Chapter One: It Was a Lie

buttercupbella

Lucy Heartphilia gripped her golden keys defensively. Tears started to tinge her eyes red-a cry wanted to get out from her throat but it couldn't; her voice was being drained by something she kept inside.

Fear.

Why me? Why save the weakest for the last strike?, she thought, for the clock was ticking. A muscular man with tough features laughed. "I admit I like your mother better."

"D-don't you dare talk about her! People like you are not worthy to trash my mother like that!", Lucy forced to shout with anger, knowing that if she could pretend she wasn't the least bit scared then everything would turn out just fine. Problem is, she was rattling all the way because she was seriously afraid.

She looked up. There they were- Gray, Erza, Wendy, Happy, Charle. All unconscious, floating above a black laser, and if they ever moved, a jolt of electricity overwhelmed them.

Then there was Natsu. He was separated and locked in an impenetrable cell filled with ice-cold water. But he didn't dare close his eyes. Instead he was kicking, punching, pushing with all his might, everything he could do to get out of the cell. Bubbles formed from his mouth. Let me out here, you bastard!

"Please!" Lucy fell to her buckling knees, gripping the man's teal pants. "Let them go. They don't have anything to do with this!"

"Of course they have, my dear," the man said, pinching Lucy's chin. "I would definitely let them watch you die."

Natsu's eyes widened. A red light blazed out from his soul. You idiot! Don't you ever dare touch Luce!

The man kicked Lucy away. Her body flew up, twisting and flying with gravel. She collided with the ground like a mannequin. A pained groan escaped from her.

Lucy crawled, eyeing the man for mercy, never caring if she was to be hit again. "W-why..do you have to do this?"

The man bent down and produced a holographic image of what appeared to be a piece of blueberry cheesecake. "Oh, you don't remember?"

"R-remember what?"

"Remember," the man mused. "Happy birthday, Lucy Heartphilia."

Days Ago

Lucy's insides screamed with joy. She just finished her novel, entitled 'What Matters Most' in two months. This time she had been confident about it since it was centered around Fairy Tail's misadventures and crazy telltales. She grasped the raw manuscript while turning the knob to the door of her house.

"Hi Lucy! I thought we'd have a feast tonight, since Happy brought home a ton of fish from the mini-glacier!", Natsu Dragneel boomed, munching on a chicken leg while plopping down on Lucy's leather couch. Lucy sighed resentfully. "Can't you just go home, guys? Anyway, are you sure it's not from Gray's bathtub?"

"No, of course not, Lucy!", Happy said. He pulled the papers out of Lucy's hands. "What's this? Another story?"

Lucy snatched the manuscript back and hugged it to her chest. "None of your business, cat. I'm sure you'd rip it again and tell me it's good when in fact you didn't read it."

Natsu gobbled up a chocolate chip cookie. "Sorry for that, Luce! I'm just thinking; remember that tree with the treasure? Can you ask Virgo accompany you there later?"

Lucy rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out. "Find your own shovel, Natsu. Besides, I don't intend to use my magic power for little treasure hunts."

"It's not that", Natsu grinned. "It's far more important." Natsu and Happy walked out the door and pointed to the wall clock. "Eight o'clock Lucy! Thanks!"

Then they were gone.

Lucy stomped her foot at the mess. "I'm sure Virgo would love a date today, Natsu." She fished a golden key from her pocket and shouted, "Open! A door to the virgin! Virgo!"

Virgo appeared beneath the mist and uttered, "Anything you need, mistress?"

"Virgo", Lucy said. "Go meet up with Natsu. Now." She begged longingly and mouthed, 'Please.'

"Yes, mistress," Virgo bowed, her hibiscus colored hair fluttering in the air. She dug right into the floor like a life-sized electric drill. "Hey!," Lucy jumped frantically. "No one told you to go meet up with Natsu and destroy my cabin!"

After five hours of vacuuming and hammering the broken wooden planks, Lucy decided to wash the grime from her body. Just when she was about to take a bath, she noticed the time. She had tidied up the house, refilled her pens, and kept the novel in her backpack, yet, still, Virgo hasn't made any signs of her presence. Lucy huffed. Forget the lovebirds. Just go get a bath and relax. Not one thing to worry about.

She tore off her clothes and took a long shower. What if Virgo would be shish-kebabbed? That would explain why Natsu was so eager to have a feast.

Lucy shook her head warily. No. Natsu liked Virgo. But…what if he abducted her? Or worse…

She slipped on a towel and got out of the bathroom. Lucy pinched her arm. "This is what you get from reading suspense, Lucy Heartphilia."

Against her own conscience, Lucy stepped out into the dark night, clutching a yellow towel and a flashlight.

;.;

Natsu yawned at the flapping of Happy's wings. "Virgo, can you tell Lucy she's late? It's eight thirty and the crickets are the only things I hear."

Virgo whispered, "I sense my mistress doesn't have the keys. Maybe she went someplace else."

Natsu groaned. "I'm going to her house. Happy, can you come with me?"

Happy saluted him. "Aye, captain."

Natsu walked right into the city, noticing the people's lights all turned off. He sniffed the air. "Weird, I can smell Lucy's shampoo from here." Natsu continued to trudge along the sad sidewalk, casually lighting up a small flame. He stopped again, motioning for Happy's nose. "This time, I can actually smell her scorched slippers, the ones we accidentally burned."

Just when Natsu turned his head towards the horizon, something hit him.

KAA-BOONK!

Natsu yelled, clutching his head and lying beside a worn-out flashlight. A female voice sneered.

"Where's Virgo?"

Natsu jumped back up when he heard Lucy talking. "Lucy! I—"

KAA-POOW!

This time, Lucy kicked Natsu in the face. She shouted, "I said, where the hell is Virgo?!"

