Word count: 3, 094
Date published: April 5, 2015
Date started: January 12, 2015
Date finished: March 25, 2015
Chapter 2: Try
July 13, X791
"Hey Lucy, how are you feeling?"
Mirajane Strauss entered the room with a tray in hand.
"I'm fine. Thanks! Is that soup?" The blonde girl, propped up against the bed's headboard, responded.
"Yup!" The older female placed the dish from the tray to the wheeled table and move it towards Lucy. "Eat up!"
Lucy smile appreciatively and scooped the soup into her mouth.
"Thanks, Mira." The take-over mage hummed in reply while clearing up the plates from last meal. "Hey-" the celestial spirit mage saw a glint at Mirajane's finger. "Is that an engagement ring?!"
The snow white-haired woman's eyes widen, scanning the room for any other people. She pulled up a chair beside the bed. She whispered, "No one knows yet,not even Lisanna and Elfman."
"Who is it?" intrigued, Lucy asked.
"Laxus."
"Eehhh? You and nii-san are an item? I didn't know..."
"Well, we sort of kept it a secret but I think others are catching up."
Lucy giggled. "So how'd he popped the question? Any date in mind?"
Instantly, Fairy Tail's resident barmaid turned into a mess like a blushing schoolgirl who just got asked out by her crush, "He proposed to me four days ago..." She twirled a part of her hair with a finger while speaking. "You were unconcious at the time so Laxus and I talked about dragon stuff. Then I asked him, 'Hey, why am I not marked yet?' or something like that. He told me that he wanted to make sure if I'm ready to make the commitment that comes with marking. Then he told me that he was supposed to propose on my birthday which would also be our sixth anniversary together. He was supposed to take me to Jasmin City and propose under the moon but I sort of ruined the surprise. Anyway, he proposed to me on the second floor of this very guildhouse. It may not exactly the fairy tale type of proposal but I love it. Look," Mirajane basically shove her left hand in front of the younger mage's face, "according to Laxus, this belonged to Master Makarov's mother and has been passed throught generations."
Lucy gently pushed the hand down to examine the vintage ring properly. "Wow! This is ancient but well conditioned and probably, if you sold this, it would be enough to pay Fairy Hill's rent for five years or so."
Mira gave a laugh. "I don't really plan to sell it but if we're in an extremely tight pinch, then this ring is rather valuable. What I love though is that this ring means Laxus will be mine and I will be his."
"I can already imagine what your children would look like: a girl with long white hair and orange eyes like Laxus-nii and an exact replica of him only with a lighter shade of hair and vibrant blue eyes."
"Oh stop it, Luce. I can imagine them as well."
Three short knocks on the door pounded before it creaked open and a green-haired woman peered at the pair, "Lucy-san? Master wants to see you..."
Lucy moved the table with her unfinished meal away and swung her legs to the side of the bed, proceeding to stand up. She wobbled a bit so Mira was quick to aide her but stubbornly Lucy walked on her own albeit slowly. She made it though and soon she found herself in front of the guildmaster's office with Mira and Bisca flanked on either side of her in case she loses balance. Shakily, she brought her hand to the door and gave it two raps. "Master? It's me Lucy." To her surprise, Laxus answered he door and helped her in. The older women gave her a wave, saying that they'll be waiting for her downstairs. The large wooden door swung shut behind them as the two blondes took a seat each in front of the master's desk.
"I have a mission for both of you." he spoke monotonously, face devoid of emotion.
"Eh? Couldn't you have called for Mira, or Erza? They're stronger than me..." Lucy felt tense under Makarov's gaze, who was uncharacteristically serious at the moment.
"It specifically calls for you and Laxus. Mission details are scarce. The only information given is that it will take an indefinite number of years and that it recommends temporary removal from the guild-"
"We decline," Laxus said.
"Silence!" Makarov bursted. He calmed down in a matter of seconds and continued, "I am issuing you two this mission in place of a.. dear, trust-worthy friend. The reward is very valuable and cannot be measured by money. You can't decline this. Do it for me if not for the guild."
"What will we do? When do we leave?" Lucy asked.
"The first part of the mission is to travel to Acalypha where you will meet the rest of the party joining you by the train station exit. They will tell you the next part of the mission. You will leave tomorrow night and make sure to pack light. Actually I recommend that you sell your apartment and just buy it back when you return, Lucy. Understood?" Both mages nodded. Makarov's mood did a 360 as he suddenly reverted back to his cheery old self, "Good. Now burn off your marks. I'll just give you new one when you come back." Light covered Lucy's hand and Laxus's chest, where his guildmark is located. Soon after the light dissipated, the marks of Fairy Tail were no more. Makarov gave them a tight, short hug each, "It pains me to see my children leave but as guildmaster, I need to do what is right. None of this reaches the ears of other member, alright?" Both nodded once again, Laxus as stoic as ever and Lucy smiling gently at the old man.
"We'll be back, Master. By the way, where's Natsu?"
"I sent him to a month-long mission so he's far away from you and Lisanna. Use the backdoor, return home immediately. Let no one see you. Stay safe."
