Lost In The Darkness

by KC Stone

Ruby is Lucy's twin. But Ruby is also... Lucy? Confusing, huh? Be one with her as she faces off against old scars with haunting horrors, emotional anguishes, and the murders that are terrorizing Magnolia. Can the mystery of the culprit and its ties to the Heartfilia twins past be solved before it claims them or those they love? And is there something more unimaginable at play here?

1. Prologue

Just a heads up the bulk of this story will actually be from Fairy Tail Lucy's pov but she will not know who she truly is...

~~~~.~-~.~~~~

- Prologue -

"You sure you want to do this, young man?" croaked the old witch as she huddled over a musky ancient tome.

Shadows played in the corners of her hut, shimmering cobwebs and the ghostly green light growing from mushrooms on rotten floorboards. Her once lilac eyes, milky with cataracts, flicked back and forth, reading the foreign curvy letters few could. She rested her bone winkled hand on the tome. She brought those old eyes to the presence shifting where he stood in the shadows a yard to her left. If not for the seriousness of what he asked she would have laughed at his obvious discomfort being there.

She narrowed her eyes wondering, Does he know what he is asking? Does he have what it takes?

Her voice wheezed, scratching on, "There may be no method to return from where'ist you go. Who knows if you're magic will work or what dangers lie beyond."

He remained silent. His glower focused on the floor as his fist clenched at his sides.

"I should also warn you... that the chances of you finding her-"

"Duh, you old hag!" he interrupted harshly, his dark gaze snapped up with a smoldering glare. "I wouldn't be in this damn messed up place otherwise."

A strange creature the old witch had never seen in all her long lives squeaked the young man's name in shock and horror from the floor beside him. The bluer small form in the shadows tugged on the young man's pant leg. "That's rude! If you're not nice she may not help us!"

Crossing his arms defensively the young man tisk'ed with a grimace and looked away. "Sure. Whatever."

"W-We're sorry, Madam Witch Lady." The strange creature bowed, trying for politeness. "H-He is not..."

"Himself?" she offered. With the creature's nod she hummed to herself as she examined the young man. "It is far more than that, I'd imagine."

He tensed, but said nothing. Nor did his strange companion ask what she meant. She waved her bone winkled hand at them, turning her gaze back to the tome. It was what she saw in his soul and troubled heart that kept her ire at bay - an oozing, festering wound. Nothing but what he sought would cure what ailed him, and even then... Would it be too late?

"Fine. I will do this for you..." Then with a faint smile she added, "For both of you."

"So, what do ya want? What's your price, old ha- lady?"

Her cracked lips pursed, thinking. Sadness and knowledge gave light to once dull milky lilac eyes. The journey he was about to partake would be long and grueling. He'd face much hardship and anguish. As the darkwood witch of yearning, she had gained a reputation for giving people what they sought but taking something equally precious away from those who dared ask for her help. Often something the person didn't realize was precious until after she took it away. Most would cry thief and claim she tricked them. That she was a wicked evil witch who only ever wanted others misery.

She wasn't, of course. What those fools didn't realize was that with her powerful magic she needed something of equal worth to help power the spell and give value to the trade-off. If everyone could get whatever they wanted any time then there wouldn't be much meaning to what they sought now would there?

But few understood that when they came to see her in her darkwood hut deep in the forsaken forest.

They still foolishly sought her out, however.

At least they used to... This young man and his strange companion were the first in over forty decades.

She glanced sideways at him. This was an odd case. The young man came here knowing from someone wise that he would have to give her something precious, vastly precious, in exchange for what it was he asked of her. More than that he understood the worth of what it was he asked. She knew he was willing to sacrifice anything with his dark eyes alit with a burning passion. Anything. Even if it was his own life. Rare was it that someone like him knocked on her decaying door that rattled with a breeze.

The fact that he wasn't doing this solely for himself complicated things.

That meant the weight of the price's burden shouldn't fall squarely on his shoulders, but all parties involved. Something that was impossible because one of the parties was the girl they sought to find and save from the darkness.

There was the issue of his magic's source too. Dragon's. It altered him. It imbued him with akin blood and inner soul of the drake - making it difficult to take anything precious from him without causing immense pain for him and danger for them all. Though, now that she thought about it that could be the reason why he understood the value of what he was asking...

Also there would be trouble with that red mark on his sleeveless arm. She knew it well. Those behind it wouldn't stand for her hurting this young man - even if he did ask for it.

Then there was the not so little barrier of love being involved. Not some fleeting petty love. Nor the obsessive lusting love. The old witch believed true love lingered hidden, unknown and unspoken. This made any exchange mute if realized and unleashed. As cliché as it sounded, true love overpowered all, especially when used for shielding and protecting.

Messy, this whole thing is messy.

But she wouldn't not help him... them. The young man was the most admirable person she had the pleasure of meeting (if lacking respect and formalities aside). And she suspected black magic behind the girl vanishing into the darkness. No. There was no doubt. There was no other way.

The old witch sighed as she faced them.

"Your heart..."

He narrowed his eyes and scowled at her, instantly knowing what it was she asked. His strange companion hadn't. "His h-heart?! But he needs his heart to... you know... live!"

