Thank you so much for giving this story a chance. Over 200 hits? Wow =D
And thanks for all those who reviewed and left some feedback. (And thanks for pointing out my mistakes)
While this story was written by the one and only moi, I don't own Fairy Tail.
Now be prepared to meet the mages…
The gown was full-skirted, long and flowing with lace trimmings. And it was exactly like all the other beautiful expensive gowns she owned, except this one was a hideous pale pink color. She sighed in melancholy and reluctantly slipped into the gown she had been given. She had wished that she had instead received the book she had been longing for, 'Alice's Adventure in Wonderland'.
"At least he remembered," she reminded herself in a small thankful whisper. Carefully, she lifted the skirt of the gown and slipped into her cream-colored shoes.
Cautious not to step and trip on her gown, she went to the windows of her room and drew back the silk curtains to let the light spill into her spacious bedroom. Behind the far mountains, the sun was peaking out, slowly rising and filling the clouded sky with light.
Closer to the huge intimidating mansion she called home were acres of green grass – the garden. The emerald green grass was bathing in the new sunlight in joy. She hoped that somewhere, lost in the mass of green, was a fluffy white rabbit ready to take her away.
II - Oddity Friends
She was, like most teenage girls her age, obsessed about clothes. What to wear, what not to, the latest fashion and etc. But for Lucy, she had to be careful about what clothes she bought. Jewels were not something that she could recklessly spend.
But there she was, walking back to the Inn with her hands full with shopping bags. She shouldn't have bought so much. Really, Lucy? She thought with bitterness and irritation at herself. So many clothes! I'll have to get a part-time job!
And all for what, too? To go to a carnival? That certainly wasn't worth all the effort. It was for him. Natsu. All this effort for some boy? But he wasn't just some boy. He'd made her heart beat so fast and now she was nervous to see him again.
It's not like he'll even care what I wear! The smart, intelligent and self-assured side of herself thought. He doesn't even wear a shirt? Do you really think he'll care? she reminded herself as she debated whether to wear a pleated black skirt of jean miniskirt.
Black skirt, definitely, the girly part of Lucy decided. It'll go great with the boots! Now, what top…?
Her father would most certainly not approve her choice of clothing. The only clothes he had allowed her to wear, back in the dark days, were long ball gowns which had had millions of silkworms massacred to create. They were extremely expensive also, but her father hadn't cared about that. All he'd cared about was for his daughter to hold the image of a sophisticated and high-class woman so he could tell the world that this was his 'beloved' daughter whom he had raised.
I shouldn't be thinking about him while getting ready for my first date, she thought, uncertain which 'side' of her had suggested that. Then her eyes widened in realization of what she'd just thought. Wait, who said this was a date? Is it a date?
How would I know, I've never been on a date before! Lucy nearly slapped herself. Am I arguing with myself? What's that Natsu done to me…?
She cringed. This boy was having more affect on her than she'd thought. It was normal to feel like this, she was a teenage girl, but she was different from other girls. For one, she had no one else to turn to for advice or comfort.
Mom, I wish you were here now. I really need some girl talk.
She fixed her purple halter-top and her medium-length blond hair and then headed to the door.
Wait. She stopped and looked back at the room she was staying in. Hilda, the owner of the Inn, had told her that no one other than the occupant and herself were able to get into the rooms, so her things were safe. However, there was an odd feeling in Lucy that made her reach into her bag and get out the items her mother had delegated her and the others she, herself, had come into the possession of.
They were keys, but they didn't open just any ordinary door. She hooked them onto her belt, made sure that they were secure, and then finally headed to the carnival.
… … …
"Wow," she said in awe as she entered the carnival. There were booths everywhere, twinkling fairy lights, kids running about screaming and even a Ferris wheel. In the distance, she could see a huge striped tent. That must be where we'll watch the circus acts.
"Luuuucyyyyyyy," A voice shouted loudly. Lucy looked around, her eyes landing on Natsu, whom was running to her with excitement. He barged into many people in the process, yet his grin still remained.
Wow, he's really happy to see me! Lucy felt herself go red. Speaking of Happy, where is he? The flying cat seemed to be nowhere in sight. Before she could give it another thought, Natsu forgot how to brake and ran straight into her!
