So many seeds were dropped in here for you to interpret later haha! Disclaimer I don't own Fairy Tail if I did the chapter 414 would never have happened. My feels where just crushed by that chapter...but I guess it needed to happen.
Enjoy!
It was Monday. The day school starts. I was shaking and Michelle was absolutely no help whatsoever.
"Don't dress 'rich'" She said, "You don't want to look like you're trying to be better than them."
I could understand that, but then she said,
"But don't dress poor, you don't want to look like you're mocking them."
I think Michelle could see the question marks around my head.
She sighed and placed her soft hands on my shoulders, "just be yourself Lucy, try not to act like something you're not."
I appreciated the advice but that's what I was going to do anyway until she confused me with her dress codes.
I sat down for breakfast, today Michelle served eggs and bacon. We ate in silence until curiosity got the better of me.
"Why does Natsu live with Mister Gildarts?"
Michelle tensed. She slowly continued eating like she heard nothing. Suspicious.
"He said his papa was called Igneel, but he lives with Mister Gildarts."
"Lucy you know it's not respectful to speak at the table."
"He even said that Igneel built the tree hou- I mean Dragons Den."
"Lucy!" I paused.
Mama's voice rung in my head, "Listen to your family Lucy, even if they seem wrong they are just looking out for you."
"Sorry Auntie."
Michelle's bangs covered her face a frown on her lips. I knew I was in trouble. She stood up and as punishment she took my unfinished plate and took it into the kitchen to give to the house dog, Plue.
For some reason I didn't feel that sorry, more irritated if anything.
When Michelle came back she had a small blue winter coat and matching blue snow boots for me to change into. It had snowed last night and Jack Frost had visited to coat the streets with icy layers.
She held the coat out for me to stick my arms in and then leaned down to help me put on the boots. The process was done in a tense silence.
When she opened the door for me she finally spoke, "Do not speak to Natsu of Igneel."
I turned to her curiously.
"It will serve you well to keep out of people's business, if you hear a rumour do not spread it or believe it till you know it's true."
The door shut in my face.
Rumours? And what did she mean about me being nosy? Natsu seemed so proud to talk about Igneel.
On my way to school I made sure to skid across all the frozen puddles I saw. The river next to me was partly frozen, the edges had froze but the middle was still liquid and it flowed by. The boats weren't passing by today.
I clumsily began to climb on the ledge of the stream and carefully walked down the old stones and even stuck my arms out for balance. It was a hard task. I imagined being tightrope walker in a circus, keeping focus as the wire wobbled. There was no safety net...how would Lucy the flexible conquer it?
I finally jumped off the tightrope wire when I saw some familiar pink hair ahead of me. Natsu!
The circus disintegrated to reveal a dragon strolling up ahead. My heart soared.
I ran after him as carefully as I could.
"Hey Natsu, wait up!"
The figure paused and turned to greet me with a huge grin, "Hey Luce!"
"Can I walk with you?"
"Course!" He grinned.
He didn't seem aware of his incomplete sentence. Papa did say poor kids didn't get a good education. He also said they didn't deserve it.
Mama told me not to listen and some people where more privileged than others.
Michelle had also told me not to snub the children at my school. The odds told me not to correct his mistake.
I returned his smile and sped up to walk by his side.
"Do you have many friends at school?" I really wanted to meet them.
"Pft. Of course Luce! I have loads, so many I forgot." I frowned slightly.
Mama had told me to cherish my friends. Forgetting them isn't something a friend would do.
Natsu saw my frown.
"Don't worry Luce. I wouldn't ever forget you! You're my best friend!"
"And Happy?"
He nodded, "And Happy."
When we had reached the playground I was amazed.
This school was so small!
I don't know why I found the building adorable but I did. The playground was icy and slippy. Perfect. I grabbed Natsu's hand and convinced him to skid with me. He found it more fun than I did, if father could see me now he would be fuming.
This is exactly why I continued to do it.
We held each other's hands for balance and we glided across the playground in small circles. It caught other kids' attention and they began to try.
It was weird. They just joined in. I thought that you needed permission to join people's games. I had to remind myself that I wasn't at home anymore.
I saw several kids on my slide past.
Three white haired siblings, a half naked boy-who I quickly averted my eyes from, a timid looking brunette playing cards with some teachers and finally an elder red head and bluenette boy who looked at me with curiosity.
I turned my attention to my best friend who had his eyes shut and was giggling wildly, I had never felt so good about making someone happy. It was my new goal to make sure he would always smile, even around Michelle. Someone like Natsu doesn't deserve to be sad.
We came to a halt at the school steps. Natsu had let go of me but I latched onto his surprisingly warm hand.
