No I'm not dead, I'm still alive and breathing. I can't really come up with and excuse only that I have problem with a light depression. If you don't know what it depression does, I can tell you that you have no motivation at all in everything. I have laid in my bed for weeks and I was finally be able to do some normal things again this week, so also with writing. It goes slow but I still get some things on paper, so with patience I will be back to normal again.
I don't own Fairy Tail, only the OC's and this plot. Have fun reading ^_^
Chapter 8
Very short reminder what had happened in the previous chapters did Lucy and Laxus made a contract in front of the stars, Lucy is still recovering from her massive magic use. And Melanie, Tyler got their lovely mother/sister Rose back.
Lucy was lying in the infirmary with her eyes open. It was dark and quiet. The sound of Mira cleaning up the bar was echoing through the guildhall. Lucy couldn't fall asleep. The infirmary felt cold and hollow. The only roommate she had, had left her early in the morning for his usual duties. Only the little night lamp gave the room some warmth. Noise came from the stairs and Lucy looked at the door. She was surprised to see Laxus standing in the opening.
'Can't sleep?' asked Laxus concerned.
'No, not really.' Lucy gave a small smile while clenching her fists. He came sitting on the bed and hold his hands above her fists. The clenching stopped and she slowly opened her hands. A silver key fell on her fingers. Her eyes was switching back and forth between happiness and confusion.
'I know that you have trouble sleeping alone, Blondie. Not just yesterday but also that time in the forest a couple months ago. You don't need to explain anything for me if you don't want to….
…..but you need to promise me, that you will keep that key out of sight of everyone. They will kill me, if they found out I had given you one of your keys.'
He grinned a little. 'You supposed to rest without the use of any magic, but you can't really rest without any good sleep. Personally I wouldn't mind sleeping every night next to you, but I don't think that would be the best solution. It would even create more problems.'
Laxus smirk grew wider by her reaction, when a little blush came visible on Lucy's cheeks.
We are already too late for that. Thought Lucy. Mira had been looking at her very differently since that morning. Every time Mira came bringing some food, she had the suspicious look and glimpse in her eyes. And Lucy knew that look all too well. It was the same devilish look as when she was trying to set her up with Natsu.
'I don't want to know what demon would be scheming for us, if she would find us multiple times together,' said Laxus with a shiver. He had been on her list of matchmaking for a long time and could feel her eyes in his back every day. She was the only reason, he was glad with having paperwork.
'If I remember correctly, had the demon sent Gildart towards some dirty club last time, while Cana and Bacchus were forcefully locked up in the guild storage room. Only had she made a terrible mistake that time. She forgot that the storage room was filled with alcohol. Mirajane found them later both knocked out on the floor from a drinking game. In the end noting intimate had happened between them. She was really disappointed.'
Lucy had heard the story and laughed sheepishly. Laxus looked at her and rubbed her hair with his hand in a mess. She pouted. 'Did you had to do that?'
'As long as I can remember Blondie, there is no contract that can stop me for messing with your hair.'
Lucy sighed, she looked at her key and hugged the Plue's key in her hand. The emotions she was sending through her key, the calming reaction in return. She could feel the tension in her body calming down and in a couple of seconds later stood the little snowman before her. Shaking for unknown reasons, but making a smile on Lucy's face. She hugged the little snowman in her arms and looked at Laxus.
'Thank you.'
'You're welcome Blondie.' Laxus tried to stand up, knowing she would be ok now, until he felt a soft hand on his wrist.
Lucy was shocked of her herself. Why did she grabbed him? A mask was placed on her face and she kept smiling at the confusion look staring in her direction. Her mind was working over hours, searching for a solution. 'Could you…stay a little longer? I know that it's possible that I will be lying here for more days, but….'
'You want to know my secret so badly, huh?'
Lucy could feel the embarrassing and nodded while looking down. She felt the weight movement on her bed and knew that Laxus had sat down on her bed again. The lightning mage scratched the back of his head, thinking of where to start. He was never really a talker and only his team knew of his condition. Not really something you could keep a secret when you are months together for missions. He sighed, Freed was so much better at this.
'The old hag is mad at me for taking a risk…..you know already that I have been hospitalled for a long time, because of the anti-magic particles shit before the disbanding happened.'
Lucy looked up and nodded.
'Well I still have that shit in me.'
A silence was filling the room until a laugh was escaping her mouth. Wrinkles were forming on his head and he wasn't sure if he should be glad that she was laughing or angry why she was laughing.
Lucy knew she was rude, but this was just too funny. Frustration was getting visible on his face. She stopped laughing and cleared the tears in the corner of her eyes.
'Gomen, but its quit hilarious actually, if you think about it. Fairy Tail is finally back together, but they are getting lead by two stubborn people with medical problems.'
