July 8th, x777
Heartfilia Estate
11:30 AM
The wooden carriage slowly rolled to a stop in from the largest house on the Heartfilia property. Just as Lucy remembered from her childhood, their estate was grandiose and breathtaking. The main building was built with two minor wings protruding upwards which created a square space before the entrance which was flanked by two well painted cylindrical towers. Lucy's father had just installed two balconies that sat above one another between the towers, topping the main door. The roof was tilted and pitched, but the windows adorning its front walls are shown to be rectangular and sporting glass.
Anna helped a still weakened Layla out of the carriage as Lucy did the same with Sting who was on the blinking throwing up his insides. The carriage ride was long one Lucy will admit even when they were forced to stop for the White Dragonslayer's sake, but it did give Lucy at the very least some time to speak with her mother about her time in Fairy Tail. As horrible as it sounds, Lucy was aware this information would not influence the future since Layla Heartfilia wasn't destined to live to the end of the year.
Upon their arrival, the residential servants and maid came rushing out of the front entrance. Lucy smiled as she saw a familiar face such as the head maid Ms. Spetto, her old teacher, Mr. Bero, and Aed the head chef. She then frowned once she laid her eyes upon Zoldeo, the man who abused and manipulated Capricorn's body for his own personal goals. For her mother's sake, Lucy avoided mentioning how she obtained Capricorn's key. Behind the crowd of servants, there stood Jude Heartfilia, the head of the Heartfilia Konzem, at the top of the stairs.
"Jude, sweetheart," Layla smiled softly as her husband cut through the wave of maids and butlers. "How have you been these past few days? I know we haven't sent much time together as of late with all the business deals coming in and the preparations for my family's project."
"You overexerted yourself again, haven't you?" Jude sighed, but nevertheless, he gently grasped his wive's arm and wrapped it behind his neck to support her. Turning back to us with his eyebrow raised, Jude frowned. "Who are these people?"
"I believe that conversation should be down in privacy...some things did not go as planned," Layla answered as we followed them in Jude's privacy study room.
The halls shined as the light from the afternoon sky pasted through the glass windows. Around the time of walking up the second flight of stairs, Sting had gotten over his motion sickness and walking on his own. Anna Heartfilia was the one who closed the study's door behind them as the five of them filed into the room.
"I noticed the uncanny resemblance between my Layla and two women. I can only assume they are related to you in some possible way." Jude quickly deducted. "As for the man, his blues eyes allows me to know that he is neither yours or mine since neither of our families is known to have blue-eyed children."
"As keen as always," Lucy chuckled softly, and Jude's eye widened as he recognized the voice. "It's nice to meet you again father."
"Lu-Lucy? How is this possible?" He stammered out before eyeing his wife with pure confusion in his voice. "I thought your family was bringing people from the past, not the future."
Anna Heartfilia stepped up to the center to give a proper explanation. Lucy and Sting leaned against the left bookcase while Layla sat in the only chair in the room. Jude stood to the left of his wife. "Sir, if I may, I am Anna Heartfilia. I am not aware of how much Layla has told you, but I have traveled roughly 400 years through time to give humanity a chance against Acnologia. However, things did not go as planned. Shortly after my arrival, Lucy and Sting exited through the gate and warned us that tens of thousands of dragons will be unleashed upon the world in the year x791."
She studied his facial response before continuing. "However, Lucy and Sting overshot their desired year by fourteen years, and they must collect the twelve keys in order to return their proper time. I implore you not to ask them questions as to what your fate is, in fear of how it might impact the future. Once Lucy and Sting return to the year x791, I will be on my way to complete my own tasks. All we seek is a momentary refuge and some aid."
"It seems some unexpected events have occurred." Jude stroked his mustache. "Very well, but I have one stipulation. Lucy must change her attire into one more befitting of the heir of the Heartfilia fortune. No, she is exposing too much skin for my liking."
"Oh don't worry, Jude dear, I was going to give both of them makeovers," Layla smiled almost too sweetly. "After all, we raised Lucy to wear more than a mini skirt and tank top."
"A change in appearance is in order." Anna tapped her finger on her chin as she studied Sting's outfit. "I will admit. The mother side of me does not appreciate the amount of skin Sting and Lucy are displaying. For heaven sake's, Sting is not even wearing a proper shirt."
