WARNING: Author's Note contains spoilers. If you haven't read 291 of the manga I would suggest skipping it.
Author's Note: SO I was trying to find motivation to write the second chapter of "Of Knights and Fevers" but found the muses in my head refusing to cooperate, so instead I started throwing ideas down on the page and TA-DAH! This is what came about. Honestly I'm not sure where this would fit in regards to the manga but it is after the 7 year time skip so hopefully that'll help a bit.
Disclaimer: If I owned Fairytail Lucy would have totally taken Minerva out in Chapter 291, just saying.
Chapter One: The Curse
To say Lucy felt ill was an understatement.
She felt like she was dying and was fairly certain if she didn't get to the guild soon she would.
Running a hand across her forehead the blonde celestial mage whimpered in pain as she made her way down the frozen streets of Magnolia. The heat radiating off of her body melting the snow that fell casually onto her forehead. Panting she pressed her palm against her forehead, her vision swimming.
What is wrong with me?
She had felt kind of sluggish since the mission incident but she had assumed it was just her body healing. When she had woken up that morning, however ,the feeling of sluggish had morphed into a sharp pain that coursed throughout her entire body. Everything about her just screamed agony and she had coughed up a fair amount of dark blood, which had scared the wits from the girl.
Hoping it would fade with rest, and frankly being too weak to do anything else Lucy spent most of the day on the floor of her bathroom sleeping, hoping the agonizing pain would fade, but to no such luck.
When she had awoken later she had felt fine, the pain that had plagued her had faded to a minimal and she had hoped it was merely a string a strange occurrences, that had been until she collapsed to the ground withering as pain had shot throughout the course of her body. Once the fit had subsided Lucy knew she had to get to the guild as soon as possible and had quickly thrown on a jacket before making her way out into the rare blizzard that was plaguing Magnolia.
Which explained her current situation.
Turning a corner the blonde felt a terrible shudder race up spine. Pulling her coat closer around herself Lucy almost stumbled as her foot connected with a block of ice lying in the road. Grumbling in frustration she straightened her form and continued her tedious trek towards the guild.
After several more minutes of travel the girl felt her vision swim once more and had to throw out a hand to balance herself on the nearest building, her breathing coming out in heavy gasping noises.
Her eyes widened in panic, she couldn't breathe. Sliding onto her knees against the building the blonde pressed her forehead against the stone, trying valiantly to force air into her lungs. Tears swelling up in her eyes, Lucy had to force the panic that had risen in her stomach down.
One breath at a time, she coaxed herself, one breath and then you can get up and get to the guild so Wendy can figure out what's going on.
The guild was in its normal hustle and bustle that winter evening, the warm glow of the lanterns giving the already homey guild and even more comfortable atmosphere.
Mira and Lisanna stood beside the bar cleaning glasses and chatted casually with Cana as she downed her normal barrel of alcohol.
Laxus was leaning up against a table speaking to his drinking grandfather, while the thunder god tribe sat on a nearby table chatting about their treasured leader. All the while Evergreen kept stealing glances towards a posing Elfman going into the specifics of being a 'true man' to a poor unsuspecting Romeo.
Gajeel was observing Levi decode books, while Jet and Droy happily cheered her on and Panther Lily discreetly napped against the wall. Juvia was in her normal position spying on a stripping Gray who was speaking casually to a cake eating Erza. Natsu sat across from his teammates and was discussing fishing techniques to a very bored looking Charle, who was looking desperately for an escape route.
All it all it was completely normal.
Wendy sighed, so then why did it feel like something was missing? Laying her head down on the table the young dragonslayer continued to ponder over what was missing when a blue ball of fur landed next to her arm.
"Wendy!" Happy chortled happily as he held his hands out presenting Wendy with a fish, "Would you like one?" The cats eyes misted over lightly, "Charle wouldn't take it..."
At this Wendy tried to smile but shook her head declining the stinky fish.
"Are you okay?" The blue cat asked as he watched his companion closely, "You seem sad Wendy."
At this Wendy shook her head, "I'm not sad, I just can't help but feel something is missing." At this Happy paused with the fish that was halfway to his mouth.
