Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters; that right belongs to Hiro Mashima. Nor do I own the Pradesh boys/family; that right belongs to Desna (who permitted me after asking them) to use them for my story.
Author's Notes: I have finally decided how many chapters this story will have. And I will not state the number here, but this will be on the shorter side for me. So, if you know the regular number of chapters I usually write, you have a rough guess. Now on to messing with fictional characters for my own self-gratification.
Groaning Lucy tried to open her eyes. Her head throbbing painfully as reality returned. Slowly she tried to recall what had happened.
"Oh, I think she is waking," a sweet sounding voice whispered. "Get Dr. Xally."
The sound of cloth rustling had Lucy going still. Her mind began to recall small snippets of the battle on the airship that was heading to Bosco. Her team, herself, as well as the Raijinshuu, had all been invited for a month-long vacation to Bickslow family home. To celebrate Bickslow being able to return to Bosco now that the ban on Seith Mages was revoked. And a chance for her to meet someone she had always idolized, someone who was related to Bickslow. His father, Arman Pradesh.
The man was a legend and knew her mother. Of course, nothing ever goes as planned. They were on their second day into the trip when a Pergrande Airship had attacked. It was definitely planned out with how quickly their ship had been boarded. The attackers wore uniforms of the Royal guard and a few noble houses immediately securing key locations. Before heading down to the passenger quarters. Where they got a nasty surprise.
Groaning again, Lucy finally got her eyes open as she recalled her shared room with Erza, Ever, and Wendy being burst into. They had been on the large king size bed doing each other's hair and nails for fun. The sudden intrusion sends Erza to Requip from her negligee into her Knight Armor. While Wendy and Ever rolled off one side of the bed. Lucy had her keys on her even in her tiny pajama bottoms and a tank top. Only to call out to Loke, who appeared in seconds.
This caused a small problem as Pergrandians saw Loke. Beautiful kitty that he was (cause she had checked him out on more than a few occasions) distracted them. Allowing Lucy to scramble to get her whip, Fleuve d'étoiles and pour her magic into it. As sounds of other battles taking place came filtering into the small room. Letting all three of them know that there were more of the Pergrandian Soldiers. From there it became chaotic. Her mind blurred the memories as jumped into the fray attacking left and right with her whip. Giving the random Lucy Kick to any idiot near enough.
Finally, her mind showed them being brought to the deck of the airship, where there were hooks and rope and boards connecting the two Dirigibles. Just to come face to face with a solid magic user. Who had apparently been lying in wait just in case? Their appearance on the deck triggered whatever their magic had been, locking Laxus, Erza, Bickslow, Natsu, Gray, Ever and Freed into place since they were the first to rush onto the deck to battle. Leaving her and Wendy wide open as they followed shortly after. Of course, that didn't last long as strange mirrors appeared before the both of them, just before Lucy felt as if something was being sucked from her body.
Panic and fear had risen quickly in her chest, making her already fastly beating heart thump painfully against her rib cage. Only to have her magic surge through her body as black spots began to fill her vision. Then she felt Loke by her side, her mouth moving to call out to equip his star dress. Then pain exploded through her very being, as they did a double Regulus Impact on not just her own Mirror, but Wendy's as well.
Her world had gone black after that. Or seemingly had as she vaguely recalled seeing a very blue sky with a few puffy clouds floating in it. As the smell of grass, dirt, and wildflowers assaulted her senses. There were a few deep voices talking to her, not that she understood the language. Before once more blacking out.
"Miss? Are you okay? Can you turn your head to look in my direction?"
The gently spoken words had Lucy turning her head slowly. Glad that there was no immediate pain. Forcing her eyes to focus and a petite woman with wild blue hair and eyes. Which was set in an oval face that spoke of nothing but the same gentleness that the woman spoke with? Just as she noted the three women behind the blue-haired woman dressed in servants attire.
"Did you feel any pain when you rotate your head?" The woman asked.
Having to work her mouth a little bit before being able to say 'no' was frustrating. That and how hoarse her voice sounded.
"Good, that is good. It means that you didn't receive any major or permanent damage to your spinal cord. Now, do you know who you are?" the woman asked
This had Lucy lifting an eyebrow, frowning at the woman. Who just smiled back calmly and patiently.
"Lucy Heartfilia. And you are?" Lucy replied, prompting the woman to give her own name.
The woman gave a soft laugh and seemed to relax a bit. "I am Dr. Xally Pradesh, Miss Heartfilia."
This had Lucy smiling widely. She was safe. Somehow whatever had happened had landed her in Bickslow family home. This was good. That meant that everyone else was safe as well.
"Thank goodness, that means my team and guildmate are safe," Lucy mumbled, feeling her eyes start to burn with tears, partly from relief and partly from the pain in her throat.
"Team? Guildmates? I am sorry, Miss Heartfilia, when my elder brother found you in the countryside you were very much alone," Xally replied.
Feeling her eyes go wide as she stared at the woman. Lucy felt fear wash over her. This was not right. They had been on the deck of the Airship with her. Why were they not found nearby? Taking quick shallow breaths as she began to reach out with her hands. Lucy quickly noted that she was in a bed and that her pouch containing her keys was not attached to her belt. Causing her to start to hyperventilate.
"Miss Heartfilia, you need to calm down. Panicking won't do you any good," Xally stated, reaching out towards her.
Shaking her head, Lucy pulled away from the woman. Knowing she was right, Lucy tried to calm down. But the fact that she didn't have her keys was a major issue. So, she began to whip her head around searching the room. Seeing for the first time that it was done up in rich blues and greens with light brown trim. That the walls, floor, and ceiling were made of stone. And the light that had been in the room came from a fireplace, candles, and wall sconces. Making a little voice in the back of her head scream that something was seriously wrong.
"Where in Earthland am I?!" she screeched.
The shocked looks at her outburst, followed by confusion at her words didn't help her. And Lucy felt what little rational she had left slip away. Sending her into a full blown Panic and Anxiety attack. As she curled up and huddled into a small ball whimpering. Why did this shit keep happening to her?
A sharp prick sensation at the back of her neck had Lucy lifting her head just enough to see Xally looking concerned and holding a hypodermic needle. Trying to open her mouth to ask what the woman had just injected her with only to find that her body didn't respond as a cold sensation flooded her mind and body. Then hands were shifting her, forcing her to lay back down as her eyes fluttered shut. Catching the sad, worried look in the dark ocean blue eyes of the woman called Xally.
When Lucy next opened her eyes, she carefully let them dart around. Hoping she had been having one hell of a dream or hallucination. Figuring either would be a good pick with how her body felt like lead, mouth stuffed with cotton balls and head really fuzzy. Only to see the same stone walls and ceiling covered with various tapestries and decor in that deep blue and green with light brown trim. Only this time the wall scones were not lit. Natural sunlight was filtering in. Telling her it was day time.
"Ah, you have joined the world of the living, again, Miss Heartfilia," A deep and rich voice spoke.
If her body wasn't acting like a fucking lead brick Lucy was sure it would have stiffened. But as it was, she was sure that no command she gave her body would register. Meaning whatever tranquilizer had been shot into her system was fucking potent. Taking a deep breath in through her nose, Lucy let it hiss through her teeth. The sound of footsteps slightly muffled, on what could be a rug, as whoever had spoken walked towards her on the bed. Where once more she was helpless, at the mercy of someone else. A common theme of her whole damned life.
"I am glad that you are awake. We were beginning to worry after Xally had to knock you out with a very low dose of Morphine," that deep voice spoke again.
Rolling her eyes at what she was just told. Figured it would be Morphine. She didn't quite mix well with it. Having been injured enough for Porlyusica to have used it once when she had second-degree burns, frostbite, a few semi-deep cuts and bruising, all on top of a broken bone and three fractured ribs. Yeah, her current mood was quickly going to not pleased.
The moment the person came into her line of sight, Lucy wondered if it was possible for her lungs to lock up and refuse to intake any more air. Because the man who stood there before her was tall, with rich mahogany hair that had blond streaks running through it. And the pale blue eyes she had ever seen, set into an almost delicate face that had wide, full lips pulled into an open smile. Before she realized that the smile was because of her staring at how fucking gorgeous he was. Thus heat suddenly suffused her face. Mentally she was glad she was unable to talk thanks to the morphine.
"You gave my younger sister quite the scare when you spazzed," the man said. His voice washed over her. "But, I am curious about something. My younger brother Kaleb brought you in after finding you in the middle of a nearby field just outside one of our country's small villages. What is Earthland? Is that where you are from?"
