TO BRING BACK THE LIGHT
Summary: Laxus and Gajeel notice a shining object on their way to the guild. Shocked, they notice that it belongs to the resident celestial mage of Fairy Tail. What happened to Lucy? Why is she lying in the ground alone and defenseless? Lucy, Natsu, Gray, Laxus and Gajeel.
CHAPTER 1 – The Lost Light
"Damn Laxus! Please remind me, why did I have to go with you again?"
"Just shut it Metalhead, I told you this is all Jiji's doing. I don't even wanna do a mission with you again. You are like a crying baby that keeps wailing and wailing. It hurts my goddamn ears! Just shut your whining already." Laxus grunted annoyingly. Gajeel's been a pain in the butt during their mission and all the way in their walk back to the guild. They are now in the park of Magnolia that means his agony with his companion will be finally over.
Last week, Laxus and Gajeel were given a secret mission by the Master. After the disbandment of the Raven Tail due to the incidence in the Grand Magic Games, Master has received information that Ivan joined a Dark Guild who worships Zeref. He wanted to know if there is a truth in the rumor and sent the two to do an undercover.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah whatever. I ain't gonna do a missio –." Gajeel stops in midsentence as he spotted a glowing object just a few blocks from them. He run towards the object and was shocked as he realized what it is. "Aren't these Bunny Girls keys?" he murmured to himself.
"Hey Gajeel, what is that you're holding?" asked Laxus as he approached Gajeel. "That is Blondie's keys, isn't it? Why are they glowing?" He inquired as he saw that all the keys are glowing in its holder.
"Well yeah, I don't know and I don't care. Let's just head back to the guild so we can return it to Bunny Girl," he said as he smirked. 'Giihee! I will blackmail Bunny Girl with this. Gii hee hee! I will make her dance again in the bunny costume as I sing in the guild before returning her keys,' he secretly laughed and becomes really excited in his idea. The whole guild will be hearing his singing again and he knows that everyone is really excited as he performs on the stage. That's what he thinks.
"Wait Gajeel, don't you think that it is not in Blondie's character to just drop her keys? And by the way it is glowing; I can feel that the spirits are restless in there." Though he knows that the spirits are not really inside the key but somehow it connects to the spirit realm. He takes the keys from Gajeel's hand and examined it further. He can feel it, the restlessness. The keys are a little bit warm to his touch. Upon saying that, Gajeel's excitement was replaced by cautiousness. Laxus is right there. Why doesn't he think of that? He always knows that Lucy never leaves without her keys less drops it unknowingly and not looking for it. He remembered that upon waking up in the infirmary after the Naval Battle, the first thing she asked for were her keys.
"Come on Gajeel. We must find her. Now that I think of it, I can smell her faint scent from here."
"Let's go." A sense of dread enveloped the two.
….….
Somewhere in the park just near in the riverbank, a shadow walks away and runs through the woods leaving a girl curling under a Sakura tree. He runs from the girl with regret and guilt in his heart. He doesn't know what he is thinking and doing. 'Why did he do it? How did it come to this point?' His mind is foggy and it is giving him a headache. 'Maybe it is just a dream. Yes! It is just a dream. He'll wake up soon enough and everything will be alright.' He reached a house, walked inside, closed the door and slumped in his bed and everything turned black…..
….…...
The river is calm.
The wind is blowing a sweet lullaby.
The moon is shining and the stars are twinkling brightly in the sky.
The night is serene and comforting.
But everything is contrary for what she is feeling inside.
She lies there under the sweet blossom of the Sakura tree with few of its petals falling freely and being cradled by the wind. She doesn't care how cold she was feeling. She just feels dead inside. She curled in a ball with her hand hugging her knees. Tears are endlessly falling in her eyes. She can't control it. It is like her eyes are an endless well of overflowing water.
….…...
They saw a silhouette of a person lying not far from the Sakura blossoms. They are sure it is Lucy since her scent is strong now. They run fast to her direction but came to abrupt stop as they freeze on the image before them.
"Shit Blondie!"
"What the hell happened here Bunny Girl?!"
They both said at the same time, shocked at what they saw. Lucy is lying unconsciously in the ground, exposed but part of her is hidden in her fetal position. Her tops and bra are lying near her. She is still on her skirt but it is slightly riding up on her exposed thighs. Tear stains are evident from her face, although her feature is relaxed now as she lay there. Few purple marks are starting to appear on her chest, arms, waist and thighs.
"Wake up Lucy. Shit!" Gajeel grumbled at the sight before him. His nerves is killing him at the sight, he has a good guess on what happened but doesn't want to accept the fact.
Laxus approached the blonde girl and kneeled before her. Still in shock with the sight of the blonde girl. On an instant, Laxus removed the cloak that he is wearing and immediately covered the girl lying in the ground. At the same time, a bright light appeared and there stood Loke.
"L-Lucy! Damn! We've felt it but why? What happened here Lucy?" Loke softly talking on the unconscious girl. He turned his attention and growled at the two guys who are still stunned on their spot. "What the hell happened?" he said growling with the murderous look in his face.
