"That's her?"

"She's so skinny, so tiny."

"Fragile."

"I could snap her in two easily. Just wait until Guild Battles!"

I keep my head down walking around the main building that all the guilds use. The voices come from everywhere around me, but I cover up my emotions the way I have ever since I was a child: with a grin as wide as the gossipers' self-esteem is low. Looking at the pavement beneath my feet, I force an insane smile onto my face, and brace myself for my first classes at FPM.

-

The students in my first class are all in their seats by the time I enter the door, and immediately my heart jumps into my throat. There's a fair mixture of students, many who are clearly sitting with their respective guilds and looking suspiciously over at the others. Amongst flaunting their guild stamps, showing off their muscular strength, knowing that their magic is really where the power lies, it's really the noise that gets me. Everybody is talking and gossiping with their friends, laughing, moving desks and chairs. I bite my lip and stand at the front of the classroom. The teacher clears their throat, and all eyes are on me.

"Everyone, this is Miss Lucy Heartfilia, and she is new this year. Would you like to introduce yourself?" The teacher sweeps their hand towards the now silent room.

Before I can open my mouth, a student calls out with 100% attitude, "what guild?"

I look down at my hands, which I had subconsciously crossed in front of me, successfully covering my guild stamp. "I... I..."

"She's in Fairy Tail," another student calls out. I look back and forth across the classroom before I can pinpoint where the voice came from. "Haven't you heard? They got a new member." Already everybody is murmuring about the new, easy bait. "And get this. She's not a mage."

The class erupts into unnecessary banter and loud whispering, and I feel another smile creeping on. Without saying a word, I take a seat in the very back of the room. Contrary to what I was expecting and hoping, the second I sit down the students in the chairs around me scoot closer to me. Some take their time and look me up and down, judging eyes.

The teacher claps their hands together, a thunderous sound in the calm of the storm. "Let's get the class started, shall we? Magic 101. I'd like you to keep in mind that this class is not The History of Magic, and is in no way Introduction to Wizardry or your Training period. There will be no hands-on, no usage of magic in this classroom. Meditation is highly recommended to pair with this class..." the teacher continues to introduce the class as I pull out my notebook and pencil, hyper aware of the eyes on me. The whispers start up again.

"What is she doing in this class?"

"Why take any of the magic classes?"

"Will she participate in Guild Battles?"

"Why is she smiling like that? Is she crazy?"

I squeeze my eyes shut. The voices grow louder and louder until I feel like screaming. It isn't until I feel the wave of magic that I realize that I did. I caved in, stood up at my seat, and screamed. But no sound came out. The whispers stopped. In fact, there's no sound in the classroom at all.

I look up at the teacher, who has their palms pressed together in front of them, head down. They release one breath out of their nose, before lowering their hands. Magic to mute all sounds, I think. A useful power for a teacher, I guess. As their hands lower to the sides, the teacher continues talking.

"AS I WAS SAYING," they shout. I flinch, but everyone else seems accustom to it.

"Does the whiplash cause them to speak at a louder volume?" I wonder out loud.

A student turns in their chair to address me, surprisingly kind. "No, this is teacher's flaw. After using their magic, teach over there loses their hearing for about five minutes. Everybody's used to it, you know? Teach doesn't have to shout, but they try every time."

I look back at the front of the room, where the teacher is staring at the student and me. They glance at our mouths, before furrowing their brow and pressing a finger to their lips. Shhh, as if it makes a difference.

"No taLkINg In cLaSs," the teacher says, changing their volume throughout the sentence. The wince that appears on my face is impossible to control, and I immediately feel regret for feeling sorry. No flaw is easy to deal with, but nobody likes to feel pitied.

-

My classes up until lunch are somewhat similar, but I guess that's just because I've had a morning full of desk-work classes. I'd be lying if I said lunch was anything but depressing. The entire hall of the Fairy Tail guild was so hectic and crazy and all over the place, I couldn't find a single safe spot to eat lunch! And when I did I was forced to watch these... animals go about their usual monkey show, wasting their energy and time. I did however get to observe some people's magic though and it was definitely a show. The rest of the day won't be so easy, however. Next period is when the hands-on classes begin, and there will be no holding back.

_---_---_---_---_---_---_---_---_---_---_---_---_

WHAT IF I DON'T APOLOGIZE HERE 100 TIMES? I'LL TRY TO RESTRAIN MYSELF.

I'm sorry I didn't give any real updates on this story, chapter-wise or author's note-wise. Personally I think it's unfair to post an entire chapter just dedicated to an author's note, because if I were the reader I feel like I would get my hopes up at the notification anticipating a chapter. So here's my author's note tied to the end of a chapter! This story was meant to be kind of a break-away slash tie into other possibilities for Fairy Tail fanfictions. I wanted to try and write a story where everyone had their magic, but with a surprising twist. The first unfortunate thing is that my adoration of Fairy Tail has long since passed the "honeymoon phase" (if you don't know what that means, it basically means the period [in a relationship] where everything seems perfect and happy. I just mean to use the term in the sense that you JUST JOINED THE FANDOM AND ARE FANGIRLING/BOYING TO THE EXTREME). I still love Fairy Tail, and it has its place in my heart, but it is not my obsession anymore, thus lack of inspiration I guess. The plot for this story has never left my heart however, and I still do want to continue it and finish it eventually.

I don't have a segway, but my next point is about another story I have in mind. (Terrible for me, I know. I shouldn't bring up a new project when I can't even finish this one but HEY what can you do?) This new story is probably even more OOC than my last ones, and could very well work as an original story, but I think I like it better to use the names and concepts of the beloved FT characters, as it adds another layer of understanding for FT fans :)

This new story is called Suddenly Mine, and I had asked if you readers would like a little preview of the story! It is still very much in the works, and sounds SUPER DUPER cliché, but like The Playboy and My Celestial Secrets right here, it has its own super cool twist! (I say 'super cool' sparingly as it is my own idea without any opinions from anyone else XD) If you'd like to see a super cheesy preview for this new story idea, tell me here! Give me some feedback! Or tell me if you'd like to read more of this story before anything else. Any feedback you guys have I'd love to hear.

Thank you all! (and I'm sorry!)
✿Shadow✿