Here's chapter two. I started this a while back and have finally figured out the direction I want to go. I'm going to try to update once a day or so until I get you caught up. Please let me know what you think! Enjoy! Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. P.S. I am having some posting issues, so hopefully that doesn't continue!
Chapter 2
The group of five was verbally sparring as they got off the train. Well, you could say the four were while one very sick member was being carried by a flying blue cat. Lucy and Erza were bickering with Gray about his need to strip in front of the client, specifically in front of the client's granddaughter. They were a conservative group, so the girl turned many shades of red when Gray's pants decided to come off.
Gray put his hands behind his head, "I don't see what the big deal is. She didn't seem to mind."
Erza's face turned red as she started to splutter. Wendy pipped in, "Maybe she was just being polite."
Carla nodded in agreement with Lucy and Wendy, "Polite or not, we must put our best foot forward in front of the clients to best represent our guild!"
"Not to mention, they took some of the reward away due to unprofessionalism," Lucy whined. Wendy patted her arm sympathetically.
"Yeah Popsicle, so stop stripping and ruining all our missions!" Natsu shouted finally coming back to life.
"Me?! I'll stop stripping when you stop blazing everything to the ground Ash for Brains!" Gray counters. The two immediately butt heads.
"Say that to my face, Ice Princess," Natsu counters.
"I just did, Boiler Breath," Gray spits back.
The two immediately end up going down in a flailing ball of limbs. They start wrestling and rolling around busting right through the guild doors. Lucy sighs putting her hand on her face while Happy floats over to cheer Natsu on.
Wendy murmurs something about needing a break and heads off to Fairy Hills with Erza in tow. Even they had had enough of the boys' need to break things. Don't get them wrong, it was something they loved about the boys. However, lately it had gotten to be a little trying especially for Lucy and Wendy who didn't grow up with the two, and Erza could only stop so many of their fights and well the rest she made worse.
As they brawled and rolled around, Lucy made her way to the bar. Mira greeted her and gave her her usual. Cana shifted closer to the two of them at Mira's next words, "Evergreen left me this when they stopped through the guild yesterday."
Lucy glanced down at the paper. It was a mission to guard some heiress discreetly. "There's no way my team…" Lucy starts, but Mira taps the paper again.
We request for a single female who is able to blend in to higher society.
Lucy brightens as realization hits. Mira goes on, "She thought you could use another solo mission. Said this one was perfect for you."
Lucy nods and smiles touched that Evergeen had gone out of her way for her. She tells Mira to stamp it. She smiles to herself realizing she didn't need to leave for a few days because she just had to watch the heiress for the weekend probably while the girl flaunted herself around all of the annoying high class parties and clubs. A sudden thought occurred to Lucy, and she immediately bolts upstairs to the Thunder Legion's table.
When she gets up there, she sees Evergeen looking through a magazine, Freed reading, and Bixlow and Laxus talking about who knows what. She makes her way over to Ever much to Bixlow's and Laxus's surprise, but they pretend to ignore her.
"Hey Ever…" Lucy starts.
"I told you not to call me that," Evergreen says trying to fight back the half smile forming.
"Right," Lucy smiles and takes the seat next to her. "I just wanted to thank you for the other day, oh and this." She laid out the mission on the table.
"Oh please, I was thinking of the guild. The only three that could pull this off is Mira, you, or me," Evergreen shrugs trying to blow it off.
"Well, regardless. Thank you," Lucy says. She then lets out a small sigh after looking down at Natsu and Gray starting an even bigger brawl.
She goes to ask Evergreen a question, but is cut off when Freed jumps up annoyed, "This is absolutely ridiculous. This scroll is nonsense. I'm absolutely sure of it." Freed glares annoyed at Bixlow's and Laxus's snickers. He then realizes Lucy was sitting there, and quickly apologizes to her, "Oh Lucy-sama, forgive me. I didn't see you there."
She waves him off, "No biggie. What are you doing?"
"Just trying to crack the code on this scroll for a mission. I thought it was just in another language, but it doesn't translate to anything," Freed sits down in a huff. Well, as much as he can. He still holds on to his proper etiquette even when he's upset.
Lucy glances over at the job request, and then at the scroll. She also see's Freed's hurriedly written notes on the language. She was shocked that she actually had some knowledge of the language. "Mind if I have a look?" She asks.
Freed just huffs in response, while the other three all look at each other with doubtful expressions. They hadn't known anyone except maybe Levy who could figure something out that Freed couldn't.
