CHAPTER TWO
"I'm worried," The man said, his fingers curling in Lucy's blonde locks.
"Don't worry, I'm sure she'll be fine," The angry woman from before muttered, but there was still a worried look lingering in her gaze. The two figures were joined by another, who said, "She needs to find the keys before something happens."
"You're right, as always, Capricorn." The man with the mane of ginger hair sighed. Lucy felt as though she should know these people, but the memories were lost to her. A longing sadness washed over her when the faces of the three turned to look down at her.
"She's so close to my key, if only she would find it," The kind man whined.
"We just have to be patient," The stern woman said with a strange softness. As with her previous vision, she felt something tug her away from the stars and pull her back to her body where the memory of her visions would become only a dream.
Lucy woke with tired eyes and a sore body. Sunlight spread across her bedcovers, and the quiet of the morning greeted her. She stretched, then rubbed the sleep from her eyes, feeling tearstains on her cheeks. She shot up as memories from the night before returned. The alley fight, Natsu crushing her locket, the strange transformation, and the encounter with Cana. She ran over to the bathroom connected to her room and cursed when she saw her ethereal reflection. The pointed ears peeked out from under her flaxen locks. She collapsed to her knees, her head in her hands. Tears leaked from her eyes. This couldn't be happening. It had to have been a dream, an insane dream. Despite her hopes for waking up in her apartment on her day off, she was in a strange hotel-style room in a strange place with a strange body. Lucy curled up on the bathroom floor as she recalled the events that led her to where she was now.
After explaining that the lower level housed the bar and kitchens as well as mission assignments, the demi-fae took her to one of the many rooms available for guests in the upper level of the guild. Levy opened a door that led to a small room at the end of one of the many corridors, declaring it Lucy's for the time being. The room was small, but cozy. There was a decent sized bed next to a wide window, and a few bedside tables, as well as a large dresser. There were two doors in the room, one leading to a small walk-in closet, and the other to a bathroom furnished with a shower, toilet, and sink.
Lucy collapsed onto the bed, exhaustion hitting her once more. Levy left after giving Lucy a pitying gaze, telling the blonde that she would return in the morning to answer more of her questions. Lucy hadn't argued with the blue-haired woman. She knew she was far too tired to understand Levy's explanations. The night's events were finally hitting her, and Lucy knew she was minutes away from a complete breakdown.
After a long, steaming hot shower, Lucy put on the pair of linen pajamas Levy had left on her bed and crawled beneath the covers. Her hand touched the now smooth skin where her locket had burned her. She felt lost without the familiar weight beneath her collar bone. She curled up into a small ball, pulled the blankets up over her head, and cried herself to sleep.
Lucy felt warm tears cascade down her cheeks yet again. She remained on the cool tile of the bathroom floor until she heard a hesitant knock at the door. The blonde tensed and rose to her feet, quickly wiping the tears from her face. The knock sounded again, and Lucy quickly splashed cold water onto her face. She avoided her reflection in the mirror above the sink and dashed over to open the door.
"Hey Lucy!" Levy chirped. She held some clothes in her arms, and Lucy moved to the side to let the girl in. If Levy noticed the redness of her eyes, or the swell in her cheeks, she did not say anything. For that, Lucy was thankful.
"I brought you some new clothes. They're Mirajane's, so they should fit okay," The fae said, placing the clothes on one of the nightstands. Lucy thanked the blue haired woman, grabbing the clothes and hurrying into the bathroom to get changed. Levy brought a few pairs of jeans for Lucy to try, all of which did not fit exactly right. Lucy pulled on a dark pair that left a little room around her hips, and then pulled on a simple pale pink shirt. She glanced down at the dirty, ripped clothes piled in the corner with a disgusted grimace. Lucy pulled her hair up into a high pony tail and then returned to the bedroom without looking at her reflection.
"Those fit better than I expected!" Levy exclaimed. Lucy smiled at the woman, muttering her thanks. With a bright smile, Levy opened the door and said, "Come on, let's go down to the dining hall. We can eat and I can answer your questions."
