Chapter 14

June 4, X794; 9:43 AM

"I got us the ticket," Laxus informed as he approached her.

Lucy said her thanks, keeping her right hand on the skirt part of her simple white sundress to prevent it from being blown away by the moderate wind. Her pink suitcase rests beside her, with her left hand gripping its handle. "How much do I owe you?"

"Nah. I got it." Laxus shook his head, slinging his black weekender bag over his shoulder as he led the way towards a different passenger coach of the train, away from the rest of the civilians that lined up the entrance near them.

"Wait, Laxus!" Lucy jogged up to him, her eyebrow raised in inquiry. "That's a private sleeper coach," she pointed out after she realized that the curtains were far too private and fancy for a regular train coach.

"I know. I booked us one," he said in a matter-of-factly voice. "I need privacy."

Sleeper coaches were far more expensive than standard seating coaches, sometimes triple the price of the latter.

Laxus glanced at her with a smirk. "We. You. And. I. Will. Need. The. Privacy," he punctuated each word with a wiggle of his thick eyebrows.

Lucy felt her cheeks heating up. "S-Shut up," she sputtered.

Laxus barked a laugh.

Lucy puffed her cheeks before laughter also escaped her lips. She ran in front of him, taking the first step to the train car exclusive to them. After escaping the Heartfilia Konzern, she never had the money to spend on these kinds of luxuries. Although she had the best time of her life with Fairy Tail and her beloved team, there were times she missed these amenities. As such, she will indulge herself with this once in a lifetime chance!

"Thank you, Laxus," she heard herself giggling in anticipation and exuberance. "Come on! Hurry! Hurry!" she cheered for him to walk faster before finally stepping inside.

Lucy was then immediately enveloped in an atmosphere of opulence and elegance. The space was lavishly decorated with rich mahogany paneling, accented by intricate gold filigree detailing. Soft, plush carpets cushioned her footsteps, muffling any sound and adding to the overall sense of luxury.

The seating area features sumptuous, oversized armchairs and sofas upholstered in the finest leather or silk, providing unparalleled comfort for their journey. Each seat is seemingly equipped with adjustable settings to ensure personalized relaxation, whether reclining for a nap or sitting upright for dining and socializing.

The lighting in the cabin was carefully calibrated to create a warm, inviting ambiance. Soft, indirect lighting emanates from discreet Lacrima sconces and ornate chandeliers, casting a gentle glow that accentuates the cabin's refined decor without being harsh or glaring.

At one end of the cabin, a polished mahogany table is set with crystal glassware, gleaming silverware, and exquisite porcelain dinnerware. It would be a perfect setting for gourmet meals. A selection of the finest wines and spirits is available near the table.

"Wait…" Lucy muttered to herself. "I recognize this interior." Right, the interior of this coach seems to be based on that one sketch that her father had in his office for Heartfilia Railways. If she was not mistaken, this cabin also features private compartments for those seeking absolute seclusion. These compartments are outfitted with deluxe amenities, including plush bedding, a personal minibar stocked with premium beverages, and a luxurious en suite bathroom complete with marble countertops, gold fixtures, and indulgent toiletries.

"Damn!" Laxus remarked behind her. "We're fucking fancy, Blondie!"

Lucy chuckled. "Well, this railway is probably owned by The Junelle Duchy. What do you expect, except opulence?"

"Junelle…Now where have I heard that name?" Laxus mulled it over. "Junelle, Junelle….hmmm…"

"That's the family of one of my former prospective husbands. The Junelle Duchy bought the properties of the Heartfilia Konzern after my father declared bankruptcy," Lucy answered after much deliberation since she did not know how Laxus would react to that kind of information. "Part of the property is the Heartfilia Railways, which probably includes this train."

"One of your former prospective husbands?" Laxus repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"Seriously?!" Lucy cried out. "I've explained so many things, and that's the only thing you got?"

"I think we should leave," he announced as he turned around to leave, his coat dramatically flapping in the non-existent wind.

Lucy grabbed his coat and gently yanked him. "Don't tell me you're getting jealous all of a sudden?"

"Hah?!" Laxus turned to face her.