'I can protect them just fine.'
Lucy smiled and placed her hand on his arm. 'I know, you don't have to defend yourself.'
He could feel how the tension slowly disappeared from his body. It scared him still how much effect she had on him. He kept saying towards himself that they were just friends.
'But Laxus….'
Laxus shook his head, when he noticed that he was staring at her again.
'….all those months I was with you, you looked totally fine! How did you managed to conceal it?'
Oh right, we were talking about my shit, he thought. 'That was because of Creco.' He quickly said to not be found suspicious.
'Creco?'
'You found me on death's doors right…but the poison came later.'
She nodded. 'Gemini thought it was because of your dragon ability, that it was delayed.'
'It wasn't because of that. It was because of the anti-magic particles. They were fighting each other in my body. When I was back on my feet, I felt slightly better than usual, but I didn't questioned it on that time. Eventually came the attacks back and they were getting heavier. I wanted the old hag to examine the poison for possible medicine use.'
'But the poison will paralyze you! And how did you get hand on that poison in the first place?'
Laxus simply nodded. 'From Creco himself….well not voluntarily. Mest have made a deal with him for his cooperation on the investigation on that demonic cube thingy. And for the paralyzing thing…I prefer some lack of movement over possible slow death.'
Lucy gears were working inside of her head. 'So basically you are fighting Poison with Poison.'
Laxus gave her a simple nod and kept staring at her for a moment. He knew exactly what she was thinking. He poked on her nose, what made her pout again…. Well at least he got her attention again.
'Don't worry too much blondie, let Wendy and the old had do their thing. They will find something for you.'
A slight smile became visible on her face.
'Well…?'
Laxus eyebrow went up. 'Well what?'
'Was that now really a secret? I was really suspecting something…well much bigger.'
'Well sorry to disappoint you, for me it's a big deal. Feeling weak and getting weaker is not a subject I like to shout around.'
Lucy's eyes widened in recognition. Feeling weak… 'I know what you mean.' Sadness overwhelmed her and she was mentally searching for the broken key of Aquarius. Knowing all too well that her keys weren't with her.
'Laxus I can trust you right?'
He gave her the are you serious now look, but eventually sighed and gave a simple nod.
'You only need to listen, can you do that for me?' asked Lucy with definition in her eyes. He simply nodded again and crossed his arms in front of his chest.
'This is something I haven't told anyone yet and just like you said, some secrets are a big deal in our own eyes. I have been thinking…about what you have said last night…about my fear…about my recklessness. And I came to the conclusion that I'm not really angry at Natsu but more angry at myself. If you have seen my keys, then you have probably noticed that one of the keys is broken.'
Lucy paused and inhaled some air to strengthen herself to move on.
'That fight with Tartaros had made a huge impact on us. Everyone knows what Natsu, Wendy and Gajeel had lost that day. Gray his father. Even Erza's…But no one knows what had happened when everyone was frozen because of that spell….They were so strong and I was all alone. I managed to summon three spirits at once for the first time, but it wasn't enough. To save us all I needed to sacrifice one of my spirit, one of my friends. I have taken her freedom from her! I was so angry when everyone had left me after Tartaros…. The guild just stopped existing and I felt like the sacrifice I had made was for nothing. Why did everyone left? Why did Master disbanded the guild? Why did Natsu left me behind with only a note? I had searched for him and tried to keep contact with everyone, but I felt so lonely. I had lost everyone. I had lost my mother, my father, my first friend Aquarius and now I was losing everyone else. Since that moment nightmares were forming and I was getting troubles to sleep alone. The feeling of being alone made me conscious of my own weakness. Who am I? What am I without Fairy Tail, without my team?
Slowly, my spirits helped me to realize that I wasn't alone at all. Then you appeared wounded and my past came back at me. I couldn't bear the loss. I was so happy and relieved that you were getting better. The situation with Creco and the situation on that ship. I have been training and training, with the idea that I could protect anyone without sacrificing one of my friends. But still I had the feeling of helplessness. I'm not really angry that Natsu had left me, I was angry that everyone was able to move on, while I'm stuck. Why do I feel so weak?' Lucy laid down her head against his back, while her hands were clenching on his coat.
He could feel her trembling body behind him and he waited for her to go on. But the silence grew longer.
'Blondie. Can I say something?'
She nodded softly against his back.
'I can't imagine how your fight was with Tartaros and I don't know why Jiji had disbanded the guild. What I do know it to live with guilt and grieve. As an S-class mage, the slightest difference in strength and the slightest doubt in your actions can cost many lives. On my missions I have asked myself so many times, what could make the difference, how could I have saved them all? But in the end you need to accept and be glad you could save someone. My first fight with a demon of Tartaros resulted in the death of the whole village. Even when I had sucked up as much poison as I could. When I woke up and heard about the village, I was heartbroken. Even when I was on death's door I tried to get some blood for the cure. I couldn't save the village, but I couldn't let my team or Yajima die. I was so glad that I managed to save them…...I wouldn't be able to forgive myself…..if…..I was the only survivor.'
