Fire is catching
Chapter 27
Authors Note: So the fairy tale will come to an end in this chapter…so that we can go on with the main story line. Hope you enjoy!
"I love you", I whispered, before turning around and running away.
I threw myself into my cozy bed and put the blanket over my head and cried. Cried, until there were no more tears left. I wanted to shut out the world, forget it all, but I simply couldn't ignore the familiar roaring and the sound of metal on metal, the sound of war.
I was worried sick about Dragneel and simply wished for it to be over. After an amount of time that felt like years to me, it turned deadly quiet outside, which was almost worse than the noise before.
I grabbed the bag that I had packed earlier and hesitantly opened the door.
No matter what happened, I had to keep my promise to Dragneel and get out of here; I had to fulfill his last wish.
When I stepped outside, I didn't see all the chunks of armor lying around, I only saw the big, red, scaled creature lying on the ground, barely breathing.
All promises and wishes were forgotten and I ran towards the dragon.
"Dragneel! Dragneel!" I sobbed. He looked beaten up, his eyes half closed, but he was alive.
"Thank goodness!" I said, throwing myself at him. But strangely, he didn't feel the same. His body didn't feel the same. He wasn't radiating the same joyful heat as usual. Instead, he almost felt cold...
His eyes suddenly shot open and before I even had the time to react, he wrapped his strong claws around me, squeezing me.
"Dragneel...it's too tight...I can't...I can't breathe..." I gulped, struggling for air.
But his eyes weren't Dragneel's eyes. They were pitch-black, without any light in them, totally empty and cold.
That's right..., he really lost all his memories...
He drew me closer to him, brought me up to his mouth, and for the first time, I noticed how big his teeth were.
A cold feeling rushed through me: fear. I was scared. No, I shouldn't be scared, this is Dragneel. My best friend. I reminded myself of all the happy times we had together, of the warmth of his skin, his pointy-teethed smile that I loved so much, the protectiveness of his wings, all those things that I loved about him. But still, he didn't release me and I started feeling dizzy.
So this is it? How cruel and ironic life can be...
I closed my eyes, bracing myself.
Suddenly, I started to feel very warm and as I opened my eyes in surprise, I saw that a blazing fire was surrounding me and the cold Dragneel. It wasn't burning or hurting me in any other way; it simply felt pleasant and warm.
As I looked up into Dragneel's eyes, I saw the reflection of me, wrapped in the flames, and I saw the familiar light in his eyes again. They were still deep and black, but they were finally warm and caring again. He gave me his characteristic smile, wrapped his arms around me gently and brought me up, so that I could look directly in those beautiful eyes.
"Luce..., I remember now"
As I look up from the book I realize to my surprise that tears are streaming down my face. Why am I crying? Why did this fairy tale get to me so much? While reading the story I felt as if I was there myself. I felt what the characters felt, lived through their adventure with them. I could especially connect to Lucia, and not just because our names were similar. I understand her wish for freedom and it's almost as if I can feel how deeply she loves her dragon boy. I can feel it, the warm glow Lucia experiences when she's together with him or the awful pain and despair that went through the princess when she thought that she had lost Dragneel forever, it makes my heart contract. I'm so connected to this fairy tale that it doesn't just feel like a story, but more like a piece of my soul.
I flip through the old pages of the small book looking for a sequel or an epilogue to "The dragon princess" but nothing. How can that be? Fairy tales are supposed to end with "And they lived happily ever after" right? What happens after Dragneel gets his memories back? Will he have to be a dragon forever? Will Lucia and he be able to live in peace? What about the kingdom of Fiore, the name that sends pleasant shivers down my spine? I want to read more; I need to know what happens to the characters. If I can't have a happy end I at least want Lucia to have one. While reading, I felt so connected to the princess, that we merged into one person, she is my fairy tale self. She is the me that still has the possibility to live happily. She has to live on for the sake of both of us; she deserves a happy end, so why doesn't she get one? Why does this fairy tale stop that abruptly? It's not fair!
Not even fairy tales have a good ending in the arena, not even the fairy tale me can be happy at the end.
Frustrated, I put the book away and try to fall asleep, but I can't get that story out of my head. Why does the story feel so familiar? Why did I get so into it? And why the hell do I feel like I know the fire dragon Dragneel? When I try to picture him, he looks like somebody I know, but the picture is too blurry for me to see it.