She glanced over the scroll again, and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "That doesn't make sense…" She had looked over all of Freed's translations, and they were perfect. He even had tried out different dialects. She glanced back to the original request then back to the paper. She looked at Freed's notes and realized something. She turned the scroll sideways, then started drawing lines through part of Freed's work. He started to object, but then looked down again. He realized where she was going with it.
"How'd you?" Freed asked her completely awestruck.
She shrugged, "I studied the language briefly. One of my tutors said it opened the mind or whatever. I just remembered that the worst part of reading in this language is that the sentence structure moved in odd directions." She grabbed translucent paper laying it over the scroll and drew an odd scribbled pattern across the page. "Translate it in this order, and it should make sense."
Freed immediately set to work and a small smile bloomed across his face he found Lucy was right. Lucy turned to see the other three looking at her like she had two heads although Laxus expression was much more subdued then the others.
"Rocking bod and brains. You're the full package Cheerleader," Bixlow said. 'Package, package, package,' his totems echoed.
Lucy both blushed and huffed at his use of the nickname. Evergreen hit him with her fan in her defense. Lucy immediately changed the subject, "Anyway, Ever I was gonna ask you if you would help me shop for this mission. I'm not quite sure what the latest fashion is in these circles, and I don't have any of my old things since I…" she trailed off. She didn't hide the fact that she was a runaway, but she also wasn't just flippant about talking about it especially now since her father passed. It made her feel like a traitor somehow. She ran away when she could have had more time with him before he passed.
Ever nodded quickly pulling her out of her spiraling thoughts, "I'd love to! I never get much time to shop. Freed always runs off to a bookstore. Bixlow hits on anything with breasts, and Laxus just sulks in the corner."
"So I take it they won't be joining us," Lucy says with a teasing smile.
Freed doesn't respond as he's to engrossed in his work, Laxus gives her a 'Hell no' look, and before Bixlow can open his mouth Ever holds her fan over his face with an annoyed expression, "No, they won't." She lightens up at the next part, "We can have a girls day!"
Lucy giggled and raised an eyebrow at Laxus, "Afraid of a little shopping?"
Laxus tisks at her, "No. Just know it won't be a little shopping, knowing Ever." Evergreen huffs at this, and Lucy smiles at their easy exchange. She wonders, not for the first time, why Laxus isn't like this with more of the guild. He catches her staring, "Problem Blondie?"
She shakes her head hiding her blush, "That's rich, considering your blonde too. C'mon Ever!"
Before she can make it a foot, Natsu jumps up on the second floor balcony, "Luce! Let's take a job without Erza and Ice Prick. Just the two of us!"
Lucy felt bad as it had been a while since the two of them had gone on a mission alone together, but she really needed to prepare for her mission this weekend. "Actually Natsu…" she started looking down at the paper in her hand.
"Oh cool! You picked one out already!" Natsu said yanking the paper from her hand. He looks at it a moment while Lucy fidgets nervously waiting for the truth to dawn on him. "Hmm… I don't think this will work Lucy. It says it needs a high class lady and neither of us fit that. Let's go pick a different one!"
Lucy pauses for a moment absolutely dumbfounded at what she just heard him say. She tenses up her anger boiling underneath. She keeps her voice eerily calm, "Well, that's too bad considering I already accepted the mission." When Natsu starts to object she adds, "Solo."
Natsu looks at her dumbfounded and a little hurt, "What? Why?"
"Because maybe I wanted to take a mission where I receive the entire reward for a change," Lucy hisses out ignoring his hurt expression.
Natsu brightens in understanding, or so he thinks, "That's why the frozen idiot won't be joining us. He won't be there to ruin everything!"
"He's not the only one!" Lucy explodes. "You burn down a building on every mission we go on! Even the ones where we don't have to fight!" She turns and grabs Ever's arm pulling her out of her shock. The whole table was shocked at her outburst, even Freed had looked up from his work. When she reaches Ever, she turns back on Natsu, "Oh and in case you forgot, I came from high society baka! I swear sometimes I wonder if you even realize I'm a girl!" With that she starts to pull Evergreen away. "C'mon Ever. We have shopping to do." Evergreen nods in agreement shooting the dragon slayer an angry glare.
Natsu looks back at Lucy utterly confused, "Well of course I know you're a girl. I sleep with ya most nights!" He gets no response from either of the girls as they storm down the stairs and out of the guild hall. He glances over at a smirking Bixlow and a stone faced Laxus. Freed just shook his head and went back to work.