"You'll protect me won't you?" He kept his curious gaze on me, I suddenly felt the urge to elaborate-
"Don't be surprised if them poor scum don't understand you, they're raised thick headed." My father's voice reminded me-
"You see, I don't do well aroun-"
"Why would you ask Weirdo? I'm your dragon remember!" He grinned, to prove his point further he held my hand tighter.
Fathers words diminished and I had never felt so ashamed in my life.
"Sorry for doubting you, Natsu," I apologised.
"Doubt...ing?" We were now walking down the hall, he tilted his head the side and tested the foreign word on his tongue.
He didn't understand a wide vocabulary. I wasn't looking down on him but I noted that I must use small words around my best friend/dragon.
"Uh I mean sorry for not believing you. Doubt is just another word for that..." I looked away.
"Wow Lushy!" Again, another nickname. I personally preferred Luce but I'll take anything over Weirdo, "You must be real smart! You gotta teach me more of them words!"
His charcoal eyes were shining. We had stopped outside the classroom and walked in.
"Well how about if you ever need another word for something else just ask me and I'll try my best, that's a promise!" I grinned giving a wink.
His cheeks flushed in excitement and held his hand in the air and just held it there looking at me expectantly.
I froze. What was he trying to do? Should I know?
Natsu's cheeks puffed out impatiently, "Come on Luce! Don't leave me hanging!"
My darted around. It was then I noticed the classroom wasn't empty.
A small bluentte with hazel eyes must have sensed my peril and set her book down on the table.
She held one hand up and with the other enthusiastically but quitley used the other to greet it. She intentionally made sure no noise was made, my eyes flashed gratefully and I mimicked her gesture.
Natsu smiled and and our hands smacked together. I gave a smile until he rolled his eyes and said-
"It's called a high-five Luce."
The colour drained from my face. Busted.
He giggled, "Your face looked so funny."
I glared and smacked him upside the head. I heard the short haired bluenette giggle from behind her book.
I smiled to myself, I think I made another friend.
"Hey Lushy!" That must be the name for me he uses when he wants something, "What's another word for funny?"
I was right.
"Hilarious." I grumbled.
A promise was a promise.
"Your face looked hi-...hilar-e-us...hilarious! Luce, your face looked hilarious!" At first he said it in an off voice but now it was like the word had blended into his personality.
After he had quite finished I was still fuming as he pushed me behind the back table and plopped down next to me in an identical wooden chair.
The loud Cathedral bell rung out and I assumed it meant school was starting. I noticed the bell was a lighter tinkly sound. I remember when Michelle was explaining my curfew to me she said the Cathedral bells rung out different chimes to indicate different events.
"Urgh, I hate class..." Natsu whined banging his head on the table.
"Why?"
"'Cause, it's so boring!" He turned to me, "I bet you're cleverer than the Teach!"
"I doubt that Natsu," he smiled to himself, she knew it was because he understood that word now, "Adults are smarter and know lots of things we don't."
"I still say you're smarter." I blushed.
By now I saw that the class had piled in. I saw the brunette, the two younger white haired siblings, the stripping boy and the...clearly older red head?
What was she doing in the class for the first years?
Of course other students were there. They just didn't stick out to me.
Then I saw it. They avoided us- or mainly Natsu, like the plague.
They actually seemed curious about me, but they saw Natsu and reeled. I didn't like it.
"Natsu, where are your friends?" I whispered.
His dark eyes shook, "They'll be here. Just late is all." He laughed nervously and looked anywhere but me.
I knew he had lied.
I didn't question him further, I realised how lonely of a person Natsu must be.
The teacher had finally walked in. She was so pretty!
She had short dark purple hair, mesmerising green eyes and a green dress.
"Hello there class!" She smiled. To me she was glowing, she wasn't as pretty as Mama but I felt inspired, "I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!"
A series of replies where heard and she smiled, seemingly pleased.
"Is that a new student I spy back there?" She asked.
I blushed, I wasn't overly fond of attention.
I nodded my head and stood up when she began motioning me to do so.
Another thing I liked about her, she didn't make me come to the front of the class like most teachers do...or the rich ones do.
"Hello there, Sweetie. I'm Kinana Cellebios, your teacher for the rest of the school year." She took out a clip board and I assumed she was going to add me to her register. "What's your name, nice and loud," she smiled.
"Lucy!" I squeaked.
"Full name, please." She pressed me on with a polite, genuine, smile.
I was a Heartfillia, I would have said that if I hadn't worried of the result. Natsu had reacted to Michelle so badly that I don't think rich folks are appreciated around here. So it meant I couldn't use Heartfillia or Lobster, the name Michelle took when she married Mr. Lobster.
