Thanks for your kind reviews :))
To NaLu Seirei : Of course I don't mind :) In fact, I can't wait to read that new fanfic of yours X)
Here's the next chapter~
Natsu's POV
"Guys, I think I know how to find that box," Luce stated with a smile.
We all glanced at her in unison, still dumbfounded with the glowing thing before.
"How?" Gray, I mean stripper said, still unable to hide his stupidly surprised expression.
"Star magic," Erza's eyes were wide in amazement.
Lucy nodded, a bright smile still pasted on her face, "The magic of 'wishing'."
My ears perked up at the last word, "Wishing? Do you mean as wishing to the star?"
Again, she nodded, "It's kind of similar to it. But, actually it's a bit more...complex, and not just include wishin-,"
A blazing rush of enthusiasm rushed in me and before she could finish, I blabbed, "Really Luce? We can wish on ANYTHING? EVERYTHING?" I emphasized the last two words.
She looked at me and seemed a little bit surprise by my sudden burst, "Well, not everything, but almost."
"Then... What's the connection between it and our mission?" Ice brain asked. Hey, he totally stole my next question!
"Wishing magic can do many awesome things," Erza stated, "Like forming something, or searching for something." I crooked my eyebrows, "So? What does it have to do with our mission?" Why couldn't she get to the point already? Of course I didn't say that to Erza, she would kill me!
Gray face palmed, "I wonder what your brain consists of."
This statement of course offended me, "What were you saying, snow cone?"
"Ha! Your brain didn't even get what I've just said. Maybe it's made of ash because you're a hot head?" Gray merely snorted.
"Shut up, iceberg!" I yelled. Sometimes I just wanna kill that ice head of his. Oh, it's not sometimes, it's everytime!
"Dragon breath!"
"Boxer prince!"
"Block head!"
"Exhibionist!"
"Flame eater-"
"Can you two be a little quiet?" An intimidating command from Erza cut in. Her dark glare froze me and I automatically said, "Aye!" along with Gray. It seemed that Happy had really rubbed on us.
"Well Natsu," Lucy sighed, "Our mission is to search for something, a paticular box. So," she emphasized, "We can use the 'wishing' magic to search for its location."
"But Lucy, we need a star mage for this," the so-called scarlet haired girl pointed.
"Actually Erza," Luce said shyly, "My mother ever taught me how to do it," her face was covered in shadow once she mentioned her Mom, " I'm not really sure but...it won't hurt to try, will it?"
Erza nodded approvingly, "You're right."
"Then go on and try it, Luce!" I said curiously. This magic which can do anything including granting my wishes for food (well, actually no one ever said that but Luce said that it can grant anything) must be very cool! And maybe, just maybe, I can use it to find Igneel!
"I need all of your help for this," she said and smiled, "Do you know how it works, Erza?"
Erza simply shook her head, "I've only heard that it can be done by a star mage."
"Actually, that's not all," Lucy said again she sat and patted the grass beside her, signalling us to sit, "Have you ever heard the quote 'when you believe, anything can happen'? That's the basic principle of star magic. Believe, and it'll happen," she stopped for a while, gazing at the stars, "But, not just faith is required, we need particular mages to do it, Astrum mages or what we can call as star mages, as they can make direct contact to the star dust, the source of our magic power."
"The old Astrum mages of Aria found this type of star magic, the magic of 'wishing'. The principle's the same, but five mages are required in this," she glanced back at us.
"Five mages close in bonds, one in kind purpose, and one in belief. Encircling the magic cycle, each standing in the edge of five diagonals in a star shape."
If we count Happy in, it meant we had got five mages. Wait...or was it six? Or seven?
"Magic had chosen us. You saw how the circle glowed right?" She continued. Suddenly something clicked on my brain, which was rare. Did that riddle said something about 'To seek something that seek us' or something?
"I might just have met you for a few days," Luce fidgeted with her fingers, something I noticed she would do when feeling nervous, "I may not be really close in bonds like you four do, but-."
I cut her in, apparently again, "What're you talking about, Luce? We had said that you're our nakama right?" Lucy sure is a weirdo, but weird in a nice way of course.
Her eyes widened at this, "R-really?"
"Sure you are, Lucy. Anyone who treated me to fish is our nakama, aye!" Happy said. Sure, Luce hasn't treated me to fire food, but she would right?
"I said we'll be there for you, right? I wouldn't say that if we aren't close," Gray added and it was agreed by Erza. Whoa, ice brain just said some nice words!
A pink tint crept to Lucy's cheeks, is she sick?
"Thanks," she said as the pink tint disappeared, convincing me that she wasn't sick, "I... always see you all as my precious nakama as well," she smiled.
"So...when will we do this?" Erza asked, smiling, clearly as content as I was to be addressed as a precious nakama.
"What about tomorrow night? We can prepare first and rest as much as we can,"Lucy said. We all nodded in agreement and went back to our room. Oh and it was time to tease the gay stripper about blushing!