Laxus just shakes his head before pulling his sound pods on, "You sure are an idiot, Natsu."
Bixlow's tongue rolled out of his mouth, "So, ya sleep with Cosplayer do ya?"
It had taken Lucy a short while to calm down, but she was pleasantly surprised to find what good company Evergreen was. They found no shortage of things to talk about as it seemed Ever was in need of girl time as much as she was. Erza was a great friend don't get her wrong, but Erza tended to lack the girly empathy she sometimes wished for. There was Wendy, but she was too young to always understand some of the things that were bothering Lucy.
Lucy was also right that Evergreen had excellent fashion sense, and even better she was a great bargain shopper. They got great deals at half the price Lucy was expecting to spend. They finished the evening at a café before promising to do it again.
A few days later Lucy left for her mission. The heiress, Madeline, although spoiled was not a complete pain. Lucy arrived mid-afternoon and the two got ready together. She mostly let Madeline fill the air with her mindless blather about who would be there and who she couldn't wait to dance with. She also kept telling her about the clubs they would be hitting after which, Lucy assumed, was the reason she was supposed to be there.
The first night went off without a hitch. It was the easiest, and honestly most fun she'd had on a job in a while. She just got to party, while avoiding drinking, and watch over Madeline. The two got ready for the next night, and Madeline had really opened up to her after Lucy had shown her Plue which Madeline couldn't get enough of.
Lucy went out in a form fitting red dress with a slit up the one thigh, so she would still be able to move. Madeline went for a tight clinging black dress that left absolutely nothing to the imagination. She also had on ridiculously high heels that even Lucy would be scared to walk in.
This night started out much the same jumping from one party to the next. Madeline did manage to stay somewhat aware of her surroundings and really wasn't a heavy drinker although she liked to make people think she was. As the night got later, Lucy got a prickling feeling on her neck that they were being watched. She casually glanced around and seen a male trio that she thought she had seen at several other places. That wasn't completely out of the question as many of these wealthier types were party hopping together. She turned away, but it still bothered her for some reason. She remembered Capricorn's training saying to always trust her instincts, and her instincts were screaming at her to get away from these guys.
Madeline unfortunately had the opposite idea. The men were very attractive and had acquired the attention of a number of girls. Madeline had been having a disinterested eye contest with the tall blonde in the middle. Unfortunately, it finally worked because the three were making their way over. Madeline feigned innocence, but Lucy just got more nervous.
"Can I refill that drink for you?" The blonde one asked Madeline.
"Hmm… Oh, I suppose," Madeline tried to keep an air of superiority around her. Lucy stayed off to the side as the dirty blonde next to the man leaned against the bar on the far side of Madeline. The brown haired man walked up to Lucy offering to do the same. She shrugged her agreement only to realize too late that they had them trapped in. She ran her hand over her keys that were in a hidden compartment of her purse for comfort.
They sat and talked for about thirty minutes before Lucy realized that they would be able to politely slip away now without causing a problem. However, Madeline had actually started drinking at this point and was starting to get a little sloppier leaning on the blonde man for support. It was then that she realized that third man had ordered their drinks then disappeared. She also realized Madeline had only had part of her drink and should not be acting like this. Oh crap… Lucy thought.
"Madeline. I think it's time to go," Lucy said grabbing Madeline's mostly limp arm.
"Bu' why, 'tis so mu- fun," she hiccupped at the end of the sentence. Her eyelids were half closed. Yep, something was definitely wrong.
"We promised your father we wouldn't be out as late tonight," Lucy said pulling Madeline's arm around her waist. She pushed past the two men holding all of Madeline's weight.
"Allow us to escort you home," the brown haired man said.
"It'd be rude to make you carry her all on your own," the blonde said.
"Don' urry tits her job…" Madeline mumbled back. Both of them raised an eyebrow curiously at her.
Lucy just covered with a nervous giggle, "Yeah, it's the job of a friend to look out for each other. She carried me all the way home last time. It's only fair I do the same for her."
Madeline tried to argue, but Lucy started to drag her away. When she got outside, she immediately started the ten blocks back to Madeline's house. It wasn't far, but carrying the girl back was going to make this short journey take forever. She turned down the block and rushed past a dirty blonde haired man trying not to draw attention to herself. Wait…
She found Madeline ripped from her grasp and was pushed up against the wall. The blonde held Madeline tightly in his arms running his hands from her lips to her waste, his face in her hair. "You two can have that one, she seems feisty. This one's mine." A small whimper emerged from Madeline's lips, but she was too helpless to do anything.
