Lucy waited restlessly outside Elfman's room in the dimly lit Lioness Clinic.
She had to admit, for thunder cove, this place was very clean.
The doctor, Alanna, walked out of his room.
-How is he?- She scrawled.
"He's fine. Please go convince him not to move. He'll damage himself if he moved right now. He'll be good tomorrow provided he doesn't fight or do any strenuous activity."
Her shoulders slumped in relief.
-Is he awake?-
"Him and that girl he saved are talking. Maybe give em a moment."
Alanna yawned and stretched as she walked away, looking haggared.
Lucy being ever curious, stood outside the door and listened.
"...because of me."
"Don't worry, doc says I'll be out tomorrow." She heard Elfman's confident baritone.
"For what it's worth, thank you for saving me."
"I wouldn't be a real man if I couldn't save one girl now would I? Now go find your sister."
She heard a sniff before a quiet. "Thank you."
The door opened, and the girl named Tina stepped out.
Lucy nodded to her as she slipped into Elfman's room and closed the door.
"Oh, Lucy." Elfman noticed as the door closed.
-I'm glad you are ok.- She wrote.
"Heh, not as glad as I am."
-But I am not happy with you. You were reckless and careless.-
Elfman blinked.
What did she mean by that?
"What was I supposed to do? Leave her?"
-Yes.-
What? His anger flared.
"We are fairy Tail wizards. We don't back down. If we aren't man enough to do it, no one will be!"
-I'm not confusing being steadfast and being suicidal!-
"We always do what we can! Regardless of the consequences!"
-Running to your meaningless death?!-
"MAYBE NO ONE ELSE SHOULD LOSE A SISTER LIKE I DID! NEVER AGAIN! NOT WHILE I CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!"
Lucy looked taken aback for a second before she scrawled in large letters.
-WELL MAYBE MIRA SHOULDN'T HAVE TO LOSE BOTH OF HER SIBLINGS!-
Elfman felt a pain in his heart.
"So what? I should have given up on her?"
-Yes.- Lucy looked unhappy, but dead serious.
"How can someone so bright be so cold?" Elfman asked her, his voice cracking.
She looked like he had just slapped her in the face.
Her face went from shocked to downcast.
-Don't move around until tomorrow, we need to sail back to Hargion with the girls ASAP.-
She turned to exit, not before Elfman saw the shine of tears escaping her.
His breath caught as he saw her back.
Her cloths were torn and blood flowed in a trickle down her back from the long but shallow gash.
Areas not covered by the red of blood or scratches was filled with old scars.
How had she not noticed the blood and the slash?
And how did she get those scars?
He thinks i'm some kind of monster.
Lucy sobbed as she exited the clinic, ignoring the nurse calling out to her as she walked out. "Wait miss! You're blee…"
She just ran away.
The town passed her by as she ran.
Familiar sights and old blurred together as she rushed through.
What will everyone else think?
What would Mira or Levy or Cana think if they saw that?
Would Makarov still think I am such a good cause?
What would Natsu say?
Tears stung her eyes.
I just don't want to lose anyone else.
She kept running, trying to find a place to cry properly.
Without interruption.
Lucy found nothing.
All the familiar spots had changed into something foreign, the old jetty; collapsed. The small park with the fountain full of green water and moss; Dead and trampled plants and now home to rickety shacks and shady stalls.
There's one place left. Lucy thought as she walked up to it.
An old building with a few scorch marks on it.
There was a sign holder out the front.
'The Taste Kitchen.'
Salt's old restaurant. My old home.
She swiped away her tears before slowly walked into the dingy restaurant.
It was a lot more decrepit than she remembered.
It must have changed hands.
Seeing her old home in such a dismal state did not help her mood.
But at least she didn't feel helpless now. It was growing into anger.
Even this is gone. Well, I know one thing that will be there.
A pretty woman walked up to her. "Aite, what can I get you?" she asked sounding bored.
-There's a chest in this building's attic that can't be moved or opened. I would like to take it off your hands.-
"How do you…?"
-Because it's mine.-
"Alright, it's 2,000 jewl to get it back." She looked a bit more interested now. And very greedy.
Lucy's eyes narrowed and her expression darkened.
-I was being nice in asking. I am taking my belongings back, not buying them.-
"Then we may have a proble..."
She only got halfway through drawing her knife before Lucy clocked her on the side of the head.
Her blood boiled over as she seethed with anger.
Some patrons and staff went to the girl's aid.
Lucy swept the girl's knife up in her hand, sending it spinning through her hands to test its weight and balance.
She wasn't surprised when steel shone in her attacker's hands.
Everyone in thunder cove had knifes. It was almost an unwritten rule at this point.
Too bad I don't have my own knife with me. This would be so much easier.
Her lips quivered in a smile. This was the exact place that Mary trained her to use her Knife. The Center of the restaurant floor.
"Aggression and apparent recklessness always puts off your opponent. Like the Berserkers of Old, they used to keep fighting through pain and wounds. They acted as if they were men possessed to strike fear into their enemies. So try it. Make your foe afraid. Have fun." Mary's Words and sinister but mischievous whisper echoed in her mind.
Whenever the redhead fought, she had a savage look on her face. She was very quick to laugh maniacally and her knifes were usually dripping, as red as her hair. Insanity blazing in her eyes.
I'll make you proud Mary.
Lucy's mind snapped back into focus.
She rushed at her attackers, her knife meeting an incoming swing and sending the knife spiraling away
A small side roll took her behind a rough and muscled woman.
The Blonde sent a vicious backhand to her opponent's head, the hilt of her knife crashing into the woman's skull and knocking her out cold.
The remaining three fighters stood back.
Their skill showed in their stance and poise.
One skilled opponent was a challenge.
Two would be tricky.
Three; Nightmare.
But Lucy was already hopped up on her anger and adrenalin.
Cold focus set over her.
Three knives, three people to watch.
The left man's muscles bunched.
Lucy took half a step back exactly as the man lunged, his arm plunging down in a vicious swipe.
His blade swept past her, and she lifted her own knife so his forearm would drag against her knife on the way down.
He leapt back, cursing as he glanced at the new gash on his arm.
She feinted forward to make it look like she was going to pursue him.
The center man made a clumsy swipe that bit through air.
She lifted her leg and delivered a kick straight into the face of the now off balance fighter.
He fell to the floor, seeing metaphorical stars.
The other two were smarter, taking on defensive stances and giving her space.
-So, can i go upstairs and get my chest now?-
One of the fighters blinked and lowered the knife. "You mean the one in the attic? if it'll get you to leave then…"
"Screw that! And screw this bitch! I won't be made a mockery of!" The other one yelled.
He advanced carefully, sending quick thrusts and very controlled swipes at her.
Probing strikes. Lucy thought as she took small steps back with his every attempt at hitting her.
She stepped forwards with his latest thrust and tried to sweep her knife across his arm.
He jumped back.
Lucy could see it in his face, he knew they were evenly matched.
They stood there, circling. Changing stances all the while, trying to get the upper hand in terrain or position.
'Remember girl. Always watch the knife, and the muscles in his thigh.'
Kinda difficult to see his muscles through a shirt Mary. Lucy spat angrily to the memory of the redhead.
Wait…
His shirt seemed to crece ever so slightly.
Is that what she meant?
'Remember, Duck, roll, stab! This is my signature move, you will get it right honey!' Another memory of Mary played, beaten into her through the long hours of training.
Time seemed to slow as the man started moving.
He was betting everything on this thrust, he had committed to it. She could see it in his feet.
Lucy tucked her head down and let her body fall like a puppet with her strings cut.
Her leg pushed her forward as hard as she could and leaned her shoulder forward.
She rolled cleanly, and used the momentum to tumble to her feet.
Her knife hand was over her shoulder as she half turned.
The knife plunged into the man's shoulder.
he yelled in pain as Lucy swept his feet out from under him.
-Are we done now?-
The last man put his knife away and raised his hands. "You, that...that was just like her. Bloody Maria"
-Yeah. I was taught by her.-
"Wait, if the chest in the attic is yours, then that means…"
Lucy ducked her head down.
"Salt's star...You are Salt Morris' Star."
She gave a small nod.
He just stared at her. "You don't need me to show you where it is. This used to be your home. It's all yours. I don't want to pick a fight with you."
-Your waitress wanted to sell it back to me.-
"I'll have a chat with her."
Lucy turned and walked into the Kitchen.