"Do you mean Lucy?" Happy asked casually.
The young dragonslayers eyes lit up. "Yes! That's what it is! I haven't seen Lucy at all the last few days." Upon speaking these words the rest of the guild, who had apparently heard the exchange, began to throw their two sense in.
"You're right Wendy," Mirajane said from her position behind the bar, "Lucy hasn't been here very much recently." The beautiful woman's mouth fell into a slight frown as worry creased her brow.
"Huh," Gray mused, subconsciously stripping his pants off and throwing them to the side, "I wonder where she is."
"Gray," Erza stated casually, her fork digging into strawberry cake, "Your pants." The ice mage looked down before cursing and grabbing up said article of clothing.
"Juvia has not seen her love rival either," The water mage explained as she oogled Gray slipping back into his pants, "Maybe she has given up on her passionate pursuit of Gray-sama and knows his love is only for me!"
The guild sweatdropped in response.
"Lu-chan's probably just slaving away at her novel!" Levi exclaimed happily, before rubbing her hands together and smiling, "Oh I do hope she finishes the next chapter soon! I really want to know what happens!"
Upon hearing Levi's comment most everyone seemed to fall into agreement and quickly went back to what they were previously doing, that is, except for one pink haired dragonslayer.
Sighing Natsu crossed his arms over his chest, something felt odd about Lucy not being at the guild; especially after the events of their last mission. Just thinking about it still made his skin crawl and an odd knot embed itself in his stomach.
Turning on his heel Natsu made his way up towards the bar and sat on one of the stools, brooding.
"Natsu," Lisanna greeted, her face broke into a wide smile as she ran her rag over the glass polishing it.
"Hey Lisanna," The boy began before pausing for a moment, "It's not like Lucy to not come to the guild," the dragonslayer mused, "I wonder if she's alright." At this Lisanna chuckled lightly.
"If you're worried about her," she explained as though it were the most simple thing in the world, "go check on her then. She'd probably be glad to see you." The girl stopped for a moment, "Just don't crawl through her window this time, Mira-nee and I don't want to have to patch you up again."
Natsu looked up towards Lisanna and grinned.
"Thanks a lot!" He said with a big smile as he hopped down from the stool, "I'm gonna go drag her ass down here so she can be with the rest of us. Good words of advice Lisanna!" Natsu took off waving, trying to suppress the worry that had embedded itself in his stomach.
He shook it off. Lucy was fine, she had to be. No harm is checking though, right?
Back at the bar the white haired takeover mage sweatdropped. "I didn't tell you to kidnap her and drag her back here Natsu..."
Mirajane who was also polishing glasses with her sister could only laugh in amusement.
After several moments Lucy had managed to control her breathing, but exhaustion had taken hold of her form and she felt she might lose consciousness at any moment. Pushing against the wall to try and get into an upright position the girl stumbled and cursed as she slid pathetically back into her kneeling position.
You're going to die of hypothermia if you don't move, she scolded herself as she made a grab for the building once more, get up.
The girls inner musings were interrupted however.
"Well well what do we have here?" A voice rang out behind Lucy, a chuckle resounding in the deep base tone, "Looks like the little celestial mage is sick."
Lucy's back tightened suddenly, she knew that voice. Turning sluggishly she was met with the face of the dark guild leader she had battled against mere days again. The smile on his face was wide and grotesque and he seemed pleased with the surprise written across the girls face.
"Surprised to see I survived?" He said, his eyes glinting evilly in the light as he took a step closer towards the girl.
Grasping for her belt Lucy felt panic rush through her as she realized she had not brought her keys with her and had carelessly left them at home in her rush to get to Wendy. She looked up at the man, trying her best to suppress the fear that she knew was clearly written across her contorted pain filled features.
"W-what do you want?" She attempted to demand, but it came out as nothing more than a hoarse whisper. The man threw his head back and laughed loudly, it's twisted sound echoing eerily through the empty streets.
Lucy flinched.
"What do I want?" He questioned, his eyes lifted as he took several steps closer towards the girl, "I want revenge." He hissed as he came upon the girl and leaned down eye level with her. "I want to make your little guild pay for everything they destroyed that I had worked so hard to achieve and you," He said grabbing her face and running a long gloved finger over her cheek, "will serve a fine purpose of being the stepping stone of that revenge."
