Rave Master Fan Fiction ❯ Upon a Shooting Star ❯ Chapter 2: Divergence ( Chapter 2 )

Author’s Corner:
SSD: Yikes…still have the creative juices flowing. Okay, get it toget-Lucy: *Kicks SSD* Lucy Kick!SSd: *goes flying into a wall* Gah…what was that for?!Lucy: *glares* You couldn’t save my mother?!SSD: *holds up hands* It’s one of your defining moments, sorry but it has to happen.Lucy: But…SSD: Shush, I need to get on this story before my muse decides to take a backseat.Lucy: …still right here.USSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSS

Chapter 2: Ripples of Change

Lucy gripped her father’s hand tightly, biting her lip as she watched Layla’s coffin lower into the ground a second time. Jude stared down, fave completely devoid of emotion as he uses Lucy’s hand like a lifeline. Around them, the Konzern servants wept in sorrow with several of the couple’s old friends from the Love and Lucky Guild in attendance as well.Lucy looked up from the filling hole as she felt a hand grasp her opposite shoulder. She met the concerned emerald gaze of…[That’s weird…I don’t remember this woman being at the funeral the first time.] “Umm…”The brunette woman bows to Jude. “Jude, I am so sorry about Layla’s death, you two were always able to brighten up the guild when we saw you together.” She was…statuesque, about as tall as Erza and dressed in a silver half plate, a sleeveless black turtleneck shirt, white breeches, greaves and gauntlets. Attached to the metal plates resting over her hips was a sheet of durable cloth in the same green as her eyes. A shield and sword were strapped to her back and left side respectively.Jude stiffened a bit. “Beneviere Knight, it has been a while…thank you for coming.”Beneviere nodded. “I apologize, the guild had contracted me on loan for a joint mission. I only just returned when I heard the news and came as swiftly as I could.” She glanced down at Lucy. “This is your daughter? She’s the image of Layla.”Jude gripped Lucy’s hand tighter. “That she is…she also has several contracts and following Layla’s footsteps.”Lucy frowned, processing all this. [So…this is an old friend of Mom and Dad’s? She does look about their age…] “I’m Lucy.”Beneviere smiled kindly down at her. “It is a pleasure to meet you Lucy. I apologize that I could not meet you sooner. Your mother and I were good friends being a couple of the only mages of our guild.”Lucy blinked. “You’re a mage? What magic do you use?”Beneviere’s smile turned sadder, realizing Lucy was distracting herself from the grief. “I use Shield Magic. My defense is unparalleled.”Lucy blinked again. “Really?”The brunette nodded. “If your father agrees, I can show you. Perhaps you can test out your spirits’ strength?”The child shook her head. “No…they’re taking their time too.” She gazed down at the ground as Jude leaned down to pick her up.The Heartfilia family head gazed solemnly at Beneviere. “You are welcome back to the manor, Layla left some items for you in the event that she passed before she saw you again.”Beneviere nodded gravely. “I understand…so she did manage to find it after all?”Jude jerked his head. “Inside. This is not the place for this discussion and Lucy will be busy later.”The Shield Mage nodded in agreement. “Very well.”Jude led her from the massive garden, instructing a servant to oversee the rest of the wake as they enter the manor proper. Lucy laid her head on Jude’s shoulder, emotionally drained and hoping he wouldn’t close her out like he did before. Jude set her down in a plush armchair before retreating to his study, closing the door after Beneviere. The rebudding mage crept out of the chair and to the door, trying to peep in through the keyhole. Lucy cursed silently, the office chairs in front of her father’s desk completely obscuring her sight. She heard Beneviere gasp.“So…it really does exist….”Jude’s sharp voice cut across. “Take it, destroy it, seal it. Make it so that it never sees the light of day again. This book…it cost Layla her life, I know it. Do not touch it, do not open it. She entrusted the task to you, Beneviere. I pray she was right.”The Knight sighed. “I will do my best, but this…this is something that should be left to the Council, Jude. I will honor Layla’s request, you have my word.”“Get it out of my sight and far away from Lucy. If she were to find out Layla knew…”“”Knew”? What are you playing at now, Jude?”“…nothing that concerns you. You may stay the night to rest from your travels-““And leave first thing. I understand.”Lucy hastily moved back to her previous position, settling just in time as the study door opened.Jude gazed fondly at Lucy as he picked up the “sleeping” girl. “I will take her to bed, get a servant to guide you to a room.” He then left. He treaded up the stairs to the family wing and to Lucy’s room. He fumbled with the door before managing to open up to the pink filled room. He rested Lucy on her bed, taking off her shoes and setting them to the side. With a heavy sigh he sat on the bed, head resting in his hands as he finally gave in to his grief. Lucy’s eye cracked open, her heart breaking at seeing this side of her father. She inched forward a bit, sitting up and wrapping her arms around him. “I miss her too, Papa…” Jude turned and held Lucy to him as they both fell to tears, grieving their loss. Lucy sighed, holding the Jude-riceball in her hands. [I hope he likes it this time…he hasn’t been eating well…and I still don’t know what he entrusted to that Beneviere person.] She knocked on the study door, opening it a crack and sticking her head in. “Papa?”Jude sat at his desk, doing paperwork. “What is it, Lucy? Can’t you see I’m busy?” He continued on.Lucy flinched at the familiar sting of cold words as she walked further in. She set the riceball on his desk and backed away. “You…haven’t been eating well so…I went and made this for you. I hope you like it…” She bit her lip, hands behind her back as she shuffled a bit.Jude looked up, eyes landing on the riceball in his likeness. “…” He stared at it and set his pen down slowly, hand reaching for the riceball. Lucy cringed. […this is where he throws it awa-]Munch.Lucy blinked and looked back up. She stared in awe and surprise.Jude took another bite of the riceball. “Thank you, Lucy, this is rather good. Was this your first attempt?”Lucy’s lip trembled as she smiled happily. “Yeah! I had the cooks show me how to make them, the design was my idea.”Jude nodded, gazing at her warmly. [Layla…I will keep my promise.] “I see, perhaps I should fire the chefs and have you cook for me instead?”Lucy gave a mock gasp. “You can’t do that, Papa! I’m nowhere near that good!” Her smile threatened to split her face in two. [He’s different…this will work, I know it…a better future all around.] She hopped in a chair as her father ate and they chatted, Lucy telling him about the various antics her spirits got up to in the Spirit World.“Err…Papa?”“What is it, Lucy?”“Can I…that is…when I get older, I want to join a guild, like you and Mama did.”Jude froze, watching Lucy critically before sighing. “I suppose…but not before you are thirteen, you understand?”Lucy grinned again and jumped off her chair, running around to hug him. “Thank you, Papa! I know just the guild, they have kids my age there too.”Jude blinked at that. “What guild is this?”Lucy smiled warmly, thinking of all the fun adventures she had and will have at the place she called home. “Fairy Tail.”USSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSS
Author’s Postscript:
SSD: I think that’s a good place to stop it. Beneviere is one of the characters I warned about earlier, please don’t steal her. She won’t be featured much until the main story line starts up again but some other OCs will make their appearance in future chapters.Lucy: *tapping foot*SSD: *sigh* What now?Lucy: You forgot the disclaimer at the top.SSD: *Blink* I did? *double checks* Oh…ah well. I can have Beneviere do it. Beneviere: “Silverserpentdragon does not own Fairy Tail. Any character not owned by Hiro Mashima that appears belongs to her, any theft will be swiftly dealt with.” Was that satisfactory?SSD: Perfect. Anyway, see you all again for chapter 3: Home Again. Lucy heads back to Fairy Tail…a few years sooner.