Chapter 3
Lucy's POV
I walked into the Dark Age forest with the rest close behind. I looked around trying to memorize the path. The forest was absolutely wonderful. From the way the sun rays fell from the treetops to the sounds of animals it was like it came from a fairy tale. I slowed down so that I could talk to Yukino about it. I looked over at Yukino and saw the awe on her face. I turned to look at Rogue and Sting. Rogue was still pretty emotionless but if you knew what to look for you could see the slight surprise in his eyes, Sting on the other hand looked as if he'd seen this place a thousand times."Hey Sting have you been here before?" Sting looked over and nodded "I come here all the time. Come on follow me I'll show you the place where I found you. It'll be the perfect place for camp!" Then ran off ahead of us. I sighed "Sting slow down!" I yelled then ran off after him with Yukino and the rest behind me.
I ran a bit faster when I saw Sting come to a halt at an opening. I stopped just on the outside of a beautiful open field. It was a large opening with long green grass everywhere. If we cut the grass in some spaces we could easily make camp. I smiled it was perfect. "This is where I found you Lucy. In the middle of this field you were sleeping all banged up." After hearing that I walked into the opening and sat in the soft luscious grass. 'It's pretty here' I thought. "Sting? Is this where we're going to train?" He took a few moments as he processed what I said. "Well this is where we're going to camp but trainings going to be at the pond not to far from here." I thought about that 'I guess training by a pond would be fun and I could train with Capricorn since he says training in quiet places are best.' "Ok then let's start setting camp up then! You know while we wait." I said with a smile as I turned toward Sting. He nodded and we got started Yukino and the other three arrived when Sting and I finished putting up the first tent.
"What took you guys so long!" I yelled playfully. Yukino smiled and said sorry then went over to help us out, Rogue following Sting to get firewood.
By the time they came back with enough firewood to last a week. Yukino and I had finished setting up camp. Rogue got the fire started since it was getting dark, I grabbed the bag with the food and started to cook. It was nothing special just some yakitori and rice. "Alright! Tomorrow we wake up early to start training!" Sting yelled while we sweat dropped. He was so enthusiastic. I laughed, we all talked till it was dark then went to bed, me and Yukino shared a tent with the exceeds. Rogue and Sting had separate tents. I walked into the tent and laid down on my own mattress and got under the covers. I closed my eyes and shortly after I was fast asleep.
Lucy's Dream(still her POV)
I opened my eyes to find that I wasn't in the tent but in a familiar hall, laying on a couch. I got up confused then walked to the door in front of me across from me. When I opened the door I saw me, but from when I was a 9-year-old. Little me was reading one of my favorite books Keys of the Starry Heavens. Little Lucy was staring at the girl in the pictures. Then it hit me, this was when I heard that mom was really sick. I saw Miss. Spetto enter into the room, my old bedroom… "Miss. Heartfilia? You have to get ready for dinner." Lucy turned around with a smile and said "Ok Miss. Spetto" She got up and passed her walking down the hall to get ready. The scenery suddenly changed and I was sitting at the long empty dining table. I watched as I cried. I cried because I was lonely and I was scared. Scared that I'd be abandoned and forgotten by my parents.
The scenery changed, to me being in a magic shop trying to get money off of plue's key. Great another sad and depressing memory. I watched myself walk around town then over to where the fake salamander was and Natsu burst through the crowd yelling for Igneel. The image seemed like it was swirling around me. It stopped and I was standing in front of Bora, mad that he had tried to use a sleeping spell on me. He reveals to me that he was bringing all the woman on his boat to some island to be used as slaves. When Natsu burst through the roof of the room with motion sickness I laughed bitterly to myself. It reminded me about when I used to feel bad about his pour sickness. The dream began to blur and I was on the floor with fairy tail looming over me.
End Of Dream
I woke up with a jolt. It was just a dream. I breathed a sigh of relief then looked around to see if anyone was awake. No one was up so I tried to be as quiet as possible getting dressed and leaving the tent.