At his questions, Lucy wanted to cry. Seeing his face, watching his eyes, she knew he was not lying. Those were honest questions. But it made no sense at all. She had to be in Earthland. In Bosco. Right? Then again she had traveled to another world before, Edolas. So, it was plausible that whatever happened when she and Loke broke those mirrors could have potentially caused the effect of her being in another world? If so, did that mean there was a chance that the others were there too? And maybe these people would be nice enough to help her find them.
"Miss Heartfilia? Are you okay? Can you talk?" the man asked.
Unable to respond thanks to the drug still in her system, Lucy just stared at him. Hating not being able to communicate. She was thinking of blinking at him like she had done with her teammates when asked questions after her first time with Morphine. Only to hear the door open and close before the sound of more footsteps approached the bed.
"Farron, is the young miss awake?" another deep, rich voice spoke. Though it was more a baritone compared to the alto that the first man was.
"Yes, she is. But she is unable to respond, I think. A side effect of the morphine Xally gave her, Kaleb," the first man, Farron said.
The urge to sigh was so strong and it had her feeling frustrated as the second guy came into view. He was just as breathtaking as Farron. He was taller by an inch or two. His platinum colored hair framed a tan face that actually had lavender colored eyes. Though his face was more chiseled, defined with a broad nose and strong squarish chin. The manner in which he held himself made her think of Erza. Making him a potential fighter or warrior.
"Father and Xally will be happy to hear that. Four days is a long time to be knocked out by the anesthesia that Xally gave. And such a low dose," the one called Kaleb stated as his eyes met her.
Narrowing her eyes at the man for his comment, all Lucy got was a smile and soft chuckle from him. She didn't find this amusing in the least dammit. Strange, yet beautiful, men were standing over her discussing her like she wasn't even there, sort of. Which she found completely rude of them.
"I think Kaleb you are irritating the young lady," Farron said, giving a soft laugh that had Lucy darting her eyes back to him.
"If so, then I beg forgiveness of the young Miss," Kaleb stated, though it was obvious he was amused by his own teasing of her.
Closing her eyes pointedly so she wasn't looking at either of the two men. Lucy opted to further show her displeasure at the conversation by openly ignoring them. Which earned her two deep rich laughs that had her heart fluttering in her chest as heat began to pool in her stomach.
"I will inform father and Xally as I seem to have offended the young miss," Kaleb said, giving another chuckle.
The moment she heard him walk away she cracked her eyes enough to take a quick peek. Seeing that the platinum-haired man had indeed left, she opened her eyes all the way. Just to hear the door open and close once more. Then she focused her attention on Farron who was watching her, silent mirth making his blue dance.
"Let me try this again, Miss Heartfilia. My own manners were remiss, just as bad as my brother's just now," He said, giving a small bow at the waist causing a ponytail to fall over his left shoulder. "My name is Farron Pradesh. Eldest son of his Majesty Arman Pradesh. And I would like to ask you some simple questions. So, we need to establish a means of communication. How about blinking? Once for yes, twice for no?"
Wanting to smile at him, Lucy blinked her eyes once in response. Making Farron smile wide at her, flashing even white teeth. Only enhancing that natural male beauty. Then it hit her what he said his name was, as well as his brother and father. Pradesh meant Bickslow's family. But she knew that their father was a well-received and decorated Ambassador for the Boscan embassy. Farron was too. Yet, she distinctly heard Farron state 'His Majesty', their father... Further cementing in her head that this was another world she had somehow ended up in.
"Let's start with something simple. Your name is Lucy Heartfilia?" Farron asked.
Lucy looked at him and blinked once. While trying to work her throat muscles. Because she had a metric f-ton of questions to ask him.
"That is good. Is Earthland where you are from?" he continued.
Again Lucy blinked her eyes once. Debating how much she wanted to tell him until she had some of her questions answered.
"Ah, well there is no Duchy or Kingdom by that name. So, that leads me to believe you have traveled a fair distance to our kingdom," Farron stated as he spoke.
Her stomach felt as if it had dropped and was going to try and crawl out her ass at that. But she blinked her eyes once, just to let him know he was correct in his assessment. As he looked at her, his beautiful face went pensive, leaving her to wonder what it meant for her.
TBC!