"Ahhh!" she screamed as she staggered back. Unable to regain balance, she fell to the floor with Natsu toppled on top of her. Though she thought it wasn't possible, Lucy grew redder. "Get off me!" she shouted at him.
"Oof," Natsu said as Lucy pushed him off and he rolled onto the floor, beside her. "You're really strong," he said in surprise. Lucy glared at him.
Natsu quickly arose and held out his hand to her. She smiled a little and took it. He pulled her up with no effort at all. And he thought I was strong!
"C'mon!" he said. Unexpectedly, he started running, hauling her along.
"W- where are we going?" she asked, trying to keep up with him. Thank goodness I didn't wear the high-heels!
Natsu didn't answer, but continued running, and they whizzed past many booths. The people in the booths – Natsu's circus friends – shouted out to him as they passed.
Finally, they stopped to a halt. Just in time too because Lucy was nearly out of breathe. She crouched over to catch her breathe and saw a pair of feet dainty feet in Mary Jane flats in front of her.
"Hello Natsu," the voice of a little girl's said. Lucy straightened up and saw a small girl was standing in front of her and Natsu. "Hi!" the girl said to her with a bright smile.
"Lucy, this is my sister Wendy," Natsu told Lucy. She looked from Wendy to Natsu, confused. Wendy looked around 12-years-old with long dark blue hair and an adorable face with brown eyes.
"I'm not really Natsu's sister," Wendy said, blushing and she tucked her hands behind her back. She wore cute blue and yellow summer dress.
Natsu frowned at Wendy. "Of course you're my sister," he told her. "You're my family – my nakama!"
Lucy felt warm-hearted as she watched their exchange. She'd never had any brothers or sisters but knew the bond between Natsu and Wendy was strong. There was a pang in her heart because she knew she would never have anything as special as they did.
"Nice to meet you," Lucy said to Wendy.
"Likewise!" Wendy said, grinning. "Where were you taking her, Natsu?"
"I'm giving her a tour," he answered. "Wanna join?"
"Sorry, Charle told me I had to meet her at the tent. I need to help set up," Wendy explained. "Are you going to stay to watch the show?" she asked Lucy with hopeful eyes.
"Yep!" she said. "What do you do?" she asked with curiosity. Unlike Natsu, Wendy looked normal – apart from the weird wing design on her sandals. She looked so innocent too; what was a girl like her doing working at a carnival?
Wendy opened her mouth to answer but Natsu cut her off. "Is Happy with Charle?" he asked.
"He's still taking his cat nap," Wendy replied. "I better get going or else Charle will get worried," she said before waving and running off.
"Who's Charle?" Lucy asked once the girl was out of sight. "Her Mom?"
Natsu sadly shook his head. "No. But Charle acts like her Mom all the time."
Lucy frowned. Where's Wendy's Mom? She thought in wonder. Was Wendy abandoned? Or worse, had Wendy's Mom…
At least Wendy had found the people of Fairy Tail. If they were all like Natsu, whom had called Wendy his sister even though there was no blood relation, then Wendy had a great family to care for her.
Lucy's shaken out of her thoughts when Natsu started pulling her to a booth that looked more like a small café with a counter and stools outside it for the customers to sit on. "First meet Mira," he said.
Behind the counter, in the booth, was a woman a little older than Lucy. She had the most beautiful long silky white hair to her small waist and a bright smile. Warmth and kindness radiated from her. "Hey Natsu," she said. "Who's your friend?" she asked, her crystal blue eyes darting to Lucy's hand that Natsu was still holding.
Lucy went pink. "I- I'm Lucy," she introduced herself. This woman was so beautiful and much more attractive than her! Lucy couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy, despite the fact that Mirajane seemed nothing but friendly.
"I'm Mirajane," the woman said, flashing a dazzling smile. Mirajane is so pretty! She can probably get any boy she wants. Maybe Natsu…
She glanced at Natsu, wondering if he liked Mirajane. Why else would he have introduced me to Mira first? She followed Natsu's longing gaze and gave out a breath of relief when she saw it was on the cupcakes on the shelf at the back of the booth. Because he was hungry! I should have expected that.
"Natsu, you're drooling," Lucy said in disgust. Mira laughed and brought the cupcakes from the shelf and then placed them on the counter.
