It can be an enduring past
But it can be a warning for the present
Although I'd been eager to get Lucy's home, I found myself at a loss as to how I should be occupying my time. It was all right for everyone helping me. They were either absorbed in a book, playing the baby grand with a drunk chorus, or up to their elbows in remnants from piling on the grounds with each other. Without a hobby of my own, I was left to wander in the town guided by Lucy. It felt strange to start carrying out ordinary tasks when my whole existence was so far from ordinary. I wondered what other seventeen-year-old girls were doing at that moment - arguing at the behest of frustrated parents, sending others letters or messages with modern technology to make plans for the weekend, checking their mails when they should be studying?
I desperately needed to keep my mind occupied, if for no other reason than to stop thinking about my encounter with the mysterious cloaked individual, and trust that my parents were safe and strong.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY APARTMENT?!" Lucy yelled in surprise and rage together, her reaction was one of many surprises I experienced the moment I arrived in the town Magnolia.
Erza, Natsu, Gray, and Happy were all in Lucy's apartment. According to Lucy, it was covered by a pink wallpaper, and a lot of storage space. Her main room was quite large and included a lot of furniture such as a bed, desk, bookcase, commode, dresser, a table with three chairs, a coffee table, and an armchair. She also has a large number of books. The entrances to the bathroom and the kitchen were on the other end of the room, with two turquoise curtains. The bathroom was blue with Trade Card tiles. I didn't see the kitchen, but Lucy mentioned that it had a stove.
"We're here for Elaine!" Happy exclaimed, his voice dainty and full of innocence, I smiled despite Lucy's still furious face.
"That's so sweet of you." I said and pet Happy's soft head and he purred. The touch was full of fluff and calmed my strands of nerves.
Lucy pouted again, "You could have walked with us at least!" Her whines continued however many times, so the rest of them could at least have felt bad or apologize.
"I brought some cake." Nevertheless Erza ignored, and took out a load of white paper boxes. Erza was seeing the curiosity in my face, "Hope you like the Fantasia Strawberry Cake."
"I guess we're about to find out," I replied, sitting down at the table. I started to like watching Erza work and was always struck by the deftness and precision of her movements. Under her touch, ordinary things seemed transformed.
I noticed Lucy and Erza attracted a lot of attention wherever they went. Their physical form might well have been a classical sculpture come to life. Their bodies were perfectly proportioned and each area looked as if it had been sculpted out of the purest, tawny marble. Swanlike necks and a glowing oval face.
I, on the other hand, was nothing special, just a plain, old transitioned teenager - bottom of the rung. I didn't mind; it meant I was able to interact with people in a platonic and mutual conversation. I looked ethereal like my family, except my eyes were as purple as mallow flower and my raven black hair fell in loose waves down my back. I was small, fine boned, and not especially tall, with a heart-shaped face, pixielike ears, and skin that was milky pale. Whenever I caught a glimpse of my reflection, I saw a eagerness that was missing from the females of Fairy Tail. My face always wore a look of restless curiosity no matter how hard I tried to look worldly.
"How much for each person?" I asked sarcastically.
She didn't notice that I was joking and shoved a singular white box on the table, "You guys will have this cake and I'll have the fifteen others." She answered casually.
I looked in utter surprise and looked to Lucy and the others, they shrugged and seemed to have had the expression that "this was normal". The bunch wasn't even concerned the slightest for Erza's appetite, and for some reason.
"Let's have some cake now!" Erza said with utter joy. We all got a piece while Erza ate a whole cake herself.
"I'd like to eat food instead of sweets." Natsu muttered, although he had a bite of his second slice.
"Cake is food." Lucy corrected him.
He stuck out a tongue at her and she did the same, "Okay well I mean sweets!" He said, and I smiled and laughed a little by their cute, childish humor.
Their verbal fued continued on and on, leaving Gray to look at me in a more casual way compared to earlier, "Are you the only child?" Gray asked, "We never knew that there are more than two Vitalihives, just wondering if you have siblings."