The guild hall was practically empty in the early morning hours. The same beautiful waitress was wiping down the bar, and she gave the two fae a dazzling smile when they took a seat at the bar.
"Oh, I'm so glad the clothes fit you! Let me fix you two some food," The woman stated with a clap of her hands. She disappeared into the kitchen, humming a simple melody. Lucy bit her lip. The questions that filled her mind the night before were returning, and she was eager to start getting answers from Levy.
"Levy, can you explain what fae-born means?" She asked quietly. Levy's brown eyes glittered with unconcealed excitement.
"They were these creatures long ago called the Fae. They were immortal and had very powerful magic, but they were a small race. Fae-born refers to those with fae blood, no matter how small. I'm a demi-fae, which means I'm not a full-blooded Fae. Those are rare these days. Master Makarov said you were a fae-born, and I'm inclined to agree with the features you have now," Levy explained, pointing to Lucy's new longer ears. Levy gave the blonde a sympathetic smile, the continued, "There are many creatures that exist in our world. Most can use magic, for example I have script magic. Cana is a witch, a human who has a great deal of magic power, and she has skills in the cards and fortunetelling. I'm sure you have some magic too, based on your aura."
"Aura?" Lucy inquired. She'd heard that word from Makarov and Cana, but she was not sure what they meant by it.
"Everyone has an aura. It's like a magic bubble that surrounds you and protects you. Aura's can tell you what someone is and what kind of magic they use. Most keep theirs glamoured. Yours is very shiny. It's like a golden light that surrounds you. There's flecks of some kind of white light in there too," Levy said, staring entranced at the air surrounding Lucy. The fae reached out and caressed the air, an enchanted look lighting her features. Lucy shifted uncomfortable, unsure of what to say.
"Why can't I see my aura?" She asked, knocking Levy from her dazed delirium. The girl blinked and shook her head, patting her cheeks to focus on Lucy's question.
"Oh, well nobody can see their own aura. It takes some training and focus to see others, but I'm sure we can teach you," Levy said with an apologetic turn of her lips, "But first we should try and conceal yours, it's very tempting."
Lucy looked down at the pale skin on her arms, noting the loss of a few freckles that once speckled her sun-kissed flesh. Her eyes prickled with hot tears, but Lucy forced her wild emotions deep down inside herself. She looked at Levy with curiosity in her gaze and asked, "How do you see them?"
Levy shrugged, her brows drawn up in pensive thought, "I'm not sure how to explain it. I just feel my magic focus on someone, and then their aura appears. Yours is very visible, I barely have to concentrate at all."
Lucy's brow tightened. She worried her bottom lip and closed her eyes as she focused on the familiar ache in her gut. She pushed deep within her soul, pulling and teasing at the strands of light that was her magic. The golden light seemed to relish in Lucy's ministrations, and she swore she could hear an earnest keen chiming inside her. The magic woke slowly, but when she felt it finally spread across her extremities, she gasped at the delectable and tantalizing warmth. Her brown eyes slowly blinked open, flecks of light shimmering in her iris, and her lips spread in a wide grin. The magic within her rejoiced at its freedom, dancing through her blood with unrestrained glee.
The blonde gasped in shock when she beheld the shine that now lit her skin. She was glowing like a firefly. Golden light radiated from her pores and lit the great guild hall. She stood, enraptured by the glimmer of her glowing skin. She smiled over at Levy, and her eyes went wide when she saw the gentle periwinkle floating liquid encasing the fae. Dark spots flickered within the gentle nature of Levy's aura. Lucy giggled. The light grew in intensity with each laugh that fell from her lips, and Levy soon had to hold up her palm to block the light.
"Lucy, be careful! You aren't used to your powers and you could get lost in them!" Levy warned, taking a few steps away from the pulsing light. But Lucy was already far too lost to heed her warning. The magic rippled on her skin and with each thrum of her heart the light became brighter. The laughter swelled within her, and she could no longer contain it. Her spirit bathed in her newfound rich power within her. As she delved deeper into the deep well of magic within her chest, the light started to burn the air. Lucy, lost in her ecstasy, did not notice how blinding she became. The magic was overtaking her senses, relishing in its freedom.
