Lucy wiped the sweat from her brow. She picked up a box labelled coin collection, and stacked it atop the rest of the pile. Carefully, she hauled them over the side of the wagon. Another pair of hands reached up to meet her. They took the boxes from her easily.

"I got'em, Lucy," Loke said, "Any other jobs you need us for today?"

"No, this should be it," Lucy said.

"Pretty light job compared to usual don't you think?" Loke stood before her with a grin. He was right. She was accustomed to taking jobs that required magic, or at least multiple easy ones. Natsu and her had taken on a longer job that set her up for the rest of the month. For once they had been paid, and didn't owe their client money for damages. It didn't feel necessary to do any big paying jobs. "Well I'll take these boxes in, and tell Taurus to head out here for the rest of them." Loke stepped into the small house with his stack of boxes. He had said it was a light job, but they had been moving boxes and furniture since morning.

"Is this the last of it, Lucy?" Taurus said bounding up to the wagon.

"Seems like it," she said. She felt relieved their job was almost over. Fatigue creeped over her aching limbs. Lucy passed him the boxes. Taurus walked back into the house before she double checked the wagon. Her eyes fell on a box she seemed to have missed. Unlike the rest of the them, it was unlabeled. She thought it would have been heavier than it was. It felt as though there was nothing inside. She stepped down from the wagon, and carried the box in. The house was quaint and perfect for the little old man they were helping.

"Ah yes, I was looking for that one," he called. The sound of his high-pitched voice startled her. She hadn't seen him much since they began bringing his things into the home. She peeked at the open door behind him. The room had large stacks of boxes to the ceiling. Some of them were open on the floor. Various things spilled from them. Lots of gears and wheels poked out of the closest box to the door. Now that Lucy thought about it, most of the boxes ended up going to this room.

"What exactly is in it, sir?" she asked.

"Call me Perceval." The man smiled behind glasses that hung heavily on his large nose. At least she believed he was smiling. His cheeks and eyes shone in a grin, but his lips were covered by his rather large white mustache. He took the box from her, and dashed into the room beckoning for her to follow. Apprehensive as she was, she entered the room. A work desk sat at the only window in the room. The walls were covered in bare shelves. Some boxes lay beneath them— ready for its contents to be displayed. "This, Miss Heartfilia, is your reward," he said. Lucy's curiosity peaked. His shaking hands wrapped around a box cutter, and slid across the top. She peaked over his shoulder at the object he drew from inside.

"I don't want to be rude, sir, but what is that?" Lucy asked. She was curious enough about the object in his hands. The old man chuckled, and placed it on his lap. It was a black rectangular box with a band strapped to it. There was a circular spot at the top of the box, as though there was a piece missing. One of the man's wrinkled hands slid into the pocket of his gray cardigan, and pulled out a lacrima crystal. This wasn't an unusual object for her. Most technology ran on the stuff. She watched him closely, as he fit the lacrima into the circular spot. She nearly jumped back when the box lit up in his hands.

"It is a virtual reality headset," he said.

"A what?"

"I feel it is best if you find out what it does for yourself. You wouldn't believe me until you tried." Lucy hadn't the faintest idea what the man was talking about. She watched him detach the lacrima. He placed it in the box along with the "virtual reality headset." "Besides, you may have a friend that can explain it to you. I've been working on this exact headset over letters with a colleague of mine. I've been told they are a member of your guild." This information took her by surprise. Who was his colleague? The headset he packed away looked high tech to her. She couldn't imagine anyone who would work on such a thing.

"Who is this colleague of yours?" she asked.

"A young woman by the name of Levy McGarden. Do you know of her?" Did she know of her? Lucy didn't know why Levy hadn't been the first person she thought of.

"She's my best friend. I had no idea she was working on something like this."

"Yes, well, she is a very bright and knowledgeable young woman. Magical tech is quite a fascinating field for an inventor like myself; however, I do not use magic. I needed a colleague who did regularly, and understood the inventing process," he said thrusting the box into her arms. Lucy accepted without question. She found herself being led out into the entryway. "I do hope you find some effective use out of it. I have a few more in the works. I'd love to hear your feedback."

"Thank you," she said. Unsure of whether she truly was grateful for an object she did not know how to use.

"Goodbye Miss Heartfilia. Please enjoy!" he said. Lucy waved behind her as she walked through the door, and out to the street where Loke and Taurus waited.

"How'd it go? How much did you get?" Loke asked.

"Nothing actually," she admitted, "Just this invention he was working on."

"That's udderly ridiculous!" Taurus cried.

"Not like I needed the money, but apparently I have to ask Levy about it."

"Why Levy?" Loke said.

"She helped him make it." Lucy wanted to find out exactly what she was getting herself into. She would make a trip to her friend's place.