I had to think of something quick! By now I was fiddling with the design label on the end of my coat. Ashley's Boutique it read.
I looked up, "Lucy Ashley!"
I breathed out in relief when she nodded and wrote it down.
Before I could sit back down she had told the whole class to stand up and tuck in our chairs.
"Don't you dare think I didn't notice you trying to sit where you want," Miss Kinana wagged her finger with a playful amused smirk on her face.
The class erupted in groans of annoyance. I frowned. Seating plans were necessary for working without distraction. Did they not want to learn?
Natsu looked really put out. I turned and locked my pinkie finger with his.
He gave me a confused stare at my discreet gesture. I just smiled and gave his small limb a comforting squeeze.
His ears turned red and he gave a small smile squeezing back.
Miss Kinana clapped her hands together eagerly, "Alright this term I think we will do alphabetical order!"
The class remained moody but I smiled. She was just so positive!
"Alright!" She walked over to the front desk by the door and motioned for the kids standing round it to move away, " Okay! The A's! Cana Alberona and Lucy Ashley! You two share here."
The brunette and I sat in our seats, Cana was closest to the door and me beside her.
Miss Kinana then gestured to the double desk at the top of our table, "Leo Celstial and Alzach Clonnel."
The ginger and cowboy looking kid took their seats.
"Miss I told you to call me Loke, everyone does!" The boy whined exasperated. This seemed like a regular occurrence when the teacher ignored him.
Miss Kinana placed her hand on the seat opposite me, "Natsu Dragneel-" The pinkette cheered and ran to his seat, Natsu smiled and waved rapidly at me as if I was a long distance away.
Kinana paused at the seat opposite my seat mate, Cana.
"Oh no..." My teacher sighed and her voice sounded full of regret, "...Gray Fullbuster..."
I was the only one who didn't gasp, Natsu clenched his tiny fists and he bared his teeth. People flinched at the sight. All but me and Cana, I also saw no fear in the youngest white haired sibling. The girl didn't hold fear in her eyes but pity instead.
I didn't like that either.
I knew what being pitied on was like and I hated it. I doubt Natsu wants it like I did.
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The boy called Gray Fullbuster...was a bully. He pestered and pushed Natsu's buttons. It was clearly just to get a rise or reaction and Natsu foolishly gave him what he wanted. Gray and Natsu were so alike yet different it was unbelievable.
At lunch students were allowed to leave the school premise and return when the Cathedral bells rung out at 1 O'clock.
"Lushy," He wanted something, "What's another word for angry?" Natsu grumbled as the walked along the market stalls.
I felt my shoulders droop and I looked at the grey sky in thought, "...Furious."
"I heard Gildarts use that one before," Natsu turned to me grinning, "I didn't know what it meant at the time but now I do. It still don't count though!"
I returned the toothy grin and once again ignored his awful grammar
"So you want another word?"
He nodded.
"Vexed." I knew he'd like it.
His smile widened.
"Vexed." He tested, "Woah! That word is awesome! It sounds so cool!"
I couldn't help the laughter.
"Luce, Gray makes me vexed. I feel vexed because of Gray. He gets me Vexed."
"I could see that Natsu," I frowned slightly.
I still hadn't seen Natsu's friends. I knew they didn't exist but the idea of him lying to me was too disappointing.
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School was over and I was ahead. I had already learned it.
It was going to be an easy year for me it seemed. That cool winter evening I had played with Natsu in the Dragons Den and became more aquatinted with Happy, I also spoke to Mister Gildarts briefly on my way in and out. Apparently he had a daughter who was staying out late at a friend's house, so that made her "The closest thing he has to a sibling."
When I had went home I gave my Aunt a huge hug. We made up after my waterfalls of apologies and crocodile tears and shared a peaceful quiet dinner.
When I had gone to bed I had written several things down in the journal I had received for my birthday. I'm pretty sure it was a gift from Mr. Lobster on his travels abroad.
The mysteries of Magnolia~
Why does Natsu dislike Michelle?
Where is Igneel?
Why does Natsu live with Mister Gildarts?
How did Natsu get me into the Dragons Den?
Why do the children avoid Natsu?
Why is Erza Scarlet (Her name was announced in class) in the first year class?
Why does Gray Fullbuster strip?
Why did Natsu lie to me..?
Why are the mysteries so Natsu orientated?
I then slammed my journal shut when I heard Michelle's footsteps and hid it in my top bedside cabinet drawer.
I then drifted off into a dreamless sleep to her soothing humming after Michelle tucked me in and had given me a goodnight kiss.