Levy stumbled away from Lucy with her hands covering her eyes. Shouts of alarm sounded throughout the guild as more people were awoken by the blinding starlight. Levy was curled under the bar now when Makarov crashed into the great hall, only to curse and cover his eyes.
"Damn, what is happening?" He cursed. He called out to Lucy, but along with the light came a scorching wave of heat. The guild master cursed again as the air surrounding Lucy burned. There was only one person he knew of that could withstand that kind of heat. A warm hand touched Makarov's shoulder, and the elder turned and felt his muscles relax when he saw Natsu standing next to him. He had an uncharacteristically stern expression, his lips drawn in a tight line.
"She's losing it, ain't she pops." He stated. Makarov grunted in agreement, his worry for the poor child he'd witnessed the night before increasing. In all his years, Makarov had never seen magic like hers. Natsu cracked his knuckles and sighed, "I've gotta do all the work around here."
"Oi! Luigi!" He called out as he ventured deeper into the waves of heat and starlight.
Lucy felt as though she was bathing in stardust. She could no longer feel where her body began or ended, only the tingling of the lustrous flaxen magic spreading in her veins. She could vaguely hear someone calling out, but the ancient power that was forced to hide for so many years overpowered her consciousness with a wave of crashing power and she was lost in the undertow.
"…igi!" A deep voice called, penetrating the layers of stardust encasing Lucy. The familiar voice resonated with her old self that had curled up deep in her subconscious after being overcome by the explosion of magic.
"Hey! Luigi!" The voice called again. Lucy felt her spirit return to her physical body, and the feeling of her fingers curling around the dancing waves of light surrounding her. She felt her toes curling on the floor, and felt each groove and crack in the wood. Her eyes blinked open slowly to see the blinding light pulsing from her body. Fear crawled down her spine, but it only served to heighten the intensity of the already sweltering air.
Lucy opened her mouth to yell out at Natsu and correct him, but her voice was caught in her throat. A choking croak crackled out of her and when Lucy finally saw the head of pink hair approaching her, she felt a wave of relief. Her respite was brief, however, as the memory of her locket crumbling to broken pieces and ash between the same hand that reached out for her flashed to the forefront of her mind. Red-hot anger flushed her cheeks and Lucy felt a growl rumble in her chest. That primordial influence that still lingered in her body returned in full force, and the light and heat were sucked back into Lucy. The light no longer shone from outside her body and now coiled under her skin and cast an eerie glow. Lucy heard someone shout in relief as the light and heat faded, but she knew something worse was coming. She could felt an ominous feral instinct pushing against her consciousness, and Lucy did not want to find out what it wanted.
"Natsu, stay back!" She warned, wincing as her magic thrashed under her skin, pressing against her will. She swore and tried to focus on restraining her wild rage.
Natsu paused when he saw cords of concentrated magic pulsing underneath Lucy's skin. His draconic instincts wanted him to turn back and run as far as he could. When Lucy's eyes met his, he saw her glorious brown eyes consumed by her fury and that moment was when he realized he fucked up. He should have known that destroying her necklace would come back and bite him in the ass.
"Luce, I know you're in there," He said slowly as he took a cautious step forwards. He felt Makarov's magic emanate from behind him, and Natsu knew he was running out of time. The old man would not take any risks when it came to protecting his family, his guild. He knew that despite what sympathy Makarov felt for the newcomer, he would destroy her in an instant if she became a threat.
Waves of Makarov's magic crashed against Lucy's as the guild master tested the strength of her aura. He withdrew his investigative tendrils when he felt the truth of Lucy's outburst. She was drowning in the unused potential, and the magic spreading through the guild was not malicious in nature but curious. When he realized that she was not attacking his family but exploring her new powers, the master focused on shielding the rest of the guild from her aura instead of preparing to attack.
Natsu took Makarov's retreat as a sign to continue his advance on the brilliantly bright fae. Flecks of white dust mixed in with the light the closer he got to Lucy's glowing form. Her magic wrapped around him and sent a blissful prickle through his body.
