Please Note: This chapter has been re-written 4 times so I apologize for everything, tbh.

CHAPTER 3: Trainers and Lucy

Written By: tsuruii

Words: 1,780

Released: October 26th, 2012

Training Camp

"Let's call it a night, everyone!" Gildarts exclaimed, cupping his hands around his mouth so his voice could be heard.

A couple moments later, a badly hurt Blonde and mage with her familiar smile showed up at the campsite.

"M-Mira-san..." the blonde whined while walking, gripping her bandaged arm. "Y-you're too strong."

Mira kept her smile as she simply tilted her head to the side, deceiving innocence.

"You're getting better as each night passes, Lucy." She replied in her usual soft voice.

"Y-you change too fast, as well." Lucy commented.

"Hm?"

"Nothing."

"Dinner's ready!" Gildarts called out.

"Coming!" Lucy and Mira both exclaimed.

It was the 34th Night. Just 34 nights ago, Lucy was dragged and brought onto this crazy journey of training. Each night, she counted - how many more until she'd get to see Natsu and the rest again. No contact with the outside world, no contact with the guild. She knew that they were okay but she couldn't help but wonder how they were doing.

"What's the progress report?" Gildarts asked, scarfing down his stew.

"Well," Mira started, "Night Thirty-Four: Physical Training - weight lifting, rock climbing, hand-to-hand combat. Magic Training - Comabat Level C, Aquarius' Attitude Training, Gemini Twins Special Training. "

"And how did it go?"

"Not much change with Aquarius but that's minimal. Special Training with Gemini went better than expected." Mira concluded.

"So if today was physical and magic training, tomorrow would be Spiritual training..." Laxus thought out loud. He than turned to face the blonde. "I'll train you tomorrow."

A mischevious smiled appeared on the Take Over Mage's face as she nodded eagerly.

"Take good care of her, alright?" She said, still smiling.

Lucy sweatdropped as Laxus shrugged.

"But really, kid," Gildarts said, "already at this level, I'm surprised."

The Celestial Mage slightly flushed in embarassment as all she could do was give a petite smile.

"It's all thanks to your training," she replied.

"Sooner or later, you'll be one of us," the old man kept going, pushing his head back and taking a good look at the stars above. "Ah... youth..." He drifted off.

"Anyways, Lucy," Mira said, disregarding Gildarts, "now that you got the hang of your spirits and fighting, you need to strengthen your magic power."

Lucy paid attention as she nodded.

"From tomorrow onwards, you'll be practising on how to increase your magic capacity and while doingso, your own magic."

Lucy choked on her stew immediately, coughing. Gildarts had to pat her on the back to clear her airway.

"M-my own what?!" She exclaimed between remaining coughs, face red.

"We told you about it a couple nights ago, remember?" Laxus said, raising his eyebrows. "Your own magic?"

"I never-! I mean I heard of it! B-but it's a bit too soon, don't you think?" Lucy countered. "I'm still too weak to learn that magic and I-"

"No excuses," Gildarts said, getting into his training mode. "You'll have to learn it. Master told me to teach you when you are ready and now, you're more than ready. You can handle something as simple as creating your own magic."

"The hardest one will be the strongest spirits, Lucy." Mira continued explaining. "Remember to focus on the key symbol for each one. Your magic will come to you naturally."

"That's how it happened to all of us." Laxus finished.

And with that, she knew that the result would never change, no matter how much she protested or how much she complained. All she could do was trust her at this point; the trainers knew her the best, after all.

"I-I'll try." She finally concluded.

The trainers smiled at her.

"Let's call it a night, than," Gildarts said. "Laxus, remember to wake up early since you're training her."

The mage simply grunted as a reply.

Lucy's POV

My very own magic? Something I created by myself? Call me a coward, but I'm damn-ass scared. What if I failed? Everyone's magic fit them so well. Gray's, Natsu's, Mira's and definitely Gildarts and Laxus.

What would mine be?

Other than my Celestial Spirits...to have my something I own and reflects the symbolism of the Spirits... It all seemed too unreal to me.

I just couldn't sleep. Mira-san was mumbling something about 'kill' and 'destroy' so I simply left her alone. I finally decided that lying there would do me no good so I quietly sneaked out of the tent, attempting to go on a walk in the forest. It was a warm outside so I didn't bother putting on my jacket.

When I was quietly putting on my shoes, I suddenly heard an abrupt noise of a large crackle and whipped my head towards the sound.

Just the fire. I sighed in relief and turned back to slip on my left shoe.

"It's dangerous to go out alone." A voice exclaimed.

By than, I was sure I shortened my life span by a year.

Normal POV

Laxus was standing sternly beside Lucy, arms crossed and face serious. The Blonde jumped, obviously startled, but calmly finished putting on her shoes.

"Please don't sneak up on me like that," she sighed and exclaimed, facing the Thunder Mage. "You scared the living daylights out of me."

"I should tell Gildarts that you have to learn how to sense other people's presence," he commonly replied.

Lucy sighed once more as she commenced walking towards the campfire.

