Chapter 5: Familiar faces

Kon'nichiwa, minna! ♥

So here you have chapter 5! 

Sorry this chapter took so long to write... I have just been busy... *cough* no I haven't I'm just lazy *cough*

So in the multimedia you'll find an OST from The Legend of Korra, book 1, which I find really mood-setting for this chapter. It's gives a little cloudy mood, which the characters in this chapter definatly are. The end may be a little lighter and positive, but yeah... the chapter is basically focusing on the cloudy mood. Also, I chose the 45 minute loop version, so you didn't have to restart it over and over again. ^^

//тнeвιѕcυιтqυeen♥___________________________________________________________________________________

The guild was happy and celebrated Lucy's awaken, but it wasn't the big noisy celebrating, because Lucy wasn't the same Lucy. Levy had been crying a bit, because her best friend couldn't remember her. Gajeel had calmed her little down, which he was quite proud of. Natsu had spent his afternoon in the infirmary, waiting for Lucy to wake up after her nap. She was still sleeping, though. 

Juvia and Gray sat in the bar drinking a drink. Juvia mostly sat there because of Gray, but she wasn't the stalking Juvia as always. She was worried about Lucy just as much as Gray, which surprised him, because of the big "love rival"-thing.

"Gray-sama, is Lucy going to get her memories back?" Juvia asked worried, putting her glass down. 

"I hope so," Gray sighed, and took a sip of his drink. "We have to try everything we can, which is what flame-brain already is trying, but we have to try more then that."

Juvia nodded thoughtful. "Juvia wants to help love-ri... Lucy to get her memories back." Gray smiled sadly at Juvia, who returned his smile.

"Lucy's gonna be just fine," Mira said as she walk out of the kitchen and grabbed a few plates. "I'm sure of that. Plus, I don't think that Natsu is willing to give up. Neither is you!" She smiled her Mira-smile and walked back into the kitchen. ___________________________________________________________________________________

Lucy looked peaceful as she slept. Her face was free from worries. Not like Natsu’s, which was full of worries. How should he get her memories back? Where were Elimar? Had he already destroyed them? Was it too late?

Slowly the blonde mage began to stir and as she slowly opened her eyes, two big, brown orbs appeared. First her eyes flickered around the room, but then she planted them at Natsu. They just looked at each other for a while before Natsu broke the silence. 

"Hey, Luce," He said. "How are you feeling?" She looked at him in confusion, like she was asked a hard question.

"I'm... I'm good," She said, unsure. "Thank you." Natsu placed a hand on Lucy's forehead, which quite shocked her, but she relaxed again, when she realized he was just checking her temperature.

"No problem, Luce," He grinned and stretched the hand he had placed on her forehead, out to her. "It looks like your fever is down, too. Come on, let's go re-meet everyone."

"A-Are you sure that's a good idea?" Lucy said, half covering her face with the duvet again. "I mean... I don't know them, at all... that was Lucy." He tilted his head, confused.

"Well, Luce," He said when he realized what she was talking about. "You are Lucy. And we just need to get your memories back, that's all." There was a short silent where Lucy considered what she would do. Then she looked up at Natsu who was waiting in excitement, still holding out his hand.

"Okay," Lucy said after a while, reaching for Natsu's hand. Natsu gladly helped Lucy up, and together they went outside. Lucy still wore the clothes that she had been wearing on the mission. Her green tank top, cream-colored shorts and a brown belt. The belt was a little loose, because Erza thought that would be more comfortable.

As they stepped out of the infirmary, heads turned immediately.

"Lucy!" The whole guild cried, running up to her all at once. Some people didn't run up to her, but indeed stretched their necks, to see what was going on

"How are you, Lu-chan?" Levy asked from the crowd.

"Do you remember anything?" Lisanna asked, right after Levy.

"Are your fever down?" Romeo asked, jumping to see Lucy.

"Do you still know how to summon your spirits?" Wakaba exclaimed, trying to contact her like everybody else. Lucy hid herself behind Natsu, who immediately made gesture that showed them to keep quiet.

"Lucy don't remember anything," he exclaimed so the whole guild could hear him. "We'll get her memories back, but we just have to figure out how." Some people in the crowd looked quite disappointed, that Lucy didn't recognize them. Without noticing it herself, she just stared at the crowd for a while. Why did everybody look so familiar when she didn't remember them? 