Lucy looked over at Natsu again, the rage flickering in and out of her irises. Natsu couldn't help the wide grin that spread across his lips at the exhilaration flowing through him. Besides the fear from Lucy's unrestrained anger directed towards him, her magic stirred an odd feeling of excitement in everyone it touched.
"I said, stay back!" Lucy yelled forcefully, a wave of magic lashing out at the approaching man. Despite her warnings, Natsu kept advancing, wincing when the threads of her magic whipped against his skin.
"Ya know, Luigi, you kinda look like one of those human glow sticks," Natsu joked with a smirk. Lucy felt a twinge of indignation pierce through her rage.
"A what?" She exclaimed. She looked over at one of the mirrors behind the bar, and her mouth fell open. He was right, she did look like a glow stick. A giggle bubbled from her lips, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Natsu's smile widen.
"I'm right, ain't I?" He teased. He was only a few feet away now, and Lucy glanced over at him, fear still dampening her glittering eyes. She could feel her magic subsiding slowly, but she still feared for the kind pink-haired mage.
"Natsu, I'm scared," She finally confessed, the light within her flickering. She could feel her magic purring and calling out to her again. Natsu looked at her, not with pity, but understanding. He was even closer now, so close Lucy could reach out and touch him if she wanted.
"It's okay, Luce. I gotcha," He whispered, slowly opening his arms and nodding for her to move. Lucy uncurled her arms from around her waist and hesitantly stepped into Natsu's embrace. Her skin flashed when he wrapped his body around her, like a warm blanket, but the glow started to fade after a few moments. She felt her breath shudder out of her, and she cautiously wrapped her arms around Natsu's waist. She gasped for breath and felt her strength evaporate as the magic coiled back into a ball within her chest. Natsu held up her aching body, muttering comforts in her ear. Lucy had never felt so drained of energy before.
After a moment of leaning on Natsu's strength, Lucy pushed away from him and stumbled onto one of the chairs. Guilt washed over her, and she gave Levy an apologetic glance. She felt her face flush with embarrassment when she noticed other guild members glaring at her and grumbling about being so rudely awakened. She could feel the fearful gazes from the onlookers. She lowered her head as guilt mixed in with the shame and fear she felt.
"Well, now that's over with, let's find out what the hell just happened." Makarov stated with a clap of his hands. Those who were woken by Lucy's magical outburst grumbled and returned into the depths of the guild hall until only Levy, Makarov, and Natsu remained.
"Um, did I miss anything?" Mirajane asked as she poked her head out of the kitchen. Lucy let out a rough bark of laughter, "Yea, a bit."
Mirajane only shrugged, and brought out a tray of various breakfast foods. Lucy's mouth watered at the sight of the scrumptious looking scrambled eggs and the buttery toast placed before her. Mirajane kept placing delicious plates piled high with food, like various types of sausage and eggs. A plate of mouth-watering buttered croissants had Lucy practically melting with anticipation. She'd never been this hungry in her entire life. Natsu sat down across from Lucy, his hands reaching out for the piles of food before them only to get swatted away by Mirajane.
"No, this isn't for you. Lucy just spent all her energy in that outburst, and she needs to replenish. You can wait your turn," She said sternly. Mirajane looked at Lucy with sympathy, as though she knew how scared Lucy felt, before returning to the kitchen. Natsu pouted but listened to the woman and kept his hands to himself. Lucy smirked, and dove into her meal, stuffing as much food as she could into her watering mouth. She moaned in pleasure when the soft bread melted on her tongue and she felt Natsu's jealousy coarse over her. Lucy smirked over at him, laughing to herself when he pouted and looked away.
When Lucy finally stopped stuffing her face, Makarov and Levy pulled up and sat at the table. Lucy swallowed thickly and was about to apologize when Makarov held up a hand and gave her a gentle smile.
"My dear, do not worry. Considering how long your magic has been pent up, that outburst is understandable," He said. Lucy still felt ashamed of how she lost control.
"Hey Master, do you know what kind of magic that was?" Levy asked, distracting the blonde from the dark path her thoughts wandered down. Lucy could almost see the gears turning in the demi-fae's head.
