A Dragon to Light the Way
Chapter 14
Lucy sighed as she stared out the window of the train, her thoughts running around in circles about everything that had happened. When had her life completely fell apart? Who was responsible for it all? How the hell did Merida know her anyway? She gave another sigh, watching as her breath fogged them window, and looked up when the door to her compartment opened. Yukino stood there for a moment, and unsure look on her face.
"Lucy? Is it alright if I come in?" She whispered, and Lucy gave a nod. She wasn't about to take her frustration out on the younger woman, although she pretty much figured that she wasn't going to like this particular conversation either.
"Is this really going to be the end of you and Sting?" Yukino asked, and Lucy sighed to herself, the woman really threw a straight ball at her there. She looked back out the window, but didn't even see the scenery.
"I guess so." She whispered, keeping her gaze out the window as the woman shifted across from her and then leaned forward.
"You're not going to fight to get him back?" Lucy sighed at that question, and finally looked at her.
"Yukino, you heard him himself. If it came down to it, I would rush to Fairy Tail's aid, and he doesn't want that. I can't give up my family, and honestly, I didn't want to give up him, but he made the choice. Nothing I can do now." She stated, watching as the woman frowned and shook her head.
"Can't you talk it out with him?"
"I tried that. He only seems to want me to do everything he tells me to do. I can't live that kind of life Yukino, and he very well knows it." She stated, watching as the woman looked down at bit her lip. The compartment fell silent for a moment, but the she looked up, ready to ask more questions.
"What about the whole mate thing? Rogue told me that once a Dragon Slayer finds his or her mate, there is no way they can stay away." Lucy blinked at that, and faintly touched the still sensitive marks on her neck. Recalling his words that so long as he kept his distance from her, their bond would be broken.
"You heard him yourself, it will break in time. Besides, you heard him. We were obviously wrong about the whole mate thing, we're just too different." She stated, watching as the woman slumped in the seat and glanced away. It was obvious that she hadn't wanted Lucy to bring that up, but Lucy couldn't apologize for words that weren't even hers. Giving a sigh, she looked out the window again and, but blinked when Yukino cleared her throat.
"Did you really mean it? About what you said about Sting?" Yukino asked, and Lucy gave a loud sigh as she shook her head.
"No. I didn't mean any of those things. I just wanted to wound his pride and ego a bit since he had hurt me. I know that he truly understands what it takes to be a guild mate, but I don't understand is why he raised a fuss over this. Yes, I'm using myself as bait, but it isn't like I'm doing it alone. Besides, Natsu doesn't deserve this kind of torture, and Sting was the one who said he'd always have my back. Although, my last question I meant. I don't see why he isn't willing to back me when it comes to the things I want to protect." She stated, her gaze going once more out the window as Yukino thought about it for a moment.
"Maybe, it's because he thinks that sooner or later you'll think of the things you want to protect more valuable than him. Maybe, he was scared that he would lose you in a way in which he would never recover from. He could have thought that by getting you to choose, he'd know that you truly loved him." Yukino stated, and Lucy gave her a small smile as she shook her head.
"Yukino, don't use the past tense. I still love him, even though we just split ways. I don't think I'll ever stop loving him because I know the real him. We might have only known each other for a short amount of time, but it was still long enough to get to know his personality." She stated, and watched as Yukino seemed to perk up at that announcement.
"You mean..."
"Our stop is just a minute away." Rogue stated, opening the compartment door and walking in. Lucy blinked as she saw that he looked rather ill and recalled that Dragon Slayers tended to have a bit of motion sickness and watched as he dropped into the seat beside Yukino. She glanced between them as Yukino started to brush his bangs slightly, and felt both happy for them and a twinge of jealousy. She knew that she could have had the same thing with Sting should she had the discussion about Fairy Tail earlier, but now she didn't have the opportunity. Their history together was over, and she knew that she had to move on. Besides, they needed to focus on this mission, because Natsu's life depended on it.
Lucy glanced up at the guild that they were approaching, it was much smaller than either Fairy Tail or Sabertooth. At least, it only looked like it did on the outside, but she now knew the truth about the hidden floor that held Natsu. She blinked when the doors opened and a young blonde woman with nearly neon green eyes stepped out with a smile.
"It is good to see you again. Thank you for the meeting, there is a few things I have been worrying about." Merida stated, and Lucy slid a smile onto her face, embracing the woman as she opened her arms.
"It is good to see you as well. Our Masters figured you might have some concerns, that was why they suggested this meeting." Yukino stated, embracing her next before Rogue offered his hand instead of a hug. The woman smiled once more, and then ushered them inside and started to lead them into her office.
"Of course, of course. So, would you mind answering a few questions?" She asked, looking over her shoulder and Lucy nodded as she walked alongside the woman.
"But of course, it is why we are here after all." She stated, giggling along with the woman and stopped outside her office.
"Well, I know that both of your guilds have Dragon Slayers. I was wondering, how does one know if they are a Dragon Slayer?" She asked, and Lucy blinked. Why in the world would she be asking something like that?
"Well, the usual signs that someone is a Dragon Slayer is rather being raised by a dragon, or having a dragon lacrima placed inside of you." She stated, watching as the woman gave a nod as she opened the door and lead them into the office and moved around her desk.
"I see. Well, do any of you know of a Dragon Slayer's weakness?" She asked, causing Lucy to tilt her head to the side and frown.
"Are you having trouble with a Dragon Slayer within your guild? Or is it one from another guild?" She asked, blinking when the woman looked away quickly and cleared her throat.
