HAVE I KILLED YOU WITH SUSPENCE YET? I GOT A REVIEW OF MY FINAL CHAPTER OF STORY 2 SAYING SHE WAS DIEING FROM SUSPENCE! Oh well. READY TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!? OH! RIGHT! IMPORTANT!I'm gonna give you a reminder of what happened in the parts 1 and 2. So! You met my character (Cyrus) She lost her parents, got sold, met Natsu, ran away from her job, is currently staying at Natsu's place, and was almost kidnapped by Sting at one point. She meets up with Gajeel, and Natsu plans a surprise party. Cyrus is taken to the party, then during the final game, Levy is KIDNAPPED! Gray has gone after her, so the others can follow his sent to where ever the HECK it is that he is going! Have I got you thinking "WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING!?" yet? Or are you thinking something else? Oh, well. Doesn't matter to me! XD!
Okay. HERE'S CHAPTER ONE! (Yey! No more waiting to know what happens! XD!)
Captured!
Cyrus' P.O.V
"I'VE GOT HIM!" I scream to the others. Natsu, Gajeel, Juvia, Lucy, Freed, Erza, and Jellal all look at me, joy evident in their gazes. Then Lucy kills it!
"What do you mean?" She asks. "I don't see any trace of Gray at all!" I give her a deadpan face. Everyone except for Natsu and Gajeel glance at me.
"Really, Lucy?" I frown.
"Come on guys!" Gajeel yells, throwing his hands in the air. "She's a Dragon-Slayer for Pete's sake! Her senses are boosted so she can follow Gray's scent trail. Jeez..." He grumbles to himself, crossing his arms.
"WHATEVER!" I yell, making them all jump slightly. "Let's just go get them already! No problamo!" I jump into the nearest tree, making the lowest tree branch in a single bound.
"Why are you up there?" Lucy calls up to me as I shove me face through the leaves.
"I would think she is trying to get a veiw of where Gray's sent is strongest, so we can go straight. The enemy may swerv and backtrack to lose any persuers. So finding Gray's farthest point, would make following him easier." Freed advises wisely. From my squawtting position, I swivel to face Freed. I tap my nose three times then point at him.
"Freed's right!" I grin widely. "I can also find how far ahead he is, and possibly figure out where he might be going." Everyone nods agreeingly as I mutter to myself. "Knowing the knit-whit who took Levy, it shouldn't be hard to figure out where they're going." Gajeel, frankly, over hears what I was saying.
"What was that?" He asks, climbing up to sit beside me. I jump.
"HM!? Oh!" I smile nervously. "It was nothing. Just talking to myself!" 'Darn it! I was too cheerful, and quick to respond...'
"Lyer." He grunts. "Lyer for two reasons. One, You were too fast to respond and happy. And two, I know because you haven't changed or gotten rid of your habit."
"Habit? What habit?" I frown at him in confusion. 'I don't have any habits! Well maybe chewing my nails...or the inside of my mouth...when I'm really board.'
"You always dig out the dirt from under your nails when you're either nervous, or you're trying to hide something." He blankly answers, pionting at my hands. I look at them, and find that he's right. My hands have frozen in the motion of cleaning the dirt out from under them. 'Come to think of it, I do dig the dirt out from under my nails when I'm nervous or trying to hide something...HM! Never thought that would be one of my habits! HA!'
"So are you going to tell me?" He brings me back to reality.
"Well...the traces of the spell that was used to take Levy that I got from you and the tent is...familiar to me." I look away as Gajeel's eyes widen.
"You know that magic!?" He whispers loudly, so he doesn't alert anyone. We don't have to worry about Natsu. He's out cold on the ground, taking a snooze. "How!?"
"It's the same magic I felt when those people attacked and..." I close my eyes tightly.
