Hey people of the internet. We passed 200 reviews! ~jumps around bedroom room~ I love you guys, you have no idea how much this continual support means to me. You're all so supportive and kind, I read your reviews and smile!
And yes, I did write a novel but you guys aren't allowed to read it, (sorry .) not only do I hate it, but it's mostly all sex. Legit.
But, back onto my fanfiction, I'm thinking of starting a new one soon, if I find time. It'd be another NaLu one, so if you guys want to look for that in the future I'd love you for it.
Plot wise for this story, things are getting heated. Angel is going to be playing a more prominent role, coming into play for the Christmas season, which is coincidentally the same time of year in my fic. The same tension with Lucy and Natsu but I'm thinking of throwing something interesting into the mix, haven't decided completely on it yet though.
Please enjoy, review if you get a chance and continue rocking.
2015: Revised
Chapter 18: Holiday Blues
The snow fell outside Lucy's window in thick, heavy flakes. The late afternoon sky was painted a light pink, snowflakes falling wistfully down to the blanketed ground. Almost a week had passed since her confrontation with Natsu, the feel of his scorching lips on hers still sizzling in the back of her mind.
He was angry, that much was sure. In some ways it felt like the good old days, his heated glares, once again filled with anger and hate rather than passion and curiosity. In other ways it was entirely different, he no longer teased her. In fact he acted as if she didn't exist, her presence wasn't noticed or acknowledged. Lucy knew it was silly but she felt hurt. She did run away from him that chilly November day but it hurt knowing he had recovered and moved on so easily.
Lucy sighed tiredly, not accomplishing any of the work she had set out to finish in the library. She played with her pencil, tapping it on her notebook rhythmically. It was Wednesday, Winter Solstice was in a week, the biggest wizarding holiday of the whole year. Coming from a half-blooded family meant that her father didn't celebrate Winter Solstice, he probably wouldn't even send her a gift.
Maybe I should just stay here over break, Lucy thought to herself, knowing the holiday at home wouldn't be very fun, it'd be better than going home.
Lucy was still pondering what she should do for the holiday when Levy and Gajeel appeared out of no where.
"Hey Lucy, whatcha doing?" Levy asked, leaning over, trying to steal a glance at Lucy's papers.
Slightly startled by their sudden appearance, she mumbled, "er, um, nothing, homework." Lucy couldn't help but notice the almost possessive way Gajeel studied Levy. Lately Levy had begun spending almost all her time with her boyfriend, often missing for hours, coming back after curfew, lips swollen and hair messy. Lucy just hoped her friend was being safe.
"Homework?" Levy laughed, "You never have homework these days."
"Yes, well, I like the quiet in here." Lucy mumbled, "it's relaxing."
Another short laugh, "well me and Gajeel just dropped by to see if you want to come watch the recreation duelling with us," she said, tucking her arm in Gajeel's. "Guess who's competing?"
Lucy already knew, she had heard Gray talking about it this morning. Natsu was taking on a upperclassman, some Prefect named Logan Leeves.
"Who?" Lucy asked, playing along.
"Natsu freaking Dragneel." Levy practically squealed, "I always knew he had balls but this is almost too much, the whole school is in the arena watching."
Lucy closed her notebook, focusing her full attention on Levy, "have they already started?"
Levy shook her head wildly, blue curls bouncing, "nope, it starts in twenty minutes. So, wanna come?" She asked, raising an eyebrow, snuggling a tad bit closer to Gajeel.
Lucy didn't really want to go watch Natsu fight some talented upperclassman, he was spontaneous and rash in battle.
Well, in everything.
Lucy nibbled on her bottom lip, thinking deeply.
"So?" Levy asked, clearly impatient and revving to get going.
Against her better judgement, a resounding 'yes' fell from Lucy's lips, and before she could retract her words Levy, with Gajeel in tow, dragged her down to the arena.
Levy was right, the arena was packed. Lucy was canned in beside Levy and some sweaty, first year who seemed very uncomfortable sitting next to her. Every bleacher was crammed with students of varying ages, the teachers sat above the arena from a glass enclosed room, also waiting.
A large group of Logan's friends sat nearby, waving flag and banging pans together and generally inducing the chaos.
Lucy could feel the beginnings of a headache sink into her head, she began to massage her temples, cursing herself for agreeing to this nonsense.
It's not like Natsu would be glad she showed up anyways, if he even saw her that is. He was still angry with her and he had a very good reason to be, she thought bitterly.
"Aren't you excited Lucy? This is going to be the biggest duel of the year!" Levy chattered animatedly, allowing Gajeel's arm to snake around her thin waist.