Laxus paused and took a deep breath. 'Even with this everlasting pain.'
Silence took the overhand again until Laxus spoke again with a calm voice.
'Lucy, if you think back, was there any other way, in the battle with Aquarius?'
Lucy shook her head, her body was trembling more and her tears were soaking Laxus coat. 'I kept yelling towards her, for another solution. But deep down I knew this was the only way.'
'How would Aquarius react, if you could call her now?'
A little bit of laugh could be heard between the tears. 'She would probably yell at me for calling her, while she was on a date with Scorpion. Telling me how annoying of a brat I am and compare me with my mother. She would be mad…..mad that I'm crying for her.'
Laxus had turned around slowly and wrapped his arms gently around her. How hard she tried, the tears didn't stop. She felt so embarrassed. Why don't they stop?
'Just let it all out.'
Lucy eyes widened and before she knew it she cried her heart out.
They sat there for a while and Laxus noticed that she wasn't shaking anymore.
'Ok now, Blondie?'
She nodded slowly. She haven't cried that long since her mother's death. She was completely empty and her body felt heavy.
'Try to sleep.' Laxus stroke lightly on her hair and laid her down gently. Plue crawled between her shoulder and her head. Lucy closed her eyes. 'Thank you.' She whispered softly.
He turned off the lamp and slowly walked out of the infirmary.
Once outside the infirmary he clenched his fists. Confusing written in his eyes. Strange feelings clutching on his core. He kept telling himself that they were just friends, but this wasn't the same as the friendship between him and Evergreen. Suddenly he felt something like fear. Fear that something will happen to her. Fear of what he could do to her if he would lose control. Fear for losing the bond he had with her. Fear of this strange unknown feeling…..
~~~~~~~~Next day in Laxus office~~~~~~~~
'Aw come on Laxus, she needs to rest and a resort is the perfect opportunity.' Pouted Lisanna.
'Why can't you understand no. I'm already annoyed Freed urged me, to take Bickslow, because of that mind control freak.'
'Right the mind control freak, as far as I have heard, Lucy can't be controlled through her link with her spirits and a girl can't relax if she is only surrounded by boys. Please Laxus, Please! We will behave.'
Wendy had concluded that Lucy had recovered enough and had permission to leave the infirmary, but not a free pass for any possible work. And around this time of the years was there always a special mission for him he was looking out for. A mission he had always done alone without his team a mission were he can clear his mind without anyone bugging on his head…well apparently not this year.
He could feel a dark aura emerging behind her smile. Wrinkles were forming on his head. 'Fine!' he growled. 'Just don't interrupt my job there.'
'Yes! Thank you Laxus.' Lisanna gave him a quick hug and ran as fast as she could out of his office. It wasn't long before she could feel the magic pressure rising from him and she chuckled.
Laxus tried to calm himself. 'That girl is definitely family of Mirajane.'
-0o0-
Tyler woke up from his dream and smirked. Images of the blonde celestial mage still fresh in his mind. His hand went in the air and he grabbed towards the imaginary dream in front of him. He stood up and looked at the mirror. His smile changed into an angry scowl, when he saw his own reflection changing into his own mother. Anger what he had felt his whole live came back to him like a split second. He grabbed his little communication lacrima and threw it towards the mirror. The mirror shattered into little pieces, but the smirk on the woman's face had grown wider before she disappeared. Sweat was visible on his body and he breathed heavy. 'I'm not you, I'm not you!'
A few minutes had pasted. His heart had slowed down and he pushed his anger away. He sprinkled fresh water in his face and dressed himself. He felt like a fool. That woman couldn't do anything anymore towards them. He made sure of that.
Tyler walked out of the door and ignored the stares of the guards. He walked towards his sister's room. There she laid down on her bed with her daughter Melanie on her lap. Rose looked so much better in comparison when they had found her. Her hair was combed and death roots had been cut away. Her skin was less paler, but she was still too slender and still too weak to do anything herself. Mindless bodies made out of bones were making her ready for the day. Tyler shook his head, knowing all too well the reason for her to use her magic in just a couple of days.
'Don't look at me like that,' said Rose annoyed with a rough voice.
'You know how I hate living things, especially humans.'
Tyler laughed softly. 'Mind link!'
'Spare your voice.' He said in her mind and he smiled towards Melanie, who was still sleeping with a smile on her face.
'How are you feeling?' he asked.
'Not any better than before, I don't see any progress. My body feels like a lump of rock.'
He sat down next towards her. 'Maybe I should bring a doctor.'
