I'ts all about the boots ... Prologue

It's all about the boots...

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Prologue - The reluctant Storyteller

In which Lucy talks about courageous shoes and Happy becomes acquainted with a fireplace poker

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Gasping Lucy heaved the huge book on the guilds counter, before she let herself fall on one of the empty bar stools in front, her face full of red spots, caused by her effort. From the other side of the counter radiated Miras encouraging smile towards her, while the blue-eyed barmaid filled some cups with steaming mulled wine.

"Hi there, how are you? And what are you planning with this giant tome ?" she asked curiously, pointing with her chin at the old book, while, without being asked, pushed one of the cups towards the freezing Stellar Mage. Lucy gratefully grabbed it and sighed happily, as the warmth began slowly to spread in her cold fingers. It was two weeks before Christmas, and since the beginning of the month it had been snowing incessantly. All transportation had failed and the mages of Fairy Tail were stuck in Magnolia - it was simply impossible to go on a mission. Those who could, came to the guild to pass their time... and hoped not to be snowed.

Still shivering Lucy sipped her drink and smiled at Mira. "It's a book I used to like when I was younger. I told Levy about it the other day, and she wanted to have a look at it. Since we have nothing better to do, I thought I'd bring it here, so we can read it together. It has been ages since I read it. " Nostalgically, she stroked the leather-bound cover. It had belonged to her mother and was one of the very few things she had brought with her from her father's Estate.

Mira smiled. "That sounds good, what is it about? Maybe something that might interests me as well?" she asked , throwing a glance through the guild hall with a sigh."On days like this there is nothing better than a good story front of the fireplace!"

Snow danced in front of the windows, covered with frost flowers, and it was unusually quiet, even though the place was packed. But that was just the calm before the storm, Lucy mused, glancing around as well. It did not fit the guild members well to stay quiet for more than ..lets say five minutes? ... on good days. Surely one of their famous brawls would start soon and the Blonde had absolutely no intention to be still around, when that happened. Regarding the tension in the hall right now it would be twice as bad as usual.

But she did not think long about that. Miras comment had left her puzzled. Lucy could not agree more, but ... "I did not know that you like books ..." she said in amazement, missing the furtive spark in the bar maids eyes completely.

Mira shrugged ... "Not so much ... or rather, not as much as you and Levy, perhaps, but I like good stories ... maybe one of you can read it to me?"

This was unexpected. Not sure how to answer, the blonde hesitated when suddenly Happy's voice rang out and the winged cat appeared beside her.

"Lucyyyyyy ~ What are you doing?" He was obviously bored ... after being stuck here for so long that it felt like an eternity, even fish seemed to lose it's fascination.

"Lucy was about to tell me what the story, she is going to read to me, is about!" Mira said with a wink.

Lucy swallowed, now noticing the expression in young woman's face behind the counter. Actually, she had intended to reject ... Although she loved to write, reading out loud was not necessarily one of her hobbies ... and somehow she had the feeling that Mira knew that very well.

"What story?" Happy interrupted her thoughts once more, suspiciously eyeing the book. "Is it about fish?"

Lucy snorted. Apparently the winged tom's head really had no room for anything else.

"No," she said firmly. "It's about ... uhm" She hesitated, both Happy and Mira looking at her expectantly. "It's about boots!" Lucy finally completed her sentence.

Mira raised an eyebrow and Happy gave her one of those looks he had reserved for the moments when he truly doubted her sanity. "Boots?" he echoed incredulously.

Lucy defiantly bit her lower lip. "Yes, boots... of course it is also about other things: friendship, courage, trust, morale, etc. .. but to put it in a nut shell: It's all about boots"

Happy frowned while Mira still looked a little confused. Lucy smiled smugly into her cup. Basically she was not lying, but now the story sounded so ridiculous and stupid that the two surely would lose their interest and she and Levy-chan could ...

"NATSUUUUUUUU .. Lucy wants to read a story about courageous shoes and fish to us!"

Damn ...