Had. I looked down a little and bit my lip, I answered by shaking my head a no.
"A long time ago, our house was attacked before." I said as I clenched my dress, "I was little that time, but a group invaded our home and was after my older brother and I." I paused a little, "My parents were protecting us...but they made it to us because there were too many, he went missing that day...but we knew that he must have..." It was difficult to talk about, about that night.
I was afraid to explain about it, because his expression changed with guilt. Gray's eyes widened for a split second and dropped down to the ground, he probably didn't know how to react to that. Someone who lost someone as a kid.
"Do you think those same men are after you again?" Erza asked in concern, and it wasn't like she was skipping the "I'm sorry for your loss" look, but that's what was cool about her. She was moving on to solve something.
But still, I shook my head slowly, "I don't think so, we were saved and nothing happened after that." I sighed and laughed a little while scratching my cheek, "It was so long ago, I'm not sure what exactly happened..."
"Well, I'm sure your parents are alright. They are the famous and former members of the Magic Council." Lucy said, and she gave me comfort by her words and her hold on my shoulders.
As helpful and caring they all were trying to be for me, it didn't convince me to not worry completely. "I hope so..." I said a little skirmished.
"Don't worry! If they get to you, we'll protect you with our magic!" Natsu said.
I decided to change the subject, "By the way, what magic do you guys use?" I asked.
Erza stood up and pointed each person with her sword, "Natsu uses Fire Dragon Slayer Magic, Lucy is a Celestial Mage,"
Lucy showed me her keys, its brilliant colors were like the stars.
"They're beautiful." I said and was still fathomed by the gleaming light they reflected.
"I use Re-quip Magic." Erza said, I figured much from how she dressed, "And Gray uses Ice Make Magic."
Fairy Tail was no doubt to be a assortment of talented Mages, but I didn't feel intimidated in any way, as much as I wanted to see them in action myself, my sleepiness got the best of me.
"I think Elaine needs some rest. You must have been through a lot." Gray's voice surprised me as I was actually drifting to sleep, I was going to say that it was alright, but the sudden feeling made me yawn.
"Well! I guess it's time for you guys to go!" Lucy started dragging them out coincidentally.
"Awe let me sleep here again!" Natsu whined, trying to push back.
"No!" Lucy exclaimed, pushing him as hard as she could.
Happy peeped his head through the door before it closed, "Night Elaine!" Happy yelped.
Dream--
"Elaine!" My brother, William, yelled to me while running.
My dream was like I was a ghost watching a movie. "I" was in the background as I stared at a seven-year-old Elaine, who laid on the grass and stared into the blue, cloudy sky.
"I was naive and young back then" was what I used all the time as a excuse. I looked at my past self and I wore my baby blue, puffed sleeved dress that was all dirty. My shoes were off, and my feet, you guessed it, was dirty. I didn't like wearing elegant dresses back then...well, I still don't. I wanted to do unladylike things: Ride a horse in high speed, take off my shoes and run in the grassy fields of my garden, being childish and happy-go-lucky with my family. Arguing all the time.
"A young lady should never get herself dirty in her afternoon gown." My big brother, eleven at that age, and had his arms crossed. He was very mature, but also very bossy.
Our garden was lush and bright with beautiful roses and trees, and my brother knew that I loved the red ones. Every time he came by he always gave me one, and always left out a black and silver ribbon that symbolized our family's crest.
I looked at Young Elaine and the scene changed, they were chasing each other and played tag.
Young Elaine giggled and was childish as ever, with a bright smile and piggy backed Will. I looked at my past and smiled. She had two, thick pig-tails that curled on the ends and a green dress that time.
They did studies, practiced their instruments together, and did their vocal practices. They were doing their weapon and combat practice time, 12:15 P.M. She was probably nine and half, as I remembered, a few days before our birthday.
I saw Young Elaine and laughed because I was being creamed by Will and he won, who slashed the sword away from my grasp.