"Are you talking about when...we got separated?" Gajeel ventures. I nod, trying to gain my composure. Now is no time to greive. Now is the time to save those who I love who are alive before I lose them too! "You mean to tell me that, the same guild that attacked us took Levy!?" Again I nod. "You have to stay back." Gajeel blurts out quickly and flatly. I look a him, confused.
"But I have to save Gray and Levy! You guys need me!" I object. We don't notice that our voices are raising and we've captured the attention of the others.
"You can't! Those idiotes were after you specifically before! They're probably after you now! They're using Levy as a lure to get you into their trap! You know they won't stop at anything!" Gajeel is almost yelling now.
"HOW WOULD YOU KNOW!? THEY MIGHT KILL LEVY IF I DON'T COME!" I scream at him. But he's ready to fire back.
"WELL I DON'T KNOW, BUT I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE KILLED SO EASILY! YOU'RE ACTING AS STUPID AS UNIVERSE WAS!" His voice out screams mine, but I freeze, my eyes wide. Natsu is suddenly awake, face etched with shock. Erza stiffles a gasp. the others stare wide eyed. At the sound of the name Universe, a small gasp of my own escapes me. Gajeel realizes what he's said, and instantly regrets it. My eyes water, and my bangs cover my face.
"Universe...wasn't stupid." I whisper "stupid" as my voice falters. He crossed the line. "She was never easy to kill...she let herself be killed that night. It was the only way to save me. 'Protecting life itself with the sacrifice of your own soul is the truth to a good king or queen dragon's actions.' Universe taught me that." I throw my head back up to stare Gajeel in the face. "MY MOTHER WASN'T STUPID! IF IT WEREN'T FOR HER, THEN I WOULDN'T BE HERE! I WOULDN'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO SAVE MY FRIENDS! AND RIGHT NOW, YOU'D BE GREIVING OVER MY DEATH! HOW ABOUT YOU ACTUALLY USE THAT STUPID BRAIN OF YOURS FOR ONCE! I'm going to go save my friends. Whether you come and help or not!" I leap down from the tree, and stomp/jog in the direction Gray's sent is leading to, the trees and bushes separating to create a trail by my small hand motions. Slowly, Gajeel slides down the tree to the ground. He drops to a sitting position. Everyone looks at each other, then to my trail I left, then to Gajeel and back. Natsu is the first to actually move. He takes a step, then breaks out into a flat out run, following my path. With sad eyes, Erza watches Natsu as he goes. To me, Erza was an almost instant older sister.
Flashback: One Week Earlier
Cyrus' P.O.V
Erza pulls me aside.
"Do you want to go shop for a new outfit with me?" She asks hopefully. I stare at her with shock.
"Me? Are any of the others comming?" I ask.
"No. I was wondering if you'd come. I'd like to have some time to get to know you without the others around." She explains. "You can come and tell me anything. Just know that at all times, Cyrus. That's the main reason why it's just us if you agree. I want you to tell me more about your past if it's alright." Her eyes look at mine with a tender sisterly kindness. How could I refuse this offer?
"Okay. I'll go shopping with you. But I'm not going into full detail of my past, okay." I can't keep my voice from faltering once when i meantion my past. Erza nods.
"Of course. But I'm passing a line I shouldn't be, feel free to let me know. I'm not interogating you." She starts to leave the guild hall, and I wave goodbye to the others as I follow her. Once i cach up to her outside, we walk in silence for a little.
"Cyrus, please tell me about your family. Are they well?"
"I don't know. I guess they're well. I mean, they're in a better place now..." I answer slowly. Erza glances at me.
"You mean they're..."
"Dead? Yeah. They died when I was just six. But that was the day I met Universe." I perk up slightly.
"I'm sorry to hear your family is gone. But may I ask who this Universe is?" She asks carefully.
"Universe is-...was...my dragon. She was like a mother to me. The best I could have asked for." I smile to reassure her.
"Is she gone aswell? You said 'was' your dragon. I'm guessing she..." I nod. "I'm so sorry to hear that. Do you have anyone?"
