Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters; that right belongs to Hiro Mashima. Nor do I own Inuyasha or its characters; that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.
Author's Notes: This story involves parallel world travel, Hijinks and trickery in a quest to find something precious
"Let me tell you a story, little ones. A story of adventure, despair, hope, and eventually love." An aged woman said with a twinkle in the depths of her faded yet warm brown eyes. Smiling as the room full of children suddenly became quiet, as their expectant gazes focused on her. Bringing a warm smile to her face.
"Good, Good. Now listen closely to what I tell you, and decide for yourselves what to make of it." She said before settling herself into the large, overstuffed chair. "This story takes place in a different world, where the magic of all types exists. People of every walk of life used it daily, just like the air they breathed. Magic helped them thrive and live, for the most part, happy lives. And where like-minded people grouped under ideas, called guilds. And it is at once such guild that our story starts for our heroine."
The day had been like any other day in the city of Magnolia. At least as far as Lucy was concerned. The same routine of wake up, get ready for the day, head to the guild, watch her male teammates bicker before Erza broke them up. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary.
All in all, it was a good feeling, though Lucy wished that something would be different. So with a resigned sigh, She turned away from the main guildhall. Leaving the image of Erza lecturing Gray and Natsu for fighting again. Putting the guilds barmaid, MiraJane, in her eyesight. A small smile on her lips as she just stared off into nothingness.
"What's up, Lucy? What a sigh of discontentment if I've ever heard on." MiraJane said as she finished drying a beer mug and setting it on the shelf behind her.
Widening the smile on her lips, Lucy let out a half-hearted laugh. "Not so much discontentment as wishing for something different would happen, Mira."
Silence followed her words as MiraJane just seemed to stare contemplatively. She was making Lucy wonder if she had something odd. "Be careful of how you say something like that. Because the result might not be as pleasant as you want."
Those words softly whispered, leaving a sinking feeling in Lucy's stomach. Her gaze was shifting quickly away from her friend and knowing that when MiraJane said something softly and seriously, there just wasn't truth behind it. But also the weight of something serious. Pulling a tentative smile as she spun away firm the bar to look out over the guild's main room in hopes of getting rid of that sinking feeling.
Already her mind was jumping from thought to thought of the possible consequences. Both simple and complex, making Lucy dislike her overactive mind at that moment.
While her mind flitted from idea to idea, leaving her preoccupied. She didn't notice Erza and the boys had come to stand in front of her. Until Erza spoke, "Lucy is something on your mind?"
Blinking her now wide brown eyes, Lucy put her best smile on her face. "No, Not really. Is there something you three need? Like a Mission?" she asked.
Watching them as she spoke, noticing that their faces said they didn't quite believe her. She was making Lucy feel a bit awkward, causing her to shift nervously on the stool. Her hands were plucking lightly at the hem of her shirt while she waited for them to say something.
"No, we don't have a mission in mind. But we are going to the Bazaar in the town square. And wanted you to join us." Erza said, her voice soft and measured, while her brown eyes searched Lucy's face before letting it go.
Tilting her head, Lucy felt confused for a second or two, before letting out a delighted squeal and jumping up from the stool. She took a step forward and linked her arm through Erza's. Beaming a broad smile up at the redhead, who looked a bit shocked at her actions.
"Most definitely. Now let's go looking and possibly shopping your guys." She said, her voice coming out bright with her sudden eagerness to go to the Bazaar.
The walk to the Bazaar was filled with Idle talk. Marking Lucy relax and enjoy herself even more as she joked and teased everyone in turn. Though the moment they stepped into the main town square, Lucy as well the others became silent. Each takes in all the sights, sounds, and smells.
After a few minutes, it was Erza that broke the silence, "So let's get looking. IT seems we have a lot of different vendors this time."
Lucy detected the almost child-like excitement in her voice. Before they set off to wander the impromptu walkways between the blankets and stalls, she was enjoying the random, eclectic items being sold. And of course the various food for sale that seemed to come from every corner of Fiore.
As they made their way through it all, Lucy enjoyed the many hours spent with her teammates. As the sun finally started to dwindle low on the horizon. The other people started to head home, as the vendors began to pack up their wares for the night. With a small sigh, Lucy spun around, so she was walking backward, looking at her friends. All of whom looked tired and ready to call it a day. Especially Gray and Natsu, since they were laden down with not only their purchases but Erza's as well.