"Hey, what's wrong with showing off a little skin?" Sting had the balls to retort such a question. "I worked hard to get an eight pack!"
"That is irrelevant." Anna deadpanned before clearing her throat. "Nevertheless, it is important for them to change not only their attire but their hair as well. They have to become new people for the sake of no one recognizing them and remembering them once they travel fourteen years into the future."
Sting rolled his eyes. "What? Do you want us to use codenames too?"
"That's not a bad idea. If the idea is to avoid recognition, then Lucy and Sting should avoid using their real names in public." Jude approved of the concept. "It would be foolish to use a codename that references their magic specialty."
"So, that means you can't call yourself 'Princess' or whatever." Sting shot Lucy a knowing look which left the adults confusion. "During the Grand Magic Games, I heard her spirits refer to her as Princess which I never thought was a thing. The Celestial Wizard I knew was referred to as 'Master' by her spirits."
"Fine, how about 'Rebecca'? It's a fairly common name, so no one should be able to suspicious of me being Lucy." The Celestial Wizard shot Sting an annoyed glare. She doesn't know how, but Sting managed to predict what Lucy was hoping would be approved. "Happy?"
"Very, as for me, I think I'll either go with Lector or Weiss." Sting shrugged since each name worked for him. Both paid some level homage to the two beings closest to him. With Lector's status being unknown and Weisslogia currently deceased, Sting was indifferent about what his codename would be.
"I am slightly wary about the name Lector since many people in the future know who Lector is." Lucy folded her arms as she thought about the choices. "Weiss would work better in my opinion since no one except a handful of people knows where that name originated from."
Clapping her hands together, Anna had all eyes on her. "Excellent, if the situation arises, you must refer to each as your codenames. Lucy will be known as Rebecca, and Sting will be called Weiss. All that we must do is change their appearance!"
"Lucy, if you don't mind, will you open Cancer's gate," Layla smiled as she handed off two golden zodiac keys to her daughter. "I'm sure you are well aware of the skills he possesses. Normally, I would, but my magic has yet to return to me fully."
"Mom..." Lucy whispered sadly before putting on a brave face as she stepped over to her mother. "I won't let you down. I'll make you proud."
"Oh sweetheart, I'm already proud of you. I retire can happily knowing my keys will be safe in your hands," Layla stood up from the chair to kiss Lucy on the forehead. "Now, Anna and I must be off. We will be back tonight with some clothes for you two. Aquarius's key should arrive by tomorrow, so we'll leave the two of you to your planning."
July 8th x777
Heartfilia Estate
6:54 PM
The room had this pregnant silence as Cancer colored Lucy's hair black. The now formerly blond duo had relocated to a guest suite in the large mansion. This was the first moment they had alone ever since they escaped the apocalypse. The severity of the situation began to weigh on their conscious even as Sting changed his hair color to green and requested for a more fuzzy consistency. Here sat two teenagers sent on a blind quest for the sake of giving the world a second chance at preventing Future Rouge from succeeding with virtually no guidance. Did they have the king and Jude Heartfilia's backing? Yes, but they no idea of where the other nine keys could be. There's a chance half of them could in another country.
Lucy sighed. She was already terribly homesick. Natsu's toothy smile, Gray's stripping tendencies, Erza's sisterly love, Mirajane's welcoming presence, Juvia's passion, and Levy's book rants. Lucy was beginning to miss them all and only a day had passed.
"Your family is nice. Your dad is fucking loaded if he owns all this land," Sting broke the silence as he stared out the window. The sun had begun to set on the Heartfilia landscape. "Kinda makes a guy wonder why a girl like you gave all this up."
"What do you mean?"
"Like you have it made. There's nothing you can't do or have. Both of your parents love and care enough to help us out. Shit, I'm sorta jealous." Sting halfheartedly chuckled.
Lucy could sigh at Sting's remarks. On the surface, Lucy did have the money and power so many people despairingly chase after. The problem lied for her was everything that occurred behind the scenes. "Everything the glitter isn't gold, Sting. I wasn't happy here anymore, and I desperately wanted a way out."
"Huh? What's wrong with having everything you could want?" Sting turned from the window sill.
