chapter six: the unknown voice

"We're so sorry, sir," Lucy said. She stood in front of both the mayor of Iris and their client, Henry Davids.

"It's going to take months to get another train back on the tracks to our town!" the mayor cried out.

"You do realize you will not be getting paid, right?" Mr. Davids asked.

"Yes, sir," Gray, Lucy, and Natsu all said in unison.

"We will also like to take blame for the destruction of the train," Sting said, lowering his head.

"It was both Fairy Tail and Sabertooth wizards that destroyed the train, it's only right that we both take full responsibility for our actions," Rogue said.

"At least you're taking full responsibility for your actions," the mayor told them. "However, it's a two hour wagon ride to the nearest train station, and then a train to Magnolia. We have a wagon on its way here to take you there now."

"Thank you, sir," Lucy said. "We appreciate your generosity."

After the mayor and Mr. Davids left, Natsu groaned. "Man, same thing every time!"

"Yeah, except for this time you guys destroyed a train car!" Lucy yelled.

"Calm down," Gray said.

"Yeah, everyone can hear you," Sting said. He pointed toward the waiting wagon. "Our ride is here. Let's go."

They climbed into the wagon, and Lucy had a sudden realization. "What's Erza going do to us?"

"We're dead," Natsu and Gray said together.

"Wait, who worked out this stupid seating arrangement?" she said. "I'm between two people who are going to puke all over me!"

"I promise I'll aim somewhere else," Sting told her with a wink. "Natsu is the one whose puke cannon you gotta worry about."

Gray chuckled across from them. Rogue was sitting beside him. He was looking out of the wagon, in deep thought.

"Alright, Rogue, you gonna tell us what you're thinking," Sting asked him.

"It's nothing."

The wagon started moving then. Rogue, Sting, and Natsu were all incapacitated at the same time. Lucy wailed.

"You promised you'd aim somewhere else!"

Sting smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Lucy."

I can think of a better way to spend two hours than in a wagon with three puking dragon slayers, she thought.

As they rolled along, it was peacefully quiet. She had Sting's head on her shoulder and Natsu's head in her lap. Rogue was fast asleep against the side of the carriage. Frosch, Lector, and Happy, who were all busy playing card games, were sitting between him and Gray.

"There's a small bump ahead, I'm going to try and take it as easy as I can," their driver called back to them.

"Okay, sir," Lucy said.

A minute later, she found herself airborne as the carriage hit the bump in the road. Sting and Natsu rammed into each other, Frosch, Lector, and Happy were all sent into Gray's lap, and Rogue jolted awake. He found Lucy on his lap, and blushed.

"I thought you said 'small bump,' that thing was huge!" she said.

"Sorry," their driver said. "I've stopped so I could check the wheels, if you guys would like to stretch your legs this would be the time to do so."

They all climbed out of the wagon. Natsu and Sting took off in a footrace with Happy and Lector behind them. Lucy sat down on the ground and Frosch came over to her.

"Frosch has taken a real liking to you, Lucy," Rogue said. He sat down across from her.

"She's really nice!" Frosch told him.

"Well you're really cute!" Lucy told him with a smile. Frosch gave her a hug and went back over to Rogue. She looked at Rogue. "I'm sorry about landing in your lap."

He began blushing. "It's…okay."

"So, what do you think you guys are going to do once you get to Magnolia?" she asked him.

"Sting is still intent on helping out Mr. Yajima, so we're going to do that then I guess we'll head back to Sabertooth. But this whole thing with Black Phoenix worries me. They could come up at any time."

"Yeah, I know. And they're after me, too. But what for?" Lucy said.

"Don't worry. Pretty sure Natsu won't let them get their hands on you. And with some extra dragon power in Magnolia, they'll be fools to try it," Rogue said.

"Yeah, you're right! No need for me to worry. I'll be okay," Lucy said.

"You guys can come hang out at our guild hall while you're in Magnolia," Natsu said, walking up to them.

"Really?" Rogue was surprised. Just a few months ago, they were sworn enemies.

"No problem!"

"You guys may regret that invitation," Sting said, walking up to them.

"I highly doubt that," Gray said.

"Excuse me but the wagon is ready," their driver interrupted. "We still have about an hour to go before we reach the station."

Everyone climbed back into the wagon, and Lucy, somehow, ended up back in between Sting and Natsu. She groaned. "Can't we put Rogue in my seat?"

"No way," Rogue said.

Lucy moved over to sit between Rogue and Gray; Lector, Happy, and Frosch began objecting to her moving.

"I don't want to sit between the two of them," Happy said.

"Yeah, I mean, Sting is my best friend and all, but when he gets motion-sick it's a completely different thing," Lector said.

"Man, you two are brutal!" Lucy said. "But how about I hold you guys instead?"

"Okay!" Frosch said. He climbed into Lucy's lap. "Lucy's so nice."

"I don't think 'nice' is a good word to describe Lucy," Happy snickered behind his paws.

"You got something to say, cat?" Lucy said.

"I think Lucy's nice," Lector said. He climbed into Lucy's lap beside Frosch.

"Thank you Lector. And thank you, Frosch," Lucy said, smiling.

"What?! That leaves me to sit between them!" Happy cried out. "Aw man!" He walked slowly toward Natsu and Sting. "I'm not going to enjoy this."

"Sorry," Lucy said.

"You still owe me fish when we get back to the guild hall!" Happy told her.

"I know. I'll get you an extra one for this," Lucy told him.

"Okay. I'll do it for the fishies!" Happy said.

"We've arrived at the station," their driver said about ten minutes later.

"Finally," Natsu said.

"But you'll just have to turn around and get on a train after you get off the wagon," Lucy told him. She helped him, Sting, and Rogue all get off the wagon, and waved goodbye at the driver as he left.

"We need a rest. Just a few minutes. Please," Sting said.

"Alright, fine. We'll be leaving in ten minutes. Gray and I will be inside the station waiting on you guys."

She left them outside and headed inside with Gray, Happy, Lector, and Frosch. They looked around. "Is it me, or does this place seem emptier than normal?" Gray asked.

"Yeah. But it is late evening. So people are probably already home with their families," Lucy told him.

A gust of wind blew past her, and she struggled to keep her skirt from flying up. Natsu, Sting, and Rogue came running in. "Is everything okay?" Natsu asked.

"Yeah, why?" Gray asked.

Lucy… Heartfilia…

"Huh? Who said my name?" Lucy asked, spinning around.

"No one said your name, Luce," Gray said, alarmed. Sting and Rogue looked at Lucy, worry in their eyes.

Only you can hear me, Lucy…

"Okay, I'm seriously scared now," Lucy said.

Your friends are hindering your true power…

"Please, leave me alone!"

"Lucy, get ahold of yourself!" Natsu yelled, grabbing her.

Lucy…

She slumped down onto her knees and sobbed. Natsu sat down with her. "What's wrong? Lucy?"

"My head… the voice… it hurts…" she cried.

"Lucy…" Happy said.

Frosch started crying. "Is she going to be okay?" he asked Rogue.

"Yeah, she will. Let's hurry and get her back to Fairy Tail. They'll know what's wrong with her," he said.

Natsu stood up and had Lucy in his arms. "Whoever did this to Lucy is going to pay!"