Lucy's POV
"Lucy, is your mother a star mage?" Erza asked when we got back to our room. She was blunt. Like usual.
"Yeah," I covered myself with my bed cover. We were on each other's bed with lights off.
Erza shifted her position and turned to face me, "Then are you?"
I sighed, "Not sure. It doesn't really matter anyway."
I could feel Erza staring at me. Just a stare, not a glare, "But you said your Mom taught you."
"Then maybe I am," I stared at the ceiling, "Actually, they said I am."
I didn't know what expression I had shown because Erza seemed to examine me even more, even in the dark.
"Lucy, I didn't mean to accuse you, but...do you hate this magic, I mean...star magic?"
I was silenced by this question. Do I hate it? No, not really.
"I apologize if I had accused you," Erza's tone seemed really apologetic, "You don't have to-"
"No, it's okay," I assured her and smiled, though I'm not sure she could see it in the dark, "It's not that I hate it," I began, "In fact I love everything related to the stars. They're just...amazing," I stopped. Erza didn't comment which meant she waited for me to continue.
"I don't dislike it, nor I really love it. It's just star mages like us live for the high expectations given by people. They expect us to be special. But for me, every mages are as special as us in their own way." I remembered how my uncles and aunts, grandma and grandpa, my whole relatives expect me to be as good as my mother. Instead, I messed it all up. I lacked of control, my power unstable. They started looking at me with those mocking eyes as if to say that I really brought shame to the Heartfilias. Sure, I had improved a little now, but still, first impression was everything I guessed?
"It would better if my children possess that magic."
"What a shame."
"Poor Layla."
"You've got to be kidding me."
"We don't expect you to do it. We believe that you can do it," Erza's kind voice shut me from the piercing voices I had in my head before.
"Wha-," I protested but Erza continued, "Lucy, we like you for yourself. Not because you're a star mage. We had grown to trust you and we didn't expect anything from you."
They're just the nicest friends I'd ever encountered. They like me for myself, not for my wealth, not for my magic power. They like me as Lucy, Lucy of Fairy Tail. Not Lucy Heartfilia that everyone had expected me to be. They demanded nothing of me.
"I...I don't know what to say," my voice began wavering with mixtures of emotion.
She chuckled and instantly, I began giggling.
"Erza?" I called out again after stopping my giggles.
"Yes?" she answered.
"Do you think I really can do it?" I asked a bit doubtfully.
"Of course, Lucy, I got my whole faith in you as I believe that sun may rise tomorrow," I knew that Erza smiled while saying this.
I snorted, "You're too much, Erza! Thanks anyway."
*Silence*
"Erza?" I called out when there was no answer.
I laughed softly when I heard a slight snoring from the bed beside me. A few seconds later, I heard some noise from the next room, which was the boys' room. I assumed that Natsu and Gray were making some ruckus again. They were lucky Erza was asleep. Oh well, I closed my tired eyelids, silently praying for the two. Seems like tomorrow gonna be a looong day.
Mean while, in the room where the boys were...
Happy's POV
"Do your stupid heads get it? I don't like her!" Gray denied, his cheeks were ridiculously red.
"But I saw you blushing! And Happy said it was one of the obvious signs!" Natsu protested, clearly amused by Gray's reaction, "And now you're blushing as well!" He laughed loudly, not caring if he disturbed the whole mansion.
"Denial is also one of the sign, Aye!" I said and nodded, not missing my favourite catch-phrase. Gray was just waaay to obvious. Even the inexperienced (unlike me, the master of match making, Happy-sensei) could notice it. Natsu was a different case, he didn't even understand the term "like-like". Trust me.
"Just admit that you like her, stripper! We all like her! Happy likes her! Even if she's a weirdo, I like her too!" Natsu said proudly. See? He just didn't get it. Poor Lisanna.
"Or...or," Natsu commented again, but this time his eyes widened, "Is it that you like her until you want to eat her? I-I won't let you, Gray!"
Gray's jaw dropped at this, my eyes widened, dumbfounded. And where did I had heard of the other meaning of 'eat'?
"Wh-what the hell are you talking about, Natsu?" A bit of doubt was heard on his voice.
"If-if you like Luce like I like food! You must wanna eat her!" Natsu accused Gray.
I shook my head. See? He just couldn't get it. No matter how many times Mira had hit that hard head of his, he just wouldn't get it.
"Stupid," Gray muttered.
"But Gray," I said again. If Mira and I haven't be able to hook up Natsu and Lisanna, maybe Gray and Lucy would be easier? But first, I got to get them to crack out of their own denseness, "I saw you hugged Lucy too. You and Lucy seemed to liiiiike it~ veryvery much," I snickered.
Instantly, Gray's face turned into total tomato red and Natsu rolled on the bed in his laughter fits, "I-I hugged her as a friend! Are friends not allowed to hug each other?"