Natsu put a hand around Lucy's arm, and dragged her down the few steps from the infirmary to the bar. Lucy stood unsure behind Natsu. It looked like she was somewhere comfortable around him. She wasn't really that scared of the new world she just entered, with him.

Lucy felt a hand on her shoulder, and tensed her whole body in shock. When she realized that it was Gray, that she met earlier, she relaxed a bit more.

"Oi, Lucy, you're up!" Gray exclaimed as he removed his hands and stuck his hands in his pockets.

"Y-yes, I'm feeling better," Lucy mumbled, leaning against a bar chair. Gray went over to Erza to avoid an awkward conversation, with his memory less friend. Mira came out of the kitchen, and when she saw Lucy she stormed out of the bar to hug her. Lucy was shocked when the stranger hugged her, but realized quickly that this was the old Lucy's friends. Maybe even family.

"Oh, Lucy," Mira smiled, letting go of Lucy. "You must be so confused! I'm Mirajane, or Mira; I work here in the bar-" she patted the counter as she talked. "And I use Take over magic, but... I presume that you don't... remember any kind of magic." Lucy nodded and Mira sighed. She patted Lucy's head and went back in bar.

"So, yeah..." Natsu said, scratching the back of his head. "You met a few of the guild members now. They can be a little overwhelming, but they are great, trust me! Why don't we get a glass of lemonade?"

"L-Lemonade?" Lucy asked confused, tilting her head slightly.

Natsu bowed his head, sighed and said: "We really have to learn you everything again, don't we?" He looked up at Lucy again, and gave her a Natsu grin, which felt quite familiar. "Trust me, you'll like it." He then turned to Mira in the bar and ordered two lemonades.

Mira poured up the lemonade in two glasses, and pushed them out to the edge of the table, for them to drink it.

“A-Arigato…” Lucy whispered and took the drink in her hand. Again, unsure what she should do with herself. Where to sit, what to think at. Natsu quickly noticed and gestured to the bar chair in front of her. Lucy sat down on the chair, and Natsu did the same on another one. She took a sip of the lemonade and let it be on her tongue for her to taste it.

"So...?" Natsu asked, drinking from his own glass. "How does it taste?" He leaned towards her in excitement.

Lucy looked up at him. "It tastes... good,” she said, clenching her glass. "It tastes really good!" Lucy took another sip, and Natsu laughed of her expression, and fell back in his chair. Mira also let out a chuckle. 

"Good to see that there still is some of the old Lucy back," Natsu sighed as he bottomed his glass. He smacked the glass down in the bar table and looked at Lucy again. "So, you actually have an apartment in the city. I bark in all the time, and you usually respond with your Lucy kick!" He laughed of the memory and sighed. After a moment of silence he said: "Wanna go see it?"

"S-Sure," Lucy answered, standing up. "Is it long from here?"

"Don't sweat it," Natsu grinned. "About a five minute walk from here... or one minute run. Come on, Lucy!" He grabbed her by her wrist, and dragged her out the guild's doors. They were running, just like when they first met, Happy hanging over their heads. This time, not from someone, luckily. ___________________________________________________________________________________

"So, the Chosen One has forgotten?" Zeref asked Elimar, as he crossed his legs. Elimar was kneeling in front of his throne, in the same hall as last time. 

"Hai, master Zeref," Elimar answered. "The chosen one has no memories back. I have them here." He took the jar out, where the golden powder had been. It was now filled with mist that changed colors now and then. "All she have ever experienced in her life is in here. One single drop and they all will be gone."

"Good, Elimar," Zeref said, expressing a tiny smile. "You are always so trustworthy. That's why I ask you to keep the girls memories safe. Before the sacrifice I will give them back to her. I'm not a cruel man, Elimar. I don't steal what doesn't belongs to me. I'll give it back to her, to give her a "farewell present" if we can call it that. Her life. Her memories. Her everything. We took it, Elimar, but don't worry. It won't make us bad men. We are wishing the best for out world. Eternal darkness."

"You can trust me with the girls memories, master Zeref," Elimar answered, putting the jar back under his cape. "I will not hesitate to kill if it's necessary." Zeref nodded, and gestured for him to leave. Elimar wandered out the door. 