'I don't need a fucking human around me.'
'I know, but do it for her. It's been a while since I saw that kind of a smile on her face.'
Rose grumped in annoying and looked at her daughter with concern in her eyes. Guilt was crawling up and fear for the answer on the question she had asked herself many times.
'Am I a bad mother?'
Tyler shook his head immediately. 'It wasn't your fault. We had it all planned out for her. Our friend just couldn't make it in time, Melanie was gone before he even got there. Our mother had found her first. Of course not because she is such a great mother herself, but for her own mental mind pleasure.'
He lifted up Melanie shirt and Rose eyes widened when she saw the familiar scars like her own. Rage filled her very core.
'I should have killed her when we had the change.' Rose sweared inside of her head. 'That filthy whore! Where is she?'
'Death,' said Tyler coldly.
Silence crawled into the room.
'Death?'
'When I had escaped my cell, I went to get Melanie. Melanie was stuck in one of her illusions. When I saw that…..I snapped. I killed her, slowly and painful. Every scar she had inflicted on us. Every terror she had created in our mind. Every drop of blood, reminded me of our death little sister.' Rose flinched by the memory. Their sister was far weaker then Tyler and her. They tried to protect her, but it was a lost cause. The sick games their mother had played, had caused the death of their little sister.
His hands began to shake. 'That distasteful mind deserved it!' he growled between his teeth.
Rose wanted to lay her hand on his, with a lot of shaking she managed to grab his hand on her bed. Tears crawled in her eyes. Tyler looked at her with a painful expression.
'You took revenge for us, for our little sister, for you niece. I feel ashamed I couldn't protect you both as I had promised. I should have worn that burden.'
Tyler shook his head. 'I would do it again, if I must.' If he was more powerful fourteen years ago. He could have prevented this, he could have saved his little sister. His thought were interrupted when he heard a knock on the door followed by a guard's voice.
'Master Tyler, Sebastian wish to speak with you.' The guards said.
Tyler got up and walked towards the door. 'Rest, we need your power to get your husband back.' He said while giving a fake smile.
A tear felt from Rose's cheek and she kissed Melanie on her head.
'Mommie?' her daughter mumbled in her sleep.
The guard handed over a communication lacrima. Tyler saw his old friend and gave him a respectful smile. Sebastian looked at him with a serious expression. 'Sorry to intrude you Tyler and I will keep it short, your father want to speak with you it's about your mother.'
Tyler smile had disappeared and anger was clearly visible in his voice. 'Why does he think I will even want to speak with him, let him rot in his cell, where he belongs.'
'It's about your mother.'
Tyler noticed the look in Sebastian's eyes. The look that tells him that it was urgent and far too important to be told on a communication lacrima.
'Tch fine, I will visit him, but first I need to find a doctor.' And he knew exactly where he could find one.
~~~~~~Time skip a day after the group left for the resort~~~~
'Charle, I'm curious towards what kind of a resort they are going. It sounded like fun, but Bickslow said Master was there for a job. I don't really get it.' said Wendy while walking in a busy street of Magnolia. It was morning and a beautiful day. A lot of people had gathered around on the market. Some were selling fruit and others there vegetables.
Charle in her human form just nodded and was looking at the ground.
'Charle, what's wrong? You have been tense the whole day.'
'Nothing, just feeling something isn't right.'
'And she is right thought,' said a man in front of them. Wendy eyes widened, she took a defensive stance and noticed the moving dead arm.
'I wouldn't do that if I were you. Look around you.'
All the people on the street had stopped moving and turned around, faces in her direction.
'What did you do?' screamed Wendy
'More importantly, what can I do? You, catgirl. Tell her what you have seen.'
Charle tensed and looked at Wendy. 'Charle what does he mean?'
'I have searched Wendy, I really did. But every future I looked….'
'Charle?'
'He is the mind control mage, Tyler and in every future I looked, someone was going to die, except…..'
'Except if you two voluntarily follow me,' said Tyler with a grin.
'What do you want from us?' asked Wendy afraid.
'My sister is in need of your medical skills.'
Wendy saw the painful expression in his eyes and looked at Charle who simply nodded.
'Ok, we will help your sister. If you promise not to hurt anyone.'
Tyler nodded. Everyone around them turned towards their previous position and they start moving like nothing had happened. The people spoke and did their thing where they had left of.
I know there is a little timeskip, you can guess the resort will be the next chapter. I will try to get that finished next week. Because of my condition and exams there will be less updates for a couple weeks, until my exams are over, before I will pick up the old speed again.
In my head this is getting complicated by the minute, hopefully people can still understand it. \(^_^)
I want to thank everyone! We have surpassed the 100 followers and that made me really happy.
Kick, smash or hug the favorite/following button or leave a reply. Let me know what your thoughts are.
