Lucy entered the room she and the other Lucys would likely have for only another year. No one else was there, which wasn't that big of a surprise. They'd all been spending less and less time in the room. Which made sense, considering they had to help Miss Layla take care of the 56th generation.
The Journal rested innocently on desk number 1. It seemed like the place to keep it as the only Lucy Number 1 didn't know how to write yet. With a sigh Lucy opened the book and rapidly flipped through the pages until she found the end of the last entry. Apparently blank books like this one used to be just white sheets of paper; this one wasn't. While the page was wordless, there were faint lines going across each page to help the writer keep their words even and straight. Lucy and the others quickly learned to write small enough to fit three lines of text between each guide line.
Lucy quickly got to work. Documenting her outing wasn't particularly difficult, but it was tedious. It took maybe 20 minutes for her to finish, though most of that had been taken up by describing the people so that the other Lucys could recognize them. It was also very boring; both when she was writing in the Journal and when she was reading it. Lucy would honestly much rather write something else, something fun. However the Journal was the only thing they could write in at the moment. Anything else would be too individual. Lucy hoped that would change when they left their current bedroom. Miss Layla had said they'd be getting individual rooms, though Lucy figured they'd still be identical.
When she finished Lucy stuck the pencil in the Journal, between the first pages she'd written in, marking the spot. That way it'd be easier for the next Lucy to find the spot without having to flip through the entire thing. She wished the other Lucys would do that as well.
With that done she went to her favorite place. The manors large library. Thankfully, because she went out with Miss Layla, it meant she didn't have to help the others take care of the 56th generation today, meaning she could stay there until dinner. That meant she could either take her time and read through half a book or use a magic item, something called Gale-Force Reading Glasses, and finish six.
Lucy pouted to herself as she thought about this on the way to the library. On the one hand, she enjoyed the books more and could remember them better when she wasn't using the Glasses. However, on the other hand, she didn't have all that much free time anymore. Between their lessons, practicing taking each other's places and helping to take care of 8 two year olds; Lucy was lucky to even look at a book other than the Journal.
She nibbled at her lip. There was also the question of what to read, but that was a lot easier to answer than how to read it. The library was vast and full of all sorts of books. However it, unfortunately, wasn't organized in any sort of way. The best method she and the others had found was simply grabbing a book at random and reading the first chapter, if they were divided into chapters.
The large doors to the library opened with a soft creak. She'd never understood why they needed such big doors; they nearly went to the ceiling and were twice as wide as normal doors. Lucy had never needed to open them very much, just enough to let herself in. She gently closed the door with an equally soft click. Miss Layla had once told them how public libraries elsewhere had a strict policy on being quiet. Although, even before then she and the others usually stayed silent in the large room, though the initial reason why escaped Lucy.
She was a bit startled to find that there was another Lucy in the large room. She hadn't thought that any of the other Lucys would be free at the moment. The other Lucy had the Glasses on and a large stack of books was right next to her. Lucy smiled, because there was only one other Lucy who enjoyed spending time reading and she was the one Lucy got along with the most.
She waved but the other Lucy was too engrossed in her reading to notice. That was fine, she wasn't really expecting a response, but it made her feel better to try. She decided to follow that Lucy's example; she gathered several interesting looking books as well as another pair of Gale-Force Reading Glasses and sat down near her still reading counterpart.
She didn't put the Glasses on right away, preferring to see if the first book she picked up was worth savoring or not. It wasn't so she slipped it underneath the Glasses and grabbed the next book to test. She tested three more books before a voice identical to her own interrupted her.
"Oh, you're back."
She glanced up. The other Lucy had finished her stack and was now peering at her through her Glasses; she never usually bothered taking them off when she was in the library.
"Yep, I'm surprised to see you here. I didn't think anyone else would have the day off."
The other Lucy shrugged. "I don't think it matters. The other two can deal with things just fine."
"But if Lord Heartfilia finds out…" It was a silly thing to wonder about; Lord Heartfilia always finds out about these sort of things.
"Why would he? If we're all interchangeable what does it matter if I spend all day reading so long as I know what they did later?"
"But he'll know if only two Lucys are doing the work when there should be three."
She grimaced, "true…but it wasn't like there was that much work to do anyway."
"I don't think that's the point."
"Why does it matter to you so much? You have the day off today."
"I just don't want you to end up like Number 5."
They both fell silent at that. The day Lord Heartfilia disposed of Number 5 was one of the worst days any of the Lucys could ever remember. Lucy thought it was on par with the day that Number 4 had to be taken away for good.
"Yeah…I know," the other Lucy muttered. "I just…I wanted to know something…"
Lucy nodded. That Lucy always wanted to know things, it was why she was always reading. "I know." The lapsed into a brief silence once more. She stared into space thinking, while the other Lucy fidgeted. "Hey, I think it'd be alright if you went back."
The other girl frowned. "What'd you mean?"
"If you go back now and help the others like you'd never stopped, then I think it'll be okay."
"Hmm…maybe."
She nodded again. "I think you should go now."
The other girl sighed, "fine, if you insist. Just let me put the books away."
"I can do that."
"You don't know where I got them from."
"Does it matter? You finished them, didn't you?"
"I guess not…just make sure they're all together. It'll be easier to find them later."
"Okay. Don't forget to put the Glasses away."
She rolled her eyes. "I won't. Once was bad enough." They both shivered at the memory. "Maybe I'll ask Miss Layla about how to organize the library. I spent most of the time trying to find those books." She muttered as she left, pointedly taking off the Gale-Force Reading Glasses and sticking them with the eight other Gale-Force Reading Glasses that rested on a desk.
Lucy smiled at the other Lucy's retreating back. She hoped they wouldn't get into trouble. Lord Heartfilia was much stricter with them now than he used to be. If the four of them didn't act perfectly, they'd be punished. Thankfully it was usually a light punishment, nothing nearly as harsh as that one time he locked them in the graveyard. Lucy only hoped they'd never have a punishment like that again.
It was her turn to sigh as she looked at the pile of books the other Lucy left behind. There were nine of them. It'd be difficult to find a spot on the shelves that would fit all of them together; she'd have to move other books. She also didn't know where the other Lucy took the books to begin with, making it hard to find the empty spaces to shove the other books in as well. However as tempting as it was to just leave the stack of books on the table for next time, Lord Heartfilia wouldn't like it. He never liked it when they left stuff lying about outside their room. In any case, Lucy said she'd put them away, and that's what she'll do.
Before she set about the task she'd given herself, her curiosity got the better of her and Lucy looked into the books the other Lucy had so painstakingly tracked down. She couldn't help but frown in confusion as she read the titles.
Why on Earthland was the other Lucy so curious about sea life?