Vengeance of the Dragon Queen

Chapter 4 – Solo Mission

The day was just starting when Lucy arrived at the train station. It wasn’t quite as noisy as it was in the afternoon, but noisy enough as the start of a busy day. Lucy can see different people minding their own business, from businessmen to mages, from old people to kids. She went to the ticket counter and bought a ticket to the Heartfilia’s Residence. Yes, the Heartfilias have their own station and own place. They are one of the most powerful families in the kingdom of Fiore.

Not wanting to be alone, Lucy kept carrying Plue around. Upon going inside the train, it wasn’t crowded but it wasn’t quite vacant either. Lucy looked around and found an empty couch and proceeded to put her luggage in front of her and Plue on her lap.

‘What could’ve made them act like that? Even though I admit I always whine, Lucy, Gray, Happy and Erza doesn’t get mad at me. They’re not that petty. They even look at me with fondness. I still remember the moments that made us grew closer.’

In the case of Gray, he and Lucy got closer on an S-Class Mission in which they are tasked in destroying the moon. Upon further investigation however, they discovered that Gray’s fellow disciple Lyon was trying to release Deliora. Deliora is a very powerful demon from the books of Zeref. The thing is, Deliora was the one who destroyed Gray’s and Lyon’s home and killed their teacher, Ul. Gray was distraught on how Lyon will do that and Lucy was there for him when he was depressed and emotional from the things that was going on around them. Since then, they were inseparable and will always go together on missions and gossips about the guild members, mostly Natsu and Erza.

Erza’s situation was a much heartbreaking one. It was a happy and joyful vacation at first. But then Erza was kidnapped and the others were temporarily disabled. Once they reached Erza, they were at Tower of Heaven. The Tower of Heaven was once Erza’s home and a horrifying slavery place. She was thankfully able to escape from them. Her childhood sweetheart and friend, Jellal was brainwashed and it resulted in him hurting their other friends and Erza as well. This broke Erza’s heart especially after one of her childhood friends was killed for sacrificing himself for her. Because if this Natsu, Gray, Juvia, Happy and Lucy have to fight different people to free Erza and to come back to the guild. Although Jellal was defeated and the Fairy Tail members and Erza’s childhood friends parted in good terms, Erza was still a little bit disoriented and heartbroken. Lucy and the other was there for her, and let them know and see her weakness which is a huge deal for Erza. Since then, Erza always think of Lucy as a close friend, a little sister needing protection and a kind person which you can always turn to.

Finally, Natsu… Her ex-boyfriend. From the very start, since Lucy met up with Natsu and Happy, there was this connection which pulls them together. Natsu was the one who pulled and invited Lucy to join Fairy Tail, Lucy’s dream guild. They are already close but the moment that Lucy decided to trust and believe in everything Natsu does was when he saved her from the enemy’s hideout. It was when Lucy’s father ordered a dark guild to kidnap his only child, and they were successful at it. Lucy was trapped in a high building. Lucy was able to kick her kidnapper in the balls and jumped backwards completely trusting that someone will save her. Natsu did not disappoint. There were no words, no shouting, and no signs that Natsu will come and save her. But the feeling was there. Lucy had a feeling that Natsu was there and will save her. Natsu jumped and caught Lucy before she can touch the ground. Since then, Natsu and Lucy was closer than ever as friends and was progressing to a romantic stage.

Reminiscing about her happiest moments with Team Natsu, Lucy wasn’t able to notice that someone was standing in front of her until the man tapped her.

“Y-Yes?” Lucy was startled and blushed in embarrassment.

“Can I seat with you? Everywhere else is full.” The man or teenager asked. Lucy was pretty sure they were at the same age. “Oh yes! Sure.” "Thank you." "No problem."

LUCY

"I'm Lucy Heartfilla by the way, a Celestial Spirit mage, nice to meet you." I properly looked at him and he was kinda good-looking. He was taller than me probably, I can’t really measure from where I was sitting. He has this indigo eyes and navy blue hair that complements his fair complexion.

"My name is Rio, just Rio. A requipping mage." Rio? Why does it feel like I’ve heard it before? Well, frankly Rio is a common name so it is probably nothing important.

