Hey folks. Just logged back onto this site on my laptop after a while. I can see y'all want more of "Ice Devil's Angel," which makes me happy to hear. However, to get back into the groove of things, I've been given a golden opportunity by none other than the famous GraLu author, LadySVI, to take on her story "Bride of the Ice God," which originally belongs to the author writer4everr.
The reason Lady-san abandoned it was because her idea of where it should've gone didn't match with the plot of what writer4everr had and decided to pass it on to me to publish. So, that's what I'll be doing for the next couple of months for you guys while I try to re-establish my ideas and outline with "Ice Devil's Angel."
Anyway! Hope everyone is doing well!
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or any of its character. I do not own this plot. This plot belongs to writer4everr.
Bride of the Ice God
Chapter Three
Oh My God...
3 3 3
Laxus smirked. "Guess that's my cue to leave."
"See you later, Lucy," Levy waved.
Before Lucy could even mutter a word, they left in a blink of an eye. She didn't blink though. They were there, and then they weren't. She felt the sudden urge to throw up.
The door opened to reveal a smiling Lisanna with a beaming pile of clothes in her arms. "Ready to dazzle Lord Gray, Lady Lucy."
Lucy sighed in defeat.
Lisanna frowned slightly. "Lady Lucy, this is an important event," she reprimanded. "I need to get you ready or Lord Gray will be rather cross. This isn't to be taken lightly." She gently began to prod Lucy and untie the obi and peel her wet kimono. "Now take this," she handed the dry kimono, "and change."
Lucy considering rebelling against her orders, but she relented and got to what looked like a changing room. She opened it only to be blinded by a rainbow. Bright robes and kimonos were lined neatly and along the walls. The floors, walls, and ceiling were also a bright white that it contributed to Lucy's momentary blindness.
"Wow," Lucy awed.
She didn't have much time to think about it and began changing. She folded her wet and dirty clothes neatly and placed them in an unoccupied corner. She then lifted up the kimono she was handed by Lisanna. The pastel pink and silver white were definitely pretty, but there were so many strings here and there! She nearly panicked when she remembered Lisanna was just outside.
"Uh, Lisanna?" she called out hesitantly.
The handmaiden responded immediately, flitting gracefully to Lucy's side. "I'm guessing you need help with that?" she laughed at her puzzled expression. "Here..."
Lucy stood still while Lisanna tied everything into place. "Don't worry," Lisanna said. "It used to take me forever to get dressed, but I got better. Practice makes perfect after all."
While she was standing there, Lucy remembered the interaction Lisanna had with the Fire God. She felt a little mischievous, so she had a little smug smile on her face when she asked, "So who exactly is Lord Natsu?"
Lisanna's hand slipped. "Ah, well, he's the Fire God of course!" There was a slight blush on her cheeks, but she was managing to keep an even tone very well. "He's a very kind man and is best friends with Lord Gray, although they're not ones to admit that."
Lucy hummed, nodding. She decided to change topics. "I'm curious. Is Levy or Laxus bonded to anyone?"
"Well, it really isn't my place to say anything," Lisanna responded. "I'm only a lowly maid after all. But..."
Lucy's eyebrows rose. "But?"
"Levy is bound to the God of Iron, Gajeel Redfox. As for Laxus, well," she paused. "He's bonded to my sister, Mira, the Goddess of Death."
The blonde's eyes widened. "Your sister's a goddess? How does that work?"
"Well, she was head handmaiden before me, but then was bonded to Laxus, so her status became elevated."
"I see..." Lucy swallowed. "Am I...ready?"
Lisanna shook her head. "Heavens no! You're still a mess! You're hairs wet and your face is grimy," she explained. She held Lucy's chin between her fingers. "You're barely ready at all! We don't have much time! I'll use some magic."
"M-Magic?!" Lucy sputtered. At this point she shouldn't really have been surprised, but it was still hard to think that anything like magic or gods and goddesses were possible.
Lisanna closed her eyes, and an indent formed around her eyebrows and nose as she concentrated. Lisanna's eyes flashed open while Lucy blinked. At that moment, the air around Lucy shuddered and suddenly twirled around her face, hair, and body. The warm air rested over hear before completely disappearing with the moisture. Lisanna nodded in satisfaction.
"Now, you're ready." She smiled. "You're really very pretty!"
Lucy blushed, smiling as well. "Thank you, you too."
Lisanna directed her towards a full body mirror. And that was when Lucy saw what her magic had done. Her hair had gone from wet strands to soft waves, and her face was cleared of sand was now radiant. Lucy couldn't help but poke her cheek to check if she was dreaming and if any of this was real.