"Now we just have to wait," Zeref muttered to himself. "Lucy Heartfilia will bring back chaos. If the plan works or not." ___________________________________________________________________________________

"So here it is," Natsu exclaimed gesturing to the bright and clean room. "Is there a bell ringing in your head?"

Lucy shook her head as she sat down on the bed. "Sorry, Natsu, but I don't think that seeing my room will bring back my memories." She drew her hand over the duvet, and felt the soft fabric. "Was this really where I lived? Wasn't it really expensive?"

"Some people would say that, but you got a pretty good deal on 70.000 Jewels per month," Natsu said, throwing himself down on the couch. "Though we always would go on last-minute-missions, because you always would run out of money in the end of the month."

Lucy giggled putting her head to the pillow. She looked up in the ceiling for a bit. "I really want to remember, Natsu, I do, but I just don't know how. I want to have all the memories of our adventures, but I just can't think back to before I woke up in the infirmary. And it's so frustrating!" She put her hands to her head and clenched her eyes together, trying her hardest to remember something. Anything.

"Oi, don't tire yourself out!" Natsu exclaimed, sitting up in the couch. "You're trying your best. Next time we find that bastard, I'll burn him to crisp!" Natsu smirked, slamming his fists together.

"Thank you, Natsu." Lucy whispered as she sat up in the bed. 

"No problem, Luce!" Natsu said, giving her the thumbs up.

"Oi, Lucy!" Happy said, who had been sitting on the couch's back, listening to the conversation. "What about you Celestial Spirits?" He jumped down on Natsu's lap, searching his vest for Lucy's keys. He took out the keychain and shiny golden and silver keys appeared.

"Ho-How does they work?" Lucy asked, taking the keys out of the blue exceeds paws. She held up the key with the Leo on. It felt familiar holding. A warm stream of magic power floated through her veins as she clenched it in her hand.

"With this one you say something like... uhm," Natsu started, scratching the back of his head. "Ehm... Something with Open the Gate... to, no... of the Lion! And then...Leo! Yeah, that's what you say. And then you swing the key a bit." Lucy looked down at the key in her hand, and grabbed a hold of the end of the key.

"Okay, let me see," She said, standing up and pointing the key out in the air. It felt so familiar to hold it. "Open the Gate of the Lion! Leo!" The key's other end began to shine, and Lucy felt her magic power collide with the key. Out of nothing a man, again familiar appeared. He had orange, spiky hair and he was wearing a suit and a pair of glasses. Lucy was amazed. Did she really make him appear?

"Oi, Lucy," Loke said, straightening his glasses. "What's up? You haven't called me out for a while." 

"Yo, Loke," Natsu said from the couch. He looked serious. "Lucy lost her memories to some kind of evil mage. His name is Elimar. Ever heard of him?"

Loke shook his head. "No, sorry. I haven't heard of him." He looked at Lucy again. "So, you don't remember me either? Not a single memory?" Lucy shook her head.

"G-Gomene," Lucy muttered, looking down. "I'm trying my be-best to remember, but I just can't!"

"Lucy, it's okay!" Loke assured her. He then let out a giggle, and straightened his glasses again. "You remind me a little of Aries in this state. Apologizing for everything." He smiled sadly. "Well, I will not use more of your magic power, so I'll head back to the Spirit World. Bye Lucy. Natsu." Natsu shortly waved from the couch as Loke disappeared in cloud of light. Lucy slipped the key back in the keychain, and looked at Natsu.

"So many memories with people... friends!" Lucy sighed. "All gone to some evil mage." Natsu stood up, walked over to her and put two hands on her shoulders.

"Remember what I said!" He said, firmly. "We are going to get you memories back. No matter what cost." She smiled lightly and let herself fall back in the bed.

"I want to sleep here tonight." Lucy exclaimed, smiling. Natsu let out a chuckle, happy to see his partner smiling.

"Well, Happy and I will not leave your out of sight," Natsu said, smirking. "Right, Happy?"

"Aye, siiir~" Happy answered, flying over Natsu's head. "We'll sleep on the couch, and not in you bed, as Natsu always do. Making you sleep on the floor!"

Natsu looked annoyed at the exceed. "Happy, no I don't! You make me look like a bad person!" He whispered the last part, but Lucy could still hear it and oppressed a giggle. Natsu was good enough. She could trust him, in this world of untrustworthy people. ___________________________________________________________________________________

Stay tuned for the next chapter: The past is heavy c: