This story is a re-telling of Dante's Inferno in the style of Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail. None of the characters are my own, and the descriptions of all the character can be found on the Fairy Tail Wiki, at wiki/Characters

Preface

"In a land far, far away, lies the Kingdom of Fiore, a small peaceful nation of 17 million, and a place filled with magic! Found in every home, bought and sold in every marketplace, for most, magic is merely a tool, a mundane part of everyday life. For some, however, magic is an art, and they have devoted their lives to its practice. These are the mages. Banded together into magical guilds they apply their skills in search of fame and fortune. Many such guilds dot the landscape of Fiore. But there is a certain guild in a certain town that soars high above the rest, one from which countless legends have been born... a guild that will no doubt continue to create legends well into the future. Its name... is Fairy Tail."

Lucy sat at the edge of Natsu's bed, her hand lightly encasing his. Happy slept on his chest, his blue fur slowly rising and falling with every breath. Lucy could not help but feel despair. Though Natsu's risk of dying from the Anti-Ethernano Tumor was depleted, thanks to Brandish, he was still in a coma. The world was in an uproar; the Alvarez Empire was attacking, Zeref planning to destroy the world. Fairy Tail was fighting hard, attempting to diminish the threat and save Fiore, but there was only so much they could do against the pure magic power of the Alvarez Empire.

Lucy felt herself drift off into sleep, her head coming to rest on Natsu's bedside. The world was looking bleak, indeed.

The Dark Wood

My eyes flew open, my gaze latching onto the lingering stars amidst the pink sky. I sat up slowly, my hand encasing my head. It felt fuzzy, a slight pulsing deterring my thoughts. I took in my surroundings, noticing that I was in a small clearing in a dark wood. I could not recall how I had gotten there or where I was. The woods did not feel familiar, for I would have recalled the suppressing, ominous feeling. Immediately, I was on edge, my heart pounding and the fear creeping in.

I felt as though I was at a cross road, though I know not what for.

I stood, trying to get my feet under me, while searching for a path. I could not find one, and I couldn't remember where I was or what my goal was. I grew frantic. I

Where was I to go?

I knew I had to get out of the wood, because it was so overbearing and harsh. I knew I had lost the true way, but I didn't know where I was supposed to be going. I walked faster, a hill coming into view. Its peak was kissed by the morning sun's rays, the sun emerging from it. It brought light to the dark woods.

The hill, I can walk to the hill.

I had barely reached the hill, panting in exhaustion, when light split the air, an image coming into view. Leo, the lion spirit came into view, but it was not the Leo I loved and cherished. It was his Eclipse form, the Leo that desired to kill me, to maim me. I could feel the evil pouring off of him, and turned racing back into the twisted woods. I was more terrified of seeing my loving comrade back in this violent form than scared of him maiming me. To the left, the air rippled again, Cancer emerging, also in his Eclipse form. His malicious intent was obvious, causing me to turn again from him, back toward the dark woods. The tears began to well in my eyes, as I hated to see my friends with so much unhappiness and malice in their eyes. Once again, the air rippled, a stream of light and the crack of a whip taking over my senses. Eclipse Virgo stood in front of me, her lips upturned in an evil smile, eyes dancing with a wrath that I have never seen on my loving spirit. Her whip dashed out, attempting to catch me by the ankle.

Streams of tears escaped, falling down my face as I ran back into the woods, into the shadows. I tore through the brush, the branches of the trees grabbing at me like fingers. I stumbled, barely able to see through my tears. I couldn't gain my footing, and I could feel myself falling, my arms reaching for something to keep me on my feet.

I barreled into something hard, warm hands catching my arms and steadying me. Terror raced through me, recalling the malice in my spirit's eyes. I pulled back, attempting to escape the hands, trying to brush the tears and blonde hair from my eyes.

"Please," I cried desperately, "Please don't hurt me."

Finally able to see, I looked up and my eyes met familiar onyx. Immediately, my heart rate calmed and my breath steadied. His name escaped my lips like a whisper, "Natsu."

I reached up, my hands tracing the familiar face topped with scruffy pink hair. It was him, but it wasn't. Red scales decorated the side of his face and small black horns were sticking out of the pink hair. I froze, meeting his eyes once again and seeing the confusion there.

I pulled back quickly, escaping his hands and stumbling backward. Recalling the warped version of my comrades that drove me from the hill, I feared that this Natsu was one that was turned against me.

But his head was cocked to one side, no malice to be found in his eyes, just curiosity and confusion. "Natsu?" he asked, the word seemingly unfamiliar on his tongue. "I've never been called by that name before." His eyes regarded me suspiciously. "Are you Lucy Heartfilia?"

I nodded, "Yes, I am Lucy." The questions tumbled out of my mouth. "How did you know me? Who are you? Where are we? Why do you look exactly like my partner?"

He chuckled softly, the laugh contrasting to the normal boisterous laugh that emerged from my best friend. "You may call me Etherious, though that is not my full name. This is the dark wood, but don't worry, you are to take another road."

"But why do you look so much like Natsu?"

He shrugged, "I don't know. I'm not sure who Natsu is, exactly. I was just sent to be your guide, because there is much you must learn."

I regarded him with suspicious eyes. It was weird to be looking at my partner, though it wasn't him. "Who sent you?"

The look in his eyes softened, "Someone who cares much about you and your path: Layla Heartfilia."

"Mother," I gasped, the tears welling up in my eyes once again.

A small smile graced his lips. "Lucy, we are about to take a dangerous journey, but it was your mother who deemed it necessary. You must learn many things in order for you to succeed. She, along with your ancestor, the famous Celestial Spirit Mage Anna Heartfilia consulted with Mavis Vermilion, requesting to bring you here."