"Yeah." Lucy said quietly, "super excited," chewing on her thumbnail absentmindedly. She hadn't seen Natsu fight since that day when she had fought him. Lucy shuddered at that memory, remembering how Angel has leeched into her mind and used her, made her do that thing. She shook her head, dismissing those thoughts, she didn't want to think about. She had mentally blocked the entire incident from her mind, Loke still cast her nervous glances in class.
At that moment the familiar voice of Professor Gildarts came over the loudspeaker, "Heeellooo, students, staff, pleasure to see you all this fine evening!" His voice coated in excitement, the mischievousness in his tone obvious. "Tonight we have two very special wizards, both renowned in their grades for smarts and magical capabilities! Allow me to introduce the first of our two contestants, he's a pure-blood, a Prefect and pretty damn good with the ladies, Logan Leeves!"
Logan's friends erupted in raucous cheers, jumping up from their spots on the bleachers, waving their obnoxious coloured flags. From the left side of the arena a tall, thin blonde boy with an angular face and brown eyes entered the arena, walking with a confident swagger. He waved discreetly at his friend's, eyes twinkling confidently.
Once the crowd had calmed Gildarts continued, "next we have the resident bad boy of Fairy Tail Academy, the trickster, the handsome, cunning rogue, Natsu Dragneel!"
When Natsu appeared from the change room Lucy couldn't help but suck in a breath, his onyx eyes were hard and determined, hands clenched at his sides, small flames licking his spiked hair.
Routinely the two boys crossed the floor to the centre of the arena, stepping inside the centre circle stiffly, aura's crackling with intensity.
"Now the two contestants will shake hands then without further ado the match will begin." Gildarts shouted, voice blaring.
Logan stepped forwards first, thinly muscled arm extended, a dark smile on his face. Natsu took his hand and gave it a brisk shake, but before Logan let go, his lips moved in speech. Lucy leaned forward, what had he just said? Did anyone else catch that?
Natsu's eyes chilled, lips tightening, thin and bloodless. Whatever Logan had said it hadn't been nice, Natsu looked even more determined than before.
The two wizards walked back to their respective sides of the arena, both on their toes and ready.
"From the count of three," Gildarts announced, "three, two, one!"
As soon as the word slipped off his tongue Logan was already in action, his pupils taking on an earthy green colour. His long fingers unfurled, almost like he was stretching, "Poison vine!" Instantaneously the tiles shattered, plump, thick vines shooting up from the ground, spiked and dangerous.
Lucy's eyes darted to Natsu, who to her dismay, wasn't expecting such a quick attack and his magic wasn't ready. Before he could even conjure a flame an unforgiving vine latched onto his ankle, jerking him skywards.
Lucy cringed as she watched the vine toss Natsu about like a rag doll, trying unsuccessfully to burn the merciless vine from his ankle. She could see the distress on his face, the desperation, he couldn't lose.
Whispers spread throughout the crowd, even Logan's friends were silent. Something about Logan was off, he was a school Prefect not some wizarding thug. Shouldn't he have relented by now?
Then Lucy noticed something she almost wished she hadn't. In the swirling, green depths of Logan's eyes something was very wrong. Shaded and distant they didn't look like the eyes of someone who was enjoying needless torture of a fellow student.
The familiar eyes of possession flashed across her vision.
Fear rocketed through Lucy's body, Angel was manipulating Logan! She needed to do something, now! Trying to calm herself, Lucy closed her eyes, balancing her breathing. She reached for the core calmness at the centre of her belly, warm and fuzzy, she needed to gain control. Breaking the membrane like surface of her magical power she let out a deep breath.
The world lit up like a Christmas tree, the shining, glowing balls of about seven hundred students souls spanned out in front of her. She pushed past the irrelevant souls, searching in the blackness for the one that burned like an ember.
Natsu's.
Finally, she spotted it, flickering and wavering it was weak and injured. She turned, searching for a corrupted soul, a possessed soul.
Logan's soul was wrapped in a thin, foggy blackness, blanketing anything and everything Logan's true soul was trying to do. He was like a mindless husk! Caged and useless, the fog manipulating his every move and thought.
I need to get rid of this fog, she thought, reaching deeper into her inner magic, hoping she could pull off this miraculous feat on her own.
She didn't know what she needed to do, but something inside her told her to kiss it. So that's exactly what she did.
Lucy wasn't sure what happened next but if she were to put it into words it was kind of like a rainbow exploding. Glitter fell all over the Soul Plane and Lucy could feel her physical state demanding attention, her mind grew tired and the Soul Plane slowly slipped away.
"Lucy! Wake up did you just see that!?" Levy was shaking her furiously, hazel eyes frantic.
Lucy groggily shook her head, ears ringing, the weight of exhaustion pressing down firmly on her chest, "whaaa?" She muttered sleepily, eyes trying to pry open.