"Here you are, Natsu," Mira said and Natsu relinquished his hold on Lucy's hand to sit down on the stool and dig into the food. Lucy found herself missing his warm touch but quickly dismissed the feeling with a blush.
Natsu swallowed one cupcake whole. Lucy didn't know why she was still so surprised when she had seen him eat a damn fireball earlier that day. "Aren't you going to have one?" Natsu asked, holding out the chocolate dessert.
(Out of the corner of her eye, Lucy saw Mira look surprised for a second before her face melted into a warm smile.)
"N- No, I shouldn't," Lucy hesitantly said. "I mean, Mira made them and-"
"Feel free and take one!" Mira encouraged her. Natsu pushed the cupcake to her and Lucy had no choice but to take it. It was absolutely delicious. "Go ahead and take another," Mira told her. "Free of charge! Any friend of Natsu's is a friend of mine!"
Mira smiled at her and Lucy easily returned it. "It's good to see Natsu acting normally again," Mira said, glancing at him. Natsu had continued to pig out on the food.
"What do you mean?" Lucy asked.
"Earlier, he got back from promoting the show in the town. When he came back it was lunchtime and, as you can see, Natsu loves his meals," she motioned to the greedy Natsu, "but he only ate a few bites of his lunch. It's really unlike him to not eat all his food – or share it with anyone," she added, giving a knowing look to Lucy. "He said he ate with a friend in town but no one believed him."
"Hey!" Natsu said with his mouth full. "I can make friends!"
Mira and Lucy giggled at him. "So, Lucy, are you local?" Mirajane asked her.
"No, I'm just passing through," Lucy truthfully answered.
"Oh, you're travelling. Any place particular you're travelling to?"
"Uh," Lucy said, giving out a nervous laugh. "Not really."
Thankfully, Mirajane then dropped the subject of travelling. "Where are you going to show her next, Natsu?" she asked him. "Let me guess, the dunk tank?"
Natsu nodded. Lucy asked, "What's so special about the dunk tank?"
"It's Gray Fullbuster who you have to dunk," Mirajane explained. "And he and Natsu aren't the greatest of friends."
When Natsu finished eating, he got up from his seat, thanked Mirajane, and then grabbed hold of Lucy's hand again. "Next stop, the dunk tank!" he said. "Ice Boy won't know what hit him! See ya, Mira!" he added to the white-haired girl.
"Bye, you two! See you later in the tent!" Mira shouted after them as Natsu dragged Lucy to the dunk tank.
Sitting on a plastic seat on top of the four-foot deep tank, full to the brim with water, was someone she assumed was the 'Gray' Natsu had talked about. Gray was lean and muscular like Natsu but had jet black spiky hair and matching black eyes. He was only wearing a pair of swim trunks and Lucy could see an odd blue tattoo on his chest, below his collarbone. Huh, his tattoo looks like the one Natsu has on his arm.
"Hey, Fullbuster!" Natsu shouted, catching Gray's attention. "We still need to settle our fight from earlier!"
"What're you talking about?" Gray shouted back with a smirk. "I won!"
"Yeah right!" Natsu snorted.
While Natsu and Gray continued to argue, Lucy noticed the girl giving out the tennis balls to throw at the target. The girl looked a lot like Mirajane, only younger with extremely short white hair. The girl caught Lucy looking and motioned her over.
"You must be that friend Natsu was talking about," the girl said to Lucy with a friendly smile. "I'm Lisanna."
"Lucy," she introduced herself. She glanced back at Gray and Natsu who were still arguing, oblivious to the customers throwing the balls at the target (all failing miserably). "Are they always like that?"
"Pretty much," Lisanna answered. "At least they're not fighting like usual. Gray's not allowed out of his seat."
"Lisanna!" Natsu suddenly shouted, approaching them with determination. "Pass me a tennis ball!"
"Sorry, Natsu, you know what Erza will say if you try to dunk Gray," Lisanna warned him.
"Not if she doesn't catch me," Natsu said, but for a second there he had looked a little frightened. Who's Erza? She wondered. Natsu took a tennis ball from Lisanna.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," Lisanna said as Natsu took aim.
