Ice Princess

Chapter One: Mission

WARNING: This may contain spoilers if you aren't at the Oracion Seis arc and over yet. Read at your own risk!

Lucy's POV…

I wonder what Gemini meant, by that… I thought, sitting at the counter in the Fairy Tail Guild, of which I was a member. The words that Gemini said repeated in my mind, Lucy as seen by Gray… A newcomer to the guild. Looks are very much to his liking; somewhat interested in her.

That couldn't have been true… I thought. I would be lying if I ever said Gray was bad-looking but I'd never liked him in that way. It hadn't been awkward on the rest of the mission, but now that I'd thought more about it, it seemed really weird that Gray had ever possibly thought of me that way.

"Lucy-san?" said Mirajane, suddenly, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Huh?" I said, "Sorry, I wasn't listening."

"I wasn't saying anything," said Mira sweetly, "You've just been really isolated from everyone, in your own thoughts since you've gotten back from the Oracion Seis mission. At first, I didn't think much of it but are you really OK? There aren't any personal issues or anything, right?"

"No, no, of course not!" I said immediately, "Sorry I made you worry."

"It's OK, as long as you're OK," said Mira. She paused, and then asked, "Nothing to do with a boy, right?"

"N-No!" I said too quickly.

"Knew it," said Mira, smiling, "I may not fight anymore, but I still have some instincts. So, which one is it? Natsu? Gajeel? Jet or Droy? My brother?"

"No, no, no, no and no," I answered.

"Who am I missing?" mused Mira, "Oh… Gray?"

I figured her instincts would win me over so I didn't bother lying, "Yes."

"Something to do with the Oracion Seis mission?"

"Yeah…"

"All right. Tell Mira all about it."

"Aren't you busy?" I said.

"No, go on, shoot."

"Well, you see," I explained, "You know Gemini, right?"

"Yes."

"Yeah, he was originally owned by a member, Angel and he was mostly used for gathering information because he can copy everything of the person he transforms into. He copied Gray once on the mission to kill Natsu and he revealed some info about him. One particular piece of information stuck in my mind."

"What was that?"

"Well, Gemini said that Gray was somewhat interested in me."

Mira kept her cool personality, "And what was your reaction to this?"

"It surprised me, since I've never seen Gray as… well, that type of person. And I still don't."

"Does Gray know that Gemini said this?"

"I don't think so," I said, "I'd think it'd be awkward if I ever brought it up with him."

"I guess you're right," said Mira, "But, Lucy, sometimes, it's just better to hear the truth than wait forever, wondering what Gray would have said if you'd just talked to him about it."

"So, you mean right now?" I said, my heart rate sort of speeding up. I'd never wanted to have these sorts of 'talks' with my Dad let alone Gray. Not that Dad ever had time for any sort of long talk, but still…

"I never said that," said Mira, "Whenever you feel comfortable enough, you can talk with him. It doesn't have to necessarily be now."

"Lucy!" called Gray suddenly. I froze in my seat and twitched, "G-Gray?"

"Calm down," said Mira nicely, putting a hand on my wrist, "He doesn't know anything, remember? As long as you don't give it away, you can choose whenever you want to talk to him."

"We took a mission!" shouted Natsu, suddenly, whacking his arm around me, making me nearly falling forward.

"Aye!" said Happy.

"Don't kill her before the mission even starts," said Erza, walking up.

"What is the mission, anyway?" I asked, "Why would you guys even take a mission without making sure everyone even agreed to it?"

"But we knew you'd agree with it," said Natsu, "Ne, Happy, show her!"

"Aye, sir!" said Happy, giving me the request. I looked at the rank. S-ranked of course. Who knew? I looked at the reward and my eyes nearly burst out of my head. 10 million jewel. That would be enough to pay my rent for ages even though the reward would be split between us.

"Who would give out this much money?" I cried.

"S-Rank missions are generally higher-paying," said Erza, "Read the description."

I did as she said and understood immediately.

Some kidnappers have taken the princess of our island hostage. Please save her and your reward is guaranteed.

"We're saving a PRINCESS?" I nearly yelled, "Isn't that a whole lot of pressure on us?"

"So?" said Natsu, "Just look at that reward! This mission is guaranteed to get us a huge feast as well because the King who requested this is loaded!"

"Don't forget the point of the mission is to save the princess, not to have a huge feast," said Erza sternly.

"They'll probably have shortcake," said Happy.

"Let's go, the sooner we go, the sooner I'll get that shortcake— I mean, the sooner we'll save the princess."

I looked at the location at which we had to travel to, "This island, Crescent Lunar… it's a long way away from here, isn't it?"

"So?" said Natsu, "Look at the reward—"

"Meaning we'll have to travel by boat for a while," I said, "By boat."

Natsu was instantly looking as if he was holding in his puke and his face was a light shade of purple.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," I laughed.

"Lucy!" whined Natsu, "You're so mean!"

"So mean!" repeated Happy.

I just laughed, "I just wanted to prepare you, because unless you want Happy to carry you the whole way, you have to ride in the boat."

"WENDY!" yelled Natsu.

"This boy never listens," said Charle, sighing, "Wendy's Troia magic becomes less effective every time, remember?"

"But I need it!" said Natsu, "Otherwise Lucy's going to laugh at me the whole way! Ne, ne, Wendy! Come with us!"

"Gomenasai, Natsu-san, I have to go on another mission," apologized Wendy.

"So, this Princess-type mission we've already done twice," said Gray, smiling at me.

"Really?" I said, "When did you save another princess?"

"When you ran away to your Dad's," said Gray, "Remember, Erza, Natsu, Happy and I all went over there to save you?"

"I technically wasn't in trouble," I said, "Besides, I'm not a princess."

"You're the closest thing to one," replied Gray, "You have practically all the qualities: the kindness, the good manners, the looks…"

"What?" I said, my head snapping up at the 'looks' bit.

"What, what?" asked Gray, looking confused, "I just named the things that made you like a princess."

Meaning that he meant the kindness, the good manners and the looks…

"I got the luggage!" shouted Erza, coming along, tugging a platform with a whole lot of suitcases on it, "Come on, we have to go get the cake— I mean the princess!"

"I have to go!" I said, literally flying over to where Erza was.

"Lucy—" said Gray. I pretended to observe the large haul of luggage but I still heard what he said, "What did I say?"

Poor Gray. I fiddled around nervously, having a new thing to repeat in my head all day.