"You're about to figure out how feisty I really am," Lucy hissed. She then stomped her foot down hard on the dirty blonde. He released her arm which she used to smack the brown haired one. They both stumbled back surprised at her strength and before they could stop her she pulled Virgo's key, "Open Gate of the Maiden, Virgo!"
"Punishment Mistress?" Virgo asked.
"Aww sweet another chick!" One of them said.
"Shit! She's a mage!" Said the other.
"Yep!" Lucy grinned, "For them!" She pointed at the two that had jumped her. Virgo immediately disappeared into the ground dragging the other two down with her.
"Well this is a surprise," the blonde haired man said unamused, but also unafraid. He shrugged, "No matter. Two can play at that game." His eyes started to glow and all of a sudden Lucy's world went sideways. She fell to the ground. She tried to look up at the man, but the world was spinning. "My magic induces a sense of vertigo. Not the most powerful, but definitely has its uses…" He trails off running a hand down Lucy's body.
"Loke," Lucy whispered clutching at her handbag. She wasn't actually touching his key, but it was enough. Loke appeared behind the blonde decking him. He recovered Madeline before she could be hurt. Lucy blinked as the world righted. She still felt slightly dizzy, but things were better now. With Loke carrying Madeline, they quickly made it the rest of the way home. Capricorn confirmed that she had been drugged, and Virgo brought her an antidote.
When she had her tucked into bed for the night, she went down to explain the situation to Madeline's parents. They were livid when they saw the condition she came home in, but Lucy had told them off saying she'd explain after she was sure her charge was alright and tucked into bed.
She recounted the story to the family who although pissed that their daughter had gotten drugged were thrilled that Lucy was able to prevent anything worse from happening. They also took down descriptions and got information to the police.
The next day Madeline woke with a horrible headache, but she could still remember what happened and what almost happened. She started crying, but she wouldn't stop thanking Lucy offering to help her any time she needed it. The family gave her the reward, but Madeline's mother Christine pulled her aside after everything was settled. "Madeline told me you're a celestial wizard." Lucy was shocked and only nodded. "I also see you have nine of the golden gate keys." Lucy nodded again. "It's my understanding that a celestial wizard strives to have all of these." Lucy swallows hard trying to ignore the pang of grief in her gut. "I would like to offer our assistance in locating the other three for you."
Lucy was dumbfounded at their generosity, but shook her head. "Two of them are with the celestial wizard of Sabretooth, Yukino, and she is a great mage to her spirits. The other, well…" She ran her hand across the broken key. "Well, it doesn't exist anymore."
Christine gave a sad nod in understanding seeing the broken key, "From what I understand, celestial keys are near impossible to break, and seeing the bond with your spirits you wouldn't have done it lightly."
Lucy was once again stunned at this women's perceptiveness and knowledge, "Oh I love my spirits. I consider them to be just the same as you and me! But how do you know so much?" The weight in her gut made her slightly nauseous. A stranger picked up on this so quickly, but my own guild hasn't noticed. They don't even know what I lost to get them all back.
Christine nods again and muses to herself ignoring Lucy's question, "It's odd to me that the twelve zodiac keys could be unbalanced if one of them are broken."
"Unbalanced?" Lucy asks.
"Well, there are twelve to represent the twelve months of the year. They are balanced in that way. Magic always has some form of balance. Without the twelfth key, they are unbalanced breaking the laws of magic," Christine mused.
Lucy soaks in what she said unsure what to make of it. "How do you know so much about magic? I mean none of you are mages?" Lucy finally tries again.
"Oh, my brother was fascinated by it," Christine said. "He also didn't have any magic, but that didn't stop him researching every single type there is out there. I spent all my time with him when I was younger. I guess some of it rubbed off on me." Christine smiled at the thought then brightened even more, "Perhaps I'll call Camron and ask him to look into this twelfth key!"
Lucy's heart swelled. Then, she shoved it down. She was scared to be hopeful, horrified that it would feel like she was losing Aquarius all over again, "That isn't necessary, but thank you."
"Oh nonsense! After what you did for our Madeline! It's the least we can do," Christine said.
Lucy slowly made her way back to Magnolia musing over the things Christine had said. Try as she might, she was unable to stamp out the small storm of hope that was brewing within her.