After All This Time || A Fairy Tail Fanfiction

Chapter 23

  I remember the church... being large. It was the only one in our town. There were pretty Tiger Lilies—I remember since the bright red stood out in my low saturation flashbacks.

  I also remember that we lived near the church.

  I think we owned a plot of land as well, nothing too big or anything. Just big enough to live off of.

  Lucy and Natsu walked side by side, Happy prodding beside them. The two exchanged wary glances, looking down to avoid the... unwelcoming glares sent their way from the passerby.

  Passerby, meaning, daintily dressed upperclassmen and women—all adorning scornful expressions of superiority. It was sickening to endure.

  They continued the trek down the paved dirt paths, not as old as you'd think. The paths, rather, looked like something out of a fairytale.

  "These weirdos are making me mad," Natsu said through clenched teeth, pulling his hoodie over his head. "Can't stand to even look their way."

  "I know," Lucy tucked the long strands of her hair into her jacket before hiding in her hood. "I know."

  "It's like they're better than everyone," he growled. "I can't stand it. These people are fucking rich, but don't wanna contribute to society."

  Had Lucy been in a better mood, she'd have commented with something like: Natsu saying something intelligent? I'm dreaming.

  But she wasn't in a better mood.

  "Where is this church? I can literally smell the religious vibe here, so it shouldn't be far," Natsu snarked.

  "Are you two—er, three—new here?" An elderly voice asked. They both glanced in its direction, seeing an elderly man hobbling their way. He was in a black suit, holding a mahogany cane in one hand while his other adjusted a bifocal.

  "Er, right." Lucy smiled politely. "We are—"

  "Listen old man!" Lucy groaned as Natsu bellowed beside her. "You'd better tell us where the—Hey!" He cried as Lucy hammer-fisted the top of his head.

  "Ignore him." She bowed. "So sorry. We are new in town, yes. We actually just got off of the train so my friend is slightly grumpy."

  "I can tell." The man replied curtly.

  "We've... um...?" Lucy stumbled, unsure of how to phrase her sentence.

I can't just ask about the church, can I? Will the man be offended or something? Damn he looks wealthy. Oh shit, what if he knows fath—

  Natsu pulled her to the side. "What's wrong?" He whispered.

  "Er—w–we should lay low. That guy looks rich..." Lucy shuddered slightly. She hated rich people.

  "So?"

  "It's just..."

  "Just ask."

  He's not him. "Um..." All rich people aren't the same, right? He's not him.

  "Yes honey?" The man asked when Lucy faced him again.

  "We wanted to know." She began. "We've heard about a church in this area, actually. The two of us are here on a... um..."

  "Pilgrimage!" Natsu blurted out suddenly, making Lucy whip her head around in shock. He was being intelligent? No...

  "A pilgrimage?" The man quirked an eyebrow.

  "That's right!" Natsu continued, Lucy's eyes only widening. "Our families were from this place. One of our frien—" he cut off just in time before he could stumble.

  "R–Relatives." Lucy saved, casting him a sad gaze. "A relative, that was a close friend. This relative was very... religious and shared her birth town with us before she passed."

  Lucy's hands shook from guilt. She wasn't doing something wrong so why was the feeling there? At least... Was she doing something wrong?

  She gasped slightly when she felt Natsu grasp her hand in his, squeezing. She glanced up, but he was looking at the man.

  "We'd like to pay our respects—to the church that she was baptized in."

  "I see," the man looked shockingly amused. "Well, true, a church exists here, several actually. But they are all a ways from this junction town. You'll most likely have to travel for a while and the railroads don't extend till the main cities so..." he shrugged.

  "More travel?" Natsu groaned in dismay. "More...?"

  "How long?" Lucy asked.

  "A few hours at the very least."

  "Oh Mavis..." Lucy pinched the bridge of her nose. But it was almost dark. It wouldn't be safe to travel.

  The man looked to the two of them before sighing. "Listen here, youngins... I wouldn't want two youngsters like y'all roaming these streets at night. There's an inn at which you can stay for today, just there—" he pointed to somewhere behind him. "And I'm sure there'll be transportation tomorrow that leaves for northern Onibus."

  Lucy pursed her lips in apprehension. She didn't feel so good camping here for a whole night—especially since neither of them had money.

  "Dear!" An older woman came running towards the man, grasping his shoulder. "Oh my! Who are these angels?"

  "Found 'em wandering around." The man told the woman.

  She seemed significantly younger than the man. However they appeared to be in some form of relationship from the way they were clinging to one another.

  "You're new here?"

  Natsu and Lucy nodded, Happy meowing.

  "How precious," The woman coed at the blue feline.

  "Actually, we were heading towards northern Onibus," Lucy informed the older woman, "But its already dark now. We'd stay at the inn but..."

  "We're both broke," Natsu chuckled nervously, emptying his pockets.  

  "Oh no no no, we aren't having any of that," The woman stood up straight and announced, "come with me, sweethearts. You can stay at our place for tonight. There's a gala in the evening—and the passerby must attend. You two can begin your journey in the morning!"

  "Your just looking for new human-sized barbies to dress," the man groaned.

  "Oh hush you!" The woman laughed. "Come with me now, angels!"

  "That's fine—" Lucy held her hands out. "Really!"

  "Yeah, we're just visitors," Natsu began to back up.

  "We aren't having any of that," The woman replied, grabbing their hands. "The gala is something you shouldn't miss—especially not two lovely little stars like you."

  She began pulling them along before they could protest.

  "Wait, ma'am! Sir!" Lucy began. "We didn't even get your names!"

  I recall something about two particular people. Were they good or bad... I don't know. But I do remember something important... these two were rich in the upperclass and had many supporters.

  "Ah Yes!" The woman giggled. "Why, my name is Kyôka!"

  "What's your name sir?" Lucy asked the elderly man.

  And these two, had a history with my parents. Something my siblings don't know, remarkably.

  The man laughed, "I'm sorry! I completely forgot to introduce myself. My name—"

  Those two—

  "—is Mard Geer."

  —are the reason my parents died.

A/N: I have nothing to say! Oh yeah, just to clarify, everything in bold (other than the authors note of course) is from Lisanna's letter.