"The First Master?"

"Yes, of your guild, Fairy Tail."

"Where are we going?" I inquired.

"To my homeland. Down into Hell."

I recoiled in shock, terror coursing through my body. "Into Hell?" I stammered. "But why would Mother, First Master, and Anna want me to go there?"

"Because you need to learn about the One True Power. Layla appeared to me from the heavenly realm, requesting that I guide you through so you can learn."

"The One True Power?" I questioned.

Etherious shrugged, "I'm not sure what it is myself, but Layla said that it was something we had to discover ourselves."

I swallowed my fear, determination setting in. "Well, if Mother insists, then I guess it is necessary. If she trusts you, then I will trust you."

Etherious smiled at me, reaching forward and grabbing my hand. "Come on then, we must be going. We don't have much time." He began to lead me, his footsteps sure.

The woods melted around us.

Hell's Gate

"Through me one goes into the empty city, through me one goes into a place of hate, through me one wanders among those lost. Leave behind all hope and enter into a place void of love."

I swallowed nervously, unconsciously stepping closer to Etherious. "That isn't ominous at all."

He looked at me questioningly, "What, the inscription?"

I nodded, "Yes, I don't know how I feel about it."

He let out a bark of a laugh, "You must be brave here, Lucy. This is the entrance to Hell; you will see many hopeless people here, some which you may recognize." He took my hand in his again, comforting me with a look. "Come on, Lucy. It's time to go."

I followed, trusting him. After all, Mother had sent him. This was the path that I must take and the things I must learn.

As we passed through the gate and started descending down the path, I could begin to hear cries and sighing. The sadness was overwhelming, the sorrow surrounding me.

I held back the tears, trying to overcome the horror overtaking me. "Etherious, what am I hearing?"

He sighed, his in harmony with those echoing through the deep cavern. "This is what I like to call the cross-roads, but others call it the Vestibule. It's the place where those who choose neither good nor evil in their life."

As we descended the rocky path, which weaved down the face of the hill, I could make out the forms of the poor humans. They seemed to be being attacked by swarms of bugs, which explained the cries of sorrow. My heart jumped, and I felt pity for them.

"Are they attacked by bugs forever?" I inquired, my voice barely coming above a whisper.

Etherious stopped suddenly, and I crashed into his back. I could hear the pity in his voice. "I'll explain more when we get down to the river. Let's keep moving for now."

I looked past him, allowing him to lead me by the hand again. A river came into view below us, the dark water reflecting the celling of the cave we had descended into.

A few moments later, we reached the water's edge, where some of the souls laid on the banks to try to find some reprieve from the bugs attacking them. I recognized a group of three men, laying in a heap on top of each other and moaning, their bodies encased in tight leather. I turned to Etherious, tugging on his hand. "Is that the Jiggle Butt Gang? Why are they here?"

Etherious followed my pointed finger to the heap of men and shrugged. "I guess so. I haven't really taken much time to get to know all the souls here. Do you recognize them from Earthland?"

I nodded, sure now that they were the obnoxious and pathetic group from one of my many adventures. "Yes, they seem to be a group that my friends and I have encountered. Why are they here?"

Etherious looked out into the river, his eyes tracking something I could not see. "The same reason every other poor soul is here. They didn't do anything noble or believe in noble aspirations, yet they weren't completely evil."

I couldn't help but giggling, recalling their antics and desires to be villainous, but the failure to do anything that hurt anyone. "Yes, I can agree with that. But their punishment is being attacked by bugs constantly? That seems a little harsh."

Etherious nodded, "I agree, but I'm not the one who decides the punishment."

"Who is?"

"You will meet him in a bit, don't worry. He is actually rather annoying." Etherious wrinkled his nose.

He turned his attention to the river, peering across it. Looking closely, I could barely make out the shape of a boat approaching us.

"Are we waiting for the boat to take us across the river?" I asked.

"Yes, though let me do all the talking. You're not dead yet and some of the spirits down here won't necessarily like that."

Concern crossed my face. "Are we going to be able to complete our journey?" I asked.

"Yes, just let me handle Yajeel."

The boat pulled up to the side of the river, approaching a collection of people standing on the banks. I could feel the eagerness from the crowd, though I'm not quite sure why they would be so eager to cross the river and go to Hell. A short man breaks through the crowd and stomps toward us. Etherious straightened beside me, puffing up his chest.

The man stopped right in front of us, his eyes flashing in anger. "Etherious, what did you do this time? Who is this? You know there are no living souls allowed here."

"Yajeel, you are required to carry us to Hell." Etherious's voice was firm, his eyes flashing in determination.

Yajeel huffed, "Just because you are second here doesn't mean that you can abuse your powers. Leave."

A small growl came from Etherious. "This is what is willed by the Divine. You nor I cannot change it."

Yajeel stared at Etherious for a moment, then turned on his heel with a loud sigh. "Then come. Don't blame me if your living soul gets torn apart by Hell."

I started, looking at Etherious in shock. Torn apart? Etherious just grabbed my hand with a roll of his eyes, and pulled me to the boat that Yajeel was getting on. He leaned over, whispering in my ear, "Don't worry, he is just being dramatic. You are strong enough to make it through and we have Mavis on our side."

We boarded the boat, the inky waves rocking it slightly. The moment my feet left the ground, I could feel the energy draining from me. My vision faded in and out, my feeble voice calling out for Etherious. I could see his worried face, his hands reaching out to catch me as I fell.

Then, I lost consciousness.

Hey all! This is for a project for my history class, but I really enjoyed doing it. I will post the rest of the journey in a couple more chapters over the next couple weeks.

Enjoy!