Lucy stood her ground, crossing her arms over her chest, cocking an eyebrow. "Well?"

"Woman, Laxus Dreyar does not get jealous," he said with an obvious grimace. "I was just being considerate of your feelings. Yeah, that's it!"

"Hmmmkay," she hummed, continuing to stare at him.

"That's the truth, Blondie. I was just doing this for you," he puffed his chest in pride.

Lucy thought for a moment. It would be of no use if she continued to insist. In the first place, this private cabin coach was not even part of her plan. She was just perfectly fine in a standard seating coach. She longed for a simple life. She should be ready to do anything that was remotely related to the kind of life she chose for herself. It would be hypocritical of her if she suddenly went back to everything that she stood for.

Second, it was not her who reserved and bought the tickets. It was Laxus' all along, and she was just on for the ride. Besides, beggars can't be choosers , after all. She could argue that she could pay for it, but what would that be? Just an expression of a bruised pride and ego?

Now, she knows that she, too, has her moments; but she is not that prideful nor egoistic.

Thirdly, if she was in Laxus' shoes, she would probably feel the same way. They were in no way in an established relationship, but she also understands that there is something going on between them. She is not that blind, thank you very much.

But! There was always a but.

But, she really wanted to stay in this once in a lifetime chance to board an all-exclusive coach; hence, she would have to say it no matter how embarrassing it may be perceived. 'Communication is key. Communication is key,' she reminded herself several times.

"Hey," she said, putting her hand on his arm. "If it's possible, I would like to stay. But if it makes you uncomfortable, let's ride another. Can you think about it for a few minutes, please?"

Laxus visibly sighed, rubbing his temples with his free hand. "Nah, we'll stay," he said in a gentle voice.

"Thank you," Lucy smiled, briefly wrapping her arms around Laxus' suddenly stiff body.

"Yeah. You're welcome, Blondie," he relaxed before they broke the contact comfortably. Laxus then proceeded to take a seat in one of the cushioned sofas, tossing his bag to another. "Have I met that guy? The name still seems awfully familiar."

"Junelle?" Lucy asked, placing her own things on an empty seat. She contemplated it for a moment. "I don't think you've met him before, but you and your team were employed by my father to escort me to a party held by his family. That was years ago."

"Oh…" Laxus seemed to have remembered now. "Damn! It was a good thing I let you escape that time!" he laughed.

"Yeah," Lucy agreed, her voice wistful.

Remembering something, Lucy brought out The Golden Gatekey of The Twins, and summoned Gemi and Mini. The Twins hovered for a moment before transforming into Wendy to cast the now-dubbed Anti Motion Sickness Express Set Spell.

"Ahhh! That just hits the spot!" Laxus leaned backwards, putting both of his hands at the back of his head, and closed his eyes. "Lucy, I'll just sleep for a few minutes, 'kay? Wake me up when you need something." he mumbled before dozing off.

"Good night , Laxus," she said in amusement before dismissing Gemi and Mini back to the Celestial Spirit World. The Twins returned to their regular forms and hugged her before disappearing in a shimmer of golden light. Lucy swore that her heart melted at the gesture.

Taking a look at the scene outside the window, Lucy realized that people had begun to line up on the ticket booths and on the doors of the coaches. The ornate clock placed on top of the window read 9:56 AM. The departure time of the train is not until 10:15 AM. Thus, Lucy decided to bring out her writing instruments and materials to continue writing the draft for Iris Adventure 2 .

June 4, X794; 10:42 AM

"Ice-Make: Silver," Gray called out before using precise gestures to maneuver the frost to only cover the bandits' feet up until their necks. With this, they can safely and securely transport the bandits - along with their leader - to the elders of the village.

"And cut!" Natsu shouted towards Happy. "That's about it, Happy. You can now turn the Lacrima off."

"Aye!" Happy floated downwards after making a quick sweep to record how Gray froze the bandits.

Gray walked towards the pair. "Oi, Flame Piss! What's wrong with you?"

Natsu turned to him with a confused look. "Ha? What do you mean, Ice Shit?"

"You're the one who pestered us for a mission, and you slacked off the entire time! What gives?!" Gray held himself from pounding this fiery idiot.

