After three days and nights of nonstop celebration, the once-lively guild hall of Fairy Tail now lay in a peaceful mess. The tables were overturned, confetti and streamers were strewn across the floor, and the faint remnants of laughter lingered in the air. Lucy awoke to this chaotic scene, blinking in surprise as she took in the sight of her friends sleeping soundly amidst the disorder. She sighed softly, a smile tugging at her lips as she observed the familiar scene.
Levy was curled up in Gajeel's arms, their daughter, Emma Ellie Redfox, nestled between them, all three of them asleep with content smiles on their faces. Lucy couldn't help but think about how beautiful they looked, so peaceful and full of love.
As her gaze shifted, she noticed Natsu sleeping peacefully, Happy curled up beside him. A thought flickered through her mind, but before she could dwell on it, she decided to slip away quietly, leaving the guild to explore the city.
Lucy wandered through the familiar streets of Magnolia until she reached her old apartment. Her landlord had kept it for her all these years, and stepping inside felt like a journey back in time. The memories of her past adventures, her struggles, and the moments of joy flooded her mind. After taking a deep breath, she decided to take a bath, hoping to wash away the lingering fatigue from the long celebration.
However, when she emerged from the bathroom, she was met with an all-too-familiar sight: Natsu and Happy were in her apartment, making themselves comfortable as if nothing had changed.
["Why can't you ever knock?!"] Lucy yelled, throwing a towel at Natsu. He grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.
["Old habits die hard,"] Natsu replied with a chuckle, but his tone quickly became serious. ["But this time, there's something important. We need to head back to the guild. There's a job that requires immediate attention."]
Sighing in exasperation, Lucy dressed quickly and followed Natsu and Happy back to the guild, where Gray, Erza, Wendy, and the others were already preparing for a bandit-hunting mission. The job was straightforward, but Lucy couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of her stomach.
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After completing the mission, Lucy returned to her apartment, hoping to find some rest. But as soon as she closed her eyes, she was plagued by vivid dreams—visions of a dark force threatening the land, of a powerful enemy targeting Fairy Tail, and, more disturbingly, of that enemy specifically seeking her out because of her newfound powers.
Lucy awoke in the middle of the night, drenched in cold sweat. Her mind raced as she recalled the warning Selene, the Moon Dragon God, had given her before leaving the Guiltina continent. Lucy had never told anyone about that ominous conversation, not wanting to spoil the jubilant mood of the guild or cause unnecessary worry.
Selene had warned Lucy that during their last battle, just as she was about to lose her life, her celestial power had fully awakened. But it wasn't just that. Lucy had also tapped into the Fairy power she had received from Mavis during the final battle with Acnologia, when she had helped activate Fairy Sphere. To make matters worse, she had somehow acquired a fragment of Zeref's black magic when she had altered the Book of E.N.D. These powers had now made her a target for those lurking in the shadows.
As the weight of Selene's warning pressed down on her, Lucy felt anxiety clawing at her. She knew she couldn't keep this to herself forever, but for now, she decided to investigate on her own. She didn't want to alarm her friends, especially after they had just returned home.
Determined to uncover the truth, Lucy sought out the wisdom of Grandpa Crux, the celestial spirit known for his vast knowledge. With his help, she began researching the origins and implications of her newfound powers, hoping to understand why they were so coveted and what dangers they might bring.
Meanwhile, back at the guild, tension was beginning to build. News had started to trickle in from nearby towns about mysterious disappearances and attacks. Whispers of an unknown threat reached Fairy Tail, and the guild members could sense that something was brewing. They began to prepare, sharpening their skills and strengthening their bonds, knowing that an inevitable confrontation was on the horizon.