"Can't sleep?" He questioned.

"Something like that," the blonde replied, staring at the fire crackling.

"Is it because of tomorrow night's training?"

"..."

"You shouldn't worry about something as trivial as that."

Lucy turned around, locking eyes with the Thunder Mage.

"Hey..." she started, "would you like to come on a walk with me?"

"So you're scared?" Laxus scoffed between small fits of chuckles.

"It's not polite to laugh, you know!" The blonde protested from beside. "How would you feel when you are learning a completely new magic?!"

He replied almost instantly. "Excited."

Lucy sighed.

"Well, that's you," she said. "I've been with my Spirits for almost 4 years... You can't just expect me to learn a brand, new magic."

"But this magic is yours." Laxus commented, serious.

Lucy stopped walking and turned to look at him.

"You created it with your own power - your own self. It reflects you in every single way and that magic is your very, own being. That's what magic is." He continued.

The blonde's eyes widened as she started to process what her trainer just said.

"And it's not like you're giving up your Spirits," he kept going. "You're magic is still Celestial Magic. But now, instead of relying on Spirits like another Celestial Mage, you'll be depending on yourself." Laxus than turned around, facing the surprised Blonde and gave her a small grin. It was almost impossible to see, but it was there. "Who knows? Maybe your magic has more to the Spirits than you think."

Lucy sighed as she smiled. There was no beating what he just said. Throughout the nights, she knew that Laxus wasn't a bad person. He just had a weird way of showing how much he cared towards his comrades.

Maybe, just maybe, Laxus thought of Lucy as his comrade as well.

And the Celestial Mage smiled at the thought.

Fairy Tail...

Silence penetrated throughout the guild as a scarlet-haired mage hit the bar counter so hard, it broke in half.

"What," she exclaimed in a venomous tone, "is the meaning of this?"

The short, old man beside the broken counter simply sipped his jug of beer.

"It's exactly as I have stated," he replied. "Lucy is not here. She is training."

Team Natsu's eyes widened at his response. Training? They never heard of no training!

"Why weren't we informed of this, Master?" Erza asserted.

"It was decided on the very day you guys left for your mission a couple weeks ago."

"When...will she be returning?" The Ice Mage asked from the back.

"This training is restricted to only 100 Nights."

"It's been a little more than a month since we left for the mission... so not even halfway there?" Happy questioned.

"Idiot!" Gray exclaimed to the mage that didn't speak even once. "It's your fault that we got so hung up! You and your transportation issues!"

"It's not Natsu's fault, Gray!" Happy defended. "It was you that wanted to help all those citizens while we were walking!"

"B-but-!"

"Silence, all of you." Erza exclaimed. "Natsu. What do you have to say to this?"

"...Who... is she training with?" He asked quietly.

Master eyed Natsu especially as he answered. "Gidlarts, Mirajane, & Laxus."

Natsu's eyes widened as his head fell, bangs overshadowing his eyes.

"I-it's okay, Natsu!" Happy attempted. "She'll be back just after seventy-something days! It won't be that long at all!"

"That's not it Happy..." Natsu said quietly, his head still down. "I just don't get why..."

"Why...?" Gray said, picking up where the Fire Mage trailed off.

Natsu's head shot up, startling everyone, and his whole body was on fire.

"I DON'T GET WHY THE HELL I'M NOT TRAINING WITH HER, GODDAMMIT!" He hollered, running around the guild and breaking everything in the process. "I SHOULD BE TRAINING WITH HER! SHE'S WITH GILDARTS! AND LAXUS! AND MIRAAA! I WANT TO TRAIN! I WANT TO TRAIN, TOO!" He than ran over to Master and pressed his face against him. "LET ME TRAIN TOOOOOO!" He whined.

Master immediately punched him in the stomach, pushing him back.

"Well that... was unexpected." Gray said as soon as he gathered his words.

"Aye..."

The Fire-Mage immediately shot back up from the ground, body still on fire. "I'M HER PARTNER! I SHOULD TRAIN WITH HER! WHY AM I NOT?!"

"Listen, Natsu," Master said, serious. "You will not interrupt this training, do you understand?"

Natsu stopped hollering out loud as his body went back to normal. He faced Master, his mouth still wide open.

"Lucy needs this training. Much more than you or anyone else in the guild." The old man continued.

"Hey! Are you calling Lucy wea-" Natsu started.

A hand stopped him from saying any more as the fearless Erza stepped up.

"Master, please tell us more about this," she asked.

The old man could only sigh.

"The only thing I can say is that her life is in danger. She needs to be trained so she can protect herself."

"...What kind of danger?" Gray questioned, worried.

Master stood frozen, still in his place.

"Jii-chan..." Natsu said in a shaky yet serious voice. If Master wasn't replying, it usually meant something bad. "What kind of danger is Lucy in?"

The Master of Fairy Tail lifted his head up, locking eyes with Natsu.

"Dragons."

A/N: Thanks for reading!

Question: What kind of connection do you think Lucy has with the dragons?