Together

Chapter 7

The two walked down the slope and within a few minutes, they stopped before an empty spot. To Laxus, the only thing that he saw was a space with lots of animals standing around the area. The animals stared at him while he stared back at the animals. They turned their heads and ignored him.

"Hey, aren't these animals rather rude?" Laxus commented. "What's with all of them doing here anyway?"

Lucy walked up to them and patted the deer. "Thank you guys for looking over the three of them," Lucy said smiling. She thanked the birds, smiling at them, and hugged the bears, too.

Laxus looked on in awe at how well she interacted with them. Normally, wild animals wouldn't even dare approach a human nevertheless act friendly with one. By now, he had caught on to something, Lucy wasn't just the ordinary celestial mage that he knew; she was something more.

"So, where are the three?" Laxus asked as he looked around, but found no one.

"They're over here," Lucy replied with a smile.

Holding up her hand, she closed her eyes and muttered, "Release."

In that instant, the hexagon patterned shield that had enveloped the three shone golden as it changed itself back into the golden light that had come out of Lucy's hands, returning back to where it had originally come from. Laxus watched in fascination at the shield she had formed. Compared to Gray's Ice Shield, hers seemed much more soothing and beautiful. Not to mention, more powerful for it looked impenetrable.

"That's not celestial magic is it?" Laxus asked with a rather grim face.

Lucy shook her head. "It isn't."

"Then wha-," Laxus began to question but seeing Lucy's sad smile, he shut his mouth. If it was going to be like this with the same smile each time, then he'll wait until she tells him.

Laxus shifted his attention to the "three" that had followed her. His eyes widened in shock for his predictions were contrary to what he was currently seeing. It wasn't Natsu, Erza, or Gray. Rather, it was the three exceeds, Happy, Carla, and Lily. He didn't expect those three to have been her travel company. After all, those three exceeds were officially partnered with Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel, were they not?

"Why are they here?" he asked grimly. "Shouldn't they be with Natsu and the rest?"

Lucy looked at him, anger in her face. He widened his eyes in response. Not once did he expect her to get angry when he mentioned their names. 

"These three are free to do whatever they want. Whether it be staying with those people or coming with me. They decided it themselves."

Laxus looked on as she woke the three of them up. She had such a loving and caring expression on her face as she woke them up but when she mentioned her teammates, why did she react like that? He didn't get it. Maybe there's more going on back at the guild then what she had told him.

"Lucy~?" Happy murmured, rubbing his eye.

"It's morning, Happy," Lucy smiled.

Their eyes were blurry from having just woken up but they did see someone standing behind Lucy.

"Who's that behind you, Lucy?" Carla asked, rubbing her eyes to clarify her vision.

Lucy smiled. "Guess who I found?"

The three immediately sat up, their eyes blinking wide open. Turning their heads, they focused on the person who was standing there behind Lucy with a nonchalant face. He sighed and waved at them.

"Yo," he said.

Hearing his words, the three immediately sprouted their wings and flew up to him.