Rave Master Fan Fiction ❯ Upon a Shooting Star ❯ Chapter 3: Home Again ( Chapter 3 )

Author’s Corner:
SSD: *Yawn* Ugh…writing first thing…Lucy: *pokes SSD* You sure you’re alright? Your other muses all said it’s hard to get you to do one chapter. *Glances at other stories*SSD: Yeah…I should get around to those one day…maybe…like I said, I have my own chronology to work on, 7 novels planned…bleh…stupid unending imagination.Erza: I find it admirable that you persevere to follow your creative whims.SSD: Thanks, anyway, this chapter will have a few more OCs, mainly for the previous generation of Fairy Tail a bit before even Laxus’ birth, about Gildarts’ age.Lucy: Eh? You mean more S-Class?SSD: No, I know better than to toss in OP characters at a whim. They’ll be about Natsu-level at the start of the series, strong but not too strong. Others will be working their way up to that level. Lucy: *blink* You’ve put a lot of thought into this…SSD: At least a week or more before the plot bunny multiplied to break out of the cage…Lucy: Uhh…Erza: I see, these plot bunnies are menace. *Requips to Heaven’s Wheel* Then I shall exterminate them with extreme prejudice!SSD: *sweatdrop* Erza…in this case the bunnies are good, it’s what’s keeping me writing…Erza: Oh. *Requips to normal* You should have mentioned that in the first place.Lucy: Anyway! Silverserpentdragon does not own Fairy Tail, any characters not owned by Hiro Mashima belong to her and we highly disapprove of any theft.USSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSS

Chapter 3: Home Again

Lucy wiped away her tears, glaring angrily out the window. “Capricorn…I’m so sorry…” She looked down at her bed, eyes taking in her bandaged arms and torso from the injuries she sustained. “I tried…I tried so hard to keep him from taking you. I hope you can forgive me when we meet again…”Flashback
The tall goat man watched his master as she went through the meditation steps he instructed to her. “Very good, hime. Now, bring out your magic, slowly, keep it steady to where you can’t hold anymore.”Sweat beaded down the twelve year old’s face as she did as he told, small orbs of light floating around her.Capricorn smiled proudly, his new master was certainly something else. [By my reckoning, it shouldn’t be much longer until she can sustain three spirits and still use a few of her own spells. Layla, you would be so proud, she may just exceed your own abilities.] “That is good, hime, now focus on-urgh!” The goat froze, a look of shock on his face as he hunched forward. “NNg, no! Get out!” He thrashed in agony.Lucy’s eyes flew open, standing up wobbly as she reoriented to the world around her. “Capricorn? What’s going on on?”The goat brayed, feeling his mind start to lose cohesion. “Miss Lucy, run! Something is- …heheh, not what I would have wanted as a body, but it will do for now. Oh, the power I can feel from him.”Lucy’s eyes widened. “No…” [No! I can’t believe I forgot about him!] “Zoldeo!”Zoldeo, in Capricorn’s body, tilted his head. “Oh, so the little princess actually knows my name? You know, I was supposed to have gotten this earlier. Instead I had to wait more than a decade to get my new body. Even then, ugh, this horrid looking creature…even possessing you would have been better.”Lucy shuddered at that before a fire of determination lit her eyes. “You can’t have him. Capricorn! I know you’re in there, please fight back!” She got into a fighting stance.Zoldeo laughed. “He can’t hear you, Capricorn is me, a rather odd effect of trying to bind him to my service instead, but oh well.”Lucy screamed in rage as she threw herself at him. “Lucy Kick!” She launched her signature high kick, gasping as it was caught.Zoldeo tsks at her, wagging a finger. “Now, now, princess. So unLADY-Like!” He hurled her away, Lucy screaming in pain as she crashed into the ground, arm folding unnaturally beneath her. “Nng…” She slowly stood up, not willing to back down. With a glare she held out Scorpio’s key. “Open, gate of the Scorpion, Scorpio!”The tell-tale flash of gold light and a cry of “We are!” announced Scorpio’s arrival. He took one look at Lucy’s condition and his face morphed to absolute seriousness. “Lucy, what’s going on?” He crouched in front of her protectively. “Capricorn’s been possessed by one of the servants, we have to get him back.” Lucy grimaced and held her arm to her.Scorpio grinned cockily. “Leave it to me then. Sand Buster!” His tail gun loaded and fired at Zoldeo. His eyes widened as the goatman dodged and kicked him full in the chest.