Laxus scooped Lucy into his arms and literally zapped out of the room, out of the building. The two spent a second as lightning and when they materialized back to their human form, they were already inside of the younger woman's apartment room. The older man laid his sister on the bed, kissing her forehead affectionately. "I'll get your stuff from the clinic then tomorrow, I'll help you pack. For now, sleep." He changed into his lightning form and vanished into the sky.
With a shake of her head, Lucy stood up and closed the window of her room. She walked towards the dresser where her spirit keys were safely secured in one of the secret drawers. Taking the ring from its place, Lucy sorted through for the two key she was looking. The keys of Leo and Virgo were in between her fingers as she summoned them, "I open thee, Gates of the Lion and Maiden! Leo! Virgo!"
"Princess!" A golden-haired man in a suit and a pink-haired woman in a maid's attire said in unison as they appeared in the room with poof of clouds.
"I suppose you've heard the news?" Both of the spirit nodded. "Is it okay if I store some of my furniture in your realm?" "Go ahead, Princess. We'll help you pack." Within an hour, the only items remaining in the apartment was a plain bed, an empty cabinet and a huge pile of clothes in the middle.
"Are you sure you want to burn these clothes, Lucy? They're rather expensive and still usable..." Loke said.
"Have you seen these clothes?! They're out of fashion and can barely cover my hide. Besides, it has been more of a liability rather than an asset. No one can fight in these short skirts and it's the reason I have been constantly perverted on! Also I don't want anyone to have the same result..." With a flick of her hand, Lucy lighted up a match and set alight the outfits she have garnered through the years. Only a few sets of clothes, enough to fill one large suit case and suited to fit any season, made it through. Majority of it were the pants and long-sleeved shirts. All the skirts and dresses that celestial mage kept were all knee-length or longer. "I'll just buy new clothes while on the way when I need it."
The three stand together solemnly in silence watching the flames feed on the heap of fabric Lucy used to consider as clothes. That is until a flicker of fire had caught on the bed effectively burning it and filling the room a strong odor of the produced smoke. "Oh crap! Oh crap! I knew we should have burnt it outside! Someone call Aquarius!" And so, Virgo and Leo went back to their world and Lucy ran to the nearest water source: the puddle of strawberry milk she spilled earlier. And of course, Aquarius was pissed. Big surprise on that one. And adding fuel to the mermaid spirit, Lucy summoned her during her date with her boyfriend, Scorpio. And thus, we conclude that Lucy was in big sermon/lecture/torture (depending on how one sees it) and was afterwards blasted with jets of water, along with being made to clean the mess she made by the burning clothes.
Lightning split the sky as Laxus flashed from Lucy's apartment through the windows to the guild kitchen where his fiancé was washing dishes. He called her, "Mira."
The sudden noise made the female S-class mage jump from surprise. She turned around, "Laxus! I didn't see you there! What are you doing here?"
"Do you have time? I need to tell you something."
"Okay. I was about to leave anyway after I finish the dishes. Kinana said that I should have a break," she returned to the task at hand. Her lover helpfully towel-dried the platters. Soon all the previously grease-stained wares were stacked neatly in a pile on the counter. "We're done. I'll just make sure everything s running smoothly at the bar and I'm good to go. You can wait for me outside, dear," she said while removing the cleaning apron she wore and hanging it the hook by the door. Mirajane placed a delicate kiss on Laxus' cheek before rushing out from the the small room.
The dragonslayer turned into his lightning body and efficiently left the guildhouse without passing the rowdy main hall. Moments later, Mira came out of the building dressed in a trench coat. She greeted him with another kiss, "So what do you want to tell me?"
"Let's take a walk," Laxus roughly took her hand and teleported themselves to a clearing in a middle of a forest. Only the light of the moon was illuminating the area. No sign of civilization was in sight.
"Laxus, where are we?" Slowly, a ball of condensed magic glowed at the blond mage's hand. The light was soft and was just enough to see each other's faces.
"Mirajane, I need to tell you something and I don't know you would react. Honestly, I'm scared because of it," he sighed. "You know I love you so much and I want to know if you're willing to wait for me. I only want you to be happy..."
"Laxus, cut the crap and just tell me what the big deal is."
He breathed out a nervous breath but he continued, "I'm going on mission..."
"So? It's not like you haven't been to one before."
"We leave tomorrow night. The mission takes an indefinite number of years to complete and recommends temporary removal from the guild."
"Why didn't you decline?!" Mira suddenly yelled.
"We can't. You don't think I tried?!"
"You know that the time you were excommunicated from the guild was hard on me! What made you think that years would be better?"
"That's why I'm already breaking rules just so I'll know you'll be okay! I love you and if you're gonna throw away the ring, fine. Attack me, fine. Go demon on me, that's fine too. But I want to know if you'll be here when I come back and if there will still be a wedding." His cheeks stinged when two slaps, one on the right and on the left, met his face.
"That was for leaving me before and leaving me tomorrow." Mira said, her voice several times softer now. Then, she pressed her lips briefly against her fiance's, "and that was for being honest with me."