Giving a soft shake of her head before speaking, "That was fun, you guys. Thank you so much for inviting me. Let's do it again before the Bazaar closes, Ok?"
Her words were met with groans from the boys, while Erza spoke up happily, "That would be a great idea, Lucy. It allows us to bond more, right Natsu and Gray?" She turned to look at them as she asked her question.
Both of them stood straighter and spoke in unison, "Aye, Erza!"
With a smile at their reaction, Lucy saw something small move in her peripheral vision. Turning her head to see what it was, only to feel as if her mind was playing tricks on her eyes. Because there was no way, she just saw a little creature with shiny, iridescent wings flying around and making her feel curious if it was some new type of magical toy. Lucy began to follow it away from her team as they continued to talk, or instead, Erza continued to speak to the boys.
Her feet were moving as if they had a mind of their own. As she passed several closed stalls, till she reached the far edge of the Bazaar. Where the small thing vanished down an alley, starting to wonder if this was some elaborate joke. Lucy continued to follow until the alley opened up to the outskirts of the Magnolia. Where a small wooden building sat, with a faint light of lanterns came through the window — telling her that there was still someone in the shop and it wasn't closed.
A wave of uncertainty washed through her as her feet moved her towards the door of the building. As she drew nearer, she saw a faded placard, almost the same color of the building hanging above the door. It read, Welcome to all things needed. Causing Lucy to blink her eyes at the name of it, as she realized it was a shop of sorts. Now curious about what kind of stuff a shop with a name like that would be selling. She lifted her hand to the doorknob without hesitation and opened the door.
As it opened, it made no sound as it showed a dimly lit interior. It was letting her eyes dart around seeing shelves, bins, racks, and display cases filled with all manner of things ranging from toys to clothes to books to jewelry and weaponry. Feeling a mix of awe and being overwhelmed, Lucy stepped further in noting at a glance; the place was immaculate. Not a speck of dust was nowhere to be seen. That while it looked as if everything was just placed anywhere. It soon became apparent to a trained eye for detail, that each section was themed. The last thing was while the interior seemed to be dimly lit, it wasn't the case. It was just done up in dark browns, greens with black accents.
As she was preoccupied with looking around, Lucy hadn't noticed there was another person present until they spoke. She was causing Lucy to jump and feel very embarrassed and turning her head to look at who was speaking, only to see a short aged woman with crystalline blue eyes staring back at her. Making Lucy jump a bit and blink at how blue and intense the eyes seemed to be.
"Uh, sorry I didn't quite hear you, ma'am," Lucy said, flushing darkly at her lack of manners.
Only to receive a chuckle that caused laugh lines at the corners of the woman's eyes, showing her amusement — making Lucy feel a bit more at ease as she realized that there was something about the woman that made her feel welcomed and at home there.
"No Problem, child. Now I wonder what brought you to my shop this evening." The older woman said, her voice very soft and sweet sounding. Leaving Lucy with a sense of comfort.
A little taken aback at the woman's voice, Lucy paused. Then carefully picking her words before she spoke once more, "Would you believe me if I told you, I followed a mythical creature? Then felt drawn to enter once I saw the shop.!?"
At her words, the older woman laughed as if crystals were clinking together. It reminded Lucy of the wind chimes her mother loved. "I've heard many strange reasons, my child." Was the only reply she got.
Letting out a breath she wasn't aware she has been holding, Lucy smiled warmly at the woman. "As for the need to enter, then that means that there is something in my shop you need." the woman said as she waved her arms at the shop in open invitation for Lucy to explore. "You'll know it when you see it. Then we can discuss the price for its child. Now go and look and enjoy yourself. I'll be at the front counter when you're ready."
Watching as the old lady turned and left after finish speaking, go to the front counter. Not needing another invite, Lucy immediately turned towards where there were books and tomes stacked and shelved. Her mind seems to be stuck on something the older woman had said.
But she shoved it to the back of her mind to pursue what was in front of her. Her eyes were already scanning titles spines and covers of the books. A few she had read previously, a few more were of ones she heard of and wanted to read. While quite a few of them were new ones, but pretty sure that they were also hard to find. And for some odd reason, that she just couldn't place, Lucy had no real interest in reading or even buying one.
With a small sigh, she turned away, feeling odd that she didn't want a new book. She began to walk up and down the isles, past shelves, crates, and display cases. Nothing was jumping out at her. Leaving her feeling sad as she made her way to the front counter and old lady, a frown on her lips.