"Hush, buddy. She didn't mean my heart physically."

"I-I don't under... OH!"

Her lips stretched revealing yellow and blackened teeth. "That is what I would have asked for under any other circumstances."

His face slackened with confusion. "I don't understand. Are you not going to help us? But you just said-"

"Calm yourself, young man."

She cackled, then regretted it, seized by a coughing fit. Her hand came up, covering her mouth as she hunched over. With each ragged cough her body jolted. The young man stepped forward, one hand out with concern and yet hesitant. She waved him off. She went to her station behind her with various bottles of liquids inside them. Coughs still wrecking her frail frame as she fumbled for the glowing silver potion she needed. Upon finding it she uncorked it and swallowed it down (difficult while coughing), but the reaction was instantaneous. The coughing fit stopped.

Weary, she leaned against the work table.

She wheezed, "I will do it, young man. Fear not." Leaving the empty bottle on the table she faced him. "It's only that the conditions of your situation would make any lasting trade impossible."

He frowned, crossing his arms once more. "So... what then?"

"What indeed." She hummed. "Temporary trades, just enough to power this spell. I will need potions of your magic. Both." Her gaze fell to the strange creature.

The young man and his companion exchanged a look, then nodded.

"Know that the amount of magic needed will leave you with very little and that for as long as you are searching, the portion of magic used will not return to you."

He paled noticeably in the shadows, shifting anxiously. The creature beside him swallowed. "Like Edolas all over again..."

"Yeah."

They exchanged another -more troubled- glance, then nodded their heads.

"There is also the issue of the girl. I don't know the means to how she fell into the darkness but I doubt it was gentle or without its consequences on her. You must be prepared to find her as someone else and may even find you dislike." The young man tensed, her words paining him.

"Last thing..." She held up her boney finger. "Wherever the darkness may lead you, you must not under any circumstance heedlessly reveal your magic or that you are from elsewhere." Seeing the bemused expressions the old witch smiled. "You'll understand when you start your search. Now do both of you know the spell to hide those guild marks if you must?"

With their nods, she returned to the ancient tome. "Good. Then come closer, I do not bite. If I did my teeth would probably fall out." She chuckled as they hesitantly moved closer.

With a small smile she started gathering the supplies she needed. A crystal knife. A wooden bowl. Crushed anise root for protection and awareness. Bay Laurel leaves to banish the negative energies and protection as well. A pinch of cinnamon for augmenting magic and for helping to heal the young man's wounded soul. And the fern rowan for good luck - 'cause they was going to need it. Then twin white candles and a black one.

"Use that knife to cut your palms and first draw this symbol on the white candles, one each, then give a good squeeze into the bowl." She pointed at the symbol in the musky tome as they leaned forward to see.

Then she went about setting up a white crystal ball between the twin white candles on one side and black candle on the other. The young man hissed as he sliced his palm after his strange companion had. Both drawing the symbols then let their blood drip into the bowl.

"That's enough. Here." She handed them a glass bowl with orange tree sap and herbs. "Put that on your cuts."

As they did as she told them to, she combined the herbs she had gathered into the wooden bowl in the proper order needed for the spell and murmured the ancient words, "O' elementis - terra, ignis, aer et aqua - nobis gratiam coram te, et tua virtute."

She slapped the young man's lit finger away from the white candles before he could light them. With a shake of her head she continued uninterrupted, "Da vitas sanguinem in quo fidem in tenebris. Da vitas sanguinis claritate insignis in tenebris. Da vitas sanguinem in quo quid tibi vis fomentis. Da in casu in quo sanguine plerumque disparem. Sic fiant."

At the last of her words a surge of magic swirled around them, kicking up her gray wispy hair and picking at their clothes. The foreign power was felt by all in her tiny rotting hut. It was startling, how deep and vast it was. Then the wind vanished and the twin candles flared to life, flickering with wild abandonment before calming to a steady blue. The young man and his strange companion flinched, feeling the tug on their magic and a pressure - much like a warm blanket - settle around them.

"W-What was that?" squeaked the small blue creature standing on the table and owl eyed as he stared at the candles.

"Protection for what's to come," cryptically replied the old witch. "Now focus on the pull on your magic and gently push more through it." They both did as she asked. One candle started flaring. She croaked, "Too much, young man! Lessen it!"

He gritted his teeth. "Easier said than done, old lady."

"Oh? Stop whining, child!"

His strange companion snickered and he glowered.

"There you go. You both ready?" They nodded. "Good, keep that up... and don't be surprised if it starts draining your magic quickly." The old witch went back to her ancient tome and grabbed the wooden bowl. As she poured the mixture of herbs and blood onto the white crystal ball. It dripped down the white orb as she chanted, "Cum soluta vectigal... aperi o velamen in... tenebras aperi tenebrarum."

Over and over she repeated the chant, the white candles growing brighter and brighter. The young man gritted his teeth as his small companion fell to his hands and knees on the table beside him. Her scratchy voice rose and there was a faint unnatural breeze tugging at their hair and clothes. White mist pooled at the floor, seeping up through the rotting floorboards, growing thicker. Then - just as the old witch said - the spell latched onto the bulk of their magic and drained it. The young man leaned against the table, muttering through his clenched jaw, asking if his friend was alright. The small creature could only nod, breathless.

