Celestial Queen {A NaLu Story}

5: The Celestial Striker is Back!

Lucy Heartfilia

My entire body was trembling back stage. I could literally only hear my heart beating and nothing else. I wanted to just turn around and disappear from my spot instead of having to get on stage in front of all the people I disappointed when I left.

How do I do this anyways?

"Hey." Zeref's voice suddenly came out of nowhere. He's like some dark devil in the dark or something ready to pounce at people's weaknesses.

"Nervous." I gulped.

"Don't be." He mumbled as Makarov read off the starting line up. "My wife does a pretty good job of making sure these kids understand the true meaning of family. So yeah there's gonna be the initial shock of seeing you out of nowhere but you just gotta take that first step."

He's right.

I need to take the first step myself if I want to make sure my teammates actually want me back or not. I can't stand back here and just cower like a helpless coward. That's not who I am.

"Our striker is." Coach paused, probably trying to accept the entire situation himself.

"Lucy Heartfilia."

Okay.

Zeref gave me one last pat on the back. "You got this."

I took the first step, wobbly with anticipation, fear, nervousness, just with everything in general. The entire room went silent at my mention. Even the cameramen looked like they're about to see a ghost come up to the stage.

And a ghost is what they will see.

The lights burned into my skin and I almost lost my cool completely.

"L-Lucy?" I heard somebody stutter on stage. I didn't need to look to see and recognize who it was.

Levy.

I just smiled at her, trying to maintain the professional look Mavis told me to keep. There's no way I can let everybody know I just wanted to break down and cry in front of all the peering, shocked gazes.

Nothing about me needs to show weakness.

I can't let them know...

"Y-you're home?" Erza's voice snapped me right around. I tried not to gape at her, my hands tightening around my golden dress.

Then just like that.

The almighty captain dropped her shock look and replaced it...

Arms suddenly wrapped around me then another and a couple others. Loud cheers and sobs overtook my hearing. Enough so I wanted to break down, too.

"Lu!" Levy was the first one to cry out my name. "You're back! You're really back!"

"We missed you!"

"I can't believe this!"

One by one, everybody gave me their greetings, each with a look of warmth I couldn't quite place. I was stupid to think these guys would ever be mad at me for leaving. Even Gray, who was still around by his table, sprinted all the way onto the stage. In one overbearing hug, he lifted me in the air.

"The Celestial Striker is back!" He exclaimed. The cheering erupted a couple notches higher. I couldn't help but pump my fist in the air.

"Let's go!"

The cheering and homecoming continued on for a couple more minutes before Coach cleared his throat into the microphone. "Settle down, nitwits. We're supposed to be professional."