"I have no earthly idea. It was almost like raw magick, but I felt something else. It was more, celestial," He said with a shrug. Lucy bit her lip and asked, "Does this mean I'm not fae-born?"
"You definitely have some fae blood, but there's something strange mixed in there," Levy answered, "I've never read about magic that shines from someone like that."
"Great, not only am I not human, I'm something weird," Lucy mumbled. She sat back in her chair and ran her fingers through her hair with a frustrated groan. All her lingering doubts about the supernatural disappeared after she felt her magic explode. She was beginning to accept her new existence and the fact that magic and magical creatures were real.
"I once met a woman who had a similar aura, but she died long ago," Makarov mused, curling his white moustache in his fingers. A curious look entered his eyes, and he stared down at Lucy for a moment before smiling and jumping up. He ran over to the bar and pulled a box out from a hidden panel behind the various bottles lining the walls.
"She did leave this, however, and it's very similar to your magic," He explained as he dropped the heavy box onto the table. Lucy jumped when the iron clanged against the wood. The iron seemed to repel her magic and Levy cursed and moved away from the metal. Lucy leaned forwards and her head tilted in confusion when she observed that the box had no visible seams. She was about to ask Makarov what he was talking about when the old man closed his eyes and karate-chopped the box with a wild yell. The box shuddered, then burst open from the sides. A smaller box made of golden metal rested within the pieces. Lucy felt her magic being drawn in to the box and she reached out to touch the cold metal. Her breath left with a gasp when her skin brushed the box. She felt a melancholy yearning emanating from the box as she picked it up.
Natsu and the others looked on quietly. They could feel the magic curling between Lucy and the mysterious container and knew not to disturb her.
Lucy ran a finger over the filigree etched in the metal, her fingers running across the constellations decorating the surface. Leo, the box whispered. The blonde felt her magic beckoning, and she cautiously reached out and allowed a small stream of magic to flow down her arm and into the hand that held the box. Once her magic reached the box, she felt the metal hum and the carvings started to glow. Lucy held her breath as the light intensified and the metal started to morph and shrink. When the light faded, a golden key that was a large as her hand rested in her palm. The top of the key looked like a rippling lion's mane, and she recognized the astrological symbol for Leo engraved into the surface.
"Leo," She whispered. The key pulsed with heat when she spoke, and Lucy smiled. She felt her magic thud with her pulse and spread into the key, as if the metal was absorbing her excess magic she couldn't control. She looked up, and the smile melted when she saw the incredulous looks on the other's faces. Natsu was the only one that looked intrigued.
"Um, so that just happened?" Lucy said, hoping that Makarov or Levy would have an explanation for what just happened. Instead, Makarov just said, "How interesting."
The key seemed to call out to her, asking her to do something she couldn't quite catch. She swore she heard the word summon echo in the guild hall, but no one else seemed to hear the quiet whispering voices.
"That was cool!" Natsu exclaimed with a giddy laugh. Lucy felt a smile tug at her lips at his childish reaction. At least someone was excited, she thought.
"Levy, do you think you could go research magical keys?" Makarov asked. The guild master concentrated on the key, and felt Lucy's magic being absorbed by the magical item. He was sure that Levy had witnessed the strange relationship between the blonde and the key as well. The fae nodded, and hurried off down the stairs and into the basement with a dazed expression. Lucy heard her mumbling about books and where she should start, and she knew that Levy could become a close friend with their shared love for reading.
"What do I do?" Lucy asked, her fingers curling around the key protectively. She felt a fierce instinct to safeguard the key.
"Lucy, would you be interested in staying with us until we can figure out what kind of magic you have, and to help you learn control?" Makarov asked. The guild master decided he would rather have Lucy nearby to keep an eye on her and her bizarre magic. Lucy nodded eagerly. She knew now that Fairy Tail was the right place for her to be, despite her earlier suspicions.
"Good, Natsu can help you get settled," the old man said. He stood and stretched, telling Lucy to keep the key close before he meandered away and into what she assumed was his office. Lucy's shoulders fell and she let loose a heavy sigh. The golden key thrummed warmly in her palm. Natsu yawned, revealing long, sharp canines, and folded his arms behind his head.