Lisanna giggled. "Lady Lucy, rest assured, this is very real."
"Wow, what exactly did you do?" Lucy asked, awed and amazed.
"Magic," the white-haired girl responded simply. "It's really only a simple manipulation of the elements. That was child's play."
"Can everybody do that?" Lucy asked in wonder.
"Well..." Lisanna began in thought. "Everyone uses magic in different ways and forms. There's really no limit to what one can or cannot do. However, because I'm a handmaiden, I have very limited amount of things I can, but I must say, my family specifically is very good at shifting."
"Shifting?"
"Yes, shifting is a rare form magic and takes years to master, and by years, decades or centuries. That's why not many bother with it at all. Specifically, shifting is when one is able to immerse their entire body and mutate their cells to shift into anything they want. A lot of inhabitants in the supernatural world don't attempt this because the inexperienced often encounter unfortunate accidents," Lisanna explained. "Of course, gods and goddesses have their symbolic animal they can easily morph into, but that's nothing compared to shifting." The handmaiden managed to stop herself. "Well, that's enough about the supernatural world. I need to bring you to Lord Gray."
Lucy couldn't help but frown slightly. She really didn't want to meet that jerk again but then again she did.
Lisanna tugged on her hand. "Let's go!"
Lucy nodded and followed in Lisanna's footsteps as she strode out of her room and back to the main spiraling staircase. The blonde struggled to keep up with the white-haired girl's nimble movements because of the restrictions of her kimono and the new shoes she wasn't yet comfortable with yet. They traveled up a few more flights until they reached a floor that was black in every aspect. Black tiled floors, painted black walls with dark gray painting hanging under dim lights. There was only one set of doors that were also an obsidian black hue. However, the odd thing was the two sphinxes sitting casually at the sides of the doors. Lucy approached cautiously while Lisanna seemed unfazed by their presence.
The sphinxes perked up at their appearance. One grinned with sharp teeth. "So this is the girl? Why, she's a fine pearl! Please give us a twirl!"
Lisanna curtsied. "Yes, this is Lady Lucy. Lord Gray has requested her presence at once."
"Not too quick! Answer the trick!" they hissed simultaneously.
Lisanna's frown deepened. "Always hate this," she muttered under her breath.
The glee was evident on the sphinxes' faces.
"Four men sat down to play,
They played all night 'til break of day.
They played for gold and not for fun
With separate scores for everyone.
When they came to square accounts,
They all had made quite fair amounts.
Can you, the paradox, explain?
If no one lost, how could all gain?
Lucy now understood exactly what these sphinxes were for. They were the doorkeepers and guardians to Gray, er, Lord Gray's chambers or throne room. The riddles presented must be solves to be able to pass through. Lucy smirked as the answer came easily to her. Her father would often give a riddle to her mother and herself. The one who answered first would win. At first her mother would always win, but then it came to the point where they'd mostly ties or go back and forth.
"Music," she answered. "They were playing music. They say down to play their instruments, and the separate scores were the music scores. They couldn't lose any money because they weren't gambling."
The sphinxes' eyes lit up. "Well done, well done. Another one?"
Lisanna shook her head. "She answered the riddle! That grants us passage!" she protested.
The sphinxes frowned. "Very well. Time will tell. 'Til we meet again, my belle."
The last sentence was muttered so quietly as they moved out of the way and hopped onto their pedestal becoming still as stone once again. The door opened with creak to only lead to another hallway. Lucy couldn't really tell because it was pitch black, but once they stepped foot into it the hallway illuminated itself. They traveled though the hallway and came upon another set of double doors.
Lisanna knocked. "Lord Gray, it's Lisanna. I brought Lady Lucy."
"Come in," his low voice reverberated through the entire passageway sending tingles down Lucy's spine.
"Gray!" a female voice scolded. "You didn't tell me she was coming! How could you?!
He sighed in exasperation. "I didn't expect you to be here. You were supposed to be at the Emperor's palace."
Lisanna stiffened and turned to me. "Do not anger the woman in this room. Understand?" she whispered quietly.
Lucy swallowed and nodded.
Lisanna pushed the door open, and bright light once again flooded Lucy's vision as they stepped into the room. There were shelves of books lined across the walls and painting canvases set up everywhere. Some had been left there to dry while others had but a single stroke of color. The floor was scarlet with gold edges. A modest chandelier hung from the ceiling.