The young chef stared at her as she entered, having seen the fight from the pass.
She ignored him as she looked around.
The massive notch in the shelves from a meat cleaver, the burn marks on the ceiling from Salt's mischief, and the wall covered with pockmarks from knives, skewers or other projectiles. There were even still tiny shards of plates everywhere from some of their fights.
She walked up the stairs slowly. She sighed as her feeling of anger and helpless sorrow escaped her. It was a nice fight.
Lucy realised that her time with the Taste Kitchen was like being in Fairy Tail.
They were a family, blood ties or no. They loved each other.
Brawls, arguments, shouting matches, none of it mattered. Sure it was fun and at times cathartic. But it didn't change anything at the end of the day.
Her old room was dusty and filled with boxes.
The chest and her old dresser filled with her and the new owners' cloths, were the only items left she recognised.
She couldn't quite smile. The sorrow was overpowering her nostalgia.
Lucy picked one of her old cloaks out of the dresser and swept it over her shoulders. It was a bit small for her, not quite falling down past her bottom, but the hood was still big enough.
The chest commanded her attention. She laid a hand on the lid, the small legs on the chest disappeared and the chest snapped open.
I'm glad Salt got me this chest.
All her important things, her most treasured possessions.
Her eyes scathed over everything, looking for it.
There.
A Blue Lacrama swirling with grey clouds.
A Memory Lacrama.
Something else caught her attention. She didn't remember putting many of the items in the chest. She picked up a familiar roll of thick cloths and slowly unrolled it.
Inside shone a superb steel.
"A chef's knives are their babies Lucy-girl. we care for them, and they do exactly what we want. So take care of my baby. Clean and sharpen her well before you give her back." Salt instructed her firmly as he handed her a small knife to prepare her vegetables.
He had put them in her chest before he died.
A tear dripped onto the chef's knife, the blue tinted wavy patterned steel shining dully back at her.
She wrapped up the roll filled with her mentor and foster father's prized possession and placed them back in the chest.
Thank you.
She shut the chest slowly, picking it up and taking it, walking out the door.
Boooored. Natsu thought as he spat another fireball at the baldie, who was treading water out there.
One of the girls knew water magic, and was keeping him from getting away, but she wasn't strong enough to reel him in.
So they were stuck there, tormenting him.
All the other girls were trying to keep themselves occupied, playing games, fixing their cloths, chatting, some even had some sticks they were using as practice weapons for sparring.
It would have been a dream come true for many men, but not for the dragon slayer/occasional dragon diligently guarding them.
"Something on your mind?" The girl controlling the water around their victim asked. She was standing next to him, staring at the speck in the water that was the bald man.
"Just boooored." Natsu moaned. "Happy and Lucy ain't here, and messin' with baldie out there is getting lame."
"Sorry I'm not strong enough to reel him in."
Natsu flapped his hand Lazily.
The girl looked at him sidelong.
"Is that guy who saved my sister ok?"
"Elfman? Psht. He's gotten worse than that and been back up in minutes. He's fine." Natsu yawned. "What was your sister's name? Tuna?"
"Tina. Do you boys always have food on your mind?" She chuckled.
Natsu snorted. "As if. There's always fighting to do too. Grey needs his daily dose of my fist to his face."
The girl shook her head.
"Wait, speaking of food, If we are staying here tonight, what are we going to do about food and bedding? The rags and clothes those pirates gave us are filthy."
Natsu grinned at her. "Lucy already thought of that. She sent Happy back to the guild for reinforcements before we started our attack."
"You sound as if you like this Lucy." She replied softly.
"Well yeah, she's really strong and smart, and she's a great friend."
The girl sighed and shook her head again. "That's not what I…"
"Natsu!" Happy called from across the cavern.
"Fairy Tail's Team Shadowgear has arrived!" Droy called as he and Jet followed Levy into the cave.
"DON'T FORGET THE BOOZE FAIRY!" Cana cackled as she stumbled after the team.
Happy flew into Natsu's arms and he sobbed. "Natsu! Save me! Cana's been squishing me all the way here!"
"Did she now? CANA! You've scared happy! Ima deck you in the face!"
"ohhh, Natsu's here! Natsu! C'mere, I wanna cuddle but Happy and Levy dun wana!"