I took notice that the sun had just risen. I walked toward a path leading into the forest, it was a long and wide path. As I neared the end of the path I could see a large pond. I stopped at a low boulder near the water and sat down, then started to calm my nerves so I could concentrate on expanding my magic. I imagined a yellow ball of energy growing larger and larger. I could feel my body start to hover over the boulder I was sitting on. I expanded my magic as much as I could before I could fall back on the ground. I sighed and got back up on the rock and crossed my legs, put my hands on my knees then straightened my posture and re-did all the steps but took my time. After getting used to this amount of magic, I tried summoning a spirit. I summoned Plue since I need to start off easy, and repeated that step when I got used it. When I was going to try summoning a zodiac I was interrupted by a rustle in the bushes. It startled me then realised too late that I lost my concentration. I fell on my butt and looked up when I heard Yukino's voice. "Lucy we've been looking for you! Do you know how worried we were!?" She then started to scold me for not telling anybody where I was. I promptly toned her out and tried to get the thought that I had been meditating for - wait what time was it? "-cy! Lucy! Lucy are you listening to me? I said -" I interrupted her and asked "Hey, Yukino what time is it?" She gave this kind of look that said 'Are freaking serious' She sighed and said "It's 8:30 Lucy." hm… so I was meditating for like 3 hours? Yay! I'm making progress! "Now, Lucy I think you should tell me what you've been doing in the time we were looking for you?" I giggled a little she was like an overprotective big sister! "I've been training while you guys were sleeping and looking for me." She gave me a puzzled look, as if asking what I could have been doing to train. Instead of telling her what I had been doing, I demonstrated it. When I was done Yukino asked what it was supposed to be helping with.
"Um… well it's supposed to help expand your magic, so like you can hold celestial spirits out longer than you normally would. Would you like me to explain what you have to do?" She considered my offer before she said anything "Teach me later right now we have to get back to camp and tell the others you're okay" I nodded and we made our way to camp.
When we walked through the bushes I was faced with two angry dragon slayers and their exceeds. I smiled nervously when I greeted them "Good morning guys." Fro and Lector ran or more like they flyed over into my arms. I laughed a little, it kinda reminds me of when Happy would do that. Was he there when I was forced out of the guild. Maybe he was, he is Natsu's exceed after all. I mentally sighed I can't give anyone from the guild the benefit of the doubt. When I decided that I shouldn't pry on that matter I noticed Sting was lecturing me while Yukino and Rogue nodded every now and then. When Sting was done lecturing me, we had breakfast. I had to make breakfast and dinner then wash the dishes in the pond as punishment. I was okay with this since it was like that before I met them. After breakfast we all headed out to the training site.
"Alright what should we start with combat or magic?" Sting had asked the three of us. Yukino and I said magic because I wanted to show her how you expand you magic, and I guess Yukino wanted to know aswell. Rogue just nodded when we said magic. Sting seemed okay with this then we all went our separate ways for this type of training. Yukino and I walked towards the rock I was sitting on only a couple minutes ago. Yukino sat on one side of the rock while I sat on the other end. "Okay Yukino sit up straight and take a big breath, now let it go." she followed my instructions and nodded once to let me know I could continue. "Close your eyes and block out all your senses, then imagine a ball of energy slowly growing." I kept my voice as soft as possible, so it wouldn't destroy our concentration. "Keep letting it grow and when it feels like it can't grow anymore hold it there for at least five minutes." I felt her magic presents expand toward me and widened my eyes because it had only been two minutes! It takes me five to seven minutes to be able to expand my magic. It made me seem even more weak then I already am. I lost my concentration...again. I re-did all the steps and this time really kept my mind clear of any kind of thoughts. I felt myself start to gently levitate over the boulder. I forced my magic to grow to the size I believe it was at before I was interrupted by Yukino. I wasn't gently levitating anymore that's for sure because I couldn't feel the rock anymore. Waited to feel at ease with my magic expanded this far it didn't come as I was once again interrupted. I fell to the floor as I heard Sting scream at me and Yukino. "What the Hell kind of training are you two doing!" I didn't let him interrupt me and blocked him out then continued my training. I started to summon my spirits to make it a bit more difficult, I started off with Plue again and then summoned Lyra, Horologium, Grandpa Crux, Pyxis, and Caelum. After summoning all my silver keys I tried to open a golden one.