"I am moo-ved by your kindness Miss Lucy. I would have been very angry with this reward." Taurus said.

"Well, until I find out how to use the thing, I can't really be angry."

"Want me to walk you home?" Loke asked.

"Sure, though I think I'll head to Levy's," Lucy said, "You can head back, Taurus. Thanks for your help today." He said his goodbyes disappearing in a puff of smoke. Loke took the box from her, and headed toward Levy's.

"He didn't tell you what it did at all?" Loke asked. He pulled back one of the cardboard flaps.

"Nope, just that it was a virtual reality headset." She hoped Levy would have some answers. She would be furious if the man ripped her off. The monetary value of the reward didn't matter to her, but her celestial spirits worked hard to move all the old man's belongings to his new home. She wanted the reward to be worth their time. Although, it would be strange of a man to rip off a mage who lived in the same area. Lucy was even more intrigued than before. The hill up to Fairy Hills didn't take long with friendly conversation. She saw the building up ahead. When they reached the sign, Loke and her parted ways. She adjusted the box in her arms, and made her way inside.

The girl's dorms were just as Lucy remembered it. She was surprised she hadn't run into anyone on her way to Levy's room. She knocked on the door and waited. When there was no answer, she knocked louder.

"Levy! Hello?" A crash sounded from inside the room. "You okay?" There was no answer, but the sound of feet coming toward the door followed. When Levy answered the door, she looked a mess. Her hair was wild, her eyes rimmed with lack of sleep, and she wore a baggy sweatshirt with matching slippers.

"Hi, Lucy," Levy said. She turned back toward her room full of bookshelves. Lucy took the open door as an invitation, and walked into the room. The large desk was covered in books and papers. A couple of empty mugs of coffee sat forgotten at the edge of the table.

"Is this a bad time?" Lucy asked. She followed her friend behind some shelves.

"I've been meaning to take a break anyway," Levy said picking up the pile of books off the floor, "What brings you here?"

"This." Lucy lay the box in front of her on the floor.

"What is this?" she asked. Lucy could tell her friend was intrigued. Before she could answer, she began to rummage into the box.

"Lucy! Where did you get this?"

"Apparently, from your colleague," she said. Levy turned the object in her hands, and pointed to the missing piece.

"Did he give you a lacrima?" she asked. Lucy pulled the crystal from inside the box. Levy turned the headset on. She pulled it over her messy blue hair, and strapped it around her eyes. The headset appeared more like a clunky blind fold to Lucy. Levy's face broke into a grin. "I can't believe that old coot actually finished it!"

"What is it?" Lucy asked. Levy pulled the headset from her face, and handed it to Lucy. When the headset was secure to her eyes she found herself in a place she was not. She audibly gasped at the room around her.

"It is an alternative reality of our own imagination," Levy said, "If I remember his plans correctly, you should be able to create objects in there." Lucy was blown away by the white room that appeared endless. She concentrated the way Levy instructed, and a simple chair slowly came into focus. "Mind if I hook up to it?" Levy asked. Lucy heard rustling, and the thud of something placed beside her. There was a small tug to the back of the headset, as Levy apparently "hooked up" to it. "Now change it!"

"Change what?"

"The chair! You should be able to create whatever you want in there. Think big." She thought, Levy must have been able to see what she was seeing. She took her advice. The chair broke into pieces, and formed a new chair. Except, the chair was massive. The throne she had created was covered in gold, and lined with red fabric. Lucy grinned with the possibilities the headset had to offer. She reached out inside the white room, and touched the chair in front of her. She could feel the cool surface and soft fabric.

"This is amazing," she said.

"Isn't it! I think you can even generate people, but I don't know how accurate they would be."

"That is still pretty cool." Lucy spent the rest of the day at Levy's testing out the invention. Levy had tried it on a few times herself. When one wore the headset, the other watched on the monitor. They were having fun making crazy unfamiliar places. They tried to create a few people from memory, but they never came out right. It was fun; however, to make them all dance and sing. When it became too late Lucy packed up her VR headset to leave.

"Thanks for bringing that over, Lu. I had a fun time," Levy said, "Make sure that you don't spend too much time in that thing."

"Why?"

"I'm not sure what prolonged exposure will do. It does run off our own consciousness. There is a possibility that it could also tap into our subconscious." Lucy thought about this on her walk home. She looked up at the endless night sky, and wondered what else she could make with her new toy. They had been careful not to use too many familiar places. Levy had said, much like their own memories, generating familiarity could be fuzzy. Pieces would go missing, or some things would look, or sound, as though they were coming from a radio just out of tune with a station.