“Bringing a long-range fighter to a martial fight, shame on you. Oh, the strength in this form. Yes…so much that I can do now!” Lucy cried out as Scorpio was separated from her. “Scorpio!” She looked fearfully as Zoldeo closed in, hand reaching for a whip she doesn’t have. She screamed in pain again as a solid kick connected with her chest.“Lucy!” Scorpio growled angrily as he swept his tail at Zoldeo to knock him aside, the goat man dodging effortlessly.“I grow bored of this, time to take my leave then.” He laughed as he ran away speedily.Scorpio picked Lucy up, gently cradling her after seeing her arm. “Lucy, we can track him down again, we’ll get Capricorn back.”Lucy just cried, both in pain and holding her keyring, Capricorn’s key turned a murky brown. Scorpio scowled, vowing to get the mage who did this to his little master back. He was sure Aquarius would have a few words to say on the matter as well…End flashback
Lucy gripped the bedsheets with her good hand. [A broken arm…three cracked ribs…I need to find Loke’s key so he can train me in hand-to-hand, or get someone to. I failed Capricorn…even after I swore to save them from their hardships…]Knock.The blonde looked up at the knock on the door. She blinked. “Papa?”Jude looked at his daughter in concern. “Lucy. Tell me everything that happened.”So she did, looking down at her hands in defeat.Jude sighed and put his hands on her shoulders. “Just like your mother, I can get a few tutors out here to teach you combat. As much as it pains me, having you in this condition is far more painful to see when I know you weren’t able to fight back.”Lucy’s eyes widened in surprise, still taken aback by how much different her father is this time. “Papa…thank you. I want to get Capricorn back, but I need to get stronger.”Jude sighed. “One year of training, then you’ll be joining that Fairy Tail. Perhaps one of their mages can come and train you.”Lucy blinked, perking up. “Really??”Jude smiled and pat her head. “I will send a request to them in the morning. Get some rest now, Lucy.”Lucy beamed, snuggling into the covers and winced as her cracked ribs protested the motion.Jude sighed once he left the room. “Let’s see…weapon training…magic training…” He headed into his study to draw up the request.Fairy Tail, proclaimed strongest guild in Fiore…and a degenerate mess of a brawl.A girl with brown hair yelped, ducking under a table, a trail of lightning following her in her surprise. A darker haired girl reached down and tugged the frightened girl up to sit beside her. Two boys, one with pink hair and the other black were facing off in a battle of fire versus ice. Two younger boys, one with blonde hair and another with blue were cheering them on, the blonde more so. A girl with short cut white hair sighed as she sat at the bar with a strawberry milkshake in hand. Behind the bar was a blue haired woman with her hair up in a ponytail. In another corner, a red haired and a white haired girl entered their own brawl, terrifying those around them.The white haired girl hums. “You make the best milkshakes, Azule-nee.”Azule smirked. “Don’t tell my husband, he’ll have me making them for him non-stop.” She glanced across the room. “Your sister is still causing trouble, Lisanna. At least Elfman is more behaved than those two brats in the center.”Lisanna giggled at that. “I think their enthusiasm is entertaining.”Azule’s smirk turned knowing. “Or just that you enjoy watching Natsu.” The white haired girl turned bright red.“Azule-nee!”