On The Ground With the Others(No one's POV)
After Stings little outburst Yukino had fallen to the ground with a loud thump. "Ow! That hurt! Sting why'd you yell you made me fall!" Sting looked at her as if she was crazy. "Are you kidding me, you can't blame me for that. You were the one who let it get to you! I mean look at Blondie she's still in the air!" They all looked up and noticed her celestial spirits in large round magic spheres. They took notice of how high off of the rock she was. She had to at least be two feet high, it was quite amazing to Yukino. As a child Yukino remembers seeing a blonde teen in a Sorcerer Weekly magazine. She remembers stopping and picking it up from the ground. Reading Lucy Heartfilia's page over and over. She was still amazed back then and is now.
They all stared at Lucy with wide eyes as her magic dome started to weaken. Lucy was suddenly falling backward toward the water. However before Lucy could land in the water there was a loud splash and a blinding light. When the light faded they saw a woman with pink hair in a black and white maid outfit, that was just passed her bottom. She held Lucy bridal style as she stood calf deep in the water. "Punishment Hime?"
"Um… excuse me? Your Virgo right?" Yukino asked feeling nervous around such a strong celestial spirit. Virgo nodded."Do you happen to be Hime's new friends?" this time Rogue nodded. They all looked towards Lucy as she started to wake up. Virgo was the first to speak to her as she woke. "Hime, good to know your okay." She said as she set Lucy down on the boulder. Lucy nodded her head and smiled at Virgo greatfuly. "Thank you Virgo, for catching me." Virgos eyes seemed to gleam with an emotion that no one could put their finger on. Well at least for the people who saw it. "Your welcome Hime." She said as she bowed at a full ninety degrees. She suddenly looked up and asked "I didn't catch your names." The three mages and two exceeds started to introduce themselves.
Virgo's POV
A girl with bluish white hair, around the age of Hime spoke first. "I'm Yukino Agria." She smiled gently at me and did a curt bow. A green exceed in a pink frog suit with black spots randomly placed. "My names Frosch, but you can call me Fro!" I nodded, Hime must find him adorable. Another exceed with brownish red fur and a jean sleeveless jacket over his shoulder introduced himself. "I'm Lector!" he said with a smirk. A teenaged boy with spiky blonde hair wearing a blue vest that had grey fur lining and pants that seemed to look a little similar to Natsu's, spoke. "The names Sting Eucliffe." I noticed he had a small scar on his right eyebrow. He kind of looks like Laxus but younger. The teenager standing a little behind Eucliffe said "Rogue Cheney." He gave a small nod in my direction, his black hair covering more his face as he did so. I nodded to all of them and decided it would be polite to tell them my name as well. " I am Virgo The Maiden, a pleasure to meet Hime's new friend's." They all nodded their heads in response. Some sending smiles as well. I looked toward Hime and found her training again. I let an inaudible sigh escape my lips. She's pushing herself when she really shouldn't, especially since her mental and emotional wounds haven't even begun to heal. "I'll take my leave then, and when Hime is done tell her, her celestial spirits miss her." And I took my leave.
Normal POV
"Lucy must be dearly loved by her celestial spirits." Lector said. "Friends." Yukino said then continued after a short pause as if deciding if she should explain. "She doesn't like to refer to them like that she says all spirits are her friend, not her tool. She even insists that they call her by her name then Master like most celestial mages. Lucy deeply cares for her friends." Yukino let out a small giggle. The boys all nodded understanding. "Blondie's to nice for her own good." Sting sighed lowly. "She's gonna be hard to take care of you know." Yukino smiled brightly "It's fine. It'll be nice to get to see that side of her." While they all continued their conversation about other things other than Lucy. The girl herself had summoned all her silver friends, she didn't attempt to try and summon a gold key. She thought she might need to hold the silvers out a while longer. She wishes to become stronger so she can protect herself and her beloved friends. That was what was setting off her determination. She wanted to protect the people around and she was sure to meet that goal.
No matter what.
I came back cause I been thinkin bout the author I used to message on here and then just figured I should post the rest of this story after seeing my profile update from like 3 years ago? Somethin like that
Awww and to the people who left a review all those years ago thank you! Really, it was sweet to see the 'please continues' that people left for that first lil chapter!