"I told you, we were shooting some scenes," Natsu inched closer, banging his brow against Gray's.

Gray returned the gesture, pushing against the pink-haired mage. "So, that's your excuse, Pyro Maniac!"

"Ice Stripper!"

"Heat Lamp!"

"Pervy Popsicle!"

"Enough!" the resounding voice of Erza closed in on them, her every step seemingly thudding against the grass.

Gray felt shivers run down his spine, freezing him in place. Mechanically, Gray glanced at Natsu from the corner of his eyes, finding the idiot stupefied with a stupid expression on his face.

"Were you two about to fight?"

"No, Ma'am," Gray squeaked at the same time as Natsu, noticing that they had also both stood straight as a plank. Without meaning to, his right arm moved on its own as if to salute.

Erza sighed and shook her head, and Gray felt himself ease.

"I've called my contact from the Rune Knights. They will be handling this case from this point on since the village cannot accommodate this large number of prisoners. They will be arriving by Teleportation Magic after a few minutes, and will be waiting at the village to retrieve the bandits for transport to Crocus Capital Jail. Also, it seems that these thugs are wanted for more than two crimes."

Gray merely nodded his agreement. Seeing as Erza did not specifically mention that the Mission Reward would be voided, it is safe to assume that they will keep their compensation in full.

'Thank gods,' Gray thought to himself. His rent was due this following week.

"Natsu," Erza addressed Natsu. "Gray is right. Although we were able to finish this mission earlier than projected, it does not mean that you should lose focus especially if we were fighting.."

"Sorry for that," Natsu pursed his lips and looked away.

"Hey, man," Gray said in a measured tone, approaching. "What's wrong?"

"Natsu…" Happy seemed intent on coaxing an answer from their team mate.

"It doesn't really feel right," Natsu said after a few moments. "It feels wrong taking a mission when Lucy's not around. It just feels…"

"Incomplete," Gray said, putting his hand on Natsu's shoulder. "I know. I understand, buddy. I'm sorry for lashing at you."

"It's okay," Natsu said. "I'm the one who insisted on taking a mission. I should have been more focused."

"Well, boys," Erza smiled. "Now that we've got it out of the way, why don't we get our just rewards?" the red-haired began to walk.

"Okay!" Gray, Natsu and Happy chorused, following the S-Class Mage.

Gray turned back to the block of ice before uttering some spells. "Ice-Make: Wheels! Ice-Make: Chain!" Immediately, two wheels appeared on both sides of the front part. Two also materialized in a similar fashion at the back. A chain manifested attached to the ice block, allowing Gray to pull the huge chunk of material with little effort.

"You know what, why don't we invite Lucy for a team dinner or breakfast once we return?" Gray suggested, trying to lighten the mood. "Then, we can ask about how her meeting with her publishers went."

"Aye!" Natsu and Happy cheered, their mood suddenly uplifted.

"That's a great idea, actually," Erza added. "In fact, why don't we call her later after we surrendered these knaves to the Rune Knights?"

"Deal," the trio of males agreed.

"Ahhhh!" Natsu sighed noisily, probably to express how he was content with the idea of meeting Lucy once again. The pink-haired idiot clasped his hands at the back of his head, whistling an unfamiliar tune.

"I kinda miss Wendy and Carla," Happy stated out of the blue.

Now that Happy mentioned it, their resident Sky Dragon Slayer Mage along with her Exceed companion was not present as well. Gray thought back on it but, as much as they would like for the younger mage to join them in this mission, it would be next to impossible. Porlyusica had specifically requested for Wendy to join her on a separate mission to gather medicinal herbs. And Carla goes wherever her ward is.

Besides, Gray had this inkling of a suspicion that the 'mission' was just an excuse to actually teach Wendy more about healing beyond the usual use of Healing Spells since consecutive casting of such Magic costs more Ethernano than the conventional battle spell.

'Let's also invite Wendy and Carla,' Gray made the mental note to include the two for their group dinner or breakfast…whichever was preferable for the whole team.

"By the way, Natsu," Erza asked without turning her head towards the three of them. "Are you really serious about…about…" her voice seemed to have shrunk.