“Hey, Azule! Send me up a beer.” A blonde teen leaned on the railing of the second floor, three others by him.Azule glared up the cocky gray orbs. “Not in this guild you won’t, Laxus. Twenty-one, brat.”Laxus scowled. “Who the fuck you calling a brat? You’re only four years older.”Azule sends a dish towel flying up at him, smacking the teen in the face. “Yeah, and I’ve got two kids to look after including you brats. So shut your trap. You want a beer, get your Gramps to get one for you.”Laxus’ scowl deepened as he shoved off from the railing back into the shadows of the second floor.Azule shook her head and continued cleaning glasses as the door burst open. She glanced at the shrunken man beside her with a mug of ale in his hand. “Master, you really should do something about Laxus, he’s getting far too reckless.”Makarov laughed. “Oh, I remember you doing the same not too long ago, swept up in Young Love. At least that boy held up your honor.”Azule flushed. “Master, it wasn’t-““I’m back, everyone!” A cheerful male voice rang out as the guild doors burst open. A man with his hair cut short up front and trailing back into a ponytail entered. A trim beard, thin enough to be called stubble, framed his jaw as laughing amber eye looked in on the guild.“Papa!” “Papa!” He bent down and scooped up the running boys that had been cheering on Natsu and Gray.Azule smiled fondly. “Welcome back, Ambryn. Staying long this time?”Ambryn set down his boys and grinned sheepishly, rolling up the gray sleeve of his shirt. He held up his bare forearm. “Blue Pegasus let me go. Master Bob said I should’ve asked the minute I married you.”Azule snorted in derision. “Well, you’ve always been slow for a Lightning Mage.”“Oi! This is the thanks I get after bringing a mission for the guild.”Makarov looked up. “A mission?”Ambryn nodded, looking grave. “I came across a messenger getting attacked by bandits, took them out but it was too late for the messenger. He was from the Heartfilia Konzern.”The rest of the adult mages looked concern.Azule walked around the counter. “What’s the mission?”Ambryn handed her the flier. “Apparently Jude Heartfilia is looking for a personal trainer. A mage trainer.”Makarov straightened up. “Is that so? I remember hearing that his wife was a mage. Perhaps the daughter is as well?”Ambryn shrugged. “That’s what it seems-““Old man, fight me!” Natsu gleefully yelled as he jumped at Ambryn…and suitably got shocked back into a wall.“As I was saying, that’s what it seems. Sorry, Natsu, grown up talk for right now.”“Awww!” The pink haired Dragon Slayer sulks as he gets prodded by the blonde’s sons.Makarov hummed in thought. “I suppose we shall have to see who is available to take this. On the other hand…where would you like your guild stamp?” He held up the rubber stamp with a smile.Ambryn smiled back and held out his arm. “Same place, old geezer, dark blue.” He smiled as the stamp pressed into his skin.Makarov hopped up to stand. “Alright then, I will look over the requisition and contact Mr. Heartfilia for additional details. I’ll be back once I figure out who to send.” He took his walking staff with the smiling face on it and hopped down to the floor and made his way to his office.“Lucy! The mage from Fairy Tail is here!”Lucy perked up, running down the stairs now that her injuries from a couple weeks ago were healed up enough. [I wonder who it is? Mira? Erza? Maybe Laxus?] She paused in her run at that thought. […why would Laxus bother? And why did I feel so weird just then? Whatever, probably my imagination.] She shook her head and continued down, finally making it to the foyer. She paused and did a double take. [I…don’t recognize them either…what’s going on?]Azule looked up from beside Ambryn, well aware of how unusual it may seem since they had brought the boys, Auri and Bran with them. “We’re the mages from Fairy Tail. I know you were only expecting one, but…” She glared at her husband. “Someone was afraid of staying alone with the boys.”Ambryn smiled, acting like the barb didn’t dig at him. “I consider it more of a family outing since they should be coming into their magic soon as well.”Jude nodded. “I understand. You are welcome to use one of the suites while you stay here in the meantime.”Ambryn gave a slight nod. “That’s fine.” He looked at Lucy. “I’m going to be your magic trainer. My darling wife here will be teaching you weapon combat.”Azule nodded to her, smiling. “I will not go easy, and I expect you to put your full effort into both our training. Understood?”Lucy got over her shock and surprise as she nodded, determination returning. “Yes, I understand. I have a comrade to save as well…”The two mages blinked at that. Jude sighed. “You will be informed of the whole story over