"When you're the heiress of a large company, you become nothing more than a pawn for your father's business," Lucy answered as she traced over her pink guild mark. "I think my father's attitude towards me worsened once my mom died. We became distant relatively quickly. I believe my father only noticed my disappearance when he needed me for a marriage arrangement. I was already a member of Fairy Tail, and I was truly enjoying myself as I got to know everyone. But then...my father sent Phantom Lord to capture me."
"Wait! So, that's why Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord had that war?!" Sting's eyes widened in surprise. "And here I thought Phantom Lord wanted to wipe y'all out."
Lucy answered as Cancer dyed her hair midnight black. "It was partially that, but my father was one who initiated the attack. After that, we didn't speak until the company went under. It was only after he lost everything when we became somewhat close. Right now, all I want is to treasure the time I have with them before we have to leave."
"That sucks, but I get it." Sting shot Lucy a sympathetic smile. "I don't even remember what my parents even look like. My earliest memories were all about learning magic with Weisslogia. I would probably be selfish as hell if I got to spend a day or two with my dragon."
"Wait, I thought you killed your drago-" Lucy gasped. She did not mean to ask such a personal question this early on in their friendship. There was a brief glimpse of pain on Sting's face before it disappeared. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"It's fine," Sting chuckled dryly. "We're talking about our heritage anyways. I might as well be honest with ya seeing how we're stuck together for the foreseeable future...Weisslogia and Skiadram had gotten sick at some point, and with their final request to Rogue and I, they wanted us to kill them. This way we could obtain Dragon Force. I could barely bring myself to do it. I was crying like a little bitch the whole time."
"I can't imagine being forced to kill a parent you loved," Lucy whispered lowly. "I'm sorry you had to go through that at such a young age."
"Nah, it's alright. I know Weisslogia wouldn't want me to wallow in self-pity." The Holy Dragonslayer shrugged as he leaned against the wall. "Besides, I couldn't watch him suffer a slow death. I had to put him out of his misery; Weisslogia was owed that much."
"It is finished, Ebi!" Cancer announced as he snipped the air. The crab spirit had extended the length of Lucy's hair a fair amount. Now, when Lucy left it down, her hair could reach roughly to the end of her spine. Cancer, also, managed to dyed her hair black and put it into a high ponytail.
"Thank you Cancer," Lucy smiled. "I appreciate all of your help. I can't thank you enough."
The spirit simply knelt and snipped his scissors twice. Cancer flashed her a cool smile as he returned to the Celestial World. "It is my duty, Miss Lucy, and what a fine woman you have grown to be. Ebi!"
"Damn, I don't think I ever heard Yukino's spirit refer to her on a first-name basis." Sting raised an eyebrow. "I thought the whole 'Master' or 'Princess' thing was mandatory."
"Well, I don't like being called 'Master'. I'm their equal and friends." She answered with a comforting smile. "Which is why I don't let them fight my battles, I fight alongside them. I just wish I got to fight on my own more. At times, it feels like somebody is always saving me."
"Oh don't worry, Imma put your ass to work. Blame it on the tiger in me, but both of us will be pulling our fair share." He chuckled a little. "If you want, I can train ya a little with some sparring."
"You would do that for me?" Lucy lit up with excitement.
"...Think of it as an apology. I wanna apologize for what Minerva did to you and Erza during the Grand Magic Games," Sting rubbed the back of his neck. "We both know she crossed the line when she started torturing you. I kinda owe that catgirl for saving Lector, anyways."
"Oh, I don't hold anything either of you," Lucy waved dismissively. "If I held grudges, then I wouldn't have half the friends I have today. Come on, dinner should be done right about now. You haven't lived until you had Aed's famous stromboli. Fair warning, Aed is a stickler for finishing everything you put on your plate."
"And you doubting the stomach of a Dragonslayer?" Sting playfully jeered. "I'll show him the true meaning of a bottomless pit."
A/N: Just my thoughts, but I realized that Jude took Layla's last name because Anna's last name is Heartfilia as well. It's weird. I research more for my Fairy Tail fanfiction than I ever did with danganronpa. Like with danganronpa, you have sixteen to eighteen characters you can focus on, but with Fairy Tail, I'm searching up minor characters I forgot existed. I completely forgot about Zoldeo until I was looking up what the Heartfilia Estate looked like.