Uh oh.
She was making her way towards Natsu quite quickly considering she looked extremely drunk.
"Uh, Tuna's sister…" Natsu turned his head towards her. "What is your name?"
"Serena."
"Hey Cana! Serena here would love to snuggle with you!"
Cana was on top of her in a heartbeat and pulled her to the ground.
"Tha's so sweeeet, and you're sooooft and cuuudly tooooo." Cana purred, her arms holding serena in a deathgrip, her legs tangled with the other girl's.
"Agh, wait, noooo…" Serena struggled and tried to escape the drunk girl.
Cana just held on obliviously and stuck her head in the crook of Serena's neck and did something that made Serena gasp.
"Please don't do that...nuhhh…."
"Mmmmm, sooooft." Cana giggled with a hiccup.
"Well," Happy announced. "She's a lost cause."
"Wait, me or the raging drunk?" Serena asked as Natsu started walking away to meet Levy.
"Don't just stick her on me and leave!" She called sounding outraged. "Hey, I...mph!"
Cana had planted her lips over Serena's.
"Shhhhhh, I dun like yelling snugglebuddies." She whispered loudly into her lips.
Natsu and Levy just looked at Serena's boggled eyes and just glanced at each other.
"Um…" Levy started.
"Yeah." Natsu just scratched his head. "So why…?"
"Mira left the locked liquor cabinet unlocked for two minutes. Cana picked up the first bottle she saw and drank it. It was a bottle of blackbird, second generation magically fortified Spirits."
Levy glanced behind her before whispering. "Worth just a bit less than Lucy's bounty."
"Bounty?" Happy asked at a whisper.
Natsu immediately turned to face her, his eyes looking all around.
Jet and droy were organising some packs full of provisions out of earshot.
Cana was giggling as she rolled around on the floor, taking Serena with her.
And Serena herself was gasping and struggling to get out of Cana's clutches.
"You know about that?" Natsu whispered back.
Levy nodded. "So does Cana and Master Makarov."
"I already told the old man."
"I know."
"Lucy has a bounty?" Happy asked.
"Yeah, but it's our secret Happy." Levy whispered to him as he sat in Natsu's shoulder.
"Ah crap! Baldie!" Natsu raced to the edge of the pier and looked out.
He had a piece of driftwood in his hands and was slowly and weakly paddling away.
Natsu breathed in and Blasted a stream of fire in front of the man to get him to stop.
"HEY BALDIE! I ALREADY TOLD YA NOT TO GO ANYWHERE!"
The small figure stopped moving.
"Alright!" Natsu spun around to address Levy. "Can you reel this guy in?
"Um, not very quickly. Runes will take time, and Solid script doesn't work over super Long distances like this without taking much more energy."
"Tch, back to square one. Actually not even square one, square Zero, cuz Cana's interrupted Serena and she was the only thing keeping baldie trapped there! Great Job Cana!"
Cana hiccuped and had a seductive look on her face as she purred. "I aim to pleeease."
"Ah man, we've really lost her this time. And she's the one who has all the supplies." Happy bemoaned.
"Wait really? how…" Natsu cut off when he sniffed the air.
He spun around and cried. "Lucy!"
Lucy wandered up to them, a wooden chest under her arm.
"Lu!" Levy dived at her for a hug.
She looked surprised, but hugged the smaller girl back fiercely.
-Hi guys.-
As they parted Natsu saw Levu cringe and raise her hands.
They were red with Blood.
"Ohmygosh, Lu!"
"Lucy?" Natsu asked.
-What's wrong?- She saw Levy's hands. -oh.-
Natsu saw Lucy try and look over her back.
-Damn it. I just put this cloak on.- She took it off and surveyed the blood on it.
Natsu's focus was on her back, the long scratch bleeding sluggishly.
Levy was just staring at Lucy's back in utter shock.
He remembered that Levy hadn't seen her scars yet. Along with her wound it was a grisly sight.
"Levy, can you script up some water?" Natsu asked while poking her, trying to snap her out of her trance. "Levy?"
"uh? um...yeah sure." The word WATER popped into existence with a swipe of her light pen.
"Hey happy? Got Lucy's clothes?"
"Aye sir!" He cried jubilantly as he picked them up from near where Natsu had been sitting.