dinner. A servant will take your belongings to your room and your sons to the nursery.”Lucy waved to her father, pack carried on her back as she headed out with the Fairy Tail mages that trained her the past year. She readjusted the weight some as she jogged to catch up. Lucy smiled, thinking on her progress over the years…and pleased that she was finally starting to bloom into the bodacious beauty she was before her trip to the past. [Flat chested sucked…sorry, Levy, but I can’t stand it…]Azule looked back at her charge. “Lucy, we’ll be catching the train to Hargeon and from there up to Magnolia.”Lucy blinked. “Why not take the rail directly to Magnolia?”Ambryn chuckled. “The boys want to see a “magicless” town. I said there’s no such thing.”Azule rolled her eyes. “Of course there is, just not much of one in Fiore. Hargeon has limited magic use, and-““Only one magic shop.” Lucy blinked as a thought occurred to her. [I can get Plue’s key early as well, hopefully. Provided they have any…]Azule blinked. “Yes…you certainly know your geography.”Lucy laughed lightly. “I got curious so asked Dad for a count of magic shops per town…]Ambryn stared at her. “…you memorized them all?”Lucy shuffled sheepishly. “Hey! We’re gonna miss the train!”Ambryn panicked at that and scooped up Auri and Bran to their delighted squeals. “Away we go then!” The trio take off running towards the station.The blonde teen sighed as she stepped off the train in Hargeon, Azule beside her. Ambryn kissed his wife’s cheek. “I’ll take the boys out to look around, we’ll meet back here in a couple hours and get something to eat before catching the train to Magnolia.”Azule nodded. “Alright, I know Lucy wanted to check out the magic shop.”Lucy bounced on her toes at the reminder. “I hope they have some Celestial Keys.” She grinned as she and the older woman split ways from the boys. “You sure it’s a good idea to let them go on their own though?”Azule chuckled. “I’m sure it won’t be that bad. Ambryn was a part of Blue Pegasus before joining Fairy Tail.”Lucy nodded. “Oh, so how did you join?”Azule shrugged. “It isn’t that exciting. I just walked in and asked to join. Got my stamp and that was it.”Lucy blinked. “Oh…oh! Here we are.” She grinned and hurried inside, the bell above the door chiming. “Excuse me! Hello?”The shop keeper looked up. “Hm? Oh, we don’t get many customers here, how can I help you.”Lucy smiled charmingly. “Do you have any Celestial Gate Keys for sale?”The shop keep thought for a while. “Hm…come to think of it, we do. It isn’t very power-““I’ll take it! How much is it?”He blinked in surprise at the blonde’s eagerness. “20000 Jewel.”Lucy nodded. “Alright, it’s a deal.” She handed over the money with no complaint. The shop keeper gaped as he numbly handed her the key. “As I said…it isn’t very strong…”Lucy smiled. “It doesn’t matter how strong they are, each spirit has its own strength, after all. I just can’t wait to meet a new friend.” She smiled down at the key in her hand lovingly, especially at seeing the familiar insignia on the head.Azule ushered her out of the shop before she could make much more of a scene. “You really do love your spirits…Ambryn told me of an upcoming Celestial Mage that was in Blue Pegasus, her attitude is completely different from yours.”Lucy froze, remembering just who Ambryn had described to her mentor. “Karen…”Azule nodded, not noticing Lucy’s odd demeanor. “I believe that’s what he said she was called. She had gold keys like you do.”Lucy trembled a bit. [I couldn’t save those two either…I really am a failure…] She blinked as her keys jangled, feeling a warmth rise up from all but one. [Right…I still have them…and I’ll be stronger when I fight Angel this time…]Azule tugged her forward. “Let’s go get something to eat on the train. And something for the boys.”Lucy nodded. “Alright.”Lucy looked up at the guild hall, a wave of nostalgia rushing over her as she heard the familiar sounds of a brawl spilled out to the outside. She smiled at hearing the achingly familiar voice yelling for a fight. She strode to the doors and opened them up, spilling sunlight into the guild as her beaming smile seemed to match. Azule and Ambryn entered on either side of her. “We’re home!”The entire guild seemed to stall in the