"I have you, and Natsu and Happy, and the others. The guild." I raise my shoulders. We continue to make our way to the clothes shop.
1 Hour Later
I sit on a bench, tears falling off my face, and Erza sits next to me. She rests her arm on my shoulders, face sad.
"I know my story was not happy either, but like you, I have the guild." She murmers. I look up at her, brushing a few tears away uselessly.
"But..." I swollow, trying to clear my throat enough to speak. "You said you've doubted that you have a family! Erza, don't take something as amazing as your guild for granted!" I grasp her shoulders. "A family is what we live for. Don't sacrifice yourself, becuase of what you think is best. Sacrifice yourself for what you know is best. 'To protect what you love, give everything you can..., but...do not die for them. Only do that when that is all you can do to help them. Not hurt them.' Erza..." I pull in a shaky breath. "Eyes can descieve, and so can ears. You're hands and feet can betray you, and your toungue can destroy you. But your heart...with the love that you have filled it with...will always glow pure and true. Listen to it. It whispers, so you have to listen closely. You'll know when it's time for you to give your life, or when it's time for you to stop fighting when death is taking hold. Live for those you love." My eyes turn silver as I look her in the eye. I can see that I have made my point.
End Of Flashback
Levy's P.O.V
"AHHHH!" I scream as the black fo unconsciousness leaves me, and I crash to a stone floor. A loud clang sounds behind me, and I turn my head to see what made the noise. A tall, black figure stands outside a jail like cell, the door locked shut. I flip over to sit up. "What is this place...?" I murmer to myself. The strange figure bangs a fist onto the cell bars, making a loud crash. I jump, and the figure, that turns out to be a man, begins to laugh.
"Awe, did I scare you missy?" He cackles more. "Well that's too bad. I liked that scream I heard when you hit the floor!" More cackling. 'Is this man insane?!' I wonder worriedly to myself. He lifts his hand up to his hood, and pulls it back, revealing his face. He has a chizzled jaw, and his eyes are a deep regal purple shade, filled with darkness. His hair is a muddy brown with black splotches all over as though he had dotted it with Q-tips covered with black dye. He grins evilly. "Come on. Let me hear that squeal of yours again, Girly."
"What do you want with me?!" I yell to him. He pauses his laughter and cockes his head at me.
"Oh, my dear. It's not what I want. It's what my master wants. You, on the other hand, are just the bait we needed." He smirks as I raise an eyebrow. 'I'm just the bait?' "Yes. Bait. Your a...your new friend there...uh...something Dragonfly...oh, what's her name?"
"Cyrus?" I whisper.
"Yeah!" He snaps his fingers, "Cyrus! Thank you for reminding me." He gives me a dark look. "She is who my master and I are after. Knowing her little pathetic personality, she'll stop at nothing to get you back. I purposely let that boy follow us straight to here, so she could follow his trail. I tried to make the path difficult, yet easy for her. I bet she's on here way right now to get you back. In fact, I know she's on her way. After I killed her foster family, and her beloved dragon mother...oh what's that darn creature's name again? No matter. Once I killed them, I know I've caused her enough heart ache, that she'll act like clay in my hands. I can do whatever I want with her! As long as I have at least one of you Fairys in my clutches of course."
"You killed Cyrus' family!?" I yell.
"But of course." He turns away from me. "How else was I to get her protective instincts to the level they are now so I could get her to do as I wish if one of her friends were hostage? It's just how things are my sweet." He turns back to me.
"You sick-" I try to speak, but he interrupts me.
"Now, now don't be spitting names at me! I am some one you don't want to anger if you wish to live." He growls.
"But you said you need me. So you can't kill me." I try to sound confident.