"We don't really know, we just found her keys not too far away from here and saw her in that state. Maybe you can tell us. You're her spirit so we suppose you know what happened," Laxus said with Loke.
"No. I am sorry for snapping at you. We just feel that something is wrong with her; I think that she dropped our keys since her magical power is too far from our keys, too far that I can't summon myself to check what is happening with her and that makes me feel frustrated," Loke said frustratedly clutching his air in his arms, wanting to punch something just to vent out his frustrations for his failure of protecting his master. Guilt is rising from his chest.
At that time, when Lucy saved him from his impending doom, he made a promise to the Spirit King to always protect his master to atone his sin. However, for him, that promise does not only mean that. He promised to himself that he will always protect Lucy with his life, not just as his master but also as his dearest friend. His friend that shows selfless love to all her spirits. His friend that will do anything just to save someone who she thinks worthy of saving.
He always smiles as he remembers that day. At that time, he can't consider himself as a close friend of Lucy since he always runs away just seeing the shadow of the celestial mage. But Lucy didn't give up on him and opened the gate for him so he can return to his world. He tears up upon remembering all this and looking at the form of his friend. He feels that he is an idiot for not able to protect her. He feels greater remorse. He wants to knock out the living daylight out of the guy who did this.
"Loke, I think we should move Lucy from here. Let's go to the guild –," Gajeel was cut short by Loke.
"No, not the guild. I don't think she will like her guildmates to see her in this condition," Loke retorted.
"But we need to inform the –" Gajeel rebutted again.
"No can do. Please, I know Lucy, she will choose to suffer alone than let her nakama pity her situation."
Upon saying that, the two fall into silence thinking the same thing. Why did Loke say that? Was there a situation that the blonde girl suffered alone? Maybe there is since her spirits can sense her emotions. But they can't believe it since she was always so cheerful and bright.
"Okay we can go to our house, let's move. Gajeel, please report to Jiji later on regarding our mission. Will also tell him of Blondie's situation," Laxus said picking up the blonde on the ground and teleported them in their house.
…...
At Laxus' house...
Upon their arrival at Laxus house and setting Lucy at the bed of his guest room, Loke goes back to the spirit realm to inform the others of their master's situation. But he immediately goes back at his master's side. Instead of feeling relieve, all the spirits became even more worried when they can't feel the magic power of their master earlier. Her keys are continuously glowing. They cannot be put at ease until they feel their master's touch.
Virgo popped out of nowhere carrying a dress for her master. "'Hime," she said. You cannot see any trace of concern from the stoic face of the maid but they all know that she is concerned, since she's one of his faithful spirits.
Virgo took care of cleaning up and dressing Lucy. She applied an ointment on the now visible marks in Lucy's skin. She looks closely in her sleeping form and reached out to stroke her hair. "Sleep well Hime." She leaves after ensuring everything is alright but not before looking at the two guys intently. "Nii-san, I'm going back now," briefly acknowledging Loke and disappearing in an instant. Loke just give a brief nod at her.
Laxus and Gajeel sweat dropped on the looks that the maid spirit gave them. It is like giving a fair warning, however, they cannot say since there is no emotion on her face.
'Geez, what's with that maid of her?' Gajeel thought.
'Did I just receive a death threat (more of a death glare)?' Laxus thought.
"You can also go back now Loke, we'll watch Lucy from here. You don't have anything to worry about. In any case, we'll keep her keys close to her," Laxus said reassuringly to Loke, besides he knows that even if Loke uses his own magical power part of it is still coming from Lucy's power as well.
"Okay, I'll leave the princess in her slumber. Thank you for saving her." Loke looks at her lovingly. 'I am sorry Lucy. I promise I will not let this happen again. Everything will be fine. All your spirits are here to support you.' He kissed her forehead before disappearing in the spirit realm.
"Laxus, I'll go in the guild for now and inform the master. Watch over her," Gajeel gently remove the strands of hair that falls on her face and clipped it behind her ear. 'Relax for now Bunny. We're here to help you. I promise that you need not be alone on this.' With the last long glance and vow, he takes off to the guild.
Just this once, you cannot see the normal scowl on the face of Laxus Dreyar, instead he is staring gently with the girl in his bed. He's still sitting on the chair beside her. He cannot believe on how this day turns out. Not expecting that he will return to Magnolia seeing the blonde girl in this state. 'What is going to happen now?' Come morning, will they be able to see the light in her eyes? Will they be able to hear her carefree laughs and childish antics? Will they be able to see the fire in her spirit whenever someone pisses her off?
'What actually happened Lucy? Who did this to you?' He has lot of questions. And until he doesn't know the answers and doesn't get the revenge that she deserves so, he promised to care and be with his nakama. Nobody disgraces Fairy Tail and comes unscathed. Nobody threatened his family and goes away with it freely. He laughs a soft laugh. 'This is too ironic.' Once upon a time, he is one of those guys who threatened his family.
With that vow made, he leaves the room of the girl and goes to his own room. He need not worry, if anything happens, his room has an adjacent door to hers. Plus, he is a light sleeper. This is a pretty tiring day. He let himself succumb to a dreamless sleep.
