Hello again. So it's been kinda awhile, but I finally updated. I'm hoping to get chapters out more steadily, but I can't make any promises.
On another note, I have myself a beta tester, so sometime in the near future, these chapters should be undergoing some improvements.
Anywho, enjoy this tragedy of a chapter. :')
Lucy hadn't ever encountered a rat before. Her old home was far too clean to house rats. She'd seen a mouse, but she found those to be cute. The things were terrifyingly ugly. Lucy could find herself developing a fear of them, especially if things didn't go well in this battle. Lucy stepped back with Cana. They pressed against each other.
Cana had her gladius pointed at the large creature and Lucy had her whip out hanging at her side. Lacaille, the pierced rat, bared its teeth and hissed. It inched toward them. Lucy remained incredibly steady. She was impressed with herself. She had feared she'd break down at the start of a fight, but it wasn't like that. She understood why she wasn't afraid. She was fighting alongside her friends, for her friends.
In the moment, it felt like she would never be afraid of anything again. She scolded herself for this thought immediately. If she kept thinking that she'd be dead in no time for sure. There were plenty of things for her to be afraid of. She had a feeling when she confronted those things, she would be afraid. Terrified even. She got rid of those thoughts. She needed to focus on the now. The threat right in front of her.
The rat was large, which also meant it was strong, at least stronger than Lucy and Cana were. Its teeth and claws were sharp, each on like its own knife. Lucy could tell close combat would only work in its favor. She noted it's tail. She considered the possibility of the creature using this as a weapon as well. Its thickness would certainly knock both Lucy and Cana off there feet easily and since it was long, they didn't need to be very close to it to do so. It seemed like the only way to for sure get a hit on the creature was to take it by surprise. But what could the do to surprise it?
In this situation, Lucy's whip couldn't really do much as far as harming the creature compared to Cana's weapon, but it did have a farther range than her Gladius. Lucy considered the possibility of striking the beast in the eyes, but she didn't have much confidence in her aim with the whip yet. It was also difficult because she had no way to communicate these things with Cana. They could only trust each other to come up with a plan and act and hope the other person understood and cooperated. Lucy could see now, fighting was truly as much as a mind game as a physical one. Or maybe she was overthinking it.
The rat was inching closer and Lucy could feel them running out of time. The creature would make a move soon. Maybe that's what they wanted though. Lacaille's action could open different opportunities to them or maybe it will cause their instincts to kick and take control of the battle. Lucy took steady breaths. She decided to wait. Either Cana would come up with something, or the rat would make its move and they'd follow suit.
The waiting game they were playing made Lucy slightly impatient. But she liked the feeling it gave her. That anxious excitement that made her muscles itch. She glanced over to Cana who wore a calculating face that most likely matched the one she was making. Lucy smiled when she saw her take a swig from the flask she carried.
Lacaille took this moment to act. It pounced at Cana. It had taken the bait. Cana set up a moment where it seemed like she was distracted, but she was fully aware. Cana rolled underneath the rat so that she was behind it. Lucy was unsure of what she should do. The rat was having a moment of confusion. It was the perfect time to do something.
She glanced at Cana only to see her Gladius flying through the air towards her. Lucy dropped her whip and grabbed it. It was heavy, but she didn't think about that in the moment. Instead, her instincts flung her towards the rat who simultaneously cocked its head towards Lucy. It flung its tail towards her. Lucy managed to jump over it. Surely, it should've been impossible for her carrying such a heavy weapon, but the adrenaline worked in her favor. Lucy brought the Gladius down on the creature who squealed in pain. Lucy tried to pull the thing out again, but her arms felt weak.
"Lucy, switch with me!" Cana called. Lucy nodded in understanding and hopped over the creature large mound of fur. It thrashed wildly, its tail swinging all over breaking clocks that lined the walls. Cana raced in, dodging the creature's tail skillfully. She yanked the gladius out from the creature skillfully. Think silver blood dripped down it. Not a second later, Cana brought the sword on the creature again, this time a fatal blow.
The creature wailed, them only moment laters vanished into the air turning to a glittery silver dust. Its three gold earrings were left behind. Each of them the size of Lucy's hand. Granted her hands were fairly small. Cana scooped up the rings triumphantly. They were Fairy Tail's to keep.
Gray found himself shivering. He looked around him. He was surrounded by snow. Everything around his as white as a sheet of paper. Gray looked up, snowflakes drifted softly from the sky and landed on his tingling nose. He looked down at himself. His body was nearly completely bear, only his tight-fitting boxers to cover him. His mature and muscular physique was no longer present. Instead, in the body of an active prepubescent child. He scrunched his toes in the snow. He heard a voice of distant familiarity call to him.
"Gray! How dare you beat me here! I was gonna be the first one to show up and impress Ur!" Gray raised his head to the source of the voice. A cocky smile spread across his face instinctively was he saw a boy with spiky white hair the color of the snow around them and coal colored eyes rushing towards him in nothing but his underwear.
"Nice try Lyon!" Gray put his hands on his hips. "I wouldn't let a fool like you beat me." Lyon snarled.
"Boys you're already here? " Ur said as she was coming up the hill. "You both missed breakfast. I worked so hard on it." Ur said. Gray and Lyon frowned guiltily now.
"We're sorry, Ur!" They said.
"Well, you don't need to apologize to me. You'll be sorry enough when your stomach is growling through training. We aren't taking any breaks." She stated. Unwilling to take their anger out on Ur because of respect and fear of the woman, they turned to each other with wild looks of anger.
"Its was Gray's fault!" Lyon accused instantly.
"My fault. How do you figure." Gray put his hands on his hips. "I had no idea you were planning on getting here early, just as I didn't know you were going to get here early. It's your own fault." Gray countered. Ur giggled.
"That's enough boys. Its both of your faults. You're both equally to blame. Can we agree upon that?" Ur offered. Gray nodded willingly, but Lyon mumbled a reluctant fine. "Good. Now let's get to work."
The days often went like this. Gray and Lyon would train with Ur on the snowy hilltop bickering relentlessly all the way through. They found any opportunity to argue with each other; to compete with each other. Ur was always quick to shut them up, however.
They weren't brothers, not really, but they might as well have been. In the same way, Ur wasn't their mother, but she was. Gray and Lyon learned everything they could from Ur. She fueled the young boys' aspirations to become adventurers.
They were happy the three of them, occasionally the four of them, once holidays and breaks rolled around. Ur had a daughter, Ultear, however, she was never around much. Ur sent her to a school a good distance away. Ultear had always been smart and a fast learner. Ur had homeschooled her for most of her elementary years, but by middle school, Ur could no longer teach her. Ultear needed a better education than what Ur was giving her. So she enrolled Ultear in the closest boarding school that would fit Ultear's educational needs. Ultear was never interested in combat and fighting, not like Gray and Lyon were. Despite the fact that she was a Key Keeper— she made sure few people knew this— she wasn't interested in becoming an adventurer.
Things could've gone on like that forever. But the thing is: all good things come to an end.
Gray and Lyon waited eagerly for Ultear to arrive. It'd been a couple months since they'd seen her, but they weren't eager for her to get there because they had missed her. They simply weren't allowed to eat until she arrived.
"Our food's gonna get cold. Can't Ultear hurry up." Lyon complained. Ur shot the boy a look.
"You like the food better cold anyway," Ur stated. "Besides, it would do you good to have some patience." Gray snickered at Lyon who kicked his bare foot against the wooden floor in frustration.
They waited there for an hour or more. The exact amount of time was unknown to them as the silence seemed to drag on for forever. Time stretched itself out so much so you couldn't tell what was an hour and what was a second. No matter how long they were in wait. Ultear still had yet to arrive and one thing was known for certain amongst them. She should have.
Ur was visibly upset. The boys, noticing her concern, made sure not to complain anymore or show impatience of any kind. By now their food was no longer fresh and instead, it was cold and dry. Though it hadn't mattered much now, none of them were hunger anymore. The time had sucked away their hunger and concern kept it from coming back. Lyon's once kicking feet began to dig into the floor. Gray stared intently at the door. Any second, he said to himself in his head, Any second Ultear will walk through that door.
There was an uneasiness in the air. They weren't certain of its origin, but it was there and it weighed on them and the silent kitchen. They felt that they need to stay deathly still and quiet, or else they'll miss something important. Something was to happen. They all had the feeling. That something was to happen. And it surely wasn't good.