Lucy finally noticed Gray standing there with an expression of frustration and interest. He wore the same from earlier but this time with a black cloak over his shoulders. She immediately felt self-conscious and tried to stand up straighter. She then noted the female standing next to him. She was a short elegant woman with dark brown hair piled on top of her head in an intricate bun. Her robes are a majestic emerald and mint green, and she carried herself confidently. She stared at me with interested dark blue eyes and her full lips were pursed together, her expression unreadable.
Lisanna broke the silence with her trademark curtsy. "M'lady, I did not expect your presence here. I trust your trip was pleasant.?" she inquired pleasantly.
The lady smiled radiantly. "Yes, of course it was! Thank you, Lisanna, but who is this lovely mortal before us?" her head cocked to the side as she stared at Lucy.
Lucy gulped and stiffly curtsied. "I'm Lucy Heartfilia, m'lady."
There was a brief silence and tension in the air, but it was all broken as the lady grinned her eyes lighting up.
"You're perfect!" she exclaimed and rushed forward to examine her. She held a tendril of my hair and admired it. "Very beautiful hair," she murmured. She then encircled my waist with her hands. "A slim waist."
Lucy couldn't help but blush as she did so. She briefly saw Gray redden and wondered if it was from anger or embarrassment. The woman took no notice and continued on.
"Yes, yes, very perfect indeed!" she said sweetly. "My son is so fortunate to have you!"
She choked. "Y-Your son?" Lucy turned to Gray, bewildered. "She's your mother?"
Gray sighed and nodded. "Unfortunately."
The lady pouted and turned to Gray. "Watch your mouth, young man!"
Lucy shot a smirk at him to which he responded with a scathing glare. His mother turned back to her with a bright smile.
"But yes, I am that ungrateful child's mother." She touched her face in worry. "Heavens, I don't look very old, do I?"
"Oh, no, not at all!" Lucy shook her head. "In fact, I mistook you to be a lot younger."
This was true. Lucy would've never have guessed that this woman was Gray's mother. Her skin was smooth and taut and her hair was lustrous and thick. The only giveaway to her real age was her eyes, which, now that she thought about, were the exact same as Gray's. Her eyes were aged with experience of life and wisdom.
She gushed. "That's very kind of you! Gods, I haven't properly introduced myself! I'm Mika Fullbuster, Goddess of Agriculture, but do call me mother!"
Gray frowned. "Mom, we're not even married, and...she's a mortal."
"Gray!" his mother reprimanded him sharply. "I did not raise you to be a prejudiced ignorant!"
Lucy glared at the Ice God and then turned her attention back to Mika. "Well, if you insist, mother," she replied sweetly. She took pleasure in Gray's face turning a shade of red darker. She bit her lip to stop herself from snickering.
Mika's eyes lit with satisfaction. "That sounds so perfect! I've always wanted a daughter, you see, but I got this boy and his father.
"And now you brought that bastard up as well..." Gray muttered darkly.
Mika ignored her son. "Anyways, I would love to get to know you more. Well, you will be here for the rest of eternity, so I suggest you make yourself comfortable," she announced cheerily.
Lucy paled. "I-I thought Gray, er Cana, was going to send me back as soon as possible?" she asked weekly, feeling a bit nauseous at the thought of forever and eternity.
She shook her head. "Nonsense! I won't turn you away. Fate has decreed you and Gray be together. That means you will." She nodded firmly. "In fact, I have arranged for your things to be put in Gray's room. I think it'll be good for you and Gray to spend time with each other."
"Huh?" Lucy squeaked. "Like, sleeping together?" Her face became a scarlet red as she thought about it. "But, we just met? Don't you think that's a bit hasty?"
Gray also tried to protest. "Mom, you didn't discuss any of this," he groused.
"Calm down you too!" Mika laughed. "I'm not demanding that you have sex, well, right away or anything." She winked at Lucy, and the blonde froze. "What I'm saying is you two should be within the same room to become better acquainted."
Lucy slightly calmed down, feeling a little better after that explanation. "Okay, I suppose that's fine," Lucy mumbled, nodding. "So will they set up a futon for me or something?"
Mika chuckled. "Don't be silly, dear. Of course you'll be sleeping in the same bed. That's tradition for the bonded," she explained as if it were the most logical thing in the world.
It wasn't though. Not in the least. Sleeping with Gray Fullbuster, the God of Ice, the first day she met him was far from the most logical thing to do.
Hope this brings back some hope to some fans who thought this was gone forever. Fear not, I have taken over and will finish this before I get back to "Ice Devil's Angel." Sorry if it wasn't as good as Lady-san's own personal style to it, but I'll just get this out for you guys.
Have a nice day :)