Happy shuddered while helping Natsu up. "I really get the feeling this is Edo Lucy!"

"Shut up, Cat!", Lucy screamed. Natsu stood up and rubbed his eyes. "What are you doing dripping wet, Luce? I told you, eight o'clock."

"Hello?", Lucy fanned herself. "I even sent Virgo way ahead of that eight o'clock you're talking about."

Natsu's jaw dropped. "You bookworm. I told YOU to go at eight, not just Virgo." He sighed then grabbed Lucy's moist hand.

"Wha-," Lucy protested, holding her towel tighter and tighter. Now I'm getting shish kebabbed.

Natsu led her to the woods, kindling a fire that shone brighter than the moonlight. Lucy's heart throbbed, waiting for the sight of Virgo tied up over the flames.

Instead, Virgo was standing under the tree, holding a bottle of wine beside a Victorian table.

Lucy's grip loosened. Why in the world am I barging into a date?

Natsu waved at Virgo. "Here she is. All fresh from a shower."

"Mistress," Virgo said, "here are your clothes."

"What the hell is this?" Lucy gagged. "I'm not gonna strip in front of everyone!"

Immediately, Virgo put her palm in front of Natsu and Happy's eyes. Happy said, "Lucy is so noisy and scary."

Lucy ignored him and tried on her new clothes, carefully meshing each ribbon on the front. When she was done, she exclaimed, "Is this a sacrificial ritual or something? Why do I have to wear this?"

Natsu removed Virgo's hand from his face and cackled. "You're crazy. Virgo, you can leave now. Thanks!"

Virgo nodded and vanished in a puff of smoke. Lucy staggered. "I-I told you this was a sacrificial ritual."

Natsu neared towards the candles and lit them up. A shadow of orange passed through his face as he smiled genuinely. "It's not a sacrifice, Lucy. It's a date."

"Yeah, a date. Um, happy birthday? And here's your gift," Natsu replied, tossing a velvety box to Lucy.

D-don't tell me..,Lucy thought, weird ideas flooding her dainty little head. With a cautious stance, she flipped it open. A wave of relief passed through her.

"It's beautiful," Lucy gasped as a silver, diamond studded key dangled on her finger. "You actually got a stellar spirit key?"

"No," Natsu said. "It's a key to whatever you believe in."

The man began telling his tale, with so much pride. "Lucy Heartphilia, you know me, do you? I was a dear childhood friend of Laila. I was a stellar spirit mage, but I was so weak Laila had to protect me in every battle. But, guess what? I fell in love with her," he said.

Lucy released a smirk. "Too bad she never liked you back."

"Yes, little lady, too bad. For you. If it weren't for her rejection you wouldn't be suffering right now."

"I'd gladly suffer for my mother," Lucy shouted back.

The man was named Vilcraw. Lucy thought it was odd but fitting for his darkness.

Lucy raised the silver key and used all her vitality to stand up. She faced Natsu and smiled with melancholy. "I believe that this key can erase the existence of a world-class, idiotic buffoon."

Vilcraw snickered and folded his arms. "Is that so? Oh, well, guess you'll have to wake up from your silly little dream."

Natsu continued to apply force to the cell. Darn it! What I told was a lie..

Lucy grasped the silver key tighter. When she opened her eyes, there was nothing but a pure, black hue. "Door to the universe, the heavenly, celestial beings, let your ears take a hold of my words.."

"Bring forth all the evil in the world, release them from the depths of the fire, use the portal to the human being. Unify the constellations and let it rain blinding light."

Lucy's body cascaded into the sky. A dark void stretched miles and miles. Ghastly figures revolved around her.

"Lucy, stop it!," Natsu screamed at the top of his lungs. He banged on the transparent wall. "It's a lie! That key doesn't work!"

"Of course it doesn't work!" Vilcraw laughed. "She's not using that key, she's using herself!"

Lucy, it seemed, wasn't aware of anything. "Stir the demons from below Earthland and devour the soul of who stands before me.."

The other Fairy Tail mages woke up from unconsciousness. Erza inhaled deeply. "Don't. Move."

"What the hell is happening to Lucy?" Gray exclaimed, his fury building up. Dry ice enveloped his hands. "I'm gonna-"

He accidentally wiggled his foot by a fraction of an inch. Sparks flew around him.

"Gray-sempai!" Wendy yelled, but she controlled her body.

Erza grit her teeth. This can't be good. I can't help Lucy. One move and we get electrocuted.

"Wendy! Conjure the wind! You'll have to topple Natsu's cell!"

"But I can't use my magic without moving!"

Erza glared at the laser. Damn it. I have no magic power left. I'll have to figure out how this thing works.

Erza screamed. "LUCY! GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF! WAKE UP!"

Natsu ignited a blazing flame for as long as he could deal with. The thick border cracked—and there was an intense eruption. Water exploded and it flowed in great amount.

Natsu sputtered. He got up on his feet and grinned. "Hang on, Luce! I'm coming!"

"Natsu! Release us!" Happy said. He was obviously strained of happiness.

Natsu stopped in his tracks. He glanced between Lucy, merely breathing, and his friends, who were tamed by some levitation. He hung his head low. "Sorry guys. I'll have to do this on my own."

"NATSU!" Gray shouted. "Come back here, flame brain!"

Erza's insides roared with anger. Fine. This event will again bring disgrace to our guild. Figures.

Lucy didn't cease to chant. "Reap my soul in exchange for an army, destroy what I hold against my heart."

Vilcraw looked up with satisfaction and said, "Ah, truly, you have inherited Laila's magnificence. However, you do not realize you are destroying yourself,eh?" He invoked a scythe created from mere smoke and pointed it to Lucy's neck. "Your wish is my command; I will reap your soul with great pleasure."

I still think it's corny. Do you?