Second chance

Chapter 3: Fairy Tail Lives!

(LUCY'S P.O.V)

I walk into the guild with Juvia and almost immediately break down in tears...

"OKAERINASAI!" The guild says perfectly in synch

"Is it too late to run away...?" Juvia whispers her voice low and breaking. My watering eyes clear and I look forward. 

For a second I froze. Mira was serving drinks, she had died by the hand of a revived Lisanna. Cana was drinking away, she died by the bomb in the hospital. Wendy was with Romeo they had died protecting Natsu and me back in the 4th month of the war.

I walk towards the bar and am about to sit down when I feel two muscular arms wrap around my waist and carry me all the way to the request board. Forcing my hands to stay by my side, and clenching my jaw, I slip through the arms holding me. 

"Let's go on a job Luce!" I turn my head to see a pink-haired hothead giving me the most childish smile in the history of the world. I resist the urge to crash my lips onto Natsu's.

"Nah I am a bit tired," I say with a strained smile. My voice came out a bit wobbly and I wince. 

"You're such a weirdo Luce, didn't you want to go on a job yesterday" I wince again at the sudden claim as a tiny bit of sadness clings to my heart. I didn't even notice I was crying until Natsu asked me why I was crying.

" Don't worry about it Natsu, I am acting a bit strange today" I reply with a small giggle, while my heart is clenching.

" You're such a weirdo Luce" he repeats and looks at me weirdly. I resist the urge to throw myself onto him and just replied with a past Lucy glare.

" Do you need something Luce" he states and for a second I am looking at my Natsu, the Natsu that led the guild with me by his side. He pats my head before I can reply and walks away, and based on Juvia's face I am turning beetroot red... that's my Natsu.

Juvia looks as if she is about to start laughing until I hear the guild door open. Juvia's face turns into one of pure grief as I hear Gray enter the guild with a lazy greeting.

I was dragging Juvia to a corner of the guild before I even realized that I was moving. Juvia's eyes are filled with tears until she takes a deep breath.

She looks at me with a savage grin which I force myself to quickly return. Side by side we go through the middle of the guild.

Levy was laughing with Jet and Droy who were some of the first pronounced dead. The thunder legion was one the second-floor talking, they only died after the 5th month. Elfman was crying about something being manly along with Max, they were dead by the 5th week.

My heart broke with every step I took and I felt that Juvia was struggling not to make eye contact with Gray.

We reached the bar and ordered some water from Laki since one, I don't think I could talk to Mira without breaking into tears, and two I don't think the guild will react kindly to us taking something acholic.

After a few minutes, the tension in my shoulders relaxed and I could see Juvia begin to smile even though she was completely avoiding Gray. At least now it doesn't feel like I was carrying 15 tons of rocks on my back and heart.

I took a deep breath and stood up. Juvia looked at me with a blank face but eyes that showed confusion. I smiled at her and readied myself. I took a few steps and then bit my lip. Let's start with someone I am not that close with.

" Hey Evergreen " I call walking up to the girl who was walking down the stairs. She smiled at me a bit awkwardly and I sent her a grin.

" I just want to say that I love that dress" I state remembering her bragging about it in my timeline. Her eyes begin to sparkle and she begins to tell me how good the shop where she got it is. I begin to put in my own opinions, based on the facts that she told me in my timeline.

Something weird that happened before the war started was that I was doing a few missions with the Thunder Legion. Erza was with Jellal most of the time, same with Juvia and Gray. Natsu wanted to go on solo missions to get stronger. So I started to go on solo missions until I had a mission in the same town as the Thunder Legion. We worked together, with me helping them find their target and them helping me overpower mine, and then started to get missions close by each other to help the others out if needed. 

After our talk, she seems a bit brighter as she carries a few drinks to the thunder legions table.

I sigh and look to Juvia who had taken my example and began to talk to Cana about the best types of beer... please stop...

I want someone a bit closer to me and I tighten my lips as I walk to Mira.

" Hey, Mira how are you," I say with a big grin. My heart clenches for what seemed to be the hundredth time today when I hear her voice.

" I'm fine Lucy and how are you," she asks with a smile equaling my own. Her eyes shine with a sneaky glint that is pure Mira and I can't help but laugh.

" Perfectly fine" I state and my grins transform into a smirk. I know Mira like the back of my hand and I wasn't about to miss a chance to make this ship happen a bit sooner.

" So Mira can you help me get Levy and Gajeel together," I ask with a devil grin as I see Levy who is sitting near me blush red. My thoughts are cut off with a squeal from Mira and we begin to talk ships. Including my own with Natsu, but I cut her off saying that I already have a plan for that. She gapes at me until she squeals again. Juvia then joined into the chat by talking about Mira and Laxus.

I will forever hold Mira's face in my memories. Revenge is so sweet. Especially thinking about one of the ultimate power couples we had before the war. 

I see Juvia walk to talk to Gajeel and I walk towards Erza. Erza was always smiling even during the war. She carried us all and is probably the only reason why we are still alive.

In my timeline, it was only after the war had begun that I was able to head to the Heartfillia Estate that was given to me in my father's will. There was a sword there that belonged to my grandmother Anna. I gave it to Erza, which in return taught me how to swordfight. This sword was one of Erza's favorites in my time so I want to give it to her earlier.

" Hi Erza, having a good morning," I say and Erza smiles at me. She begins to tell me about a new spear she bought, which is when I told her about the sword. Her eyes glittered as she nodded and said that we can check it out another day.

Before I knew it, it was already late into the afternoon. I wasn't able to talk to Natsu again even when I tried, and from what I have seen Juvia has started looking at Gray but not much farther than that.

Me and Juvia head to my apartment, and I quickly lock all the doors and windows before I begin to hyperventilate.

From my side, I see Juvia curling up into a ball shaking.

Tears fall from my face as I begin to laugh.

"...They're alive..." I whisper as if it's a prayer and Juvia lifts her head and smiles tears dripping from her face.