Lucy POV
Opening the window, I leaned against the frame and gazed upon Magnolia, taking in its sights while breathing in the fresh morning air. "Ah, smells good." After a few moments enjoying the gentle breeze on my face, I walked away, heading to the bathroom to shower and do basic hygiene.
An hour later, I exited the bathroom, a towel wrapped around my torso, and I opened my wardrobe, grabbing an outfit, which I promptly donned. Sitting down at my small desk with a mirror, I grabbed a brush, brushing my hair before tying it into a ponytail; standing up, I grabbed my equipment, my pouch of celestial spirit keys, and my magical whip before leaving my apartment.
Taking the stairs down while humming to myself, I spotted my landlord, prompting me to wave at them. "Good morning, Mr. Juci." "Ah, good morning, Lucy. Oh, don't forget your rent is due next week." As Juci walked past me, I froze in place, having entirely forgotten about my rent; however, I quickly shook my head.
"Heh, I'm worried for nothing, I've got jewels." Patting my chest, I reached for my wallet, looked inside, and, other than a bug flying out of it, found absolutely nothing, causing me to nervously gulp. "O-Oh yeah. I gambled it away at Akane Resort." Letting my wallet drop to the ground, I fell along with it, lowering my head in defeat.
Because of Cooper, our team takes quests pretty often; we'd take an S-class quest once every two months, and in between, we'd take several smaller ones. It was grueling but also very profitable; I had saved up enough for six months' rent. However, I'd lost everything from gambling, and worst of all, I'd forgotten about it because of the events that quickly followed.
So, for the past few weeks after the civil war, while I've been taking it easy, I was actually broke; that comforting cushion of cash I had saved didn't actually exist. "Ugh, I hate my life."
Grabbing my wallet, I slowly rose to my feet and left the apartment, my shoulders slumped, and my head hung low as I walked through the empty streets of Magnolia, slowly heading to the guild. 'I need to take a job immediately.'
Passing a flirting couple, my mood worsening, I suddenly stopped and widened my eyes as I listened to the man compliment the woman's beauty. "How could I forget that!? The Miss Fairy Tail Pageant! The reward was 500,000 Jewels, that's enough for a whole year's worth of rent!"
Re-energized, I clenched my fist, internally hoping and praying I had won the pageant. Raising my head and straightening my back, I sped walked through the street, heading to the guild with a purpose.
"L-Lucy!" Hearing a horse voice call out to me, I stopped in place and glanced at a cloaked figure behind me, causing me to raise an eyebrow as I cautiously eyed him. "Can I help you?" As I subtly reached for my satchel, the man removed his hood, prompting me to widen my eyes as I stared at him.
"F-Father!?" He didn't look like he always did; his appearance was clearly unkept. "Father, what are you doing here?" Furrowing my brows, I folded my arms. "I-I can't come and see my precious daughter?" Faintly smiling, he approached me, gently grabbing my shoulders. "A lot has changed since we last met. I've lost the mansion, my company, and all my fortune. The only thing I have left is you."
Softly sighing, I hugged him, letting him feel the warmth of family. "I'm sure it's been hard, Father." "Yes, but now that I've met you, I've already thought of a way to become successful once again. I'll buy the merchant company Love & Lucky, I just need 10,000 jewels." I felt myself go stiff as I heard his words before I ended the hug, taking a step back while eyeing him. "What?"
"I just need 10,000 jewels, Lucy. With that much, I can build myself back up again; surely you can lend your dear father that amount." I couldn't help but clench my fists as I looked at my father; whatever pity I had for him quickly vanished as I shook my head. "I-I don't have that amount, Father."
"What? You don't have that? How do you not have that! It's only 10,000 jewels! Have you been doing nothing as a mage!? You can't even lend your father 10,000 jewels!? Useless!" Seeing his soft expression quickly contort into anger and fury as he yelled at me, he broke my heart, causing tears to unknowingly escape.
"You! Get out of here! I don't ever want to see you again!" Shouting back at him, I punched his stomach, causing him to keel over before turning around and running away. Wiping my flowing tears as I arrived at the guild a few minutes later.