With just one shot, Natsu was able to hit the target. Gray yelped as he came crashing down into the dunk tank with a loud splash! Natsu grinned triumphantly and started laughing gleefully until he froze when he came face to face with a tall, scarlet-haired woman with her eyes narrowed at Natsu. Shivers sped down Lucy's spine. The woman – Erza, she guessed – was most terrifying. She wore a blue skirt and knee-length black boots and shiny armour. But her tough looking armour was nothing compared to her intense glare. I'm so glad I'm not Natsu.
"Erza!" Natsu exclaimed in alarm. He swiftly went to the water-filled tank, where Gray was already standing in, and slung an arm over Gray's shoulder, who copied. They plastered fake grins over their faces but their nervousness was distinguishable on their faces. "Look, see! We're best friends!"
"Just having some fun!" Gray agreed.
"I see…" Erza said, eyes still narrowed. She watched the pair of so called 'best friends' for another minute. "Well, don't have this type of 'fun' anymore; let the locals have a turn."
"Anything you say, Erza!" Natsu and Gray said in unison. They kept grinning until Erza finally left, and then the two released one another, growling.
"Are they that scared or Erza?" Lucy asked Lisanna in shock. She agreed that the woman with beautiful long scarlet hair was fearsome but was she so threatening that she'd make arch enemies Gray and Natsu act like best friends?
"Yes, believe it or not," Lisanna answered with a laugh. "She keeps everyone in check but she's actually really nice once you get to know her," she added, nodding.
"Hey Lucy!" Natsu approached her, "Let's go!" He seized her arm again.
As he started leading her away from the dunk tank, Lucy glanced back at Lisanna. The girl looked somewhat hurt as she watched Natsu drag Lucy away. She likes him, Lucy thought in realization. As more than friends. It made her heart hurt. Lisanna was Natsu's old friend, nakama. How was Lucy going to compete with her?
"Hey Natsu!" a feminine voice called, snapping Lucy out of her thoughts. She looked for the source of the voice.
The woman had long beautiful brunette hair and dark brown eyes hidden behind glasses. She was wearing a low-cut top that exposed her green tattoo on her… bosom. She was extremely attractive to say the least. And she was working in a kissing booth with a large line of eager men as customers (and a few girls?).
"I'm not kissing you, Evergreen!" Natsu shouted at the woman. Clearly this was an automatic response. How many times has she asked him to kiss her? Lucy wondered.
"Like I'd want to kiss you!" Evergreen snapped, and then slyly smiled. "I just need a break, and I was wondering if your friend could take over for me?"
Lucy went beetroot red and Natsu frowned at Evergreen. The guys queuing started to protest until they caught sight of Lucy and then started staring at her with longing.
"Let's go," Natsu said and started leading her away from the kissing booth, for which she was grateful. Natsu was being so protective, so… jealous?
"Wait!" Lucy said, digging her heels into the ground so Natsu would halt. "This is a carnival! Aren't there supposed to be games?"
"Games, huh?" he said, grinning.
"What are you -" She yelped when Natsu pulled her to one of the booths.
It was a typical coconut shack booth where you had to throw a ball to knock down the coconuts – except here you had odd shaped exotic dolls. There were two men managing the booth. One had on a medieval-style visor which hid his eyes was very tall and muscular and his maniacal grin gave off a very intimidating atmosphere. In comparison, the other guy who was smaller with long black hair looked most calm as he casually leant against the booth and twirled around a toy gun.
"'Sup, Bixlow?" Natsu said to the guy wearing a visor.
"What've you got there, Natsu?" Bixlow asked, sticking his tongue out and inspecting Lucy from head to toe. Pervert!
"That's Lucy," Natsu said. "She wants to play."
"You don't say?" Bixlow said, an impish grin on his face. "Oi, Zack! Give her a dart gun!"
"Dart gun?" Lucy repeated in confusion. "Aren't I supposed to use a tennis ball or something?"
"No, you just have to shoot at the dolls," the hatless Cowboy with the poncho explained, handing her a toy dart gun. "And it's Alzack," he added to Bixlow with a scowl.
"Just shoot? That's easy!" Lucy said, taking aim.
"Ya think? Show her what you got, babies," Bixlow laughed and then suddenly the dolls were floating and defying gravity – no strings attached to them or anything fake. It's not only Natsu who's impressive, Lucy thought in wonder. This magic or whatever was really extraordinary. They dolls danced around in the booth, flying so fast it made Lucy dizzy.