Gasping Lucy attempted to yell out in panic but her voice failed her as weakness once again overcame her form.
"Feeling a little weak?" The man said with a vicious smile, his onyx eyes shimmering in amusement, "It's amazing what a little curse can do to you isn't it." Suddenly everything fell into place as the events of the last few days replayed in her mind.
"Lucy!" Natsu screamed as the Celestial Mage turned just in time to see a large ball of light rushing towards her. Having no time to dodge the girl could do nothing more than throw her hands up, hoping the blunt of the attack would be taken by her arms.
Upon impact pain shot throughout Lucy's body, sending all of her nerves into a state of haywire. Immediately she heard a distant screaming of agony and feared that someone else had also been hit. After a few moments, however, she realized that scream was her own.
As the light had faded around her she noticed that the room was moving upwards.
Why is it moving? She thought numbly, then the realization hit her, it wasn't moving, she was falling.
Feeling the harsh impact of the stone floor the celestial mage was surprised to see blurs of red, black, and pink rushing towards her screaming her name.
She lost consciousness a moment after.
Lucy felt strange as she noticed everything was extremely black and heavy. Pushing against the darkness she felt herself struggle to push past it.
"Lucy!" She could hear faint voices calling her. Hoping onto the voices the blonde continued to push past the heavy curtain of shadow until she finally felt it begin to lift.
As the darkness faded the blonde noted something strange as she felt her body arch and struggle for something. What did it want?
Suddenly the girl felt a rush of air race down her throat and realized immediately her body needed oxygen. After several agonizing gasps the mage felt the pounding of her heart slow and her breathing return to its normal pace.
Her eyes fluttered open, but as soon as the sharp light hit them she slammed them shut, willing the brightness to fade.
She groaned.
"Lucy!" Erza exclaimed the blonde noted as she felt an armored hand squeeze her own tightly, "thank god."
She heard unified sighs of relief around her and felt it was time to try and open her eyes once more.
Blinking her eyes Lucy was met with four pairs of worried tear filled eyes watching her every move. Erza sat on her left side hand held in hers and Natsu and Gray took up the space on the right, their faces filled with worry and relief.
"What-" She realized how raspy her voice was and cleared her throat, "What happened?"
Erza wiped sloppily at her face.
"You let your guard down," The requip mage began, her voice sounding oddly pained, "Left an opening...Damnit! I should have been watching better-"
Gray's voice immediately cut in.
"You left a hole in your defense," He continued for the red head who was currently blaming herself for the slip up, "And that bastard took the opportunity to hit you with that attack..."
"I yelled," Natsu said, his eyes oddly guilt ridden, "but it was too late and the attack hit knocking you to the floor." His warm hand on her own suddenly squeezed tightly as he cast his eyes elsewhere.
"We ran as fast as well could," Titania had regained her voice, "but when we got there you weren't breathing, and we t-thought-we thought we had lost you, but then you suddenly started breathing on your own again. You've only been unconscious for a few minutes."
Lucy took a moment to let the information sink in before she let out a shaky sigh and pushed her hands out.
"Help me up."
With great ease Erza pulled Lucy up, her hands never leaving the blondes shoulders, though it was unnecessary. Lucy felt entirely fine. There wasn't a scratch on her.
After being fussed over by her team mates for several minutes and assuring them that she was fine the team had decided it was time to leave and quickly left the stone building behind.
Her friends had watched her like a hawk throughout the course of their journey back but after several hours of pestering and Lucy finally having it with their annoying questions they decided the girl was fine.
That it must have just been the strength of the impact that had knocked the breath from her. A fluke.
How entirely wrong they had been.
Lucy woke up that morning with the most awful cough she had ever experienced. Running towards her bathroom the mage managed to throw up everything that was on her stomach and cough until stars danced across her vision.
After the fit had ceased Lucy stumbled up onto her feet and propped herself against her bathroom sink. Looking up Lucy was shocked to find blood trailing down the side of her mouth lazily. Almost afraid to look the blonde glanced down towards her palm and noted that it was covered in said sticky substance as well.