"Open, open the door to the darkness and shadows," rasped the old witch with a sinking finality.

The flame on the twin white candles twisted from a bright blue to black and the lone black candle lit on the other side of the crystal orb fully covered in their joint blood. Glass bottles rattled behind the witch and on rickety shelves. Herbs swayed where they hung from the rafters to dry. Cobwebs vibrated. The white mist shaded a sinister green and clustered around the two friends. It gathered and clung to their bodies, wrapping them into the darkness. She could feel them disappearing before her.

"I wish you both luck on your quest," her scratchy voice sounded distant to the two in the increasing dark green mist.

Then with a blast of air the green mist and the two friends were gone. The old witch sighed, feeling tired from the powerful spell taking its toll on her own magic. She leaned back against her workbench.

With a sudden realization, she cursed softly. "I forgot to tell them to hold hands..."

.~-~.

The young man floated in nothing. Forever it seemed. All around endless blackness that stretched on and on and on and on... With his magic depleted he drifted in a semi-conscious state. How long, he knew not. Only that for the longest time he wasn't thinking. Then he could think but couldn't move. When finally he could move, he searched for his friend, troubled for his small companion. He yelled, calling out.

But it was pointless. There was no sound in the darkness. No taste. No smell. Just more darkness.

His first thought was to use his meager magic and try to light the darkness - but then the old hag's warning about carelessly using his magic answered.

Great, what now?

Around and around and around his thoughts went, trying to find a way out of his predicament. Again, he knew not how long, only that surely it would drive him mad if he stayed.

It was then, at that singular moment, his fingers touched against something rough. He jerked startled. Then reached out - it felt like stone. Broken, jagged stone. A cliff? He couldn't tell, it (along with everything else) was void black. Grasping a hold of the stone he pulled himself closer, realizing what he had been floating in was something akin to water. He hadn't felt it, his body numb from lack of magic and the frozen chill that permeated this nothingness.

Ahh man, I feel like Gramps giant hand slammed me a few dozen times... and then Erza walloped me something fierce.

He hauled his numb body up the cliff. All the while he hated how weak and winded he felt. Or how the frozen chill seemed to be seeping into his bones. He bet Gray would just love this place. Other than - you know - the whole dark nothingness thing.

Time was meaningless. Seconds. Minutes. Hours. Days. Years? At this point he even missed that frozen prick's ugly mug. That was something. He had to be going insane.

Just like when he had been floating, he spent so long climbing that it startled him when suddenly his hand met only air. He felt around, finding a plateau above. Grunting and groaning (though silent in the darkness), he heaved himself up. Then collapsed onto his back. His chest rose and fell, breathless. He gathered himself, his hungry lungs settling down.

Sitting up he looked about. To his left was where he had come from, endless black void. To his right (and alarming since he spent so long in the darkness), he found winking specks of light. Much like the stars in the night heavens. He recoiled, his first reaction to flee from the light. He fought this. The light was good. The light was what he needed to find her - and now his little buddy too.

He rose to his feet, wobbling. There was also the second reaction he had to fight - running heedlessly towards any single light. If he was going to survive this journey and bring back both his partners he was going to have to think. Something everyone knew he wasn't all that into. He was bold. He was reckless. He was punch first and ask questions about why later kind of guy. That was him. It was expected.

That's what led to his greatest folly. He let her down. He let her fall into this... nothingness. Into the darkness.

She was here somewhere. So was his little buddy. He could faintly sense them. Though how, he hadn't the foggiest clue. His nose wasn't working. Either way, both were ahead of him. Ahead towards the winking flecks of light. It wasn't much of any choice where he needed to go. Ahead. One sore foot in front of the other.

He stumbled a few times, his legs heavy and clumsy. Forever he walked. A desolate black wasteland where shadow outlines of jagged rocks appeared as split second before he tripped on them. He couldn't tell you how many times he fell forward, cutting up his hands or worse, his face. Good thing no one could see him - how embarrassing. It was like he was a toddler walking for the first time.

As he got closer to the lights - more like floating orbs that hung a foot from the uneven rocky ground - his footfalls became surer with the light sources. There was also the hint of smells. Strange and foreign - like Edolas but on a whole other level. Think of one light orb was Earthland and another was Edolas. He couldn't begin to count how many light orbs there were but there had to be hundreds of thousands - again like the stars. There were also differences in the colors. Red. Blue. Violet. White. Yellow. Some were strobe lights. Others steady and solid.

Along with the colors and smells, he caught the distant twinge of sounds. He winched. Annoying static noise - filled with too many people, trains, and things he couldn't begin to describe. He found himself plugging his ears with his fingers the closer he got.

When he got to the edge of the light orb field he glared at the closest one. A sparkly red one that had erratic flickers and smelt of sulfur. And was that... snickering hisses? Yeah, he wasn't ever going to randomly jump into one of these (especially that one). Who knew where it went or how to get back out...

Oh fuck... He just grasped something horrifying. Is one of these Earthland? Ahh man, that's what the old hag meant about there might not being a way back. With his fingers still in his ears he looked out into the other winking orbs. There's so many. The gravity of his quest was... daunting. Crushing even.