"I can always go capture that boy who followed us once I dispose of you. I could even use your dead body as a motivater to show the concequences if she doesn't comply. It will work until I have more of her friends to...how shall I say it...oh...persuade her to listen." His laugh starts deep in his chest and works its way to a full open mouthed laugh. He turns, still laughing, and walks into the shadows, leaving me alone. 'What am I going to do? If Cyrus comes, then...these people...will win...but if she doesn't...I'll never escape..." I put my face in my hands, and pull my knees to my chest. I can't stop myslef from crying anymore.
"Some one...help me."
Cyrus' P.O.V
It's been almost a whole day since Natsu, Gajeel, Juvia, Lucy, Freed, Erza, Jellal and I have begun our slow...very slow...journey to get Levy back. FIVE TIMES I had to stop everyone to rest because of an annoyingly complaintive Lucy. I aslo had to stop everyone NINE times because of Natsu, Lucy, Freed and Gajeel all bickering, a few punches or kicks thrown. Erza has been absolutely silent this entire time. Not a single glare, flinch, or sigh...NOTHING...has come from her. Even through all the break outs of fights. HOW IS SHE DOING IT!? But even though I had to break up the fights, I am still refusing to speak to Gajeel, trying with all my might not to even LOOK at him! No eye contact will be made for quite a while, if I can help it!
'Juvia's been very quiet this whole time...But I can tell, she's trying not to let all her emotions out for once. Oh, no wait...crap.' I deadpan to myself as I notice Juvia's eyes glisten like they always do when she's going to cry. 'Here we go!' I announce mentally. Then it happens. Juvia breaks down, crying a double waterfall, flooding away in a river.
"OH GRAY MY LOVE! WHY DID YOU LEAVE WITH OUT JUVIA!? DON'T WORRY GRAY-SAMA, JUVIA WILL FIND YOU NO MATTER WHERE THOSE BAD MEN MAY TAKE YOU!" Juvia cries to the heavens. I stop walking, and gesture for everyone to sit...except I don't look at Gajeel.
We sit for an hour, and I get fed up with Juvia's bawling.
"Okay! Juvia?" She looks at me then goes back to sobbing, and I stand. "That's it, Juvia. SHUT UP ALREADY!" My sudden outburst of anger makes her look at me with hurt in her eyes. Everyone stares at me with confusion and angry defence of their friend. I stand stiffly, my eyes wide. 'Why did I just do that!? I'm not even mad at her!? In fact, I'm not even mad at Gajeel anymore! I've cooled off already...I-oh no...' I mentally face-palm. 'I must have absorbed the side effects of the magic! great. Now I'm gonna be a volcano ready to explode at anything!' I imagine myself throwing my arms in the air with exasperation. I finally come back to reality. To me it's seemed like it has been 10 minutes or so, but it's been only 1 minute. I slowly lift my hand to my mouth.
"J-Juvia..." I whisper, ready to cry myself. 'WHY ARE MY HORMONES SO OUT OF WACK!? It must be that DANG spell! GRRRRRRR!' I push back my overload of emotion to a more tollerable state. "Juvia...I'm sorry...I-I didn't mean to yell...I just...I don't know." I hang my head. 'I'm such an idiote. The last thing I need is to hurt my friends. And I certainly don't want to be scolded like I'm freakin' five!' Nothing except for soft sounds of nature and life disturb the quiet.
"N-no...Juvia is sorry." Juvia timidly speaks. "Juvia lost controll of herself, and I guess she was getting annoying for not stopping." She smiles, drying her eyes with her sleeve.
"I shouldn't have yelled though! There was no reason for it." I deny. "Just-I-" I make a few indesernable sounds, then take a deep breath. "If you're okay now, then we should get moving. I've figured out where we're going, so i want to get levy and Gray back by the end of tomorrow."
"Tomorrow!?" Lucy whines. "How long will it take to get there!?"
"It's already getting dark, so we'll need to make camp soon." Freed answers for me. "Besides. We need time to strategize and figure out what we are up against."
