Fire is catching
Authors Note: More than 2000 views! *-* Thank you for all the support! I hope you like this chapter, I enjoyed writing it.
Chapter 7
As my vision comes back I gasp for air and Wendy kneels beside me mumbling some words, my pain immediately vanishes and I understand that she used some of her healing magic.
I look at her: "Wendy you don't have to do this, I'm all right" I say and sit up "What happened?"
"You were attacked by that stupid District 2 tribute and then the boy from 12 came and told him to stop. Then the two of them fought against each other, but only for a very short time, because then the peace keepers came and separated them" she tells me, talking faster and faster.
"Natsu helped me?"
I look at him, how he is held back by the peace keepers. He has a bruise above his left eye, probably from the fight with Gajeel.
The career from district 2 also took some damage and he walks back to the others where Erza yells at him.
Why did he help me? I ask myself, I'm not even from his district and we didn't talk to each other.
I'm really thankful though, but also ashamed that I let myself get beaten up so quickly. That doesn't make the best impression on the Game Makers that constantly observe our training, take notes and eat.
I lean against the wall and close my eyes for a moment.
Opening them again I see Natsu standing in front of me and look at him surprised.
"Are you all right?" he asks smiling at me.
"Um.. yeah.. I guess. Thanks for helping me."
"No problem, I wanted to beat him up anyway. I hate the careers" he says scratching his head casually. "And you shouldn't get hurt before the games even started right?"
Natsu offers me a hand to stand up "Are you sure you're all right" he gives me a suspicious look and I try to hide the pain that's still sitting in my stomach.
I should really stay away from the careers. "Yes, thank you" I say and quickly walk over to Wendy.
The rest of the day passes by without further conflicts but I notice that the careers sometimes look at me and I start getting really afraid of them. I'm pretty sure I just got written onto their list of people they should kill first. Not good.
"That bastard", Angel walks around the room with a furious expression on her face.
Miranda almost fainted when I told her and my mentor about the incident.
"It's ok…, nothing happened", I murmur.
"Nothing happened? He hurt you before the games even started! That's against the rules! He should be punished! You're lucky that nothing serious happened, but now that the careers dislike you, you're in great danger. And there will be no one to help you in the arena Lucy! I can't help you in there", my mentor tells me, concern in her voice.
"Well you weren't the one who helped me today, it was Natsu…" I think but don't speak the words aloud knowing they would only cause me trouble.
"Okay, let's just forget about that. We have to focus on your private training sessions first. It's better if you try to avoid the careers in the arena as long as you can. You know what you'll do in your private training, right honey? Try to summon as many spirits as you can, show them the power of a Stellar Spirit mage!"
I nod and go off to bed claiming to be tired.
Today's event keeps repeating itself in my mind.
Gajeel's evil grin when he punched me in the stomach, like there was nothing better in the world than hurting others. Natsu helping me, Wendy healing me. Gajeel hurting. Natsu helping. Wendy healing. And the same thing again. And again till I finally fall asleep.
Miranda wakes me up, telling me that today's a big, big, big, big day.
I practice using the whip once again before we are called to our private training session during lunch time.
District after district is called in and when it`s Wendy's turn I wish her good luck and she leaves with a smile.
As Sebastian leaves I start getting really nervous and then my name is called, it's my turn. I look at the remaining tributes. Lisanna gives me a thumbs up and I'm very thankful.
Then I see Natsu smiling at me and forming the words "Good luck" although he says it too quiet for me to hear, I understand what he means and smile back before I enter the training room.
The game makers and Seneca Crane look down at me, eating food from the big banquet that was set up for them.
I walk to the middle of the room and introduce myself as Lucy Heartfilia from District 8.
I get a whip and then summon Scorpio and Sagittarius who show off their impressive powers.
After that Virgo, Aries, Taurus and Cancer perform while I use my whip.
Loki and I fight together in the simulation and the combat expert makes me look very good.
Unfortunately I can't summon Aquarius because there is no water available but as I can't really control her anyway I'm maybe better off that way.
But I keep the best thing for the very end.
When the game makers start clapping politely because they think my performance is over, I summon Gemini who appears next to me as a second Lucy.
Some of the sponsors look startled and chuckle as they see a second me standing next to, well, me.
"Let's go Gemini" I whisper, take his/her/its hand and close my eyes as I concentrate as hard as I can.
This special technique will cost me all I've got.
I slowly breathe in and out as my surrounding starts to change completely.
I quietly murmur with all my concentration put into those phrases.
Survey the Heavens, Open the Heavens…
All the stars, far and wide…
Show me thy appearance…
With such shine.
Oh Tetrabiblos…
I am the ruler of the stars…
Aspect become complete…
Open thy malevolent gate.
Oh 88 Stars of the heaven…
Shine!
Urano Metria!
As I slightly open my eyes, I'm not surrounded by a plain training room anymore.
