Memories of a Teenage Amnesiac
SUMMER
She ran. Away and away. To an unknown place, far away.
Because she saw. Saw the past, and who she was connected with.
Saw what really happened that day. That day she disappeared.
Yes, her memories have returned. Yes, she's happy, she really is, but there's just a part of her that's missing.
A part of her longs to be with the boy who stole her first kiss, and a part of her feels like something is off.
Entering the jail cell, the watch guards tell her she only has 15 minutes to chat. Scanning the halls and each criminal, she looks for a certain criminal. The one who caused this all to happen.
Spotting the familiar face in his cell, she makes her way over to him. Touching the metal bars of the cell, she hears him humming a familiar tune.
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?
"Excuse me..."
The guy looks at her. Raising an eyebrow, Lucy looks directly into his crystal blue icy eyes.
His dark hair matched the dark expression he has on his face.
"Lucy Heartfilia," he says.
"Why did you do this to me? My amnesia wasn't due to the fall, it was you, I know it," she says, demanding answers.
"Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high. There's a land I've heard of, once in a lullaby~"
"Stop singing!" She shouts, covering her ears.
And then he goes silent, lips shut, eyes twinkling with amusement. Her heartbeat races, and the song gets louder and louder in her ears, hurting her eardrums, causing a pain in her head.
And then she hears it, a voice. A little girl's voice.
Come, come...
Over the rainbow where bluebirds fly...
Spread your wings and we shall fly...
And then she hears the girly giggle of the little girl's voice in her head. Luring her to go somewhere. Past the gates, past the jail cell, out the door, somewhere far, far away.
No.
Lucy shakes her head, and gets these thoughts out of her head. She looks at the time. 13 minutes left. She needs to hurry and get her answers.
"I don't know what you want, but why did you purposely give me amnesia? I don't have my full memories, but I saw what I needed to see. What do you want?" She asks, needing answers.
The man taps his fingers on the jail cell.
"You're a fun person to play with. I'm surprised you're still alive," he chuckles. "Then again, you ARE Lucy Heartfilia after all~" He laughs.
"What?"
"Do you hear the music?"
"Stop playing with my mind. What did you do to me?!" She asks, as the music gets louder and louder.
And she can hear the giggles of the little girl. Luring her... Away, and away...
"Can you see the bluebirds fly? Way up high, into the sky? See their feathers, blue like the sky. Take my hand, and we can fly~" He says, blending his dark, sinister voice with the angelic voice of the innocent child in her head.
Hearbeats beat rapidly, and the little girl giggles.
Clutching onto the wall, she feels herself getting dizzy, and woozy... As if she's being manipulated...
Manipulated...
"Stop!"
The man looks at her in amusement.
Laughing, Lucy replies. "This isn't going to work on me you know."
The man chuckles once more, and stops tapping his fingers on the wall.
"Do you remember? This is the same very song your mother sang to you before she died."
Lucy looks at him with her heart beating rapidly. In the corner of her mind, she can hear her mother singing these same words to her, just before she died. The grey hospital bed, the dark clouds hovering the sky.
The very same song.
Is this memory for real? Or is it just one of his many games?
"How do you know?"
"I see beyond the eyes."
Right, she thought. This was a manipulation Mage she was talking to. But now that she knows, she shouldn't fall for his tricks, whether they may be real or not.
"What does this song has to do with anything?" She asks.
"We can be friends."
"What?"
"Tell me... Do you want to be happy?"
"You're creepy," she says...
"If happy little bluebirds fly -"
Lucy cuts him short. "Stop with the stupid song! I need answers. Who are you and why did you choose to mess with me?! How do you get the stupid music out of my ears?!" She asks him, annoyed.
"You're a lost child, sad on the inside... I can feel your emotions, your soul, your heart," he whispers, blending his voice with the little girl's voice in her head.
Feeling shivers and goosebumps, Lucy takes a deep breath. Her heart is racing, and for some reason this so called innocent girl isn't as innocent as her voice sounds like.
The whispers, she can hear it all. She can feel the tug, the luring of the winds, whispering out to her.
But why?
She's inside a building, there shouldn't be any wind. There's no windows the room she's at right now, so where is the wind coming from?
And there it is again. The music. The song.
And the giggles.
"You can be happy again, happy like me," the little girl's voice says in her mind.
Happy again...
No.
Lucy shakes her head. This is all just a game.
"Who is this girl that speaks to me in my head?" She asks the man, glaring.
"You."
Silence.
"Stop messing with me. Get the music and the girl out of my mind and let me live my life. I don't care what you want, but I need answers!" She says, and the man chuckles.
"There is a way to be happy again. You can be with your mommy. And your papa. A happy family. There is a forest a mile away from here to the east. When you get there, there is a lake. Close your eyes and jump! It will take you over the rainbow," the man whispers, voice once again blending in with the little girl's voice.
The little girl giggles in her mind, and Lucy shakes her head. She looks at the time.
5 minutes left.
But she doesn't care.
Breathing heavily, with tears streaming down her cheeks, she runs from him, runs far, far away.
To a land, far, far away.
Just kidding.
The little girl giggles.
Feeling an urge to turn east into the forest, Lucy resist if, and runs to a safer place.
Fairy Tail.
And then she sees it. A little blonde miniature her, standing outside the guild doors, wearing a white dress, ruffling as if there was a breeze.
But there was no breeze, as the air was humid and dry.
And the girl giggles.
Let's go!
Eyes widening, heart racing, Lucy shakes her head.
And then she screams.
And all that's left is nothing but black.
"LUCY! You're awake! What happened?! Who did this to you?!" A panicked voice shouts, as Lucy adjust her eyes to her surroundings.
Taking a glance at Natsu, she sees that she is in the guild's infirmary.
The two looks at each other, before an awkward silence spreads, as they think about their last encounter and the kiss they shared.
"Uh... Hey Natsu..."
"Who knocked you out?" Erza asks, ready for a battle.
Lucy bites her lip. "The guy that gave me amnesia."
"What? Isn't he in jail? We took care of him already!" Gray shouts, confused and angry.
Lucy shakes her head, and gets out of bed. "No. I came here because I need help. He... He manipulates people's minds, and I think he's starting to take control of mine," she tells them.
"But he's in jail... How is he using magic?" Natsu asks, earning a smack on the shoulder from Gray.
"He probably cast the spell BEFORE he for arrested or something. Use your brain, stupid."
"How was I supposed to know, you freak!" Natsu shouts at his rival.
Both boys earning a glare from Erza, they immediately silence their mouths, and Lucy giggles.
"Lucy... The man you guys encountered during the job... He manipulates people, you say?" Erza asks, and Lucy nods.
"He sees everything. Gets a voice inside me telling me to run. And just go, be happy," she says, humming a familiar tune without noticing it.
Eyes stare out the window, humming the same tune, same song. Looking at the clouds, she feels a brush of cold wind. Her eyes start to turn into a blank shade of color, before Gray snaps his fingers.
"Snap out of it Lucy! You're stronger than this!" Gray shouts.
Her attention goes back to reality, and looks at him with a shocked face. How long as she been out? She doesn't even know.
But he is right. She is stronger than this. Yes, she has barely any memories, but she remembers bits and fragments from her past.
And she remembers that moment clearly. Except with a small blur here and there. The moment she lost her memories of the past.
"Um guys?" A faint voice says, and everyone looks at the door.
"Levy...?" Lucy asks, with a little memory of the girl. The bookworm.
"I think I can help Lu-chan with her memories. And the music with the hallucinations and such."
"You can? Please help!" Natsu begs.
The group makes their way downstairs, as everyone listens to what Levy has to say carefully.
"According to Lu-chan, this Mage manipulates people, right?"
Lucy nods.
"The song. You mentioned he was singing a song your mother used to sing for you when you were little, am I right?" Levy asks.
Once again, Lucy nods, unsure of what the girl is getting at.
"Well then, the song must have a meaning to it. Do you remember the lyrics?" Levy asks.
Do you remember the lyrics?
Do you remember the song?
Come now, sing with me.
And we can be happily free.
And there it is again. Her voice. The little child's voice inside her head, whispering to her. She giggles, and Lucy feels shivers down her spine.
"Lucy?" Gray asks, and she snaps back to reality.
"Oh sorry. It's just that..."
"If Lucy sings the song, what are the side effects Levy?" Erza asks, cautious.
"I don't know."
And not knowing was the scariest thing of all.
"Y-you know what guys, it's getting dark outside. Let's finish this tomorrow," Lucy says shakily, and runs out the door.
Hearing voices in her head, she ignores them, and runs to where her feet takes her to.
Seeing her scared, Natsu and Happy look at each other, before chasing after the girl without her knowing anything.
She hears them. Calling to her. The ocean. The waves.
She allows her legs carry her through a strange forest, before she stops at a cliff. High up in the rocks, she admires the clouds and all the landscapes around her.
She breathes in, breathing in the warm, moist air of summer. Clearing her throat, she stands on the edge of the cliff.
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
Theres a land I heard of, once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true
...
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are way behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me
...
Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
...
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
Lucy laughs, and looks at the sky.
Yes, if birds can fly, why can't she? If she can cross the rainbow in the sky, she can be happy. She can be free. She can be with her parents again.
But then what about Fairy Tail?
But wait, does she even know them? Who are they anyways?
Closing her eyes, she realizes that perhaps she didn't need their help in the first place. Perhaps she can find happiness on her own. Happiness lies somewhere over the rainbow.
By now, the music is getting louder and louder, and the little girl's voice sings the lyrics gracefully.
Humming the music with closed eyes, Lucy smiles. Happy at the peace.
But then she feels it, the ground cracking down underneath her. The ground she stood on is now cracking, and it's going to bring her down too.
Stretching her arms to grab hold of what remains on top, the piece of land she held is also being pulled down.
Panicking, she reaches for her keys. The one who makes things fluffy! Perhaps that spirit can provide a cushion for her fall.
But all that's down was water.
Aries or Aquarius?
Feeling her keys slide past her fingers, she grabs hold of them as tight as she can. But gravity pulls them down.
And so, she feels her eyes closing.
They say that when one dies, their life flashes before their eyes. That they see a blinding white light, and all their worries get erased.
And in that moment, she sees it. Her memories. A dream. A dream of her life, flashing in front of her eyes.
She sees the adventures she's gone through. She sees everything that happened before, up until now. She sees her friends, her family, her life.
And then she realizes that the music is gone. Disappeared. As well as the little girl's voice.
She's sure of it. She's dead.
She can feel the cool wind on her skin, as if she's flying.
And then she realizes something.
It was all a trick.
A manipulation to get her to kill herself, and she realizes that it worked. It's too late now to turn back, unless... Unless she was still alive.
And then she feels it. A furry item gripping her hands, and she ends up flying upwards.
She opens her eyes.
Yes! She's still alive! There's still hope!
The manipulation magic is gone now, and she realizes that all was nothing but a trick. A way to twist her into suicidal, so he won't have to take the blame. Oh, how foolish she was.
"LUCY!"
She sees herself being placed on the ground, and sees two arms wrap around her, and feels a strange kind of warmth.
"Natsu..."
"DON'T EVER DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT YOU HEAR ME?!" He screams, angry yet sad at the same time.
Lucy remains silent, feeling something wet on her cheeks. Not only was she crying, but so was he.
Then she remembers something, a memory so far away. That day the mission took place, it happened in this very same forest. That day she got amnesia, she was being manipulated off the same very cliff.
So it would only make sense that Natsu was crying and afraid, because the same events took place. At the same location, with the same actions.
Sitting up, she scoots closer to him, and hugs him. The blue cat cuddles into her arms, and for a moment they stay like this, grateful in each other's embrace.
"Thanks Happy," she says, breaking the hug.
But one hand was still holding Natsu's hand, and they sit close to each other, never letting go.
"Aye... Lucy, don't leave us again, please?"
She pats his head with another hand, and strokes his kitty fur.
"I won't."
Footsteps come, and the three of them turn around, looking at the figure. A short man comes into the light, and clears his throat.
"Gramps?"
"Master?" .
"The song somewhere over the rainbow is a nursery rhyme. Although in first glance many may think it's an ordinary children's lullaby, it also holds a deeper meaning," he starts.
Lucy nods.
"The term somewhere over the rainbow can refer to two things. In some people's eyes, somewhere over the rainbow means to cross the bridge to the afterlife. After death, that is where they believe they will find happiness."
"Basically that wizard wanted me to die, and in order to did, he manipulated me making me think I'll be happy in the end..." Lucy states.
"Yes," Makarov says. "But for you, you can be happy even without death. The term somewhere over the rainbow can mean an obstacle you have to face in order to achieve your goals and gain happiness. You don't need to die to become happy. The Afterlife is unknown to us, and so enjoy life while it lasts."
Silence pierces the air, before Natsu too, stands up. Stretching his arms towards Lucy, he grins. "Come with me to Fairy Tail!"
And then she smiles.
"I will!"
And for the first time in forever, she stays. She doesn't run away from her past. Instead, she chooses to stay with the people she's loved.
Now that her memories are fully back, she doesn't need answers anymore. Life is full of surprises, and she isn't going to risk her life looking for answers to useless things.
After what Makarov had said, she's realized that realization is the key to breaking the spell. The music is long gone now, and she isn't hearing voices anymore.
As Lucy takes Natsu's hand, Makarov watches the two kids run towards the guild, giggling along the way.
Stopping in his tracks, Lucy bumps into him.
"Ow, why did you stop for?" She complains.
Natsu looks at her with an intense stare, gazing into her eyes, and getting closer. Breathing in his scent, Lucy feels a bit odd, seeing how close they are. Her cheeks seem to be getting warmer, and for some reason her heart is beating rapidly.
"Can I kiss you?" He asks.
Lucy looks at him, before glancing away,embarrassed.
"You are the least romantic person in the world, I swear," she laughs, before closing the gap between their mouths.
Surprised at first, Natsu too, kisses back, wrapping his hands around her waist, pulling her closer to him.
And when they broke apart, Lucy smiles along with Natsu. Hand in hand, they head towards the guild, without any words needed to be spoken.
And then, she realizes that she has passed that obstacle, and now she's somewhere over the rainbow.
And in a faint distance she can hear the little girl's voice telling Lucy she's proud of her.
And in a faint distance, she can hear the song, but this time, it was pleasant.
And so she realizes. She is free.
Like the bluebirds in the sky, flying high, she is flying, just in her own little world.
She is free.
And then she decides Summer is her favorite season. And this time, she stays for good.
Not sure if this chapter turned out alright, but I hope you guys liked it! I might make an epilogue, but as for now I'm not sure.
Anyways, leave a review and let me know how you felt! :)
Thanks for all your support!