A/N You knew how grateful I am to all of you, right? I LOVE YOU ALL! *sends virtual kisses to everyone* Hope you enjoyed this one! ^_^ Okay, so what will happen next?
Notice: All review responses are removed from this chapter. :)
Chapter 6: IF HE WON'T, SHE WILL
Lucy restrained herself from laughing out loud, but the expression on her face showed definite mockery as she watched the two current strongest mages of Fiore turned green about the gills, thanks to their motion sickness.
Rouge struggled hard to keep himself composed, droplets of cold sweat forming on his forehead, as he covered his mouth with both hands. "Damn it!" he cursed inwardly.
Sting, on the other hand, had no problem showing his ill condition. He was sitting on the carriage floor, his head rested on the same cushion seat where Lucy was seated. His face all greenish and purplish, looking like he was about to throw up anytime.
Lucy couldn't help but remember Natsu. Lector sweat dropped at the pathetic sight, "It's not a new sight to you, is it, Fairy-san?" the exceed initiated the conversation.
The blonde jerked her head to the exceed, still trying not to laugh, "Yeah," she answered, "Natsu's just the same." She added.
"Fro is curious… What is Fairy-san's relationship with the salamander?" the other exceed asked, slightly tilting its head to the side.
The fairy tail mage's eyebrow twitched, "We're good friends." Isn't it obvious?
Lector cupped his chin with his paw, gesturing like he was thinking, "I still think it's useless to be friends with weaklings…"
This cat's sharp tongue! Lucy felt the urge to send him flying but remained reserved, instead, she stated abruptly, "You don't choose your friends based on that."
Before the exceed could say something, Frosch jumped on Lucy's lap, "Fro thinks so too…"
Aw. She instantly remembered Happy, damn, she missed her team. The blonde girl just let out a soft chuckle as Lector frowned in disbelief, murmuring something like 'Frosch is really an idiot!'
The vehicle halted shortly, Rouge somehow regained the seemingly blood loss in his system while Sting was as pathetic as ever. "We're here?" Lucy supposed as she peeked outside the window, the man in charge of the wheels opened the door.
"Sirs and Madame, I am deeply sorry for the inconvenience, but I'm afraid the vehicle couldn't go further than here." The small man said, slightly bowing.
Lucy stepped down and took in the surroundings, the weather is good, so it wasn't the weather. "Can I ask why, ojii-san?" she asked softly.
"The town of Freesia has a protocol that every vehicle that'll enter needs to have a permit." The man said, fidgeting his fingers, eyes still glued on the ground. "…and I wasn't able to get one."
"Is that so?" Lucy flipped her hair, as she shaded her eyes with one hand and gazed at the nearby town in sight. "Is that town Freesia?"
"Yes, madam." The man answered in all respect.
"Let it be, Fairy-san…" Lector chirped in, "The strongest mages of Fiore prefers walking anyway." He said, as he jumped out of the vehicle, Frosch trailing from behind.
Lucy giggled, yeah, right! Those strongest mages in Fiore you were referring to looked so pathetic just seconds earlier. She wanted to say, but just settled in chuckling insultingly.
Rouge stepped out of the vehicle, carrying a wobbling Sting on his back. Lucy was amused at how the shadow dragon slayer could keep himself this collected even after hours of struggling with his motion sickness, unlike the other dragon slayer who kept on cursing the vehicle like it tortured him mercilessly.
"Oi, upu!" Sting tried to talk, "Carry me, dorei!"
Lucy blinked twice. Thrice. "Are you talking to me?" she asked in a shocked voice, her index finger pointing at herself.
"Upu… carry your master!" he yelled, his face still purplish.
"Why do I have to do this?" Lucy whined endlessly, remembering as to how Natsu would feel bad being carried by her on her back, since she was considered as a form of transportation too, it should be happening with Sting as well, right? But much to her disappointment, he was doing perfectly fine torturing her like this. It wasn't clear as to why his pride had allowed him to be carried by a girl, but the blonde Fairy Tail mage was sure, he was doing this to torment her.