His hands dropped from his ears, falling limp to his side. He then crumbled down to his knees.

Staring blankly he dropped forward to his hands.

Was it not enough he had to watch her die once already?

Now, how was he going to find her in all this?

The anguish rumbled deep inside. It grew and grew until a maelstrom churned inside his soul. Lashing rain and crushing waves thrashed against the sides and deck of his battered, barely floating heart. Tears shimmered on the rim of his eyes.

Why did everyone he ever care for disappear on him?

Why?

He punched the ground. Warmth streaked down his cheeks and dripped off his chin. Repeatedly he pounded his fist into the sharp rocks, splitting his knuckles and making slivers of bloody stone imbed into his flesh. The ground split and fractured from the force. With a sob that was silent in this place of winking orbs and of darkness he slammed both fits together before him and pressed his forehead into the crushed bloody ground. His body shook. The tears as endless as the stars in the heavens.

"I believe in you..." her voice radiated from a not so distant memory.

His bloody hands fisted his rosy pink hair. She was there in his mind, sitting on that infirmary bed all wrapped up in bandages from the horrible beating that bitch from Sabertooth had put her through. There was a faint dusting of pink on her cheeks. Her brown eyes sparkled and she had a warm smile, just for him.

"I believe in you. I have ever since I joined the guild."

He froze.

Then he gave a silent sobbing laugh. He shook his head. Right... Right I can't give up this easily. Slowly he drew his bloody hands from his spiky pink (and equally bloody) hair. With his left hand he picked up a fractured piece of the rock - his fingers feeling the rough jagged texture. Using it more as a means to calm himself, he took a shaky breath. She's counting on me. I can't give up.

He stumbled to his feet and took a few deep breaths to steady himself. He clenched the rock in his fist, it bit into his palm. I can't give up yet. Not ever. Wiping away the tears he walked forward. Aimlessly he moved deeper into the field of winking lights. He focused, honing his senses. The pain in his left hand as the rock dug into his flesh and drew blood. The smell of jasper and cherry blossoms, and of fire, fresh fish, and catnip. The sound of their voices. The feeling of their magic, their essence. He searched the orbs closest. When he didn't get anything he spread his search wider, and wider and wider.

Then he paused, his head snapping to the right. There... I smell them.

Pivoting on the balls of his feet he weaved through the winking orbs. His footsteps picked up speed and started to jog. It wasn't long until he started running. The orb lights became blurs. Smudges as he rushed passed them. He knew he should be careful. That any wrong move could send him tumbling into one, but he was too excited. There! There was a multicolored orb that flashed at an insane speed. Ten yards away. Their smell was coming from it. His heart lurched. He was so close! All he needed was to reach it and find them. He would figure out how to get them home later - once he hugged her and assured himself she was okay.

Nine yards ...

Eight...

Seven...

Six...

Five...

His foot caught on a hidden crevice he hadn't noticed in his haste and he fell forward into a roll. He sprung to his feet coming to a stop. A stop right before a different orb of a sickly blue color that faded in and out. Face inches from the orb. His heart rattled in his chest and he stepped back, swallowing. Damnit! He clenched the stone in his hand even more. What the hell is wrong with me?! He kept making the same mistakes - rushing in without a thought or care. There was too much at stake here for him to be thoughtless or reckless!

Taking a deep breath he took another step back. He gritted his teeth. Then he stepped around the sickly blue orb. Cautious and double checking his footing, he made his way towards the one he wanted at a brisk walk. As he got closer he brought his right hand up, blocking the flashing multicolored light that burned his eyes. The smells and sounds were no better. It was like the guild when they really got going during a party... But times fifteen and add a few trains in there for good measure.

He came to a stop before it, eyeing it wearily. If these things... these orbs were other worlds... What would he find on the other side? A place like Edolas? Or something far more... bizarre? At least he would have magic this time. And yet, his magic was so pathetically low. Laughable really. His kid self could give him a go. He'd probably only win due to the difference in experience and years training his body.

This made him nervous. Uncertain. Indecisive.

But he was going to learn another important lesson as he stood there hesitating. That lesson was that while thinking was important, too much made you falter with indecision. That was just as bad as being impulsive and reckless. When you were hesitating you were powerless, the world ruled you. Others made the decisions and shaped your life whether you were willing or not - all because you didn't act.

He didn't act. And for that, just a hairs breath away from the orb, his choice was taken from him. Someone or something (he couldn't be sure because it all happened so fast), hit him with a weapon that blasted his left shoulder. Pain seared through his nerves, overloading his brain with the stimulus. Unable to do anything he watched as the orb he needed went left and he went right. He watched as his chance to finally get her back slipped through his fingers.

No! His mouth opened without the voice coming out.

And he fell back into a vibrant orange orb, reaching with his right hand out towards the light that held her. His green-onyx eyes widened with shock and despair. The shadow of the thing that took his choice away drew closer to the orb he was falling into and lifted its weapon. Pain exploded in his chest nicking his heart.

As his world gave into a different black nothingness, he whispered silently, "Lucy."