Maybe I'm just going a little crazy. But thinking about a fairy tale, no matter how unnerving it can be is way better than thinking about the arena and all the dangers that lie ahead.
I fall asleep dreaming about Lucia, Fiore, salmon haired boys and pointy teethed smiles.
Waking up I expect to lie in my comfy bed, to hear the rumbling of the factories and Jack standing before my door, always prepared to serve me my morning tea. But instead, I'm laying in a cave on the hard ground, a little girl preparing breakfast next to me.
I try to blink the sleep out of my eyes and sit up. "Good morning Lucy", Wendy says with a cheerful undertone. Yesterday's adventure still seems to make her happy. After we eat breakfast in silence she shyly asks: "What were you reading yesterday night?"
I flush slightly, feeling like I was caught doing something forbidden, that girl doesn't miss anything, right?
"Uhm, I found a fairy tale book at the Cornucopia, I was reading through it a little bit…"
"Fairy tales?" I can see her eyes light up, "Like Sleeping Beauty and The little mermaid?"
"Can you…can you maybe read one to me if you don't mind?"
"Sure"
So we cuddle up in the blankets and read Snowwhite.
The day passes by quietly. We hear a cannon go off a little before noon, the time when the poison rain comes, but other than that, nothing happens, which is bad. Really bad. The last days have been too quiet. If the games keep on being as calm as that, it's sure that they will start driving us together. I escaped the careers more than once already, but I won't be as lucky as that anymore.
We stole a lot of food from the Cornucopia which will last us a few days, but nevertheless I tell Wendy that we should go hunting as we sit in our cave having breakfast together.
"Why? We have enough left…"
"Listen Wendy. The last days weren't exciting enough. The game makers will do something soon and if it happens I want to be prepared. The alliance between us was the smartest thing I did since entering the arena but I think I've gotten to comfortable with it. Although it's hard to think about it, our alliance will have to end at one point, and if that event occurs, I want you to be prepared. We should both pack a backpack with all the essentials that we can just grab in case of danger. You need your own food supply, so that you're independent. If something happens, I want you to take that backpack and run away, okay? Don't look back whether I'm following you or whether I'm okay or something, just run. Promise me, okay?"
The smile has vanished of her face and although I'm sorry for making her worry, I know it's the right thing to do. Wendy is too friendly and she's gotten too attached to me. She would be the kind of girl that would do something reckless just in order to try to save me. And although I'm thankful for her friendship, I want her to live on. If something threatens us, I want her to be the survivor; she deserves it more than I do.
"Promise me Wendy"
"I..I promise."
"Okay. Now let's go hunting", I smile at her and pat her head grabbing my knife and all the supplies I need to set traps.
As I'm better at it than Wendy is, we decide that I'll set the traps and she'll gather berries and healing plants. She knows all kind of plants that I don't and apparently this arena is stuffed with useful herbs, although they are all plants that weren't taught to us at the station in the training center which is kind of mean in my opinion. Why even bother memorizing all those plants when they're not going to be in the arena anyway? But what did I think? That the capitol cares, that they play by the rules?
"We'll meet again in 15 minutes okay? If anything happens we'll use the melody, right?"
The melody is a short tune that I can't get out of my head, we decided to make it our secret sign.
"Okay, see you then"
I take off and try to remember how those damn traps were made again. Every time I try to catch an animal by setting up a trap I think about Levy, the blue haired girl from district 3. I wonder how she's doing right now. I hope that she isn't in immediate danger.
As I'm fiddling with branches and my piece of rope, a desperate scream makes me bolt upright.
"LUUUUUUUCY!"
Authors: Aaaaand another cliffhanger…I just love them ;-) Just a little side note…the ‚tune' Lucy and Wendy use as their secret sign is the fairy tail main theme…(wow I'm so creative haha)
Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter, see you next time!
Natsu: LUUUUUUUUUUUCY! DINNER IS READY!
Lucy: GAAAWD NATSU IT'S NOT FUNNY!
Natsu: Oh come on, let me have some fun too.
Lucy: It's not like you'd ever cook dinner anyway.
Natsu: Pfft…how do you know? I'm actually a genius cook you know?
Lucy: Oh really…, I'd really like to verify that.
Natsu: Uhm…yeah…sure…
Lucy: Okay, so then you'll cook tomorrow. I have great expectations.
Natsu: Yeah sure…*awkward*
Author: PEASANTS! GET BACK TO WORK YOU FILTHY PEOPLE! WE NEED TO CONTINUE!