The thick silence had finally been interrupted. Ur had stood up with her palms pressed firmly on the table.
"We ought to eat and go to bed," Ur stated. Lyon and Gray exchanged a look.
"Don't you think we should go out and look for her?" Gray asked. "I mean what if something happened…"
Ur sighed. "I'm sure it's fine. She won't be pleased if I make a big spectacle about it when there was nothing wrong."
"If you say so," Gray said slowly. "But what if there's really something wrong?"
"Just drop it, Gray. If Ur says it's alright it probably is." Lyon stated. Gray nodded reluctantly.
"Go on and eat," Ur stated.
"I'm not hungry," Gray stated. Lyon nodded. Ur sighed again.
"Then go onto bed. Tomorrow we'll have dinner with Ultear. I'm sure she'll be back by then." Ur said. Gray and Lyon nodded and left the table. From their room, they could here Ur cleaning up dinner. Despite not wanting to, the two boys fell asleep.
A scream ran out through the small cabin. Gray shot up from his sleep. Lyon taking not long after him to wake up to. Gray and Lyon stood up and ran from their rooms. The two boys froze in place at the scene in front of them. A man that they didn't recognize held Ur against the counter. The man's appearance was dismissed by the boys. The only thing the focused on was Ur and the knife that threatened to stab her. Ur spotted the boys before the man did. Her eyes were wide with terror. She gave them a look that she had hoped would tell them to hide, but it was no use the boys didn't understand. Even if they did, they wouldn't have left her.
"Let her go!" Lyon acted first with his plea, but Gray lept into action. He charged towards the man. He jumped frantically on his back. Gray beat at the man's chest wailing widely.
"Gray! Gray! Stop it! You'll be killed." Ur was screaming for Gray to stop.
The man flung Gray off his back in one swift movement. Gray fell into the table with a yelp. Lyon took Gray's example and ran at the man. Before Lyon could touch him, he was kicked away and fell to the floor. The man turned his attention back to Ur who'd taken the moments of distraction to arm herself with a knife of her own.
She held her arms steady with the knife pointed at the man. She lunged forward with the intention of shoving the knife into the man. The man grabbed her wrist and struck her stomach. Ur swung to the side to avoid the blow while at the same time twisted her wrist out of the man's grasp. The man took no break and swung at Ur again. This time with more impatience.
Ur ducked away from the swing and was about to strike again when the man's knee made impact with her stomach. She crouched down holding her stomach. In two short moments, she was kicked to the side. She sprawled on the ground. She struggled to get up but the man was steadily approaching. He sat on top of her, preventing her from moving. He raised his large knife, the light from the room glittering off of it.
Lyon and Gray began to charge again, but they weren't nearly fast enough. The knife plunged into Ur with the most gruesome sound that rung in the boys' ears. At the site of the blood, they erupted into a terrible rage. Gray had grabbed the knife that Ur had lost. He shoved it into the man's back without mercy as Lyon had his arms and legs wrapped around him wildly. Gray stabbed the man mercilessly until movement from the man ceased.
Gray breathed heavily. The knife fell from his hands. Lyon shoved the man's body from him and rushed to Ur. Tears streamed down his face while blood soaked his clothing. Gray let out a sudden wail. He was crying now as well. His arms wrapped around his knees and his face buried in the dark space he created between in thighs and torso.
They didn't notice when Ultear finally appeared in the doorway. Her coat and hair were covered in snow. She came running in frantically saying, "I'm so sorry the train had a delay because of the weather—" She dropped her luggage, let out a scream, and fell to her knees.
Reviews:
the real narnia: Thanks. Yup, I just liked the idea of Igneel being able to bullshit his way out of a situation. I'm glad you liked it. Don't worry I understand your impatience and they will still be a lot more of impatience on your end, unfortunately. :) Nalu will happen eventually. ;)
Ashthenerdystargazer: Well thank you :) Don't worry I wouldn't have answered that question anyway. ;) I completely understand the curiosity thing (me and curiosity never stop either). You're too flipping kind I swear. Just know this review specifically is and will be a major motivator to get my lazy butt working. Thank you so so so much :D
The Ancient Pheonix: lol, i know. :)
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Well anyway, have a lovely day.
If you leave a review I'll love you forever.
I'm excited to write Erza's past next. its gonna be the best one cause jellal's in it ;)