Gemini and I, floating on a platform of magic holding hands, are surrounded by nothing less than the universe. Stars shine bright and the sky is constantly changing from pale blue to light pink to an intense green. Planets make their way around us and I hear the surprised gasps coming from the game makers.
A soft wind goes through my hair as I keep summoning more and more.
The colors around us keep fading into each other constantly making it look like a rainbow exploded in the training room. A countless number of stars sparkle in the multi colored sky and I would like to take in that beautiful sight but I'm too busy holding that magic up.
A smile crosses my face and I take a last deep breath as I unleash the true power of Urano Metria.
The whole room is flooded with blinding white light and everything in my way is just blasted away.
Knives, spears, everything inside the trainings room is flying through the air and I feel sorry for whoever has to clean up afterwards.
I sink to the ground, exhausted, as Gemini returns to the Celestial Spirits world.
It was definitely worth it.
Looking at the amazed faces in my audience gives me the strength to stand up.
I don't have much magic power left so I open up the gate of Nicola and Plue comes out which makes the game makers chuckle.
Together Plue and I step in front of the game makers and bow. "Thank you for your attention", I say, take Plue in my arms and together we walk out of the room.
After that performance I'm tired and feel like I could drop dead on the spot but on the other hand I'm simply incredibly proud.
"How did it go?" Gerard asks Sebastian and me in the evening.
Our whole team is assembled to watch the announcement of the scores. After the private sessions, the tributes are rated from 0 to 12, with 12 being the best. These scores often have a big influence on your number of sponsors, no wonder that everybody is so excited about it.
I'm very nervous, although I think that I did a pretty good job. Sebastian just shrugs, I wonder what he did in order to impress the sponsors and I really can't come up with something.
And suddenly I feel a little guilty, I didn't care about him at all. I mean, that's what I wanted, but I spent a lot of time with Wendy, Levy and Lisanna, so why not him? He's from district 8, from home, we're almost family and I just ignored him. I know that he will die in the games and I think he knows it as well but I could've been a little nicer with him.
"What did you do Sebastian?" I ask and quickly add "You don't have to tell me of course"
"No it's all right Lucy. I kind of tried to set some traps and throw some spears. I'm not sure whether it made a good impression or not."
The show starts.
Caesar Flickerman talks about how great this year's tributes are and this is when the scores start. The boy from one, Saphir gets a score of 8 and I'm surprised that Mirajane gets a score of 9. I wonder how she did that.
Gajeel gets a score of 9 as well. The sight of him makes me remember the pain in my stomach but I quickly push those thoughts away.
Erza Scarlet gets a score of 11 and I hold my breath. Is she really that strong?
I knew she was a trained and skilled career, but to get a score of 11 out of 12 really is amazing.
I'm happy for Levy as she gets a score of 6. It's not great, but not bad.
Gray and Juvia both get a score of 8 and I'm more and more intimidated. So many tributes with such high scores.
Wendy get's a 7 and I wonder what she did, but I'm glad. A 7 is enough to get some sponsors, but not so high that she would get unwanted attention and is a danger for the careers.
Hibiki from district 7 gets a 6 and his district partner Sherry gets a score of 5.
And when Sebastian's name appears on the screen I see a 4 next to his face.
A score of 4? That's not good.
I see his disappointment, but right now I'm way too nervous to see my own score.
"Lucy Heartfilia with a score of 8"
What? 8? That's so much and I feel joy rush through my veins. 8!8!8! I can actually get some sponsors! I may have a little chance.
Angel, Gerard and Miranda get up and hug me and although I'm really happy about my score I feel sort of sorry for Sebastian.
Lisanna gets a score of 6 and Alzack and Miliana, the tributes from district 11 both get a score of 5.
"Natsu Dragneel with a score of 10"
A 10? That's probably the highest score district 12 ever got!
The girl from 12 gets a score of 4, leaving her and Sebastian as the weakest tributes.
This year's tributes kind of seem to be especially strong, so much of them got a score of 8 or even higher and although I'm really happy about my achievement I'm kind of worried.
"I'm so proud of you honey" Angel says "But you should go to bed now. Tomorrow evening will be the interviews, you should get some rest."
Authors Note: Just a little side note about Gajeel's behavior. In my fanfiction, Gajeel is still his 'old self', the person he was before he joined Fairy Tail. That being said I wish you all HAPPY EASTER and may the odds be ever in your favor ;)
Natsu bunny: Author, why am I a bunny?
Author: Well because it's Easter Natsu. You are an Easter bunny now.
Natsu bunny: I don't like being a bunny.
Gray: Haha, you look ridiculous!
Natsu: Shut up ice princess, I got a higher score than you!
Gray: No way! That has to be a typo, right author? It can't be that squinty eyes got a higher score than me!
Authors: Shut up you two! You're ruining my Authors Note! *death stare*
Natsu bunny & Gray: AYE SIR!
Lucy: What is it with that Happy imitation?