Happy's voice echoed loudly through the guild, enthusiastic as ever, and broke Natsus mandatory argument with Gray. Both turned their heads ... just like pretty much everyone else in the guild. Lucy resisted the urge to hit her head on the counter, feeling their prying eyes on her. How could she believe to deter Happy with that? He was not exactly what one would call sane and after two long miserable and boring as hell weeks, the others also seemed ready to consider listening a ridiculous story about shoes for distraction. At least she concluded that from the approving murmurs among her guild mates.

...Not that most of them were insane, too..

"Whoa, wait! Well, actually I..." Lucy was just about to make clear that she had absolutely no intention to read anything to anyone, not even a shopping list, when Mira came rushing out from behind the counter, grabbed her wrist and dragged the Stellar Mage to a free wing chair in front of the large fireplace on the opposite wall.

"Sit down here, where we can all hear you!" she chirped and with a loud and heavy * thunk * the book landed at Lucy's lap.

That would surely be a bruise by tomorrow. Annoyed the blonde rubbed her aching thighs, lifted her eyes - and froze. Almost the entire guild had turned around their chairs and looked at her expectantly. To be correct, everyone but Gajeel who sat with his usual scowling at his table in the back, watching the spectacle obviously annoyed, before he turned his attention back to the raging blizzard outside.

Dazed, Lucy blinked at the crowd. Normally she enjoyed to be in the center of so much attention, but like this... Hell, they looked like they were starving for something entertaining. Embarrassed, she clutched the book, as the wooden double doors swung open, and with an icy winter breeze Levy stumbled in. She eagerly looked around and grinned as she spotted Lucy on her "seat of honor"

"Lu-chan! Sorry I'm late, but the snow .. Oh?" Astonished, she glanced again. "What's going on here?"

"Lucy" Mira declared innocently, and said Blonde would have sworn by her keys that the barmaid flashed her an all but innocent grin, "has kindly agreed to read a story to us!"

Lucy made a face before she gave Levy a pleading look. SAVE! ME! said her eyes. Smart as she was, her best friend would be able to find a way out of this predicament easily! But Levy seemed to be either blind, or ignorant to Lucys wishes, because she clapped her hands enthusiastically and bustled to Lucy in order to make herself comfortable right at her feet.

"This is great Lu-chan, I wanted to hear the story from you anyway ... you said, the main character is very similar to you, right? "

Lucy smiled wryly. "Yes .. great ..."

~Traitor!~

The tense silence that filled the guild hall troubled her. Nervously, she ran her tongue over her lips. She even had the attention of the Iron Dragonslayer... or rather, the little blue-haired figure at her feet who struggled to take off her gloves with a concentrated expression.

Despite the undesired situation the Stellar Mage had to grin. She would never let her best friend live that down, a suitable revenge for the denial of assistance. But before that...

With a defeated sigh the girl slammed the book open. She would read as horrible as she could, fast and without pronouncing and so quiet that nobody could understand her... hopefully they would never ask her to read again then!

"A long time ago, in the midst of the great grasslands of Fiore, there lived a girl with her Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and her Aunt Em, who was the farmer's wife. The girl was a real beauty, with hair like gold, and she was smart and brave too. Her name was..."

"LUCYYYY? " a voice interrupted her and she found Happy standing in front of her, a paw on her knee. "Lucy, are you sure that's the Boots-book?"

Lucy frowned at him. "Of course I am sure! And don't call it Boots-book! Why are you asking?"

Happy gazed up at her innocently. "Well, Levy did just say the main character is a lot like you and what you just read did not sound at all like..."

The starting laughter died away immediately as a clean targeted fireplace poker hit the cheeky cat on the head. Warning Lucy gazed around. It was silent again .. but this time out of fear rather than out of expectation. For a second the Stellar Mage could have passed as Erza after someone stole her precious cake.

The blonde cleared her throat and sat down again after her unexpected outburst, with all the grandeur that became ingrained to her during her childhood. "Alright..." she said. These philistines! Glaring around once more , she started to read again. Still full of anger, her voice sounded a lot more emotional now, also loud and clear in the mousy quiet Hall. Something one could not resist listening too.

Behind the counter Mira smiled silently to herself and secretly pushed a fish towards Happy.

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