"Alright Luce! Strip."
Levy choked as Lucy scowled.
-Again, what is it with you and getting me naked?-
Natsu just shrugged indifferently.
"Ok, have it your way."
He walked over to her slowly.
Her eyes widened as she took a step back.
-You wouldn't-
Lucy was lifted up by his strong arms.
"What wouldn't I do?" He asked innocently as he walked towards the floating word of water as Lucy struggled and made unhappy noises.
Natsu's arms were very tight around her as she struggled.
She just got her arm free before she was unceremoniously dumped into the water.
Lucy's head barely stayed above water as she struggled.
Another indignant cry escaped her lips as her stolen low quality clothes were ripped off of her.
He wiped down her back with the old cloth and the blood mixed in with the water.
Lucy was pulled out of the water and deposited onto her feet, naked and dripping wet in front of Levy and Natsu.
She crossed her arms and glared daggers at Natsu.
-Are you done?-
He wasn't. He set himself on fire and walked around her.
Intense Heat washed over her, and she felt the water disappearing from her body.
Within moments she was dry.
"There you go. Don't forget to do your star thingie." Natsu grinned cheerfully as he put himself out and handed over her cloths.
-I'll say it again. Lack of subtlety is a guild wide thing.- Lucy scrawled as she unfurled her cloths and started to put them on.
Her stars lit up in her hands and began swirling around her as she set her key and dagger pouches back on her thighs.
"Wait till you meet Erza." Levy muttered to her. She raised her voice as she turned to her teammates. "Jet! Droy! How is the setup?"
"Almost done Levy!" They called in unison.
"Right. I'll try and get the supplies out of Cana."
Levy drew closer to Lucy as she finished dressing.
"Can I talk to you later Lu?"
Lucy nodded slowly.
Levy drew the blonde girl into a hug and giggled. "These stars of yours tickle."
She drew away and gave Lucy a smile before she joined her teammates.
Lucy scowled as she turned to Natsu. -You didn't need to scrub me like a baby.-
"Corse not. I wanted to."
Lucy rolled her eyes at this, letting the five stars fade.
"Hey Luce?"
She hummed back a 'yes?'
"Can you reel in baldie? He's still out there." Natsu pointed out to the sea.
She could see a small figure in the water in the evening light.
She smirked as she picked Aquarius' Key out of her pocket and stuck it into the water word.
The doorbell sounded and she appeared in a flash of light.
Aquarius surveyed lucy up and down.
"Tch. What do you want girlie?"
-Could you please drag that asshole over here without destroying the ship please?-
"No promises."
Water crashed in the distance and suddenly the bald man was flying in on a wave.
The man was thrown onto the small wooden pier.
The wave rocked the ship and crashed over the edge of the docks showering everyone who was near the water's edge.
Natsu had rope in hand and was working on making the man look like a mummy.
"Hic! WOOO CAMPING TRIP, WATER PARK AND SLUMBER PARTY IN ONE! YAHAAAA!" Cana screeched drunkenly as she rolled around in the puddle.
Team Shadowgear had finally wrestled the supplies off Cana, convincing the Monumentally drunk Brunette to take the needed items out of her card Dimensions.
"I neeeeed to figur ou how ter get pepl in theese." Cana burped, waving her cards around. "I cn have a protable snuglbdyy."
She still had Serena in her arms, the girl having resigned herself to her fate.
Levy had noticed the girl's lack of struggle and patted her on the shoulder.
"Blackbird is a slow burning Alcohol. She's slurring, so she'll be unconscious soon."
"Comforting." Serena Deadpanned back at the short girl. "I have been violated enough for the night.
"Mmmmm, I bg t' difffrr." Cana barely uttered, one of her hands slipping under the girl's shirt.
Levy just shook her head and stood up to survey the scene.
If there was a bit more plant life than the meger moss, weeds and half dead blackberries, this would be utopia.
Natsu was sitting under the makeshift flat grill, his head on fire as Lucy cooked on it.
Lucy was feeding him morsels as she cooked and she even got one of the girls to bring him a lit torch from their campfire for an extra snack.
The girls were scattered all around, helping Lucy cook, crowded around Jet as he told stories about Fairy Tail, helping Droy make beds out of his plant magic and weaving vines for hammocks.
