A/N What's up! I'm back with another oneshot. I've looked back and can acknowledge that my old oneshots in this collection were pretty cringe so those will be rewritten sometime in the near future. This is a (hopefully) better oneshot that makes sense…maybe. Anyways I don't own Fairy Tail and if you'd like please leave a review with any requests. Also this will have a part two.
Prompt: The rules of Faery were simple. In the town no one could practice magic freely. If someone did then they would be punished severely as well as anyone who withheld information about them. The people of Faery were more complicated. Including the town baker that never shows her right arm to the world.
"Good afternoon Miss Lucy!" Romeo, one of the town's children, greeted cheerfully as he stepped into the quaint bakery. "I brought my friend Wendy."
"Hello Romeo! I'm so glad you've brought a friend. It's nice to meet you Wendy. Did you just move here? I don't believe I've heard your name before." Lucy smiled friendly at the timid blue haired girl that was still standing in the doorframe. At the sound of her name, Wendy jumped in shock.
"Yes! Well my dad and brothers did live here but left seven years ago. While traveling they found my mom and I. My mom married my dad and they continued traveling. Just a few days ago they were overjoyed to return here though. I'm not sure why, sorry!" Wendy bowed low but Lucy laughed it off.
"No worries my dear. Here why don't you two sit down and I'll bring you some fresh cookies? I'm baking right now anyways." Lucy guided the two preteens to a table in the bakery before disappearing through a back door. The door led into the kitchen and Lucy slide down the door as soon as it was shut. Her hands were shaking furiously and sweat had formed at her brow. "Seven years ago? It is around that time of year… is he back?" Lucy asked herself before shaking her head. There was no way he would ever come back after what happened. Slowly Lucy stood again and went towards the oven to grab a tray of chocolate chip cookies. She began to mindlessly arrange the cookies on two porcelain plates and pour hot tea into matching cups before loading it all onto a tray. Once everything was secure Lucy went back out into the front of the store and served the two children.
"Thank you Miss Lucy!" Romeo and Wendy said before beginning to eat the cookies.
"It's no problem Romeo. Now what's been going on out in the town?" Lucy asked as she pulled up a seat to chat with the two.
"The Magic Forgiveness Act should have a verdict out by tonight!" Romeo was shaking in his seat from the excitement. Lucy let hope swell in her heart.
"Finally! The MFA has been in deliberation for six months." Lucy clicked her tongue and refilled Romeo's tea cup.
"MFA? What is that?" Wendy asked curiously before taking a bite out of a cookie.
"A new law Faery is thinking about passing. It's supposed to make all criminal verdicts pertaining to magic based crimes invalid. All of those criminals would be free from their confines or court mandated punishment." Lucy explained and had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop from grinning. For the rest of the afternoon the two preteens awkwardly fidgeted around each other while Lucy worked to clean up the shop.
"Well we should probably be off. How much do we owe you Miss Lucy?" Wendy inquired while pulling something out of her dress pocket.
"Free of charge. Consider it a welcome to Faery gift!" Lucy hugged the two and walked them out of the store. Once she reached the doorway she had to stop but watched the two head home with their arms swinging.
"The verdict should be out in the next few minutes." Lucy stated to herself while examining the clock near the kitchen. By the time Lucy finished cleaning up the tray she had made for Wendy and Romeo, the Great Bell sounded.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
"Seven rings! A law announcement." Lucy's eyes lit up and she smoothed out her skirts. A castle representative should be here anytime. As if the entire kingdom of Faery sensed her excitement, the wooden door to her bakery was pounded on three times. Lucy couldn't stop herself from flinging the door open. Standing outside the shop was a highly awarded castle knight wearing the traditional uniform.
"Hello Gajeel!" Lucy greeted warmly and opened the door widely to let Gajeel inside.
"Hey bunny. I'm assuming you wanna know the verdict?" Gajeel asked as he saw Lucy shaking in anticipation. "The house arrest has been released. The MFA was passed and now everyone can use magic freely. Also a certain idiot is back in town and should be rushing over right….now." Gajeel smirked and at the same time the door was furiously knocked on.
"Natsu!" Lucy gasped and flung open the door once more. A pink haired mess came tumbling in and Lucy hugged the boy tightly.
"Well my job is done." Gajeel excused himself and closed the door on the couple.
"Lucy. You smell the same." Natsu inhaled deeply. The two slide to the floor together and Lucy couldn't stop the tears.
"I missed you so much." Lucy said with a tender smile.
"I missed you too. Now we're pardoned. Magic is free." Natsu cupped Lucy's face and stared at her watering eyes. His eyes traveled down to her right arm and a frown marred the comforting atmosphere. "Some things will never be the same though."
"There's a cost to pay for having hope." Lucy shrugged and clutched her arm. Even after all these years she was still self-conscious about it.
"Why don't we go out to the town? There's a celebration going on and it might be a fun way to go outside again." Natsu suggested while rising to his feet. Lucy followed shortly after and nodded enthusiastically.
"Let me go find something to wear." Lucy excused herself.
"Why can't you wear what you have on right now? You're still a weirdo." Natsu thought aloud and Lucy glared at him irritably. After seven years of separation she had forgotten that Natsu was one of the stupidest people she knew when it came to social affairs.
"Just…just sit there and don't break anything." Lucy sighed before dashing up the stairs that lead to her small studio floor. Inside her closet were many different variations of the chef's coat and pressed white shirt. Towards the very back was a strapless red sundress. In her moment of euphoria, Lucy forgot everything except for how good the fabric would feel against her skin. Once the dress was on Lucy smiled at her reflection before she saw her right arm. Trailing up from her wrist to her shoulder was a spiral of jagged pink skin. The skin was still healing back from seven years ago. Tears started welling in her eyes again as Lucy wrapped a package of ace bandages around her arm. Somberly she then slipped on some black high heeled boots and walked back down to Natsu.
"Ready Luce?" Natsu asked and hopped up. He glanced at Lucy, pausing only momentarily on her bandaged arm. Of course Lucy caught the action and almost teared up again. "What kind of weirdo covers their arm like that? At least do it in style." Natsu whispered softly and took off his black jacket to set in on Lucy's shoulders. She hesitantly placed her arms in the sleeves and smiled at how the jacket covered her all the way up to her fingertips.
"Thank you Natsu." Lucy smiled at her best friend.
"No problem. No one else sees it as an ugly marking, but I'll do whatever I can to help you cover it if it makes you uncomfortable. Now let's go, I hear there's a load of food there!" Natsu grinned toothily before taking Lucy's hand and dragging her out of the bakery. As soon as the fresh air hit Lucy's fee she started to erupt in giggles. Natsu looked over at her in amusement before bumping her shoulder gently and continuing down the crowded streets.