"I gotta tell ya, Luigi, you sure know how to wake a fella up," He groaned.
"My name is Lucy," she snapped. Natsu just smirked. Lucy shot him an annoyed glare and huffed. Her nose crinkled and she took a deep breath before saying, "I never thanked you for helping me earlier, and for saving my life last night, so thanks."
She avoided his gaze and instead focused on the grooves of the wooden table. She felt Natsu lean forwards and Lucy jutted out her chin when she met his gaze.
"It's the least I could do. I'm sorry for breaking that locket of yours," He said with a nervous chuckle. Lucy shrugged. Looking back, Natsu crushing that infernal necklace was probably for the best. Even though it served as a reminder of her mother, it was just a necklace. A cursed one, apparently. Besides, with the power running through her she felt better than ever before. Magic was real. All her problems- like assignments and work- seemed superficial now.
"If you don't mind me asking, what are you?" She asked, wincing at the awkward phrasing of her question. If memory served her right, Natsu had a type of fire magic. Natsu just waved away her concerns and answered, "I'm a fire drakon."
When Lucy tilted her head, and raised a brow, Natsu shifted in his seat and said, "I was raised by a dragon, Igneel and he taught me fire-dragon magic."
"A dragon. They're real?" Lucy exclaimed with wide eyes. Natsu chuckled and nodded, but a somber look clouded his eyes.
"Yup, at least they used to. Nobody's seen one in a long time," He said. Lucy reached out and placed her hand on his, still surprised at the warmth of his skin, and said, "I'm sorry."
Natsu shrugged. He grabbed one of the few croissants remaining on the table and tossed it into his mouth. He told Lucy about his search for Igneel, his father and that he had no luck so far, but he wasn't going to give up so easily. Lucy smiled softly, her emotions wracking together inside her. Her father, he must not be human if he was truly her father. The thought made her question her entire childhood. She wondered if she should seek out her father and see if he could answer the question of what she was, but memories of his abuse had her leaning more towards discovering her identity on her own.
"I'm sure Levy'll find something," He said, as though he could read her thoughts. Lucy bit her bottom lip. She pocketed the key in the front pocket of her jeans. Wait, but these were not her jeans, she realized. She cursed, drawing a curious look from Natsu, and asked, "Do you think I can run to my house and grab some things?"
Natsu shrugged, saying he couldn't see why not. He wolfed down the rest of the food and announced that he would join her. His protective instinct was tangible, and Lucy felt a wave of relief.
The blonde decided to run upstairs and grab her bag and use the restroom before they left, leaving Natsu sitting at the table alone in the empty dining hall. The moment she closed her door behind her, Lucy's knees gave out and she collapsed against the carpeted floor. Now that she was alone, her feelings came tumbling past the wall she had been holding up ever since her magic exploded. Tears pricked her eyes and sobs wracked her body. The shudders subsided after a few moments until only her hands quivered. She reached out and smashed a fist against the floor with an angered grunt. The carpet dented and her fist left a small dip in the floor. Lucy felt her panic rising again and she tried to contain the panic attack she could feel approaching. She may have accepted that she was not human and that magic existed, but embracing her new appearance and power was a much higher mountain to climb.
When Lucy calmed down enough to return downstairs, Natsu was no longer alone. A scarlet-haired woman stood with her armored arms crossed over her chest, and a dark-haired shirt-less man sat next to Natsu. Both turned and faced Lucy as she approached, and Lucy felt another wave of unease.
"Um, hi," She stuttered, adjusting the straps of her backpack on her shoulders. Natsu jumped up and gave her a bright smile that soothed her nerves.
"I'm Erza Scarlet," The armor wearing woman said, extending a hand for Lucy to shake. Lucy smiled and shook the woman's hand, schooling her pained expression into a cheerful one when the woman squeezed Lucy's hand. The man grumbled and coldly introduced himself as Gray. While Natsu exuded warmth, Gray leaked cold. Lucy assumed he had ice magic, if the frigid air surrounding him was any indication. Erza was harder to read. She had no idea what kind of magic Erza wielded but Lucy could tell the woman possessed an immense strength.