Dumbfounded, Laxus asked, "You're not mad?"
"Of course, I am but that wouldn't change a thing. I'll probably get over it anyway after a few tubs of icecream. That doesn't mean I wouldn't get sad. Or depressed. Or lonely. Or miserable. Or unhappy. Or heartbroken, just so you know."
"Was that suppose to make me feel better? If it was, I feel guiltier than before." Laxus did an awkward pout but Mira pinched his cheek anyway.
"It was suppose to make you feel bad, love," the white-haired maid whispered in his ear. She backed away and soon light engulfed her. The light dissipated. The sweet and lovely Mira was gone. In her place was the well-known Demon Mirajane. In a speed that rivaled the speed of light, her hand was on her fiancé's neck. She peered right into his eyes with the same bloodthirsty ones she had years ago. "Just like before?"
He smirked. Lightning covered his arms, electrocuting his partner enough to make her let him go. "Gladly."
The following midday, Mira stirred from her peaceful sleep in her lover's arms. The previous night was the last time he'll have with him for years. She sighed as she reached for her coat and draping it over their naked selves. She closed her eyes again. She felt the intense pain of their activity last night and the slight pleasant tingle of her magic flowing in her veins. Soon, its silent hum lulled her back to sleep.
Once again, she awoken, this time not in the forest where she and Laxus last made rough love, but in her room. According to the bedside clock, it was already half-past five. Next to it, was a note. "Train leaves at 6. North station. Platform 3."
30 minutes. 30 minutes 'til the love of her life leaves her for a really long time possibly forever. Slipping on the most decent piece of clothing she could find, a thin nightgown that went a little bit past her knees, she ran as fast as she could.
Gaining a short burst of speed from her nearly-depleted magic, she made it to the train station with a minute to spare but still when she saw the tall, muscular blonde, she broke into a sprint, adrenaline pumping inside of her. "Laxus! Wait!" She called him just about he was to enter the locomotive and as if the world seemed to blur to nothingness, it was just the two of them again. She pounced on the dragonslayer and kissed him squarely on the lips. Laxus of course caught her, arms wrapping around her lithe body, as he swung her because of the impact. "I love you," she whispered.
The speaker above them sounded, signaling the departure of the train. Laxus gently put her down and whispered back, "I love you too." Then he murmured something else, so quiet that Mira didn't catch it. Without another word said, time sped fast again.
Mirajane watched as the dragon slayer boarded the train. In her mind, she screamed for him not to go but then again life can be a bitch sometimes so she sucked a breath in and silently stood as the last cart disappear in the pitch black tunnel. It was then did she realized what he said to her. This isn't good bye.
"Onii-san, do you believe in forever?" Lucy asked, vacantly staring at the rural scene as the train they riding passed it.
"Hmmm... Most people say that forever doesn't exist, that everything expires eventually. The closest thing to forever is a lifetime..." Having caught her attention, the younger blonde turned to her brother, "but someday, I'll prove that there is forever. I believe that love can transcend lifetimes. Someday, I'll prove it with Mira, with grandpa, with you, and with everyone in between."
"Wow. I never expected you to have a deep answer."
Laxus faked a gasp, "Lucy! How could you speak to your brother like that!" He sighed and watched the blurry greens as they sped by. "I miss her already," he whispered but the celestial maiden across him still heard.
Lucy looked at him and despite the jovial atmosphere coming from them and the neighboring compartments, she saw the pain in his eyes. She saw the sadness burning within the orange orbs and it made Lucy's heart clench. Sympathetically she said, "You'll... We'll get through whatever this is, Laxus-nii, and I believe you when you say that you'll prove forever." She sighed and listened instead to the music coming from the train's speakers. She shook her head at how befitting the lyrics of the song were to the situation.
'We'll meet again. Don't know where, don't know when but I know we'll meet again some sunny day. Keep smiling through just like you always do 'til the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away. So will you please say "hello" to the folks that I know. Tell them I won't be long. They'll be happy to know that as you saw me go I was singing this song.'
Unbeknownst to her, Lucy sang along the last lines. "We'll meet again. Don't know where, don't know when but I know we'll meet again some sunny day. Keep smiling through just like you always do 'til the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away~"
"Laxus." She nudged the sleeping man gently. Getting no reaction, she shook him again. The woman frowned when his brother refuse to stir from his slumber. She placed a hand on forehead and gasped when she felt the feverish heat from the man but shrugged it off as a side effect of dragonslayers. She called him once more, "Laxus-nii."
An eye opened, "Lucy?"
"Nii-san, we're here. We need to get off the train in a few minutes."
Just as predicted, the locomotive came to a halt at the local station. The two mages stepped out of the platform, bags in tow.
"Yo!" Someone waved at them enthusiastically.
"You've got to be kidding me."
AN: I tried my best, okay?! Okay! Next update will be in two weeks, hopefully.
Um, if you need explanations why I update late well that's because I have a pretty decent student life outside fanfiction. Also, other fanfs are distracting as well as that paper and pencil in the corner of my desk.
Happy Easter! God bless!
Next chapter: Mirrors!