Chapter 32: Home
Where am I?
I try to sit up but there's a pressure on my chest, pushing me back down. At first I thought I was in the ocean again because I tried to sit back up but the voice snapped at me to stop and I did.
"Where am I..?"
My voice sounds hoarse and broken.
"Your in the guild hall. Welcome home, sweetie."
Instantly I realized it was Mom's voice and I try to smile but I hurt everywhere. "What happened...?" She sighed and I feel the side of the supposedly bed lean meaning she sat down. Her long elegant fingers Ive gotten so use to stroked my hair. "Well hopefully when your sight gets better you can see what happened on those fancy bracelets of yours." She replied quietly, like if she spoke above a whisper I'll be back to sleep.
I feel the front of my eyes and notice that bandages are wrapped around my head. She delicately removes my hands and tells me itll agitate the healing process.
"Mom?"
"Hmmm?"
"Do you...hate me for not telling you about the tower?"
There was a pause and that made me a little nervous. Then suddenly I was in a big bear hug. "I could never hate you. Dont you realize that by now?" Something wet hits my cheek and I smell salt water. "I love you, Mom."
"Love you too, Kuma."
For two weeks I was under the care of Porlyusica. Uncle Gray came in and froze my feet everday to draw out the raw magic from the etherion. Until I can feel my feet again, I wasnt suppose to stand up.
"Alright lil bit, ya feel anything yet?" He asked freezing my feet. Nodding I do feel a slight tingle. "Well its improvement." Porlyusica murmured and I hear Mom clap in excitement. She's been right there waiting for some type of improvement.
A few more days later I really started getting cold. Uncle Gray had went from covering the soles of my feet to the whole foot. After freezing them Mom and the rest of Team Natsu headed out on a mission. They still needed to pay bills. On this day I had two visitors. One likely and one not so much.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the room and a grunt was said. "Hmmm? I wonder who it could be? The uneasy aura tells me it must be Gramps!" I say sarcastically and I could practically feel the eyeroll.
"Very funny. Anyways just so you know Im hear on buisness, not to catch up." Laxus drawled, and I would have been the one rolling eyes if it wasnt for the bandages.
A large calloused hand grabbed mine and something cold was dropped into my hand. It was long and thin, like a skinny cylindar base. "It's a key. Moka said when you recover take Blondie with you and go to your homeroom after six. Unlock the door with that key." Nodding I hear him starting to walk but I grabbed his jacket. I remember when I was younger, he would let me hold on to it when we were in a big crowd.
Those days were extinct.
"Your not gonna try and kill Aunt Lucy again are you?" It got quiet and I feel nervous again.
"No. Appearently she will be able to help you control your demonic power. If I killed her, you would probably snap. Your welcome." Sighing, I didnt even remember holding in breath. He chuckled and left the room.
An hour or so later (I lost count of time after 49 minutes) Jii-chan really did come to visit. "How are you, my child?" Smiling I bid him a good afternoon. Since Porlyusica was out he checked to make sure I was ok. He wasnt an expert like the woman but he could get by. "What I wanted to talk to you about is a little bit on the nerving side but Im sure you can get through it."
"Uh oh."
He groaned in his agreement and he sits on the bed, almost in the same place Momma did. Bracing myself I nod (hopefully in his direction) for him to continue.
"It seems as though a young man by the name of Shinra has delievered a message for his grandfather about you and your mother." Oh crap.
Shinra was a co-actor of mine. Actually he still is. Right now we were shooting for a show called Teen Wolf. He was Isaac Lahey and I was Allison Argent. Other than that he was also a magic council member's grandson. Honestly he likes the magic council as much as Fairy Tail does and maybe just a little less. But his grandfather made him the messenger boy. He couldnt say no.
"Poor Shinra." I muttured, wishing they would give the poor guy a break. All he wants to do is act. "Yes, I agree. Shinra has informed me that the magic council requests your prescence as soon as you get better. Erza just left today. By the time she gets back you'll probably be healthy enough to go. Shinra kindly volunteered to be your escort." Awwww! He's so sweet! Smiling and nodding I feel like ripping my blanket apart. What does the fuckin' council want?!
"Alright, easy! You dont have to rush!"
Blushing I kept wobbling around trying to get use to walking again. Uncle Natsu holds both my hands, making me feel like a toddler trying to walk for the first time.
"Im not rushing!" I complain and he laughs at me. They had got back home last night but I had fell asleep waiting up for them.
We were walking around the guild hall. My sight was back and brighter than ever.
"...And this is the main hall!" He exclaimed, bringing me to the newly transformed meeting place. My mouth drops. It has gotten HUGE! Like theres elbow room. But part of me dosent like the change. "Its uh...diffrent." I reply when Mom asked did I like it. The old guild hall was where I grew up with Cousin Lissana.
"Well look who's up out and about!" Cousin Mirajane exclaimed tossing me a smile. Uncle Natsu helps me sit down and I smile back. "Yep, its good to be out that bed. And to be able to see." An arm was thrown around my shoulder and I saw it was Uncle Gray. "Yeah well, we're glad your back up again. My niece is getting pretty popular."
"What do you mean?"
Cousin Mira turns on the lacrima vision and turned to a channel called 'Beatz'. Just like Pandemonium it was quite a popular music channel. And on the screen was me.
"...Temptress is becoming a rising star in the country of Fiore. Resources say that she is from the guild, Fairy Tail! Located in Magnolia." A girl I recognized as Rocsi informed talking to her co-host, Terrance. "True that. She's very young too. About fourteen years old, the pop-starlet attends Yokai Academy and started her singing career just a few months ago." Terrance added, with a big smile.
"That. Is. Amazing! Not only that! She's also related to a very strong wizard. Actually this unofficial legend is her mother. Temptress or real birth name, Kuma Scarlet, is the daughter of the Titania. Queen of the Fairies! So the question is, will she be as strong as her mother?" Rocsi asked. The two talked about me a bit more before turning on the only video Ive ever made, Weight of the World.
"Whoa..." Uncle Natsu exclaimed and I nodded. Whoa indeed. They never said anything offensive but just the thought they were talking about me made me feel...special?
"Hopefully I will be as strong as Mommy some day!" I yelled jumping up with excitement. Suddenly I buckled back down and grabbed onto Uncle Natsu. He laughed and helped me back up. "See? Your in a rush!" He said.
"Yeah, Ive never seen anyone who still says 'mommy' be that strong." Someone said from the end of the bar.
"Shut up, metal factory reject!"
"What did you just call me?!"
"If you couldnt hear that one, how about JACKASS instead?!"
"Oh dear..." Cousin Mira whispered as Gajeel and I jump down each others throats. "Listen kid, we never finished our fight! If you wanna finish it now, then lets go!" My blood started pumping and the adrenaline might help me get through my current condition.
"You wont put a hand on her!" Uncle Natsu yelled and Gajeel looked at him like he was stupid. "Dont think Ive forgotten about you, Salamander! We havent finish things off either!"
Uncle Natsu punched Gajeel in the stomach and it went downhill from there. You can only imagine how much fun this was to me.
Being able to come home.
"C'mon! C'mon! C'mon!" Aunt Lucy yelled as I walk as fast as I could without falling smack dab unto my face. It was hard, I still couldnt walk regularly and an excited Aunt Lucy isnt a good one. "Calm your nerves! Its only 5:30. We gotta open it at six anyways."
"Yeah but if Queen Moka wants to see ME, this must be good!" Laughing I hop on her magic cycle and put on a helmet.
"Whatever. Just shut up and drive."
Unlocking my homeroom with the key Laxus delivered, My foot crosses the threshold but not like I usually do in the morning. The moment I stepped in, my jeans turned into a silk black dress. My shoes dissappeared and I was barefoot and a stray haired told me I was in my demonic form.
Aunt Lucy gasped too. Her mini skirt turned longer and her shirt grew longer too. Her boots turned into black high heeled pumps and her blonde hair got longer and gained purple streaks.
"Welcome."
Turning towards the voice I see a girl. She looks around ten or eleven with long black hair and red eyes. She wore a cute gothic lolita dress with adorable ballet flats. Her hair was in a high ponytail like mine.
"Hello." I great back evenly. "Im Kuma Scarlet and this is Lucy Heartphillia. May I ask where are we?" The girl smiled and took Lucy and I's hand. "Yes you may! This is the castle of Lord Zeref, but his queen rules the place intill he is ressurected. And scince you both go by your human names, so shall I. My name's Wendy Marvell." Nodding, Wendy drags us down a long hallway and opened two grand doors that led to a large room.
"What took you two so long?!"
It was Moka. She was sitting on a black throne with violet carvings every where. Standing next to her and leaning against the throne was Laxus. On my left on the other side of the room was Gajeel. He was writing in a black bounded book. He didnt even look our way but nodded a hello. He seemed more subdued here. It looked as though the only seats in this room was the throne, he sat on the floor and leaned against the wall.
"She's here?! Rushing in comes Claire, Dennevah, Koga and Cobalt. They all rush around me and push me around in hugs. "YAY!" Dennevah yelled, her red hair swirling around her face. "We were so worried your sight wouldnt come back! Why. Didnt. You. Tell. Me!" Claire demanded, hitting me with each pause. I playfully held up my arm to block her. "Ok, ok, Gomen ne sai!" Aunt Lucy laughed at us and poked Cobalt in the cheek. "You dont know how many times he visited you when you were knocked out. This one too." She poked Koga too and I let out a long 'awwwwww'.
"Alright. If we're done socializing you two have jobs to do." Laxus yelled, cutting our fun short. Wendy giggled and walked towards a boy who I hadnt even noticed. He was in the shadows. He had long black hair and red eyes as well. The two looked like twins.
"Eve! Cmon, we gotta go on patrol."
"Not so fast you two. Your staying here." Moka barked an the two froze. Eve laughed nervously and Wendy sighed." "Yes ma'am." They murmured in sync.
"Now then. First things first. Lucy, Kuma. To put it simply you two will be training to control your demonic power. Kuma you have three sides to control. The demon side, vampire side and the stigma. Although for some strange reason your stigma hasnt awakened yet. Just like Wendy's." I gulped. I dont think I was ready to handle a new training session just yet. I still have to become strong enough as a wizard to be able to call myself Titania's daughter and a mage of Fairy Tail. And what did she mean by 'Just like Wendy.'? Wendy's a stigma too? Is she a hybrid of demon and wizard like me?
"Lucy you have to be able to at least STOP the stigma at will. Hold it down, at the most. You will be having an especially hard time because you will have to call it out." I hear Aunt Lucy gulp. She has trouble holding it in as it is. "Both of you will be training with my generals. Laxus, Gajeel." Laxus and Gajeel stepped up. Gajeel was still writing in that book and Laxus was just standing with his arms crossed, eyes closed.
"Lucy, I bet you can guess who you're training with." Moka drawled with a wicked smile. I could practiclly see Lucy's mind spinning. Knowing Lucy she's probably imagining herself being chased around by lightning. She shivered suddenly and stepped back. "No...I-I think Im good. Ive held it down for seventeen years. I can hold it down for seventeen more." Everyone just ignored her and turned to Gajeel scince he had shut his book closed hard.
"Oi... can she even walk yet? Because it seems to me she'll fall just getting to the training grounds." He muttered and I rolled my eyes. "Well I got here, didnt I?!" I snap back. I hated him when he kept making snide comments. No one asked for his opinions!
"You can cut the attitude, it was just a simple question. And you didnt walk here, Bunny-girl drove you." I think I felt a vein popping when Laxus chuckled. "You two will get along just fine. I, on the other hand, got the short straw."
"SHUT UP! I did nothing to you! Your the one who tried to kill me! IM THE ONE WITH THE SHORT STRAW!" Aunt Lucy didnt sound angry about her being hooked with her almost assaninator. It seems she was more upset by being called the 'short straw'. I think her mind is screwy.
Moka sighed and massaged her temples. "Everyone. SHUT THE HELL UP! YOU WILL TRAIN WITH EACH OTHER AND YOU WILL DO IT WITH A DAMN SMILE ON YOUR FACE! UNDERSTAND?!"
"YES MA'AM!" We all yelled, even the ones who werent in the conversation. God she scared the crap out of me. Is the Queen of Demons bipolar?!
"Wendy, Eve."
"Ma'am?"
Moka stood up and pointed at me. "You two will be in her group. Once she gets on track, you'll be showing her real life patrols." They nodded and walked over towards me. Eve smiled and nodded his greetings. "You four will keep doing what youve been doing. I dont want you on patrols yet." Cobalt, Koga, Claire and Dennevah nodded and headed back out the doors.
"Lucy. You and Laxus will be doing assignments from guilds that I find suspicious. 82% of the time they are demons. You guys will be hunting them down." Lucy sighed and nodded, a look of determination set on her pretty face. She walked over to Laxus confidently and they both walked out, off on their first night of training.
"And Kuma. You and Gajeel will be doing the same, but on a higher level. Once your strength is back, you four will be investigating the Oracion Seis. Master Makarov and Master Bob have been on me about this guild for a while now. Instead of hunting, you four will be gathering information." Wendy, Eve and Gajeel nodded and I shrugged.
"Well then. Get to work." Moka dismissed.