~~~~.~-~.~~~~

Lost in the darkness, hoping for a sign...

Instead there is only silence,

Can't you hear my screams?

Never stop hoping...

Need to know where you are.

But one thing is for sure,

You're always in my heart.

Lost in the darkness, try to find your way home...

I want to embrace you,

And never let you go.

Almost hope you're in heaven,

So no one can hurt your soul.

Living in agony...

'Cause I just do not know

Where you are.

Wherever you are...

I won't stop searching.

Whatever it takes...

I need to know...

I'll find you somewhere.

I'll keep on trying until my dying day.

I just need to know...

Whatever has happened,

The truth will free my soul.

~"Somewhere" by Within Temptation~

~~~~.~-~.~~~~

They say third time's the charm... I say, we'll see. So this story has been posted and re-posted, as you can probably now guess... three times. I'm not sure what the issue is. Maybe people got confused when I tried to do the second posting but didn't change the summary right away and thought it was the same crap they read before? Or maybe there was no Nalu incentive at the beginning. Well now, here it is! As I said above the rest of the story will be from FT Lucy's (aka Ruby) point of view in a very different world than Fairy Tail. The song above is amazing and while originally I had a different song that gave me idea for this story I felt this was better for the mood.

And yes, I realize I never once describe Natsu or Happy or even say their names in this. I don't even say Lucy's until the end. That was mostly for dramatic effect. I mean we all know -hopefully- who they are by the time I mention Erza and Gramps... But I did try to gradually add clues in, building them up and up until the end with Lucy's name. Most would probably figure it out with the small blue and strange creature. lol

Anyways, I'm going to go through my original chapter one and see if it needs any other work (or maybe I'll get a different plot idea?). Let me know if you guys are interested. I'll probably posting chapter one shortly after anyways, but reviews make me very happy girl! :D

If you guys know of my other works, don't worry I haven't forgotten them. I'm waiting for a beta to get back to me on DragonBorn (might just post it anyways) and I have the idea of chapter for for The Emotional Effect plotted out. Just need to write it.