Lucy's POV
Clench. Unclench. Breathe in. Breathe out. That was the same routine I followed every day. Every single day, I would think of what I did wrong, of what I could do better. What could I do better? I was only one person, this is what I thought, yet here I am, still running after an ambiguous goal as only one person. Slowly opening my eyes, I stared at the pink of my ceiling blankly. The sunlight filtered through as the curtains rustled slightly, blown by the wind. My blank eyes trailed to my side. The familiar mess of salmon hair greeted me, the smell of smoke and burning wood filling my nostrils. Breathe in, breathe out. The warm scent overflooded me, and I was tempted to just snuggle back into the covers, go back to sleep, and forget all of my problems, forget all of my worries. That wouldn't work, though. Closing my eyes for a few seconds, I savored the comfortable warmth surrounding me, before I sat up. Carefully unwrapping myself from the sleeping slayer, I rose to my full height, looking at my feet.
Rolling out my shoulders, I felt like I was walking in my sleep as I made my way to the bathroom. Slowly, I looked up and at the mirror, staring at my reflection, though not caring what it looked like. Splashing my face with some cold water, I shuddered as I wiped off with a towel. My eyes warily trailed over my makeup shelf, and I hastily grabbed some concealer. My bags were horrible, so I quickly dabbed some of the makeup on, making sure it didn't smear. Once I was done, I applied some chapstick. Walking out of the bathroom, I didn't bother to tie up my hair as I changed. Natsu was asleep, so it wouldn't matter anyway, right? I was just so tired… I didn't care anymore. Maybe I would go visit Sabertooth.
A million muted thoughts buzzed through my head as I changed. Flipping my hair back, I took a quill and a piece of paper.
Dear Natsu,
I've gone to visit Sabertooth. I'll be back by dinner.
That was enough. Setting the ink and quill down, I place the note on the kitchen table, next to some of the matches I always had on hand whenever Natsu wanted a snack. Pulling on a sweater and some heeled boots, I walked out the door, my boots clicking against the hard floor.
Once I got outside, I teleported to the other guild, not bothering to take the long way. I really needed to clear my head, so some chatting couldn't hurt, right? I was bout to go in, but then remembered the time. It was only 7 am, so nobody would be here, right? Sighing and dropping my hand, I looked around. There had to be a café around where I could get breakfast, so, without a second thought, I tiredly walked along the cobblestone pavement, not caring where I ended up, to be honest. I felt lifeless, and I swayed back and forth as I walked. Holding my head in my hands, but not stopping, I stumbled into a small shop, and wordlessly ordered an iced coffee.
Once the dark, cool liquid entered my mouth, I felt a bit more energized. Placing my money on the counter, I readjusted the grip I had on my cup, and started to walk back out, my heels still clicking along the way. Combing my fingers through my hair, I checked my watch. Only about ten minutes had passed, but I didn't really care. Tiredly, I gingerly pushed open the guild doors, welcoming myself in.
Natsu's POV
I woke up to the absence of a certain blonde. I looked down. This had been happening a lot, and this was the third time in a row that I would wake up to an empty, cold bed. She would usually leave a note or something, but I couldn't help but feel that I could do something more for her that I wasn't. Discouraged, I got up, and searched the room for the note that would surely be awaiting me. Finding the white against the wooden kitchen table, I read the black script from where I was, and raised my eyebrow. Why would she go to Sabertooth? Walking closer, I lit a few matches and stuffed them in my mouth, then washed my face and promptly jumped out the window, not bothering to close it behind me. Now that it was mentioned, I haven't seen in Sting in a while… I smirked.
Lucy's POV
Walking in, I expected a completely deserted guild hall, but my eyes were only met with Sting's group, all of which happened to not be morning people. We stared quizzically at each other for a few seconds, and I grinned a bit, wanting to break the silence.
"I thought I would drop by, but maybe this isn't the best time…?" I said it as more of a question, seeing that they were all huddled together and probably talking about something important. Nobody said anything, not even Minerva or Yukino, who usually greeted me with cheery hugs and greetings. My hopes plummeting, I took a step back.
"Well then, I guess I'll see you guys around…" I said with a halfhearted smile. I turned on my heel, and started to walk out, but then Minerva's surprised voice stopped me.
"No, it's fine! We were just not able to sleep because we kind of had hangovers, and we thought you were kind of an… illusion? I don't know, honestly, my head's spinning." Minerva said, laughing a bit while holding her head. I smiled at her, though it didn't reach my eyes. Brushing against Virgo's key, a bottle of pills magically appeared in front of me. I tossed it to her, which she easily caught.
"Huh…?"