"Ha? What?" Natsu responded with a confused look.

"Ahem," the red-haired Mage cleared her throat. "Are you serious about asking to marry Lisanna?"

.

.

.

"This again?" Natsu exclaimed in an irate voice.

Gray shivered at that comment. "Oi, idiot!" he called out. "Do you want to die?"

"Urk," Natsu blanched, finally realizing that he had basically acted out in front of The Great Titania. "Y-Yeah!" he added in a chirpy and pitchy tone.

"Ahem…when?"

"When?...Ah, I don't know yet."

"HA?!" Erza stopped walking, and Gray sensed some sort of murderous aura emanating from the woman in front of them.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Erza slowly turned her head as if she was one of those monsters in horror movies that they watched.

"Eeek!" Natsu quickly leaped and hid behind Gray.

"Oi! Don't hide behind me!" Gray sidestepped and hid behind the now-shivering Natsu.

"Well?" Erza seemed to tower over them at that moment.

"I…ah…I don't have the money yet," Natsu sputtered. "I should be ready to provide for Lisanna before I ask her to be my wife…at least that's what Lucy said."

"Lucy?" Erza repeated. "Why ask Lucy?"

"Well, she's my best friend," Natsu claimed with a proud puff of his chest. "And…and Lucy knows more about handling money because she came from a rich family."

Erza's mouth formed an 'o' as if understanding finally dawned upon her. "I see. Lucy does know how to budget. I've seen her write her living expenses in a notebook before. She's also the one dividing our rewards in equal portions down to the last jewel."

Gray added, "I've also seen her compute how much would be deducted from our rewards as compensation for the property damages we incurred."

"Yeah," everyone agreed with a dejected sigh after a few seconds.

"Y-You don't think that Lucy's been…you know…" Happy suggested.

"What? What?" Gray demanded.

"You don't think Lucy's been avoiding going on a mission with us because we're destroying so many properties to the point we're not receiving anything…do you?"

"Haha," Gray let out an uncomfortable laugh. "T-That…that can't be…right?" He turned to Erza.

"Of course not," Erza proclaimed without any doubt. "She's just busy right now because her book is becoming more popular, and she can earn more this way."

Gray sighed once again. "You've got a point."

Erza began to walk again. "And we should be proud of her. She's making a name for herself, not just as a Mage, but as an author. She's earning more for herself, just like how Natsu wants to earn more. It's just that they have different ways of doing it."

Gray was impressed. Erza really had a way of putting things into perspective, so that they can understand things better. He also mulled it over as he began walking again. Although Lucy is one of the most down-to-earth people he knew, it still does not erase the fact that she came from a very affluent family. From such a young age, she only had the best of the best handed to her.

'Maybe, she wants to return to that kind of lifestyle,' Gray's mind supplied. And there is nothing wrong with that. Lucy is diligent and quite serious with their work, always careful in choosing the mission with the proper difficulty for the rest of the team. Not too hard that it would drag on, but not too easy as if it is tantamount to insulting wizards of Erza or Natsu's caliber. She would even argue and haggle the amount of deductions from their would-be rewards just to ensure that they do not get taken advantage of. And if she truly did want to return to her former lifestyle, she would work diligently for it, and would tell them beforehand. Gray trusted her that much.

Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz. Erza took out her Miniature Communication Lacrima, and read something.

The red-haired mage glanced back at them with such a huge smile. "Lucy sent me a message. She said let's have a sleepover at her place. What do you think?"

Gray felt joy emanate in the very air. "Well, what are you waiting for? Let's give her a call!"

Erza took out her Miniature Communication Lacrima, and dialed Lucy's Caller ID. It rang for a moment before their blonde team mate's face appeared. Erza paused for a moment, allowing them to catch up to the redhead.

"Hey, guys!" Lucy smiled at them.

"Hey, Lu-" Happy trailed off.

Now, there was Lucy in front, all jovial and happy. And there was Laxus who passed behind her. His hair was noticeably wet. He was topless, and wearing what can only be described as a white towel.

The Thunder God noticed them. "Yo!" he said as a greeting before walking away.

"Um?" Erza hummed in confusion, and then the screen signaled that it was low on energy before it went black.