod enthusiastically, a smile gracing my face.

"All right let's go!" Natsu shouts, as always, pumping his fist in the air.

"Would you calm down?" Gray says, coming out of his room in the small apartment given to us, "Some of us are trying to sleep ya know."

"Ah come on Gray," Natsu says, somehow still smiling, "The games start in two hours, we gotta warm up!"

How is he so excited?!

"Not everyone loves to fight as much as you do, Natsu," I say.

He just turns to me and gives me a big grin.

Oh this boy.

"Happy!" Natsu calls.

"Aye sir?" Happy says sleepily, walking out rubbing the sleepiness from his eyes.

"Ready to go train and taste all the foods Crocus can offer us?" Natsu says, giving Happy a mischievous grin.

"Aye sir!" Happy shouts, no longer tired at the thought of food.

Then before you know it, they're out of the apartment saying they will meet us there thirty minutes before the games start.

"Where are Natsu and Happy?" Erza says, sounding rather unhappy that they're not here.

Oh crap.

"U-um," I stutter, trying to find a cover up for them, looking to Gray for help.

'You're on your own,' he mouths to me.

You're freaking dead Gray Fullbuster!

"They went to go train," I say.

Well it's true...sort of.

Erza looks at me for a minute.

Shoot! Does she know I'm hiding something?

Then she nods in approval, "Good, they could use a warm up. Did they say when they would be back?"

"Surprisingly," I scoff, "They said they would meet us there thirty minutes before they started."

Erza lifts her hand up to her chin thoughtfully, "That's cutting it rather close," Then she looks at me, "However, we have more important matters to discuss. As you two already know, the games this year are different."

Both Gray and I nod in her direction.

"Do you know what they're like?" Gray asks curiously.

"Unfortunately, we only know very little," Erza says, then continues, "As usual, there will be battles but the first two days will be different from last years. The reason why the preliminary round was the same was to see what guilds really were the strongest, considering everyone knew what to expect."

I nod in agreement, "That makes sense, but what could be coming up this year?"

No matter how much I thought I couldn't think of anything.

Gray and Erza shrug.

"I guess will find out," Gray says.

"Should we see if the other guilds know anything?" I ask.

"No," Erza says, "As of right now, they are our enemies."

At that, Gray smirks and I sport a small one of my own.

Although the other guilds are considered very good friends of ours, they're going down.

However, another thought crosses my mind and my smirk falls.

"What about Raven Tail and Phantom Lord?" I ask worriedly.

"I don't think they'll be much trouble," Gray says, bored, "It's not like their guild is much of a challenge without Juvia and Gajeel. Besides, we've gotten much stronger since then."

"Not that I don't agree with you," Erza says, "But that doesn't mean that they have grown stronger too. Did you recognize any of those members they had with them?" Erza says.

"Now that I think about it," I say, "I think you're right, I didn't recognize any of those members from the last time," I say, trying my hardest to think of every single members from Raven Tail and Phantom Lord.

"It was so long ago," I say, my voice coming out in a soft whisper, "And so much has happened since then that it's hard to remember though,"

Gray and Erza look up at me, a look in their eyes that I can't quite describe.

It wasn't pity, it wasn't sadness. It was more of recognition and understanding.

Ever since Alverez, things have been a little different in Fairy Tail.

I mean, the fact that Natsu was—is—E.N.D. Etherious Natsu Dragneel still blows our minds away.

It's still so hard to believe that someone like Natsu could have been so evil.

Not to mention that Gray is now more in tune with his demon slayers magic and is starting to become stronger.

And his feelings for Juvia as well.

I smile at the thought.

They're not the only ones either.

I smile brightly looking at Erza.

Everyone's been getting a little closer to their significant other.

Even maybe Natsu and me?

I dismiss the question as quick as it crosses my mind.

There have even been some unusual romances between others guilds.

I giggle inwardly at the thought of a certain pink-haired mage and a white-haired mage.

Everything's happening so fast.

"Lucy?" Gray asks, looking at me.

"Yah?" I reply.

"Guess you must've zoned out for a bit, Erza and I are going to go get breakfast, you coming?" He asks, waiting for my answer.

I think about it for a moment then shake my head.

It will be nice to be alone for a while.

I haven't even had the chance to collect my own thoughts about Raven Tail and Phantom Lord. Especially considering that both guilds, in a way, directly affected me.

Gray nods and then makes his way out of the apartment, Erza's already out the door in front of him.

Once they're gone I breathe out a sigh of relief.

Finally ,I can take a nice relaxing bath!

That is, before I hear a knock on the door.

Ahhhhh! Can't a girl just take a freaking bath!? Is that too much to ask?!

"Lucy?" I hear Yukino's voice through the door.

Yukino? I wonder what she wants to talk about?

I open the door and greet Yukino with a hug and a smile.

"Whatcha need Yukino?" I ask nicely.

I might still be miffed about my bath, but Yukino's too sweet to get mad at.

"Do you think Sting likes me?!" She blurts out.

I'm taken aback.

Where the heck is this coming from?

"What do you mean?" I ask.

Yukino blushes as if she just realized what she said, then looks at me and waves her hands around franticly, "Forget I ever said anything, that wasn't even what I meant to ask," She says, her faces bright red.

I laugh at her little outburst then grab her hands and usher her inside the little apartment, "Calm down Yukino," I say, smiling, "First of all, you cannot just say something like that and not expect me to ask questions. Second of all, what brings this on?" I ask excitedly.

"Well..." Yukino says.

A:N

Anyway! I hope you enjoyed this!

Tell me your guys' thoughts in the comments below!

Also, who's excited for the FAIRY TAIL SEQUAL!?

I can't believe it's actually happening!

Not to mention the anime that's coming out for Fairy Tail as well as Mashima's new manga!

What are your guys' thoughts on Eden's Zero?! I really love it so far!

Once again I hope you enjoyed!
Next chapter will be out tomorrow!

Chapter 22 - Sting and His Words

Thanks for reading!

Rissa