"Hey, go easy on her," Alzack said, making Lucy frown.
"What did you just say?" Lucy turned to him, eyes blazing with anger. She hated to be underestimated, although now he was right to think that this was too difficult for her. Hit a flying object? How could anyone win this game? Nevertheless, she shot Alzack a fierce glare almost as fierce as Erza's.
Alzack gulped while Bixlow and Natsu laughed. "You sure know how to pick 'em, Nats-" Bixlow was cut off when Lucy swivelled around, aimed her dart gun at him, and fired.
The plastic sucker-tipped dart stuck to its target: Bixlow's tongue that he seemed prone to stick out. Natsu and Alzack burst out laughing as Bixlow tried to pull it off. Dramatically, Lucy blew the tip of the gun like in those old Western Cowboy movies.
"Let's get out of here before he takes off his mask," Natsu said.
"What happens if he takes off his mask?" Lucy asked as she handed the dart gun back to Alzack.
"You see his ugly face!" Natsu laughed and ran, Lucy following.
Running through the carnival with Natsu made her feel like a little kid. It was just so fun. She had never experienced this kind of thing when it had just been her and her father. When her mother had been around, they had played together, going on walks around their vast garden and taking swims in their pool. But after she's gone, Lucy had been alone with just her imagination.
That didn't seem to be the case around here. Everyone in Fairy Tail was so exciting and amusing. She'd imagined circus people to be freaky and somewhat weird… and she'd been right. Most people, take Bixlow, for example, were strange and wore the downright weirdest things. Lucy almost wished she had stayed to see what he'd really looked like without the mask.
But everyone was friendly too. Reedus the artist was quite shy but extremely talented. He allowed her to look at his previous pieces of work. Most of the drawings and paintings were of Mirajane and Lucy could see why: Mira was beautiful and inspiring. Reedus started to draw a picture of Lucy and took his time, trying to achieve perfection. Unfortunately, Lucy never got to see the finishing of the drawing because childish Natsu got impatient and dragged her off to see Juvia.
At first glance, Juvia seemed timid. Her hair was a silky blue color and curled on the outside and she wore an odd Russian getup. She looked shy, never meeting anyone's eye, but her mouth that was stretched in a thin line curved into a small smile when she spotted Natsu and Lucy. For a fleeting moment, Lucy thought that she had finally met someone normal…
Until Juvia opened her mouth and demanded to know if she was after Gray.
That panicking and worrying she had felt about what to wear for Natsu? It was nothing compared to the obsession of Gray that Juvia had. And her outrageous paranoia that every single girl was in love with Gray was ridiculous. Oh well, Lucy thought, it looks like no one here is normal. As Juvia daydreamed about Gray and his abs, Lucy examined her. Juvia had a voluptuous figure and, obsession and paranoia aside, she was benevolent. Lucy hoped that they got together soon – for the sake of all the girls out there who's eyes lingered on Gray for a second too long.
Another couple who were yet to unite were Bisca and Alzack. Bisca, like seemingly all the women in Fairy Tail, was beautiful. She ran the petting-zoo that held many exotic animals from a magnificent pony to a baby elephant. "You know, you and Alzack are dressed kind of alike," she noted to the green-haired girl, looking from her cowboy-hat to her red cowboy-boots. "It almost looks like you're a couple." The cream to rosy pink color on Bisca's cheeks didn't go unnoticed.
As Lucy stroked the pony's mane, she realized something. It was the girls who had the crushes. Lisanna had a crush on Natsu, Juvia on Gray, Bisca on Alzack. Yet the boys were oblivious. Were they stupid with the incapability to see when someone was interested in them?
"Oi, wake up, Luce!" Natsu said, tugging at her arm. "We've gotta go."
She huffed in annoyance. "You've been dragging me around for hours now. Can't we sit down for a minute?" She mentally cursed at herself for not wearing in her boots beforehand. Her poor feet had blisters with blisters.
"Just a bit further," he reassured her.
"Where now?" she asked with irritation but allowed him to pull her along.
"To get your fortune told!"
What's the harm with a few more blisters?
Drop a review or PM me if you have a question or think the characters are OOC or I overlooked some mistakes (many apologies.)