I snickered even more. Sure he was stubborn, but he didn't deny the fact that he enjoyed it! An improvement, aye! Okay, now just a little moooore...
"You know~you two make a cute coup-oomph!" I was silenced with a huge pillow on my face originally targetted to Natsu, courtesy of Gray.
"What are you laughing for, pinky?" He said in annoyance.
"Your face! You-you're hahaha-oomph!" this time, the target was acomplished.
"What was that for?" Natsu protested.
"For being ridiculously foolish," he said and was welcomed by another pillow shoot.
"You know...," I started, getting anxious but no one had heard, "Erza's room is next door, and I don't know what she will do if you disturb her precious sleep," their ears perked up at the name of Erza. And in just a few seconds, lights were off and the two of them were safe in their beds. I snuggled beside Natsu, sighing. Maybe, Gray and Lucy wasn't that easy to be hooked up after all.
Lucy's POV
"Lucy?" a woman's voice echoed through the corridors of the fancy mansion, bouncing through its brown wall and red carpet.
"Ms Sarah?" I answered, slightly aware and my body tensed. Those horrible feelings again. I wonder what had gotten into me?
"No search or outings today?" she smiled that plastic smile, sending shivers along my spines.
"Um, no. Not today," I answered.
"Oh I see." She hummed when her eyes went to the book I was holding, "Is that a book that you borrowed in the library?"
"Ah yes," I said nervously when her jet black eyes kept trailing on the book.
"May I see it?" she said while smiling sweetly. My grip on the book tightened, but I handed over the book.
As her slender fingers touched the book, buzzing yellow sparks started to appear and stung through her pale fingers.
"Ouch!" she yelled in almost an un-lady like manner, and dropped the book. Unlike her, I wasn't even fazed by the sparks because it didn't even touched me. My eyes went wide until the sparks disappeared. Leaving only me and Miss Sarah in an awkward silence.
"A-are you okay, Miss?" I asked a little worriedly after I broke out from my trance.
"Yes I am," her voice was a bit harsh, not smooth like usual and it made me to back away a little.
Noticing my movement, she smiled, "My apologies, Lucy. I am a bit moody today. Well, I wish you all good luck as always," she turned her back and left me like nothing had happened in the first place.
I lifted the book off the floor, staring at it as a thought came through me. I shook my head to dismiss the very thought, and headed towards the front door, where everyone had waited.
"Alright, you ready?" The five of were us standing, forming a big circle, in exception of Happy who was flying. We had managed to climb the highest hill in the city, the one for a perfect star gazing. I was holding Natsu's hand with my left palm, while Erza in the right palm. Natsu held Happy with his other hand, while Happy held Gray's hand which was again, connected with Erza's. It was better to be prepared from any bickering of those two boys right? At least Erza was between them.
"I'm all fired up, Luce!" Said you-know-who.
I smiled to hide my nervous self, "Empty your mind. Concentrate on our purpose to find the box. Don't ever think about anything or any personal purpose. And Happy, stop thinking about fish," I said seriously, making Happy nodded. Whoa, he could be that obedient, "But the most important is faith. Have faith in yourself, your magic, and your friends. Got it everyone?" Erza squeezed my hand to encourage me. But unfortunately, her grip was waaay too strong, I managed to give her my brightest smile while everyone nodded.
"We'll do it like I've told you before. Okay, now...let's begin."
I inhaled and closed my eyes tight. Emptying my mind from everything. Believe in myself and my magic, something I hardly could do, but must be done now. A picture of Mom popped in my head, as if encouraging me to go on. I started imagining the magic circle in my head, removing anything from my mind, including Mom. I drew each curves and details, each symbols and diagonals.
"I call out to the magic of the stars," I began, trying to make my voice strong and clear. I could feel the flow of magic came across me. Blazing and fiery. Natsu's. Cold and static. Gray's. Tough and brave. Erza's. Gleeful and free. Happy's.
"We, five mages tied in a close bond, one good purpose in mind and one belief in heart, requested for directions," I stopped to take my breath and shouted the last sentence, "I, as the median of the stars, hope for you to come to our calling!"
As I said so, warm wind began to blow, everything seems to shuffle, as we all opened our eyes. The hill was glowing with golden-like rays, a strong calming sensation of magic can be felt through the air, touching my skin, whispering through my ears, and lightening my whole being. Something urged me to look up, so I did. There, a big shining diamond-like star was hung over the night sky. It began twinkling brightly, pointing to a certain point in the city with its soft rays. I smiled. We did it!
"Thank you," I whispered, then I heard a sound which seemed like a soft giggle in the air, before the wind started to fade.
"Everyone, let's follow that star," Erza commanded with a content smile, shaking all of us from amazement.
Oh how I enjoyed writing Happy's POV. Natsu's POV was rather hard though -_- Anyway, please tell me if I progressed too slow, or if the plot is getting boring or something? You're welcome to PM me for ideas too :D
As usual, please review whether you like this chapter or not :)
~snowdrop03