"Because you're my slave, and you have to serve me. Did you think I didn't see you looking all goofy making fun of me on the carriage, you blondie!" Sting asserted, he smirked as he observed the celestial mage's reaction.
It was obvious she was having a hard time keeping up on carrying him. He was also amazed of this amazing discovery, he thought he'd go nauseous because riding anything in motion was obviously considered as a form transportation for him, but not Lucy. He thought it might be because she was marked by him, and technically, as long as she got the mark, he owned her and she was part of him.
His eyes slowly shifted on her neck, which was slightly hidden by her loose strands of hair. He wondered how the mark as of the moment was, he was told by their master that the mark had already began to deposit scales. As much as he wanted to check on it, his pride wouldn't allow so.
Just then, Lucy fell on her knees. "I can't take this anymore…" she said, eyes hidden with her bangs as heavy exhaustion took over her. Sting, on the other hand, got himself back on his feet again.
"What a weakling? I heard you were Natsu-san's team mate. I think weaklings are really drawn together, ne? Maybe that's why his dragon left him." Sting said bluntly, chortling arrogantly.
Exhausted, Lucy rolled her fist into a ball, trying to confine her agitation. She took in a deep breath and stood up, her knees slightly trembling, carrying the arrogant dragon slayer for 10 minutes was too much for her. She turned to look at Sting, her eyebrow quirked, "I won't deny Natsu has his weakness, and yeah, maybe keeping me as his company is a weakness itself, but I assure you, he's so much better than you." She averred sarcastically, yet calmly.
Hearing this, the white dragon slayer froze. Did she just insult him openly? "Do you want to die?"
"Do I need to answer such stupid question?" the blonde girl tilted her chin up, it looked like she got him there and the table was turned.
"S-stupid?" the dragon slayer twitched the corner of his lips, "You must watch your mouth, blondie. You're in no position to talk back to me–"
"–and I don't think you're in the position to insult my nakama, either. Insult me all you want, but never talk trash about my friends." Lucy cut him off impulsively. She brushed her dusted knees graciously, "You're not even half as good as them."
With that, she summoned Horologium and locked herself inside it. "If you love your life, don't fuckin' disturb me, or I'll kill myself and you'd die… she says." The talking grandfather clock uttered in a high pitched voice. A tear strolled down her face as she sniffed hard, trying to stop herself from crying but to no success, just let go. When it comes to Natsu's dragon parent, she was as sensitive as Natsu. Being his best friend, she absolutely knew how hard it was for Natsu to deal with Igneel's disappearance… and there's no way that kind of shallow excuse was the reason.
Sting sweat dropped, it was kind of impressive that someone as weak as her could threaten him like that. Yes, he finds her weak physically, it was a given that she had a remarkable amount of magic power, but leaving her without her keys, she'd be useless… or so he thought. He felt a tap on his shoulder, looking back, he saw Rouge shaking his head. It was weird for Rouge to do this, he'd admit. Sting tilted his head slightly to the side, "Yeah?"
"Let her be." His partner cracked, which surprised Sting.
"Huh?"
"You over did it again Sting-kun, though you're still the best!" Lector chirped in, while looking to the confused white dragon slayer.
"Fro agrees!" the other exceed chimed enthusiastically, which didn't really suit the current mood.
"I am, right?" the blonde dragon slayer crouched down and high fived the two exceeds simultaneously.
Rouge looked at the walking grandfather's clock, he could hear her silent whimpers. He wasn't really sure what part of Sting's insult made her cry, but he knew his partner went overboard.
"Ah, Rouge. I forgot you had a weakness over crying girls. It's not like I insulted her deep to the bones, why'd she have to cry?" Sting scratched his head vehemently, his irritation slowly fading as a pang of guilt hit him. It's not like he wanted her to cry. Sting found the celestial mage fun to tease, since she had patience to keep up with his mistreatments and sometimes, she'd sarcastically make him talk to the hand. But never did he think that it was this easy to make her cry.