"Logan just passed out, look!" She yelped, pointing down to where an unconscious Logan lay on the broken tiles, doctors swarming him instantly.
His eyes were closed and he looked like he was having a peaceful nap, the whole crowd was whispering to one another, what had Natsu done?
But Lucy already knew, Natsu hadn't done anything, she had; perhaps that's why Natsu just sat there, on the ground, dumbly. Dead vines lay around his feet, as if all the magical power had suddenly been sucked from them, he was speechless.
"Do you think he used Dark magic?" Some pimply kid from behind Lucy sneered to his friend, "no way Logan would just fall over after he was kicking his ass so hard."
Lucy grit her teeth together to prevent from snapping at the boy, let them say what they want. Natsu didn't use Dark magic, the arena had Dark magic detectors the instant anyone tries to use it the alarm would sound.
Lucy gnawed on her lip, ripping off skin, had what she done been Black magic? Being able to control and cure people's souls, she had heard no such magic before.
But before she could begin to dwell on it a rather frazzled looking Gildarts stormed onto the arena tiles, a mic held in his hand, shakily he said, "and our winner is Natsu Dragneel. Congratulations kid."
Scattered, unenthusiastic cheers came from a few of the students, all staring down at Natsu warily.
Natsu stood, his eyes slowly scanning over the crowd, as if looking for someone.
Lucy held her breath, both hoping he wouldn't see her.
His gaze stopped on her, a muscle feathering along his jaw, onyx eyes dark from the shadow of his brow, Lucy couldn't breathe, she waited until he eventually tore his eyes from hers, Gildarts guiding him along.
Lucy swallowed thickly as she watched his retreating figure.
OoOoO
Lucy hadn't slept well that night. How could she? Not only could she control souls without Angel's help or assistance but she knew she had the power to kill them too. The instant she entered the Soul Plane she could feel it, the power sinking into her skin, the ability to crush soul after soul with the flick of her wrist.
She shuddered, it was a terrible thought.
"Lucy, hurry up, Professor Strauss is waiting for us, don't want to be late for the annual Mullfield trip do you?" Erza stood in the doorway to their dorm room, a bright red muffler to match her scarlet hair wrapped around her neck.
"Okay, be down in a few." Lucy said, yanking on her winter boots and adjusting her ear muffs, tying back her blond hair with a ponytail.
Today her potions class would be taking the yearly trip to Mullfield, a nearby wizarding town where they would visit the National Wizarding Museum and then go ingredient shopping at Helga's Brew. (Professor Strauss's favourite herb store)
Grabbing her small backpack Lucy hurried out, not feeling particularly excited about this field trip. Not only would they have to use Muggle transportation it also meant it would be harder to avoid Natsu.
Groaning to herself, Lucy joined her class in the Grand Hall where Professor Strauss was doing attendance.
"Jason Heffley?" She called out, trying to spot Jason's pointed, mousy face.
"Here!" He called, waving a purple mitten in the air.
"Good, good, Lucy Heartfilia?" She asked, spotting Lucy's blond head join the back of the pack, teal ear muffs covering her ears.
"Here." Lucy answered, wading through the crowd until she stood beside her friends, Cana fiddling with the pom pom on her hat.
Professor Strauss read off the remaining names then closed her notebook, smiling broadly. "Alright class today we are going to Mullfield, please be on your best behaviour and remember, if a Muggle car should pass us on the way, make sure you're not doing any magic."
A pure-blood wizard named Aaron Penerghast looked nervous, unsure if he could handle the possible threat of Muggles.
"Okay, come along class, we must board the school bus, hurry along." Professor Strauss ushered them along like little ducklings, clucking over her chicks nervously.
Parked in amongst the piles of snow sat a hideously yellow tank of a bus, a plump middle aged lady sat at the wheel, she was quite obviously a Squid by the look of her.
Stifling another groan Lucy waited in line to board the bus, Lisanna and Erza talking behind her excitedly.
Once seated unease sank deeper into Lucy's gut, the school windows fogging quickly with the hot breath of her classmates. Yanking off her wool glove Lucy drew funny faces on the foggy window, the cool glass under her fingertip calming her feverish skin. As the bus lurched into action the trip began and the bus settled into a whispering calm. Most were being vigilant and on the lookout for other Muggle vehicles, terrified of confrontation. Lucy, who's father was a Muggle, had no such fears and instead gazed out the window, watching the passing scenery.
About an hour into the drive Lucy could feel someone's eyes on her; turning in her seat she was surprised to see Jellal and Loke sitting behind her.
"Yeah?" She asked, confused.
"Oh nothing we were just wondering about what you were thinking so deeply about, right Jellal?" Loke nudged him in the ribs but Jellal just mumbled, he was dozing off.