"Are you alone?" Rio asked after sitting across from me. "Well aside from Plue, I’m travelling alone." “Plue? You mean that white thing?” I was shocked how can he call Plue a thing? “Plue is not a thing. He’s a spirit!” I said while pouting. He chuckled and put his chin on his hand, while his elbow was on the window pane. “I’m sorry I just don’t know what to call them as I haven’t seen that much spirits.” “Its okay, its just their my friends and I love them so…” “Oh! I completely understand.” He just stared at me for seconds.

I was embarrassed and my heart was beating so fast. I don’t know why though, maybe because I was just embarrassed. I mean I like his looks but I don’t think I have properly moved on from Natsu yet. I mean it has mostly been just a few days since we broke up.

"Uh. Can I ask where your destination is?" I asked because honestly it was really quite uncomfortable with him staring at me like that. "Oh! Yeah, I uh was going to your residence?" “Our residence? Why though?” I asked again.

"Well, I just accepted a mission wherein I have to find something there in the forest because I am from a mercenary guild wherein mages and non-mages can join and I want prove to the lot of them that I'm strong, that I can finish a mission by myself."

"Really? I also have the same situation. Wait, look. This is the poster from our guild.”  I was rummaging through my bag and found the poster. Apparently he was also looking for his poster. “Here!” We both showed it to each other and I read his poster. It goes like this.

Mission: Finding the Lost Treasure of Layla Heartfilia in the Heartfilia’s Residence

Place: Heartfilia’s Residence (in the forest, not the mansion)

Person: Malinda

Reward: 1 requipping armor and weapon and 1,000,000 Jewels (Wherein 100 Jewels is equals to one US Dollar)

“What? It’s the same!” Rio exclaimed while looking at me with his indigo eyes which reminds me of the sky when it is about to get dark. “Well, I mean almost. The difference is the reward?” I asked questioningly because I was not really sure what’s going to happen. “Oh yeah! It is! So like how did that happen?” Then I remembered Mira-san, wherein I just told her I’m going to go on a mission and I think she forgot to ask me what specific mission.

“Oh! I’m sorry. It was my mistake I forgot to tell our record keeper about this mission. I’m sorry uh-“. I don’t know what to do. I mean how can two people from different guild take the same mission? “Oh! It’s okay, it’s okay. I mean if you would like, we can maybe divide the reward?” Rio suggested looking at me straight in the eyes. “I mean are you sure? Its okay if I only get the key, it was my fault anyways for the mistake.” It was so embarrassing.

“Its fine really I insist. My guild mates have been telling me how unsociable I am, and maybe its time to make new friends.” Rio said grinning with his canine. His canine was cute, and his grin reminds me of Natsu. I quickly cleared my mind before I break down in front of him. “Well, I guess let’s be friends? We’re doing a mission together after all.” I said reaching out my hand to him and smiling at him. I heard his hitch of breath and I was so confused on why. “Friends!” He said and shook my hands. It has been seconds and none of us were letting go. When I realized how long we’ve been shaking its other’s hands, I quickly let go blushing from embarrassment. We just smiled at each other and I took a nap, seeing as its still hours away from our station. “I’ll wake you when we’re there.” He whispered to me seeing as I’m already closing my eyes.

I don’t really care that much if he’s dangerous, I mean besides the fact that he doesn’t look like he can hurt innocent people, my spirits are always there to protect me and I trust them. Me and my spirits are both strong enough for the, to enter the human world even without me opening the gates for them.

After a few hours…

I can feel someone shaking me and whispering in my ear, “We’re here. Lucy we’re here.” I opened my eyes looked up, and was surprised by how close his face are. I can even clearly see a few blemishes but besides that, he’s flawless. I blushed at the thought and quickly got up almost bumping our noses together. “Sorry, I quickly apologized and grabbed my luggage. “Plue, you can go. Thank you for accompanying me.” “P~Punnn.” Punn is like the only thing that Plue can say and I can say its quite endearing. Plue disappeared in a puff of smoke.

“Woah! Cool!” Rio exclaimed. “Right?” We laughed together and went out of the train. It was Heartfilia station because it is where the Heartfilia residence is, but besides the residence there’s also a small town here. From the train station you can clearly see a big mansion a few kilometers away. This feels nostalgic, my home. The hometown I grew up in. It has been so long since I last came here. I last came here when I told my father that I will do whatever I want, and he can’t stop me.

“Welcome home, I guess?” Rio said beside, startling me from my daydreaming. “Yeah, I’m home.”