Some of the girls were playing ball games with great enthusiasem.
Gaggles of others chatted among the sidelines, cheering at goals or good catches.
But other things weighed on Levy's mind as she watched Cana as she slowly settled down.
Lucy had never shown her the extent of her scars, but Natsu had seemed completely unphased by it.
But he does seem...protective of her.
Levy knew how smart Natsu was. He wasn't a genius by any means, but he wasn't as foolish as he made out to be.
After Erza forced him into Learning to read, he had often come by to ask her for advice on books.
She had teased him once about it, but never did it again.
She hadn't liked the depressed Natsu it lead to, so she had immediately apologised and given him one of her books to make up for it.
But he seemed to be acting goofier than usual.
Levy bit her lip as she thought.
Lucy did suggest things to bring, so how had she known they would be effective? The ballgames, good food, blankets, card games…
It's like a summer retreat in here, almost no indication these girls remembered they were going to be kidnapped and sold into slavery.
She realised the activities were a very good distraction.
Hm. May as well get my hands into it as well while I think.
"Hey Lu, what can I do to help?" She asked, walking over to the cooking table.
Night had fallen, and only the smallest of lacrama lamps flickered for the girls who needed a night light.
Cana had released Serena and was in a drunken stupor, totally out cold.
Levy was tired out from keeping up with the speed of Lucy's cooking.
She and her teammates all lay in a row.
Serena and her sister Tina who Elfman had saved were laying together, peaceful looks on their faces.
Natsu himself was on a hammock, keeping half an eye on Lucy next to him who lay sleeping on a bed made of Droy's vines. Like most other girls in the cavern.
Elfman lay on Natsu's other side, not quite sleeping. Snoozing.
Something had puzzled him when Elfman had come back from the clinic.
After receiving Levy's enthusiastic hug, Natsu's light punch in the arm and administering Jet and Droy's beration on their lack of Manliness, Lucy had walked up to him.
-I'm glad you are all right.-
Elfman had looked uncomfortable as he replied. "Thanks."
Then, the awkward silence.
He had asked Elfman what happened and where she got the chest from.
An odd look crossed his face and he said he didn't know where she got the chest.
He didn't say anything else.
Natsu grumbled to himself as he dozed.
Waiting for Lucy's nightmares.
She hadn't wanted to share a Hammock with him.
He lit a small flame on his fingertip, the size of a candle.
Moving his finger around and watching it flicker.
"Natsu? What are you doin'?" Elfman rumbled drowsily from his bed.
"Waiting." He whispered back.
"For what?"
He didn't answer as he turned the flame around on his fingers, making it jump.
Fire itself. It was hypnotic, warm, powerful. But he knew all too well how much it could burn.
A noise jerked him out of his revere.
A whimpering moan. The smell of cold sweat.
"That." Natsu swung out of the hammock and looked at Lucy.
She was beginning to squirm in her bed, shivering.
"Lucy." He firmly whispered to her as he slowly and gently put a hand on her shoulder.
Eyes pursed shut and eyebrows furrowed, she continued to shiver.
"Lucy, wake up."
He saw her eyes snap open and immediately leaned Left.
Her knife appeared and whistled upwards, barely sailing past his ear.
"It's me Lucy. It's me." He leaned in to look in her bleary, tear flooded eyes as he gently stroked her hair.
"It's alright, I got you."
She let out a shaky but relieved sigh before she went limp again.
He watched her eyelids slowly flutter shut.
Picking her up, Natsu walked over to his hammock and sat down on it before rotating so he was laying in it.
He positioned her next to him and held a hand to the bottom of her cheek, checking her breathing and pulse.
Satisfied, he breathed out.
"What was that? She nearly skewered you!" Elfman whispered hotly.
"Nightmares. Another minute and she would have been screaming. Don't worry about it. Go to sleep."
Natsu followed his own advice too.
Within minutes he was drifting off to sleep.
The smell of starlight engulfing him.
A/N:Who likes drunk Cana? I do! I do!
Anyone want to know how I plan my update schedule? A dart board. Loljk. I don't plan. Whatever comes will come.
I rly want to update my earlier chapters. Maybe 1-3. I also need to do the next part on my other story.
I also have Ideas on new stories. Many stories. Such time lack.