"It's nice to meet you both, I'm Lucy." She said with a bright smile. She could feel the tension in the air as the two mages warily looked her over. No doubt they had seen her outburst earlier. Lucy knew their mistrust was warranted, but it still stung.
"Alright! Let's get a move on, the old man said we're good to go," Natsu chirped. Lucy's fingers dipped into her pocket to touch the cool refreshing metal of the key. Its presence soothed her nerves. Lucy followed Natsu to the grand double doors at the front of the guild hall, and felt the other mages behind her.
"You don't mind if these two join in, do ya, Luce?" Natsu asked. Lucy shook her head and said, "I don't mind."
"Awesome! Don't listen to Gray though, he's an ass," Natsu said, glaring over at the ice mage.
"Like you're one to talk, flame-brain," Gray retorted. The two glared at each other and both drew back their fists and were about to start fighting when Erza stepped between them and cleared her throat, sending the two in opposite directions. Lucy giggled at their interactions. She could tell that they had known each other from a young age.
"Wait, where is this place? How are we going to get to my apartment?" Lucy asked. Gray just smirked, and Natsu gave her a wicked grin. Even Erza appeared amused. Lucy stopped and was tempted to run back to her new bedroom rather than face the two devious looking men before her.
"Oh, don't worry. We have magic," Natsu said with a devilish smile. Lucy felt a trickle of anticipation tingle down her spine at the devious twist of Natsu's lips. The drakon grabbed Lucy by the hand and pulled her towards the intricate doors, Erza and Gray on their heels.
"Is it still programmed from last night?" Erza asked and Natsu hummed in affirmation. Lucy felt even more confused. Programmed?
"Um, how are we going to get to my apartment?" She asked hesitantly. They were standing before the grand doors now, and Lucy could feel the electric current from the doors raising the hair on her arms. When Natsu touched his palm to one of the doors, the wood shook and crackled with electricity. Lucy gasped when the wooden doors started to fade away. White light shone through the doorway, and Natsu whooped and pushed Lucy through the white light.
She stumbled, her feet tripping on the uneven concrete. Lucy fell forwards and she reached out and grabbed onto the wall in front of her to keep her balance. A wave of nausea climbed up from her gut and she gagged. Her entire body was tingling and she saw small white sparks bouncing off her skin and clothes. She felt like she had just fell from a cliff and into the hard, unforgiving water below.
When the overwhelming discomfort passed, Lucy looked around to take stock of her surroundings. Her breath caught in her throat when she recognized the slimy brick walls of the alley she had been cornered and attacked in. The dented bricks where the demon had thrown her was still there.
She heard the others crashing through the portal, but when she looked over the bricks of the wall were already growing back over the magical portal. Natsu stretched his arms and swore. "Man, I'll never get used to that."
"Um, what the fuck just happened?" Lucy exclaimed, her voice cracking. The Fairy Tail mages gave her a blank look. Lucy glared over at Natsu and waved her arms wildly at the scene around her.
"Why are we back here?" She demanded. Natsu had the decency to look somewhat uneasy as he said, "This was the last place the portal opened, so this is where it took us."
Lucy just gaped. Magical portal. Sure, why not. She mumbled incoherently under her breath as she started to stalk out of the alleyway and towards her apartment.
"Oi, Luce! Where ya going? Wait for me." Natsu called. He hurried after the blonde, who had already disappeared around the corner. Erza walked over to the dented brick and touched her fingers to the cracks, her brow furrowed.
"You gonna follow them?" Gray asked. The red head shook her head, "I'm going to go find some answers."
Gray sighed as she bounded up the side of the building and disappeared on the rooftops. He turned and followed after Natsu and Lucy, determined to keep his family safe.
Uploading a day early? Already? I hope I can keep this trend going...
Woah, updating a day early? Already? I hope I can keep this trend going...
Please let me know what you think about this chapter! I hope it was not too boring, gotta get through some of the exposition.
Reviews help keep me motivated! Thanks for reading!