She walked into her apartment building, and up to her door. Who would she see inside tonight? Her friends never had personal space. At least one of them would be on her couch. Most of the time it was Natsu. Lucy had become so accustomed to this behavior that she expected it. Over the years, Natsu's presence had become less irritating. He would always make himself at home in her space. Sometimes, when she was busy with a book or writing, he would sit quietly and entertain himself with something. She especially enjoyed when they took naps together in the warm afternoon with no responsibilities. This time her apartment was empty. She placed the box on her center table, and checked around the apartment. It was indeed empty. Part of her was disappointed. The other part was staring intently at the box she brought in. She remembered what Levy said about prolonged exposure, and prepared dinner instead. Lucy went through the rest of her evening peacefully, and prepared for bed. She lay in the moonlight, which washed over her bed from the window. Though her body was tired, her mind raced with ideas for the headset. She turned over eyeing the box that sat untouched on her table. She looked around the empty room, as though someone there might judge her decisions.

"What is wrong with me?" she said turning toward the window again. This went on for a while until her eyes were up at the ceiling. "It's been a while. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to use it now." Lucy turned her head to the box again, but this time she got up. She brought the headset to the bed with her. The room inside the headset was bright and white just as before. She began to build different rooms she had been thinking up before she went to bed When she was finished and unsatisfied, she would watch it disappear. She stood in the middle of it all in her sleeping clothes. She was grateful she was alone. It was a beautiful spring night in Magnolia, so she had worn just a tank top with underwear. The night had reminded her of another just like it. She felt excited by the thought of recreating it, but she knew memories were difficult to create. This memory; however, was especially vivid. She closed her eyes to picture it. When she opened them again, she stood before a great tree drifting along a canal in a boat. The water sparkled in moonlight. The branches were covered in brightly colored flowers. Their petals drifted down toward her. One of them landed on her cheek as she surveyed the tree's vast canopy. Lucy held the petal in her palm. The rainbow colors twinkled up at her, and she ran her thumb along its softness. It was a perfect memory, but it was missing something. A spring breeze tossed her hair over her shoulder. Her eyes followed in the winds direction. Strolling toward her was a very serious looking Natsu. Her eyes widened, and her heart crashed against her chest. What had been missing from the scene before her wasn't something, but someone. "How?" she whispered, "You weren't there." Natsu hadn't been near her when she found the tree floating past her window. His presence; however, had been all around her. She stepped back on one of her bare feet when he neared. Her heart slowed and her face cooled when she realized it didn't matter. This wasn't the real Natsu. Her mind was so in tune with the memory, so concentrated on what she was missing, that the image of him walked up to meet her.

"Hey, Lucy," he said. Lucy nearly jumped. His voice, unlike the other times her and Levy conjured the image of a person, was clear and deep. Just as it always was. If this was what happened after prolonged exposure, then Lucy would have to do this more often. Her eyes took in the sight of him. Natsu wasn't in his usual attire. Much like her, he was in an outfit she expected him to wear to bed. A loose black tank hung from his shoulders. A pair of dark blue boxers hugged his hips. His eyes were all over her. They came to rest on her chest. The tank she wore left little to the imagination. Even though this was the Natsu she had conjured from a memory, she found her arms crossing over her. He seemed to notice the tree she had created. His face softened at the sight. "I remember it too," he said. Another breeze past between them, and a forest of trees materialized around them. All of them wore the rainbow blossoms of spring. Lucy looked all around her. The room had darkened, and the petals were lit in a glistening display. She had no words for the sight. Natsu watched her with a seriousness she couldn't place. She would have asked if anything was wrong if he hadn't stepped forward, cupped her chin in his palms, and kissed her. Lucy's stomach filled with the flutter of rainbow petals. The kiss was warm and soft. There was an urgency to it, as though she would drift away with the boat and the breeze, and he pressed his body against hers. Natsu's skin was as hot as ever. His chest solid against her palms. Lucy's shoulders relaxed. It was like a vivid dream she never thought she would have. His mouth worked to open her own. His hands traveled along her skin as though memorizing every peak and valley. A warm feeling rose inside of her. She wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer. Their lips moved at a desperate pace. It was a dam breaking, a typhoon over the shore. His palm reached up the front of her top. His lips traveled to her neck. She almost groaned at his hot skin against hers, and the tightness between her thighs. She wished for more of him, but the scene around them shook. A loud sound of knocking reverberated throughout the endless room. Lucy broke away. There was a tug in her stomach. Natsu began to fade in and out of sight.

"Natsu?" she said.

"Lucy!" Levy's voice rang in her ears. Her hands passed through Natsu's image, and his mouth moved with no words. She knew, when he finally faded away with the trees, she would soon be back in her bedroom to face reality.

Was originally a prompt for nalulovefest 2017. Based off of two of Hiro Mashima's Twitter art. This prompt ended up longer than I anticipated. I had to break it up into parts. I'm not planning on changing or editing this any further, as I am working on a lot of projects. Thanks for reading!