"I am sorry, I didn't find anything-" Lucy started to say, only to trail off as a faint shimmer of pink in the case caught her eyes.
Shifting her focus to the case, Lucy bent over it to get a better view. Only to see a small pink marble-like sitting on a pillow. It was breathtakingly beautiful, as it seemingly glowed in the dimness of the shop. Looking for the little pink marble back to the store's owner, Lucy just barely caught a glimpse of surprise in her blue eyes.
Before she could say anything, the woman spoke in a whisper, "Child, may I know your name?"
Lucy blinked a few times before replying, "My name is Lucy, Lucy Heartfilia."
Only to feel curious as the woman's eyes widen, before looking a bit sad at hearing her name. "I see then; this is most definitely for you, Lucy," she said, bending over and taking out the little white silk pillow with the pink marble on it.
Once it was set on top of the display case, Lucy's' attention was once more focused on it as the old woman spoke again, "This little thing is the 'Shikon no Tama' and has quite the history behind it. There is no price to ask of you, Lucy, since it chooses you. Fate has spoken."
At her words, there was a ringing in the air as if something had been changed or set in stone. Lucy's head snapped up, her brown eyes wide and boring into the older woman's. Feeling very uncertain as her mind rapidly processed all she had just heard. While trying to decipher the strange words in a foreign language. All the while, her body was taking mini steps away from the display case.
"What do you mean, fate has spoken. What does Shikon no Tama even mean," she said, her panic showing in her voice?
Taking a deep breath, the older woman looked at Lucy with a slightly pained expression. "Trust me; I know how you feel right now. Everyone believes that they are in control of their destinies. But for a select few, it is a harsh truth that they are not."
Feeling more panicked by the second, Lucy came to an abrupt halt at the woman's words and how they matched her facial expressions — swallowing as she watches her, those crystalline blue eyes darkening, as her mind replayed memories of her past. Understanding exactly what was happening before her, Lucy felt her body calm down slowly. It was her understanding and the reasons she wrote letters to her deceased parents — a coping mechanism.
After a few minutes have gone by, the older woman seemed to come back to herself. A faint blush was crossing the bridge of her nose and cheeks. "Sorry, I didn't mean to space out like that. But all I ask of you Lucy is not to fight this. The Shikon no Tama is a living jewel. It is the four aspects that comprise the human soul. And when it chooses its guardian, there is no escape."
As the old lady spoke, Lucy saw tears form in her eyes. Tears that seemed to refuse to fall and only made those eyes shimmer brighter. On instinct, Lucy's legs moved her back to the display case as she placed her hands over the older woman's to comfort her.
With a timid yet calming and gentle smile, Lucy spoke in hushed tones, "Please smile and don't be sad. My whole life seems to be out of my control, so I understand completely what you've just said to me. Thought the concept of a living jewel is strange, why not. There is always new magic or forgotten magic that is out there."
The older woman just looked at Lucy before letting a smile ghost across her fact. With a small nod, she pulled her hands from Lucy's. Then busied herself with the jewel. She was picking it up, revealing a thin, black braided string with small shards of crystal, evenly spaced intervals that looked like little fangs.
Carefully watching the older woman's movements, while feeling happy, she smiled again. Once the jewel was handing like a pendulum from the string, Lucy couldn't help but feel pulled towards it. Then as if time slowed down, and she was a third party spectator, she bent down, letting the older woman slip it overhead. Until the black string rested around her neck, nestling the jewel upon her breast, once she was standing erect again. The jewel seemed to have always belonged there on her.
Staring down at the jewel, Lucy saw it glow or instead radiate light from within it. Causing its surface to shift and appear as if clouds were moving across its surface as they did in the sky.
Lost in the beauty of the jewel, Lucy started when the older woman touched her. "Be very careful, Lucy! I wasn't lying when I said it was alive. It's very sentient, as well as a powerful artifact. Even the gods have a fear of it. The Shikon no Tama can grant one wish. If it is a selfish wish, everything you know and love will become corrupted and evil. But a pure, unselfish wish will do the opposite For its power and your own are one. So it will affect anything you do, based on your reasons." The voice was gentle, but hard as steel, making her point quickly to Lucy.
Giving a small nod of her head in understanding, Lucy looked at the older woman and smiled. Before turning to leave. She felt as if she were in a daze as she walked out of the shop. She was feeling very uncertain about everything that just transpired.
TBC!