"OKay. How about Jellal and you, Freed, figure out a few ways how we could enter the hideout once we get there? Juvia? You, Lucy and Happy are on food duty when we start to make camp." I start to rattle off commands. "Natsu? You'll find wood for a fire. Erza, you, me and Gajeel will build the camp when it gets a bit darker. Does that sound okay?" I look at everyone, and this time Gajeel is included. They all nod,a nd Gajeel's sprirts look as though they have brightened slightly from me acknowledging him.
We start back up, and walk in silence for a long time. Erza has fallen into step with me and looks as though she's been thinking for a long time. 'Should I ask her what she's thinking about? But she might get if I interupt her train of thought...I guess she'll talk when she's ready to. But should I ask to make sure she's okay!?' I fret with myself for a little, when a hand lands on my shoulder hesitantly. It's Erza.
"Cyrus? May I discuss something with you?" She asks. I nod calmly. "You seem very comfortable in these woods, as though you know what is around. I know you can hear the best out of us all, but...you seem to know what we are up against. It's like you have everything planned out as though you've done this dozens of times. I don't understand. Your behavior is becoming more and more suspicious to me with each passing minute. Care to explain?" Her tone has such intense sterness, that I amlost shy away from her, but I stop myself.
"I'm just trying to make everyone comfortable. I'll let you know if something bad is coming. Really! Like, look at them." I gesture behind us at everyone. They're walking along as though they were on a vacation's reserved hike. "They're completely relaxed and starting to enjoy themselves."
"Yes, but I'm not satisfied with your answer. There's more to it than that, and I'm sure of it." Erza frowns at me. That's when I blurt out too much information...
"Oh, come on, Erza! They're enjoying themselves, and we're almost to the hide out! Let them enjoy this peace before what we'll have to do shortly, cuz it's not going to be easy, fun or pretty...-!" I catch my breath, mentally freezing in place. 'OH SHOOT! I just seriously blurted out that I know what we're up against, and Erza is surely to pick it up! BAKA BAKA BAKA!' I smack myself in the face a few times in my mind. Erza slows down slightly, then gives me a death glare.
"You know, and you tried to hide it from me?" She speaks with quiet, calm, very scary, anger. "Why did you try to hide it? You can trust me with anything, you know that!"
"Well, some things are for me to know and me alone!" I speed up my pace, not willing to give away anymore of what I know. I sense Erza watching me as she falls back to speak with Gajeel. 'Oh, Gajeel, please be cooled down enough to not let anything of what I know out!' Thankfully, he hides everything expertly. THANK YOU IRON NERVED GAJEEL!
Soon, it begins to get dark, so I find a clearing and set everyone to their jobs. It doesn't take long for Erza, Gajeel and I to build four sturdy shelters, that Juvia tested to make sure they were water proof in case it rains. I can sense some humidity in the air. A storm is coming, but I'm not sure when. Better safe than sorry. Juvia, Lucy and Happy found some edible herbs, berries, and mushrooms for us to eat. (After I confirmed them being safely edible of course.) With some help from Freed, Natsu cooked the rations perfectly for everyone else's taste. But he took his bit and burnt it to a crisp, then pulled out some sticks from the fire I had started and ate the fire. Typical Natsu. Once we finished eating, we split into four groups and picked out a shelter. Freed and Lucy were in one, Erza and Juvia in the second one, and Gajeel and Jellal occupy the third one, so I'm stuck with Natsu and Happy in the last one. Great...
That night, everyone seems to be sleeping well...All except for me. I'm used to the snoring of Gajeel, but Natsu is on a totally level. But as the night drags on, I begin to get accustumed to it. But it's mostly because I'm SO tired!
I sit up, and glance out at the stars that I can see between dark grey clouds and the shelter I helped make. 'Are you there, Mama? Can you hear me? Well...if you can, I really need to talk to you. I'm about to do something, that...I'm not sure I'm ready to do. I'm going into the darkness that has been haunting me as far back as I can remember! How can I face it? What if they hurt Levy, or even KILL her!? It'll be all my fault. But I'm supposed to protect the ones I love! Please, Mama,...don't make me do this alone...' I glance around at everyone quickly. I don't want anyone seeing me cry, because I can't hold it back anymore. I did it all day, and half the night. I've hit my breaking point. 'Dearest. You're not alone.' A sweet, calm voice whispers gently in my ear. A small breeze picks up, and a familiar sent slips by my nose. 'Look at those around you. Would they be here to work against you? You love them, this I know, and you're scared of them being hurt by what has taken your human family, and me away from you. Your wounds are still open and raw from my passing. But that is something that may never heal, little one. You need these friends you have made to help you get through life, even if more of those you love leave you as I did. But the others will be there to strengthen you, as you always strengthen them. Lift your head. Think of your future. Think of what you must do to make that futurehappen...' That beloved voice I haven't heard for a long time fades away with a gust of wind. Her words float and fade on the breeze's dance of air. "Mama..." I whisper, and dry my tears. Enough crying. Time for much needed sleep. I slide down to the ground, and curl up on my side, back to Natsu. I turn my head and take a quick glance at him and Happy. Happy is sound asleep on Natsu's chest, pushing Natsu's mouth closed, so he can't snore so loud. I smile, and relax my head, slowly closing my eyes as I fall asleep.
I wake the next morning to the sound of birds waking, and something fuzzy tickles my nose. Slowly, I open my eyes. A little chipmunk is sniffing my bangs, it's paws on my cheek. It falls back to all fours, and backs up a bit. I smile, and it cocks its head. "Hello." I whisper. It chitters a couple of times, and I gently stroke it's tiny head. It chitters again, sounding happy. "How's your morning been so far? Good I hope." I whisper again to it. Then its ears fly up. It sits up ridged, then darts to the nearest tree, shooting up to the safety of the branches. Something rolls up against my back, and an arm flops lazily over my shoulder. I see the black wrist band, and roll my eyes. "Really, Natsu? Really." I whisper with a sigh. I fling his arm off me, and try to move away, so I can sit up, but he just rolls up against me again. I sigh with frustration.
"Mm...evil jerk...took Levy...stupid Gray..." Natsu mumbles and mutters in his sleep. I use my right arm to keep him from rolling as I twist onto my back, so I can see better and maybe sit up. Bad idea. I try to sit up, and he grabs my arm, pulling my back down, almost ontop of him. With my free arm, I poke him in the ribs.
"Natsu. Natsu." I whisper loudly.
"Mm...what..." He answers, twitching, and not even awake, but seemingly aware.
"You need to let go of my arm." I say, testing to see if he'll listen, even if he's still sleeping. He slackens his grip, but not enough for me to slide my arm free. This time, I jab him in the ribs. He jerks, then slowly opens his eyes with a reluctant groan.
"Nuuugh...what?" He begrudgingly mutters.
"Let. Go." I replie flatly. Sleepily, he looks at what he his holding. His eyes slowly widen a bit, and he bolts to a sitting position, releasing my arm. "Thank you." I say, sitting up myself.
"S-sorry." He stutters a little, looking away from me.
"Oh, it's fine. Come on. Let's go wake the others." I start to stand.
"But what about breakfast? Shouldn't we get more for the others?" He looks around, and at all of the shelters. "We ate all of the stuff Lucy, Juvia, and Freed found last night."
"That is true. Well, then let's let them sleep longer, while we find more stuff to eat. I think I saw an apple tree a little ways back. There might be some apples." I agree, and head off the way we had come yesterday, searching for the tree, berry bushes, and some edible mushrooms that have NO side effects. Today is going to be a long, hard day.
OKAY! This chapter is going on forever for me, and I still have a lot to do, so...I'M DROPPING YOU HERE! Plus this chapter is getting off the topic the title says, so that is another reason why I'm stopping this chapter here! :) The next chapter will be up VERY soon.
Again, please review and fav, and blah blah blah, you get it! See you next chapter!