Once they reached the town of Freesia, it was as normal as any town would be. Little children were spotted running and playing on the streets. "Are we there yet?... she says." The spirit said, as the blonde girl couldn't hold in her curiosity any longer, her anger had subsided.
"Not yet." Sting said, as he walked with his hands rested behind his head.
Lucy bit her tongue, how could she forget that she wasn't with her team at the moment.
A few minutes passed and the sun had set behind the mountains, they hadn't reached their destination yet. It was really hard without a carriage, good thing Lucy was inside Horologium. She unconsciously let out a smirk.
Every townspeople they'd encounter along the way would throw them weird glances and whispers, it was obvious that the walking grandfather's clock was drawing attention. Lucy, as oblivious as she could get, was unmindful of people's stare, while the other four Sabertooth members were walking just ahead of her.
Sting looked back, "Oi, dorei, get out of there this instant and walk. You're making us look weird." He said, directing to the Fairy Tail mage inside the grandfather's clock. He wasn't the kind of person to mind what other people think, he just said it to make her come out.
"Shut up and let me do what pleases me… who cares if you looked weird?... she says." Horologium stated.
Sting felt the urge to laugh but stopped himself, this girl was really amusing. She really is a Fairy Tail mage. "Suit yourself, then." He said, turning around to hide his grin.
Lucy frowned, and noticed the four had stopped in front of a large mansion, at last! She thought, she couldn't help but feel nostalgic with the sight of the manor. She put her hands on her chest, she remembered her late father.
The large gate opened, revealing a midget man inside, she heard it say "Welcome to my master's abode, Sabertooth mages! My name is–"
"Enough with the unnecessary introductions," The blonde dragon slayer stuffed his hands on his pockets, "We came here for the details of this job." He raised a piece of paper into the midget's view.
"Oh." The midget man smirked, "Right, please come in… but we allow no pets inside and…" he peeked on the weird grandfather's clock standing just behind them, "…what's that? A clock with a face? Is that a face?"
"You don't need to know." Rouge blocked the clock from the midget's view.
"We're not pets, you ugly thing?" Lector said angrily.
Sting however sat frog-like and patted Lector and Frosch's heads, "Yeah, they're not pets. They're our nakama, so don't be stupid."
"Lector and Frosch, stay here and watch over the girl." Rouge ordered monotonously, as he signaled his hand behind him.
"A girl?" the midget tried to shove the shadow dragon slayer to get a clear view of the girl he was talking about just now, but to no avail, just given up.
"But…?" Frosch tried to protest, but as soon as the clock spirit caught his eyes, he immediately complied, which left Lector no other choice but to do the same.
Sting and Rouge followed the midget inside.
"How does it feel to stay there, Fairy-san?" Frosch asked, as the curious exceed tapped a paw on the glass.
Lucy smiled, "It's warm. Feels like, uh, how to say it? Feels like home… she says" her retort was delivered by Horologium.
"You miss home, Fairy-san? Magnolia, is it?" Lector chirped in, trying to hide his curiosity as well. Though, his amusement wasn't hard to spot.
"Yes, do you two want to join me here?" the blonde asked, as she opened the glass divider.
"Fro wants," the exceed dressed as a frog hopped in as soon as he got his chance.
Lucy and Frosch stared at Lector expectantly, who was, at the moment, torn between wanting to know how it feels to be inside the clock spirit and his pride as the partner of the current strongest mage of Fiore. "Come on, Lector…" Lucy called, "We won't tell anyone, right, Fro?" the blonde smiled at the other exceed as the latter nodded in agreement.
Lector wore an uncompromising expression, "My pride won't allow it…" Lucy and Frosch sighed, "…but if the two of you really insist, then the least I could do is to hop in. If that's what really makes you happy."