"Urgh! Why do you always beat me?" My past self said frustrated and pouted.
"Come-come. It is afternoon tea My Lady!" He said acting like a prince and bowed to her, Young Elaine acted flattered and held her hands on her chest.
"Why thank you~!" Young Elaine answered back, they started dancing and I smiled at my past.
My brother was kind, charming, caring, and looked after me. But the only thing I didn't like about my past was staying in our house, forever. My imagination was always wild, reading books and books about the outside world. Hoping a prince would take me away, some weather disaster and it would force us to leave...just anything. Just to leave and have a adventure of my own.
But we were never to leave pass the tall black gates that surrounded the house five miles away from the manor, and secluded from the town below. My parents told me that in my eighteenth birthday they would surely tell us the reason. But if only Will would have known...
The scene changed again and I gasped and covered my mouth with fear.
I saw the house was burnt, attacked, and my lovely garden was destroyed. Then the scene of Young Elaine crying with Will, cradling in his arms.
"Don't worry Elaine, we'll be safe. As long as we're together."
A stream of tears ran down my own cheeks, on my right eye and I breathed heavily with sadness.
"Elaine! William!" My mother called out to Young Elaine and Will and embraced them into a bear hug, "Thank the gods you're alright!" She broke free from them, and she wore her battle uniform with the Magic Council symbol on her back. A uniform I always admired.
"William, take your sister to--."
She was struck on the head and a man was behind her, she fell back and Young Elaine screamed with fear. More tears streamed down from both me and her. "No!" I yelled, William's hands glow black and attacked the man.
My eyes, and hers, widened with surprise.
"Onii-san?" Young Elaine said, my mother recovered from the blow and charged towards the rest of the bandits.
She was a Re-quip Mage, known for her sword, spear, and mostly her gun skills. She was re-quipping and slashed at the men. My father, a Elemental Mage, was fighting beside her.
"Come on." My brother said in a calm voice yet serious at Young Elaine.
The scene suddenly changed and we were all in a old, desolate room. Abandoned it seemed; it had waterfalls of cobwebs and the furniture draped with white sheets like coffins.
"Elaine, you're going to have to go to grandfather's old wardrobe. It's a secret passage way to the basement." He said sternly, Young Elaine sobbed in the situation.
She...I...wasn't strong that time like Will. All she could have done was cry. All I could have done was hide.
"W-what about you?" She said, he hugged her tightly and knelt down too, I held my own arms and remembered the last touch he gave me.
"It's alright El, I promise we'll see each other again." She looked confused and left her eyes open, they broke free and he held her cheek. "Show me your smile one more time." He asked her, she did as he asked obediently and tried her best, tears still streaming down, both of us.
He smiled back, "That smile brings light to everyone El." He said and ran off.
"Onii-san! Onii-san no!" He shut the door closed and the scene ended. Hours passed from that night and he never returned to me...
It was pitch black, and I held my face with sorrow. I sobbed like back then and felt angry of myself. I was weak, hopeless, and...
I felt a hand on my shoulder and I bolted up, and I thought that my brother was back. But when I turned it was my mother, Charisse Vitalihive.
"Mom!" I reached for her but I looked in shock, she was injured.
Clothes tattered, cuts, and bruises around her and her hair ruined. A ripped and damaged porcelain woman whom had the most fearful eyes I've ever seen.
"What happened?! Where's father?!" She shook her head with tears.
"...I'm sorry...Elaine." My mother said, her voice was different. Like sheer mist and echoes.
"...No...it can't be..."
She reached for me and I took a step but she seemed to stretch away, like a escalator going up, up, and up.
"What is it?! Tell me what's wrong!" I yelled and ran towards her.
The more I ran, the more she was away from me.
"Open."
"What do you mean? What's wrong?" I said.
"Open it."
She said, she mouthed something and I couldn't hear.
"What??" I said, she started dimming away. My mother's mouth moved once more and I knew this time.
The box.
Chapter outfits