brawl as they turned back, everyone yelling back, “Welcome Back!”Azule strode forward. “Master, we have a new recruit.”Makarov looked up from over the rim of his mug, taking in Lucy. He set his mug down and smiled warmly. “Hello there, child, welcome to Fairy Tail.”Lucy smiled, threatening to cry again but she held back. “H-hello, Master. I’m Lucy and I want to join.”Makarov nodded. “Of course, where would you like your mark?”Lucy held out her right hand. “Here, and in pink please.” Makarov gently pushed the stamp to her skin and she beamed as the Fairy Tail insignia branded her once more. “…I’m home.”Makarov smiled kindly. “Then welcome home, Lucy. There are others here your age. Natsu! Cana! Gray! Kalia! Lisanna! Come over and meet your new nakama!”Natsu scrambled over, a familiar blue ball of fur gliding behind him. “Hey! I’m Natsu and this is Happy!”“Aye, sir!”Gray shoved him to the side. “Move it, ash for brains, I’m Gray, ignore whatever this idiot says.”Natsu screamed at him. “What was that, ice stripper!?”“Gah! What happened to my clothes?!”Lucy giggled at the familiar banter. Lisanna giggled as well as the two shared a glance. “I’m Lisanna Strauss, it’s nice to meet you and I hope we can become friends.”Lucy nodded. “I hope so too. I’m Lucy Heartfilia.”Cana slung an arm around Kalia’s shoulders, the girl poking her fingers together. “Hey there, I’m Cana, this wallflower is Kalia. She’s got wicked aim at darts.”Kalia blushed, hiding her face behind her bangs. “I-I’m not…th-that great….h-honest…” Her voice sounded raspy and broken, as if she wasn’t used to talking.Lucy blinked, not recognizing this girl from before either. “Well, I hope we can all become great friends.”Cana laughed. “Yeah! We could totally make our own team.”Lisanna waved her hands in front of her. “I’m already teamed with Elfman and Mira, you can count me out. But if you three want to do Team Girlpower, be my guest.”Cana blinked. “Hey, great idea there, Lis! Team Girl Power!”Lucy sweatdropped. “Well…maybe after I get used to everything…”Up on the second floor, Laxus glared down at the cheering group. “Tch. Another weakling…”Evergreen tossed her hair over her shoulder. “She better not get any ideas of taking over as Queen, that’s my title.”Bickslow stuck his tongue out. “I don’t think you have any worries, though Sunshine seems pretty strong. She had quite a few keys for a Celestial Mage.”Freed nodded. “An astute observation, she does appear to be a holder type mage. Judging by the color, she has four of the twelve Golden Gate Keys. She may not be as weak as her appearance suggests.”Laxus had an odd look on his face as he looked at Bickslow. “…Sunshine? Where do you get that from?”Bickslow shrugged. “Seemed right, she opened the door and looked like a ray of sunshine. Bleh, that just sounds cheesy.”Evergreen smirked. “Perhaps you should go wash that out then.”Laxus still looked perplexed, glancing back down to the floor below as Lucy interacted with the guild. “Sunshine…huh?”USSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUSSUS SUSSUSSUSS
Author’s Postscript:
SSD: Ugh, longest chapter to date. I just…couldn’t stop. And we see a bit of LaLu attraction forming here. Maybe. Laxus may just be wondering if Bickslow really is going crazy. Who knows with him. Anyway, you all met several of my OCs, Kalia, Ambryn, Azule, Auri and Bran. I’m hoping I’m getting all the Fairy Tail casts’ personalities right. Jude of course is OOC due to him consciously trying to keep his promise to Layla, among other things. Hopefully you all can look forward to more updates today, I will try.Lucy: So…I’m home…Natsu: *glomps Lucy* Luce! Let’s go on a mission together next chapter!Lucy: Okay, wait, what?! I thought I was going with Cana and Kalia! What’s up with Kalia anyway?SSD: Well…it’s something that happened to her normally, but I had to make happen sooner to fit with the FT timeline…you guys will find out later. And once Laxus finds out as well…things may get blown up…*side glance*Erza: *dark glare* I see…he shall pay for this transgression…no wonder Master-SSD: Enough of that, Erza. Let the readers find out on their own. Anyway, please read and review, reviews for criticism (helpful), encouragement, etc are greatly appreciated. See you all next time!