"I can't believe you, Father. Stupid." Muttering under my breath between my crying, I pushed open the door, stepping into the guild.
"HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!" Freezing in place, I raise my head, gazing at everyone as they stood in the distance, staring at me. As I looked around, I noticed the guild was decked out with decorations, balloons, confetti, a large hanging sign, party hats, etc., as if it were someone's birthday.
"W-What?" Wiping my face, Natsu landed before me, smiling as he placed a party hat on my head. "It's been exactly one year since you joined Fairy Tail, Lucy!" Grinning, Natsu released a breath of flames towards the ceiling in excitement. "I-It has?" "Fufu, it has; on this day exactly 365 days ago, Cooper brought you to Fairy Tail."
Looking at Mira, who joyfully smiled, I glanced at Cooper, who was staring intensely at me with a hardened gaze. "Why are you crying? Did someone make you cry? Who was it?" "Eh, someone made Lucy cry? C'mon, big bro, we'll beat them up!" "Ha, I'm joining too! It's not manly to make a woman cry!"
Seeing Cooper, Natsu, and Elfman, I couldn't help but laugh hysterically from sheer joy. "Hahahaha, n-no one made me cry. I-I was crying from joy." Wiping the tears that started to flow down my cheeks once more, Cooper and Elfman nodded while Natsu grinned before lifting me onto his shoulders.
"Hahaha, let's party!" "Oi, calm down, Natsu, you'll burn the place down!" "Shut your ass up, Gray!" "Haa, so chaotic." "Heh, you just described Fairy Tail perfectly, Levy." "Now, let us feast! I've prepared cakes." "Um, Erza, it's still morning." "So what? Cana is already drunk, I can have cake." "Touché."
As we began partying, Natsu danced around with me on his shoulders; I couldn't help but grin and laugh, enjoying every second of this.
'I love Fairy Tail.'
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Cooper POV
After the morning party celebrating Lucy's one-year anniversary, the guild sort of returned to its usual state by the afternoon; save for all the decorations, it was like normal.
"Who ate all the strawberry cake? I didn't get to have any." Finding no cake in the fridge, I looked at everyone. "That is unfortunate, big bro." Erza, the one with a piece of cake stuck to her lips, was the one to reply, causing my face to twitch. "You've still got some on your lips, Erza." "Oh, I do? Thanks."
Clicking my tongue, I was about to sit down, but from the second floor, Gramps summoned us. "Erza, Mirajane, Cooper, come to my office." Groaning, I walked up the stairs, entering Gramps' office with Erza and Mira following right after. "What is it, Gramps? You're not trying to resign again, are you? My fist says otherwise."
Gramps had felt at fault for Laxus's actions and wanted to resign as an apology, though there was no way in hell I would let that happen; if he resigned, the next guild master would be me, and I did not want that position. Not to mention, no one else agreed with his resignation either.
"U-Um, no, that is not it, Cooper, you can lower your fist." Nodding, I lowered my fist while Mirajane faintly chuckled.
"Anyway, I summoned you here regarding an alliance between Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale, and the Cait Shelter." Regaining his composure, Gramps' words caused us to raise an eyebrow. "An alliance? What is it for, Master?" "To destroy one of the guilds of the Balam Alliance. The Dark Guild Oración Seis."
"I've summoned you three here to ask if any of you would be willing to join the strike force we're putting together." When Gramps finished speaking, both Mira and Erza glanced at me, though I promptly shook my head while yawning.
"Nope." "Eh, really? I thought you would've taken it for sure." "I'd rather face Oración Seis by myself or with my team; I don't want to fight it with a bunch of other mages. Where the hell is the fun in that?" "Haa, that battle-loving tendency of yours, big bro."
Dismissively waving my hand, I turned around, leaving the office. "You guys' got it. In the meantime, maybe I'll attack Grimoire Heart." "Cooper." "Alright, I was just joking… Maybe." Before Gramps could reprimand me, I left, walking down the hallway and to the S-class quest board.