"Take it for the headaches, it seems like you guys need some rest, so I don't want to rant when you're in this state. See you guys later." I said, my smile now soft, but real. Before they could say anything in response, I walked out of the guild, the doors closing behind me. I sipped some of my coffee again, savoring the taste. Raising my head, I pinched my cheek with my free hand.
"This is no time to be depressed… I'll need to try my best from now on. I should go train…" My sentence was interrupted by a ball of fire hurtling towards me. Panicking, my brain momentarily shut down, and I threw out all common sense as I hurriedly shot a ray of holy magic at the fire, almost dropping my cup in the process. The fire was extinguished, and left a very charred Natsu. Face palming, I rushed over, scolding myself for not thinking clearly and just dodging like a normal person. Kneeling so that I was somewhat at eye level at him, I couldn't help but giggle as he dizzily swayed, his hair pointing up in different directions. I poked him in the forehead, and he seemed to come back to reality as he blinked, and stared at me. All of a sudden, he jumped up, grinning, and pointing at me.
"Woah! That was awesome, Luce!" I looked at him for a second, before bursting out into laughter. My previous stress seemed to be relieved, as I just laughed at the silliness of my best friend.
I guess this is why best friends exist, to cheer you up, huh? I looked at him, my eyes glimmering. Maybe I was in love after all, I mean, there was nothing wrong with that, right?
"You're really clueless sometimes, Natsu." I said as I ruffled his hair playfully, and he shot me his signature grin. I was depressed before, but he can just calmly waltz in and make me laugh my gut out.
Natsu's POV
"You're really clueless sometimes, Natsu." She said as she ruffled my hair playfully. I flashed her my grin, glad she was smiling, yet a little sad on the inside. She was always calling me dense, but even I could sense her stress. Instead of worrying her with a frown, though, I smiled even brighter, making her giggle again.
"We should probably get you washed up." She said, and I was confused for a moment, before looking down and realizing that all of my clothes were charred.
"AHHH! I'LL BE LIKE THAT ICE PERVERT!" I screamed in absolute horror as my vest practically crumbled off of me. She smiled at me again, her giggles subsiding.
In a couple of seconds, we were back at her place, and I raised an eyebrow her way. She shrugged, and I guess that she used her teleportation.
Walking over to the extra closet that she had in case Gray and I slept over, she fished around my side of the closet and pulled out an outfit and a towel, throwing both at me. I caught them, and nearly dropped the men's shampoo that she threw not a second later. Hands full, she pushed me towards the bathroom.
"Take a shower, you're completely charred and black and… ew." She said bluntly, and I heard her erupt into another fit of laughter.
"Haha, real funny, Luce. Geez, you're so weird sometimes." I said while rolling my eyes at my friend's behavior.
Lucy's POV
I smiled a bit as I walked to my bed and flopped back down onto it. I took a deep breath as I remember what Natsu once said to me. What was it? Ah, that's right, take it one step at a time… The memory fulfilled my confidence, and I shook my head. Why was I so down so before? If I had a problem, no matter how frustrating, I would handle it the Fairy Tail way. I would charge forwards without regrets, and keep getting up after every fall. I couldn't let myself break right now, but I feel as if fate was trying to postpone something, trying to tell me something. Looking down, I studied my bandaged hands. Slowly, I started to unwrap the wounds I got from all the fighting I had been doing recently. The wounds looked pretty nasty, but I didn't flinch, or look away. Instead, I threw out the bandages, and stared at my once fair hands. This should be proof enough; these battle scars should be enough to show how much I've grown. Reaching over to get some ointment, I dabbed the cool medicine on my heated scars, and re bandaged the wounds with the first aid kit I kept at my bedside. Clenching my fists, I winced, but smiled bitterly at the pain.
My bitter smile grew into a brighter one, and I held my clenched fist to my chest, determination blazing off of me. I wouldn't lose heart, I wouldn't be the crybaby princess I once was. Now, with everyone supporting me- My thoughts were interrupted, though, once Natsu walked in half naked. My eyes widening, I didn't realize a part of me fondly smiled as I screamed the next few words:
"NATSU! PUT ON SOME CLOTHES!" Yup, he was the same, old, clumsy Natsu who brought me to Fairy Tail. As I slammed the door behind him, I breathed out.
Eyeing the lukewarm cup of coffee at my bedside table, the ice melted, I walked over to it, and quickly dumped the contents out in the sink. Trashing the plastic, I sat on my bed, facing the open windows. The wind lightly caressed my cheek, my hair flowing. I stared as the townspeople walked by underneath the windowsill, the cherry blossoms floating through the air. I looked back as Natsu grumpily came back out, fully clothed this time. Smiling, I caught him off guard and he took a small step back. I barely noticed, though, as he replied with a peace sign, a grin, and the usually dark, yet fiery pair of eyes he always wore. Then, of course, there were those few words:
"Let's go to the guild!" With that, intertwined hands, and a running start, we basically flew out of the window as Natsu started to carry me across town at full speed. I wanted to resist as usual, but couldn't help the laugh bubbling up inside of me. Wrapping my arms around his neck, enjoying the breeze that passed us by as we flew to the guild, I smiled the smile I once wore. My broken eyes full of hope, my white teeth glinting against the sun as I remembered everything that I've been through, and knowing that I had more to go through, and that I couldn't give up just yet.
Natsu's POV
She felt light in my arms, and as I ran, I felt like we were floating, my feet barely touching the ground. I didn't have to think as my feet immediately found the normal path to the guild, my sandals occasionally clacking against the cobblestone in those rare moments that I actually did touch the ground. Looking down at Luce, I breathed out in relief. Everything was going to be okay. She must know by now, right? She must know that we'll handle everything like we always do; we'll charge forward without a second thought, and we'll always make it through somehow. She was smiling now, and it was the same smile I saw when I first met her.
'You seemed like a nice person,' those were the words I gave to her to explain making a team. It was true, yet it was a lie at the same time. Someone who could smile that brightly without regrets would surely be someone special to me, someone of whom I would admire. That was the real reason: I was attracted to her friendliness, her bright smile that welcomed everyone, the way that she would help anyone, even someone who harmed her, without a second thought. In that sense, I was attracted to her. It was then… we became best friends… and then some things happened here and there, some screw ups, some separations, but, now, I feel that I might like Lucy more than a friend. I smiled as we reached our destination, letting go of the blonde gently as the wind sifted through her radiant hair. I laughed as I patted her head.
"What strange hair," I commented, knowing that on the inside I thought she was beautiful. She scoffed as she reached up to pat my head as well.
"Wow, you're one to talk, great Salamander, scarf of dragon scales and hair the color of cherry blossoms," She teased, and as she let go, I froze, blushing a bit, my eyes wide as I watched her bounce into the guild. I was Natsu, I was Salamander. I chuckled softly this time, my eyes having a fond glow to them. It was funny, that the world seemed so much smaller than it really was. I thought of myself as only Natsu of Fairy Tail, only Natsu, the Natsu everyone knew. Yet, at the same time, I forgot that I was the almighty Salamander the Great. But that didn't really matter, did it? Because, I thought to myself, I would always be just Natsu, and I'll always be with my best friend, my 'just' Lucy.
Kicking down the guild doors in my usual manner, I felt more alive as I shouted a greeting, and multiple greetings were shouted back.
"Oi! Flame Brain, what took you so long?!" I heard Gray challenge as the shirtless mage stood up, magical aura already surrounding him. Smirking, I felt my magic bubble up inside of me, then flare.
"Nothing much, Ice Princess!"
Mavis' POV
I swung my legs back and forth as I sat on the ceiling beam, looking down on everyone. They were all rambunctious as usual, not minding their own business and running into a quarrel at every turn. With a small smile, my blue eyes scanned the guild, my brows furrowed in concentration. Everything was as normal… yet it wasn't. Closing my eyes for a brief moment and muttering an incantation, my eyes snapped back open, now sharper, my senses heightened. Standing up, now balancing on the high beam, I scanned the guild once again. Ah, there it was. A dark aura, surrounding everyone, lingering in the air, polluting the area. My eyes narrowed, my smile gone as I tried to scout out the source. Not being able to find anything, I held my hand out in a swooping motion, an orb of powerful holy magic immediately being charged. As I was about to release the purifying magic, however, the dark aura disappeared. I glanced down at the sixth master, and he looked up at me, wearing the same expression. There was only one person who would have the nerve to invade the guild during the day. Knowingly, I mouthed my answer to him, and put my head down as he nodded grimly. What happened on Tenrou, I had only caught a glimpse of, and the times before that, as well. Clenching my fists, I took a deep, steadying breath as I tried to calm myself. Looking back down at everyone, the smile I once wore came back slowly.
They can handle this. They are powerful, and we shall aid them. My plans have never failed me, I shall not start now. We will defeat this enemy. The time has come, my children, for you to flourish, to grow. You have gone through many foes, battles, and have endured many scars. Feeling my spirit fade, I panicked for a moment before composing myself once again. The heavens were calling me, sending me a message. Looking up, I understood as I saw beyond the wooden ceiling, through it, and to the universe beyond. The stars chimed and the winds whispered, all beckoning me. I couldn't help them with this one, this battle was one for Fairy Tail to fight, As the rest of my spirit started to disappear, floating to heavenly forces that required my aid, I finished the last of my message, smiling as I knew that I would be back.
The real fight begins now.