Gasping in shock the girl succumbed to yet another coughing fit and scrambled to grab a towel to throw over her mouth as blood gushed forward unrestrained.
"Hey Wendy!" Running up to Wendy's table Natsu stopped in front of the small dragon slayer and other Team Natsu members, "You wanna go look for Lucy with me?"
The young dragonslayer looked up and nodded her head quickly, "O-of course Natsu! Though I hope we're not bothering her..."
"Nah," Natsu said with a cheeky grin, "Lucy likes when we invade her apartment."
A snort came from the adjacent table.
"You have no understanding of the idea of 'personal space," The lightning dragon slayer drew slowly, his glass paused part way to his mouth, "Do you?"
At this Natsu bristled. "What did you say Laxus?" Natsu jumped up on the table, all thoughts of Lucy pushed towards the back of his mind, "You wanna fight?"
"So I can wipe the floor with ya?" The lightning dragon slayer said simply, his glare level, "No thanks."
At this Natsu growled and charged at Laxus, fire crackling around his knuckle.
The older man sighed and threw his hand out, catching Natsu's attack with ease. Sighing he looked up towards the younger dragon slayer before throwing him up over the table and sending the pink haired boy crashing into a drinking Gray. Which in turn sent alcohol all across the floor, and led the ice mage to spew his drink all across the back of Gajeel.
"What the hell?" Gray yelled as he shoved Natsu off of him, "What's wrong with you ash for brains!"
"You were in the way Fruit of the Gloom!" Natsu growled menacingly, as flames began to dance around his hands.
A loud growl of annoyance came from a soaked Gajeel as he jumped up from his seat next to Levy and leveled a finger at Natsu and Gray, "Which one of you soaked me with liquor?"
At this Natsu jabbed a finger in Gray's direction which caused the ice alchemist to growl before slugging the pink haired boy across the face.
Soon the slight scuffle turned into a full out fight as gradually everyone was drug into the spree.
Wendy blinked her eyes several times before sitting back down and watching from a distance.
"I sure hope Lucy is alright."
This was no illness that had suddenly onset Lucy realized as she recalled the blinding light that had rushed towards her, it was a curse that was eating her inside out.
"Understand now do we?" He inquired pulling Lucy's face even with his own, "what joy it will bring me to watch as your pathetic little guild mourns over you as you rot into nothingness." His hand came painfully across Lucy's cheek, sending the girl sprawling out in the snow, "to watch you hurt them as everything you touch will fade into dust."
Lucy let out a choked sound, unsure of what the man was talking about. He laughed with delight.
"Foolish, dumb child," the man chided, "Did you think I would simply kill you? That would be too easy. No instead this curse will destroy anyone who tries to help, much the same way it will destroy you." The man stopped mid stride and looked back towards the girl, "I hope to see you soon Miss Heartfilia."
Then with that the man quickly faded into the distance leaving a barely conscious Lucy laying in the alleyway, snow beginning to cover her limp frame.
Destroy anyone who tries to help me? See me soon? She thought in horror as her vision faded in and out, what was he talking about-
Pain engulfed the young mages head as she let out a terrible scream and grabbed pitifully at her skull willing the agony to stop. It was mere moments before the pain became too overbearing and she slipped into blissful unconsciousness.
In Lucy's darkened apartment her golden keys laying on her table suddenly lit up as an orange haired man popped through, a stuffed lion tucked safely in his arms. Having just came from a spirit festival the bright haired lion hoped to surprise his lovely owner by bringing her a stuffed toy he had won. He smiled as his inner mind theatre of Lucy jumping him in delight played repetitively in his mind.
"Lucy!" Loke called out in delight, "Look what I brought-" Loke's sentence stopped abruptly when he opened his eyes and realized he was standing in an unlit room.
"Lucy?"
Author's Note: Haha Cliffhanger! Err well sorta...
ANYWAY!
Not entirely sure what to make of this, so we'll see how it turns out. ^^' Hopefully it's not too awful, anyway please review and let me know what you think! Hopefully since I have very little to actually do (Summer is both a blessing and a curse) this will probably be updated frequently.