Lucy sweat dropped, like master, like exceed. Really there? Lector hopped inside, the amusement was undeniable on his face. It was almost as transparent as Frosch's.
As soon as the Sabertooth dragon slayers reached the living room, a man wearing an expensive-looking tux guided them into a private room, with the midget still trailing them from behind.
"Sire," the man called out, "The Sabertooth mages had arrived."
The man seated on the swiveling chair turned to face the four who were all standing near the door, "Eucliffe-san, Cheney-san, I am glad you have come at my wishes," the client fawned as the two dragon slayers were escorted to the couch. "I am willing to give all my riches for the success of this mission."
Rouge had his eyes fixed on the man, while Sting stuffed his hands on his pockets as both sat down in a comfy position. "Whatever, now the details." Sting said, smirking smugly. Not caring a bit if he was being rude. He justifies this with: The deal was to get the job done, right? Not to please the clients.
The man seated in the chair stifled a fake laugh, worry was evident on his eyes. "My name is Yun Donel, and my daughter had been put under a love spell." He rested both his arms on the desk and clasped his hands together, tears gathering at the corner of his eyes as he continued, "And I want you to retrieve her from the man who casted that spell."
"Why didn't you call for a mage that specializes in nullifying a spell instead?" The blonde dragon slayer interrupted, head tilted as he looked at the client haughtily.
The butler standing beside them was alarmed by Sting's rudeness, "Pay respect to our lor–" A sharp katana threatening to cut his neck interrupted what he was about to say.
"Don't order us around." Rouge said, gripping at the katana, his red eyes glaring at the man which made him shiver unconsciously, "Are you underestimating us? Giving us a trash job like this?" the shadow dragon slayer said sharply.
Donel coughed huskily to get their attention and to ease the heavy atmosphere roaming around the room, "I… I'm sorry if you find the job insulting…" the client said, his voice shaking and his whole body trembling. "I… I just want to assure my daughter's safety… I… I want the strongest mages of Fiore to take care of the job." He explained, his gaze bouncing to the two dragon slayers.
Sting stood up casually, walking towards Donel. He sat at his desk and glared at him tauntingly, "Are you kidding us, Donel-san?"
"I-I am not… P-please c-consider this j-job, Eucliffe-san?" he begged, as he stood up and knelt in front of the white dragon slayer.
Sting grinned, "That's right… Beg to the strongest mages of Fiore," he ruffled his hair and jeered wider, "Find someone els–"
"I'll take the job!" Lucy's voice echoed inside the room, everyone's eyes were drawn to the blonde lady standing outside the window, one arm raised above her head as two cats were frozen in the position like they were trying to stop the girl from talking. She took in a deep breath as she relaxed her tensed muscles, "I'll take it… I'm from Fairy Tail."
Sting and Rouge flashed a shock expressions on their faces momentarily, Rouge withdrawn the sword and sighed as Sting glared daggers at the Fairy Tail mage. Both exceeds felt like shrinking as they slowly flew over Lucy's head.
"Just what the hell are you trying to do?" Sting questioned Lucy.
Lucy climbed the window carefully and entered the room, followed by the two exceeds. "I am taking the mission you are turning down." She said, with a matter-of-factly tone.
"Hey no pets allo–" the midget tried to yell but was stopped by a sharp katana threatening to cut himself in half. He dreadfully dragged his eyes to the man holding the weapon, it was Rouge… and he had split his katana into two it seemed.
"And who said you can do that?" Sting prompted, eyes directed to the Fairy tail mage, irritation evident on his voice.
"Because your client clearly needs help and he requested for you to take this job because he believes in you… Now if you don't want that, then let a Fairy Tail mage handle this." Lucy declared as she ironed her skirt with her hands and turned to look at the kneeling man who was eyeing her hopefully. "My name is Lucy Heartfilia, sir. Please allow me to take this job." She bowed.
.
to be continued...