"You seemed to be very deep in thought and I couldn't help but notice-" Loke trailed off, his voice was mischievous but his eyes seemed to be masking fear.
"Notice what?"
His eyes narrowed marginally, a unfamiliar sharpness to his appearance. "That your eyes were black. Like they were in the Ring."
Lucy's breath hitched and panic rose in her chest.
"S-so what? It doesn't mean anything." She stammered clumsily.
Loke's eyes grew progressively narrower, "you're hiding something. And I have a feeling I should tell Professor Strauss about my observations."
"Don't!" Lucy hissed desperately, grabbing ahold of his jacket.
"Why not?" He asked innocently.
"Just don't. I'll do anything.' She pleaded.
"Hm. Okay." He relented quickly and this was when Lucy realized she made a horrible mistake. He'd planned this. "Kiss me."
"What?" she blanched,
"Kiss me and I'll call it even. All of the guys in school are talking about how unattainable you are and all that but if I kiss you then not only is the appeal gone but my reputation grows." Loke explained through a smile. "It's just a simple kiss."
"B-but I-" Lucy began.
"But what? You don't have a boyfriend. Just do it and my lips are sealed." He made a zippr motion over his lips, winking.
Left without much of an option Lucy began to lean in, eyes closed. Suddenly his lips were on hers, him leaning over the back of the seat. Before Lucy could even cut the kiss off, flame erupted all around them.
Then the whole bus broke into chaos.
The faint blur of Natsu tackling Loke, fists flaming zoomed across Lucy's eyes, the bus swerved out of control, the screams of her classmates deafening. As the bus veered to the right Lucy was sent sprawling, face grinding along the hard aisle of the bus.
The sounds of fighting were muffled compared to the shrieks, Professor Strauss struggling up front to place a barrier around the bus. Other students quickly popped up their own protection shields then began bouncing around the bus like hamsters in a plastic ball. The sound of tires skidding and losing traction hissed through the air, then like a crash out of a movie they began rolling down the hill.
If they weren't witches and wizards they'd be dead, that much is sure. But by the time the bus finally did slow, a rather thick oak stopping them with a jarring halt, only a few students were injured.
Lucy coughed, smoke hazing the air, all the bus windows broken and letting in frigid winter air. Mumbling and whimpering from her classmates followed, quick affirmations that their friends were alright. Through the haze the peaky voice of Professor Strauss sounded, "is everyone alright!? Listen up, we need to get out of this bus, everyone crawl out of the nearest window and we'll meet on the ground."
Head pounding Lucy did as she was told, crawling over to a partially shattered window and gingerly slipping through. She landed on the ground with a crunch, her boots sinking through the powdery snow. Hugging herself for warmth, Lucy waited as everyone else crawled out of the bus and joined her on the ground.
Finally Professor Strauss and the bus driver pulled themselves from the wreckage, her usual immaculate hair frizzy and knotty, grime smudged across her porcelain cheeks. With shaking fingers she pulled out her mostly scorched attendance notebook and began peering around the crowd and quickly checking people off.
The class stood in stiff silence, the anger toward Natsu and Loke thick in the air. Snapping her notebook shut Madame' Strauss's dark blue eyes settled on the two idiots. Her gaze was burning with anger though her expression remained demure.
"Well, what do you two have to say for yourselves?" She said sweetly, but it was coated in acid.
Loke and Natsu shuffled their feet awkwardly, refusing to look at one another. It would seem neither one of them was doing any speaking.
"Now that you two managed to ruin our bus and land us in the middle of a forest I'm sure you two have a plan right?" She cocked her head, a blisteringly fake smile on her lips.
Still they said nothing.
Turning to the class she asked, "does anyone have an owl or a messenger coin that can get us in contact with the school?" Madame Strauss asked.
No response.
"Well, it looks like we'll have to walk," she said stiffly, still trying to seem calm.
"Couldn't you just teleport back to the castle and ask for help?" A rather whiny piggish looking boy asked.
"No Peter unfortunately I used all my powers protecting the bus and us."
Lucy chewed on her lip, she had never seen Professor Strauss like this before. She wondered if she could teleport back to the castle and get help. Students her age didn't even know the spell but she did, she could help them. But before Lucy could act on that plan she felt that eerily familiar dark, black snake slip into her mind, just peeping but definitely there.
She cursed under her breath, of all the times for Angel to decide to creep back into her mind it was now. Lucy knew she couldn't risk her mind to exploitation, she would have to figure out another way to contact the school.
A little light bulb went off in her head, "hey guys, I've got an idea."
I guess you'll have to wait till next time to see what Lucy's idea is. ;)
Thanks for reading, please review and favourite, means the world.
SEE YA NEXT TIME.
3 Suicidal.