"It is from a different guild. The slayer has been coming around a lot lately, and I was wondering since you seemed to know so much about Dragon Slayers and all, you could give me a few pointers." She stated, and Lucy knew that it was all a lie. From the fake smiled that Rogue and Yukino were giving they knew it as well.
"Well, it depends on the type of Dragon Slayer that they are." She stated, watching as the woman smiled softly, but held a glint in her eye. They had her fooled, just what they were hoping to do. They had to keep her occupied for a half hour to an hour, without her catching on.
"It seems like this slayer's most dominant attack is fire. So, would water be his weakness?" The woman asked, and Lucy shook her head, already knowing that the slayer was Natsu.
"One would think so, but it isn't that easy when it comes to a Dragon Slayer. Some of them have the ability to combine other elements with their own, and make their attacks much more powerful. All honestly, I don't know of any weakness other than pitting them against another Dragon Slayer." She stated, watching as a frown marred Merida's features, and Lucy was glad that she was buying into what she was saying.
"I see. Well, do you know of any Dragon Slayers outside of your guilds?" She asked, and Lucy rose and eyebrow before realizing what the woman was probably planning. She was wanting a person that didn't know Natsu, therefore anyone she named wouldn't do it.
"Well, all I know of is one other that isn't in any guild. What about you two?" She asked, looking over at the others who shook their heads.
"Sorry, I'm not much of a social person so I only know Sting." He stated, and Lucy had to control her expression at hearing his name. This wasn't the time for letting her emotions get the better of her.
"I see. Well, would it be possible that one in the guilds would help with the problem?" She asked, and Lucy frowned. Why would she ask help from Natsu's own guild, or a guild that knew well of him. Unless she knew somehow to disguise him so no one would recognize him. That worried her, and she glanced around for a clock, only to bite her lip as she saw that they still needed to stall for another twenty minutes.
"We'd have to talk with our Masters about the matter, and determine who would be the strongest, as well as see with our own eyes what kind of magic he has." Rogue stated, and Lucy stiffened lightly as the woman shot a look his way and narrowed her gaze. Rogue caught his mistake quickly, but didn't show any expression on his face at Merida's glare.
"I don't ever recalling giving a gender to the slayer." She muttered, and Lucy relaxed her body as the woman looked over each of them before Rogue sighed.
"Forgive me. It is just a male thing that I assume that it is a 'he' you are talking about. I just can't imagine a woman causing too much trouble, unlike a male." He stated, and Lucy wished she could tell him to shut his mouth. He was digging a bigger hole for himself if Merida's scowl was anything to go by.
"So, you're saying that a woman can't plan anything that could cause destruction on others? Or are you saying that women are too delicate to do something so harsh?" She snapped, and Lucy watched the woman as Rogue tried to think of a way out of his situation.
"I didn't mean to sound so sexist, Master Merida. I merely just assumed that it was a male, and I apologize for that. Maybe, if you did tell us the gender." He stated, and Lucy gave a mental sigh of relief. It was a good tactic to get her off that particular subject since it seemed like a sore spot, and that she had been about to blow her top.
"Right. Well, even though I'm still miffed, you are correct and it is a male. Also, if I am correct in thinking, Fairy Tail also has a Dragon Slayer that can control fire?" She stated, her gaze landing on Lucy and she crossed her arms to hug herself. She brought on the memories of her abuse and swallowed as she looked down.
"That is correct, but...I'm kinda having a few difficulties with him at the moment." She stated, peeking out from her eyelashes to see that the woman had a victorious gaze on her face but a sympathetic smile on her face.
"He broke your heat? Poor dear, I know all too well how that feels. I was once engaged to a wonderful man, but his family had other ideas for him." She scowled, causing Lucy to frown slightly and look closer at the woman. Was this how Merida knew of her?
"What happened?" She asked, easing into the chair across from the desk and gave the woman her attention, although her eyes stayed to the clock again. Ten more minutes.
"We were head over heels for each other. He loved me greatly even though I was from a lower class family than his. His father was a well respected man, and had many businesses, you could probably imagine my surprise when his son took an interest in me. Although, mind you I didn't care about his wealth." Lucy had to control the urge to roll her eyes, there was nothing but greed in the woman's voice.
"We had dated for a while, a little over a year, and soon he asked for my hand. I was thrilled because I was going to be the envy of all the other girls. Showing them that love even conquers even the obstacle of wealth. Then, his father introduced his son to a debutante of another family, and the little bitch seduced my fiance." Lucy tilted her head slightly to the side with a frown as she listened, she already knew who the debutante was, and knew exactly the man she was talking about. It was the same man her father had tried to make her marry for political reasons, only she had refused and returned to her rightful place in Fairy Tail.
"I can see how that would be terrible." She whispered, watching as the woman barely restrained glaring at her before giving a sigh. Then a bitter smile settled over her lips as she finally met her gaze, and Lucy couldn't stop the shiver that skittered up her spine.
"I'm sure you are also curious whose family the debutante was in?" Merida cooed, and Lucy saw the trap. Regardless of her answer, everything was going to go south from here on out, and there would be a fight. If she answered the question with a yes, it would be her name coming from Merida, and if it was a no, then she would know something was amiss. Lucy glanced one final time at the clock, and cursed mentally as she saw that she still had five minutes to stall. She couldn't just sit there in silence, it would blow everything. Straightening, she decided that it was time she faced this woman and returned the glare that she was now receiving.
"I both think we know that there is no reason for me to answer that question. Although, I don't see how I ruined your marriage since I refused the arranged one." She stated, watching as the once pretty face was warped into one of pure anger and hate. Merida shot to her feet, and Lucy responded by quickly getting to her own and had her hand hovering over her keys. It was obvious to all that a fight was about to happen.